Ablaze

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
Ask God for his help in avoiding sin and learning to walk in holiness for your salvation and his glory.

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(Verse 1)
Search my heart, reveal what’s hidden
Anything that grieves your name.
I confess my wrong and seek your right.
Set my soul ablaze with your flame.

(Chorus)
Rouse me from my slumber.
Wake my soul from sleep.
Tune my heart to your calling.
Grant me strength when I am weak.

(Verse 2)
Help me rise above temptation.
Give me victory over sin.
Shield me from the devil’s schemes, Lord.
He seeks to destroy from within.

(Chorus)
Rouse me from my slumber.
Wake my soul from sleep.
Tune my heart to your calling.
Grant me strength when I am weak.

(Bridge)
Thank you for your love and grace
Your forgiveness makes me clean.
You’re faithful to perfect my faith.
Transform me for your glory.

(Verse 3)
I delight in what pleases you.
Lead me in your holy way.
Teach me how to listen closely
As I learn to trust and obey.

(Chorus)
Rouse me from my slumber.
Wake my soul from sleep.
Tune my heart to your calling.
Grant me strength when I am weak.

(Outro)
You quench my thirsting soul
May I live for you and not for me.

Second Chance Town

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
A disillusioned young man exchanges an unfulfilling career in the city for a simpler, more meaningful life in a small town.

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(Verse 1)
Glass towers reaching high
Credit cards that never die
Corner office, custom suit
Yet my soul is empty at its root.

(Verse 2)
Morning meetings, careless lies
Stepping up by stepping on lives
Golden handcuffs, polished chains
Success measured in hollow gains.

(Chorus)
Now I pay twice the rent, make half the pay.
Traded skylines for stars at the end of the day.
Left behind the man I couldn’t stand to be.
In this second chance town, I finally feel free.

(Verse 3)
Panic attacks in bathroom stalls.
Worn out making endless calls.
One more deal, one more drink.
Rarely stopping to rest or think.

(Bridge)
Then my castle crumbled down.
Sales slumped, I hit the ground.
Standing in the wreckage bare
Found the courage to repair.

(Verse 4)
Here, I wake to rooster calls.
I plant seeds, mend broken walls.
Less prestige, a humble rebirth
Investing in others, honoring their worth.

(Chorus)
Now I pay twice the rent, make half the pay.
Traded skylines for stars at the end of the day.
Left behind the man I couldn’t stand to be.
In this second chance town, I finally feel free.

(Outro)
My hands are rough, my heart devout.
Found joy in what truly counts
Faithful friends, simple homestead
Peace of mind when I lay my head.

Sparkling Shore

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
A young family spend time together as they picnic at the beach on a beautiful summer day.

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(Verse 1)
Summer sky so clear and bold,
Backpacks and towels in tow.
Rover’s head out window wide,
Summer breeze, the perfect ride.

(Verse 2)
Blankets spread on sparkling shore.
Sandcastles like never before.
Salt-kissed air and seashell finds.
Footprints trailing close behind.

(Chorus)
It’s not the waves or golden sand,
It’s not the treasures in our hands,
It’s being together, come what may,
That makes each day the best of days.

(Verse 3)
Splashing in the foamy tide,
Daddy throws us side to side.
Mother’s laughter fills the air,
Sun-warmed skin without a care.

(Verse 4)
Picnic basket opens wide,
Sandwiches with fruit beside.
Seagull swoops with daring flight,
Grabs our chips and flees from sight.

(Bridge)
Time stands still when we’re like this,
Each moment wrapped in bliss.
Other concerns just fade away,
As memories are made today.

(Verse 5)
Eating ice cream along the pier,
Rover sneaks a secret lick.
Spotting otters as they play,
Dolphins leaping over waves.

(Chorus)
It’s not the waves or golden sand,
It’s not the treasures in our hands,
It’s being together, come what may,
That makes each day the best of days.

(Outro)
Sunset calls us back to home,
Tired bodies, hearts still roam.
Priceless scenes from a joyful day.
Magic moments to store away.

Numbing Never Heals

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
Avoid trying to numb emotional pain, because it delays true healing. Instead muster the courage and vulnerability to proactively root out the source of the wound with the help of God and others, and then treat it.

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(Verse 1)
You got a bottle off the shelf
Hoping to make the aching stop.
You try to hide from your broken self
Digging holes too deep to top.

(Chorus)
But an open wound won’t heal
If you just cover it each day.
Gotta face the hurt, not conceal.
Walk through fire, not run away.

(Verse 2)
Scrolling screens till morning time
Laughing loud, but crying deep.
Everyone thinks you’re doing fine
While your soul can’t fall asleep.

(Verse 3)
Your dad taught to swallow pain.
Your mom showed you how to smile.
But you’re caught in pouring rain
Building walls that stretch a mile.

(Bridge)
To stand exposed with your wounds
Is hard, but don’t seek escape.
Confess your wrongs, settle your feuds.
Forgive to break hatred’s restraint.

(Verse 4)
Take that broken heart in hand.
Let the tears fall where they may.
Seek a friend who’ll understand.
Enter the light, no more delay.

(Chorus)
‘Cause an open wound won’t heal
If you just cover it each day.
Gotta face the hurt, not conceal.
Walk through fire, not run away.

(Verse 5)
Not run away!
Not run away!
‘Cause an open wound won’t heal
If you just cover it each day.
Gotta face the hurt, not conceal.
Walk through fire, not run away.

(Outro)
Strength grows from your darkest fight
Share with others the burden you bear.
Healing comes at morning light
With God’s help through faith and prayer.

Second Glance

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
God tenderly answers a teenage girl who looks at her reflection in the mirror and wonders about her appearance, her identity, her value, and her future.

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(Verse 1)
I wipe the steamy glass with trembling hand,
A stranger’s eyes stare back at me from there.
The shower’s warmth still lingers on my skin,
But coldness grips my heart in quiet despair.

(Verse 2)
Am I just this reflection that I see?
These flaws, these features, this uncertain frame?
The mirror holds no answers, just a girl
Who wonders if she’s more than just a name.

(Verse 3)
Am I pretty enough to catch their eye?
Or just a shadow passing through the halls?
Will anyone see past my awkward smile
To love the heart that hides behind these walls?

(Verse 4)
My mind races with questions left unspoken,
Am I smart enough to chase my dreams?
Do whispers follow when I turn away?
Is life more hopeful than it sometimes seems?

(Verse 5)
The weight of every mistake I’ve made
Sits heavy on my shoulders, bends me low.
If they knew all the darkness in my thoughts,
Would they still want me? I don’t think so.

(Chorus)
But then a voice, like sunrise through the mist,
Speaks gently to my soul, “Child, I see you.
You’re priceless and unique like a flower
Dancing in a meadow, kissed with dew.
More precious than cool water in the desert,
More treasured than the stars that crown the night.
I know each beat of your longing heart,
And love you deeper than your darkest fright.”

(Verse 6)
The tears that fall are different now, somehow,
As words of truth begin to wash me clean.
The mirror shows the same familiar face,
But now there’s something more that can be seen.

(Bridge)
“You are more than moments you regret,
Your story’s just beginning to unfold.
Your future shines more brilliant than your dreams,
More beautiful than morning clothed in gold.
Take my hand, beloved, walk with me,
Let go of who you thought you had to be.
The path ahead holds wonders yet unseen,
Just trust my love and you will truly see.”

(Outro)
I touch the mirror one last time and smile,
My reflection doesn’t seem so strange.
His grace and peace wipe clear my doubt and shame.
In His light, what I see of me has changed.

Still Missing You

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
A wife and husband struggle to find time together during a busy season of life, but they are committed to closing their gap.

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(Verse 1)
Dawn breaks as your wings take flight
My scrubs await the morning light.
Our coffee mugs, one full, one bare
Two lives under one roof, rarely there.

(Verse 2)
You navigate through distant skies
While I bandage wounds and dry small eyes.
Your voice through static, miles away
As homework and laundry fill my day.

(Chorus)
Left you a note beneath your keys,
“I ache for you with each heartbeat
I long for days when life is slowed
Still yours to have, still yours to hold.”

(Verse 3)
The hallway clock marks your return
As my keys jingle, my shift to earn.
Your aftershave lingers in the flat
A house of echoes, kinship once had.

(Verse 4)
Empty seat at Ben’s recital
His eyes searched for your arrival.
Your flight delayed, his delight withdrawn
I smile for him, though my heart’s torn.

(Bridge)
School bell rings, Ben’s hand I release
Surrounded by noise, searching for peace.
Not alone, but lonely still
You’re my haven on life’s windswept hill.

(Verse 5)
Our blessings abound, cups overflow
Yet something’s missing, this I know.
Not the marriage of my dreams
We’re drifting slowly, or so it seems.

(Chorus)
Left you a note beneath your keys,
“I ache for you with each heartbeat
I long for days when life is slowed
Still yours to have, still yours to hold.”

(Outro)
Tonight I’ll leave the porch light on
A beacon guiding you back home.
Two teacups waiting by the fire.
Our love is strained, but never expired.

Reason Rewritten

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
When you are motivated by a gratitude for God’s love and grace, it is an honor rather than a duty or sacrifice to serve him and others.

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(Verse 1)
Good deeds done for reward’s gleam,
Fear of judgment’s stern regime,
Or pity’s pull—how right they seem
‘Til your grace rewrote my reason.

(Chorus)
To love is not a duty, but an honor.
Your mercy makes service sweet.
My actions flow from gratitude
That you died and rose to save me.

(Verse 2)
Crimson stains you washed away
Debts I never could repay.
Into my darkness, broke your day
Now your love lights up my way.

(Verse 3)
To the stranger in their pain
To the needy or those ashamed
When I give of myself in your name
It’s for your glory and their gain.

(Bridge)
This world keeps track of giving and fame
While tallying debts that remain.
But you love freely beyond measure
Making people’s lives far better.

(Chorus)
To love is not a duty, but an honor.
Your mercy makes service sweet.
My actions flow from gratitude
That you died and rose to save me.

(Verse 4)
When my hands reach out in grace
When forgiveness takes its place
When I love the hardest case
Then I truly see your face.

(Outro)
Less like earth and more like heaven
Less like me and more like you.
What seemed loss becomes my winning.
What seemed cost becomes joy living.
What seemed cost becomes joy living.

Dawn Breaks the Night

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
Your best life is with God. Discover your purpose by including God in that process and following his lead.

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(Verse 1)
Created by his hands, beloved from the start
God beckons you closer, to give him your heart.
Walking by faith through shadows and night
His abundance unfolds, your purpose burns bright.

(Verse 2)
Lay down your treasures, even gold is like dust.
Confess your failings, in his mercy trust.
Ask for new longings, a heart cleansed and true
For a joy to follow what he calls you to do.

(Chorus)
Thank him each morning as dawn breaks the night
His presence beside you, your path glowing bright.
Through this dark world, his light guides your way
Growing your heart to love as he loves, day by day.

(Verse 3)
Seek heaven’s pleasure, not earthly acclaim.
Embrace the humble journey that calls your name.
Step into waters where you feared to tread
Denying yourself and clinging to God instead.

(Verse 4)
When weakness overwhelms and courage runs dry
His strength becomes perfect as on him you rely.
One faithful step, then another you take
A beautiful journey, for his glory’s sake.

(Bridge)
What you cannot do, he does through his grace.
He saves and redeems you, in loving embrace.
As you trust and obey, surrendered and still
He weaves your story into his perfect will.

(Chorus)
Thank him each morning as dawn breaks the night.
His presence beside you, your path glowing bright
Through this dark world, his light guides your way
Growing your heart to love as he loves, day by day.

Rooted in Certainty

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
When you face difficulty which causes doubts about what you don’t know or understand, trust God and stand on what you do know.

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(Verse 1)
When shadows twist your image like a broken mirror’s face,
And Satan’s whispers cloud the truth with doubt’s embrace,
Shine your light like morning dawn that breaks through darkest night,
Reveal yourself—a lighthouse beam that guides me to what’s right.

(Verse 2)
When accusation’s arrows rain down on my weary soul,
And shame becomes a weight too heavy to control,
Send your Spirit like a shield to guard my battered heart,
Defend me with your perfect love that tears the lies apart.

(Verse 3)
When joy bleeds from my spirit like color from the sky,
And faith feels like a withered branch, too frail and dry,
Be the river flowing through my desert-cracked terrain,
Stand me firm like rooted oak that weathers every rain.

(Chorus)
When I hurt and cannot see beyond my tears,
When doubts rise like mountains through my fears,
Help me stand on what I know is true of you,
Train my heart to walk by faith, not by what I view.

(Verse 4)
Creator of the cosmos, whose breath ignites the stars,
Who spins the earth and holds the seas within their bars,
Eternal King whose promises outshine the fading sun,
Whose goodness flows like endless streams that never cease to run.

(Verse 5)
When disaster writes its story across a broken land,
And suffering seems the only language I understand,
Be the voice amidst the chaos, “I have overcome,”
The masterpiece still forming in the kingdom yet to come.

(Bridge)
Author of my story, Perfecter of my faith,
Sculptor of my purpose through both glory and through pain,
Transform this fragile vessel into your likeness, Lord,
Complete your work within me—this my humble prayer outpoured.

(Chorus)
When I hurt and cannot see beyond my tears,
When doubts rise like mountains through my fears,
Help me stand on what I know is true of you,
Train my heart to walk by faith, not by what I view.

(Outro)
You who left your throne above to die upon a tree,
Surrendered all divinity to set my spirit free,
I believe. Help my unbelief, when darkness clouds my way.
Heal me, mold me, use me, Lord. I am yours each day.

Loved

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
God loves you beyond measure as shown by sending Jesus, his Son, into the world that you might live through him. Knowing you are dearly loved, frees you to love others. (1 John 4:7-11).

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(Verse 1)
From death’s dark shadow, life springs anew.
Broken vessels mended, made whole and true.
Lost footsteps guided to paths divine.
Despair transformed to hope’s bright shine.

(Chorus)
You’re made by God who shaped the stars
Loved beyond measure, just as you are.
Your soul’s deepest longing only finds rest
In God’s embrace, where you’re truly blessed.

(Verse 2)
His love’s not just an action shown
But the essence from which all love grows.
It flows eternal, without end
From God who is love, your closest friend.

(Chorus)
You’re made by God who shaped the stars
Loved beyond measure, just as you are.
Your soul’s deepest longing only finds rest
In God’s embrace, where you’re truly blessed.

(Verse 3)
Sometimes he whispers, gentle and mild
Cradling you close, his precious child.
Sometimes he thunders, your will to align.
Always for your best, his love refines.

(Bridge)
When faith receives what grace has given
Self-love fades in light of heaven
Real life emerges, spirit renewed
Christ within you, his love imbued.
Your hands become his hands of care.
His heart beats in you everywhere.

(Verse 4)
The cross stands tall where heaven met earth
Where mercy flowed and proved your worth.
In Jesus’ arms, stretched wide with love
Flows all you need from God above!

(Chorus)
You’re made by God who shaped the stars
Loved beyond measure, just as you are.
Your soul’s deepest longing only finds rest
In God’s embrace, where you’re truly blessed.