God Grant You Rest

 God Grant You Rest

I’m sure this isn’t what you expected.

Heaven knows neither did we

And we struggle to settle the difference between

What is and what we thought it should be

The crushing weight on these hopes and dreams

Can sometimes be hard to take.

And in those very moments 

Jesus reminds us he died for our sake,

So as the sun sets on this long day

As you close your eyes and lay down your head, 

I pray God will grant you rest

It was far too early, seemed like it was not your time

But it isn’t up to you, and neither was this choice mine

Now you’re gone and there’s more we wish we’d said

There’s always more we could have said.

Certainly we didn’t always see eye to eye

Sometimes I’m sure we couldn’t even say why

You’ve had your struggles and I’ve had mine

I guess it’s one of life’s mysteries,

How stupid things can put so much distance

So much empty ground, between you and me

So this is my lament for the ones we’ve lost

We naturally would have wished for you to stay

I guess it just doesn’t really work that way

Sometimes we do all we can to hold on

And what we can’t control slips through our hands

But I know the one who knows best,

And so I pray God grants you rest.

I can do hard things, but that doesn’t mean I want to

we groan with the struggles of life’s affliction

Our actions can betray us and leave us without choice

And we are held still by the thread of our convictions

So keep looking to love to be your voice

When the pains of injustice bring tears to our eyes

It’s only Jesus, that can finally wipe them dry

So as you tread into uncharted lands

We pray you’re holding securely to Jesus hand

as you travel ahead to what lies beyond

I pray you join in heaven’s song

May God grant you rest

So this is my lament for the ones we’ve lost

We naturally would have wished for you to stay

I guess it just doesn’t really work that way

Sometimes we do all we can to hold on

And what we can’t control slips through our hands

But I know the one who knows best,

And so I pray God grants you rest.

Remind me

 Because sometimes we forget...

Remind Me

There’s things I can’t see clearly

I wander around like I’m blind

Forgetting what should be remembered

Like a man who’s lost his mind 

This broken world spins like a busted tilt a whirl

And we hold on for dear life

Hoping through this long day

We’ll somehow survive the night

If I’ve forgotten who I am, remind me

If I’ve grown beyond the childlike things

I should never leave behind, remind me

Take me by this outstretched hand 

and guide me back to you, remind me

Funny how I am prone to forget

Quickly I look ahead and focus on “not yet” 

But now as I look to the past, 

there’s questions I’ve answered 

that should have never been asked

Sometimes my decisions put me in places

I never should have been

There are times I land in places 

I never would have chosen

And my map plots nothing

But confusing lines

If I’ve lost the path and lost my way, remind me

lead me back, put my feet on solid ground and remind me

Take me by this outstretched hand

And guide me back to you, remind me

I compare myself to others’ view 

More times than I can count

Forgetting that keeping up with the jones’

Is not what it’s about

At times the mirror’s a dull reflection 

hiding the real truth, 

that what I see is detailed in ways 

that hide outside my view

I can’t seem to see clearly with these eyes alone

When I can’t see the image you placed in me, remind me

When I see myself instead of the savior in my place, remind me

Take me by this outstretched hand

And guide me back to you, remind me

When I can’t see heaven because this world gets in the way, remind me

Lift the scales of myself from these heavy eyes and remind me

Take me by this outstretched hand

And guide me back to you, remind me.

Of Wise Men and Shepherds

 In listening to Christmas songs, I realized after the story of the birth of Christ, not much more is said about the Wise Men or the Shepherds.  So that got me thinking and I came up with this...

Of Wise Men and Shepherds

Wise Men:

We were labeled wise, we were called kings 

We left our land headed toward the east

You know we travelled here from afar

Following on faith that lone bright star

Bearing gifts of majesty

Bearing gifts fit for a king

Shepherds:

Hark those heralds, those angels sang

And we went to see that newborn king

A lowly shepherd, why to me

Did angels speak of this mystery

The savior born in Bethlehem

God had come to dwell with man.

All: Oh what an amazing thing.

Shepherds: When the angels sang I came to see

Wise Men: Once I laid my gifts before thee

Shepherds: I left my sheep, my lot in life 

Wise Men: I traveled long, both day and night

All: to see a savior born that night

To see a glimpse of love’s pure light

Shepherds:

I went and told them, I told all that I had seen

On that night so long ago, 

But I remember the angels, I was there you know

I’m just a shepherd out on these plains

Feeding the sheep, in some ways we’re the same

Feeding the sheep it’s just what I do

I’m not a carpenter, but a man just like you

Wise Men:

Heading your words I headed back another way

And it’s a been a while since that day

I have nothing that you need, I have no gifts left to bring

They call me wise, but I couldn’t see

All my vision is so earthly

You’re like no other king we would have been expecting

All:  Oh it’s the strangest thing

Shepherds:  I know what I saw but I don’t understand

Wise Men:  weren’t you the king to lead this nation?

Shepherds:  we were witness to events beyond our station

Wise Men:  this man is like no other king I’ve seen

All:  still we wait, knowing there’s more

What of this savior (what of this king)

You can almost feel there’s something heaven’s waiting for...

Wise Men:

Again I’m a visitor in a foreign land

I’ve come once again to see this man

I alone of what once were three 

Travel again to see this king

But now he’s gone...

Shepherds:

I saw the Cross - I heard about the empty tomb

And now he’s appeared time and again

Still after all this time he’s hoping to find room

Not in an inn or amongst walls of stone

But among the hearts of men

All:  oh its the most marvelous thing

Wise man:  tell me what you know

Shepherds:  now at last we understand

Wise men: I gave my gift but you gave more

Shepherds: by faith, open heaven’s door

All:  it’s a wonderful story to behold

The boy, the man, the great I Am

The king once born in Bethlehem

Job

So I was thinking about the story of Job the other day after some discussion with the kids of the song “Broken Praise” from the Music Inspired by the Story.  That’s a good song, if you haven’t heard it...and curiously enough someone at work used the phrase “the patience of Job” - those two things got me thinking - and this is the result of those thoughts...

Job

I guess you could say it’s been a trying day
Who could have guessed by evening I’d be

Just a broken man sitting amongst broken pottery

Robbed of my children, robbed of my wealth

So much has been taken from this husk from this shell.

I never meant to be a picture of patience

And I never signed up for this suffering

I spend these passing moments

Wondering what the next will bring

What does a man do when he’s lost everything

I feel like a man that’s been pushed to the brink

Arms length from death, I’ve lost everything

Couldn’t imagine this morning that by nightfall

This was all I’d have left

Shall I accept good, but not trouble in life

I never thought I’d stand guilty before even my friends

My dignity shredded by the things they contend

What kind of friend would comfort like this

Who invited friends such as these

Who know not my heart and only add to my misery

I’ve never been quite this low before

Knowing in my heart I’m not ashamed

I can’t help but think I’ve reached a desperate place

Because I’m asking God if I couldn’t have

Just been erased.  Never breathed, never spoken,

Had only these eyes just never awoken.

I’m just a man that’s been pushed to the brink

But while I know that God doesn’t owe me anything

I only request an audience, just a chance to make my plea

Hoping and praying that God hasn’t forgotten me.  

then he speaks from the storm and I am undone

How could I have hoped to contend with this one

Who holds the stars in their place and binds the sea

Surely I’ve spoken of things well beyond me

He speaks from the storm and all else is still

the storehouses of earth lay silent

created and held by his will

Surely I’ve spoken of things I can’t understand

Not a word not a whisper escapes from his hand

I’m just a man that was pushed to the brink

God set me straight on a number of things

He’s spoken and answered and I couldn’t form words

I’m here overwhelmed by the things I’ve heard

My requests my arguments - they now seem so shallow

Where I once thought I was right, his name is hallowed

He’s answered and I can speak no more

Despite my faults, I’ve been restored

All to the glory of my God, my Lord

A Covid Christmas

Ok - bit of a disclaimer on this one...it’s supposed to be humorous and a bit of a play on some of the more restrictive guidance out there.  Everyone’s situation is different, so be safe out there...

A Covid Christmas

My yard decorations must be six feet apart

Gotta set a good example even with art

You know someone’s looking and will judge your virtue

By how much you put into these signals that won’t necessarily protect you

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll  spend it alone.  I surely can’t let anyone in my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading loneliness for what should be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

Carolers keep your distance and don’t you dare sing.  I ain’t the only Scrooge saying these things.  I’m going to have to shoo y’all away.  Can’t have y’all singing out here because you could spread more than your cheer...

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll spend it alone.  I surely can’t let anyone near my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading seasons greetings for what may be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

I’ve got sniffles and scratchy things down in my throat...no it ain’t a virus it’s this turkey i’ve smoked.  It’s chewy and crunchy and dry as a bone.  No experience required, I made it alone.  now i ain’t a chef - thank goodness you say or the meat wouldn’t be the only thing fired today...

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll  spend it alone.  I surely can’t let no one in my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading quality cuisine for what could be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

That sound that I hear better not be deer on the roof, those elves and their toys, I bet they ain’t virus proof.   Santa your bushy beard it don’t fit in that mask.  Sorry buddy You know I hate to ask

Could you not come down my chimney today...the tree it ain’t barely six feet away.  

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll  spend it alone.  I surely can’t let no one in my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading the festive for what may be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

Words on a Page

Hey man - I’m trying to listen to what you’re saying, I’m trying to understand the point you’re trying to make...but you aren’t making sense and my day is wasting away.... it seems like we just can’t get this right.  This conversation’s going nowhere, where did this go wrong

it’s important that we listen

It’s important that we take the time

It’s important that we show where there’s some common ground to find.

What separates can break our hearts but love’s a better way.  We’ve got to find a way to show Jesus’ love lives in us instead of just words on a page.

It’s amazing the amount of crap we can spew

In so few words and actions.  We come up so short in all of life’s big moments when we focus on little hills rather than the bigger mountains...Sometimes words just aren’t enough - we need a double helping of grace...

Because it’s important that we listen

It’s important that we take the time

It’s important that we show there’s some common ground to find.

What separates can break our hearts but love’s a better way.  We’ve got to find a way to show Jesus’ love lives in us instead of just words on a page.

There’s so much information creating overload

So many talking heads parading in front of a camera lens.  It’s hard to tell sometimes where our differences begin and end.  People working hard to argue, our internet warriors with so little handle on tact and truth - typing insults on the fly.  Don’t let gentleness lose its voice in the clutter - as we fight to win and never hear each other...

(Interlude)

So when I stumble over what I’m trying to say

And nothing comes out the way I’d want it to sound.  Forgive me friend for my stubborn tongue...

it’s important that we listen

It’s important that we take the time

It’s important that we show there’s some common ground to find.

What separates can break our hearts but love’s a better way.  We’ve got to find a way to show Jesus’ love lives in us instead of just words on a page.

Behold our King

The angel’s words
The shepherds heard
Were more than just a fable 
For the shepherd’s hope
The shepherd’s joy
Lay before them in a stable

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth 

The angel’s words

The virgin birth

Breaks the path of sin 

Begun in Adam

Hope made new 

Salvation from above

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth

The star leads way

From the east they say

For travelers from afar

Bearing gifts of gold

Frankincense and myrrh 

For a new king was born

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth

The word made flesh

From birth to death

Never faltered never wavered

A humble king

The love of God

From manger to our savior

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth

So with the angels sing - behold our king

The heavens make way - behold our king

Dear Santa

Dear Santa, normally I’d ask for toys and stuff
but things are different this year
I’m not asking for anything.  

What I hope you get and what we can’t forget 

Is there are more important things

Like faith and hope and family, important things you don’t find under a lighted tree.

Dear Santa, those cookies won’t be there this year.  They’re the last thing you need and I confess We live in a world that’s paralyzed with fear.  We’ve left our hope in earthly things and things that never last.  We’re petrified that we’re not in control and that we cannot mask.

Dear Santa, I know this is outside your purview

You aren’t God and you aren’t Jesus

So pardon a moment if It seems I bypass you

I mean, I know elves are fun and flying reindeer are super cool - but they aren’t really real.

My world inside and out turned upside down by more serious things.  I know you can’t help set things right anew - so I know who to turn to.

Dear Jesus, I know you aren’t Santa Claus

Not a myth, not a fable - not some phantom in the north.  A hurting world needs your love That I pray they won’t ignore.  So  bring love, bring your heavenly peace.  To hearts that desperately need hope this year and a dose of your good cheer.  Dear Jesus.

Fix My Eyes

 If I put my trust in broken things

Those broken things will disappoint me

You’d think I’d learn, but time and again 

I fall into traps I might as well have set myself

When I wander off without you

So fix my eyes on things that matter

Things that cut to the heart 

Of the way things need to be

So plant my hope

Beyond the things that urgently beckon

And tomorrow are forgotten

Sometimes we stand so close it’s hard to see

These lines and shapes seem like a hopeless mystery.

But stepping back reframes our view

Puts it all in perspective so we see the masterpiece anew

So fix my eyes on greater things.  Let me not be dissuaded when things don’t go my way

Set my heart, beyond myself to greater things

Things that last beyond my years, things that matter.

When my time reaches full

When I’ve lived out my days

May I be remembered for the way I’ve run this race.  

May I be an example through and through

Of a life marked by grace, of love, and covered in truth

So fix my eyes on things above.  

Don’t let me be distracted by things that have no value.  Set my heart, to treasure what should be treasured and let go of lesser things.  

Fix my eyes on greater things...

Oh fix my eyes on greater things.

Get On With It

 Get on with it

I’m just waiting for the weekend, I’m just waiting for a break.  I’m waiting to take that next step, or to get on with that thing.  I’ve been waiting for the right time, because it’s the wrong time or a bad time, Seems like I been waiting for a long time..... 

Sometimes you’ve gotta get on with it

Put one foot in front of the other and carry on

Life’s for the living - let’s not let it pass by.

So let’s get on with it.  

Decisions are hard and they have consequences - what I do today could be a homerun or fall short of those fences.  I could catch a break or could land on my face.  But I’ll never know either way if I’m always saving it for another day.

Sometimes you’ve gotta get on with it

Put one foot in front of the other and carry on

Life’s for the living - not for waiting to die 

So let’s get on with it.  

Let’s not miss the present waiting for that thing that never comes...let’s not miss the satisfaction of seeing that dream get done...

Come on now let’s get on with it.  Put one foot in front of the other and carry on.  Let’s put life back in gear and start moving again.  Life is for the living let’s not let it pass by.  Maybe it’s time to get on with it

Far Side of the Valley

"Far side of the Valley"

Staring across the distance – we can barely see the other side from here

As we set out across uncharted lands, across challenges we don’t control

We’ve got our roadmap and we’ve got our plans, our sense of adventure and a noble goal

They say the grass is greener – but we can see more than that,

While our eyes behold more a vision than a picture, we know what we see is good

And so we set off for that which lies beyond the fog and clouds, on the far side of the valley.

It’s easy to say we anticipated some steep climbs.  It’s fair to say we expected some rough going.

Like all of life’s adventures, it’s taken a while for the uncertain to become clear

What once seemed flat has dropped so fast we’ve lost sight of the top.

We’re frightened and we’re timid – afraid to take many more steps.

From here it seems so far to the peak – It’s hard to press on when we’ve lost our view.

But we’ll get there okay if we focus on the promise of what we saw, on the far side of the valley

So breathe it in, God’s grace in this breath.

Breathe it in – full mercy in this air.

Breathe it in – there’ll be joy in overcoming a mount that seemed so steep

When we reach the far side of the valley, we’ll be on our way back up

Knowing perhaps the worst is behind us, at least with any luck.

On the far side of the valley having climbed one of life’s great hills

There’s more on the horizon – we’ll tackle those tomorrow, but for now we’ll just be still

And when it seems there’s miles to go and the ground climbs too fast

Continue on – we will never walk alone

And when it feels like such soft sand, every step is hard to take,

Continue on – there’s always a way home. 

On the far side of this valley – we’ll forget the smaller trials

While we may have spent some time crawling, we’ll know it’s been worthwhile.

There’s things we’ve learned on this narrow path, winding through these hills.

That have left us awed and wondering – left us to be still.

And breathe it in, God’s grace in this breath.

Breathe it in – full mercy in this air.

Breathe it in – the joy of overcoming a mount that seemed so steep

On the far side of this valley – let’s not forget the miles he’s walked.

How heaven sent its mighty king to ransom what was lost.

Our cuts and scrapes may leave us feeling beaten and bruised

But light takes hold as we see the dawn break on an empty cross and tomb

On the far side of this valley, it all becomes so clear – how the God of Heaven

Bridged a gap that allows us to draw near

So breathe it in, God’s grace in this breath.

Breathe it in – full mercy in this air.

Breathe it in – the joy of overcoming a mount that seemed so steep

On the far side of this valley – he’s prepared a place for you.  Take a moment to take it all in

And breathe…

"Closed"

Time for a silly song...

“Closed”

She said, “I’ve got to do something, would you look these nails and this hair.”

“I need some polish and a trim, can you take me over there?”

Caught in a place it’s hard to navigate, what would any good man say?

So I leaned in close, did my best to reassure, that she was a thing of beauty, every word the truth

But when that didn’t quite put the issue to rest

I swallowed hard, bucking up to be the bearer of bad news

Baby, they’re closed, they ain’t letting no-one in,

The doors are locked and no lights on inside. 

They’re closed, but still you look great,

Sure your hair is long, and maybe there’s a split end or two,

There’s no sense in going, you can’t get in,

Red or blue, those nails will have to do.  They’re closed.

She said, “I haven’t cooked, Can we eat out tonight?”

I blinked twice hard, looking close, confused for a sec,

Thinking maybe I had misheard something there

We looked at each other, I stared deep in her eyes,

The silence was thick, it had to break, so finally I said…

Baby, they’re closed, they ain’t letting no-one in,

The doors are locked and no dining inside. 

They’re closed, it’s a wasted trip,

we can drive on through,

This is true, but your food will get cold.

Those cold French fries, will put a tear in your eyes –

it ain’t worth the four bucks this time.  They’re closed.

So here I am, at the store, the essentials have run dry.

I’m on a mission, I need supplies and I’m trying to do this thing,

Needing just about everything but the kitchen sink.

Dish soap, hand soap, paper towels, milk…

Come on now people work with me –

But they’re closed, they ain’t letting me in,

The doors are locked tight and there’s nobody inside,

The lights are off, there’s no-one home, what can I do?  They’re closed.

I’ve tried again, now I’ve walked up, there’s someone there, smiling hello

I nod and wave, my lucky day – open at last

I get inside, I’m home free now – walking ‘round, here we are, I’m to the aisle I need,

But wouldn’t you know, here I am, and still no TP.

Case closed…