I don’t need anybody else
I don’t like everybody’s rules
I just want to do what pleases me
The things that fill the void
I’m the one in control
The one in charge
So don’t tell me what I can’t do
I don’t need your guidance
And I don’t need you

Some things have happened
And there’s things I’ve done
They hurt me so but I don’t care
I’m carving my own path
Doing it my own way
Just trying to forget the things
That got me here
So don’t tell me what I can’t do
Cuz this works for me
And I’m gonna see it through

You think you know better
But you don’t know me
You think you know the answers
But you can’t hear what I’m asking
The way that I feel seems right to me
How can you tell me it’s wrong?
The world is broken, everyone can see
So I have to make it right for me
I don’t need your help to fix it
I just need you to leave me be

And I’ve done it my way for just so long
I don’t dare turn it all around
My path may not be very straight
But at least it’s my own
For I’ve laid every stone
And planted every shrub
Though I’ve never brought the rain
I don’t need you to hold my hand
But you’re welcome to walk with me on the way

I don’t need to listen to you
But that doesn’t mean I can’t hear
I’m tired of walking these miles alone
Even though I’m surrounded by friends
My shoes track the mud
From all over I’ve been
Each step I take reminds me of what’s behind
How can I start anew?
How can I start again?

I don’t need to follow you
But that doesn’t mean I can’t see
There are things I need to change
But they’re all I ever knew
And I’m accepted, at least that’s what they say
But not loved, that’s clear every day
Life is hollow, so unsure
How can you claim to have the cure?

And if I take a chance with you
Can I know I’m not a fool?
Everyone says that you’re a lie
How can they not be right?
And so I stand here, daring to leap
Hoping not to be dashed to the ground
In a broken, helpless heap
Reach out to me, make your intentions clear
Speak to me, show me that you’re near

You come down to me and lift me up
And make promises only you can keep
You show me everything I’ve ever done
And then throw them in the deep
My past is history, my future bright
You don’t see the mud, I’ve been washed white
But I look up and see the road that lies ahead
It’s straight and narrow
No room for what I like to do
And then, I recall, life was good before —
When I went my own way
And followed my own cues

So I’ll go on ahead of you
For I think I know the way
Maybe we’ll talk from time to time
But when I need you most, be sure you’re there
Otherwise just watch and see
Because I think that I’ll be fine
I’ll run back if I have to
But don’t slow me down
And if you need anything from me
I’ll try to find the time

I’ve done this all before, you know
Though you’ve given me fresh new legs
I can run this race on my own
Nothing is different
Though everything’s changed
Thanks for the lift, but I’ll take it from here
I’ll see you at the finish line
Hope you’re waiting there to cheer…

O, you of little faith
Why don’t you understand?
With God, there’s nothing you can never do
O, my poor little child
Why can’t you clearly see?
With faith, you can make the mountains move

But day after day
As you walk along the way
You trip on the things that you used to do
And step by step
Though you hear what I say
You depart from the words I’ve taught you to be true

If you trust in me I will give to you
All the desires of your heart
If you follow me and do my will
We will never be apart
Do you love me?
Do you trust me?

Do you believe in me?

There’s so much to be done
Yet so little you must do
Just hear my words and it will be so clear
There’s so much for you to see
There’s so much for you to know
And there’s so much that you have left to hear

Time after time
You pretend like I’m not here
You push me away like someone you never knew
But step by step
If you follow me
You’ll find out that the words I speak are true

If you trust in me I will give to you
All the desires of your heart
If you follow me and do my will
We will never be apart
Do you love me?
Do you trust me?

Do you believe in me?

2 Timothy 4:3-4, Matthew 23:26-28, Matthew 15:14

In the morning when the sun does rise
The shadows awaken with a tempered flare
Following and leading the prideful heart
To the darkened pit of despair

As the darkness hides the sins of the day
And befriends the secrets of the night
There are those who stand terrified
That what they’ve done will be brought to light

To feel better about who they are
Some gather others like them near
They talk and sing and listen
To what their itching ears want to hear

There are some whose lives stay hidden
Though the pain is seen so clear
It’s the light which draws them closer
But the darkness that holds them in fear

White-washed tombs that are filled with bones
Bright colors that clothe the dead
Wanting to share what they feel inside
But painting it pretty instead

Looking for direction in a blind man’s eyes
For truth in a liar’s lair
For hope in the heart of the helpless
And those who no longer care

But the time will come when those in the shadows
Will step into the light of the sun
To learn the truth that will set them free
And the will that will carry them on…

Not long ago
My heart was in despair
For I’d hurt those around me
By thought, word, and deed

Chaos gripped me with fear
I couldn’t see the boundary lines
And in a panic, I rushed
To make them clear

It must be this or it must be that
No mediocrity accepted
In or out — on or off
If the wall is firm then I’ll be safe

To the untrained eye
Things often seemed
Very black and white
And if it appeared to live in the haze
I’d push it to either the darkness or light
For clarity gave me peace of mind
While my soul had to live with the blight

My God has been there
Holding the reins
Leading me down the Way
But when they seem too loose
I must be there to take up the slack

Freedom scared me
So I’d confine myself
Because I knew the damage I could do
If allowed to roam

‘O my God,’ I cried, ‘forgive me’
I failed to recognize my doubt
I thought I’d been guiding others
While all the while guiding myself…

Thank you, Lord,
For making it clear
Your Love is my greatest strength
And when I appeared to be in a haze
You drew me back into the light
Your clarity is my peace of mind
While my spirit must rejoice in delight

Father, don’t you hear my prayers?
I praise and glorify your name
But you don’t seem to care my cares

Father, don’t you see my deeds?
I humble myself for you
But you don’t seem to need my needs

I told you I would die for you
Aren’t my words enough?
Why must you take good things from me?
Why must this life be so rough?

Why do you continue to test me â??
Isn’t my devotion clear?
What must I do; what must I say
So I know that you can hear?

Father, won’t you feel my love?
I give you all I am
I’ve set my heart on things above

Father, calm my troubled heart
Bring me close to you
From you I can’t stand to be apart

I need you to know you’re all I need;
Test me — that it may be shown
I’m not afraid, because I have your love
And the promise that you’ve made known

If you must know you’re all I need
Then test me — I understand
For I know you’re there when I call your name
Because you hold me in your hand…

Time after time we slip away
We do our best yet fail the test
Every single day
We fight so hard to do it right
We get back up but fall back down
Why do we even try?

Year after year we crumble away
Like a stone that shatters the bone
Or cancer that feeds
We give up hope of victory
We scorn those who’ve led us to fail
And it multiplies our pain.

Turn away from it all
And say you’re sorry
Recognize the error of your ways
Turn away from the past
And promise not to return
Trust and obey; do not run away
And He’ll be with you all your days

Day after day we fall away
Until a Legion we have become
Overcome with shame
We’d cleaned out our hearts
But didn’t fill them with gold
Now shadows reside

We need to find two words to say
To melt a heart that’s turned to stone
And restore our soul
To lift our shame and bring us hope
To lift our spirit and give us joy
And come home…

Turn away from it all
And say you’re sorry
Recognize the error of your ways
Turn away from the past
And promise not to return
Trust and obey; do not run away
And He’ll be with you all your days

Turn away from the world
And say “I’m sorry!”
Turn away from the way you used to go
He waits for us with open arms
Hoping for our return
Turn and obey; come home and stay
“I forgive you!” He longs to say

Numbers 11:18-20

Out of slavery; into the desert
Out of bondage; into Life
We need only walk the path He leads
But sometimes it seems too much

Where are we going, Lord?
Where are you leading us to?
How much longer until we’re there?
When will we be through?

This road is rocky, this way is hard
There must be an easier way
Maybe it’s not too late to return
To that place from where we came

You promised us a special place
That we could call our own
And be with you forever and ever
Please bring your people home

We’re happy that you’ve rescued us
We’re thankful for Your love
But why out here in this desolate land
Haven’t we suffered enough?

But I guess we’ll keep on moving
In You we must place our trust
Forgive us our fear and grumbling and doubt
We forget that your love is enough