Lighten my Darkness

Be the light in my darkness, O Lord,

  a torch in the black of my night. 

Be living breath in the valley of death, 

  that Your glories burn ever bright. 

When I'm weak, make me stronger, 

  when I'm down, cheer my heart.

Always guide me, dwelling inside me,

  and from me, Lord, never depart.

Each New Day

How senseless and ignorant often I turn,
making the ways of the world my concern.
Then after the pain from each evil event,
I beg for forgiveness and try to repent.

It seems I'm now caught in a cycle of sin-
I'm clean for a season, then sinning again.
Thank God, despite my valleys and trails,
with each new day, His love never fails.

Let your Heart go Forth

Let your heart go forth to meet Him,
  wherever you range or roam..
    Whether here or there,
      in depths of despair,
    or so far away from home.

Let your heart go forth to meet Him.
  Lay down your burdens and rest.
    He's always near,
    sees every tear,
  and calls you to be His guest.

If you have God

If you have God, you have all things,

and without God, you have nothing-

nothing on earth of value or worth, 

and nothing worth even discussing.

But if you have God living within, 

there's no greater eternal treasure-

love and light, its depth and height 

exceeds anything you can measure. 

Unexpected Jesus

Come Thou unexpected Jesus,
  surprise us with Your presence.
May Your Spirit fall afresh-
  Your Holy, Blessed essence.

Come Thou to live within us,
  invade the deepest parts,
keep us by Your loving grace
  and heal the hardest hearts.

Come, though we're unworthy,
  whether morn or afternoon.
Come when least expected-
  we're hoping that it's soon.

Empty House

We entered a house so empty,
nothing hanging on the wall-
no furniture there, floors were bare,
and echos down every hall.

Placed our possessions within,
ourselves and all that we own-
a husband and wife, with loving and life,
the house turned into a home.

The time changed into memories,
the days and weeks into years-
that special space was a magical place,
filled with laughter and tears.

Then one day we left forever,
to a home on another road.
We left it behind knowing we'd find
another delightful abode.

Thinking back on that old house,
recalling the blessings again,
it's now plain to see every memory
was the living of life within.

The house itself wasn't special,
but the life we lived inside-
homes with love, blessed from above,
are a special place to abide.

No Government

No government can save us.
  No political party can.
No left or right-wing anything-
  No woman alive or man.

No human has the answers-
  they never can nor could.
Only God can save us,
  turning evil into good.

It's not about changing minds
  to see some point of view..
It's about changing hearts,
  making all things new.

Talk too much

I talk too much
  about myself,
    but pray that won't continue.
I pray instead
  my main desires
    might find another venue.

To fling aside
  the cares of life,
    so tossed about at random,
to love others
  more than self
    should be my living anthem.

Dear Saviour,
  please deliver me,
    by grace help me recover.
Instead of living
  in sin within,
    to truly love my brother.

Psalm 121 Revisited

I'll look to the hills,
  to the mountains above me,
to Him who fulfills,
  who constantly loves me.

When I fail and fall,
  He's still ever with me.
This truth I'll recall-
  He always forgives me.

He watches over
  my life day and night,
As I'm growing older,
  I sense His delight.

My Helper in trials,
  since the day of my birth-
The Lord of the isles
  and the Maker of earth.

Love Changes all

Love one another
  to truly be wise..
Look at your brother
  through Jesus' eyes.

He sees all their sin,
  and yet loves them still.
Will you extend to them
  love and good will?

Yes, love changes all,
  but keep this in view-
to love great and small
  may even change you!

He Walked in the Room

He walked in the room

and everything changed,

from what could be worse

to perspective reversed.

His love and demeanor,

much purer and cleaner;

as grays turned to white

and darkness took flight.

His Words pierced within, 

through the worst of my sin, 

with passion and meaning, 

every failure redeeming.

His eyes were all knowing, 

with a presence so glowing, 

seeing past all my sorrow

to a brighter tomorrow. 

Yes, He walked in the room,

when I most least expected,

exchanging the bleakness,

for strength in my weakness.

Time is Fleeting

Though I know time is fleeting,
yet this drum of mine is beating,
  resounding day and night
    so much faster than I've known.
Thus I should live each minute,
as a brave and faithful tenant,
  and tend each seed I've planted
    'til its fruit is fully grown.
  
Still I often fail and falter,
as I stumble toward the altar,
  but my heart desires to know
    and hear the voice Divine.
One day I'll know the reasons
for life's ever changing seasons,
  and see the only lasting seeds
    were never really mine.
 
It's not the seeds I've planted,
it's grace our God has granted-
  I only need to do my part
    and follow day and night.
Then when time has ended
and my spirit has ascended,
  I'll taste the tree of Life
    and the glory of His light.