Responsibility

There's a word that some folks do not know, nor will ever see.
It's a word that's so important:  Responsibility!
It's possible to live and not put it into play,
But you aren't doing yourself a service by keeping it that way.

Too many people can't admit the errors that they've made.
The blame for everything they do, to others is conveyed.
"It's not my fault; it's his, or hers..." they continue to insist
And the act of being responsible, is totally dismissed.

God wants us to be able to admit the things we do...
To be accountable for all those things and then to start anew.
We can't move on until we have reconciled the past
And we can't do that till we admit the errors we've amassed.

And if we keep making excuses for all the things we've done,
We're not following the will of God and His most precious Son.
It really isn't all that hard to own up to it all,
And if you do, you know that you are answering God's call.

We're responsible for all the choices we make every day;
Some distinctly black, or white, but others simply gray.
And if there's some we know were bad, let's just admit it with remorse,
Knowing when we face the truth we stay truer to our course.

I wonder just how long it's been since I have expressed
The miracles and wonders...the joy with which I'm blessed?
Of all the years of all my life, what is happening to be now
Is something that I must relate; put into words somehow.

Yet words are but faint expressions of what inside, I feel.
They cannot describe the awe in me.  My joy, they can't reveal.
One day, as suddenly as life, God placed within my mind
A seed of desire saying, "Leave the old behind."

He gave me understanding so I would know His will.
I believe that this is what He wants, that this, He will fulfill.
He gave me strength that's strong enough to bring this gift about
And reasoned with my mind of flesh, to overcome my doubt.

Impossible!  No!  Not to God!  I  dare now, to believe,
Knowing that a better life is mine now, to achieve.
This miracle is wonderful, more than I ever dreamed,
For from it much great good will flow...lives could be redeemed.

For this, I am so thankful.  More than human words can say!
I have seen the love and power God has chosen to display.
But another thing that is just as great, is what's happening in me.
My heart has lost its hardness and my blind eyes now can see.

Deaf ears hear guidance from my Lord momently, every day.
The fear that had its hold on me has fled.  It's gone away.
My life has been given meaning.  I know now, who I am:
I'm a daughter of my Father and beloved of the Lamb.

God's light has dawned within me, my only will is to obey.
I'm filled with faith and peace and love that grows more everyday.
Two miracles have happened by which I have been blessed:
The one that changed the me that was and great good, God's bequest.

So how do I as human, praise God's Holy Name?
More words don't have the magnitude, His glory to proclaim.
Therefore, they're simply, "Thank You, Lord, for the wonders that You do,
For leading me to where I am and seeing only You."

Each night when I turn out the light and close my eyes to pray,
Frustration builds within me when there just aren't words to say
How truly thankful that I am for all that You have done
In my life and all around me, and the fact You've just begun.

I need to find new, better words to praise and thank You, Lord;
New thoughts and flowery phrases need to be explored.
I want to show You all the things I'm holding in my heart
And hope that they will please You, like a lovely work of art.

You raised me from the asxhes of what my life had been
And put me in a brand, new place where I could start again.
You give me everything I need so I'm able to survive,
But more...You give me faith and trust to not just live, but thrive.

You've placed me where your beauty constantly surrounds me
And given all the things I love to always be around me.
You've taken all the pain and grief that emptied out my soul
And have given me unending joy, which fills the gaping hole.

"Thank You" are such little words and just cannot express
The greatness of my gratitude for Your love and faithfulness;
For the multitude of blessings that You give me every day;
For the knowledge that You're always there to lead me in Your way.

I'm thankful for so many things I can't even count them all
And my only way of telling You is so insignificant...so small.
But all I have is Thank You, Lord, for everything You do.
I love You and I praise You and I live for only You!

Faith is just a matter of believing without doubt;
Of absolutely knowing that God's will, will come about.
It's  sureness in our minds and hearts when we say a prayer...
That certainty within us and around us everywhere.

For nothing is impossible if we can just believe
And keep our minds and hearts on faith of what you will achieve.
The mountain that is in your path may seem to block the way completely,
But with that tiny seed of faith you can cast it in the sea.

Yet you mustn't let a weed of doubt grow among this seed,
Or it will stop the flow of good...that miracle you need.
So constantly you must affirm the wonder that will be
And put all thought of doubt and fear away eternally.

I'm centered, sound and I'm secure
          Within my Source of Good.
I believe with all the faith I have
          All things will be the way they should.

I will make myself a magnet
          And draw the good to me
And I will never doubt, or think
          That it will never be.

My hopes will always be alive
          Within my heart and soul.
I'll nurture them each day I live
          Until I reach my goal.

I believe that all the beauty
          That is in God's setting sun,
Will gently flow into my life
          Until my days are done.

"Peace!  Be Still!"  is all He said to the wind and to the waves
And suddenly there was perfect calm...the elements, He enslaves.
So if He can stop a raging storm so frightening to mankind,
He can also tame the torrests within our hearts and minds.

Why should we attempt to endure our inner raging sea
When He is there to raise His hand and give tranquility?
All it takes is just a moment to close our eyes and pray
For peace and calm within us, and the turmoil will obey.

Praise God for all the wonders He continues to bestow...
His strength when we are weakened and the peace that He makes flow.
It makes me sit and wonder how a person lives
Without taking all the blessing our God so freely gives.

There is something about people
          That I'll never understand:
How we are never satisfies
          With what's already in our hand.

We always seem to think it's greener
          On the other side,
But then, when we cross over
          Find we're still dissatisfied.

No matter what we're given,
          Or how greatly we've been blessed,
That one thing we don't seem to have
          Keeps us on a quest.

Married people wish that they
          Were back where they began;
Single people with that they
          Were sharing life again.

The wealthy know that happiness
          Cannot be sold or bought;
The poor are certain money is
          The happiness they've sought.

We've got to stop and realize
           That God has given to us all,
Everything we need to live...
          The large things and the small.
  
If we'd just count our blessings,
          I'm sure that we would find
The happiness we've searched for
           Is right within our mind.

We take the morning sunrise for granted every day,
Thinking it will be tomorrow, as it was yesterday.
And we take life for granted with that same apathy.
Just because it is today, we think it will always be.

So, as in the days of Noah, we go about our lives,
While the sin and immorality around us grows and thrives.
Maybe we do not approve of what mankind is doing,
But few step forth to show them the evil they're pursuing.

We stay within our comfort zones, not actually perceiving
That by our luke-warm attitudes, it's just death we are achieving.
But, "that's okay!"  "There's lots of time!"  "We can change tomorrow!"
"Time is something we can always beg, or steal, or borrow."

Therefore we sit and watch it...sin abounding without measure,
Indulging in the wickedness of every worldly pleasure.
Do we ever stop to realize that it could be today
When Jesus comes to reap the world and take His bride away?

Just because the promise came a long, long time ago,
Does not mean God's forgotten...that He won't make it so.
Each day more end-time prophesies are becoming evident.
How can we just ignore these things and remain indifferent?

Christ will be  returning!  Of this we may be sure.
We just don't know the year or day or hour it will occur.
But just because we don't know when, does not mean we should rest.
Lives and hearts need changing...sins must be confessed!

Are the pleasures this world offers really worth the awful price,
When Heaven and eternal life are the sacrifice?
When that day comes it will be too late...there will be no place to run.
So while there's time we must make sure we're ready for God's Son.

We can't take life for granted.  We must repent...the end is near!
We've got to have a pure heart when the Savior reappears.
We can't put off 'til tomorrow what we can do today.
Then, when that time does come, we can be carried away.

No matter how secure we are in Father, Son and Spirit,
We're still prey to the "prowling lion", so watch for him and fear it.
Evil's always waiting to devour people who believe
And if our eyes aren't steadily fixed, this goal, he will achieve.

His working are so suble within the minds of man,
Stealing our concentration from God's most perfect plan.
A problem, or a worry, or a ghost from times gone by,
All serve to gain attention and turn our gaze awry.

It's like trying to drive a car, but only looking side to side.
Without watching where we're going, with some obstacle we'll collide.
Or looking in the rear-view mirror and not the road ahead,
We'll end up not where we were heading, but up a tree, instead.

God promised perfect  peace, when upon Him our minds are stayed
And believing in "appearances" is not the message He conveyed.
You'll know when you are seemin them, if something in concerning,
For that's not from oiur Lord and God.  So learn to be discerning.

Anything that takes away the peace of mind we feel,
Is the lion moving in on us with cumming, stealth and zeal.
So quickly turn your mind and heart from things that seem to be
And focus on the Lord, who always sets His people free.

I wonder if God's disappointed in most of us today.
We choose to walk in wickedness, instead of in His way.
He must be disappointed that few of us have sought
To live our lives in righteousness, the way that Jesus taught.

We ignore the many promises that He's so freely given,
Preferring to just "ride along," not caring where we're driven.
God's there for every one of us, if only we would care.
Our troubles and our problems He would so gladly bear.

He's promised He would answer, if only we would ask.
He promised to ease our burdens...lighten ever task.
He said that He would answer every prayer, if we believe
And the pain of living in this world, He would faithfully relieve.

He said to simply call on Him if our cross grew to heavy to bear
And in the mis'ry of our heartaches, He would end the dark despair.
He said, "Knock and it shall open...seek and you shall find,"
But how many of us do not keep these thoughts within our mind.

He promised us eternal life!  What greater love is there
Than what our Lord has offered us?  A joy beyond compare.
With faith that's only just as large as a tiny mstard seed,
We could do all things in Him...accomplish any deed.

Why can't we learn to take God's gifts and use them for His good?
Why can't we gain the faith we need to do the things we could?
We can, if we will put Him first, in mind and soul and heart.
Then all His gifts and promises, to us He will impart.

Almost everyone's a prisoner
          Of something in their mind:
A habit, dream, or memory
          They cannot leave behind.

It's every bit as confining
          As a prison, or a jail,
With walls so high it seems that they're
          Impossible to scale.

A habit we no longer want,
          But we cannot expel
Imprisons us within it
          As though it were a cell.

A long-time ddream that's unfulfilled
          Can also mean oppression,
Binding us to that desire...
          Making it obsession.

A memory can chain us
          To a past that is no more,
Restraining us from opening
          A new and better door.

But we need not be prisoners...
          We can break the chains that bind us
And enjoy the blessed freedom
          Of all the good around us.

I wish that I could write a song
         Of loving adoration
That would echo from the mountaintops
          In joyous celebration

Of praise to our Almighty God
          And the Christ, His Holy Son,
For all He is and ever will be...
          For the wonders He has done.

Words of praise from other's minds,
          Everyday, I hear,
And I wish that mine could sound as sweet
          To my Father's ear.

But in travelling from my heart to hand
          The words become finite.
Not even similar to what my heart would speak
          If to Him, it could recite

Yet is it not the heart of man
          That our Father sees, hears and believes?
The place of truth in His creations
          That He lovingly perceives?

Therefore, I know my praise is known...
          That I am able to impart
All the love and adoration
          That for Hinm, is in my heart!

Every eye shall see Him as our Lord returns to earth
To gather up His people...those made righteous through rebirth.
Every ear shall hear Him...hear His shout of victory!
With the angels and the Trump of God He'll set His people free.

Every mind in Christ shall sing, for they have always known
That Jesus would come back again to gather up His own.
Every heart in Christ shall finally know the meaning of
The magnitude and wonder...the glory of God's love.

Yes, every eye shall see Him, but some will turn away
Refusing to acknowledge Him, having never walked His way.
And every ear shall hear Him, but so many will not heed,
Preferring lives of wickedness in thought and word and deed.

Woe to those whose eyes could see, but close, as if they're blind.
For Jesus will not know them and they'll be left behind.
And woe to those who listen, but do not hear His Word,
For they will surely cry to Him and they're voices won't be heard.

My heart cries out, "Forgive them, Lord, they don't know what they do,
For if they did, they would never turn away from You."
So we must always be prepared, for in the twinkling of an eye
We will all be gathered up to meet Jesus in the sky.

I want so much to be with those Christ takes when He returns.
The glory of that blessed day is the reason my soul burns.
But how could I go with Him?  Why would He take me?
The things I've done, the way I've lived aren't what they ought to be.

I want to live in Spirit with eyes only on His face,
But life, with all its troubles turns my attention to this place.
Mere existence in this world is causing me to sin,
Because I'm weak and do not trust and lack that discipline.

I thought I'd learned to trust Him, no matter what occurred.
I had the power of His strength and the promise of His Word.
I never could have made it through the sadness, pain and strife
Without the living Savior present in my life.

But now, it's like I never knew...as though I'd never seen
The wonder of the presence of the Holy Nazarene.
Is it only in my mind that I am lost and all alone;
That I feel so foresaken by the One whom I have known?

Is He really still beside me where He's always been?
Or has He truly turned away, because of all my sin?
I'm so mixed up and so confused and totally perplexed...
I don't know which way I should turn, or what I should do next.

The one thing that I need the most is to kneel down and pray
For forgiveness of the things I've done...for having gone astray.
But I'm too filled with anguish...with grief and guilt and shame
To kneel down before Him and speak His Holy Name.

Yet isn't that the reason He came to live on earth
To teach us of forgiveness and make us see our worth?
Dear God, my Blessed Savior, forgive me of my sin
And let me feel Your loving face smile on me again.

The Psalmist said to sing to God a new and different song,
One filled with praise and thankfulness to Him, whom we belong.
My song is small Iand humble, with words all sung before,
But these are mine that I cannot keep hidden anymore.

I praise Your Name, my Father, for knowing who I am;
For calling me to seek and find the love of Christ, the Lamb;
For giving me a second chance time and time again,
Forgetting what I've done before...the way that I have been.

I see your Right Hand working in my life from day to day,
Keeping me from falling and making smooth my way.
But even when I'm fearful and doubt that you could care,
You find a way to let me know Your love is always there.

I praise You for the times when just the mention of Your Name
Has lifted me from darkness, depression, guilt, or shame.
And when I get so lost in life I don't know what to do,
I know I can but look to You and You will get me through.

You give me all I need to live here, in this hostile place;
The strength and courage to survive, all wrapped up in Your grace.
And then, as if that weren't enough, You placed in me a hope
That You really have a plan for me beyond my human scope.

I praise You for the bounty you have placed within my hand,
To bring about fulfillment of Your will...so greatly planned.
I only pray I've learned enough to use it as You will,
Not reverting to my selfishness...relying on my skill.

You're more than I could ever want, even more than I desire;
You answer every prayer with so much more than I require.
I praise You for the things You've done that I can't even comprehend,
But most, for being ALL to me...my closest, dearest Friend.

There is a God!

If you've ever marveled at a sunrise, or a rainbow in the sky;
If you've picked out shapes in all the clouds as they're floating by;
If you've been enthralled by the colors in a simple butterfly,
          You know there is a God!

If you wonder at the flowers as they come to bloom each Spring;
If you're awed by all the red and gold of the leaves that Autumn brings;
If you've gazed into the sky as birds have taken wing.
          You know there is a God!

If you've read the Holy Bible and the words that Jesus said,
Then you know what He has planned for us...what's waiting up ahead.
And if you follow all that love...where we're being lead,
          You know there is a God!

If you've ever felt great sadness and you knew you had to pray,
Then you've also felt the great relief as that sadness went away.
You knew then, that at least for now, everything would be okay.
          Because you know there is a God!

It cannot be an accident, all these wonders that we see...
Some great phenomenon that happened, or a strange anomaly.
There's design to all this beauty...a perfect harmony.
          We know there is a God!

Believe!

Take heart, you know you're not alone.
You can face what is still unknown,
Because you are God's very own.
          Don't be afraid...Believe!

Don't always feel that you are wrong.
Pray to God, He'll make you strong.
He's been there with you all along.
          Don't be afraid...Believe!

You can't always know what to do
When the world is caving in on you
And it seems no one's there to help you through,
          But don't be afraid...Believe!

There are times you feel so downcast,
Because you turn to face the past.
But you can be strong...remain steadfast.
          Don't be afraid...Believe!

You may feel you have a broken heart.
Maybe you and your "someone" are far apart.
Well, it's time to make a brand, new start.
          Don't be afraid...Believe!

Just think about this time next year
If you can only persevere...
A whole new life and atmosphere?
          Don't be afraid...Believe!

People will not think of the things
     That soon, Praise God, will be.
Themselves and what's around them
     Are all that they can see.

If only there could be one thought...
     One word that could be said
To make a person want to turn
     And live for God, instead.

There are many "religious" people,
     Who go to Church most every week;
Who tithe, or make confessions,
     Or even turn the other cheek.

They choose their Church the same way
     That they choose the clothes they wear;
As the Pharisees of Jesus' day,
     Self-righteousness is their air.

Then ther're those who know God's name,
     But will not seek what's true.
They won't take time to look, or know
     And don't care what they do.

They take the Lord for granted...
     "He's around, out there somewhere."
They must think that whatever they may do
     He doesn't see or care.

It doesn't bother them to use
     His holy name in vane,
Or neglect their homes and families
     For "things" they can attain.

They do not seem to worry
     If their anger is not controlled
And don't care who it is they hurt,
     Because their hearts are turning cold.

There are those who choose to turn their backs
     On our Holy Lord.
To these, His miracles and majesty
     Are detested and abhorred.

They are truly Satan's children,
     Who can't stand the sight of good
And wouldn't stand in Jesus presence
     Even if they could.

The Jews, God's chosen people,
     Who know Him and what He's done
Refuse to acknowledge Jesus,
     The Messiah, God's own Son.

And there are those who're far away
      Who simply haven't heard
The Good News of salvation...
     The joy found in God's Word.

And last, but oh, so far from least
     Are those blessed few
Who heard God's call, who sought and found
     And who've been born anew.

They invited Christ into their hearts
     And let Him take control
And gave Him only what they had...
     A sin-filled heart and soul.

They didn't even have to change....
     God's Spirit did that for them.
They only had to truly want
     The life that lay before them.

They had to know that it's for them
     Christ died and rose again
And all they had to say is,
     "Here's my heart, Lord, please come in."

What a very little sacrifice
     For what there is to gain:
God's forgiveness, grace and mercy
     And the key to His domain.

There cannot be a greater,
     More wonderful reward
Than to spend all of eternity
   In the presence of the Lord.

There is just one thing that matters:
     Our relationship with God.
He's the only One whom we should
    Please, adore, applaud.

Things here are only temporal...
     All that exists today
Will grow dimmer each tomorrow
     And soon will pass away.

Nothing lasts forever,
     No matter our desire.
Things come our way to teach us
     And then they, too, expire.

If joy lasts for a moment
     A person't truly blessed,
But we must hold it loosly
     For it might soon be repossessed.

And if we've grasped it tightly
     And insist on holding on,
It causes even greater pain
     When it must be withdrawn.

So we take the good that's given us
     And use it for today,
Holding it with open hands
     To release to yesterday.

My Mind is being filled with truth.  He's teaching me His way;
Showing me His loving will and "growing" me each day.
He's teaching me I can control the way I think and feel
And the difference in what "seems to be" and what is true and real.

My Heart, He's filling with His love...His love that's all perfection.
I'm learning to love all mankind with genuine affection.
He's teaching me forgiveness and helping me to see
There can't be room within my heart for pain and jealousy.

My Life is in the hand of God...each "now" is in His care.
Each step I take I am secure just knowing He is there.
I hold my faith in God's own truth...that all things work for good
And know that in His loving way things'll all be as they should.

My World is God's creation.  There is beauty everywhere!
No matter where I look, I see His love and goodness there.
I do not know what lies ahead, or what His will may be
But I believe it will be wonderful...what is good and right for me.

Before me looms a mountain
     That couldn't seem much taller,
But as my seeds of faith have grown
     The mountain's getting smaller.

How wonderful it is to know
     That all will work out right...
That I don't live in darkness,
     But am standing in God's light;

That I don't have to worry
     And I don't have to care,
For any problems that arise
     He's always there to share;

That I am never all alone,
     He's with me all the time
And every hill that's in my path
     He's helping me to climb;

That nothing has the power
     To put me to my knee,
Because I know His loving arms
     Are there, upholding me.

Jesus said, "...with faith as large
     As a tiny mustand seed"
I can overcome all things,
     Accomplish any deed.

Thank you, living Father,
     For my blessings, great and small
And for the faith that it will take
     To make the mountains fall.
    

You've heard it said that every cloud
     Has a silver living
And that above a cloudy sky
     The sun keeps right on shining.

For every problem that exists,
     An answer's also there.
To find it, all you have to do
     Is ask for it in prayer.

In faith, you know that you are heard
     And God will show you what to do
To overcome the problem
     Before it overpowers you.

And when it's through...all over with,
     Amazingly you'll find, it
Happened for your greater good.
     You overcame...outshined it!

A person is like a magnet...
     You draw what you expect
And if you're looking for the worst
     That's just what you'll collect.

But if you see the good things
     And you expect success,
Then that is what will come to you;
     That is what you will possess.

Every day there are decisions
     That we are forced to make.
Some are small, but some affect
     The paths we are to take.

What is it that we listen to
     As we are faced with choice?
Is it doubt, or fear?  Uncertainty?
     Or the wisdom of God's voice?

By opening up our mind and heart...
     By quieting each thought,
We're given light and wisdom;
     The guidance we had sought.

We're freed from any fear and doubt
     And know just what to do
When in prayer, God's love and wisdom
     Eternally, shines through.

There is nothing more important than the love I have for You!
The faith and trust I hold within are solid, firm and true.
My heart is filled with You, my Lord...glory to Your name!
Since I released control to You, my life is not the same.

The agony of living, You mellow with Your love.
That sin that comes from down below, is forgiven from above.
The pain that grows too heavy, You lift from me and share
And my heart that breaks anew each day, You lovingly repair.

Through Your miracles at work each day, You give me hope to live.
Whatever I'm in need of, You know and always give.
I feel Your presence near me everywhere I go
And Your light has filled my being and set my heart aglow.

This is Your Spirit in me...the part I want to be.
The peacefulness of mind and soul...Your sweet serenity.
Your words are all I want to hear...Your grace all I require.
Help me to know Your Holy will and make it my desire.

People who don't know the truth, cannot understand
          How we who do
          Continue to
Put everything in God's hand.

They can't know how it feels to have their sins all washed away;
          To be set free
          From all that we
Did wrong before today.

The weight of cares are lifted and we are made anew.
          Out hands we raise
          To give Him praise
For all that He has brought us through.

Not only has He forgiven us for the sins we have committed,
          He's there for all
          When'ere we call
And our guilt has been acquitted.

It's a matter of our choices...which ones should we make?
          It's all so clear
         If we'd just hear
Which way God's telling us to take.

Sometimes it takes more courage
     Than we think that we possess
To face a situation
     That has brought unhappiness.

But inside each and everyone
     There's courage enough to make it!
We only have to know it's there,
     Call it forth and take it!

"Brave" isn't just for heroes...
     It's for every living man.
We cower only when we're not
     Believing that we can.

God filled us all with courage,
    For He knew we'd have to face
Many trials and challenges
     To finish in the race.

The Lord is always with us
     In everything we do
And His courage is within our grasp
     To help us to get through.

So face each trial with confidence,
     Knowing God is near
And that you have the courage
     To overcome the fear.

It doesn't happen overnight,
     This conformation to God's will.
It's a slow and lengthy process
     And is happening in me still.

I tried, but it was useless,
     Any effort on my part.
It just happened as the Spirit
     Started working in my heart.

So many things that I believed
     I couldn't live without
Are gone now, from my consciousness
     And are never thought about.

Yet it was quite impossible
     When on my own I tried,
For every effort was a failure
     Leaving me dissatisfied.

There still are lots of things to change
     Before I will be right,
But the Spirit is still working
     Every day and through each night.

He'll take all my desires
     For the things that shouldn't be,
And all the sin within my heart
     To make a better me.

I meet Him in the morning
     When I open up my eyes.
I say good morning to my Lord
     And thank Him for blue skies.

I meet with Him each moment...
     He helps me through the day.
Without Him I could never walk
     Along my life's pathway.

Sometimes He lets me stumble,
     For it's in stumbling that I learn.
But He has never let me fall,
     To Him, I always turn.

I've had a lot of heartaches,
     But He's always seen me He through.
He listens when I cry to Him
     And tells me what to do.

In Him I find my rest and peace...
     My life is so fulfilled.
In Him I find warm comfort
     And my anxiousness is stilled.

He works so many wonders
     And miracles in me.
He's placed me in a perfect place
   And has set me truly free

So that is why I meet Him
     Every time I can.
He is my life, my victory!
     He is the Son of Man.

The sky is dark and dismal...
The clouds depressing gray.
Why do we let the weather
Affect our moods this way?
Especially when we know beyond
The sun is bright and warm.
It's only here that it is dark
And threatened by the storm.
I know it's like that in our hearts...
The sun is shining there.
So why should we feel miserable
Or be in dark despair?
Tomorrow all the clouds will clear
And bring a lovely day.
So there's no need to be depressed...
The sun is on its way!

I can't believe the way that I was...
No purpose, no reason, no cause,
          Just stumbling along
          Like an unfinished song
Not mindful of all that God does.

I believed I could handle it all
From the big things right down to the small.
          But I quickly found out
          Without any doubt
That I was heading right into a wall.

Then something happened to me
That put me right down to my knee
          And I knew in that moment
         In the midst of my torment
What the only answer could be.

So I knelt down and started to pray,
Asking Jesus to show me the way
          And that's when I heard
         That He'd given His word
To stand by my side every day.

He's been faithful to do what He said
And I've tried hard to go where He's led.
          I gave Him control
         Of my heart and my soul
And joy has replaced all the dread.

It's amazing to feel whole and new...
To the fear and the pain bid adeau.
          And now I am able
         To be calm and stable
And alllow Him to carry me through.

Who Is This Man?

Who is this man called Jesus?  Are you one who loves His name?
Do you hold  Him deep within your heart and His holiness proclaim?
Or do you live a life of misery, in fear and dread and doubt?
If so, take heed and listen while I remind you all about

This loving Man called Jesus, who healed the sick and lame;
Who raised up Lazarus from the dead by just calling out his name;
Who calmed the raging sea and wind by holding out His hand
And who walked upon the water as easily as the land.

He told the paralytic to rise...to stand and walk
And caused those who were deaf and dumb to hear and then  to talk.
With just five loaves and two small fish, He feld the multitude.
Five thousand men were satisfied and left twelve basketsful of food.

The blind who came before Him were given back their sight
And those possessed by demons were freed and brought to light.
This Man called Jesus taught of love..."Love your enemies."
"Do good to those who hate you."  Go one step more to please.

"Bless all them who curse you; pray for those you treat you wrong."
This Blessed Man called Jesus taught in Him, we can be strong.
He is Christ, He's the Messiah, He's the Truth, the Light, the Lamb.
He's the Son of God Almighty...He is the great I AM.

Then, by a kiss He was betrayed, to fulfill the prophesy
And was taken by His enemies, this Man from Galilee.
He was beaten, mocked and hated, made to wear a crown of thorns
And carrying His cross to Calvary, heard laughter and words of scorn.

And there at a place called Golgotha, He was nailed upon a tree,
So men throughout the ages would understand and see.
To bring the sinner righteousness, He was crucified.
Through all His suffering and His pain, man is justified.

But all His pain and agony would have been in vain
If God in all His wisdom, hadn't raised Christ up again.
It's the resurrection of our Lord that gives man the guarantee
That we may live life after death.  Through Him, we are set free.

Who is this Man called Jesus?  He's the Savior of all men.
He lives today and answers prayer the same as He did then.
His miracles are as real today as two thousand years ago.
It's just that now we live in doubt and don't believe it's so.

But faith will make Him live again within your heart and soul
And trust will make your life complete, when you give Him control.
Believing all His promises and that for man He was sacrificed
Will bring you into oneness with this Man called Jesus Christ.

Merciful Father, great God of light,
Embue me with courage and help me to fight
The negative forces of what "seems to be"
That are constantly trying to take hold of me.

The clouds of illusion try to conceal
The things that are true...the things that are real.
They cause me unrest when they enter my mind,
For they make me remember those things left behind.

But I believe when I'm weak, then I am strong,
For Your strength takes over when my strength is gone.
I don't have to see them...don't have to believe
And that takes their power to lie and deceive.

When I can stand steady in faith and in trust
All things are in order and all things are just.
I know when I'm positive and think as I should
That You, Lord, just naturally turn things to good.

Have Faith

When all the world seems dark and bleak;
Your strength is gone; you feel so weak
And when you're under cloudy skies
Always stop to realize
     Your Faith!

When life is dealing cruel blows
And the agony inside you grows;
When you feel there's no where you can turn
And painful thoughts within you burn,
     Have Faith!

When heartaches have you in their hold
And you are shivering in the cold
Of loneliness and deep despair;
When you reach out and no one's there...
     Have Faith!

God only is a prayer away.
He stays by you throughout each day.
He listens to your every word
And you know all your prayers are heard.
     Show Faith!

In God there's nothing you can't do,
He holds you up...He helps you through.
He keeps your life within His hand
And there's no need to understand.
     Keep Faith!

So never let your pain and fear
Cloud your mind so you can't hear
What God is telling you to do.
He's there...will always be with you.
     Have Faith!

I wish I knew just where to start; where I could begin
To tell about my Father's love' how it makes me feel within.
It seems no matter what I am, or what I choose to do,
He stays beside me all the while to help and see me through.

I know it's real and always there, but I'll never understand
The great love of my Lord and God that keeps me in His hand.
When I am feeling all alone without a soul to care,
I can feel His loving kindness around me everywhere.

In anger or frustration, He calms my raging sea
And brings the calm peace of my soul flowing back to me.
There's never been a circumstance that I've endured alone.
He's never let me fail or fall, or do it on my own.

His love and mercies are renewed each morning of my life,
Which means that in each day that come, with its trouble and its strife,
That I don't have to worry, or carry that huge load.
No matter my reactions, forgiveness is bestowed.

I just can't see how anyone could live without the Lord;
How all He wants to give can be so easily ignored.
If only I could make them see how wonderful it is
To walk through life just knowing that your hand is held by His.

His Hand

Consider out Almighty God
     And the power of His hand
That outstretched, created everything:
     The skies, the sea, the land.

But He could not be finished
     With this, that He began,
Until, in His own likeness,
     Our Lord created man.

But His hand had only started
     The work that it would do.
Through the ages He would show its strength
    And loving kindness, too.

This hand destroyed the world by flood
     And built it up again;
It upheld Job throughout his trials
     To prove he had no sin.

This hand delivered Israel...
     He set His people free.
His hand directed Moses
     And parted the Red Sea.

This hand anointed David
     As king of all the land,
But when he sinned, it brought him low,
     This gentle, fearsome hand.

It caused a pure conception...
     A virgin to give birth
To God's own Son, who came to live
     And die for all on earth.

This perfect hand makes the sun to shine
     And the rain to quench dry ground
And also makes the thunder
     And lightening to abound.

A hand that cannot ever die,
     That is and will always be.
A hand that's capable of everything
     Is always holding me.