Listen (rvd)

He has a voice,

if you just listen.

It's very soft,

not quite like you would imagine.

Deep in your heart,

His warm embrace,

you will find

that quiet place.

God is there.

He's never left you, not once Has he stepped away.

We are the one's that stray.

Listen, can't you hear

that whisper,

that flutter in your heart?

That's God, just wanting to be a part of your life

and shine His light

into the dark loneliness

that you hide.

God knows your pain,

He will listen.

You are His child, His daughter, His son.

He has won the battle,

you will win the race.

Just keep a picture of His face in your heart

and you will never again be apart from His Love,

from His son that sits by His side in Heaven above.

Be still and take a minute to listen to Him.

Psalm 46:10:  Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.

INIQUITY (UPDATED)

Thank you, Jesus, for delivering me

from my own iniquity.

I've blamed my pain on the way I was raised.

But that's something I can never change.

There's always something inside,

some measure of pride.

Cleanse me, Lord, wash me in your purifying blood,

save me from the flood.

Please deliver me

from this anger that comes so quickly.

Stop me from judging,

from preaching

in such a way

that makes others want to run away and hide.

Let your light

shine brightly
through me.

Wash me with your living water

so I can be a better daughter.

Jesus, I am so bound up by my sins,

there's no way I could ever win.

I cannot change them, but you can.
And I cannot change me.
Only you can

and only by your grace

and forgiving me my iniquity.
If they want to continue to live this way,
that's their prerogative,
but that won't stop me from praying for them
unceasingly.

PSALM 27:14

WAIT FOR THE LORD;

BE STRONG

AND TAKE HEART

AND WAIT FOR THE LORD.

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (UPDATED)

This morning, first thing,

grouchy from the pain

and the bad dreams,

I reach for His Word,

praying for shelter from the storm,

this world, this place that I will never call home.

Looking for some empathy,

for God to speak to me.

Feeling sorry for myself doesn't get me anywhere,

it just fills me with more bitterness and despair.

I need fresh air, living water, some food for my soul.

I need to feel whole.

And His Word is the only thing

that can satisfy my craving.

My hunger and thirst

will never be fulfilled 
by anything on this earth,
only by my Lord.

B asic
I nstructions
B efore
L eaving
E arth

TESTIFY (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

"You're too sensitive," of which I was endlessly reminded.

It wasn't until just a little while longer

that was I chosen,
that I was shown
that
being sensitive

is a gift.
A gift from you.

God made me this way for a reason,

for a season or three.

And that season begins today,
which is why I put you first, Lord,
and cry out to you first thing
in the morning,
which happens to be
the best thing
for me.

What am I trying to say?
That it's okay

to be the way
you are

because
God made you.
That was His intent,
It's a mistake to live any other way.
He doesn't make mistakes,
we do.
Please believe me
when I share
with total strangers
that, yes, I've been on the fence a time or two
or more,
not relentlessly,
and it's really not that comfortable
over there,
on that stoop
with all the pretty sunflowers just out of reach.
I know it looks beguiling,
but looks can be very deceiving.
Please stay on the path
of righteousness.
You know.
The straight and narrow.
And, Jesus, please
light the path ahead.
Don't let me look back
because it's way too dark and sad.
The past was most definitely 
 not a blast.
But don't put me there, Lord, in the past,
because, I promise, it's not a pretty picture
if I'm in it.
My point?
Don't let anyone tell you 

that something is wrong with you,
that you're not normal.
What they don't know,
and this is a secret,
so pinky swear not to tell them,
that being normal
is no fun at all.
Don't let anyone but Jesus have the glory
in everything you say or do.

Our God is strong,
and I'm the weakest person around.

All I want is for God to have all of the glory
because you sacrificed your child
for a sinner like me.
But now I have an awesome testimony

of how God saved me

from the chains that bound me.

The world hurt me
in o so many ways,

and the enemy lied.
Is that not a surprise?
I allowed him to makeme lonely, sad and depressed.

Now,

I must forgive,

and then just live.
Fly.
Move on.

Testify.
Glorify His name
in your darkest days.
Live to love Him.
Amen

PHILLIPIANS 4:7

AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.

I SERVE HIM (UPDATED)

You say I need to love my enemies,

my sisters and my brothers,

friends.

Be kind to them.

In my heart, though, it's hard for me to hear them speak

when I know they haven't been kind to me,

at least that's what I believe.

But my Lord asks us to serve Him
above all else.
Something about that rings true,

something I can understand.

I have to tell myself that they didn't hurt me intentionally.

But it's happened so many other times,

that today it's hard for me to wrap all of those times, those things
around my mind.
However,

I don't want to let this fester in my heart

the way I have before.

I don't need this unforgiveness anymore.

So I'm letting go today

Because God wants me to be that way.

I serve Him.

PROVERBS 3:5-6

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.

IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. 

Unconditional (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

Questions running through my crowded head
keeping me from  sleep,
asking myself why
I can't accept the unfailing love He gives
me
so freely.
Why?
Late at night,
why do I fight
the blessings He sends my way?
If it was up to me, would I stay
enslaved to my sins?
Why can't I break free
of the chains,
of this same old melody?
Oh, how I love to wallow
in my own misery.
I need to get a hold of myself
and sing of His glory
before the rocks cry out
and praise His name without me.
I desire to
sing and shout,
and tell the world
of God's unconditional agape love.

PSALM 143:8

LET THE MORNING BRING ME WORD

OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE,

FOR I HAVE PUT MY TRUST IN YOU.

SHOW ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO,

FOR TO YOU I ENTRUST MY LIFE.

FLYING (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

FLYING SO HIGH,

BREATHLESS IN THE SKY,
LIKE AN EAGLE
OR MAYBE EVEN A DRAGONFLY.

I NEVER WANT TO STOP.
I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK
TO JUST WALKING ON THE GROUND.
THAT'S NO FUN.

HOW BEAUTIFUL

IS THE VIEW
WHEN I FLY,

WHEN I SPREAD MY WINGS

NOT WORRYING ABOUT ANYTHING
OR ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU.
EVERYTHING IS SO BEAUTIFUL

I CAN HARDLY CATCH MY BREATH,

MY HEART STARTS BEATING.
 FASTER,
FASTER,
FASTER,
LIKE A HUMMINGBIRD.

BUT THE AMAZING THING
IS THAT THE HIGHER I FLY,

THE EASIER IT GETS.

IT'S HARD AT FIRST,

HAVING NEVER FLOWN BEFORE.

BUT I KNOW I AM NEVER ALONE.

HOW WONDERFUL

IT FEELS TO BE FREE

OF THE CHAINS

THAT BOUND.

THE TIMING IS RIGHT.

I WAITED ON GOD.

AND WITH HIM BY MY SIDE,

HOW CAN I GO WRONG?

FLYING SO HIGH IN THE SKY

MAKES MY HEART SO FULL;

CRYING,
SIGHING,

THANK YOU, LORD, 

FOR NEVER GIVING UP ON ME.

IF I HAD FLOWN ON MY OWN,
I KNOW I WOULD HAVE FALLEN

AND MISSED 

THIS HAPPINESS.

PSALM 68:3

BUT MAY THE RIGHTEOUS BE GLAD AND REJOICE BEFORE GOD;
MAY THEY BE HAPPY AND JOYFUL.

ALL OVER AGAIN (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

LORD, MAKE ME A BETTER SERVANT,

WIFE, MOTHER, SISTER, DAUGHTER AND FRIEND

LET ME BEGIN AGAIN

I WANT TO SING A NEW SONG

GIVE ME A CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT

TO FORGIVE THOSE IN MY LIFE

WHO I FEEL HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE BITTERNESS IN MY HEART

BECAUSE IT JUST KEEPS US APART

AND I LONG FOR YOUR PRESENCE

YOUR CALMING ESSENCE

I WANT TO BE THAT CHILD

WHO LOVED YOU FROM THE MINUTE YOU

CAME INTO HER LIFE

A LIFE THAT WAS SO DARK AND DIM,

SO LACKING IN LIGHT

YOU ARE THE VERY REASON I EXIST

IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU I WOULDN'T WANT TO 

LIVE

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CHOSE ME

TO LIVE WITH YOU 

FOR ETERNITY

I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR THE DAY

THAT I CAN SIT BY YOUR SIDE

AND LISTEN TO THE STORY OF HOW YOU CAME DOWN HERE TO DIE

TO SET ME FREE 
FROM THE CHAINS OF MY SINS 
SO I COULD START 
ALL OVER AGAIN

ALL OVER AGAIN

PSALM 37:4

TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD,
AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.

JESUS CARRIED ME (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

I'M SO GLAD
THAT JESUS TOOK THE TIME
TO CHASE AFTER ME,
THAT ONE LOST SHEEP.

HE LEFT THE FOLD

TO GRAB A HOLD

OF THAT SAD LITTLE SOUL.
JESUS SAW THE PAIN I WAS HIDING,
HE KNEW THE SHAME I WAS FEELING.

HE SAW THE FEAR,
HEARD MY CRYING,
DRIED MY TEARS.

HE UNDERSTOOD.
HE TOLD ME HE WAS NEAR,
SAYING WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR,
THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE OKAY
IF I WOULD JUST STAY
ON THE RIGHT PATH
AND KEEP HIS LIGHT AT MY FEET.
WHEN LIFE BECAME
TOO DARK TO SEE,
JESUS CARRIED ME.

PSALM 27:13-14
I AM STILL CONFIDENT IN THIS: 
I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.
WAIT FOR THE LORD;
BE STRONG
AND TAKE HEART
AND WAIT FOR THE LORD.

HANG ON (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

HURTING

PAIN

INSIDE

OUTSIDE

JUST GO AWAY

SUBSIDE

HEAVY HEART

SOUL RIPPED APART

NEED HEALING AND WISDOM

SO I TURN TO THE ONLY ONE

WHO NEVER LIES

SACRIFICED

NAILED TO A TREE 
PIERCED
BLEEDING
MOCKED

BECAUSE HE LOVES ME

PAIN IS JUST PART OF THE RACE

AT THE END YOU WILL SEE HIS FACE

OPEN ARMS

JUST HANG ON

SOON THE STORM WILL BE 

A FADED MEMORY

I CORINTHIANS 9:24

DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT IN A RACE ALL THE RUNNERS RUN,

BUT ONLY ONE GETS THE PRIZE?

RUN IN SUCH A WAY YOU GET THE PRIZE

ALL-CONSUMING ENDLESS LOVE (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

SITTING IN A DARK ROOM 

HURTING,

ALONE

IT'S SO EASY TO BELIEVE

THAT YOU HAVE NO PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE,

NO GOLDEN ROAD.

YOU WONDER HOW GOD CAN POSSIBLY

USE YOU

WHEN YOU CAN BARELY WALK,

AND ALL YOU CAN REALLY DO IS TALK

ON THE TELEPHONE

OR WATCH TV.

IT'S SO EASY TO SEE YOURSELF

AS USELESS,

HOPELESS.

WITHOUT YOUR FAITH

YOU WOULD BE LOST,

WITHOUT A HOME,

ON YOUR OWN.

I THANK GOD EVERY DAY

THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY SON

SO I COULD LIVE

AND GIVE

BACK TO HIM

WHAT HE'S GIVEN TO ME

FORGIVENESS

SANCTIFIED

BY HIS SIDE

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

A THOUSAND LIFETIMES ON THIS EARTH

IS NOT ENOUGH

TO REPAY GOD

FOR HIS

EVERLASTING

ALL-CONSUMING

ENDLESS LOVE

YEP.  JOHN 3:16 AGAIN :P

LOST LOST WORLD (UPDATED)

LORD, I'M REACHING OUT TO YOU

BECAUSE I NEED YOU NOW,
MUCH MORE THAN BEFORE.

PLEASE DON'T HESITATE

FOR I CANNOT WAIT 

ANOTHER MINUTE.

SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.

COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN ABOVE

AND ENFOLD ME

SURROUND ME
IN YOUR PRECIOUS WARM WINGS

 AND YOUR LOVE.

I'M LONGING FOR SOME PEACE.

SO, LORD JESUS, PLEASE,

I'M SO TIRED

SO CONFUSED.

I COULD REALLY USE 

YOUR 

HEAVENLY WISDOM,

YOUR GENTLE TOUCH.

JESUS, I NEED YOU SO MUCH.

I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

YOUR LOVING EMBRACE

OR YOUR GRACE.

DRY MY TEARS,

HEAL MY SOUL,

MEND MY HEART,

MAKE ME WHOLE 

AGAIN

SO I CAN SPREAD YOUR LOVE

THROUGH THIS DARK,

LOST, LOST WORLD.

JOHN 3:16

JUST WALK AWAY (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

IT HAPPENED YET AGAIN

SOMEONE I THOUGHT WAS A FRIEND.

RIPPED APART,

STABBED IN THE HEART.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME

THAT YOU NEED TO BE SO

INSENSITIVE.

AND YOU SAY YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN?

GOD'S WORD SAYS TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIES,

SO I NEED TO FORGIVE

AND NOT LET BITTERNESS GROW

IN MY SOUL.

I WON'T LET WHAT HAPPENED TODAY

TAKE ME AWAY

FROM THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE

JUST SO I COULD LIVE WITH HIM.

TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK

IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

I'D RATHER MAKE YOU PAY

FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ME THIS DAY.

BUT I GIVE IT THE THE LORD,

AND HE SPEAKS TO ME THROUGH HIS WORD,

TELLING ME THAT I WILL BE BLESSED

IF I GIVE IT TO HIM

AND

JUST WALK AWAY.
BESIDES,
BITTERNESS JUST GETS IN THE WAY.

EPHESIANS 4:31

GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS,
RAGE AND ANGER,
BRAWLING AND SLANDER,
ALONG WITH EVERY FORM OF MALICE.

STICKS AND STONES (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE AND A NEW PICTURE)

WHOEVER SAID

THAT WORDS CANNOT

HURT

HAS NEVER BEEN

IN MY SKIN.

I'D MUCH RATHER BE

PUMMELED

BY

STICKS AND STONES

THAN TO BE ON THE

RECEIVING END

OF THESE WORDS

THAT

PIERCE

MY 

SOUL.

PSALM 10:25

WHEN THE STORM HAS SWEPT BY,

THE WICKED ARE GONE,

BUT THE RIGHTEOUS STAND FIRM FOREVER.

SWEET RELIEF (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE AND A NEW PICTURE)

HAPPY ONE DAY

DOWN THE NEXT

IS IT JUST ME,

OR AM I A MESS?

DO OTHERS WORRY,

DO OTHERS DOUBT?

OR AM I THE ONLY ONE

THAT OCCASIONALLY FEELS 

DOWN AND OUT?

I GIVE THINGS TO GOD,

THEN QUICKLY TAKE THEM BACK.

I WONDER TO MYSELF,
IS THAT ODD?

WHY CAN'T I JUST LEAVE MY WORRIES

WHERE THEY BELONG,

FOR I KNOW I AM WEAK,

AND HE IS STRONG.

LORD, CAN I JUST PLEASE

HAVE SOME RELIEF?

JUST A MINUTE TO CATCH MY BREATH

BECAUSE IT SEEMS 

LIKE SOMETHING IS ALWAYS HAPPENING.

I GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY,

I GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE.

BUT I'M A LITTLE TIRED TODAY,

SO CAN I JUST PLEASE TAKE A BREAK

FROM THIS RACE?

IF I COULD JUST LET GO

OF WHAT THEY DID TO ME

THEN MAYBE I COULD FIND

SOME SWEET RELIEF.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:10

WE ARE WEAK, BUT YOU ARE STRONG!

NOTE TO SELF (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE AND NEW PICTURE)

STOP PUTTING OFF UNTIL TOMORROW

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY.
HEARD THAT BEFORE,
OKAY?
I TELL MYSELF

NOT TO LET MY GRUMPY MOOD

OR MY ATTITUDE

GET IN THE WAY.

I'M SAYING THIS TO ME AS MUCH AS TO YOU.

I AM THE ONE THAT LIKES TO WALLOW

IN THEIR SORROWS.

BUT IF I JUST SOMEHOW 
COULD MAKE IT OUT OF MY COMFY BED

AND GET OUT OF MY HEAD

AND STOP WHINING,
I DON'T KNOW,

JUST MAYBE I CAN SEE 
THE SON SHINING.

I'M PREACHING AT ME

BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE REMINDED EVERY DAY

WHY JESUS DIED,

SACRIFICED

HIS LIFE.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO,

BECAUSE HE'S GOD.

HE COULD HAVE SAID NO TO THE CROSS.

BUT HE LOVES ME TOO MUCH

TO LET ME STAY LOST.

SO TODAY

I'M GOING TO PRAY

AND STAY IN HIS WORD

AND THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING 
HE HAS GIVEN ME,
BLESSED

WITH THE GIFT OF SPENDING ETERNITY

WITH HIM.
REMEMBER, ME,

THERE IS JESUS

AT

THE

END.

JOHN 3:16

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON,

THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH

BUT HAVE ETERNAL ONE

SPREAD MY WINGS AND FLY (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE AND NEW PICTURE)

IT'S TWO 
IN THE MORNING AND

I CAN FEEL A SLIGHT BREEZE

FROM THE FAN

HUMMING

OVER MY HEAD

THE TICKING OF THE CLOCK

NEXT TO MY BED

LOUDLY REMINDS ME

THAT SLEEP

IS JUST

OUT

OF
REACH

THE SHARP PAIN IN MY LEG

MAY VERY WELL BE

THE REASON I'M STILL AWAKE

BUT

MY HEART IS SINGING

BECAUSE

I KNOW

THE TIME IS HERE

AND

THE BLESSINGS ARE NEAR

I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES

AND WAY DEEP DOWN

IN MY SOUL

SOMETIMES IT MAY SEEM LIKE

FOREVER

BUT GOD ALWAYS HAS AN

ANSWER

SO

I'M GOING TO JUMP OFF THAT

LEDGE

BECAUSE

IT'S TIME FOR ME

TO

SPREAD MY WINGS

AND SEE
HOW HIGH
I
CAN

FLY

ISAIAH 40:31

BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.
THEY WILL SOAR IN WINGS LIKE EAGLES;
THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY,
THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT,

ACT OF LOVE (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE)

WHEN I STOP AND THINK 

OF ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT.

I DON'T THINK I'M SPECIAL,

AT LEAST THAT'S 

WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.

BUT I MUST MEAN SOMETHING 

TO JESUS

BECAUSE HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF 

FOR ME 

LONG AGO.

AND IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND 

THAT GOD WANTS MORE FOR ME 

THAN I WANT FOR MYSELF

BECAUSE, IF I AM TO BE HONEST,
 I WANT TO BE BLESSED.

I KNOW I DON'T DESERVE IT,

BUT, THEN, WHO DOES?
HIS SACRIFICE
WAS AN ACT OF LOVE.

JOHN 3:16

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, 
THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM
SHALL NOT PERISH
BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

FREE (UPDATED WITH SCRIPTURE AND A NEW PICTURE

MY HEART IS SO HEAVY TODAY,

AND I WISH I KNEW WHY.

FIGHTING THE URGE

TO RUN INTO THE CORNER,

COVER MY HEAD,

AND CRY.

I HATE TO SAY I'M FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF,

I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.

BUT, LORD, I'M SO EXHAUSTED FROM THIS PAIN,

AND I LONG TO KEEP YOU NEAR.

I WANT TO KEEP YOU ALL TO MYSELF,

WITH YOUR LOVING WINGS AROUND ME,

I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE YOUR SIDE,

LORD, JESUS, PLEASE SURROUND ME.

LET ME BE YOUR VESSEL,

BROKEN AS I AM.

LET ME TELL THE WORLD OF YOUR LOVE,

I KNOW I'M FAR FROM PERFECT,

AND I'VE LED A SINFUL LIFE,

BUT I'VE PUT THAT ALL BEHIND ME,

AND I JUST WANT TO WALK IN YOUR LIGHT.

PLEASE NEVER LEAVE ME OR FORSAKE ME,

LET YOUR WILL ABOUND.

I ONLY TRUST IN YOU, LORD,

AND I'M SO TIRED OF THIS WORLD LETTING ME DOWN.

I'M SO GRATEFUL YOU NEVER GAVE UP ON ME,

I WISH I HAD YOUR PATIENCE.

I TEND TO GIVE UP SO EASILY

 I SHOULD CONSTANTLY PRAY,

AND IN YOUR WORD I NEED TO STAY.

FOR WHO IN THIS WORLD HAS YOUR WISDOM, 

YOUR LIGHT?

NO MATTER HOW HARD I MAY TRY TO PULL AWAY.

I JUST WANT TO STAY IN YOUR LOVING EMBRACE

FOR THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE

I LONG TO BE

FOR ONLY THERE

CAN I

FLY

FREE.

ISAIAH 40:29

HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEARY
AND INCREASES THE POWER OF THE WEAK.