One Day At A Time Poem by Denis Martindale

'Useless Les' knew that something was missing from his life.
'Useless Les' had heard that the 'missing piece' in our lives
And the tranquil 'missing peace' in our hearts can be found today.
They had been made available for 2,000 years.
The Jesus Jigsaw piece from the Prince of Peace.
A Royal Pardon from the Heavenly Father's Throne!
The gift of eternal life!

His friend, Peter, invited him along to a local Gospel Crusade.
Les agreed, but he didn't make any promises.
So the two guys visited the Gospel Tent and stood still outside,
There for a minute or two, gazing in awe at the size of it.

'People spent hours assembling it just for us! ' Peter remarked.
So the two friends went to the front seats, a few rows back,
To get a better view of the Gospel choir on the stage.
'Amazing Grace' was sung very gently at first,
Then the volume increased as if that's how it should be sung.
Hundreds of visitors had arrived in the following minutes,
Then the choir sang 'How Great Thou Art'.
A few believers stood up and shouted, 'Amen! '

Soon enough, the Reverend began a-preaching,
Solomon Dynamo Jackson began with the Lord's Prayer.
After that, he remarked, 'It's really The Disciples' Prayer! '
People looked a bit taken aback by that statement.
'Jesus was asked by His disciples how they should pray.
So Jesus included the lines about them rather than Himself.
He told them to pray for forgiveness and to forgive others.
When Jesus was crucified, He didn't pray for Himself,
So He could be free of the Cross of Christ.
He prayed for His torturers and His tormentors!

Jesus asked, 'Father, forgive them,
For they know not what they do! '

How many of us could have prayed like that?
Jesus was punched, scourged, and crucified.
Even so, one thief was able to have faith in Him.
One thief who deserved death under Roman laws.
Somehow, beyond millions of people across the world today,
He had faith to believe in the resurrection of Jesus!
He believed, with a sincere heart, in the future Kingdom of Christ!

Faith in the midst of judgment, torture and death!
Faith in the midst of the screaming scoffers and horrifying haters!
Faith in the presence of Mother Mary and disciple John.
Faith! This is the true gold in the greatest story ever told! '

His sermon came to a close, and the choir stood up again.
They switched from the classic hymns to a beautiful pop song,
The song 'ONE DAY AT A TIME! ' was immediately recognised.
Some of the older folks in their seats stood up, too.
They knew the lyrics so well, and the choir waved to them.
The old folks sang along and were absolutely thrilled to do so.

The time had come, it's sometimes called THE HOUR OF DECISION!

The Reverend held back the sudden emotions in his heart.
He had to speak the truth in love while God's anointing was still here.

'I challenge you, each one of you, every person here tonight!
You aren't being crucified like that thief was.
You've got a completely clear head! But have you got faith?
Was Easter just a story to you? Was the New Testament ignored?
Were the prophecies and the miracles for nothing?
The disciples included the man known as Doubting Thomas!
But when he saw the risen Jesus face-to-face,
His life was changed forever! Literally FOREVER!
Not just until the last second of his life on Earth.
He had received the gift of eternal life! A gift, a Royal Pardon!
Can you receive this gift, this Royal Pardon? Well, can YOU! ?

I'm not Billy Graham, he kept saying these words,
The Bible says... That's how Billy Graham would begin to answer...
Not Billy Graham himself, but the Word of God to Mankind.
'Whosoever believes! ' That means that YOU could be saved tonight.'

The invitation was there in plain sight for one and all.
'Useless Les' wanted what God wanted for him,
And that was when Christian faith stirred within him like never before.
God's anointing was upon him and hundreds of others that night.
Two thousand years have come and gone, and yet, and yet, and yet,
God's Royal Pardon is still available today...


Denis Martindale.10th of August 2026.


Here is another Gospel story by the Poemhunter poet Denis Martindale. There was a young man who wasn't skilled at anything he tried, but sometimes, God sees potential in a person beyond their greatest expectations. So, even people like 'Useless Les' can be transformed into someone truly special in God's eyes, if folks like 'Useless Les' are willing...