BE ENCOURAGED!

A Collection of Inspirational Poems

Edward Paz
 Table of Contents

A Letter of Introduction

Inspirational Poems

Risk …… 4

Wait …… 6

Endure …… 8

One Step …… 10

Two Pains …… 12

What I See …… 14

What is Your Dream? ...... 16

I Find Joy in My Journey …… 18

The Faithfulness of the Few …… 20

Your Greatest Value Revealed …… 22

Have Patience With Your Process …… 24

Be Encouraged! …… 26
Dear Friend,

On most days, I am faced with some level of uncertainty,

worry, hesitation and fear in regards to the direction my life is
headed. I often times stress over whether or not I am doing work
that is worthwhile. I question whether or not I will ever become the
person I envision myself being. I wonder if my dreams will ever
come true.

Do you face similar challenges?

When I am overcome by these feelings of self-doubt and

lack, I usually begin writing words of encouragement to uplift my
spirits and strengthen my soul. I write and arrange words in such
a way that remind me of who I am, and each time they challenge
me to go forward for just one more day.

It is my hope that the very same writings that have

encouraged me throughout my journey of life would do the same
for you. It is my intent that these “inspirational poems” would
breathe life into your dreams, purposes and ambitions. It is my
prayer that each time you read these words to follow that you
would be encouraged!

Enjoy!

Edward Paz
August 2010
 Risk
There is a next step
that you wish to take.
A leap
you know you should make.

The abyss that awaits

is as dark as the night
but wasn’t it by risk
that we finally discovered flight?

If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile,

there will be times when he must risk everything by
his leap in the dark.
Oswald Chambers

The dangers of life are infinite and among them is

safety.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 4
 Wait
Your desired results
have yet to come
but don’t fret
it’s not that they’re late.

Sometimes
the delay is only a sign
that for now
you just have to wait.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and
not faint.
Isaiah the Prophet

People who can’t wait for the promise don’t get the
promise…stay on one place long enough to see the
miracle.
Matthew Barnett 6
 Endure
The dream you have dreamt
will come to pass
but first you must prove
through the hardship you’ll last.

For every great dream

has been accompanied by strife.
Aren’t you aware?
Without pain…there is no new life.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your

way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you
know that when your faith is tested, your endurance
has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your
endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and
complete, needing nothing.
St. James

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will
endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.
Og Mandino
8
 One Ste p
The dream I have within
is still many miles away.
My goal is in the distance.
How far I cannot say.

But of this one thing I’m sure

in time I’ll find my way.
As long as I’m committed
to take one more step each day.

Little by little, one travels far.

J.R.R. Tolkien

He who deliberates fully before taking a step will

spend his entire life on one leg.
10
Chinese Proverb
 Two Pains
I have come to discover
that with dreaming comes pain.
Two types in particular
two kinds I can name.
The first I will mention is
The Pain of Pursuing.
It comes shortly after
you find yourself moving.
Moving towards your great dream
will bring this pain on
in many shapes and sizes
different faces it will don.
Obstacles and Roadblocks
Criticisms and Fears
Doubts and Distress
and many times Tears.
The Pain of Pursuing
is real to my core.
But as much as it hurts
the second pain aches more.
This second pain is known as
The Pain of Not Doing.
You will feel it inside
when instead of doing, you’re viewing.
Watching others pursue
I’d rather regret the things I have done than the the dreams they possess
things I have not done. though you desire so much more
instead you do less.
Lucille Ball
The Pain of Not Doing
will leave you empty inside.
Untapped talent and potential
a longing to be alive.
When a cause comes along and you know in your
In the final analysis
bones that it is just, yet refuse to defend it; at that from one of two pains you will choose.
moment you begin to die. And I have never seen so From one, you just may win.
many corpses walking around talking about justice. From the other, you’re sure to lose.

Mumia Abu-Jamal 12
 What I See
I see you not as you are
but as you will be.
For who you are now
is just a sneak peek.

Only a glimpse of your greatness

is what others view
But I see the masterpiece
that’ll one day be you.

Influence and Impact.

Compassion and Love.
Lives blessed by the gifts
given to you from above.

Passions expressed.
Talents revealed.
It is through your great dream
that the world will be healed.

Your purpose fulfilled

it will be a great day.
But as I conclude
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us one last thing I must say.
anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things
The beauty I see
he planned for us long ago. will only shine through
if in the depths of your heart
Paul of Tarsus you believe in it too.

The most delightful surprise in life is to suddenly

recognize your own self worth.
Maxwell Maltz
14
 What is Your Drea m?
What is your dream?
Your purpose and your passion?
From birth it was deposited.
From birth it has been within.

What is your dream?

Your greatest heart’s desire?
Take the time to seek it and receive it.
For intentional thought it does require.

What is your dream?

Your burden for our land?
So many changes must take place.
The world is waiting for your hand.

What is your dream?

Your greatest act of service?
You must act here, you must act now.
There’s no time to be nervous.

What is your dream?

Will you make a move and pursue?
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream Or will you one day see another living it out…
fulfilled is a tree of life. and wish that it was you?

King Solomon

I’d prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest,

with visions to be realized, than lord among those
without dreams and desires.
16
Kahlil Gibran
 I Find Joy in the Journ ey
Have you ever felt the tension
between who you are today
and who you’d like to be?

Have you ever been discouraged

by the progress you have made
and the progress you’d like to see?

I know the frustration.

I’m familiar with the stress.
I wish I had much more.
But instead I have much less.

So how do I fight through

when all I see is lack?
How do I stay focused
and keep myself on track?

I find jo y i n t he j our ne y.

The lessons. The experiences.

The people along the way.
The successes. The victories.
The triumphs of each day.

Even through the difficulties

it’s gratitude I feel.
Because after my season of suffering
The journey is the reward. a refined character I’ll reveal.

Chinese Proverb Embrace the present and seize the moment

to these two things I vow.
For not another day will I be blind
to the joys that surround me now.

Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering

involved, not in the victory itself.
Mahatma Gandhi
18
 The Faithfulness of the F ew
There is a call that is on your life,
a specific purpose for which you were made.
You have a reason for living.
Don’t let your destiny fade.

Your dream it is within you.

You were created for it just right.
You have everything you need to make your purpose a reality
but you have to be willing to fight.

Fight through your feelings – you must.

Because when your assignment has been made known
it won’t be long, the time will soon come
when you will start to feel alone.

Will anyone help me?

Will it ever be completed?
Will there be enough money?
Or will I just end up defeated?

I do not have these answers,

but there is one thing that I know –
As you are absolutely faithful to your call
provision, strength and inspiration always seem to show.

I call this faithfulness:

The Faithfulness of the Few
Because the past has clearly shown,
only a few will make it through.

Make it through doubts and make it through fears

Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason not many will do it.
once accepted, despite your changing moods. Most will never complete what they were created to do
because they choose not to press on, they choose not to work through it.
C.S. Lewis
Those who will stay faithful to their call, faithful through it all
there will only be a few.
So in closing, I kindly ask…
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, Will one of the few be you?
but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
20
Anatole France
 Your Greatest Value Revealed
The car that you drive, whether fancy or not
has nothing to do with your worth.
For your value is not found in the things that you own,
but in the “gift” you were given at birth.

The house, the job, even the multiple degrees

they do not tell the whole story.
More important to know is when you were conceived,
Inside you there was placed glory.

But if this is true then why do you pursue

all this stuff to give your life meaning?
I would venture to say it is only because
you have yet to see yourself gleaming?

Gleaming? Yes…gleaming!

If you were only aware of your shine within

your masterpiece yet to be played
you would focus not on the things of this world
but on that something for which you were made.

“Jack of all trades and master of none” –

I tell you this won’t be your fate.
In this life time you will discover and display
I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who that work in which you’ll be great.
is sending a love letter to the world.
And when your days are over
Mother Theresa and your life on this earth has been sealed
you can be sure that the world would have seen
your greatest value revealed.

Everyone has the power of greatness. Not for fame

but for greatness. Because greatness is determined
by service.
Martin Luther King Jr. 22
 Have Patience With Your Process
How long will it take
till I finally see
the one in the mirror
who I dream to be?

How long will it take

before others know
my value within?
When will it show?

There’s a gift that I have

that I wish to share
but why does it seem
like there’s no one aware?

Delay. Disappointment.
Frustration and Doubt.
So overwhelming.
Is there no shorter route?

Have Patience With Your Process.

The delays you despise

each have a reason.
If you see them all through
you’ll experience your season.

The time will soon come

your contribution on display
but a process comes first.
There’s no other way.

For premature success

has been the downfall of many.
But if you can wait
you’ll find yourself ready.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Like a baby who develops
Aesop nine months before birth
your patience will produce
The key to everything is patience. You get the an invaluable worth.
chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
Arnold H. Glasgow 24
 Be Encoura ged!

Though this life is not easy

though this life is not fair
there’s a God up above
and for you he does care.

For in every challenge

and through every pain
He’s making you stronger
don’t let your faith wane.

Be Encouraged!

Continue to persist
Never cease to strive
There’s greater things in store
that’s why you’re still alive!

A dream. A destiny.
An assignment to fulfill.
And until it is completed
all despair you must kill.

Be Encouraged!

Believe that you can

Believe that you’re able
Because the truth is
Your purpose is no fable!

In all things it is better to hope than to despair. But if these words aren’t enough
and you still feel discouraged
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe just count each of your blessings
and then…

Hope is the power of being cheerful in Be Encouraged!

circumstances we know to be desperate.

G.K. Chesterton 26