Single Songs
Original songs with a positive, encouraging message about everyday issues, as well as, life with God. Lyrics written by Mark Greenelsh. Music produced with AI-assisted tools.
Kindled
Lyrics
Carry the Cartons
Lyrics
Trade Your Dim Sight
Lyrics
A Place for Me
Lyrics
Rowing to You
Lyrics
Let Me Walk With You
Lyrics
Warm and Free
Lyrics
Fix Your Eyes
Lyrics
Leave the Shore
Lyrics
The Trunk Is Packed
Lyrics
Now and Not Yet
Lyrics
Through Him and For Him
Lyrics
Draw Deep
Lyrics
Two Threads Entwined
Lyrics
Draw Back the Curtains
Lyrics
Harness the Sun
Lyrics
Around the Bend
Lyrics
Fear Not
Lyrics
Desert Light
Lyrics
Resown
Lyrics
Freedom Road
Lyrics
Crawdad Creek
Lyrics
Every Step He's Faithful
Lyrics
Borrowed Air
Lyrics
December Thaw
Lyrics
Swing to Hit
Lyrics
Loosed from the Jaws
Lyrics
Ashes Into Light
Lyrics
Living Spark
Lyrics
Bathing Biscuit
Lyrics
Kindled
Grace viewed cheaply becomes a fire that burns you and can consume you. Grace viewed honorably becomes a fire that refines you, fuels you, and lights the way for others.
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(Verse 1)
I’ve traded your cross for a casual nod,
Treated your grace like it cost nothing.
Your Son bled and died, yet I lived unmoved,
Forgive me, God, for dishonoring you.
(Chorus)
Lord, let me see your grace aright—
Not a license to live in the night.
Held wrong, it’s a fire that will burn and consume,
Squandering your grace only leads to doom.
But held in honor, it refines instead,
Fuels every step and every word said,
Let it light the way for the ones I meet,
A steady flame to guide their feet.
(Verse 2)
My careless heart treated others unfairly,
Slow to forgive what you forgave me.
They watched my life and saw hypocrisy,
Turning from your love, because of me.
(Chorus)
Lord, let me see your grace aright—
Not a license to live in the night.
Held wrong, it’s a fire that will burn and consume,
Squandering your grace only leads to doom.
But held in honor, it refines instead,
Fuels every step and every word said,
Let it light the way for the ones I meet,
A steady flame to guide their feet.
(Verse 3)
I settled in, no hunger to grow,
Told myself “saved” was enough to know.
Sin sat unchallenged, comfortable, inflamed,
Keeping me from living to honor your name.
(Verse 4)
Small compromises kindled fire in me,
I singed my soul as I skirted your rule.
I assumed all was good cause I was free,
But faith without change is the way of fools.
(Bridge)
Help me remember the price you paid,
Not entitlement, but gratitude displayed.
May grace that pardons my yesterday
Lead me to follow you by faith today.
(Verse 5)
So I lean on your grace to walk with you near,
Depend on your power to live without fear.
Let my changed life become a torch I bear,
Carrying your love to souls in despair.
(Chorus 3)
Lord, I see your grace aright—
No license now to live in the night.
Held wrong, it’s a fire that would burn and consume,
But I won’t go back down that path of doom.
Held in honor, it refines me still,
Fuels my steps to follow your will,
Let it light the way for the ones I meet,
A steady flame to guide their feet.
Carry the Cartons
An anxious, isolated, and directionless young man finds fulfillment in turning to God and letting God’s love and truth overflow from him to serve others.
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(Verse 1)
A thousand screens light up his lonely room,
But no one knocks, no voice calls out his name.
His chest grows tight with worries that loom,
Each day passes like a fading flame.
(Verse 2)
Sirens wail past his windows all the time,
His mother’s eyes cast shame he can’t hold.
Chasing cheap thrills he wastes away his prime,
No map, no light, no story to be told.
(Verse 3)
One night he kneels upon the kitchen floor,
And whispers, “God, I’m drowning. Hear my cry.”
In love, God gently provides an answer,
“Look beyond yourself, to others outside.”
(Verse 4)
He sees Miss Ruth moving boxes down the hall,
A boy alone who’s failing math in school,
A widower who talks to empty walls,
And teens who wander with little to do.
(Chorus)
The answer to heal your hollow heart
Is found in God, whose love comes pouring in.
So let him fill you up and then depart
To be the salt and light this world so needs.
(Verse 5)
He helps carry cartons up flights of stairs,
He tutors the boy with weekly lessons,
He sits and listens to the old man’s cares,
He points teens in a better direction.
(Bridge)
True love is not a feeling, but a deed,
Giving yourself to meet another’s need.
True wisdom seeks to apply what is known
Renewing through justice and mercy shown.
Gently engage with thoughtful questions,
Discern gold from all that glitters cheap,
What you give away will come back to bless—
Emptiness filled with purpose and peace.
(Chorus)
The answer to heal your hollow heart
Is found in God, whose love comes pouring in.
So let him fill you up and then depart
To be the salt and light this world so needs.
Trade Your Dim Sight
By faith let God lead and transform your life, because he loves you and knows what will bring about your best.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
A single frame torn from a movie reel
Can’t show the ending or the reason why.
You clutch the wheel trying to peer through fog,
While God can see the sunrise waiting high.
(Chorus)
So follow God’s lead, not the world’s way.
Trade your dim sight for his eternal view.
Let go of sin’s burden, receive his grace,
And he’ll save, restore, and exalt you.
(Verse 2)
God the Father saw the debt you couldn’t pay
And gave his only Son to clear the way.
He bled and rose, defeating sin and death
So resurrection life is yours today.
(Chorus)
Follow God’s lead, not the world’s way.
Trade your dim sight for his eternal view.
Let go of sin’s burden, receive his grace,
And he’ll save, restore, and exalt you.
(Verse 3)
The weaver sees the threads you call a mess;
Dark strands beside the gold still form the art.
The winter branch looks dead against the frost,
But spring is written deep inside its heart.
(Bridge)
Not chasing wind that scatters like the chaff,
Not building sand that can’t outlast the tide,
But as a branch draws life from the vine,
Grow by abiding, not by self striving.
(Verse 4)
In feast or famine, lift a grateful song.
In storm or stillness, venture where he goes.
The fire that burns away what isn’t strong
Is shaping you for what’s yet to be shown.
(Chorus)
So follow God’s lead, not the world’s way.
Trade your dim sight for his eternal view.
Let go of sin’s burden, receive his grace,
And he’ll save, restore, and exalt you.
A Place for Me
God loves you and wants you to be a part of his family. When you trust Jesus to save you, God adopts you as his own. (Inspired by a 12th century hymn written by Muiredach Albanach).
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(Verse 1)
How great the tale, that grace would find
A wandering heart, a restless mind—
That in the Savior’s tender heart
There’s room for one who’s torn apart.
Though I’m unworthy, weak, and small,
Yet Jesus bends to hear my call.
(Verse 2)
No rest I find, no peace, no calm
While chasing shadows, seeking balm.
In empty wells that leave me dry—
Come, living water, hear my cry.
My body wars against my soul
Till You, O Christ, can make me whole.
(Chorus)
Christ Jesus, bend me to Your will
Until this raging heart is still.
Let breath and strength, flesh and bone
Become a temple—Yours alone.
Shine through the cracks of who I am
Until I’m found in who You are.
(Bridge)
Like evening stars that pierce the dark
And guide the lost through fields of harm
So let Your holiness draw near
Soft-shining till my sky is clear.
Make plain this path, this toilsome ground
Until in You, my rest is found.
(Chorus )
Christ Jesus, bend me to Your will
Until this raging heart is still.
No greater tale could e’er be told
Than sinners wrapped in love unbound.
So shine, O Light, till fear departs
And peace floods every restless heart.
(Outro)
Transform my mind,
Renew my heart,
That I might reflect
All that you are.
Rowing to You
True friends don’t let others drift into the storm. They care enough to intervene despite the cost.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
I saw your sails hang limp against gray sky,
Your compass spinning, lost without a star.
Drifting quietly to the fog’s far side,
You tell yourself, it’s fine being out this far.
(Verse 2)
Some friends will sail with you when skies are blue,
Yet vanish fast the moment storm clouds form.
You matter too much for me not to pursue.
I’m rowing out to find you in the storm.
(Chorus)
I’ll be your lighthouse burning through the night,
Dropping anchor will keep the shore in view.
Against the current I’ll row with all my might
To bring you home so the storm won’t break you.
(Verse 3)
I’ve noticed how you’re taking on the waves,
I see the water rising in your hold.
Is it worth the risk that you could drown?
I care too much to let you sink untold.
(Chorus)
I’ll be your lighthouse burning through the night,
Dropping anchor will keep the shore in view.
Against the current I’ll row with all my might
To bring you home so the storm won’t break you.
(Verse 4)
I’ll steer you wide of rocks that wait to wreck,
I’ll help you trim the sail against the wind.
I’ll call the fleet before you hit the deck—
You need not face the reef without a friend.
(Bridge)
I feared to overstep and rock our boat,
Surely a stronger crew would soon arrive.
I feared you might get mad and cut our rope,
But it’s worth the risk to keep you alive.
(Chorus)
I’ll be your lighthouse burning through the night,
Dropping anchor will keep the shore in view.
Against the current I’ll row with all my might
To bring you home so the storm won’t break you.
Let Me Walk With You
A man struggles to become a closer friend to the woman he cares for.
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(Verse 1)
We split one basket of fries past closing time,
You laughed until they had to dim the lights,
I learned your coffee — black, two sugars, simple,
The way you hum before the chorus hits just right.
(Verse 2)
You chase a steady job that keeps on slipping.
You count your pills and hope your body’s strong.
Yet still you hang up lights around the kitchen,
And focus on what’s good when things go wrong.
(Chorus)
I want to walk this journey, if you’ll let me join.
I’ll help you clear the bush along the beat.
I’ll match your pace and keep the trail open.
You can hold my hand when the way gets steep.
(Verse 3)
I saved a seat that wasn’t at the edge,
You smiled but took the chair one row away,
I asked about the scar you never mention,
You laughed and asked if I had seen the rain today.
(Verse 4)
Somewhere, someone led you off the trail,
Now even likely friends make you hesitate,
You answer plans with “maybe, we will see,”
Forgetting bridges need two hands, not fate.
(Chorus)
I want to walk this journey, if you’ll let me join.
I’ll help you clear the bush along the beat.
I’ll match your pace and keep the trail open.
You can hold my hand when the way gets steep.
(Verse 5)
I’ve watched you step back half of what we gained,
Retreat to jokes when things seem too real,
I wish I could read the current of your tide
I am still here for you, but wonder what you feel.
(Verse 6)
Then one night you called just to hear a voice,
No real reason, just a break from life’s noise,
For a while you let your guard slip away,
Your hopeful laugh pointed to brighter days,
I didn’t push, all I’ve wanted is your best,
I stayed on the line until your mind found rest.
(Bridge)
Maybe you don’t know what closer looks like,
Maybe you’re afraid that trust won’t hold true,
I’m not the sum of everyone before,
Give us a chance to enjoy a vista view,
I’m not the storm that swept you off the trail,
I’m just the friend still standing next to you.
(Chorus)
I want to walk this journey, if you’ll let me join.
I’ll help you clear the bush along the beat.
I’ll match your pace and keep the trail open.
You can hold my hand when the way gets steep.
Warm and Free
While enjoying a walk along the sea, a woman resolves to try and mend her strained relationship with the man she loves.
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(Verse 1)
The rousing sun spills gold across the waves,
While gulls wheel high on salt-kissed ocean air.
The sparkling sea holds secrets in its foam,
Each breath of sunshine brings warm thoughts of home.
(Verse 2)
The children splash and dance along the shore,
Their laughter mingles with the seagulls’ cry.
Nearby, families gather round to grill,
While young loves walk with fingers laced, close by.
(Verse 3)
I still recall the way you held my hand,
Our footsteps synced like rhythm, step for step.
You’d pick up shells and press them to my palm,
Whispering precious thoughts my soul has kept.
(Chorus)
Oh, I wish you were walking here with me,
To feel the sand between us, warm and free.
Yet harsh words have carved a rift between our hearts,
I’m sorry, love—let’s mend these broken parts.
(Verse 4)
My footprints trail behind me in the sand,
Yet lapping waves erase them, one by one.
The shifting shore remade with every wave
Takes something old, brings something new begun.
(Chorus)
Oh, I wish you were walking here with me,
To feel the sand between us, warm and free.
But our stubborn pride has pushed us apart.
I’m sorry, love—let’s forgive and restart.
(Verse 5)
I feel the tide is pulling you from me,
While storms rage on inside your troubled heart.
I long to weather every wave with you,
Not just to watch from where we stand apart.
(Bridge)
Though you can’t reach out now, I’ll reach for you—
Unlike the sand that shifts with every wave,
I’ll be the rock that stands here, strong and true.
A beacon reaching through the storm to save.
(Outro)
The sun descends in shades of rose and fire,
As daylight fades on our widening sea.
But like dawn returns with hopeful desire—
I’ll work toward brighter days for you and me.
Fix Your Eyes
If you want to follow Jesus you will face struggles from your old nature, the devil, and the world. But take heart, continue to trust in Jesus and his love and power will deliver and transform you.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
To follow Christ is walking against the grain.
The world will hate what heaven’s love has claimed.
Know that others may turn with scorn and blame,
For light exposes what hides in shame.
(Verse 2)
Like a lion, Satan prowls in the reeds,
His tactics dressed in shadows, words smooth as silk,
He comes to steal the harvest from the fields,
To kill and to destroy what love has built.
(Verse 3)
He scatters shiny stones across your path
Until the compass of your heart goes awry.
He paints your portion thin, another’s vast,
Then feeds the ache no feast can satisfy.
(Verse 4)
He whispers low, “Has God really said,”
Until the truth dissolves like morning mist,
Then crowns your claim upon the throne instead,
And calls it freedom while it makes a fist.
(Chorus)
Though struggles press like waves upon the shore,
Fix your eyes on Christ who has overcome.
He turns ashes to joy and gives strength to soar,
Renewing you to thrive in his kingdom.
(Verse 5)
For greater is the Spirit in your chest
Than any lion prowling in the world,
The cross has broken chains upon your wrist,
The stone rolled back—Love’s banner has unfurled.
(Bridge)
Submit to God, and watch the devil flee,
God carves an exit where the walls seemed sure.
Each morning mercies rise like sun on sea,
He lifts and keeps your very heart secure.
Fill up your mind, align your will with his,
The source of all that’s good and right and true.
Darkness can’t reign where Jesus’ light now is.
Abide in Christ, the Vine who gives life anew.
(Chorus)
Though struggles press like waves upon the shore,
Fix your eyes on Christ who has overcome.
He turns ashes to joy and gives strength to soar,
Renewing you to thrive in his kingdom.
Leave the Shore
By faith joyfully give up your way to be with Jesus, become like him, and to join him in saving others.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
All night the nets came up empty, forlorn,
Peter’s heart ached with the weight of his loss.
Jesus said, “Push out past the shallow shore,”
and drop your nets down, whatever the cost.
(Verse 2)
The water churned silver, nets breaking through,
Boats bowing low with the weight of the catch.
Peter fell down, saw his sin plain and true,
“Depart from me, Lord, I am a wretch.”
(Chorus)
But in love, Jesus beckoned him to come.
Come trade your nets for a kingdom of souls.
Deny all else and follow Christ alone.
He is calling, to make you and others whole.
(Verse 3)
Noah hammered wood beneath a cloudless sky,
Building an ark before flooding rains fell.
Abram left home not knowing where or why,
Both ventured in faith at God Almighty’s call.
(Verse 4)
After Israel entered, the sea parted,
Walls of Jericho fell once they marched round.
After Naaman washed, his leprosy was cured.
Victory came as they obeyed God’s word.
(Verse 5)
A boy’s lunch was multiplied in Jesus’ hand,
Five loaves and fish fixed the hunger of all.
Jesus told the man to reach out where you stand,
As he did, Jesus healed his withered hand.
(Chorus)
Come leave the shore of the life you have known,
Come trade your nets for a kingdom of souls.
Deny all else and follow Christ alone.
He is calling, to make you and others whole.
(Bridge)
We are the branches, He’s the living Vine,
Apart from Him we wither, and bear no fruit.
But as we abide, all we need he supplies
Our life is found when grafted to his root.
(Chorus)
Come leave the shore of the life you have known,
Come trade your nets for a kingdom of souls.
Deny all else and follow Christ alone.
He is calling, to make you and others whole.
(Outro)
Today He opens gateways bright and new,
His Spirit whispers, “Step in, join me here.”
By faith cross the threshold, follow through,
Share God’s love and truth so others draw near.
The Trunk Is Packed
A father exhorts his son to be faithful, like Jesus, as he moves away from home to go to college.
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(Verse 1)
The trunk is packed, the morning air is cold,
You, my son, venture where I once walked alone.
New friends, new studies, life still to unfold—
Each step will test the truth you’ve come to know.
The world will teach you, “Serve yourself, and rise,”
But that’s not why God, the Father, shaped your frame.
Don’t chase lies masquerading as a guide,
Let God’s truth decide the path you claim.
(Verse 2)
A teacher’s voice may bend what’s right to fit the time,
A friend may say a little lie’s no crime.
Resist the urge to quit when things decline,
Or to claim another’s work as your design.
The cloth of your integrity’s one thread;
Once it is cut, it’s hard to sew again.
So anchor in truth to steady what’s ahead,
Listen to God’s voice and you’ll overcome.
(Chorus)
Follow Jesus, God the Son, and stand—
Not perfect, but pursuing faithfulness.
Be joyful, steady, clinging to his hand,
His grace at work to love and serve—no less.
Walk by faith, not by feelings or by sight,
In a dark, decaying world be salt and light.
(Verse 3)
A boss may ask you to round the numbers down,
A church may fill the ears but starve the heart.
Be like the oak whose roots run deep in ground—
It bends in storms but never comes apart.
Do excellent work when no one’s watching you.
Be dependable, a friend whom others seek.
Follow through on what you say you’ll do.
Forgive a wrong, and sacrifice to heal it.
(Verse 4)
Christ in the desert stood his ground and prayed,
In gardens dark he said, “Not my will, but yours.”
He sought the lost, the broken, and betrayed,
And gave himself so new life could be secured.
He did not chase the crowd or run to hide,
He washed the feet of ones who’d walk away.
He kept his Father’s will,… himself denied—
He is the truth, the life, the only Way.
(Bridge)
I cannot walk this road for you, my son,
Nor shield you from the trials yet to come.
But if you fall, let grace redeem what’s undone—
Trust God to finish what he has begun.
Like Jesus, you’re sent as a faithful son,
Let others see the Father in your life.
Not by your strength, but his power within,
Bring light to those still lost in sin and strife.
(Chorus)
Follow Jesus, God the Son, and stand—
Not perfect, but pursuing faithfulness.
Be joyful, steady, clinging to his hand,
His grace at work to love and serve—no less.
Walk by faith, not by feelings or by sight,
In a dark, decaying world be salt and light.
Now and Not Yet
You can experience joy and peace now even amidst suffering by walking humbly and hopefully with God who reigns eternally and has already worked out the salvation of those who trust him.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
Before the dawn of time began,
Before the fall of woman, man,
You saw the end from the start—
Our healing, wholeness, ransomed heart.
Though I walk through shadowed valleys now,
Though sorrow presses, I don’t know how—
You stand outside my moment’s pain,
Where all is finished in your name.
(Chorus)
So I will walk humbly and hopefully with you,
Trusting what is finished, believing what is true.
Joy and peace can rise up even now,
Not because I’ve earned it, but because of how
You have loved me, saved me, called me as your own—
The victory is written; the outcome is known.
(Verse 2)
Justified—You called me righteous,
Sanctified—You’re making me like this:
Patient, kind, and full of grace,
To reflect you in every place.
Glorified—but still to be revealed,
Your Spirit is my redemption’s seal.
By faith I enter your reality,
Hoping in promises not yet seen.
(Chorus)
So I will walk humbly and hopefully with you,
Trusting what is finished, believing what is true.
Joy and peace can rise up even now,
Not because I’ve earned it, but because of how
You have loved me, saved me, called me as your own—
The victory is written; the outcome is known.
(Bridge)
You lived the life I could not live,
In love, you died the death that I deserve,
You rose again to break death’s chain,
Ascended high to intercede and reign.
You sent your Spirit, comfort and might,
To equip, empower, and give me sight.
You’re coming soon to make all things new,
My Author and my Finisher, forever true.
(Verse 3)
So though this fallen world still breaks
And sorrows come, you heal all aches.
I’m not defined by what I see,
But by Jesus who’s holding me.
Day by day, decision by decision,
I step by faith with holy vision,
Not blind, but seeing clear and bright:
In you I have all I need for life.
(Chorus 3)
So I will walk humbly and hopefully with you,
Trusting what is finished, believing what is true.
Joy and peace can rise up even now,
Not because I’ve earned it, but because of how
You have loved me, saved me, called me as your own—
The victory is written; the outcome is known.
(Outro)
I’ll walk with you into eternity
Til I’m like you and behold your face—
Complete in love, glorified by grace.
Through Him and For Him
Jesus changes everything for those who trust him. he lovingly created, sustains, and perfects all things. Only with him can you be saved and find fulfillment.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
We wander far from Eden’s shaded trees,
Like sheep who scatter from the shepherd’s voice,
We dig our wells but drink from shattered clay,
Our hollow hearts have made a deadly choice.
(Verse 2)
No cure for us is found within our chest,
The answer comes as light beyond the veil,
Jesus is the Way we walk, the Truth we trust,
The Life that makes our driest deserts bloom.
(Chorus)
All things were made through him and for him too,
Our loving Maker, perfecter complete,
In Jesus alone our scattered pieces meet—
We find in him our life, our joy, our peace.
(Verse 3)
Along with dawn to break on waiting seas,
God formed us in his image to walk with him.
Through him and for him every atom sings,
His hand holds all the universe within.
(Verse 4)
He climbed the mount and spoke the Father’s heart,
His parables revealed the hidden King.
He bore our stripes upon a splintered cross
And tore the veil so we can be with him.
(Verse 5)
He calmed the storm and knelt to wash our feet,
He stood between the stones and broken shame,
One day he’ll return to right all that’s wrong,
And reward all who love him and bear his name.
(Bridge)
The unseen God took on our fragile frame,
So we could see his face and know his name.
He lived the life we could not live alone,
To make our exiled hearts his very home.
There is no other door, no other name,
No other bridge to cross the chasm’s gap—
Come, trust Jesus who bore God’s wrath for us,
And rise with him from death’s unraveled trap.
(Chorus)
All things were made through him and for him too,
Our loving Maker, perfecter complete,
In Jesus alone our scattered pieces meet—
We find in him our life, our joy, our peace.
Draw Deep
Your striving will never meet your deepest need. Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsting of your soul. Draw from his wellspring of life by faith.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
The desert stretches wide beneath the sun,
Your empty vessel waits till day is done.
You haul the weight of water, bucket-worn,
And drink, yet thirst returns with every morn.
(Verse 2)
The wells of men are battlegrounds for life,
Where determined stewards dig through dust and strife.
For flocks and families, water means survival—
Working to obtain it—a daily cycle.
(Chorus)
Rest from striving, O weary, thirsty soul,
For earthly cisterns leave you wanting more.
Draw deep of grace that Jesus freely gives—
A spring within, and all who drink now live.
(Verse 3)
At noon she came to hide her whispered shame,
Alone, avoiding those who spoke her name.
But there Jesus waited, breaking every wall,
He came to meet her deepest need of all.
(Verse 4)
He named the buckets she kept coming to—
The love, the works, the acceptance she pursued.
Each source ran dry and left her empty-eyed,
Till Living Water sought her out to satisfy.
(Chorus)
Rest from striving, O weary, thirsty soul,
For earthly cisterns leave you wanting more.
Draw deep of grace that Jesus freely gives—
A spring within, and all who drink now live.
(Verse 5)
She left her jar and ran with dusty feet,
To tell the town she’d found what tastes so sweet.
No longer hiding, she carried grace by faith—
For she’d drawn new life in Jesus that day.
(Bridge)
His Spirit floods your cracked and barren ground,
He comforts, shapes, and lifts the fallen down.
He trains your hands to serve, your heart to give—
Rivers now flow from you, that all may live.
(Chorus)
Rest from striving, O weary, thirsty soul,
For earthly cisterns leave you wanting more.
Draw deep of grace that Jesus freely gives—
A spring within, and all who drink now live.
Desert Light
Discovering hidden beauty in unlikely places, like the desert near Palm Springs, shapes who you are and helps you better approach the future.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
I rolled into the valley cast in gold,
Where glass and stone in modern lines were bold,
The breezeway homes with rooflines soft and low,
Grand palms and pools that made the desert glow.
(Verse 2)
The steel and mountains kissed a butterscotch sky,
While fountains danced as movie stars strolled by,
These sculpted walls held secrets sleek and new,
A dream of leisure carved in every view.
(Chorus)
Oh, desert light, you called me from afar,
Beneath the palms and every silver star,
From poolside laughter up to mountain air,
I found a piece of heaven waiting there.
(Verse 3)
The market bloomed with fruit and painter’s hands,
While parades wound through the sun-warmed sands,
The racers roared, the tennis courts stayed bright,
And social parties swayed into the night.
(Verse 4)
The golfers wandered emerald fairways wide,
Small artisan shops lined every festive side,
A canvas town alive with song and cheer,
Where every stranger felt like family here.
(Bridge)
But then I stepped inside a swaying car,
That climbed the granite cliffs and rose so far,
The valley shrank, the pines began to rise,
As rotating windows opened up the skies.
(Verse 5)
Up top, the world grew hushed and clean and cold,
The scent of pine, the boulders gray and old,
I walked with wind that whispered like a friend,
While welcomed in song by sparrows and wrens.
(Verse 6)
The misty clouds reshaped in restless flight,
My burdens eased as I rose to new sight.
The hawks rode currents, wheeling wide and free,
And all the valley opened wide for me.
(Chorus)
Oh, desert light, you called me from afar,
Beneath the palms and every silver star,
From poolside laughter up to mountain air,
I found a peace I never knew was there.
(Outro)
I carry down the gifts this place bestowed,
The friendly hearts, the mountain’s quiet code,
For those who search for beauty every day,
And cherish what the past has tucked away,
Will find such treasures shape them, strong and true,
To face tomorrow’s dawn with hope renewed.
Two Threads Entwined
A man thanks the woman he loves for her support, advice, and inspiration because he sees that there is a piece of her woven into all he does.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
I never knew the taste of saffron rice
Or how the sea sounds different in the rain.
You took my hand and led me past the fence
Where I’d been standing, guarded, all this time.
Now I read the poets that you love
And argue politics I once dismissed.
You cracked the shell around my narrow world
And every widened window shows your kiss.
(Chorus)
There’s a piece of you in every line I write,
In every chord that trembles from my strings,
In every color bleeding on the page—
You are the current underneath my wings.
And, love, if I gave you back a fraction,
Of all the light you’ve poured into my days,
I’d count myself the luckiest of men—
To spend my life uplifting you the same.
(Verse 2)
My canvas used to hold just muted grays
Till you smiled and laughed—taught my brush to sing.
The song I couldn’t finish for a year—
You hummed the missing bridge, and there it was.
You leave your margin notes inside my books,
Small arrows pointing where the heart should go.
The stories that I tell all start with you
The melodies I keep, you helped me know.
(Chorus)
There’s a piece of you in every line I write,
In every chord that trembles from my strings,
In every color bleeding on the page—
You are the current underneath my wings.
And, love, if I gave you back a fraction,
Of all the light you’ve poured into my days,
I’d count myself the luckiest of men—
To spend my life uplifting you the same.
(Verse 3)
I watched you kneel beside the man downtown
And learn his name before you gave him bread.
You see the ones the world walks quickly past—
You taught my eyes to look up, not ahead.
Now I stop for widows, children, strangers too
I carry water, hold the door, and wait.
Your open heart rewired my own to feel—
You made compassion something I can’t fake.
(Bridge)
So here’s my humble offering, my dear:
These hands you shaped, this softened, wider view,
This gentler man who steps into the world—
Everything I am is stitched with you.
Will you walk with me towards each dawning light?
Let’s chase the hours, brave what comes as one—
‘Cause with you life is better and more right.
Two threads entwined are beautiful and strong.
(Chorus)
There’s a piece of you in every line I write,
In every note that lingers, every hue,
And when I’ve loved you all my given days,
It will never be enough to thank you.
Draw Back the Curtains
Determine what is important and make time for it. Ask God to help you find ways to carry out your responsibilities while still growing closer to him and learning from him.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
God, you knocked, but I kept sweeping the floor
While you stood waiting just beyond my chores.
The kettle sang, the dishes climbed so high—
I heard your voice, but let the moment die.
(Verse 2)
My screen still glows through midnights come and gone,
An endless feed of nothing pulls me on.
I scroll through lives that are not mine to keep,
And drown your whisper in the shallow deep.
(Chorus)
Teach my busy mind and burdened soul to rest,
To trade what is merely good, for your best.
Draw back the crowded curtains of my day—
I want to sit and listen, then go your way.
(Verse 3)
Tomorrow crouches, heavy on my chest,
While yesterday still binds me with regret.
I carry tasks and worries like a load,
And stumble past you, breathless on the road.
(Verse 4)
You promised: seek, and surely I will find;
You promised: knock, and doors will open wide.
You’ve given all to meet me where I stand—
Now help me, step by step, to take your hand.
(Chorus)
Teach my busy mind and burdened soul to rest,
To trade what is merely good, for your best.
Draw back the crowded curtains of my day—
I want to sit and listen, then go your way.
(Bridge)
One thing is needed, only one thing true—
Not busy service, but simply knowing you.
Unclench my fingers, while granting your peace,
Set me, like Mary, to listen at your feet.
(Chorus)
Teach my busy mind and burdened soul to rest,
To trade what is merely good, for your best.
Draw back the crowded curtains of my day—
To be with you and learn your loving way.
Harness the Sun
A young woman recovering from trauma in her childhood strives to redeem time—making the most of now, investing in people, and savoring moments.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
I grew up in a house of thin ice,
Where laughter cracked like frost on the pane.
I learned to hold my breath, count to five,
And bury small dreams beneath the rain.
(Verse 2)
But now I plant tomatoes in spring,
And call my sister just to say hi.
I learn the chords my father never sang,
And teach myself to laugh, not to hide.
(Chorus)
Oh, the hours slip like sand through my hands,
Golden and gone before I understand.
So I’ll pour my whole heart into now,
Hold on to the light with you, somehow—
‘Cause time’s a river, and I’m learning to swim.
(Verse 3)
I write down every joke that lights your eyes,
Press wildflowers flat between the pages.
I save a little each month, just in case,
And build a life across the ages.
(Verse 4)
No, I won’t mourn the years I never had,
I’ll count my blessings, not my hidden scars.
Thankful for today, I’ll harness the sun
And ride the daylight, reaching for the stars.
(Bridge)
If I could bottle up your voice tonight,
Or hold this porch swing still beneath the moon—
I’d catch the fireflies to light our nights,
And beg the summer, please don’t leave so soon.
(Chorus)
Oh, the hours slip like sand through my hands,
Golden and gone before I understand.
So I’ll pour my whole heart into now,
Hold on to the light with you, somehow—
‘Cause time’s a river, and I’m learning to swim.
Around the Bend
A man takes the woman he loves on a wonderful, carefree motorcycle ride along the breathtaking Big Sur coastline.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
Hop on the back, hold tight to me,
We’re chasing where the sky meets sea,
Engine humming, heart’s a-drummin’,
Feel that motor set us free—
The Pacific’s rolling silver-blue,
And baby, all I need is you,
You’re smile always makes me grin
Let our Big Sur ride begin!
(Chorus)
We’re flyin’ like a seagull on the breeze,
Salt and sunshine, dancin’ through the trees,
The open road’s our only friend,
Wonderin’ what’s around the next bend—
Oh, I could ride forever, you and I,
Where the golden hills embrace the clear blue sky,
So may it never, never end,
Let’s just keep rollin’ ’round each bend!
(Verse 2)
The wind, it whispers through my sleeve,
Spring flowers on the air we breathe,
Wild lupine, sage, and something neat,
The warm sun restin’ soft and sweet.
We talk above the hum and laugh,
But mostly we’re content to feel the draft,
No clock to watch, no grind to mind,
Just leave the whole wide world behind!
(Chorus)
We’re flyin’ like a seagull on the breeze,
Salt and sunshine, dancin’ through the trees,
The open road’s our only friend,
Wonderin’ what’s around the next bend—
Oh, I could ride forever, you and I,
Where the golden hills embrace the clear blue sky,
So may it never, never end,
Just keep us rollin’ ’round each bend!
(Bridge)
We stop upon a grassy bluff,
A picnic spread—that’s world enough,
The waves crash white on stone below,
We paint our dreams across the glow,
You tuck a wildflower in your hair,
Let’s freeze this moment, we could stay right here
But adventure calls us to ride on,
So we hit the road before the sun is gone!
(Verse 3)
The throttle sings, the tires roll,
Two hearts, one ribbon ties our souls,
We’re alive, at peace, savoring the new—
Just me, the road, the sky, and you!
(Chorus)
We’re flyin’ like a seagull on the breeze,
Salt and sunshine, dancin’ through the trees,
Thanks for being my dearest friend,
And riding with me around the bend—
Oh, I could love you until I die,
Where the ocean meets the endless sky,
So may it never, never end,
Just keep us going,
Keep us feeling,
Keep our hearts a-rollin’ ’round each bend!
Fear Not
Trust Jesus to meet your needs. Let his love remove your fears and replace them with the joy and peace of his presence.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
The birds don’t sow, yet every morning sing,
The lilies dance in fields un-deprived,
If God so clothes the grass and gives it spring,
Even more to you, beloved, he provides.
(Verse 2)
You feel too small, too broken, and too weak,
You measure all the ways that you fall short.
Like the prodigal you can’t earn what you need,
It’s by grace that the Father welcomes you home.
(Chorus)
So look up, weary heart, and see his face,
His perfect love will cast out every fear.
Let go of striving, just receive his grace.
Answer his saving call, by faith draw near.
(Verse 3)
When empty rooms are echoing your name,
And no one sees the tears you cry alone,
It’s for the lost, the last, the least Jesus came
To comfort the lonely and restore the disowned.
(Verse 4)
The woman cowered, bracing to be stoned,
Her failures naked under every stare,
But Jesus knelt in mercy and tenderly spoke:
“I don’t condemn you—go and sin no more.”
(Chorus)
So look up, weary heart, and see his face,
His perfect love will cast out every fear.
Let go of striving, just receive his grace.
Answer his saving call, by faith draw near.
(Verse 5)
He stood with friends at Lazarus’ grave.
Jesus wept, then called the dead man to rise,
“I am the resurrection,” he proclaimed—
Those who live and believe in me won’t die.
(Bridge)
Not death nor life, not powers high or low,
Not present pain nor futures yet unseen,
Can sever what his wounded hands bestow—
He died and rose to save you, he’s intervened.
Here you’ll have sorrow, trials, storms, and night,
But he has overcome this fallen age,
So turn from sin and step into his light—
The One who calls is faithful, for you he came.
(Chorus)
So look up, weary heart, and see his face,
His perfect love will cast out every fear.
Let go of striving, just receive his grace.
Answer his saving call, by faith draw near.
Freedom Road
You are free in order to free others. Liberty was never meant just for you. Life and happiness are found in using your freedom and resources to lift others up.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
If you were born where light streams through the doors,
Rise up to share the blessing that is yours.
For freedom’s not a treasure that you hoard—
It’s bread you break to feed a hungry soul.
(Chorus)
Use your liberty to lift up, not push down,
Be someone’s harbor, someone’s solid ground.
The doors you open can lead lost ones home.
Come alongside so no one walks alone.
(Verse 2)
Your mind can roam where borders cannot bind—
So think of those the world has left behind.
Your voice can rise like thunder, clear and true—
Speak for the ones whose whispers can’t break through.
(Chorus)
Use your liberty to lift up, not push down,
Be someone’s harbor, someone’s solid ground.
The doors you open can lead lost ones home.
Come alongside so no one walks alone.
(Verse 3)
Your feet can travel any road you please—
As you go, carry water for the thirsty.
Your hands can build a wall or build a bridge—
Extend a plank to those left on the ledge.
(Bridge)
Those who grasp for all, yet fail to share
Will find their hands too full to hold what’s dear.
The more you clutch, the tighter grows the chain—
And freedom squandered turns to bitter pain.
(Verse 4)
Count the cost—your time, your gold, your best—
Yet in the giving, you are doubly blessed.
A nation bent to serve stands tall and free;
A nation curved inward will cease to be.
(Chorus)
Use your liberty to lift up, not push down,
Be someone’s harbor, someone’s solid ground.
The doors you open can lead lost ones home.
Come alongside so no one walks alone.
Resown
You can change your behavior, but you can’t heal your broken heart. Turn to God by faith, and he’ll give you a new heart and transform your life.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
I trim the weeds that tangle in my soul,
I prune the branches, try to make me whole,
But every spring the same wild thorns return—
A field of grass where I had hoped for corn.
(Verse 2)
I paint the walls of this old crumbling house,
I sweep the floors, I scatter out the mice,
But cracks still spread beneath the fresh white paint—
A broken heart no discipline can save.
(Chorus)
So plough me up, dear Lord, and sow me deep,
Crush my heart of stone, so you I seek
I cannot mend my brokenness within—
Give me a new heart, a Spirit born again.
(Verse 3)
I’m drowning here, my arms too weak to swim,
The waters rise, the shoreline growing dim.
No strength of mine can lift my sinking frame—
I need a hand to pull me from the waves.
(Verse 4)
My chest grows cold, my heartbeat fading fast,
No will of mine can cause this pulse to last.
I cannot ignite a fire in my veins—
I need Your breath to wake me from the grave.
(Chorus)
So plough me up, dear Lord, and sow me deep,
Crush my heart of stone, so you I seek
I cannot mend my brokenness within—
Give me a new heart, a Spirit born again.
(Bridge)
When I knelt to grace, my old self died that day
The grass burned off and wheat sprang in its place.
What willpower could never reach or reap,
God’s love resowed and planted good and deep.
(Verse 5)
Now I’m an envoy sent across the field,
To sow good seed on ground that’s yet unhealed,
To call the lost from weeds where they remain—
I was choked with thorns, now I bear golden grain.
(Chorus)
You ploughed me up, dear Lord, and sowed me deep,
You crushed my heart of stone, taught me to weep.
You mended my brokenness deep within—
Thank you for new life, a Spirit born again.
Loosed from the Jaws
Through the power and love of God you can overcome temptation which would otherwise lead to your destruction.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
A crimson mouth lies open in the green,
With nectar bright as any glass-blown bead.
The fly drifts close to taste the gleaming sheen—
This way feels good, yet to your end it leads.
(Verse 2)
The petals breathe a perfume, soft and warm,
And whisper, “Linger, little one, come stay.”
But hidden in the velvet waits the storm,
For each is dragged by his own heart astray.
(Verse 3)
One step inside the jaws, the trigger trips,
The walls close shut around the captured prey.
What promised life, now seals death with a kiss.
Blind, crushed, alone—helpless to gain escape.
(Verse 4)
O foolish fly, you thought the snare was sweet,
You gave yourself to that which would consume.
Desire conceived has born its sting complete,
Just as sin full-grown digs an early tomb.
(Chorus)
Yet, good news. There’s vict’ry in Jesus’ name!
Though sin would bind me, and steal my breath,
He breaks the trap, he bears away my shame.
Through faith in Christ, I rise from sin and death.
(Bridge)
My God is faithful—He will make a way,
No trap can hold the one he died to free.
His Spirit fills me, teaching me to obey.
God is for me; none can stand against me.
(Verse 5)
So I seek to honor God with all my best.
To embrace truth, and shun the gilded lie.
What used to seem so sweet, I now detest.
His grace has loosed the jaws that held me tight.
(Chorus)
Praise God for my vict’ry in Jesus’ name!
No trap, no need, no sword, nor hardship’s breath
Can sever me from his dear saving love—
Through faith in Christ, I rise from sin and death.
Ashes Into Light
Hope in Jesus for true deliverance and lasting change, rather than in your limited resources. Only Jesus loves you deep enough and strong enough to bring about your eternal best.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
The storm clouds gather, threatening my soul,
I grasp for ropes that fray within my hands.
My careful plans dissolve like shifting sand,
And homespun thread can’t stitch my soul back whole.
(Verse 2)
The world says flee the furnace, run from flame,
But here, within the heat, I find him near.
He walks beside me, calming every fear,
And whispers worth, where once I knew but shame.
(Chorus)
So I will hope in Jesus through the night,
His love works to heal beyond my pain.
What looks like loss becomes eternal gain—
He turns my ashes into glorious light.
(Verse 3)
My wounds become the windows of his grace,
Each tear a seed that blossoms into gold.
His almighty arms never lose their hold,
More sweet than any comfort I could chase.
(Verse 4)
He wipes away the grime that I might shine,
A clearer mirror of his gentle face.
Through fires that test, he grows me in grace,
And refines my spirit to become like him.
(Chorus)
So I will hope in Jesus through the night,
His love works to heal beyond my pain.
What looks like loss becomes eternal gain—
He turns my ashes into glorious light.
(Verse 5)
Through me his mercy reaches other souls,
The lamp he lit now lights another’s way.
The seeds of midnight bloom in coming day,
As broken vessels carry living gold.
(Bridge)
One morning soon the trumpet sound will ring,
And each shadow will flee before the dawn.
No grave, no grief, no tears to dwell upon—
The wounded earth will rise to meet her King.
He’ll gather all who hoped against the dark
To reign with him where death has lost its sting.
The fire will fade, but love will never cease—
Joyfully home, forever in his peace.
(Chorus)
So I will hope in Jesus through the night,
His love works to heal beyond my pain.
What looks like loss becomes eternal gain—
He turns my ashes into glorious light.
Swing to Hit
Life is not defined by the curves thrown at you, but by how you handle the curves.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
The pitch comes fast, a wicked curve,
The kind that tests your every nerve.
You didn’t choose the ball that’s thrown,
But how you swing is yours to own.
(Verse 2)
Some days the fastball burns like fire,
Some nights the changeup pulls you lower.
The scoreboard ebbs, the innings flow,
But still you choose the way to go.
(Chorus)
So swing to hit what crosses the plate,
It’s not the pitch, that seals your fate.
With every crack, you learn to stand,
The bat of faith held in your hand.
Swing away, and light the sky—
Inspire and shape those nearby.
(Verse 3)
The slider breaks and tests your heart,
You strike out swinging in the dark.
But character is forged in dust,
You dig back in, improve and adjust.
(Verse 4)
Each at-bat molds the person you are,
You learn to read each spinning star,
Your teammates cheer the swing you take—
The bonds you make don’t easily break.
(Chorus)
So swing to hit what crosses the plate,
It’s not the pitch, that signs your fate.
With every crack, you learn to stand,
The bat of faith held in your hand.
Swing away, and light the sky—
Inspire and shape those nearby.
(Bridge)
Sometimes the play’s to lay it down,
To send them home, give up the crown.
No swing’s wasted beneath the sun
They prepare for games not yet begun.
(Chorus)
So swing to hit what crosses the plate,
It’s not the pitch, that signs your fate.
With every crack, you learn to stand,
The bat of faith held in your hand.
Swing away, and light the sky—
Inspire and shape those nearby.
December Thaw
A woman seeks to make changes in order not to lose the friendship of a man who has grown dear to her.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
He listens when I talk about
The little things that fill my days.
He reads me books when I am sick,
Knows all my small, peculiar ways.
(Verse 2)
He fixed my car without a word,
Left groceries by my door last week.
In all his kindness, I’m assured—
He probably cares too much for me.
(Verse 3)
So when he calls, I let it ring.
When he suggests we grab a meal,
I say I’m busy, I’ve got a thing.
Too used to hiding what I feel.
(Verse 4)
He doesn’t know the girl I’ve been—
One who found a wallet, kept the cash,
Who drowned her sorrow drinking gin,
Who’s dealing with a painful past.
(Verse 5)
Some nights haunt me with relentless fear
I tremble as I work to change.
How can I let this man draw near
To me who’s damaged, worn, and strange?
(Verse 6)
He gently asks if something’s wrong,
If he has hurt me in some way.
I try to explain, but my words fail.
He leaves confused by what I convey.
(Verse 7)
Then news arrives: his grandma’s ill.
He disappears to hold her hand,
To care for her till she is well.
For love gives to help others mend.
(Verse 8)
The texts grow sparse, then fade to none.
My phone a witness to our distance.
I told myself this day would come—
That I’m too broken to embrace.
(Bridge)
But silence has a way of showing
What matters, once it slips away.
His laughter, joy, a friendship growing
Losses that now fill my hollow days.
I took his steady care for granted,
His patient heart, his open door.
While seeds of doubt I’d somehow planted
Now bloom to loneliness and more.
Sadly word arrives: she’s passed, she’s gone.
The woman who had raised him right.
And I’ve been selfish far too long—
I have to find him, amidst his night.
(Chorus)
I want to be there for you
As you’ve been there for me.
I have a lot of change to do,
But with you it’s worth the journey.
Hand in hand let’s shape tomorrow,
Together our best is yet to be.
(Verse 9)
I find him sitting on her porch,
Shivering from the December freeze.
I hold no wisdom, carry no torch—
Just arms around him as he grieves.
(Verse 10)
“I’m sorry,” spills from deep within,
For distance, walls, and wasted time.
“Teach me how to let you in—
I’m terrified, but I will try.”
(Verse 11)
He takes my shaking hand in his,
Says healing isn’t done alone.
Together we can grow past what is,
To love in ways we’ve not yet known.
To love in ways we’ve not yet known.
Bridge Over Doubt
Let your questions and doubts drive you toward God and not away. In his presence you’ll find the love, salvation, and answers you need.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
When the path ahead grows dark and steep,
And mysteries cloud your limited view,
Know God moves in ways vast and deep—
His loving hand still guiding you.
(Verse 2)
The poor in spirit, crushed by sin,
God raises to reign as royalty.
Your broken heart with all its pain
Receives healing only he can bring.
(Chorus)
Let your questions be the bridge you cross,
Not the wall that keeps you far away.
Every doubt, every wound, every loss—
God redeems to draw you close each day.
He exalts the broken, lifts the low,
Refines your gold through trial’s flame
From the ashes, resurrection grows—
God is always working to save.
(Verse 3)
The fire that threatens to consume
Is shaping something pure and strong.
What evil meant to seal your tomb,
He’s turning into victory’s song.
(Verse 4)
Though you want answers, what you need is him—
Knock and the door will open wide.
Enter his presence, let the noise grow dim,
Discover wisdom as you abide.
(Bridge)
Read his word when darkness falls,
Turn to him with every tear.
Confess ev’ry wrong, heed his call—
To be forgiven from sin you bear.
Trust the God who knows your name,
The source of all that’s good and right.
Time will vindicate his claim—
He’s bringing morning from your night.
(Verse 5)
Celebrate what you already know
Of his love proven through all time.
Submit all you do and undergo,
He will enlighten you to shine.
(Chorus)
Let your questions be the bridge you cross,
Not the wall that keeps you far away.
Every doubt, every wound, every loss—
God redeems to draw you close each day.
He exalts the broken, lifts the low,
Refines your gold through trial’s flame
From the ashes, resurrection grows—
God is always working to save.
Borrowed Air
Each of us needs God to save us from our terminal pursuit of powering over others and replace it with a pursuit of serving others by relying on his love, grace, and power.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
In Eden’s dawn they reached for more,
Cast off the crown they were meant to wear,
Grasping for power, God’s way scorned,
Built their throne from borrowed air.
(Verse 2)
Now all, including me and you,
Climb pyramids of glass and pride,
Crush the weak to claim the view,
While thirst for power swells our tide.
(Chorus)
We cannot rule what we won’t release,
Cannot reign through selfish control,
Lord, melt our hearts and bend our knees,
Restore us to serve, under your throne.
(Verse 3)
We gather tribes with painted faces,
Draw our lines, wage worthless wars,
Attempt to rule from lofty places,
Yet empire after empire falls.
(Verse 4)
Race and creed become our weapons,
Wealth and status forge our chains,
Yet every border holds a lesson—
Pride divides, where as, love retains.
(Bridge)
Only grace can break this fever,
Only God can heal our broken hearts.
Teach us, Lord, to love and surrender
Sharing by faith what you impart.
(Chorus)
We cannot rule what we won’t release,
Cannot reign through selfish control,
Lord, melt our hearts and bend our knees,
Restore us to serve, under your throne.
Under your throne.
Crawdad Creek
Two boys meet to catch crawdads at a nearby creek on a warm, carefree summer day.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
Chores are done, we meet where paths collide,
Two buckets, nets, and lunches packed with care,
Through morning forest, walking side by side,
Sweet jasmine riding on the summer air.
(Verse 2)
We pick the blackberries along the way,
Launch rocks at trees like warriors on a quest,
Share stories, laugh at nothing, stop to play—
This winding trail is better than the rest.
(Chorus)
It’s a good day when the sun shines warm,
Even better with a friend so true,
Out in nature, breathing in its charm,
Simple joys under skies of endless blue.
(Verse 3)
The mother duck glides by with four in tow,
We wade beneath the canopy of green,
Where water skeeters dance and tadpoles flow,
The cool mountain water refreshes our feet.
(Verse 4)
The crawdads hide in crevices and stone,
They dart away like phantoms filled with fear,
But soon we learn to work as one, not alone—
One nets behind, one distracts with twig held near.
(Verse 5)
They raise their claws and stand to make their fight,
Then rocket backward with their mighty tail.
They get trapped in the net to our delight.
Another prize to add into our pail.
(Chorus)
It’s a good day when the sun shines warm,
Even better with a friend so true,
Out in nature, breathing in its charm,
Simple joys under skies of endless blue.
(Bridge)
On sandy banks we rest and eat our lunch,
Watch crawdads battle in their plastic jail,
We set them free—they scatter in a bunch,
While clouds paint creatures like a cotton tail.
We talk of girls and dreams that lie ahead,
Of deer that cross the meadow, wild and free,
Chew sour grass along the homeward tread,
And promise that we’ll meet back at the tree.
(Chorus)
It’s a good day when the sun shines warm,
Even better with a friend so true,
Out in nature, breathing in its charm,
Simple joys under skies of endless blue.
Every Step He’s Faithful
A father reflects with gratitude for God’s continual faithfulness throughout each stage of his daughter’s life.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
Curly hair caught morning light so gold,
Green eyes wide with wonder, unafraid,
Tiny hands wrapped tight around my own—
God’s faithfulness, right there, on display.
(Chorus)
Through infant cries and graduations,
Through first steps and tearful goodbyes,
His blessings flow through all life’s stations—
Faithful forever, our God abides.
(Verse 2)
Trail dust on your shoes, you climbed each hill,
Coffee sipped under starlit midnight cold,
Basketball dribbled with determined will,
Your quiet strength, like silver mixed with gold.
(Chorus)
Through infant cries and graduations,
Through first steps and tearful goodbyes,
His blessings flow through all life’s stations—
Faithful forever, our God provides.
(Verse 3)
Children flocked to you like birds to seed,
Your caring heart, so tender, true,
Following my footsteps, called to teach—
God’s faithfulness reflected back through you.
(Chorus)
Through infant cries and graduations,
Through first steps and tearful goodbyes,
His blessings flow through all life’s stations—
Love God forever, in him rely.
(Bridge)
College took you miles beyond my reach,
Career began, your own life taking shape,
Then came the man who made your joy complete—
Each chapter written by God’s grace.
(Verse 4)
Now white lace trails where pigtails used to sway,
Your arm in mine, this aisle we slowly tread,
I give you to new love, yet still I pray—
God’s faithfulness will guide you both each day.
(Chorus)
Through infant cries and wedding blessings,
Through letting go and holding tight,
His blessings flow through all life’s lessons—
Faithful forever, our God, our delight.
Living Spark
All creation around us celebrates the existence and artistry of our loving God, who made it for us.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
I see your work in atoms small and fine,
Where protons dance in perfect, measured line.
The hidden laws that hold the world in place,
Are signatures of your designing grace.
(Verse 2)
The emerald leaf drinks in the golden light,
While soaring eagles claim the mountain height.
Each living thing a masterwork of art,
Speaks of the attentive care that you impart.
(Chorus)
O God, the Maker, glorious and wise,
Your fingerprints are seen across the skies.
A world of wonder made for our delight,
Your love for us shines, each day and night.
(Verse 3)
From desert sands to rivers deep and wide,
In every canyon where your wonders hide,
Giant redwoods that touch the velvet blue,
Stand tall as steeples pointing back to you.
(Verse 4)
The planets spin and seasons sway in turn,
While countless stars in distant heavens burn.
The laws of time and space, gravity and light,
Declare your infinite reach and might.
(Bridge)
No chance or chaos ruled the empty dark,
You breathed the flame and fanned the living spark.
With perfect order and a grand design,
You made a garden for this life of mine.
(Verse 5)
But most of all within the human soul,
You offer your Spirit to make us whole.
In your own image, you formed us to be,
To love the One who tunes our hearts to sing.
(Chorus)
O God, the Maker, glorious and wise,
Your fingerprints are seen across the skies.
A world of wonder made for our delight,
Your love for us shines, each day and night.
Bathing Biscuit
Anything worthwhile takes effort and perseverance. Don’t try to bypass what’s necessary. Work through it to achieve your goal.
___________________________________
(Verse 1)
The sun blazed high on a Saturday morn,
When Biscuit rolled through the garden mud.
Mom hollered, “Kids, you need to wash your dog.”
They groaned and dragged their feet across the crud.
(Verse 2)
Brother said, “Let’s just spray him from the porch,
We’ll skip the scrub, he’ll dry out in the breeze.”
But Biscuit shook a tidal wave of brown
And coated both their shirts from chest to knees.
(Chorus)
Big or small, few things worthwhile come easy.
So pursue sculpting beauty out of stone.
Roll up your sleeves and push through the storm—
You’ll stand amazed at how much you have grown.
(Verse 3)
The bucket tipped, the soap slid down the stairs,
And Biscuit bolted wild across the lawn.
They chased him past the roses and the fence,
Through sprinkler mist that sparkled like the dawn.
(Verse 4)
Then sister laughed so hard she lost her shoe,
And brother caught the dog beneath the oak.
They locked their eyes and nodded, suds in hand—
No shortcut left, no trick, no clever joke.
(Bridge)
They scrubbed his ears, they combed his tangled fur,
They rinsed the dirt in ribbons down the drain.
Somewhere between struggle and the sun,
The work itself became the sweet refrain.
(Verse 5)
Now Biscuit gleamed like copper in the light,
His golden coat was dancing in the wind.
They sat together, soaking, tired, and proud—
Two muddy kids with character refined.
(Chorus)
Big or small, few things worthwhile come easy.
So pursue sculpting beauty out of stone.
Roll up your sleeves and push through the storm—
You’ll stand amazed at how much you have grown.