Eagles Rising

God is with those who trust him and actively rest in him. he cheers for us and he fights for us while working in us to bring about the salvation, transformation, and fulfillment we need and long for.

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(Verse 1)
When shadows fall and fears arise,
Our mighty Savior stands nearby.
He sings over weary, trembling souls,
His healing presence makes broken whole.

(Verse 2)
Like eagles soaring through the sky,
On borrowed strength we learn to fly.
The weak grow strong, the tired find rest,
His power flowing through our chest.

(Chorus)
He cheers for us, he fights for us,
The God who never tires.
In active rest we learn his best,
And enjoy what he desires.
He works within, forgives our sin,
His love transforms each day.
Trust and obey—He sets us free,
Our Champion in every way!

(Verse 3)
Youths may stumble, warriors fall,
But trusting saints outlast them all.
Not by our might, but by his grace,
We run with joy and win the race.

(Bridge)
Be glad! Rejoice with all your heart!
The Lord has loved you from the start.
He dwells among us, mighty King,
With gladness he delights to sing.
His understanding has no end,
Creator, Savior, faithful Friend!

(Verse 4)
Soar on high with God who never faints—
He strengthens every weary saint.
Lay your burdens at his feet,
Let trust and rest in him complete.

(Chorus)
He cheers for us, he fights for us,
The God who never tires.
In active rest we learn his best,
And enjoy what he desires.
He works within, forgives our sin,
His love transforms each day.
Trust and obey—He sets us free,
Our Champion in every way!
Our Champion in every way!

Sweet Surrender

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
Jesus’ mission is to bring you to God. Thus, your mission should be to come to God. He surrendered all to make that possible. Receive his loving salvation by surrendering your all.

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(Verse 1)
Jesus walked among the broken and lost,
His mission clear: to bridge our endless divide.
Through every word and miracle, it cost
Him everything to bring us to God’s side.

(Verse 2)
Born of virgin’s womb, pure mystery divine,
He enters hearts that open to his call.
Trust him now, let new birth be your sign—
From death to life, he offers hope to all.

(Verse 3)
You couldn’t reach him, so he came down,
The King of kings stooped low to rescue.
Now royal priesthood wears a different crown—
All souls can taste his kingdom’s precious fruits.

(Chorus)
God’s love runs deeper than the ocean’s floor,
He’s always working for your very best.
Love him back with all your heart and more,
As you shine his light to those in darkness.

(Verse 4)
Outsiders, outcasts, sinners, and slaves,
The sick, the scorned, the thief upon the cross—
He welcomed all who came to him for grace,
No soul too far, no sinner counted lost.

(Verse 5)
Those who fled in fear, denied his name,
Who hunted down his followers with rage—
He welcomed home without a hint of shame,
Forgiveness written on love’s every page.

(Bridge)
Surrender all to find your truest life,
In losing self, you gain him eternally.
Release your grip on struggle and on strife—
His ways unfold in sweet simplicity.

(Chorus)
God’s love runs deeper than the ocean’s floor,
He’s always working for your very best.
Love him back with all your heart and more,
As you shine his light to those in darkness.

(Outro)
He conquered death, rose glorious and free,
To offer life abundant, growing new.
Trust in his grace, let resurrection be
The promise that transforms and carries you.

When Time Grows Thin

To keep from drifting apart a father and son make time to invest in one another, rather than passively hoping to find time to connect.

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(Verse 1)
Diverging paths a dad and son tread.
One coming, one going, not much said.
Growing distance taking effect
Yet both hearts longing to connect.

(Chorus)
Time like a river, flows deep and wide
But love’s current can turn the tide.
Devoted to a sacred bond shared
They build a bridge to each other there.

(Verse 2)
Together round a fire each week
Phones tucked away, they began to speak.
Flames danced bright between their souls
Lighting fires that made them whole.

(Verse 3)
The old shed leaned with weathered boards
They raised their hammers in one accord
Building on what they had before
Creating something so much more.

(Bridge)
Time’s a thief in worn-out shoes
Takes things we think we’ll never lose.
But love buys back what’s been stolen
Mending hearts that once were broken.

(Verse 4)
They laced their shoes and hit the trail
Through morning mist and evening’s veil
Remembered yesterday’s sweet grace
While dreaming of tomorrow’s place.

(Chorus)
Time like a river, flows deep and wide
But love’s current can turn the tide.
Devoted to a sacred bond shared
They build a bridge to each other there.

(Verse 5)
On quiet nights they’d tune and play
Guitar and flute in harmonic sway.
Finding rhythm, finding song
Two different voices growing strong.

(Outro)
Though time grows thin like morning frost
They find what never should be lost.
Their river runs, not separate streams
But interwoven, waking dreams.
But interwoven, waking dreams.

Becoming Dawn

A young lady who longs to find the right man, realizes she needs to become the right woman.

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(Verse 1)
I learned to paint in morning light,
Took French lessons Tuesday nights.
I served warm soup as a volunteer,
But still eat dinner with no one dear.

(Verse 2)
I joined those apps and gave my all,
Learned to dance at friendship hall.
I baked fresh bread for neighbors here,
But no one special’s drawing near.

(Chorus)
Where is the love I’m searching for?
I’ve knocked on every single door.
The calendar pages flip right past,
How much longer can I last?
Maybe I’ll transform my song—
From seeking him, to growing strong
The woman that my future needs,
Not just wishing, but planting seeds.

(Verse 3)
My sister married at twenty-three,
Now she’s got two kids, asks about me.
Mom says, “Honey, don’t you settle low,”
But the mirror knows the years that show.

(Verse 4)
I joined a hiking group last May,
Read classic books, learned how to pray.
I’m kind and true, with a noble heart,
So why does love seem worlds apart?

(Bridge)
Then something shifted in my night—
A quiet whisper made it right.
Stop hunting like he’s lost and found,
Start growing roots in solid ground.
Be patient, wise, and gently whole,
The kind of woman for his soul.
Let him find what’s worth the wait,
A garden tended, not just fate.

(Verse 5)
So now I’m learning who to be,
Building strength and dignity.
Not desperate, but hopeful still,
Growing in grace and a humble will.

(Chorus)
This is the love I’m building now,
Not forcing when or where or how.
Ruthless time won’t steal my peace,
I’m blooming with each passing week.
My focus now is clear and right—
Becoming dawn before his light.
The woman worthy of his hand,
Prepared to meet a kindred man.
Prepared to meet a kindred man.

While You’re Waiting

Don’t miss the joy and blessings of the present while you’re waiting for the future.

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(Verse 1)
Scrolling through your phone at dinner
Can’t see your mom’s eyes shine.
Planning next year’s big vacation
While the sunset turns to wine.

(Chorus)
Life is happening right here, right now
While you’re waiting for something more.
There’s magic found in morning’s gleam
Not just in tomorrow’s dream.

(Verse 2)
Counting days until promotion
Missing treasures that are free.
Longing for the perfect romance
Without becoming who you should be.

(Chorus)
Life is happening right here, right now
While you’re waiting for something more.
There’s magic found in morning’s gleam
Not just in tomorrow’s dream.

(Verse 3)
Rushing kids through bedtime stories
Focused on them growing up.
Skipping lunch to chase the deadline
Paying out what never pays back.

(Bridge)
Golden threads of now are weaving
Between time’s ordinary scenes.
Your life’s not waiting to begin
It’s bursting at the seams.

(Verse 4)
Dance while doing kitchen dishes.
Taste the rain upon your face.
Every heartbeat writes your story.
Future’s good, but now’s the place.

(Chorus)
Life is happening right here, right now
While you’re waiting for something more.
There’s magic found in morning’s gleam
Not just in tomorrow’s dream.

(Outro)
Life is happening right here, right now
Don’t let it pass you by somehow.

Café Blue

A woman is both excited and nervous about meeting a friend who she hasn’t seen in a while.

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(Verse 1)
Mirror shows my nervous eyes tonight.
Brush strokes paint what words can’t say.
Your laugh still echoes in my mind
From coffee talks on rainy days.
Lipstick trembles in my hand.
Remember how you’d tease my smile?
Those moments felt like promised land
But were they worth your while?

(Chorus)
Thank you for the way we are
For every joke and thoughtful care.
Yet my heart reaches for a star
Wanting more for us to share.
Wanting more for us to share.

(Verse 2)
This dress—you said blue suits me best
At your sister’s wedding dance.
Your hand lingered on my waist
Was that more than circumstance?
Bonfire at the beach with friends
Sharing a blanket, sharing dreams.
To me our moments express so much
But to you, what do they mean?

(Bridge)
Weeks of silence had settled in
No one’s fault, just busy days.
Distance grew with every dawn
Feared our bond was growing thin.
Then my phone rang and it was you,
“Let’s catch up at Café Blue.”

(Verse 3)
Perfume mists the air like hope.
One last glance, I’m ready now.
Waiting here, trying to cope,
Questions on my mind abound.
Will your eyes light up for me?
Do you feel this energy?
Time has passed, but here I stand
Longing for what could be.

(Chorus)
Thank you for the way we are
For every joke and thoughtful care.
Yet my heart reaches for a star
Wanting more for us to share.
Wanting more for us to share.

(Outro)
There you are across the street
My heart forgets its steady beat.
I raise my hand, you wave hello
Your smile melts away my woe.
Steps grow closer, arms spread wide
You pull me close, my hope revives.
Your steady heart dissolves my fear
We really do have something here.

Morning Frost

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
A man longs to spend quality time with a woman, but unfortunately she doesn’t recognize his deep need for that yet.

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(Verse 1)
She lights the room with a brilliant mind,
Her laughter sparks festivity.
But when we’re close, she cannot find
The time to truly see me.

(Verse 2)
Her laptop glows between us here,
While texts for charity ping her phone.
She’s changing worlds, but can’t she hear
My heart that’s calling, all alone?

(Chorus)
Golden moments melt like morning frost,
While she builds castles in the air.
I’m drowning in the words I’ll never say—
That I just need her to be here.

(Verse 3)
She brings me gifts wrapped perfectly,
Says words that should make my heart soar.
But all these tokens can’t fulfill
The connection that I’m starving for.

(Verse 4)
Her hands create such wondrous things,
While mine reach out through empty space.
She doesn’t know the pain it brings
To sit beside her, yet misplaced.

(Chorus)
Golden moments melt like morning frost,
While she builds castles in the air.
I’m drowning in the words I’ll never say—
That I just need her to be here.

(Bridge)
How do I tell her what I need
Without appearing weak and small?
This silence plants a bitter seed—
Which could grow to ruin all.

(Verse 5)
She’s everything I’ve dreamed to find:
Smart, funny, driven, and so real.
I know she loves me in her mind,
But hollow hours are all I feel.

(Verse 6)
I watch her save the world each day,
While I’m a shadow barely seen.
If I speak up, she might not stay—
So I just ache here silently.

(Chorus)
Golden moments melt like morning frost,
While she builds castles in the air.
I’m drowning in the words I’ll never say—
That I just need her to be here.
(I just need her to be here.)

Running on Empty

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
If you tire of running from your problems, resolve to face them by getting help from God and then others.

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(Verse 1)
Drugs and alcohol, numb the pain inside,
But my anguish remains, I can’t hide.
Reckless choices, a heavy toll to bear,
Is there any way I can start to repair?

(Verse 2)
Endless hours lost in a digital maze,
Escaping reality in screen time craze.
Hiding in shadows, pushing others away.
There must be a path to a brighter day.

(Chorus)
I’m so exhausted from running away,
Legs feel like lead, heart seized in dismay.
I’m desperate for answers, my future’s unclear,
Is there hope of conquering my fears?

(Verse 3)
Impulsive behaviors, a dangerous trend,
Spiraling down, I can’t see the end.
Isolating myself, a heavy cost,
Is there any chance for what I’ve lost?

(Chorus)
I’m so exhausted from running away,
Legs feel like lead, heart seized in dismay.
I’m desperate for answers, my future’s unclear,
Is there any hope of drying my tears?

(Bridge)
Stop running. Face what’s hunting you down.
Speak to someone you trust, no more secrets enshroud.
Shed the burdens that keep problems strong,
Bringing new perspective that will help you along.

(Outro)
Find a simple step that you can take,
Not fixing it all, but a start you can make.
Running comes easy, but action takes will,
Make a first move, on a journey that heals.

Through Grateful Hearts

by Mark Greenelsh ©2025
In good times and bad, turn to God. Focus on him and not yourself or your circumstances. He is always working to save you, to provide for you, and to bring about your best through Jesus. May Thanksgiving Day remind you each day to humbly trust him and joyfully give thanks.

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(Verse 1)
When winter’s frost claimed half who came to shore,
The Pilgrims saw God’s hand worth thanking for.
Through Native wisdom, corn began to grow,
Where death had reigned, now golden fields appeared.
Three days they feasted, not despite their pain,
But seeing God through sorrow’s heavy veil.

(Verse 2)
At Valley Forge where freezing soldiers fell,
Washington knew where struggling souls must go.
He called for days of prayer and grateful praise,
Though men were starving, sick, and nearly lost.
Through chattering teeth, they sang their thanks to heaven,
And spring would find them stronger than before.

(Chorus)
Rejoice always, give thanks through everything,
In joy and sorrow, let your praises ring.
This is God’s will—through grateful trust you’ll see
He shapes your heart to mirror Christ and be free.
Rejoice always, no matter what life brings,
God is faithful to lift you on love’s wings.

(Verse 3)
While brothers’ blood soaked battlefields with red,
Lincoln proclaimed, “Let gratitude be spread.”
He saw God’s blessings midst the cannon’s roar—
Provision promised, hope still remained.
From ashes of division unity would rise,
When grateful hearts looked up beyond their pain.

(Verse 4)
Today you may stand where trials obscure
God’s loving hand that guides you through the night.
He steers you from a pit of disfavor
To walk a higher path of transforming faith.
Stand for truth and justice, serve with charity
In a broken world, be God’s hands that heal.

(Bridge)
God sees you in the valley deep and dark,
Sustains you when you cannot see the way.
From evil’s grasp, he brings salvation’s spark,
Transforms your midnight into brightest day.
His faithfulness will never let you go—
Through grateful hearts, his loving glory shows.

(Verse 5)
So fix your eyes on him, not circumstance,
Let praise arise when understanding fails.
Through Jesus Christ, all sorrow finds its end,
Each trial becomes a doorway to his grace.
Proclaim to the world all God has done—
Through Christ in you, the victory is won.

(Chorus)
Rejoice always, give thanks through everything,
In joy and sorrow, let your praises ring.
This is God’s will—through grateful trust you’ll see
He shapes your heart to mirror Christ and be free.
Rejoice always, no matter what life brings,
God is faithful to lift you on love’s wings.

Better Than Before

by Mark Greenelsh ©2026
Although Jesus is no longer walking among people on earth, he sent his Spirit to live in believers and to continue his saving ministry. After he prepares a place for us, he will return to gather all believers to be with him forever (John 16:7, 14:1-3).

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(Verse 1)
Though teardrops fell when Jesus had to go,
His promise rings like bells through our sorrow—
“I’ll prepare a place. Your forever home to be,
Where you’ll reign with me for eternity.”

(Verse 2)
You walked among us, touched our wounded hearts,
But only reached the shores of Galilee.
Through us your Spirit expands your work
To love and save the lost, from sea to sea.

(Chorus)
It’s better, deeper, richer than before—
Not walking beside us, but alive within!
What we lack your Spirit fills and restores,
Transforming us with life that transcends.

(Verse 3)
You said we’d do the greater works you planned,
Not through one body treading dusty roads,
But Spirit-fire spreading through every land,
Fueling what’s right and burning what’s wrong.

(Verse 4)
The Advocate you promised, now has come,
Teaching truths our minds could not conceive,
Forging frozen hearts into a blazing sun,
Empowering all who yield and believe.

(Chorus)
It’s better, deeper, richer than before—
Not walking beside us, but alive within!
What we lack your Spirit fills and restores,
Transforming us with life that transcends.

(Bridge)
When we can’t find the words to pray,
Your Spirit states what hearts can’t say.
Sealing us with Heaven’s mark,
Light exploding through the dark!
Comfort flows like healing streams,
Your wisdom guides, your truth sets free.
Fruit of love grows from your vine—
Human vessels, power divine!

(Verse 5)
So though we miss your footsteps in the sand,
Your Helper satisfies our thirsty souls.
You’re coming back to take us by the hand,
But till that day, your Spirit makes us whole.

(Chorus)
It’s better, deeper, richer than before—
Not walking beside us, but alive within!
What we lack your Spirit fills and restores,
Transforming us with life that transcends.