Different

Different from the rest,
Called out to do what is best.
For those that are lost,
You have a price on your heads of high cost.

Different from when we were born,
Even though we may endure scorn.
We need to show what we have found,
Because this simple thing does astound.

He was different from the rest,
And by His presence we are blessed.
He wants to make us new,
And He will see us through.

Let us show the difference to the world,
And the Christian flag, be our banner unfurled.
The Word of God the message proclaimed,
That we in His presence are not ashamed.
 

Shattered

Shattered, broken, and bruised,
Taken for granted and abused.
We cannot fall apart now,
With what we have been endowed.

He was shattered, broken, and bruised,
Christ was guilty in our eyes and accused.
He took our sin and our shame,
Instead of us, He took the blame.

He can take the pieces of our hearts,
He can put together those broken parts.
So gather the pieces and lay them down,
He knows how the pieces can rebound.

Brokenness is not for long,
Because Christ alone can make us strong.
The pieces can only glorify,
When in the hands of God they lie.
 

Standing Tall

Many have fought to keep us free,
They have seen things that we shall never see.
What would you do without this sacred thing?
It is something more than to which we cling.

They fight so that we may not fall,
When the enemies seek to enthrall.
The enemy seeks to take what we hold dear,
By destruction and fear.

We stand tall, because they stand in our stead,
We will not by the enemy be misled.
We will stand the day and the night,
And our enemies will not us, a fright.

Our God helps us to stand, when others fall,
Though Satan should attack, we will stand tall.
We want all to stand with us in the fight,
We will illuminate the darkest night.

Trading Temporal For Eternal

Temporal things pass and fade,
But I have chosen a far better trade.
Eternal things will be there when all is gone,
And all that is unknown will be known.

When I let go of all that is dust,
In my heart, my God will I trust.
My eternal state far greater,
Saved from the eternal devastator.

I will show you what He gave to me,
I will show you how He set me free.
I am covered by the blood of my Savior,
I have a new attitude and a new behavior.

Leave all the temporal things behind,
And in Christ, true joy and peace you will find.
When all has passed through the flame,
Will you only be left with your name?

Bring people to the One, Who can save,
So they will not be to sin a slave.
People are dying and lost,
Will you save them at any cost?

Healing

Healing is more than just physical,
It is not magical or mystical.
It is the unseen hand of God,
It causes a man to walk again on this sod.

Though deep be the pain and hurt,
He, the healer can wash away the dirt.
He healed the sick, crippled, and poor,
But in healing, they were given more.

Lord, heal the sick and the hurt,
And wash away the sinner's dirt.
Lord, use this pain for Your glory,
So through this, they can hear Your story.

Ever Present

Through the storms and tempestuous seas,
Even when I do as I please,
You continue to watch over me,
You want me as You called me to be.

You are present in the depths and heights,
You are present in the days and in the nights.
You have been there at the beginning of time,
You will be there when we hear the clocks last chime.

You were present with Your people in the desert,
You are still here even though times are different.
You were present in the time of battle,
Your sacrifice did more than the sacrifice of cattle.

You are present when I feel alone,
You hear me when I groan.
You fill that empty place in my soul,
Your life in me gives me the best control.

Wonderfully Made

I am created by the hand of God,
Out of the dirty soil and earthly sod.
Have you considered what has been done?
Knowing that He created everyone.

Wondrous are the works of God,
Hands lifted, all glory and laud.
Knowing me, before I was a thought,
That I was so intricately wrought.

Recreation, far greater than the first time,
To know that I have new life and Heaven sublime.
I am baptized in the Spirit and the Word,
I want to proclaim, to those who have not heard.

Reflection

You are far brighter than the sun,
Knowing that You are the only One.
You give the light to lead the way,
You guide me day by day.

You are the bringer of  this great light,
And You can bring the blind to sight.
Without Your light, we are in darkness,
And Your brightness is matchless.

We reflect the glory to the world abroad,
And we do so until Christ removes us from this sod.
We reflect what God has done through His Son,
And none can come close to what He has done.

The brighter, our lamps remain,
The more souls for Christ, we can regain.
For we are a city on hill,
Ours is the great commission to fulfill.

For Him

I run this race not for gold,
And for proclaiming my Savior, bold.
He gives me strength to run the race,
And all I want to do is seek His face.

Anything I have when the race is finished,
In Your presence is diminished.
Cast the crowns and all rewards,
Do not store things this world affords.

God, You deserve all the praise,
And I commit myself to You all my days.
You are my Guide and King,
You are my all, my everything.

Finish well, for the sake of the cross,
And before Him, my rewards I will toss.
Stand strong, stand tall,
For my God is over all.

Restore

My thoughts are continually on you,
That Christ would make you new.
You have not fallen to far to reach,
But for your soul, He does beseech.

I want you to return to my Shepherd's fold,
So that for eternity He can your soul hold.
The path that you continually follow,
Will leave you lonely and hollow.

My rejoicing will come when you return,
But I will weep if you decide to burn.
Jesus wants to live inside of you,
He wants to make all things new.

He offers His hand into the deep,
And He never does sleep.
Reach out to the One that can save you now,
All you have to do is bow.

Changed

Changed from the inside out,
I know my Savior without a doubt.
For if I am not changed within,
Then how will other souls I win.

Changed, and with God's speed
I transform all my ways and deeds,
Show the love for which Christ bled
Supply the needs you see in His stead.

Changed for all to see,
Showing them that we are truly free.
He saved us, this I know,
And He said for us to go.

Changed not by something mystical,
But to know grace and faith are critical,
Then saved and brand new,
What will we do?

Changed by God's own Son,
I am saved and it is done.
Justified, and my life rearranged
By His life, my life, He changed.

Finding Him

Finding myself in deep thought,
Never thinking, that my Savior sought,
That He would with His blood, my soul bought,
That He would catch me, and I, in His arms be caught.

Finding myself in deep despair,
Thinking that nobody would care,
When Christ said that every burden, He would share,
Even the midst of the times, when life is not fair.

Finding myself drowning deep in sin,
Knowing not the condition I was in,
For He showed that I could be changed within,
That I could be a fisher of men.

Finding myself in the deepest need,
That from sin's grip, my soul could be freed,
He within my heart planted a seed,
And He for my soul does plead.

Finding myself coming to the end,
Knowing that God would my soul to Heaven send,
In my passing, shall they know Jesus, my friend,
That on His cross, my sins were pinned.

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) We ask why does God allow suffering, but do we know the answer to the question? I think that Paul very well understood what it meant to go through suffering of many kinds, but he was glad to do so for the sake of the cross. We have something to look forward to at the end of this life, at the end of all the immediate suffering. 

The key here is "for my strength is made perfect in weakness." God's strength is perfect, and all of our strength is but weakness. It helps us to see what God is capable in whatever situation we are going through. God has a plan in every situation.

Why do we hurt, why so much pain?
For this is the time to see what we gain.
Without the hurt, without the pain,
Then what do we gain?

For some people they know not why,
Why they hurt, and why they cry?
For God is over all,
And He is here when we call.

Take your pain to Christ, Who took your hurt,
He washed with His blood, the sinful dirt.
When you cannot bear the pain,
And you are feeling like you are drowning in the rain.

Take your burden to the Lord,
That He can pay for what we cannot afford.
He calls us to come like little sheep,
So that in eternity, He, can my soul keep.