I KNOW HE HOLDS MY HAND
1997
I could not have made it without Him in the trials of life.
If I didn't have Jesus I'd be filled with so much strife.
He's led me through the valleys and over the great mountain
heights.
He's fed me from His pastures and filled my eyes with wondrous
sights.
I've drank from many fountains and from the Blest slow-moving
streams.
I've felt His anointing touch in my own life and in my dreams.
How can I ever praise Him for the table that He has spread
and the joys of my life that He's surely heaped upon my head?
He's been most gracious to me and He has promised to be so,
Throughout all my earthly days until I walk through my last door.
Glorious is His own grace that He has shed abroad on me.
I could never have made it If HE hadn't held on to me.
I REMEMBER MAMA
by Carl Evans
WHEN THE PERSON IS GONE,
AND YOU DON'T HAVE THEM ALONG,
MANY MEMORIES REMAIN BEHIND,
AND THEY'LL NEVER
LEAVE YOUR MIND.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS I'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER ABOUT MY MOM.
OF HOW SHE TOOK CARE OF HER KIDS
AND RAISED US FOR THE KINGDOM TO COME.
THERE WERE DAYS WHEN SHE BEGAN
HER DAY WHILE OTHERS WERE ASLEEP.
BY THE TIME ALL WERE AWAKE THERE
WERE BISCUITS THAT'D MAKE BIG MEN WEEP.
THERE WAS FRESH CHICKEN FRIED AND FLOUR GRAVY
AND BACON AND SOME HOMEMADE SYRUP.
THERE WAS FRESH MILK TO FILL YOUR BELLIES
AND MAYHAW JELLY TO WRAP IT UP.
WHILE OTHERS WERE GETTING READY THE MULES,
SHE'D CLEAN UP THE BREAKFAST DISHES,
AND ALL WOULD GO TO THE FIELDS TO WORK
THE CROPS WITH HOPE-FILLED WISHES.
NOW, ON SUNDAY SHE'D TAKE HER BROOD
TO THE CHURCH SO THEY COULD HEAR,
THE WORD OF GOD COMING DOWN TO MAN
AND THE SON OF GOD WHO DRAWETH NEAR.
SHE LIVED A LIFE FULL OF WORK AND TOIL
AND BY DOING SO, SHE SERVED AS AN EXAMPLE.
HER LOVE FOR THE LORD WAS EVIDENT IN HER LIFE
HER LOVE FOR HIM AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS WAS
AMPLE.
THE PIONEERS WERE USED TO MEN'S WORK
FOR THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH MEN TO DO IT ALL.
SO EVERYONE WAS READY TO GO TO WORK
WHEN THE FAMILY HEARD THE ELDER'S CALL.
SHE WAS USED TO HARD WORK ALL HER LIFE,
IN CHILDHOOD, ADULT AND MARRIAGE TOO.
THOUGH SHE WAS HUMAN AND SHOWED IT SOME
SHE NEVERTHELESS SHOWED LOVE SO TRUE.
SHE ENDURED MANY HARDSHIPS IN HER LIFE,
BUT IT NEVER STOPPED HER FROM GOING TO CHURCH.
EVEN AFTER HER HIP JOINT DETERIORATED
SHE TRAVAILED THROUGH LIFE WITH HER CRUTCH.
SHE RAISED HER SIX LIVING CHILDREN ON GOOD
COOKING, CHURCH, CHORES, AND HARD WORK.
IT WAS A GOOD LESSON FOR US ALL
TO DO A GOOD JOB AND NEVER SHIRK.
EVEN THOUGH WE WILL MISS HER ALL OUR LIVES
SHE'S LEFT BEHIND SOME GRAND MEMORIES
THAT WILL LINGER IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ETERNALLY,
AUGUST 7,1998
LOLA TRAVIS EVANS
BORN MARCH 13,1907Hemphill, Tx.
DIED AUGUST
4, 1998 Florien, La. Funeral August 7, 1998
A FRIEND TO GROW UP WITH
Carl Evans
08-08-2000
I remember many years ago when I was a young lad,
I had a special friend who always made me glad.
Even when I acted bad, she kept on loving me.
Our friendship grew through the years and will continue eternally.
We went our separate ways to earn a living and raise a family,
but she's always been so kind and sweet and lovingly.
Now our hairs have turned to gray and wrinkles cover our faces,
but my heart is always thrilled by her loving embraces.
One day, we shall see an end to our lives down here,
then we will cross over to hear the angels cheer
What a glorious time that will be for us all,
walking on those golden streets and listening to the trumpets call.
We will gather around that throne to worship our King.
Our hearts will be filled with praise and our voices lifted to sing.
My wish for all is for them to find so sweet a friend
that will love and encourage them til the very end.
For now, there's still some time for you to find your friend,
to touch and bless your life until your breathing ends.
So, my dear and loving friend when you read these words of mine,
remember the joys we've shared since our hearts were entwined.
We hopefully have many years yet to live for our Lord down here.
Let us be about our Master's cause and bring other souls some cheer.
written for Cookie Cook Leach
DOWN ON BULL BAYOU (TORO CREEK)
by carl evans
3/1996
I had no choice of where I was born,
but I thank God that I'm a son,
born to poor folks down on the farm,
growing up in the country without harm,
working in the fields by light of day,
walking in steps of the Narrow Way.
There were times for work and some play
but we went to church on Sunday.
I learned some good lessons to heed
that established my moral creed.
There were some times of foolish play,
jumping in the piles of hay,
sneaking into watermelon fields
for a tasty bite to "steal"
Momma dusting my pants with a switch
to remedy my wayward itch.
When we had time, we'd go to the creek,
it always came at the end of the week,
tussling with others to grow strong,
elders watching, lest we went wrong.
Oh the memories we did share
when we could run free of care.
Many things were learned on that creek bank,
some of them, we have God to thank.
Those lessons we've carried through life,
they seem to help us deal with strife.
So, when you feel low down and out
go to Bull Creek and jump about,
erase the lines from off your face
and spend some time in that cool place.
Then go back to that old rat race
fending ups and downs with God's grace.
THE CALL OF THE WHIPPOORWILL
by carl evans 6/1997
Out in the country and down the road a ways,
lies our farm place where the whippoorwill plays.
In the afternoon and evening you can hear them sing,
as we sit on the front porch and enjoy our old swing.
It's soothing to sit and listen in the cool evening
after the day's work has been done and the heat is lessening.
Their call is a lonesome one so many people say,
but it sure does add flavor to a good country day.
I've never seen one in all of my years
but their tune sure sounds good to my country ears.
It's in the spring months when they mostly appear,
and I treasure that time and hold it so dear.
God gives to us the music of HIS creation
to brighten the days of life's duration.
How bleak our personal lives would surely be
if we could not enjoy what HE's given us to see.
AS THE DAYS GO BY
by Carl Evans
ONCE UPON A TIME HE HAD BEEN A HEALTHY MAN
WITH A FAMILY OF LOVE AND A LITTLE PIECE OF LAND.
HE'D WORKED MANY YEARS TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY,
THINKING GRAND THOUGHTS OF HIS FUTURE DESTINY.
DREAMS OF GRANDEUR AND SUCCESS FILLED HIS MIND
NEVER NEEDING TO WORRY OR LOOKING BEHIND.
HE'D LIVED HIS LIFE IN HIS OWN FASHIONED WAY,
NEVER THINKING OF WHAT HE WOULD FACE ONE DAY.
THEN CAME THE AGE AND PROBLEMS OF ALL KIND
BUT HE ENDURED IT ALL UNTIL IT TOUCHED HIS MIND.
HE FORGOT THE ONES HE HAD LOVED SO VERY MUCH,
AND WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO RECEIVE THEIR TENDER TOUCH.
THEN ONE DAY WHEN THEY COULD CARE FOR HIM NO MORE
THEY TOOK HIM TO THE "HOME" AND LEFT HIM AT THE DOOR.
THEY VISITED HIM WHEN THEY COULD FIND THE TIME
AFTER ALL, HE WOULDN'T KNOW THEM IN HIS MIND.
THEN THE DAY CAME WHEN HE WENT TO MEET HIS MAKER,
THE ONLY ONES THERE WAS THE STAFF & UNDERTAKER.
THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL DAWNED BRIGHT AND CLEAR,
WITH JUST A FEW OF THE FAMILY HE'D LOVED SO DEAR.
THERE WERE A FEW TEARS THAT ESCAPED THEIR EYES
WHETHER IT WAS SADNESS OR THE SUN IN THEIR EYES.
WHEN HE WAS LOWERED INTO THE PREPARED GRAVE PLOT,
THE FAMILY WAS GONE AND THE BODY WAS LEFT TO ROT.
IF THIS POEM HAS GOTTEN YOUR ATTENTION,
PLEASE FEEL COMPASSION WHEN THE AGED ARE MENTIONED.
FOR ONE DAY IF WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH DOWN HERE,
WE'LL BE IN SUCH A STATE AND KNOW WHO LOVED US DEAR.
LET JESUS CLEANSE AND FILL YOUR SINFUL SOUL
THEN YOU CAN BE A HELP TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL WHOLE.
THE EAGLE IS STILL FLYING
by Carl Evans
10/17/2001
With all that's happened lately, the world wonders if we're strong
enough to fight back the foes that have dealt us so much wrong.
The Eagle is still flying high above this lonesome land
looking around for enemies and helping the weaker man.
We still believe in freedom and will fight for moral rights
to help this land of ours to keep on shining the lights.
No matter what you try to do to this nation of mine
we'll keep on working hard and letting the freedom light shine.
We've given help to many throughout this old sinful land
and had it thrown back at us by evil rebellious hands.
Ask yourself- where would you be if we had not shown mercy
and gave many dollars to free you from adversity?
How many nations have been helped by the love of the U S A?
How many have seen the light and are walking a new way?
We've done our best in helping others to have a better day
and will continue to do so for that's the American way.
But don't think we are easy for that's a foolish notion.
If you think we're weak, wait til our forces get in motion.
So, beware of the evil intentions of all of you
no one escapes from threatening the red, white, and blue.
WHAT HAPPENED?
by Carl Evans 7/2003
What happened to the good old USA
that'd cause it's people to forget the way?
It was a nation founded for freedom and rights,
but somewhere along the way we've lost that light.
We've allowed selfishness to cloud our own minds
and have left those great values somewhere behind.
What happened to that which parents should teach,
so future generations can be reached?
Train your children in the way they should go
and when they are grown, the right path they'll go.
Have we been so busy fulfilling our goals
that we forget the many needy souls?
They need to see the love that only God can give
and receive forgiveness so in Heaven they'll live.
May we be the shining lights that the world needs
and be the willing vessels for God to plant HIS seeds.
We have the power to fulfil God's own will,
if we will by the Holy Spirit be filled.
|