Poetry and Prose
from the Sharon Baptist Church Laureates...
To Encourage those that are new to Christ. To Encourage those that live for Christ and may be experiencing challenging times and to Encourage those that have not yet opened their hearts to Him.
GRANDPARENTS (as recited on Grandparent’s Day - 2010) RAHEEM RAFUIDDEN
Grandparents You have been the fist Of a soulful generation That has knocked holes in racism The foot That has stood the grounds Of a soldiers endless tomorrows Fighting with the spirit of a Joe Louis The courage of a Martin Luther King A Marcus Garvey A Malcolm X A Sojourner Truth The faith of Abraham Cause in your souls you knew That God would bring you though Now Because of you there is No more white only fountains No more Negro bathrooms No more standing in the back Of restaurants to pick up or eat our food No more black men being called “boy” by little white children No more lynching of our innocence And Because of the spirit of your yesterday Our today has a brand new soul “Virginia” Queen of the Ante Bellum South Has its first African American governor And to peak it all We may have out first African American President So that makes me proud to remember the days When I used to put my little shoes in yours To walk around the house And today In that same ole spirit vow to continue walking in your footsteps To make the light of my children’s tomorrow As bright as you have made mine today.

Bondage
Bondage
Bondage
Bondage
Had become the call of my soul
Screaming from my flesh
Crossing over into my spirit
As I've wept in my sleep
Wearing on the inside
The chains & images
Of psychological slavery
That binds the soul
And deafens the voice of the spirit
Calling my name
Bondage
Had become my husbandman
And the chains
On the arms of my salvation
Rattled in my will
Until I know longer knew the Lords name
But in the shadows of my past
Lied in a manger
Prayers
Upon prayers
Upon prayers
From the souls of my ancestors
Who stood in the gap
As intercessor
For the children to come
Divinely inspired
To pray in the will of the Lord
For the comforter
The spirit of truth
To work in the souls of the children
Of tomorrow
Raheem Rafiuddin

He Paid The Price
He begun paying the price
The moment is soul touched flesh
Crossing over into a world
Only meant
For the soul of men
But still Remaining
Emanuel
Sacrificing portions of His omniscience
To become the Lamb
Where the essence & luminescence of His spirit
Came forth in a star
As He lied in a manger
Bread of life
Light of the world
While the love & light of His soul
Pierced the elements
And began drawing all men
Unto Him
As the bright & morning star
Sacrificial Lamb
Unto the world
Where process & preparation
Had begun setting the stage
For the Son of man
Son Of God
King of Jews
To pay a ransom
A price
That will set the soul of men free
`In the act of becoming
Justified
Sanctified
Glorified
Opening the doors unto men
To become blood washed believers
As He began taking the trek through the Via Dolorosa
Step after step
After step
After step
Heading toward Golgotha
The place of skull
The hills of Calvary
Where He chose to become sin
Fulfilling the prophesy
Allowing men
The very ones that was created by Him
For Him
Through Him
To nail Him
To a cross
To die
Defeat death
And save all mankind
raheem rafuiddin

I Plead The Blood
After rummaging through the closets
Of my lifes experiences
Picking up old garments
From Good & bad relations
Making an endeavor
To sort out things
And finally get rid of
The things that has been cluttering up my souls closet for years
It's spring cleaning time
So I plead the blood
Over every garment I've worn in my past
That has too many holes it
To carry me into tomorrow
I plead the blood
Over the filth
These garments has left in my soul
I plead the blood
Over the garment
I use to rock & wear
That caused me to forget
Who I am
And whose I am
I plead the blood
Over the chao's & confusion
Hovering over my soul
I plead the blood
On the shoes I've worn
That has lead me away from right living
I plead the blood
On the hats I've worn
That I wore backwards
Hurting the people around me
And now
With a clean closet
Clean heart
And a clean mind
I put on the garments of praise
And from under my new hat
I will shout unto the Lord
And give thanks
Hallelujah !
Raheem Rafiuddin

A Sinners Prayer - Raheem Rafuidden
Oh Lord God
For I have sinned
And sinned
And sinned
And sinned
And my sins are ever before me
Reminding me of my trespasses against Thee
So now I seek out your grace
Your mercy
Acknowledging Jesus
As my Lord and Saviour
Your only begotten Son
Whom lived
Died
And rose from the dead
Giving sinners like myself
HOPE
In salvation & ressurection
Through the aid of the Holy Spirit
To rise from damnation
To eternal life
In the kingdom of a God
Whose LOVE
Surpasses all understanding
Allowing us to become the object of His affection
As His selection
From those of the world...
 Loving
How can you love someone
But not give love to them
That's like faith without works
Having the energy of love
Without the spirit that embodies it
Is like food with no substance
Love should fill the heart
Like the spirit fills the soul
Purging the essence of whatever it touches
Relinquishing that body
Of all lower base desires
Ego
Pride
And all harmful thoughts
That could pierce the soul of that love
And make it bleed
Till it hurts
And hurts
And hurts
And hurts
You see
True love nourishes
Provides
Protects
Gives freely
And forgets about self
Because love is God
And out of His likeness that He created us in
We should love like the essence of the blood
That drips from the cross
Purging & purifying
Until there is nothing to be seen but love
Dripping from your soul
Like the wombs of Christ from the cross !
Raheem Rafiuddin

GOD'S WORD
Is the silent sound of the universe
Echoing through the essence
Of the tangible
And the intangible
Realms of the unforeseen
Manifestations
Of God
That pierces our souls
With the actual visage
Of
The living truth
" The Kingdom Is At Hand "
Causing me to reach from deep within my soul
With the clean hands that allows me to touch God
From the spirit of the word living inside me
Squinting through the lid
Of my pineal gland
Seeking a glance
Of the word
Living in the word
That speaks to the word
Living inside me
God's Word
The face of salvation
Deliverance
Justification
Sanctification
Glorification
And the free flowing waters
That anoints
Like the dews of Herman
That will soak the skirts
Of your garments
And set your soul free...
RAHEEM RAFUIDDIN

Ascending - Raheem Rafuidden
When the Lord uses me to save
A lost soul
I momentarily hear
The sounds of my past
Breathing in the soil
Of a distant grave
Reminding me
That
Salvation & resurrection
Is a gift
That eternalizes love
Birthing my mortality
Into immortality
Raising my soul from the grave
To life
Taking me beyond the knowledge
Of good & evil
Rooting in my soul
The tree of life
To bare the fruits
Of the spirit
And began yelling in the wilderness
The way
Unto the Lord...
Dreamer - Raheem Rafuidden

Who told you you could'nt dream
You see
Some Queens have wished upon stars
Some have become stars
And some have simply followed stars
Not realizing that a dream can fall to the wayside
And become a dream within a dream
Because the spirit of the dream
Was'nt attached to the spirit
That gives us the dream
So wake up my Queen
And have a relationship with the dreammaker
Cause nothing comes to a sleeper
But a dream...
The Craftsman - Raheem Rafuidden

As I've risen in degrees
Now ready to untie the latchets of my souls sandals
To stand on Holy ground
In the presence of the Lord
Triangulating the compass in my soul
East in my square
273 degrees
In the light
Where the souls of the upright
Begins a masterly work
In the likeness of Hiram Abiff
Who've made the ruffians
His footstool
And now
With trowel in hand
I spread my love
To the pasture
Where God's children graze
In the endless spirit of endless days
The Joyful Hand

The joyful hand
Is upon you
Ole broken soul of todays trouble
Can't you see it
It's the hand that binds
The hand that consoles
The hand that molds
The hand that holds you in your sleep
The hand that feeds you
The hand that nurtures you
The hand that preserves you
The hand that holds back the grave
Can't you feel it
The tender touch of it's tissue like fingers
Wiping away your tears
Healing the wombs
That came from the loss of your parent
The loss of your child
Can't you feel it
In your hand
When you just need one
Or simply on your shoulders
Pulling you into His bossom
Rubbing your souls back like Grandma
To merely nurture the child in your spirit
So whenever choas & confusion
Consumes your day
" Remember "
There's a man name Jesus
With a Holy hand
That's also a healing hand
That becomes a joyful hand
In the maraculous way He touches us
On the inside...
Raheem Rafiuddin
Be Encouraged

Be encouraged Queen
God's hand is on the shoulders of your life
His spirit is ever present
AS is
In your joy
And in your pain
So just call on His name
And allow your soul to fall in the spirit
Of His bossom
And your find His blessed assurance
To be the strength in your life
His grace & mercy
Covering you
While the splendor of His love
Carries you through the dark tunnels
Where the walls that once protected you
Have fallen
So be encouraged Queen
Because like Nehemiah
God's spirit
Will help you rebuild
All the walls that have fallen in your lifes triumphs
And through His grace
He will take you to the promise land
Where the spirit of His covenant
Will be the essence of your victory
So be ye encouraged Queen
Because His angels are before you
Clearing the way
And His Son is behind you
To aid you in the direction
Of the path He has chosen for you
So please
Be Encouraged !
Raheem Rafiuddin

Sounds - Raheem Rafuidden
I want you to
Plug your ears to your soul
Listen to the sounds of beaten mothers
Molested children
Homeless families
Listen to the sounds of the deaf
Who's world is on mute
Left to hear with their eyes
And speak with their hands
Listen to the sounds of crackfiends
Speaking to the world through glass pipes
Their voice screaming in the wilderness
Echoing through glass tubes
Listen to the sounds of oppression & poverty
Yelling through the soul of project doors
Voices filtered by welfare checks & foodstamps
Where street corners become tombs
For young black men
Trapped in psychological chains
That bind them from the spirit of the Lord
Where young girls
And beautiful black women's voice
Is only heard through the sounds of their flesh
So I'm asking the chosen of the Lord
To still their minds
Still their souls
And listen to the sounds of the Lord
Beneath all the chao's & confusion
Beneath all the pain & sadness
Beneath all the soul-felt degradation
Of our oppressed & downtrodden
Brotha's & sista's
And hear the sounds of the Lord
Whispering from His Holy hills
Into the spirit of His chosen
The heirs of His kingdom
With the oil dripping from your beards
To the skirts of your garments
Tighten your breastplate
Grab your sword
Your shield & buckler
And let the sound of His word
Be spoken into the spirit Of His lost sheep

God's Promises - Raheem Rafuidden
God's promises
Is hidden in the shadows of His truth
In the upward trek
Of Jacob's ladder
In the climb
From mortality
To immortality
Beyond the wheel
Of Ezekiel
To the revelation
Of the pale horse
God's promises
Is seated in the soul
Of righteousness
In the bounty
Of the upper room
Where my spirit drinks
From the chalice
The oil
Of God's annointing
And recieves the bread
Of life
God's promises
Is in the fountain
Of the blood
In the angle of the square
That points our compass
To the hills
From whence our help comes
God's promises
Is written on the very walls
Of our souls
Revealed by the aid of the Holy Spirit
As our walk becomes parallel
To the arc of our destiny
In the Lord...

MY FRIEND IS ONE WHO NEVER COMPLAINS
WHO HELPS ME ALONG EACH AND EVERY DAY
NO MATTER WHAT THE CHALLENGE – HE IS THERE FOR ME
HE NEVER SAY ‘NO’ OR “I DON’T HAVE THE TIME”
HE JUST ANSWERS AND SAYS “WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?”
I TELL HIM MY TROUBLES AND ALL MY THOUGHTS
BOTH GOOD AND BAD BECAUSE I KNOW HE HELP ME OUT
HE SAYS TO ME “DON’T WORRY YOURSELF
BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY WORKED IT OUT”
THANK YOU LORD FOR YOU ARE A TRUE FRIEND
ONE THAT WILL LAST UNTIL THE END
SHEDRICK McCALL
 DAY BY DAY WITH GOD
I THANK YOU LORD DAY BY DAY
FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR ME EACH DAY
BECAUSE ONLY YOU CAN SEE WHAT’S IN STORE FOR ME EACH DAY
SO I GIVE YOU PRAISE FOR WHO YOU ARE
BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU LORD THERE WOULD BE NO JOY
SHEDRICK McCALL

Home
Father I come before you
In the name of the Son
Triangulating of my square
East
In the square around my soul
Treading the path up Jacobs ladder
With clean hands
Seeking the portal
To the Mount of Olives
Where I can prostrate my soul
On Holy ground
In the presence of the King
To be consumed by His glory
As the anointing falls
And the consummation of my soul & spirit
With the Husbandman takes place
And the whole of my existence becomes a shout
Resting in the womb
Of the eternal parent
As I'm birthed in my Holy body
Sanctified into a new creation
Eternally in the body of Love...
Raheem Rafiuddin
LIFE – SHEDRICK McCALL

LIFE IS FOR LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME
LIFE IS FOR FORGIVING, FOR WE KNOW NOT THE THINGS WE WILL DO
LIFE IS FOR REMEMBERING THOISE THINGS THAT BROUGHT UIS LOVE JOY AND PAIN
IN LIFE WE CAN’T GO BACK TO EITHER CHANGE OR CORRECT THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE
ONLY LEARN FROM THEM AND MOVE ON
LIFE CONTINUES GOOD OR BAD; HAPPY OR SAD
WE MUST PRESS ON UNTIL THE END; PRAYING FOR WISDOM AND SEEKING KNOWLEDGE
THE FAIRNESS OF LIFE NEVER EXISTED
BUT WE CAN REMAIN STRONG EVEN IN THIS UNFAIR WORLD
DO WHAT YOU CANTO MAKE A DIFFERENCE EACH DAY
YOU SEE GOD GAVE THIS WORLD TO US TO BE IN CHARGE
SEEK HIM EVERY DAY AND HE WILL MAKE A WAY
YOU SEE TIME ENEVER CHANGES, BUT ALL THINGS DO
TRUST ONLY IN GOD TO SEE YOU THROUGH
To One In Sorrow by Grace Noll Crowell
Let me come in where you are weeping, friend, and let me take your hand. I who have known a sorrow such as yours can understand. Let me come in. I would be very still beside your grief. I would not bid you cease your weeping, friend; tears bring relief. Let me come in. I would only breathe a prayer and hold your hand; For I have known a sorrow such as yours and understand. Submitted by: Maegertha Mixon
I meet God in the morning and go with him through the day, Then in the stillness of the night before sleep comes I pray That God will just take over all the problems I can't solve; And in the peacefulness of my sleep my cares will be dissolve.
So when I open my eyes to greet another day, I'll find myself renewed in strength and there will open up a way To meet what seemed impossible for me to solve alone; And once again I'll be assured I am never on my own.
For if we try to stand alone we are weak and we will fall, For God is always greatest when we're helpless, lost, and small. But no day is unmeetable if, on rising, our first thought Is to thank God for the blessings that His loving care has brought.
For there can be no failures or hopeless, unsaved sinners If we enlist the help of God, who makes all losers winners, So meet him in the morning and go with him through the day; And thank Him for his guidance each evening when you pray. And if you follow faithfully this daily way to pray, You will never in your lifetime face another hopeless day
MAN OF PROMISE RAHEEM RAFIUDDIN
Does Man In his post-mortal consciousness Comprehend the Eternal Covenant The destiny of Christ Which each covenant are centered On the path toward light Man born in sin From the legacy of his father (Adam) Fallen like the defiled angels Reaching for the promise Of the covenant Written on the walls of their very souls Seeking to look beyond the veil And lie in the arms Of glorification and sanctification Clearing the apostasy Through the covenant of works Which takes his soul to the covenant of grace On his knees before the Father As a risen child of His mercy

HOW CAN MAN RAHEEM RAFFIUDIN
How can man After being forged by the light Harbor darkness In the womb of his soul When he is a star Made to shine on two realms Imputing through his vessel Light or darkness Which feeds The material and spiritual Which becomes the substance Of two intertwining vessels How can man God’s star-child The copula Of two worlds Touched By His grace and mercy Filled With the Holy Spirit Charged By the covenant Of the Christ-child Be cognizant But not capable Of harnessing the Will And reaching the exultation of freedom Which takes him into THE Glorification and Sanctification Of the upper room
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH RAHEEM RAFIUDDIN
Jesus said: He is the truth, the light, the way. And He also states; no man comes unto the father except by Him. You see, the essence of this is felt when we began to first trust, believe & later understand the analogy of our most sacred Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
Jesus spoke to us in parables so that only God fearing believers would know and understand the true meaning of His words, so that we could continue to grow and prosper as faithful servants of the most high. Acknowledging our sins and sincere repentence will cause God to cleanse our souls and renew us in His ever saving grace.
To come forthright with truth is to come face to face with Jesus, because He is the truth, God's truth. This is why He sent Jesus to us as Messiah with His message of love and purification. A walk with Jesus is to walk with love on a path that will lead you to inner santity of your soul where the throne of God beccomes apparently clear to those of us whom have become divinely inpired.
Jesus's life exemplified a love of God & man so pure, if studied in the spirit of Love, with the sincerity of the heart, it will lead to a knowledge of God's precepts and the very wisdom derived from these precepts will change your walk, your talk, and every thought, till you're firmly on the path that leads to the kingdom.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE? CRYSTAL MIXON
I put the bright sunshine in the sky and glistened the night with the moon and stars, just for you – but still you don’t believe in Love. I created the birds to sing love songs and the wind to whistle tenderly in your ear – but still you don’t believe in Love. I sent the rain to wash away your sorrow and pain – but still you don’t believe in Love. I put angels on earth to watch over you – and still you don’t believe in Love. I sent my only son to suffer and die for you all because I love you. How can you not believe in Love? If you believe in Me then you believe in Love For you cannot have one without the other. Do you believe in Love?
HOW TO MAKE LOVE RAHEEM RAFUIDDIN
Come to me my Queen hold my hand close your eyes and let me show you how to make love. Like two birds in the trees Having emotional foreplay I wanna hug your spirit and caress your soul Touch your mind with my thoughts And catapult your heart Into a state of emotions that can not be explained in words I wanna show you how to may love without touching The only thing that will be involved is our feelings And the frictions of our hearts The vehemency of emotions that will set your world on fire I wanna show you how to make love like gods and goddesses in heaven like Solomon and Sheba Like the sun touching the skin of the moon And put you in tune With a love that touches more than flesh. I wanna show you how to make love True love A love that makes yesterday become tomorrow And tomorrow becomes forever Let this love become the contents of your dreams Fill the voids in our life Become more potent than the vibes of Venice Stronger than the tip of Cupid’s arrow Let me fill your soul with something other than the embodiment of flesh Let me touch the Queen The spirit of love that god gave you And tenderly ever so softly make love to it Like I was the spirit of love incarnate Immersing myself into the core Of everything that God made you to be Come my Queen Come to me And let me Show you How to make love
THE GREATEST GIFT IS THAT OF LOVE GOD LOOK UPON US AND IT TURNED HIS HEART. FOR THE HUMANS HE CREATED HAD BROKEN HIS HEART BUT IN SPITE OF IT ALL HE STILL LOVES US SO HE GAVE US HIS SON, HIS GREATEST LOVE OF ALL IN THE TWINKLE OF AN EYE AND WITHOUT HESITATION HE REDUCED HIS SON TO BE JUST LIKE HIS CREATION THE SON THAT CAME TO EARTH TO BE THE BRIDGE WE HAD LOST TO REUNITE US AGAIN WITH HIM HE ASKED ONLY ONE THING THAT WE DO TO ACCEPT HIS SON AS HE ACCEPT YOU "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON".
My Prayer : Maegertha J. Mixon.
Our heavenly father who is the maker of all things. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your son that you gave to die on the cross for our sins. Lord sometimes my faith is weak, please help me Lord to be strong give me more faith and understanding of your word. Sometimes I feel so small when I look around me and see and hear so many bad thing that happens. I say to myself, what can do to make a difference. When I see people dying all around the world from little or no medicine, food or clothes and so many other things. Lord please help the mentally ill society has not been good to them. Please help me to understand a lot of thing in the world. Lord I am leaning on your everlasting arms that's fill with love and never gets tired So Lord I will do my part and I know you will do the rest. Amen

'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came Back'. 'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed. Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter. I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!
The light of His face made me cover my head It was Jesus! returning just like He had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound. While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There's only one life and when comes the last call We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

WHY DO WE COMPLAIN SO MUCH? SHEDRICK McCALL
Why do we complain so much? Is it that we feel rejected or neglected? Is it really that important to have what others have? Or is it we just want to have something to say? Or is it we like things out way? It is a shame we waste our day. Watching what others do and say. When really we should be thankful God gave us this day to move forward in our own way. So the next time you start to complain Remember God loves us all the same Control is Him and not in us So remember to trust and not fuss For God is still in control, Not us.
LORD, WHY DID YOU MAKE ME BLACK? Richard H. Bowling
Why Did You Make Me Black Lord .... Lord .... Why did you make me black? Why did you make someone the world would hold back?
Black is the color of dirty clothes, of grimy hands and feet... Black is the color of darkness, of tired beaten streets...
Why did you give me thick lips, a broad nose and kinky hair? Why did you create someone who receives the hated stare?
Black is the color of the bruised eye when someone gets hurt... Black is the color of darkness, black is the color of dirt.
Why is my bone structure so thick, my hips and cheeks so high? Why are my eyes brown, and not the color of the sky?
Why do people think I'm useless? How come I feel so used? Why do people see my skin and think I should be abused?
Lord, I just don't understand... What is it about my skin? Why is it some people want to hate me and not know the person within?
Black is what people are "Labeled" when others want to keep them away... Black is the color of shadows cast... Black is the end of the day.
Lord you know my own people mistreat me, and you know this just ain't right... They don't like my hair, they don't like my skin, as they say I'm too dark or too light!
Lord, don't you think it's time to make a change? Why don't you redo creation and make everyone the same?

GOD'S REPLY Richard H. Bowling
Why did I make you black? Why did I make you black?
I made you in the color of coal from which beautiful diamonds are formed... I made you in the color of oil, the black gold which keeps people warm.
Your color is the same as the rich dark soil that grows the food you need... Your color is the same as the black stallion and panther, Oh what majestic creatures indeed!
All colors of the heavenly rainbow can be found throughout every nation... When all these colors are blended, you become my greatest creation!
Your hair is the texture of lamb's wool, such a beautiful creature is he... I am the shepherd who watches them, I will ALWAYS watch over thee!
You are the color of the midnight sky, I put star glitter in your eyes... There's a beautiful smile hidden behind your pain... That's why your cheeks are so high!
You are the color of dark clouds from the hurricanes I create in September... I made your lips so full and thick, so when you kiss...they will remember!
Your stature is strong, your bone structure thick to withstand the burden of time... The reflection you see in the mirror, that image that looks back, that is MINE!
So get off your knees, look in the mirror and tell me what you see? I didn't make you in the image of darkness... I made you in the image of ME!

What Makes A Dad
A Dad is a person who is loving and kind, And often he knows what you have on your mind. He's someone who listens, suggests, and defends. A dad can be one of your very best friends! He's proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong, A dad can be patient and helpful and strong In all that you do, a dad's love plays a part. There's always a place for him deep in your heart. And each year that passes, you're even more glad, More grateful and proud just to call him your dad! Thank you, Dad... for listening and caring, for giving and sharing, but, especially, for just being you!
~Author Unknown~
|