Storms and chains and blinding rains.

All of the poems in this book are written while in the midst of trial and tribulation. They come forth from the depths of the valley and they are raw. This collection is for anyone who has ever suffered or who is suffering. While they are written from the valley of the shadow of death, they will lead you to still waters and green pastures and bring hope to those who are suffering any kind of trial or loss. Every saint is called to walk the narrow road and it is a hard road and not for the faint of heart. May these poems be water to your soul as travel through the valleys.

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A lighthouse in the darkness

When the cliffs are to your back
And the tide is coming in
When the waters surely rising
And you know you cannot swim

The water comes so slowly
But you know there's no escape
It laps around your ankles
It will take what it will take

You know your slowly drowning
But you do not seem to care
What you really are afraid of
That come the morning you’re still there

How many tides have come and gone
How many fogs have rolled on in?
How dark has been the darkest night
It tries to drown the light within

And suddenly you realize
You are a beacon in the night
You stand above the highest tide
Eternally a shining light

A lighthouse standing on the Rock
Shining light for all eternity
Standing whole above the storms
For all the world to see

Through endless storms and ages past
Through every dark and stormy night
You've come to learn this single thing
There always comes dawns early light

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For Heavens higher ground

When my heart is overwhelmed
And grief comes flooding in
I lift my eyes to higher ground
Where there's no pain or sin

Yet deep within my aching heart
Amidst the savage waves
There is a very calm repose
That's with me all my days

I lift my eyes amidst this storm
That's raging all around
He lifts me up above the waves
To stand on higher ground

And in this light of glory
That pierces every night
I catch a glimpse of majesty
And what a glorious sight

I see my sister dancing there
Amidst the saintly throng
Hands raised in heavenly splendor
And singing a heavenly song

The night has passed, the dawn has broke
There's no tears to be found
For those who've left this world behind
For heavens higher ground.

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For what am I?

For what am I without the Lord?
A butterfly without a wing
A nightingale that cannot sing
A man who truly has no tears
Simply drowning in his fears

For what am I without the Lord?
A child without a lullaby
A sea that surely has run dry
A darkened night without the moon
A man who cannot die too soon

For what am I without the Lord?
A child without a mother's breast
A bird with chicks who has no nest
A man who has no will to live
Who has no heart that can forgive

Now what am I with my dear Lord
A valley through the mountains high
A swallow flying in the sky
A sun that sets in a majestic sea
A shackled prisoner now set free

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God in the valley

It does not really count
If you think its gonna end
The valleys not a valley
If you think you can ascend

When you're burning in the fire
And all around is darkness
And from the very depths of who you are
You silently scream…Jesus!

Have you cried that name into the night
When everything else has failed
You're lost and there's no way ahead
And all your world's derailed

When you've crawled the deepest valley
Where the arrows never seem to stop
Only then are you truly ready
To ascend His Holy mountain-top

The glory of the risen King
Belongs to those who cry to Him
"Even if I burn here in the fire,
my immortal soul will come up higher"

The saint whose traveled down this road
Whom the enemy will often strike
Discovers something other-worldly
Mountain and valley are both alike

On the very highest mountain-top
Or in the deepest valley low
The day and night are both alike
He is with me where ere I go.

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Broken down

I went into the world and it broke me down
And the lord of this world said ' now where's your crown'
And the truth of it was I had nothing left inside
I had no-where left to run, I had no-where left to hide

Somewhere along the path the night had took my song
I had danced with the devil and right became wrong
He had gouged out my eyes and I could not see
I had hung my heart on the weeping willow tree

And in the blackness of the night I stumbled along
Abandoned and broken and without my song
The devil danced and shrieked with delight
He was lord of the darkness he was lord of the night

I was tortured and tormented night and day
I was whipped and chained on my hell-bound way
And my tormentors never gave me a moment of respite
As they tore at my flesh by day and by night

I cried out to God and He said 'Enough'
He came and redeemed me, He redeemed me with Love
And the devil and my tormentors they all did flee
From Christ my Lord on Calvary

He raised me up and He replaced my heart
That was His plan, right from the start
And by His loving mercy my wrong became right
And He gave me back my song in the night

I once was blinded and now I could see
What the Lord my God did on Calvary
And from that day on I walked in love
Redeemed by my Jesus who came down from above.

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He is my mast

The storm is raging all around
You’re going to be swept away
Each wave knocks you to the ground
You won't see the light of another day

In that desperate moment when all is lost
You lash yourself to the mast
If this ship goes down you're going down
To this ship you have tied yourself fast

Who will you cling to when all is lost
Who is your solid ground
Who sticks closer than a brother to you
When no one else can be found

Who is a Father to the fatherless
Who gladly took your place
Who comforts you when no one's around
Who has amazing grace?

In Christ our King we stand or fall
To you and I He's all in all
In every dark and stormy night
He gives us strength to stand and fight

He is the Mast that we’re tied to
He is the air that we breathe
He is the ground beneath our feet
He is the Reward we receive

Jesus Christ is the Lord of all
He will catch us when we fall
We rise each day, our course is charted
And He will finish what He has started

Take hope my child I stand with you
And I will lead and guide you through
And you shall never be destroyed
In fact in me you'll be overjoyed

For I make beauty from the ashes
I light the night with lightning flashes
I shake the earth and still the waves
I am your God the one who saves.

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He is strong

When I kiss the hand that wounds me
Then I soar to heavens heights
But when I fight that hand that fights me
I am consumed by darkest nights

My flesh cries out that I am weak
And encourages me to scorn
Its time to turn the other cheek
Its for victory I was born

I will praise my God despite my woes
And rise up and declare Him great
And put to flight my many foes
And stand at heaven’s gate

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He saw me in the storm

Lord have you seen my tears?
Can't you see I'm drowning in my fears?
I try to run but there's no-where left to hide
I fall to my knees because I'm dying here inside

I lift my eyes and there's darkness all around
I try to get up but I fall back to the ground
I try to scream but I cannot make a sound
I'm lost and alone and I never shall be found

Reach down and touch me Lord won’t you please?
For if you don't I'll die here on my knees
My heart is broken and has spilled out all my love
My only hope is a touch from up above

The darkness Lord has consumed my very soul
To survive one more night is my solitary goal
Hope has abandoned me and left me high and dry
And with this last breath I lift my voice and cry

Oh Lord Jesus won’t you hear this plea
I'm bound and chained and longing to be free
This one last breath is all I have to give
Save my soul from death so that I once more may live

Listen child I have heard your plea's
I see you dying there down upon your knees
I see your broken heart, the pieces on the ground
I see that storm that’s raging all around

I speak to that storm and it shall be stilled
I will replace that broken heart and it shall be filled
Take my hand and get up from off your knees
Look around for I have I have stilled the seas

Walk with Me and know you're not alone
Let us dwell together here before my throne
Let my peace replace all your many fears
My love for you will wipe away the tears

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He still rules the wind

He still rules the winds and He still rules the waves
He still reigns in majesty, His precious blood still saves
He is the Christ, His light still shines forever and a day
I am the branch He's still the vine, His light still leads the way

He is Lord of yesterdays and all of your tomorrows
He wipes away our fears and tears and all our many sorrows
Today’s the day, we know nothing more than this
If your eyes are on tomorrow then His presence you will miss.

Christ alone still rules and on His throne He reigns
He's setting loose the captives and breaking all their chains
He's washing clean the sinner and healing their disease
He sees all of our afflictions, and He still hears our pleas.

He'll finish what He started, He'll make us all complete
He is the balm of Gilead for those found at His feet
He is our light in darkness, our joy in the midst of pain
Open up the door He knocks and He'll do it all again

Yesterday, today and forever He will always be the same
He loves you with unending love and that is why He came
If you will follow all His footsteps, that path that He has paved
You will discover He still rules the winds and rules the waves.

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I am persuaded

What shall separate us from the Love of God?
In Christ alone we stand
No power in hell nor darkest foe
Shall take us from His hand

For the Love of God is a burning fire
That burns within our heart
To please our God is our one desire
And from that we shall never part

Though death may overtake us
And life may beat us down
There is no power on earth or hell
Shall keep us from our crown

He is higher than the highest heights
He is deeper than the deepest depths
He died for us on Calvary
And we shall follow His footsteps

For I am persuaded beyond a doubt
In Christ who set me free
So let the saints all give a shout
And worship Him eternally

We are more than conquerors in Christ our King
We stand with Him in victory
Neither life nor death nor anything
Shall chain the one's that He set free

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I am your higher ground

The tears of my heart are falling
And each drop is a part of me
My heart is thoroughly broken
Oh my Father in heaven can't you see

My heart lays wet on my pillow
I am wounded and broken inside
I try to hang on to what I have
Yet the floodgates are opened wide

The cry of my soul is to heaven
Yet the flood of my heart rises still
Who will heal my heart of this rupture
I have swallowed a most bitter pill

In the midst of this flood that is rising
I am overwhelmed by what I can see
I shut my eyes and cast them to heaven
And the Lord says ' keep your eyes upon me.'

Be still my child and trust in me yet
I have captured each tear in my hand
I see your afflictions and troubled heart
Alone, upon I you must stand

For when the enemy comes in like a flood
And there's no hiding place to be found
I am your refuge and strong high tower
I am your higher ground

Come away with me in the midst of this storm
Will you place your heart in my hand
Trust in me oh child of mine
And together, we shall surely stand

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I bore you on eagle’s wings

I bore you up on eagles wings
And took you to my heart
When troubles are all the enemy brings
know that we shall never part

I did’nt deliver you from affliction
Just to watch you drown
All of life is under my jurisdiction
And my presence is all around

Open up your eyes and see
Your God who dwells on high
I am the One who set you free
And My glory fills the earth and sky

Stand fast my child and do not falter
This fire shall not consume
You must pass through the brazen altar
Before your journey can resume

You shall pass through all the waters
You shall walk through every fire
For you are my sons and daughters
I'll give you wings and you'll fly higher

High above the stormy seas
You'll find your place is in me
You must get down upon your knees
If you are longing to be free

The Lord says you are free indeed
Whether in the storm or fire
Keep your eyes upon the Seed
And He will surely take you higher

He'll take you up on eagles wings
Into the Father's heart
Into the place where angels sing
A place that quenches fiery darts
And though the world be shaken

And tried by fire and flood
We walk in blessed union
And we are covered by His Blood

And now we see that every nation
Has turned its back and walked away
And so shall face the tribulation
That comes before the judgment day

Stand fast in the Lord and be unmoved
By all of this commotion
For the saints this day shall be approved
And known for their devotion

And in the end we'll fly away
To where the angel sings
Rising to the throne of grace
He'll take us there on eagles wings

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I hear the cries of yesterday

I hear the cries of yesterday
They echo throughout my soul
They are etched upon my very face
And on my heart they have taken their toll

Deep waters, give up your children
Mighty waves, just you settle down
Howling winds that scream from the past
Cease your blowing until I can't hear a sound

Towering mountains come down to the valley
Stars in heaven won’t you light up my way?
Mighty rivers dry up to a trickle
Only then will you hear me say

Only the light can pierce the darkness
Only the Son displaces the night
Only a victor can win the battle
Only He can teach me to fight

Now I walk behind the praises of tomorrow
The Son casts His shadow behind
And the joy that is set before me
Gives my troubled soul peace of mind

The cries of yesterday are forgotten
And my heart is healed by His love
The flower in the desert is blooming
As His rain falls down from above.

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I run the race

One hundred evil hands reach up
They try to pull me down
One thousand hands reach from the sky
And lift my weary soul on high

There is a heavenly host above
A glorious cloud that covers with love
That sees your struggles and your fight
As the darkness comes against the light

But I will rise and not stay down
I will get up and claim my crown
And whether I am rich or poor
In Christ alone I will endure

I may be naked but clothed in light
I may be distressed but ready to fight
I may be cast down but not defeated
For I lift my eyes where Christ is seated

For in this vessel dwells heavenly treasure
Tis Christ alone who is my measure
For light my affliction and Christ my story
I run the race for eternal glory

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Let the skies fall down

Let the skies fall down
Let them fall before your crown
Let the seas rise up
They could never fill your cup
You drunk down all the fires of hell
And forever broke sin's deadly spell

Let the rivers run deep
As they see you come they weep
Let the stars fall from the sky
Let every hand be raised on high
At Golgotha you broke every chain
And now forever you shall reign

Let every valley flood
And be filled with precious blood
From the veins of Calvary
That were drained for you and me
That we may lift our voice and sing
Of Christ the Lord our risen King

Let the mountains touch the sky
And shout aloud as they reply
To the mighty rushing wind
That testifies that all men sinned
And speaks to men in pain
Ye men you must be born again!

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Looking for some higher ground

I'm just looking for some higher ground
But life keeps trying to drag me down
When you’re walking with your face into the rain
Sometimes you wonder if you'll see the sun again

Eyes down, one step in front of the other
Until you think you can't go any further
The rain gets heavier and begins to take its toll
Until your stripped right down to your very soul

The waters rise and cover all of me
Until there's only waves and nothing left to see
I am dying there somewhere beneath the flood
Covered by the waters and feet caught in the mud

And suddenly a hand appears from up and out the waves
And a man walks on the water, the storm He calmly braves
He takes my hand and stills the storm and suddenly there's no sound
And all at once I find myself alone on higher ground

I hear His voice, He speaks to me, it's time to journey on
In the darkest storms I have discovered just where faith is born
Transfigurations on the mount are such a glorious sight
They give me strength to journey on into the darkest night

We are called unto the battle of this there is no doubt
The faith that's born from every storm enables us to shout
When the battle it is raging and the enemy's all around
We know that we are standing with Him on higher ground.

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Lord of the storm

Can I walk upon the water
In the midst of this mighty sea
Surely I will stumble, surely I will drown
Oh Lord how can this be

The waves are high and the wind it howls
And the rain it lashes down
Yet you are there, I see you Lord
Now I know I shall not drown

Then the thunder roars and the lightning flashes
High above in the angry skies
Dark clouds rising, set on fire
To them do I lift my eyes

Heavier now the rain is falling
The noise so loud I cannot think
The lightening fractures the sky above
And my legs, they begin to sink

I look around, eyes wide with terror
As all this madness does unfold
I look once more, there, it's Jesus
In the midst of the storm, standing bold

I am your peace when all hell breaks loose
Devils and demons flee
In the storm, in the night, when all breaks down
Remember, keep your eyes upon me.

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Lost tears (an ode to children of alcoholics)

To all the boys who never cried
My heart it weeps for you
Longing for a fathers touch
Slipping slowly out of view

A hand it reached within my chest
And entwined around my heart
With every beat the fingers grew
Until they covered every part

And keys would fumble in the door
What would this dark night bring
And in from the night the tyrant came
The beggars received their king

To bow and scrape, perhaps defuse
To laugh at every joke
Perhaps the tyrant king would sleep
Perhaps we would provoke

With every night the fire dies
Embers of the heart recede
The king is god, he rules supreme
Don't hurt our mum the children plead

And darkness overcomes the soul
Into the night the children flee
And all around the curtains fall
And when they fall you cannot see

Who will rid us of this endless night
The blackness and the shades of gray
For beneath the pillow held so tight
Is not a place where children play

Why do these tears that belong to you
Fall down from upon my face
For once I dwelt in shadowland
Its now your dwelling place

So if you wander in the night
A night within your heart
The true King sees behind your veil
He sees you play the part

Oh wont you come on bended knee
And find the tears you lost
The true King longs to set you free
And that at any cost

Don't you long to see the sun
And feel its warm embrace
A heart of flesh and not of steel
And tears upon your face

My God He is the tears you lost
Living waters from above
He restores the broken and the crushed
With Godly tears of love

The true King wept when you could not
He wept to see His Son
And with those tears on Calvary fought
And now the work is done

Come out from amongst the dead He cries
And He will deal with all your fears
For every time you could not cry
My God He shed your tears

And all these tears He's gathered
And they flow from Heavens throne
And when your swept up in this tide
You'll know you were not alone

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One more setting sun

One more night's begun
But it's just another setting sun
Maybe whiskey can unlock the door?
And maybe I can feel once more?

Bottles gone and here I am
A tiny trickle in the shadow of a dam
Might as well throw punches at the moon
Cause there aint no tears flowing anytime soon

Time stands still in the middle of the night
When you drink yourself sober it just aint right
Reaching and grasping for something not there
And your mind drifts back to a childhood prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep
Been many years since I could weep
If I should die before I wake
I'd leave no heart behind to break

O Lord I pray my soul to keep
I'm drowning Lord here in the deep
I pray the Lord my soul to take
To stop the pain and the heartache

I cried to the Lord in my despair
O Lord do you really even care?
Then I saw me as clear as day
And cried to the Lord ' please look away'

I saw the pain that I had caused
I saw my sins and all my flaws
My heart lit up I could not hide
And something new was born inside

And suddenly the dam it broke
A heard a voice, the Lord He spoke
Come now my child walk in the light
A child of the day and not the might
And now I love the setting sun
I get on my knees and pray to the one
Who came into the darkness to set me free
Who shone His light that I might see.

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Prodigal desolation

Oh Lord I look out at perpetual desolation
I see nothing but the blackness of the night
I hear the jackals howling in anticipation
And my sunken eyes behold this dreadful sight

The sun has set and shall it rise again?
Or has the nightly shadows won the day?
On every side they tear to pieces
And the reapers hand is never far away

I listen for a voice, nay, only silence
Total devastation is my only friend
He makes a feast of all I ever hoped for
And the hell lies in no knowledge of its end

And only at this point can I consider
Of all I took for granted every day
The beauty that has died and gone forever
Torments my soul and leads me to pray

Oh Lord forget me not for I have fallen
Fallen from the lofty heights of your embrace
My heart cries out, its pierced by many sorrows
As it languishes, it longs to see your face

I am your child on that alone I call thee
For I have squandered every morsel from your hand
And now I lay among the dead and dying
And I know that this is not what you had planned

Oh Father will you save me for your own sake
For darkness haunts the earth and cruelty reigns
Remember the apple of your eye and where I came from
Destroy the darkness and reverse its ghastly gains.

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A mother lost her son

I held him safe within my womb
And kissed him in the birthing room
I held his hand in sickness too
And now I don't know what to do

My son, my child, my flesh and bone
Has died and left me all alone
And in the night when no one sees
I cry and end up on my knees

I cry to God and ask Him why
My precious son he had to die
And when the morning light appears
That's one more night I've spent in tears

And as the years they slip away
I learn to live just day by day
I turn to God who was so far
I look to where the answers are

I put my hand into His hand
He pulls me up and now I stand
I hear my Father say to me
'My Son He died upon a tree

I know the pain that mothers feel
When life turns black and robs and steals
And takes a portion of your heart
And tears your very soul apart'

Oh Lord I pray, please make me whole
Replace the joy that life has stole
This pain, this loss, is part of me
But still I'm longing to be free

I choose to walk out through the door
And melancholy reigns no more
I leave behind the shades of grey
To walk in light, to kneel and pray

' Come to me child, I've heard your cry
I saw your tears when your child died
Rest in me and find your peace
Replace your pain and find release'

Despite the fact we had to part
You still live on within my heart
There'll never be a day go by
A tear wont fall from your mother's eye

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Shadows in the darkland

Into the shadows of the dark land
Where the roaring lion roams free
Never to return to the world of innocence
This cynical dimension has forever trapped me

For years I wandered in the twilight
Voices of the world echoed unclear
This is a place of abandoned desolation
Forever ruled by shame and fear

How is it that these world's co-exist in time
A child in one, a slave to the other
Surviving daily in a colorless jungle
Yet sentenced forever to continually suffer

A childless child in a demanding world
Longing to return to a different time
To a place of warmth and sweet embrace
Oh to laugh again, how sublime

There were times when I thought I had found the way
I could almost feel the sun on my face
But just at that time, the lion would pounce
And I ran screaming back into that place

And so I walked on, chains pulling me down
Seemingly going nowhere
Yet I was being pulled towards an enormous pit
And I did not have the strength to care

And before I knew it I was falling
Having finally gone over the edge
I was grasping and scraping and calling out
Before I came to a stop on a ledge

I looked down and I could see the bottom
It was the bottom of the bottomless pit
I looked at myself, I was covered in filth
And I said to myself, this is it

I looked up and I could see no light
And I cried out, oh God help me!
And in an instant, His Hand came down
And before I knew it I was free

I was out of the pit and standing on the Rock
I could feel the sun on my face
No more the to walk in the shadows of the Darkland
But to live forever in a continual embrace.

To: Table of CONTENTS

Silence in the darkness

Only silence in the darkness
I lift my voice and cry
Has thou oh Lord forgotten me
If so, then I must die

Every day I come before you
And shout to thee so very loud
I offer sacrifice, my very life
And still I'm covered by a cloud

Lord how long will this continue
There is no-where left that I can go
I walk through the valley of dry bones
Where is the Spirit, in the river I must flow

Oh land of milk and honey
It seems that I have lost my way
Shall I forever wander in this desert
Let it not be oh Lord I pray

I shall come to the Rock of testing
And discover the meaning of grace
I cannot attain my own righteousness
Only the waters that flow from this place

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Still God in the midst of the pain

Can I suffer through the pain
Can I love Him in the flames
Will you come and hold me up
When life has come and filled my cup

When my weary soul does tire
I find my Lord in the midst of fire
Oh Lord take me a little higher
And my Lord He lifts me up

Will I make it till the end
Not without my Lord and friend
Oh Lord of wounds and stripes and pain
Shield me from the pouring rain

When my weary soul does tire
I find my Lord in the midst of fire
My Lord and God take me higher
And my Lord lifts me up

When all of life becomes too much
I desperately need to feel your touch
Oh Lord consume me with your power
And raise me up to your high tower

When my weary soul does tire
I find my Lord in the midst of fire
Oh Lord my God take me higher
And my Lord lifts me up

And when the race is finally won
And the world gives way to the eternal Son
You dear Lord were faithful and true
It was by your hand that I got through

When my weary soul does tire
I find my Lord in the midst of fire
Oh Lord and God take me higher
And my Lord lifts me up

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Swing the sword

Sometimes it seems like I am permanently out of my depth
And situations often seem to be completely over my head
How good it is to fall back upon the Lord
Shut my eyes, take His hand and simply be led

Walking into the wind and the rain
Every step it seems is marred with pain
Swimming up the river in a perpetual spring time flow
Seems to be the way that I must go

Stand and fight or fall onto your knees
Swim with all your might or drown in stormy seas
Get up from bloody battle-fields
With your face into the rain
Swing your sword with all your might
Then swing your sword again

Time and again and wave after wave
The enemy rushes in
And all around the battle-field
You are surrounded by deadly sin

Did you think you’d walk in meadows
Ye soldiers of the cross?
You may not have reckoned for the fight
And that you would suffer loss

The suffering of these present times
Of those the Spirit’s sealed
Cannot compare to what’s ahead
And the glories there revealed

Stand up, stand up stand up my child
Stand up in Christ alone
Lift up your eyes ye Royal priest
And see God’s awesome throne

You are more than a conqueror In Christ your King
Nothing can separate you, not anything
From the glories of heaven and from the reward
For those who stand and swing the sword

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The furrows on my brow

Can you see the furrows on my brow
Each tells a hundred stories of the whys and of the how
I have walked through howling winds I have walked through pouring rain
I have journeyed through the joys and I have journeyed through the pain

Every single furrow marks the valleys I have trod
And the narrow winding road that leads me back to God
And every single line that is marked upon my face
Highlights the very fact that I have only lived by grace

Each and every soldier bears the scars of many fights
For every cloudless day there are just as many nights
But even through the furrows and all my many lines
You will see my joy, you'll see my love and many other signs

For though I bear the scars that are etched upon my back
In the depths of my very soul there has never been a lack
There's a deep wellspring of peace that continually flows
Despite the many rains and the mighty wind that blows

There is a greater wind from God that carries me along
There is a latter rain from heaven that makes me very strong
The hand of God Himself is the hand that holds the plow
You will know I've been to war by the furrows on my brow

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The human spirit

Oh brightest of the brightest stars
You shine out greatly in the night
And all around the darkness falls
Yet you do not, you stand and fight

Time and again, wave after wave
The darkness assaults your soul
Threatening to smash to a thousand pieces
Yet you still stand tall and whole

Relentless the scorching fire rains down
And you are battered from every side
Weaker now, to your knees you fall
Desperately seeking for a place to hide

For one who once stood tall and strong
Now forsaken and lost and no more fight
Surrounded by darkness on every side
You must now flee into the darkest night

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The window of my soul

Through the window of my soul
I see that the drought continues
I am walking through a dry and dusty land
And my bones are indeed growing old

I am in the midst of the hottest summer
And the humidity has sapped my soul
I look out upon the horizon of my Spirit
The is not a cloud in sight

I shall stand upon the Holy mountain
And shout out to the Lord my God
I shall dash my idols on the Rock
And declare the wondrous works of the almighty

And from beyond the mountain, a cloud appears
Thick and heavy with the rain
I am totally dependent on the Lord
And I am drenched with His life once again

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To all who thirst

As the deer panteth for the waterbrooks
So my soul longeth after thee
Oh my precious Father in Heaven
Can you hear my desperate plea?

My soul cries out to you
In a dry and thirsty land
Revive me oh Lord, quench my raging thirst
Reach down from heaven and take my feeble hand

There is a famine in my soul
And it hungers after heavens food
There's a raging thirst in my spirit
If only I could quench this thirst I would

I have tasted this food and drank from the well
Now nothing else will do
I am ruined for all of this life
Now all I want is all of you

Oh listen to my plea
Oh Christ the risen King
I need to hear your Spirit speak
I need to hear the angels sing

For I have wandered in this desert
And it has brought me too my knees
And every footprint in the sand
Is marked by anguished plea's

Forget me not Oh Lord my God
For I remember thee
Those moments that we spent alone
In your Holy Sanctuary

And I was robbed of all my words
In that place before your throne
I knelt and wept, and cried with joy
I knew I'd never be alone

And now your Spirit comes to me
And a heavenly angel sings
A still small voice it says to me
' I will bear you on eagle's wings'

Arise my my child and thirst no more
For I have heard your plea
Reach out and grasp my outstretched hand
It's time to come away with me

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To be found in Him

Can a valley be a mountain?
A prison cell a sanctuary?
Can a man in chains and fetters
Claim to be completely free?

There is a freedom wrought by man
He fights and kills to see it done
There is a freedom wrought by God
On Calvary's battle-field was won

So whether in the darkest night
Or transfiguration on the hill
I'll walk by faith and not by sight
I shall not run, I shall be still

Be still when all around are crying
Stand fast when all are set to flight
Know the Lord, and in the dying
His presence overcomes the night

Darkness ends and has no power
And Christ outshines the brightest sun
He is our Rock and strong high tower
No more to fight, the battle won.

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Beyond the edge of hope

To live beyond the edge of hope
Is to dangle daily from a rope
In a perpetual dance with death itself
Beyond this world and all its wealth

There is a world of blue and green
But to the dark eye its all unseen
A world of orange, red and yellow too
But from the rope it’s beyond all view

For from the rope there's shades of grey
And sleepless nights and endless days
And every now and then some light
But just enough to confirm the night

There was a time I dangled from this rope
At the edge of hell and beyond all hope
I lived my life, just hanging there
Crushed and broken, suspended in the air

Then Jesus came and cut me down
He raised me up to wear a crown
A pauper raised to walk with kings
A voice-less man but now who sings

Of all the glories of the Lord
Who came with Word and deed and sword
And conquered hell and death and sin
Restoring joy and hope within

Now all the world is bright to me
No matter what my eyes can see
No longer dangling from the rope
I walk with Jesus, I walk with hope

And above the clouds I know it’s true
The sun shines bright and the sky is blue
And when a shaft of light appears
It warms my heart and quells my fears

Now if your dangling from that rope
And you hear the lie, 'there is no hope'
Cry out to the one who can cut you down
He will raise you up to wear a crown

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Towers of lost tears

I was born under an angry sky
At the edge of the world in darkness
A place where the rain never ceased to fall
And boys grew up to be heartless

Tears were banished right from the start
And the foundations of the walls that surrounded our heart
Were laid deep in our souls and minds every day
It was a well-worn path and there was no other way

And the wind blew hard upon the window pane
There was never-ending darkness and never-ending rain
And the hearts of the boys grew dark in the night
Only in your dreams could you run and take flight

Still the morning would come and darkness remained
Look out of the window and it continually rained
Every blow to the heart another brick in the wall
The more you laid bare the more it grew tall

The land of broken hearts is full of high towers
Tis a black and white land ruled by darkened powers
Towers of lost tears and towers of pain
Tis full of dark clouds and continual rain

Yet there were some who spoke of a world of light
Where tears could fall and no continual night
This world had a King who had come to this land
They put nails in His feet and nails in His hand

The powers of darkness screamed in delight
As they pierced His side, this King of the Light
He had come to replace the hearts that were broken
With power and love in every word He had spoken

So they nailed the Word to the cross that day
Then they took Him down and in the cave He would lay
And they rolled a stone just to shut Him in
And the darkness fell and rejoiced in its sin

And the brokenhearted wept for their King
He had taught them to pray and taught them to sing
Yet the rain and the darkness seemed to prevail
By the power of the sword and the power of the nail

Then out through the darkness broke forth a great light
The rolled away stone revealed a glorious sight
The grave could not hold Him and death was defeated
Look up to the throne and see where He's seated

Our King was victorious, the chains they were broken
Those asleep in the darkness were gloriously awoken
In victory He arose, He had shattered deaths spell
In the land of broken hearts the towers fell

The captives came forth their hearts were renewed
And the powers of darkness were finally subdued
No longer prisoners of the darkness and pain
Their tears were recovered and they fell like rain

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Unbroken sunshine leads to deserts

Unbroken sunshine leads to deserts
And endless dunes across the soul
Yet the storms that blow from God above
Help make us whole, and that with love

For man will always take the path
Of least resistance to his flesh
He runs to pride and from the meek
To God confess, the humble seek

To walk with God is to walk through fire
And beds of coal beneath our feet
Through every mountain pass and valleys
And desert heat and darkened alleys

Unless the seed falls to the ground
And rain and storms have tilled the land
Then nothing grows and all is dead
No wheat shall stand, no one is fed

So embrace the storms and raging seas
And hail and snow and fallen trees
And fire and flood and rising tide
Will set you free, no more to hide

For God is for me, I walk in peace
And His grace upon me shall never cease
To mold and shape and create in me
The landscape that you now can see

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Under the shadow

Under the shadow of an aged fallen tree
Springs forth a root that will surely honor thee
Pour forth thy rain on a fasting remnant bride
Pierce the darkness till there's nowhere left to hide

What was established will shortly pass away
As we wait upon on our Groom and the marriage day
Though the storm is approaching and hell is off its knees
You shall rend forth the heavens and water our thirsty pleas

For though we see the storm approach with all its thunderous noise
We see that Christ behind it comes and in this we shall rejoice
Our eyes forever fixed on Him as foundations begin to crumble
And structures fall and pass away and proud men faint and stumble

The saints around the world cry out from barren wasteland places
And down the Spirit falls on them and shines upon their faces
Yet darkness falls around the world but in the hearts of all the saints
Your light it shines, the Kingdom comes where no one ever faints

To soar with the eagles high above, to run to the darkness and that with love
Shall conquer every mountain high, till we see His glory split the sky
Let every fountain burst asunder, as you come down and speak with thunder
Then men around the world will say, tis Christ the King and judgement day!

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You are not alone

You may feel very lonely saint, but you are not alone
There is one who walks with you and sits upon His throne
You may feel very tired, this old world has got you down
But the one who dwells within your heart will always be around

You may be troubled on every side but know you will survive
For remember you were dead in sin but now you are alive
This light that dwells within you is the light from up above
He breathed into your very lungs and filled your heart with love

You may have battled with despair but joy comes in the morning
The darkness tries to lie to you and fill your heart with mourning
Yet deep within your very heart He sits upon His throne
And then when all seems lost to you, you'll find you’re not alone

He is our very present help in the times we are in need
For the one for whom the Son sets free is surely free indeed
Free to call upon His name in the darkness or in the light
He's with us through deep waters and He guides us through the night

So precious saint consider this, consider His great love
Consider He came down to us from the glories of above
He loves you so He died for you He will never leave you all alone
He forever intercedes for you before His Father's throne

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As the waters cover the sea

Though the fig tree shall not blossom
And no fruit hangs from the trees
Nor fields of wheat for harvest
Nor fish found in the seas

I shall rejoice in the Lord my God
He is the God of my salvation
He makes me strong when I am weak
And is a light to every nation

He takes me up to higher ground
And sets my spirit free
To dance and sing and praise His name
And to come on bended knee

Even in the midst of judgement
He shall not forget His mercy
And His glory will cover all the world
And He is water to the thirsty

He is freedom to the ones in chains
He is food to those who hunger
And to those who are so very weak
The Lord is so much stronger

He is your strength to carry on
He is your strong high tower
He has filled you with His Holy Ghost
And so endued you with His power

So glorify the Living God
For His mercy endures forever
He is strong when you are weak
And has the power to deliver

Walk on dear saint you're not alone
For your God He sits upon His throne
Night and day He never sleeps
He is the comforter to all who weeps

So in the midst of darkness stand in light
Walk in the day for comes the night
When the enemy roars in like a mighty flood
We shall not drown who are covered by His Blood

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My Defender

On the solid Rock I'm standing
Safe from all the shifting sands
Jesus, Lord my God and Saviour
Holds me in His precious hands.

Who will harm me in my tower
High it is above the waves
Safe and Holy is my shelter
Jesus Christ my Saviour saves

I will sleep in peace and safety
At His feet I'll surely rest
My corner stone and strong high tower
Stands with me through every test

So here I stand, there is no other
place that I would rather be
Upon the Rock of all the ages
Who stands upon the stormy sea

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Glory in the darkness

Hope and majesty surround you
You’re covered by impenetrable light
You stretch out the heavens like a curtain
And you separate the day from the night

You ride upon chariots of fire
On the clouds that cover the sky
You walk upon the wings of the wind
We exalt you oh Lord on high

The seas flee away at your presence
And the mountains fall down at your feet
The valley's they dance to see such things
And your enemies all suffer defeat

The birds all sing in the branches
Of the God who feeds them each day
The lions are fed and the mountain goats leap
The great fish of the deep they do play

The moon lights up the sky at night
And by day the sun warms the earth
You hold these things in the palm of your hand
And all these things you preserve

Hide your face and the whole world is troubled
Hold your breath and we crumble and die
Look away and the world falls to pieces
We are lost without our Lord on high

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live
I'll tell the story, not the half but the whole
Of my glorious Father in heaven above
Bless the Lord oh my soul

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The valley and the mountain

My heart beats high on the mountain
My soul weeps low in the valley
A sunbeam bursts through the darkness
And I cry out to you

I stand on the mountain transfigured
I kneel in the valley of tears
I swim deep in the rivers of life
I am amazed at everything you do

I soar with the eagles in the heavens
I run along the straight narrow path
I revel in the glories of your presence
I walk not with the many but the few

I come before your throne and cry holy
I look unto the heavens in my chains
I know you'll never leave me not forsake me
I know that everything you say is true

So Lord of everything that is Holy
I'll love you on the mountain or the deep
My love for you will never ever falter
Standing here in your glory makes me weep

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YOUR OUTSTRETCHED HAND

Joy and sorrow walking hand in hand
There is laughter through the rain and fire in the land
Look and see the wounds that pierce my heart
Causing me to stumble and tearing me apart

I can barely imagine there'll be any tomorrows
And then I consider the man of sorrows
So acquainted with grief and rejected by all
That when I’m lost I can hear His call

My love has failed it's the end of all emotions
I am drowning in my fears in the deepest of oceans
The bridge to my heart is slowly being raised
Unless it is lowered soon there’s gonna be dark days

I cry out to God, fill my heart with your love
Don't leave me in this place, come down from above
I wait in the darkness and I wait here all alone
For wings that will allow me to fly up to your throne

And suddenly I have wings and I know how to fly
Leaving all the tears behind to your glory on high
I fall to my knees for I simply cannot stand
As I take a hold of your outstretched hand

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EVERY TEAR THAT FALLS

If every tear could tell a story
About your love and all its glory
Could you read the words that I cry
Could you even begin to try

With every single tear that fell
There is a story it will tell
A single tear that falls with emotion
Is deeper than the deepest ocean

Tears of joy and tears of pain
A single tear or falling rain
Some tears are caused by a poison dart
That finds it mark and breaks my heart

Some tears come from a cleansing flood
Part of the river and part of the blood
Other tears fall from bitter regret
Of all the things done we'd rather forget

So when all of your tears are gathered together
And are carried away by that heavenly river
They will flow to a sea and by its name it will bless
For the name of that sea is forgetfulness

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DARKENED TROUBLED WATERS

I was born with a trembling soul
Intuitively knowing that I'd have to pay the toll
Darkened troubled waters and the wind was in my face
Staying alive was just one perpetual race

Swimming up the river, never ever down
Would it be such a big deal just to drown
Just to stop the thrashing and simply to let go
And the darkened troubled waters would take me in its flow

You would see me laugh but you would never see me cry
The trouble with troubled waters is that they dare you to die
Hopes and expectations were for ordinary people
In my darkened troubled waters, hope was truly lethal

Pretending to be normal was the greatest pain of all
It looked like I was walking but it really was a crawl
The darkened troubled waters they were seeping into me
This was the kind of darkness that no one must ever see

It was the bottom of a bottle, sex and then a roach
In no particular order, this was my approach
And all the while the waters rising trying to pull you down
Any light was left receding as the darkness gathered round

Darkened troubled waters and a trembling soul
The man in dark was coming, he was coming for his toll
I looked around and found myself at the bottom of the pit
I looked up and saw no light and knew that this was it

I looked down in horror, no heart no flesh no bone
I looked around in horror, my God I'm all alone
And in that moment I cried "my God please come to me"
And suddenly there was light "I have come to set you free."

And so it was and so it is my Father took me by the hand
Upward ever upward out of the pit into the promised land
He set me on the Rock, no longer a heart of steel
Within my chest a new heart beat and it could love and it could feel

If you swim in troubled waters and there's nowhere left to go
There's no more fight, you've given up and are carried by its flow
There is a hand that reaches down and He will make you whole
For the hand belongs to the Son of God, He's already paid the toll.

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A mighty flooding river.

Like a mighty flooding river
That overflows its banks
Flood the deepest parts of me
And fill me up with thanks

With love and grace and mercy Lord
Flood my heart this day
And with your mighty torrents Lord
Wash my sins away

Wash away the boundaries Lord
That speaks to who I am
Redefine me with your love
And release your mighty dam

Where once there was a quiet creek
Rise up and overflow
May I become a river deep
And may this river ever grow

And everywhere this river goes
That flows from Calvary
Wash men and women in your love
Rise up and set them free

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The rising Sun

Rising sun that warms my soul
renews my strength and makes me whole
Revives me when I'm feeling low
Lights up the way that I must go

Twas cold and dark before the dawn
And in the darkness I'd withdrawn
Yet when His light it shone on me
Released my bonds and set me free

Now in this light I stand and bask
See me now without my mask
For in His light I stand revealed
There's nothing that is now concealed

Open now before His throne
No longer walking all alone
Hand in hand and one in heart
Now we shall never be apart

Lift your eyes and see the Sun
And know your day has just begun
And the darkness that was over you
Replaced by light now born anew

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And still the fire burns

Night falls but the fire burns
Darkness comes as the world turns
In the depths of the blackness there shines a light
As the gates of hell prepare to fight

The saints of old lit up the path
As they stood against the enemies wrath
And despite the shouts and the enemies wails
The gates of hell never prevails

Now the time is short and we cannot hide
As the enemy rushes in like the incoming tide
Who will stand and not give in
As the world is drowned in an ocean of sin

Yes night falls but the fire still burns
For the saints they know that their Saviour returns
And when the cruel enemy comes in like a flood
The mantle of their hearts is covered by the Blood

Now stand tall and do not be moved
For by it your very faith shall be proved
And when the storm ceases and Christ He returns
Forever and ever the eternal fire burns

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YOU WILL FIND ME THERE

You'll find me there beneath the throne
When it seems that I am all alone
And when the pain's too much to bear
You will find me there

You'll find me there beneath the cross
A place where there is bleeding loss
When I'm on my knees in my prayer
You will find me there

You'll find me there upon my knees
A place to hear desperate pleas
When I'm wounded in a snare
You will find me there

You'll find me there before His feet
When life has forced me to retreat
When I'm hurt and in despair
You will find me there

You'll find me there on higher ground
When the darkness it is all around
And to that darkness I declare
You will find me there

For He will lift me up on high
With all the saints that fill the sky
And I will join Him in the air
And you will find me there

You'll find me there in all His glory
And that shall be my only story
For that glory's everywhere
And you will find me there!!!

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Drowning in the uttermost.

There is an anvil on my heart
And my head lies in a vice
All the love has fled from me
And my heart has turned to ice

Familiar landmarks dis-appear
and the road becomes obscured
As the darkness ever rushes in
And your soul lies un-assured

I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea
And darkness suddenly covers me
Like a drowning man I shout and fight
being carried along with the current of the night

Then in a moment He is there
A deadly blow to sin does strike
And darkness flees away from me
For the day and night are both alike

to my God and King who reigns on high
Who, even when with wings I fly
away from Him beyond the shore
comes to me as He has before

He tends my wounds and carries me
back to the path where I can see
He fills my heart with love anew
Now I walk with joy and forgiveness too.

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What ifs

Oh Lord Jesus hear my desperate plea
Silence the "what ifs" that forever plague me
They cry out like sirens from the twisted rocks
They wrap me up in chains and rusting paddle-locks

The ever-roaring sounds of what is not
Rattles through my very soul that somehow has forgot
That the Lord is God and He ever rules supreme
And the things we see are not always what they seem

What ifs are like a swarm of angry bees
They encircle and torment me till I fall down on my knees
Stinging out my very life and leaving me for dead
What if suddenly I ignore them and get up and walk instead

What voice shall I listen to before dawn breaks anew
Will the skies be full of clouds or indeed with they be blue
When you listen to the Master’s call there is a peace within
That overcomes the anxiousness and sets to flight our sin

Faith is the substance of things not clearly seen
It's the still waters of my life and it is my pastures green
And yes I walk through valleys that are surely deep and dark
To live an extra-ordinary life is no walk in the park

Oh saint today wont you come and listen to my plea
Come now before the King to the one who set you free
What ifs are slain and rendered dead in the power of His might
You are the apple of His eye and you are His great delight

No spirit of fear lies within you'll find
But a Spirit of power and a peaceful mind
Will raise you up, to higher ground
Before His throne you will be found

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Face to face with the cross

When I have suffered great loss
I come face to face with the cross
Will I get down on my knees and pray
Or shall I turn and walk away?

Each day as I walk through this life
And face troubles and heartaches and strife
When the world has lost all its gloss
Then I come face to face with the cross

In the light of His glory and grace
As I behold His wonderful face
His fire burns up all of the dross
When I come face to face with the cross

So when you have fallen down
And it seems you've forsaken your crown
Come fall at His feet in remorse
Come face to face with the cross

His grace is sufficient for you
Honor Him in all that you do
And victory will come in due course
When you come face to face with the cross

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When the wind dies down

I love it when incessant winds die down
And all around is silence not a sound
And then I feel the sun upon my face
And I am caught up in a warm embrace

When all around me is desolate land
I feel the sun and still I stand
And even though there are dark clouds everywhere
Beyond those clouds I know the blue skies there

The wind it often chills me to the bone
Yet just one ray of sun and I am not alone
One foot in front of another is the way that I must go
I cannot deviate despite the blinding snow

Neither to the left nor to the right
Neither stormy seas nor darkened night
Can keep me from the narrow path I know
Although it may be flooded or blocked with snow

I'll keep om walking till the very end
Because I know He is around each bend
I shall wade through waters high and mountain snow
As long as He is with me this I know

So if you cannot see your way ahead
Nor fall asleep when you lay down your head
Lift your eyes and see that shaft of light
That warms your face and guides you through the night

Then all the noise shall cease, no not a sound
I love it when incessant winds die down
And then I feel the sun upon my face
And I am caught up in a warm embrace.

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I long to be away

I have flown in heavenly places
Yet still confined to earthly spaces
There's a part of me that has touched the skies
And with each touch another part dies

Two forces yet only one eternal part
One love that has forever filled my heart
The glory of the crimson tide forever changing me
Lifts me up then takes me down into the glassy sea

I stand enshrined in this mortal coat
Yet the Love of God itself keeps me afloat
Adrift and carried by the crimson tide
The Bridegroom ever beckons home the bride

In this world but surely not a part
To another Kingdom belongs my longing heart
This other Kingdom burns inside of me
As it carries me into the glassy sea

As I approach the glory to be found
I find myself once more on Holy ground
A place where I will find eternity
A place that lies in the midst of the glassy sea

Oh longing heart with wings you must take flight
And lift me from perpetual fleshly night
And deliver me to where my Saviour reigns
A place where at my feet lies broken chains

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Shattered dreams and the rising Sun

Dreams and plans are shattered
Just pieces in my hand
How am I gonna move from here?
How am I gonna stand?

My world is plunged into darkness
It has become a perpetual night
Shall I forever wander here
This world before the morning light?

Is there a world before the dusk?
It's to that world that I am drawn
I cannot dwell forever here
I must move on beyond the dawn

The glories of the rising Sun
Revives my dying heart
It gathers up the pieces
That this world tore apart

And in the warmth of the mid-day Sun
Dreams and plans they are re-born
My heart has found its healing place
My heart it is no longer torn

Will you dwell in that dark place?
And slowly drown in sinking sand?
Or will you walk towards the light?
Hand reaching out to hand

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Subdued by His Majesty

Have you been subdued by the Majesty?
Has your head hung low in the glory?
Has your darkness been shattered by the light from up above?
Have you found yourself adrift in an ocean of love?

Oh God in heaven rend the skies and come down
May I fall to my knees with your glory all around
May the waters rise from the tears of a million saints
Let us enter into this place where no one ever faints

Brighter than the light of a thousand suns
Where time has no place and eternity's just begun
Where every part of me is one with every part of you
And the glory falls and cover me like the morning dew

I am whole and complete, here before the mercy-seat
I am refreshed and restored where my mercies are replete
Oh God in heaven take me to this place
Where I forever look unto your face

Tears of joy and wholeness rise in me
Waters from the saints that are deeper that the sea
Only in this place do I truly belong
Forever singing heaven's Holy song

Suddenly I am back from whence I came
But this I know, I shall never be the same
And the memory of His presence lingers on
My heart is full, tis food to dwell upon

This hunger and this thirst is part of me
Longing to be adrift once more, in that eternal sea
Oh take me to that place that is my home
Where I shall dwell eternally before thy throne

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In the Midst of it All.

Oh glorious fourth man in the flame
Stand with Him and never be the same
Let the world gaze on and wonder at it all
Standing firm in the furnace, standing tall

There is gold in this refiner’s fire
In the world you'd be covered by the muck and the mire
Yet in this place of testing and refining
There is one like the Son of God gloriously shining

Do not fear when the enemy knocks upon your door
Nor in the darkened den when you hear the lion roar
The Son of God is coming with lightning in His hand
By His power and by His grace you shall forever stand

So stand amidst the flames and know you shall not fall
Stand upon the rising storm and hear the Master call
Lift your eyes and fix your gaze on Christ and Him alone
Rise up above all earthly fears and stand before His throne

A place where every storm is stilled
A place where every saint is filled
A place that casts out every single fear
A place where Jesus Christ is always near.

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Just To Be Found in You

Can you hear the beat of my heart
And my tears as they fall to the floor
And the cry that comes from the depths of my heart
Oh Lord wont you open up the door?

How I long for the tabernacle of your presence
Your glorious majesty that's there to be found
How my heart longs to be where you are
In the midst of your glory that's all around

It can be a dry and dusty narrow path
Surrounded by desert sand
I thank you Lord for the moments in time
When I simply take hold of your hand.

These moments of glory then down comes the rain
Glory and majesty and agonizing pain
Bring on the pain and let the rain fall
As for me and mine we shall follow the call

Lord you know the beginning from the end
And in spite of myself you call me your friend
So the thunders shall roar and the mountains shall fall
No matter the cost I am gonna stand tall

For you took what was dead and wasting away
You raised me to heaven and taught me to pray
So as long as I live and the sky above is blue
I'll walk through the fires just to be found in you.

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Dark Comes the Night

It is not a pleasant thing
To walk into the wind
To walk in shades of grey
To dwell where all have sinned

It is a pleasant thing
To walk with you each day
To fellowship , to honor
To worship and obey

Each day the wind grows stronger
And the proud are standing tall
Each day the tide is coming in
And the pillars begin to fall

Truth lies broken in the street
And the structures are on fire
The Vandals and the Visigoths
Draw men into the mire

Sinking, slowly, unaware
Into the miry clay
Rebellious men without a prayer
Sinking deeper every day

When did the day become the night?
And all around is falling
When did the darkness quench the light?
And drown out God’s own calling.

Godless men rejoicing
In the darkness they call light
They are singing and they’re dancing
And arming for the fight

Oh children of the Living God
Find refuge neath His wings
Run now into your Tower
For we can see what this night brings

The hordes of hell are massing
The wolves are circling round
And evil is surpassing
With a mighty rushing sound

Yet Christ in all His glory
Is coming for His own
The culmination of His story
Ends with Him upon His throne

Stand fast ye children of the light
For though the day has come the night
We shall prevail and overcome
For Christ the battle He has won!

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ALL OF ME WANTS ALL OF YOU

I could speak in clichés
And you would never know
To the horizon of these clichés
Is as far as I can go.

Where two horizons meet
Two worlds they should collide
Yet here I am within my world
And yours; you stay inside

We seem to see each other
But do we really see at all?
A lifetime playing out our parts
When will the curtain ever fall.

Who will lay their burdens down
Who will slowly venture out
Who will risk it all for love
Slaying fears and slaying doubt.

Beyond horizons who can tell
Demons, dragons; lions too?
None of these I think you'll find
Perhaps you'll find it's only you.

If only you, could find only you
And only I could find only me
Then only then could we finally meet
Where blue sky touches endless sea

There is a place where the setting Son
Merges sky and endless sea,
A place where different worlds collide
A place where you and I are free.

In God alone we find this place,
Where everything is stripped away
Just you as you and me as me
Where endless sky meets ocean spray

Will you sail beyond horizons
In endless seas of blue
Will you fly in boundless skies
You can as long as you are true.

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How Many Times Can A Heart be Broken?

How many times can a heart be broken
How many tears have to fall
How many times do I have to forgive
Or perhaps not forgive at all

When my steps grow tired and weary
And my sleep has vanished in the night
How can I go on living day by day
And not simply give up the fight

Where can I find the strength to go on
When it seems I have lost my way
How can I lift my head from the pillow
Even if it’s for just for one more day

Then all of a sudden I know He is here
My waiting has not been in vain
He comes to me through the fire and the flood
Through the heartache and through the pain

And suddenly I have the strength to carry on
I rise up on the wings of His love
Who knew I would rise o'r this valley of death
And find myself far far above.

I soar on the glorious splendor of Love
On the wings of the eagle I fly
I feast on the banquet He prepares for me
As I revel in the endless sky.

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If You had Eyes to See

If you had eyes to see
The scars that cover me
You would have eyes to see
The Christ who set me free

If you had eyes to see
My bruised and battered heart
Then you could also see
He was with me from the start

If you could see the scars
That cover my Gods heart
Then with those very eyes
You'd see Gods shining star

Far above the heavens
And in the darkest night
He came and died for you and me
He came to give us sight

Now look upon the one
Who was battered and was bruised
He is Gods only Son
And for you He was abused

He came to set the prisoners free
He came to give us eyes that see
The glory of our God on high
Whose glory fills the earth and sky

He came to heal the crushed and broken
With acts of love and the word spoken
He died for us and on a tree
And now indeed we all can see

Will you open up your eyes and live
With an open heart that can forgive
For we, forgiven, now set free
Can open up our eyes and see!

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Trials and Comfort

It’s not the cancer that I fear
It is the thought that you’re not near
For in your presence worlds collide
Beneath your wings I’ll surely hide

Take me to yourself I pray
Walk with me along the way
I’m tired O Lord please hold my hand
And pull me out from shifting sand

For in the sands there is no ground
Nor solid place that can be found
No handkerchief to wipe the tears
Surrounded by my many fears

You pull me up you cover me
You saw me longing to be free
And now I’ve found a place in you
On solid ground I stand tis true

I fix my eyes on you alone
I lift my hands unto the throne
Of glory mercy love and grace
I gaze upon thy Holy face

And as my gaze is fixed on thee
I find that I am surely free
And in your presence I draw near
And perfect love casts out all fear

Oh my King take all of me
Take every part that you can see
Then in thy hand you’ll hold me tight
Two hearts entwined shall then take flight

Now here I am before your throne
Not forsaken not alone
Legs once weary now can run
Into the arms of God’s own Son

The joy of the Lord is my strength
And you shall go to any length
To take me deeper into thee
To heal me Lord and set me free

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The Beauty of Silence in the Palm of His Hand

Ride and ride with all your might
Push the horse into the night
Towards the dawn that’s straight ahead
Fleeing darkness fleeing dread

I have swam in the stormy seas of chaos
I have been caught in the lightning storms of life
Pushing mighty boulders up perpetual hills
I have baked in the sun and shivered naked with the chills

I have been a starving man
With my nose pressed against the window pane
I have wrestled with this world and sanity
And known something of what it means to be insane

And now I listen to the silence
Tis a table set before me fit for a King
A glorious feast of beauty and peace
An immovable Spirit deep within

And in this silence where there is no noise
Can you hear it? Can you hear that still small voice?
A feast indeed to a starving man
To remember in your heart where it all began

In Christ alone I stand or fall
Tis a starving man who can’t hear His call
His silence His peace tis manna to my soul
For distractions and noise surely take their toll

Till there’s nothing left but a valley of bones
And tortured men with hearts full of stones
Starving and dying and withering away
They have long since forgotten how to listen and pray

God is calling He is calling today
We must learn how to listen, to listen and pray
Distractions must cease and an end to all noise
Till we hear again still small voice

Oh Christendom how often I would gather you in
Away from the world with its noise and its din
Those who can hear me in that day they shall stand
In the beauty of silence in the palm of His hand.

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WITH THESE WINGS I’LL FLY

On the weary feet of faith
And the fragile wings of hope
He is faithful to ever save
And thoughts of Him does love evoke

I stand on Him and Him alone
Without my Lord I’m all at sea
My only place, before His throne
Tis there I long to ever be

I stand on mercy and on grace
Reaching out with faith and love
I see a smile upon His face
Receiving now the wings of a dove

Stretching out my wings I fly
Ever higher to that place
I soar above into the sky
Full of mercy, full of grace

In endless skies I dwell with thee
And in that place I’ll ever be
Ever closer to the sun
You in Him and we are one

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HERE I STAND STILL WHOLE

Let the presence of the Lord
Like a river flow through my heart
Let neither trial nor circumstance
Come and tear us apart

There is a roaring lion
That ever seeks to devour
Let us be ever vigilant
Every day and every hour

Stand fast ye Royal Soldiers
Ye soldiers of the cross
There's one certain thing in life
That you will suffer loss

Our Lord He understands these things
He sees our agonies and pain
And on the cross of Calvary
Our enemy there was slain

So in the moment of the trial
In the midst of the darkest night
Stand fast ye Royal priesthood
Stand up stand up and fight

There is no trial that is pleasant
No agony that is easily borne
Yet there is a God in heaven
And we live by promises sworn

For in the book it is written
It is written there by Blood
That He shall raise a standard
When the enemy comes in like a flood

Stand up ye Royal priesthood
There in the midst of the fire
Stand up my brothers and sisters
Come up a little higher

For He has seen your afflictions
And every tear that falls by night
And holds you in His very hand
He has called you to this very fight

There will come a day so very soon
Where all your trials will have an end
And though for now you're tempest tossed
You shall not break but you shall bend

So let His presence flow through you
For in these waters you must swim
Through fire and flood and fiercest storm
For surely you shall be found in Him.

Hold fast hold fast hold fast my child
For joy comes in the morning
There is eternal peace ahead
For those who sound Gods warning.

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God helps the parents of the prodigal

You cover my head in the rain
And in the heat you are my shadow
You are able to bear all my pain
And sustain me wherever I go

You're my anchor in the height of the storm
You're my eyes when I cannot see
In the depths of the winter you keep me warm
When I am bound you set me free

When the enemy is all around
And I am beaten and battered and torn
In your arms I will surely be found
Tis your promise, tis what you have sworn

When I cannot see my way ahead
And I am surrounded by many fears
In the silence of the night upon my bed
You come and wipe away my tears

You're my hope in the dark of the night
You're my peace in the midst of the madness
You will help me to stand up and fight
As you chase away all the sadness

Heaviness shall give way to praise
And joy shall come in the morning
I will worship you all of my days
My heart shall no longer be mourning

I see my son and he is coming
He was banished to a far-away land
And to him I will surely come running
Then we shall walk home hand in hand.

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Time and Tide Waits for no Man, But They Wait For God

Shall time and tide not ebb and flow
These are the things Lord that you know
Shall the sun not rise in the morning
Can you hear the Spirit, will you heed his warning?

Shall the birds continue to sing in the trees
Shall ships continue to sail the seas
The tyranny of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow
Shall only continue to bring great sorrow

Shall the moon not rise and the sun not set
Can we leave behind our yesterdays with all their regret
Are the chains of tomorrow just dragging you down
Have you forgotten Royal Priest that you wear a crown

Remember the lilies they neither toil nor spin
Remember the Lord who has forgiven your sin
And every single day His mercies are new
Lift hands to heaven and revel in the view

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
The closer to Him His glory increases
Great is His faithfulness and love towards you
It is this very love that will see you through

He directs the tide and makes the sun rise and fall
He loves you so much can you hear Him call
He is an ever-present help in our times of need
With outstretched arms, your soul He will feed

Forget about your yesterday’s do not count tomorrow
Let your heart be full of joy and not full of sorrow
Rejoice in Him and let your praises never cease
Perfect love casts out fear and fills you with peace.

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AGAINST ALL HOPE IN HOPE I BELIEVED

Contrary to hope, in hope I believed
Can a sound mind spring forth from madness?
Can joy return to the heart that grieved
Can laughter replace the sadness?

Can life emerge from a dried up womb
Can we cross a river that rages?
Can Lazarus come forth from a darkened tomb
To bring glory to the God of the ages?

Can the lame man walk and the blind man see
Is there hope to be found for the hopeless?
Can the man who is chained be finally free
Can light overcome the darkness?

I have found hope in Christ alone
He is my Rock and my strong high tower
I have found joy before His throne
By His Spirit not by might nor by power

He dried up the river that I might cross
He gave me sight that I may see
I am found in Him all else is loss
I am no longer bound He has set me free

A garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness
A sound mind that stands upon love
A heart perpetually full of thankfulness
And wisdom that flows down from above

I was held captive and He set me free
I was adrift on a sea of madness
He gave me life and that eternally
He has filled me with joy and gladness

Yes, contrary to hope, in hope I believed
Despite all the mocking and laughter
I will listen to God and not be deceived
And in Him shall live happily ever after.

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The sins of the father.

I am fragile I can be broken
Broken by the words spoken
Can't you see your words are clawing me apart?
Can't you see how you're crushing my heart?

How my heart longed to hear warm words spoken
Full of beauty and light from above
Why didn't you just reach out and touch me?
And cover me and hold me in love.

The broken child in you
Now breaks the child that you can see
Two broken children collide
Only wanting to be free

I am fragile I can be broken
Broken by the words left unspoken
And this brokenness is now a void in me
That is deeper and wider than the deepest sea

What can fix a broken heart?
And fill this vast expanse in me
What can fill an endless void?
That's deeper than the deepest sea

So many tears, enough to fill an ocean
Shed by all the children, broken
A Saviour comes and walks upon this sea of tears
He calms the stormy sea and quells the fears

I have come to mend the broken heart
To heal the wounds where you were torn apart
I have come to set the captive free
To dry up every tear that fills the deepest sea

I hold the universe in my hand
I cause the blind to see and the lame to stand
And every star in the heavens, I know them all by name
And I will touch you and you shall never be the same

The words I speak they are life and they are love
I know every sparrow that falls from above
I created the sun and the moon and the rain
I still the stormy seas and I take away the pain

Come and bring your emptiness to me
And I will fill you with a love that's deeper than the sea
Come all you broken and contrite
And I will heal you and set you free this night

And so I came and took my Saviour's hand
Out of the pit on the solid Rock I stand
A broken heart replaced and reconciled
Standing whole and new, I am my Father's child

And every word spoken, they are life to me
Your love and Your kindness, they have set me free
And by thy Spirit my eternity is sealed
And by thy love my broken heart was healed.

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MY SON

Another Thanksgiving and you're not here
When no one's looking I shed a tear
When all the festivities are done
I'll smile, but my hearts with you my son

I've fought with lions, I've fought with bears
I’ve fought with the one who claws and tears
I'd fight my way through a hundred men
Just to have you home again

Who knows the pain of a father's heart?
He keeps on going he plays the part
When days become months and months become years
Still no one sees his secret tears

Ah Lord Jesus have you heard my cry?
Without your love I would surely die
Ah Lord Jesus have you heard my plea?
You have indeed, tis thee, tis thee

Deeper in the valley, closer to you
Only your love has brought me through
One day I'll look and see my prodigal son
Then I'll know a new day's begun.

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WHERE MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE

When the mountain is insurmountable
And there is no way ahead
My mind drifts back to Calvary
Where my Savior died and bled

When all around is darkness
And it seems I've lost my way
Your light it shines from heaven
And gives me strength for one more day

When there are tears upon my pillow
And the night has lost its song
I lift my eyes unto the throne
And I see where I belong

I belong here in your presence
You bid me walk on through the door
To stand at the right hand of your glory
Where your blessings are forevermore

And in your presence mountains crumble
And tumble, falling to the sea
As I stand before your glory
Where I shall ever be

The darkness has receded
It fled away from you
The light of heaven shines on me
And the sky above is blue

Your presence dries up all my tears
And in my heart there sings a song
Of the Lord that came and died for me
To whom I now belong

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HUMBLE YOURSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

Hey, this is my world of pride
Don’t you know that I am dying here inside
This is a world where I am never wrong
The silence has overwhelmed me and my night has lost its song

I am an Island in an ocean of people
Strong and unmovable, like an old church steeple
There was a time when there were many bridges here
That time is gone, never to return I fear

And the air is filled with the smell of burning embers
One by one the bridges fall and no-one cares or even remembers
The days I walked and laughed with Him
There was a beauty, a peace that came from deep within.

And I cared for people and they cared for me
And all because of Him that hung upon that tree
Now I care no more and there’s one bridge left to burn
And I hold the match because there’s nowhere else to turn

And Satan says, burn it now
And Jesus says, listen here to me
The time has come to give this up
To come across the bridge on bended knee

And I will show you how to live
And soar with the eagles high above
The beam is gone and now I see
That His banner over me is love.

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My downcast soul

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after thee
My heart wanders through this desert
And there is no joy in me

I remember the days of your presence
How your Spirit burned in me
Shall I forever wander in this desert?
O Lord shall I ever be free?

Night and day I continually weep
My tears have almost ran dry
My starving soul continues to seek
For the glorious one who reigns on high

Where is the voice of joy and praise
For I surely remember all the days
When we came and sought and found Him there
Yet now I'm lost and He is no-where

I will remember the Lord my King
And I will lift my voice and sing
Of all His glories and His deeds
So now my Lord my soul it pleads

My downcast soul cries out to deep
A song awakes me from my sleep
Angel choirs they fill the night
My eyes are dried I have my sight

Now that I can clearly see
I hear my God say 'trust in me.'
And up from the dead my soul shall rise
To the Lord my King who heard my cries

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A broken vessel

In you oh Lord I put my trust
I shall never be ashamed
For you are my Rock and strong high tower
And my wild heart you have tamed

I stand upon the solid Rock
Of Christ my King Divine
You lead and guide, you are my strength
I the branch, You the Vine

Consider my troubles oh Lord my God
In grief my eyes waste away
My bones are dry I have no strength
My life is like an endless day

My enemies laugh, they are full of scorn
And fear lies on every side
I'm a broken vessel, forgotten and lost
And I'm drowning by an incoming tide

Yet I trust in you, you are my God
And my times they are in your hand
And I shall hide, in the secret place
And on this Rock I shall forever stand

How great is your goodness oh Mighty God
You are the Rock of my salvation
Love the Lord your God, ye saints of earth
For He brings justice to every nation

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FORGIVENESS

How many times should I forgive
Once or twice or seven?
How is it that I should walk
As one whose been forgiven?

You ask me to forgive them Lord
I scream out loud to you
Your asking me to do something
That is impossible to do

For many days and weeks and months
It's been impossible to sleep
My heart and soul is overwhelmed
By the darkness that I reap

For first when I came into this cave
The darkness was my friend
It caressed me and consoled me
I was not required to bend

How wretched is this place I'm in
This place where I cannot forgive
A place where I am slowly dying
A place for those who cannot live

And then my God He came to me
And found me on the floor
And said " My child, follow me
You shall not dwell here anymore"

And I cried out " Lord your asking me
To do something that can't be done"
And now the darkness overwhelms me
It seems the darkness it has won

"There was never any darker place
Than on dark Calvary
And in the very midst of darkness
It was there I came to set you free"

" I died for those you can't forgive
And justice now belongs to me
It's by my Spirit and not your might
And this to you is my guarantee"

" Open up your heart and live
And you shall have the power to forgive
And you will see the battle won
When you can say let thy will be done"

And now the light it floods my soul
I am no longer in my cave
These days are marked by heaven's light
These days that I forgave

Do you dwell in such a darkness?
Has your days turned into night?
Do you dwell within a prison?
Do you walk without the light?

There is no power within your flesh
To deal with un-forgiveness
In Christ alone you'll find the power
To truly be a witness.

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Hear my cries

Hear my cries to You oh Lord
Hide not thy face in the day of my trouble
For my days are consumed in the flames of life
And my works are but wood, hay and stubble

My bones are that of an aged man
And my heart barely beats in my chest
I am gaunt by my trials and my hopelessness
And sleep has fled and left me no rest

I have decided to trust in the Lord
And my enemies all around they deride
They stalk me like lions and seek to devour
Beneath the shadow of His wings I shall hide

Arise oh Lord on the wings of a dove
Come down from your holy place
Hear the cries of your humble servant oh Lord
May I rest in Your mercy and grace

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VICTORY IN THE VALLEY

Who needs a candle
When the sun rises in my heart?
For the light of Christ consumes all else
And it quenches every fiery dart

The Lord is a sun and a shield to me
He is the sun and the moon and the stars
All darkness flees before my precious Lord
For He has broken all the iron bars

Gates of bronze, chains and fetters
Opened and broken and swept away
As He hung on the cross and said " it is finished,"
As He hung on the cross and showed us the way

He arose, He arose He arose triumphant
He calls to His children " arise with me,"
Come and walk, come and walk in the light of my presence
Come and walk in the light of my victory

I am the Way and the Truth and your Life
No one comes to the Father but by me
Will you come and die and rise again
Will you follow the path to Calvary?

Will you take up your cross and follow your King
Through the fires of hell if you must?
Will the world see in you, something of Him?
Will the world see a child-like trust?

Yeah though you walk through the valley of death
And there is darkness all around
Be of good cheer for your Lord is near
And there is mercy at the throne to be found

Even this darkness is light to Him
And the desert becomes like a river
Your valley of tears will become a door of hope
And you will dwell in His arms forever!

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THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS OPENED

The Book of Life was opened
And a name was written down
All of heaven stood and gazed
Not a movement, not a sound

The angels watched in silence
As the story did unfold
And from the pages of the book
The story it was told

And life sprung up from off the page
These words became a man
The angels gasped to see such work
To see God's mighty plan

A soul was fashioned in His hand
And how, no one could tell
It was marvelous and wonderful
And this my soul knows well

Where could I go from you Spirit Lord?
Could I hide in the depths of the sea?
No matter where I run to Lord
You still come after me

I could take the wings of the morning
And fly into the darkest night
And there be blinded by the darkness
And you would come and give me sight

I could ascend to the highest heaven
And I would find you there
I could fall to the lowest pits of hell
And discover that you are everywhere

And so you came and sought me out
Even in this hell dark place
For the day and night are both alike
As they gaze upon your face

For in the glorious light of heaven
There is no darkness that can stand
For through the very gates of hell
You came and took me by the hand

And you laid your hand upon me
That hand that gave me birth
That hand that knew me through and through
Before I came to earth

For before the earth was fashioned
That Book was in your hand
Before the sun shone in the sky
All of this was planned

Oh search me God and know my heart
That sin may have no place in me
For I was covered by your Blood
That precious Blood of Calvary

This sin it would assault my soul
And rob and steal and take from me
The testimony of my King
And what He did on Calvary

But praise the Lord there is no power
Neither hell nor death nor misery
Can come against the precious work
The precious work of Calvary

How precious are your thoughts to me
They're more in number than the sand
I'll praise you Lord eternally
My name was written by your hand.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frank McEleny was born and raised in Greenock, Scotland. He and his wife moved to the States when he was 26. He gave his life to Jesus at the age of 27. He attended Bible School in the United States. He writes for “A Call to the Remnant,” and has published over 700 articles. He was the moderator of a national prayer call for revival for two years and has been involved in various aspects of the revival ministry. He has helped moderate revival conferences and also has been a prayer co-ordinator. He initiated and helped organize the Greenock Revival Conference in 2008. He was ordained in 2013 by a small church in Oklahoma. He is also a published poet, publishing one hundred and fifty poems in the book entitled “A Poem for Every Psalm.” He also writes hymns and songs, many of the songs have been recorded. His website is www.acalltotheremnant.com. He currently lives with his wife and grown son, who has Down Syndrome, in Kansas where he has lived for more than twenty years and works as a Real Estate Agent. You can find many of his poems at
https://www.facebook.com/PoemsFromFrank

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