With You

I can remember wet grass on my feet
The smell of onion weeds and wild berries to eat
All alone outside, knowing You were there
As I sat connecting clovers to put in my hair
I recall getting dizzy as I spun with closed eyes
Arms straight out, face to the skies
Falling to the ground, lying in the sun
Giggling because turning circles was so much fun

I remember running fingers over long pig-tailed hair
As I lay looking at Heaven with a wide-eyed stare
All these dizzying cirlces from questions in my head
Like How long would it take to get to You if I sped?
And how could it be that You'd always been around?
Blowing my little mind with this mystery in which I'm bound
I knew when You were here, You loved the little children
I imagined if I'd been there then, You'd have bear hugged me with affection

So I want to say thanks because I've always known You
Life has been meaningful, Your promises proven true
I've seen Your hand upon every single day
Received Your grace in so many ways
You are my Redeemer, Creator, and Friend
What a beautiful promise to know that eternity I will spend
With You

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I would give up the ways of this world
If only to have a few moments with You
To know You more and understand Your truth
Is greater in value than what I say or do
No longer do I want a quick remedy
I want Your word to live and breathe in me

So take away the fears and break my heart so deep
That Love is the only language I speak
I disown the glory I once sought for me
And pray that my life would bring glory to Thee

The fragrance of brokenness I put on for You
The oil of repentance pours out anew
Warm me, use me, mold me with peirced hands
Whether it be right here or in distant lands
I accept Your calling and love You, Lord of all
I ask for You to hold me up and never again let me fall.

Justice and Mercy

Justice seeks time
Mercy is timeless

Justice brings blame
Mercy takes the blame away

Justice points the finger
Mercy extends both hands

Justice judges
Mercy understands

Justice requires perfection
Mercy's perfection is forgiveness for imperfection

Justice is certain it's right even when it's wrong
Mercy sees the wrong and offers to clean it white

Justice twists the truth to win
Mercy is truth in love

Justice deprives a future
Mercy provides eternity

Justice eats away at life
Mercy gave His life for you

Justice says "You have every right to eat that fruit"
Mercy says "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"

Justice is what we all deserve
Mercy is what God offers all who choose to believe instead.

Faith Like Peter

The faith You gave me as a gift
When not in practice, needs a lift
Cause faith is hard to attain
As soon as I experience pain
So Jesus I cry out to You and make this request
Keep me true to Your ways which I often profess
I owe You so much more my Prince
So now I'm seeking biblical hints

There, I see You walking on water
Peter's guiding Light without falter
Smiling, peaceful, hopeful in Your prompting
Yet Peter sunk when he looked away from the King
Your hand reached down from up above
You offered him your perfect love
My faith is renewed
My love for You is moved
Deeper is the etch of grace's mark
This faith matter is settled within my heart.

To Jim

As I look across the room and see you standing there
I'm reminded of the first time I glimpsed your face
That halfway smile and bleached out hair
Your eyes which held mine steadily was your ace
And when you spoke it was with such an ease
Each word caught an eloquent breeze
And I knew I could spend eternity with this guy
This cool, carefree character who made me sigh

Then you left Your Mom and Dad to become my closest friend
We gave everything we had, knowing we'd love until the end.

So when things get mundane
And life makes us insane
It's a comfort to know
That through the years we'll grow
Closer and older
Wrinkled yet bolder
Though sweat pants we may wear
and grayer becomes our hair
We've something beautiful together
We share a love that's forever.

In This Quiet

As I sit in this quiet, this still secret place
It's here I find peace while seeking Your face
Your joy is my strength
There's contentment every day
When I talk to You at length
Woven stress begins to fray

Things often change and become slightly odd
But it's ok because You are unchanging God
And no enemy of ours can possibly steal
The peace You give sweetly as I kneel
To come into Your sheltering arms of love
Content to trust inside wings of my dove

You meet me right here
You hold me so near
The love I know
Inspiring me to grow

Every day a bit more in need of You
Every day a bit less in need of control
I know there is nothing I alone can do
It's only with You that I am made whole

I love Your ways
I love these days
When I am with You

Your Reason (John 18:1-11)

Offered the bread, offered the cup
Opportunity to know what's up
Will you come to the garden to pray?
But they couldn't stay awake. Not on this day.
Hundreds came to harm the Lamb
Asked "Are you he?" Jesus answered "I Am"
Something about Him caused all to bend a knee
Even the one who betrayed Him could see
The arms which moments before, embraced in scorn
Lay submitted on the ground, all pride from him torn.
Your loved ones awoke but didn't understand
In anger, Peter slashed out with the sword in his hand
But in love You created healing to replace
And though there was sorrow seen on Your face
Your mission was clear from Your Father of love
And He directed You to rise above

You chose to suffer for us to have life
You whose hands hung the stars at night
Lord, Who created every living thing
Jesus, who one day, all will bow to and sing

You were scorned, beaten, mocked, and bruised
Tormented for being King of the Jews
Yet, even as the blood ran from Your head
You thought first of our future instead
You pleaded with Your Daddy for our sake
As You hung there for every abomination we'd ever make

This was Your reason for coming to earth
This was the miracle and our greatest worth
Thank You for the gift of undeserved forgiveness
Thank You for calling me to be Your witness
May I spread Your truth with awe and grace
And inspire others to seek Your face
Use me, my Savior, mold me as You require
In spite of my weaknesses, make my purpose higher
It is on my face that I know You best
And it's in Your presence that I find perfect rest.

When I'm With You

I've never been good at talking in small
Never really minded standing behind someone tall
There's nothing so special or mysterious as to why
It's just that I've always been a little bit shy

I was never chosen first and never chosen last
Never got straight A's, but always got passed
My name wasn't always important to remember
My fire wasn't bright, just a slow burning ember
So it always seemed simplest to expect no one cared
Until I met You, I was completely unaware

But when I'm with You, the skies open wide
Your ears care to listen, I've no need to hide
Everything that matters is inside Your arms
Only there do I find safety and warmth
You make me feel special without judgement or change
You understand and don't demand I rearrange
It is through Your grace You inspire so much more
Because You love when I don't deserve it. So it's You I adore

I want to learn to listen and care
To extend a helping hand and be always aware
Because so many are hurting and may never know
How much they are loved, How Your touch makes us grow
Inspire my heart to beat true and fast
For those who stood behind me, always chosen last

Life sets us all on lonely, empty stages
Books are sold by millions, tragedy staining their pages
Media  cruelly capitalizes on pain like it's fiction
Evil seizes our hearts and minds, causing murderous friction

But there is hope and it rests in You
If only we'll turn, bring love into view

Because, with You the skies split open wide
Your ears gently listen, there's no need to hide
Everything that matters is inside Your arms
Only there does peace dwell as Your grace swarms
You say each of us are special without judgement or change
You planned us, You understand us without forcing us to rearrange
If only we could accept the gift You've paid for
You love when we don't deserve it. How could anyone need more?