Draw Me Nearer

Closer, closer, draw me closer Lord to Thee
Until when looking, others can no longer see the Me.
Deeper deeper, hide me Lord so close to Thee.
Cover me with Thy blood that you shed to set me free.
Wiser, wiser, let me sit at your feet learning more from you.
Fill me with your Spirit, send me forth your work to do.
Flowing, flowing, let your love flow freely from me.
So that I become a mirror reflecting light from Thee.
Joyful, joyful, let my life be so rich with your joy.
That deep and lasting "Bubble" this world cannot destroy.
Singing, singing, let my life become an unending song.
Brand me Lord to show that its to you I now belong.
Freely, freely, I now surrender my life up to you.
I now know that in so doing it’s the best thing I can do.
Weeping, weeping, I see now what you did for me.
I want to show to others it’s the only way to be.
Rejoicing, rejoicing, come rejoicing along with me.
Raise your voices higher and consider all He’s done for Thee.

The Pendulum

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

See over there sits your Mrs. Drew
With her three little, ‘giggly, motley crew.'
Thank goodness your children won’t dress like that!
At least not so according to you!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

The Pastor is running late again today.
The sermon runs on in an endless way.
That means lunch in the oven will have to stay,
Sandwiches watching TV on a tray!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

Look at the hairs on Mr. Browns’ old sweater!
You’d think that his wife would really know better
Than to send him to Church looking like that!
And it seems to me that he’s really grown fat!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

Sit up my children and look the other way,
When you get home you’re really going to pay!
No one’s going to judge me and be able to say
That I don’t teach mine how to properly pray!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

There’s somebody whispering just behind me
Now what an embarrassment that’s going to be!
Children, don’t turn around or people will see
What a poor example you’re reflecting of me!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

If we sing this chorus just one more time
Slowly pausing softly after each single line,
I’ll mention to Pastor that one should be fine
In a note that I’ll conveniently forget not to sign.

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

The Sermon’s all about giving again today
Couldn’t they go about it some other way!
It seems so ‘tacky’ just to "plead" pay.
Our expenses go up but our wages just stay!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

The Sound System’s not working as well it should be,
Competing with static, can’t they but see!
More care should be taken it sure seems to me
Hard to let my voice soar so nice and so free.

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

We’ll stop in the hallway, just a minute will do
Careful to by-pass people looking at you.
Just say "Hi" to just a select happy few
You know that our lunch is already past due.

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t judge others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

Church is finally over for one more week
Now quickly out the side door we’re going to sneak.
Our example is what others should consider and seek
See, those not attending are really just weak!

The Pendulum swings in both directions
Don’t look to others for their own imperfections,
Or to be sure yours will come shining through!

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.