For All the Times: A Poem About Forgiveness

For all the times you didn't keep your vows
For all the times you made my heart sing "Ow!"
For all the times you chose to not be there
For all the times you you've chosen to not care
For all the times you made me burn inside
For all the times you hurt me when you lied
For all the times you have ignored my cries
For all the times you put tears in my eyes
For all the times you you didn't give us praise
For all the times you forgot our birthdays
For all the times you cut me to the core
For all the times you made me bleed much more
For all the times you you saw me as a bug
For all the times you didn't give a hug
For all the times you were not at my game
For all the times you chose to pass the blame
For all the times you treated me like trash
For all the times you did nothing but bash
For all the times you made me feel like dirt
For all the times you caused me to feel hurt
For all the times you wouldn't be a man
For all the times you saw me as "less than"
For all the times you yelled and screamed at me
For all the times you showed no faith in me
For all the times you wouldn't hear my plea
For all the times you didn't stand by me
For all the times you refused to rescue
For all the times you ne'er said "I love you"
For all those times know that I forgive you...

~Michael Belliveau~

Hold on Tight to the Stars Tonight

I hear the voices

Telling me I’m alone

I feel helpless and hopeless

I turn my back with tears in my eyes

Walking away I look up to the sky

I see the moon and stars

And I can hear you say

I’m right here

With you always

I may seem far

But I’m so near

Reach for my hand

Hold on tight

I will be with you

All through the night

I called you up

Cuz I missed you

And I couldn’t take it anymore

I told you how I really felt

Begged you no to leave me

The way that I was

So you made this promise

I’m right here

With you always

I may seem far

But I’m so near

Reach for my hand

Hold on tight

I will be with you

All through the night

Shining so bright

In the midnight sky

Were the stars above

Reminding me of your love

As I stared at them knowing

You’d be sleeping under ‘em too

I remember how you said

I’m right here

With you always

I may seem far

But I’m so near

Reach for my hand

Hold on tight

I will be with you

All through the night

~Michael Belliveau~

Jesus Is At My Side

In the darkest hour

I rely on Jesus’ power

For He comes to my aid

I felt afraid and alone

The storm had grown

And I saw a ghost close

“Be of good cheer

There is nothing to fear”

I could hear His tender voice

And so I replied

With a loud cry

That would be sure to reach

“Lord, if it’s You

Have me come to

Where You are:

I want to walk

Where there are no rocks

And only water below”

The waves had taken form

And there, in the midst of the storm

Stood the Saviour

His answer was “Come”

So I walked away from

The safety now behind me

On Jesus were my eyes

I felt like I could fly

But it did not last

For I started to find

That the waves and wind

Had increased much

It was for one moment

That my eyes went

Off of the Christ

Onto the storm around

In came the fear I’d drown

And I began to sink

And so I cried,

“Lord, please come to my side

Please come save me

Or else I will die!”

Jesus heard my cry

And pulled me up

With that came the question

And a saddened expression

“Why did you doubt?”

I knew I had failed

My lack of faith unveiled

And I became speechless

From this though

I now know

Never to doubt again

Always to believe

Jesus will never leave

He is always at my side

~Michael Belliveau~

Your Grace Is Enough

Far beyond worth

Nothing compares on earth

Impossible to obtain

What can I do?

It’s not that I’m not tough

It’s that the bridge isn’t long enough

So I’m here on this side

Until God decides

To turn the tide

So many jump in the river

And settle for just silver

If only they knew

But there isn’t anything I can do

Except sit long and pray

“Lord, please hear what I have to say

You know my wants

And all of my desires

And Lord, how it tires me”

“To wait for so long

Please help, for I am not strong

I know You will give

The strength that I need”

“And Your grace this hour

Because of Your limitless power

It will be more than enough

More than enough for me

Thank You, Father for hearing this plea. Amen”

And so in the night

After all had turned out the lights

I continued to cry

Carefully wiping each tear from my eye

Until at last I heard the Lord reply

“My child, do not fear

For I the LORD am here

Trust in Me this very hour

Trust in My saving power

~Michael Belliveau~

I Was There

I made a promise to you

To never leave you alone

I have kept my promise to you

Even if it doesn’t always seem like it

I was there before your birth

Before the formation of the earth

I was already there

Though you were completely unaware

I was there on the day you were born

And even as you were waiting

In your mother’s womb

Just waiting to come alive

I was there when you first screamed

I was there when you first shouted

And when you saw the first gleam

Of light you would ever see

I was there as you cried each night

I was not only there for you

But knew exactly what was wrong

And what you were going through

I was there when you first tried to walk

I was there when you fell and cried

I was so very close to you and heard you then

And even the first time you would ever talk

I was there when you almost died

When no one was able to hear you

Though you screamed and cried

I was there protecting you

I was there and I rescued you

From dying that day

I was the one making sure

You were safe all the way

I was there when you came to Me

Seeking My forgiveness

For all of your sins

And I welcomed you into My family

I was there with you in school

On your very first day

When you were too scared

To go out and play with the others

I was there as you continued to grow

And when you cheated on that test

Thinking no one would ever know

But I knew because I was there

I was there the first time you walked away

When you couldn’t take no more

And tried drugs that day

I was there with you

I was there as you turned your back on Me

And dragged My name through the mud

Taking no thought of how I shed my blood

For the things you did say

I was there offering My love to you

Waiting and offering forgiveness

Though you already knew

It was always there, as was I

I was there as you continued

Down the dark path

Though I had saved you from My wrath

You still headed further away

I was there during the hardest times

Even when you were committing

The most terrible of all crimes

I was there with you

I was there for you first heartbreak

And to see you the way you were

It made my heart ache

But I was there listening as you cried

I was there when you got fired

From your favorite job

And when you got hired

For only minimum wage

I was there on your wedding day

Smiling away as you placed the ring

On the hand of the one you love so much

And the one who brings you happiness

I was there enjoying it too

Just like I knew you would

I was there on that wondrous day

Listening to all the excitement

I was there when you had

Your very first child

I was there with you

The first time she smiled

I was there when you came back to Me

Oh, how long I had been waiting

In the distance I could see you coming

And I ran to meet you with open arms

I was there holding you tight

As you confessed your sins to Me

And apologizing for putting up

Such a terrible fight

I was there during the roughest hour

When you cried out to Me saying

“God I have no more strength!”

“I need Your power!”

I was there when all was well

And you were witnessing to others

Warning them of My wrath to come

And the penalty which is Hell

I was there as you stepped into

The pulpit on Sunday

And began to preach My Word

Encouraging others to repent that day

I was there when the doctors

Gave you the terrible news

And they told you there were no options

There was nothing left to choose

I was there in the ambulance

As you were rushed to the hospital

On that unforgettable day

I was there calling you this way

I was there as you took your final breath

And your body gave in to the call of death

But I was with you taking you home

I was there guiding you towards the light

I was there on judgment day

I called out and said

“Bring the Book of Life this way”

I was there as you waited with anticipation

I was there as your name was read

And I got the chance to say

“Well done good and faithful servant”

I was there on that splendid day

I am here with you now

And you with Me Forevermore

Never to be separated again

I am here, present everywhere

~Michael Belliveau~

A Reproof to the Believer

You live your life in sin
And think nothing of it
The Holy Spirit convicts
But still you reject

You said a prayer
At the age of five
So you must fine
No need to change

One foot in the world

One foot in religion

All mouth no motion

All that’s left is commotion

You’re growing fast

And the days steadily pass

Everything is the same

As it was before

You look like the world

You talk like the world

You act like the world

But claim you are not the world

Seen as their own

By the world you’ve known

And still you keep the claim

You are living with no shame

The lies of the world

The lies of the Wicked One

Believe them not

Or you will stay undone

The world looks at you

They understand not what they see

You are the reason for

Their hatred of Christianity

They see no difference

They believe it’s all the same

Because they see you

Someone who is untrue

A new creature comes along

And shows them how

Living in sin is wrong

And how Christ is needed

Their ears are closed

And they want us gone

They tell us to go away

“I’ll be in Heaven someday”

“I am good enough

I really do believe

This Christ Jesus you speak of

I do not want to receive”

“I like the way I live

And will not change

No, I will not turn

I would rather burn”

They tell of how they know you

Living a wicked life

There is no difference they say

They want to live their own way

Dear friend, please

Do not continue

Living the way you do

Live in a way that is true

For when you live this way

You lead others astray

Instead get on your knees

Repent and pray

God will not tolerate

Wickedness forever

The sin that He hates

He must judge

Now you have a choice

A decision to make

Hold on to your sin

Or get rid of all within

No peace will you find

Until you surrender all

It’s time to wake up

And heed to God’s call

~Michael Belliveau~

Praise That Is Due

What can be written
Or what can be said
To give the praise that is due
As I go throughout the day
I strive to live for you
Temptations come my way
You, oh Lord, are my rock
I go to you and there you are
No Lord, You are never too far
With open arms You accept me
Though my sins are many
At times I think I am great
But a prideful heart You said You hate
Because of Your wonderful love
You do correct when I go this direction
Your chastisement is due to my action
How can I show how grateful I am
For all this and all that you do
When I deserve nothing from You?

~Michael Belliveau~