For those of, and in Haiti

So many hearts have been broken tonight
So many want to hear us say "It's alright"
As we gaze on the destruction today
We beg Jesus to take the hurt away
And they don't understand the tears that fall
And we don't understand why God planned it all

We have been broken again
We thought this was the end
Yet our hope is not gone
For we will have to live on

So many families have been torn apart
So many taken, after they came so far
We see rubble stretching to the distance
We know there could be no resistance
And we cling to our broken hearts
For those who have done their part

We have been broken again
We thought this was the end
Yet our hope is not gone
For we will have to live on

After so much death and so much pain
What can we learn--what can we gain?
How can we conquer brokenness?
How will we live through this mess?
And still the most curious thing
Is that we can all hear singing

We have been broken again
We thought this was the end
Yet our hope is not gone
For we will have to live on

Lament for all of us

Oh brother it's a sad world out there
No one wants to know you, no one cares
We want sound but no one says a word
There isn't a sorrow we haven't heard
We've come to think sadness is routine
We've forgotten the feel of clean
We've forgotten the joy that spreads
When pain is gone and grief is dead
How long must our suffering win?
How long until we resist sin?
I can't see a smiling face
Joy has fled without sound or trace
Hope and expectations separate
Giving way to death, blood and hate
How long until we fall again?
How long until Jesus draws us in?
Fathers turn against their daughters
We lack the faith to walk on water
Restless sleep conquers peaceful rest
Where are the answers to this test?
How can one man kill another?
What makes man betray his brother?
What is it that makes evil think?
We all long for a Holy drink
We sit in puddles of our own blood
We beg for the time when we're done
I can't believe we turn our backs
On those in need under attack
We cannot reach the light above
Because we cannot learn to Love
We walk and fall through the ice
No one is willing to sacrifice
Only one has given his life
Have we forgotten Jesus Christ?
Have we forgotten Jesus Christ?

The lost soul

I’m sorry that you don’t feel loved
I’m sorry that you don’t think there is enough
I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you before
I’m sorry I didn’t help you off the floor
I’m sorry for the ways of this cruel earth
I’m sorry no one showed you your true worth
I’m sorry that you’ve never been helped
And I’m sorry for the love you’ve never felt.

How are you?

My heart is so crushed
I really want to die
Everything is going wrong
And I’m too dried out to cry

Where are you?

I’m locked away in a confined cell
I have to haul my water form a well
How much I cry, only the walls can tell
I’m stuck in here for something I didn’t do
I try to yell, but they won’t hear the truth
It’s been 3 days or 3 years, where are you?
This is hell.
I get no visits, I have no friends
The darkness calls, there is no end
I long to give you a note I can’t send
Is it possible that God can’t see us?
My mind is saying there is no Jesus
My heart is pumping less and less.
This is hell.

I’m sorry that no one ever told you about God
I’m sorry that they only told you what you’re not
I’m outside in the light, breathing fresh air
But I want to be with you, way down there
I cannot eat a bite, it would not be fair.
This is torture
I’m trying to figure out how to reach you
I’m sorry for the way they mistreat you
I’m so afraid of what I won’t be able to do
I want to hold you safe in my arms
It kills me every time you are harmed
This is torture
Who are you?
My name is lost, I want to be found
I am cursed, and trapped under ground
I try to listen, but I can’t hear a sound
I am everything that can’t be perfected
I am everything that needs to be corrected
I am never checked upon, but always inspected
They call me Lina, but I have been cursed
To live my life, in conditions of the worst
I will forever live in constant thirst
My name is hopeless.

There is a way out of that hole you’re in
Cry to Jesus, confess your sin
He will clean all the filth within
The darkness will fade, your cell will shatter
All the pain you feel won’t matter
Jesus Christ is the key to your cell
Jesus Christ is the water in your well
Jesus Christ is the one who fell
Jesus Christ fell for you.

What just happened?

I have escaped, Jesus pulled me out
He destroyed my cage with a shout
Death has lost its victory
It holds no threat over me
No I will dance, and I will sing
To the one true God, the King of Kings.
I can't believe it's finally true
I could not be more joyful for you

I'm praying for you

One day I was walking down the street
When a girl I happened to meet
I noticed she was crying, I asked “Are you alright?”
She shook her head and said “I’ve been up all night.”
I asked her what the matter was, she said through tears;
“Can you help me please, I’m so scared; this
World is brutal, it’s just not fair.”

I was so confused; I didn’t know what to do
So I smiled nicely and said, “I’m praying for you.”

In an alley I found a dirty old man
Drinking and smoking was his life’s plan.
I walked up to him and asked “Can I help you?”
He coughed and replied, “Here’s what you can do—
I’m all out of liquor, I’m feeling kind of sick,
Could you run and get a beer double quick?”
But all that I could give him was a blank stare…

I was so confused; I didn’t know what to do
So I smiled nicely and said, “I’m praying for you.”

Finally back on the street I met a kid
I was still thinking about what I did
He grabbed my arm and asked, “Can you play?”
Mommy is missing and Daddy is away.
I don’t have a brother, so I’m kind of lonely.”
I said “I don’t have time, if I could only.”
So for the third time that day—

I was so confused; I didn’t know what to do
So I smiled nicely and said, “I’m praying for you.”

But a little prayer won’t help them see,
And if Jesus doesn’t mind helping why should we?
I realized that day that all my life I had just lived
For me.

Don’t know what happened to those three,
To everyone else they’re ancient history.
I tried to find them, but they were long gone.
I never got the chance to tell them I was wrong
about how I was only giving little prayers and thoughts,
and how that's not the way that Jesus Christ taught.
I want to do more.

What He did

Every tear that was cried and fell from the face of Him,

was one step closer to our freedom from sin.

And every throb of pain that went through his body;

was the start of a new glorious melody.

Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of His own

When told to pray they slept, leaving Him alone.

When the nails were thrust sharply through his wrists,

He could not feel His fingers or clench His fists.

Pinned in three places, the cross was lifted high,

and with a cry of abba, father Jesus Christ died.

Darkness came and it seemed like the earth sighed,

From every corner of the earth, with sorrow his people cried.

Our hearts were then lifted, as guilt and sin fleed,

With the blood of Christ every person was freed.

Down to hell, the keys from satan He stole.

rising from the dead he made his promise whole.

Belief in the resurection, many seemed to lack

But He neatly folded the cloth to say; "You know I'm coming back."

And in the blaing sunlight, before a stunned crowd,

Jesus Christ was lifted, high upon a cloud.

Love is found

Hi everybody, I wrote another rhyme last night.
I thought this one was pretty good.

Dig up your heart out of the earth
Put it on a scale, find its worth
The scale says it’s not a lot,
Looks like it’s all you’ve got.

Look up your soul, in the text
Doesn’t seem to be in the index
Don’t know what to do next
I think I know who knows best

Love is found, with Jesus Christ.
Hope is here, with Jesus Christ.
It takes Faith, in Jesus Christ.
Nothing else, but Jesus Christ.

Look through the magnifying glass,
Do you see your life at last?
See the horrible ugly sin?
See where darkness has been.

Come along, we’ll walk together,
To life and love, we’ll live forever.
We’re going up, a mighty hill
To find a path, that suits His will.

Love is found, with Jesus Christ.
Hope is here, with Jesus Christ.
It takes Faith, in Jesus Christ.
Nothing else, but Jesus Christ.

This is for Emily and Barry

Okay you two, I'm going to put you on the spot:
;)

I have no idea why God gave me these feelings
And I’ll never forget when you accepted the ring
I know your love I never deserved,
I feel like everything was put into reverse
When I fell in love everything went upside down,
Now I thank God on my knees that his will has found
It’s so amazing I feel like I’m gonna break down and cry
Looks like we’re meant to be together until we die
In the beginning was the end,
And in the end was the beginning,
God knew from the start your heart I’d be winning,
My life has been flooded with new complications,
Jesus graciously removed all hesitations,

I love her more than I thought possible
And I know that I am held accountable,
I hope I can live up to all of her dreams,
I think I just fell into a blissful routine.

I know now there is no such thing as coincidence
God has given unfathomable joy since I started this dance
How can I tell you how it feels to hold her hand?
I don’t understand why when I’m with her I can’t stand
I fell into this river now I’m breathing under water,
I’m not sure if I can stand feeling this love any farther
You tell me that I’ll calm down after a few years,
That we will grow used to this love after some tears,
I’m starting to wonder what we will name our first child
I know that for us to grow, God will give us trials,
But I hope we can just enjoy our love for a while
Words are so small and don’t give this love justice,
Through everything I know I think I just want this:

I love her more than I thought possible
And I know that I am held accountable,
I hope I can live up to all of her dreams,
I think I just fell into a blissful routine.

God hold us together, help us get through
Jesus send us your love, tell us what to do
Should we have a huge wedding or should we elope?
Should we invite family and friends, or invite the world?
Will we go formal and wear black and white?
Or will we just have fun and ride horses all night?
Why on earth will we have our first fight?
When we both have points that are water tight
I know that Jesus Christ will be with us always,
And I know that we will each want to follow our ways,
Someone told me that we won’t last three days,
But all doubts are shattered when I look at your face

I love you more than I think is possible
And I know that I am held accountable
I hope I can live up to all of your dreams
I know that I just fell into a blissful routine