An Unlived Life

Oh Lord let me not die an unlived life
Not even one spared from sorrow or strife.

I truly desire to be happy all of my days,
Little realizing not following in God’s chosen ways.

I choose to inhabit my days with His endless praise,
Rather than dwell on my past forgiven ways.

I choose to risk what others think of me.
My desire is for my ways and God’s to agree.

Oh Lord let my life here not be in vain.
Help me choose the path to cause others no pain.

I choose to risk my significance so other’s don’t see me,
But through your eyes what You want me to be.

I desire that "spark" again to realize anew
That the only life worth living is lived for you.

On Being Genuine

Do I surrender myself to be used of God
Or just proclaim that to be my desire?
Do I continue on as an empty shell
While I boldly ask God to light my fire?
Is the outward sign that I show to others
Truly the inward evidence of a changing me?
Am I just living my life as a white-washed mask
Fearful to show you the genuine me?
Is the Jesus in me truly shining right through,
Or do I try to produce His image on an empty screen?
Am I a false prophet claiming to be a seeker of truth
Or simply a poor actor in a walk-on part?
Do I merely strut my lines across the stage of life
Or have I truly given God all of my heart?
Do I project to you a vibrant living Christian
Playing the part only one day of the week?
For one tires so easily of having to perform in life
What in breathing doesn’t come naturally to me.
If God isn’t the very essence of my own life
How can I possibly share Him with you?
It doesn’t take long in the bustle of life
Until the genuine will come shining through.
God separates the wheat from the chaff
With one quick breath and brushing of hand.
An act can be played out for only so long
Before the real person you begin to see.
I’d rather be God’s person deep in my heart
And not worry about what you’re thinking of me.
To be conformed to the image of Christ
Is what I genuinely want to be

Singing Praises Unto Him

Father, you said if we do not praise you the rocks will cry out
How can we fail to acknowledge you, why do we still doubt?
Even the birds in the trees trill their praises to Thee
I pause to acknowledge it is you, only you that set me free!
All nature joins the chorus and surely the listener must perceive
When all around us is evidence to cause us to believe.
The firmament beams down imploding the evidence of you,
How can man stand before you and claim he never knew?
You constantly watch over us with your infinite eye,
And we blatantly curse you and ask for reasons why.
We see not the tapestry you are weaving at the other side
Yet evidence of a Master Craftsman still cannot be denied.
Your word tells us we were created to simply praise you
There is evidence of a creator throughout all that we do.
Yet still we hold back though marvelling the skies,
Knowing you’ve used the foolish things to confound the wise.
We only have to pause, reflect and finally decide
To realize it was because of our sins you hung and you died.
I’ve pledged to raise my hands giving evidence of praise
And serve you unflinchingly to the end of my days.

You Too Must Weep

Let me not live a life that's free
From "The Things" that draw me close to Thee
For how can I ever hope to heal
The wounds of others
I do not feel...
If my eyes are dry and I never weep,
How do I know when the hurt is deep.
If my heart is cold
and it never bleeds,
How can I tell what my sister needs...
For when ears are deaf
to the beggar's plea
And we close our eyes and refuse to see,
And we steel our hearts
and harden our minds,
And we count it weakness
whenever we're kind.
We are no loner following the Father's Way
Or seeking His guidance
from day to day...
For, without 'crosses to carry'
and 'burdens to bear'
We dance through a life
that is frothy and fair,
And 'chasing the rainbow' we have no desire
For 'roads that are rough'
and 'realms that are higher'
So spare me no heartache
or sorrow, dear Lord.
For the heart that is hurt
reaps the richest reward,
And God enters the heart
that is broken with sorrow
As He opens the door
to a Brighter Tomorrow.
For only through tears can we recognize
The suffering that lies
in another's eyes.

If Only

If I knew it would be the last time
I could spare an extra minute
To stop and say "I love you,"
Instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
So I can just let this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
To make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance
To make everything just right.

But just in case I might be wrong,
And today is all that I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
And hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
Young or old alike
And today may be the last chance
You get to hold your loved one tight.

So hold your loved ones close today,
And whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
And that you'll always hold them dear.

Consider the neighbor and friend you love
Or one that politely holds a door for you.
Smile in response, and pay it back too
This may be your last chance to follow through.

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me, "Thank you, or "It's okay"
And if tomorrow never comes,
You'll have no regrets about today.

And I said to the Man at the Gate

I walked up... and I said to the man at the gate
It's busy down there... am I able to wait?
There's so much to do on earth!
He looked very sad but said with a smile
Come your time for the gate
there's no waiting a while
For your time spent on earth
is not measured in work
or even in good that you do
It comes for inside and a thing you don't hide
A God that you know, not a task to be done.

I sat down... and I said to the man at the gate
The life that I lived was not always so true
But t'was a desire that I wanted to do.
The task seemed so big and the faith was so small
Time, energy, will, seemed always too few.
He seemed to know what I meant
about time well spent
and regret about wanting to wait
It's a thing we all face when we look at God's grace
A measure that we weren't asked to do.

I bowed down... and I cried to the man at the gate
Oh, what have I done, for I've made nought of the Son
And His sacrifice given for me.
It wasn't the 'shoulds' or even the 'coulds'
That made me a child of God
It's His love from inside that gives joy to the 'do'
It's easy to show when you're willing to grow

I stood up.... looked up... and said to the man at the gate
I'll walk throught the gate, not for what I have done
But t'was the life of the Son that gave me the access here.
It's more than just works though that is a progression
Of an inward confession that seems only nautral to do.
Though I counted it joy to serve my Lord,
The regrets were alwys there too
But if access to heaven were dependant on striving to do
The measure would never be reached by many.
It's His love that constrains us and not all the guilt.
And I'll meet Him with joy in my faith
Through His measure of grace I will look in His face
And rejoice in His sacrifice given.

Then the man at the gate smiled and nodded and said:
Let's not discount works for they have to be done,
To fulfill His commission on earth
But away with your yardstick when measuring your worth
As a criteria for entering here.
This entrance was paid but in so doing,
His love compelled you to show,
T'was not out of fear, for His work was all finished.
As He said on the cross long ago.
Accept and go on for life in the Son,
Is a daily faith-walk of grace.
When you walk up that hill and look in His face,
You'll know your battle is won.

Before You Can Dry Another's Tears - You Too Must Weep

Let me not live a life that's free
From "the Things" that draw me close to Thee
For how can I ever hope to heal
The wounds of others
I do not feel....
If my eyes are dry and I never weep
How do I know when the hurt is deep
If my heart is cold
and it never bleeds
How can I tell what my sister needs....
For when ears are deaf
to the beggar's plea
And we close our eyes an refuse to see,
And we steel our hearts
and harden our mind,
And we count it a weakness
whenever we're kind,
We are no longer following the Father's Way
Or seeking His guidance
from day to day....
For, without 'crosses to carry'
and 'burdens to bear'
We dance through a life
that is frothy and fair,
And 'chasing the rainbow' we have no desire
For 'roads that are rough'
and 'realms that are higher'
so spare me no heartache
or sorrow, dear Lord,
For the heart that is hurt
reaps the richest reward
And God enters the heart
that is broken with sorrow
As he opens the door
to a Brighter Tomorrow
For only through tears can we recognize
The suffering that lies
in another's eyes.