You are Beautiful, my child
And I know that you are scared
Things are not as you’d hoped they would be
But I want you to know
Although you feel alone
I am with you and am working to set you free

This is not the life I want for you
Or a pain I want you to endure
But this world is not what I intend
Though it all has gone astray
The plans for you I’ve made
Will bring your sorrow to an end

Take my hand and follow me
And I will show you something new
I will show you something true
Let me put my arms around you
That you may know that you are loved
That you may know your Daddy above

There is hope for you, my child
So have courage in what’s to come
Even as you tread carefully in the dark
For a brand new life awaits you
Much more than can be dreamed
Where you can dare to make your mark

You are precious to me, my child
And I’ve never left your side
Though you think I’ve left you far behind
Am I powerless to save you?
Do you think I cannot hear?
Is it possible that I could be so blind?

Once you asked I leave you be
You thought that would make you free
But now you live more like a slave
But here I am to rescue you
Here I am to set you loose
So turn to me and in my arms be saved

Take my hand and walk with me
And creation will come alive
And you will learn to thrive
Let me put my arms around you
That you may know your Daddy above
For you are Beautiful, my love

Psalm 16:5-6

Life sure can be overwhelming
To the point I feel so sick inside
The world appears
To feed on my fears
And it seems I have no place to hide

Lord, I don’t know where I’m going
Though I certainly know where I’ve been
Can you guide me along
This path that seems wrong?
Let me fall back in your arms once again

The days just seem harder and harder
As if nothing I do makes a change
My steps seem to falter
As I fall at the altar
Of the world I’ve tried to arrange

Some say that their cup is half empty
But mine seems to be way too full
I struggle to carry
This cross that’s so heavy
If I set it down, will you help me pull?

You give me so much responsibility
I feel I’m spread way too thin
It seems like enough
Is just way too much
And I know not where to begin

You can fill me with strength and with courage
To confront the challenges that come
O give me the might
To be strong through the fight
And the peace to stand tall when it’s done

My cup was once just half empty
And my portion a tad bit too small
I struggled to see
What was in front of me
As you prepared me through it all

Now I wish this chalice was half empty
Instead of spilling all over my feet
But now I would think
Should I continue to drink…

I’ll need to get a bigger cup

I want to be in the middle of the battle
So that I can see your victory
I want to be lost in the middle of the ocean
Where your power washes over me

I want to stand in the middle of the fire
So that my heart can be purified
Keep me in the middle of humiliation
That I would not know pride

I know it wasn’t me you considered
As you hung there on that cross
In death you won sweet victory,
Bringing home so many who were lost

But I’ve been left behind to suffer
And to pay for all I’ve done
I’ve sinned too greatly against you,
Not worthy to be called your son

What I’ve done is unforgivable, even for you, O God
My sin is greater than your love could ever be
We shall always be at odds

I know I’m unforgivable and I must pay the price
Cast me aside and forget me, Lord
Just ignore my silent cries

I can’t accept this gift you bring
For it’s me who should give something to you
And I’m not ready, I’ve too much shame
I’m a fake and you are the Truth

Who I am is unforgivable and I cannot stand the light
Because I’m afraid the world will see me
And know that I am right

When I say that I’m unforgivable, don’t waste your time with me
I am deserving of only death
It should have been me upon that tree

Yet you continue to pursue me
Could it be I’ve misunderstood?
After all I’ve done you’d still let me in?
I just don’t understand why you would

There must be someone else more deserving
One with honor, morals and love
Someone other than this wretch before you
One that’s worthy of help from above

Or is it that no one’s unforgivable, no sin that’s greater than your love?
Is it true you knew me since before I was born
That I was the one you were thinking of?

I at least can say I’m sorry and then run right home to you
If you promise to forgive me
Then my heart will be renewed

I guess no one’s unforgivable, not even the likes of me
It’s never too late to set things straight
Or set the guilty free

“There’s no one more deserving, child
Of the love I’ve always had for you
I want you to stay with me forever
It’s good to have you home…”

Daddy, please forgive me
I’ve gone so far away
It seems like only yesterday
You brought me home to stay

In your arms is the only place I’d really rather be
But every day I journey out without bringing you with me

Every day I find myself scared and all alone
Missing all your blessings — my heart longing for home

For every day I walk away from the comfort of your love
Confident I can live life my own way
Every day I walk away
For Eden doesn’t always seem enough
To keep my wandering spirit at bay

Daddy, please don’t leave me, though I leave you time and again
Make me change the way I’m thinking and transform the way I am

Though my Spirit may be wild, it’s the one you gave to me
I would trade it for no other, for your Spirit sets me free

But I don’t want to go without you — every day I want you near
Come live my life with me so when you speak I know I’ll hear

Every day I walked away
Thinking I was living life alone
Hoping to prove to someone
I could do it on my own
But I’m a fool for even trying
And seeing my efforts spent in vain
Instead I want to follow One
Who’s been through all these things

Now every day I’ll turn to you — both morning and at night
And seek your loving wisdom and learn to do what’s right

Blessed are the blameless who seek an upright heart
Every day you declare me yours — every day a brand new start

Daddy, you’re my one and only
Forever you’ll be the same
You are my rock and fortress
And I will never be put to shame

Matthew 21:21

I look down upon the valley
I look out across the sea
It rises up and touches the sky
This powerful, immovable peak

But it stands proudly between where I am
And where I need to be
He’s calling me to the other side
To a place I cannot see

This mountain stands like a monument
To all that keeps me here
It blocks my every move
Impedes my furtive steps
And binds me year after year

I stand here in this valley
I can smell the salt of the sea
I can see how far I have traveled
I’m reminded of where I used to be

But it mocks my every effort
In my path, it stands so mightily
It shows contempt at my most sincere desires
This powerful, immovable Me

This mountain stands against me
And casts its shadow on my dreams
If only I could find the strength
If only I could pick it up
And throw it into the sea!

This mountain seems impossible
To move on just faith alone
But as a seed, faith grows inside of me
Like a great and mighty tree
Whose roots can move the heaviest stone

And He can move this mountain
If I would just climb down
Lay down my shining crown
Let my knees drop to the ground
And let His glory abound

I fill my life with so much
I wonder when I’ll be satisfied
I fill my time with so much more
I wonder why I feel so empty

I try so hard to make a difference
If for no soul but my own
In search of my reason for being
In search of my reason for hope

Then I see you standing there
Reaching out to me
Amidst the storm and the waves
Calling out my name
What am I looking for that
I don’t already have?
What more is there to be
Than that which you made of me?

When I seek my own I am lost
But in you I feel safe and strong
When I chase after the wind
It carries me far from you

My mind ensnares me
My body betrays me
While my heart breaks from within
I am powerless and broken
I am hopeless and afraid
I am lost without you

Then I see you standing there
Crying out to me
Quieting the storm and the waves
Whispering my name
I’m not looking anymore
Because I already have it all
There is nothing more to me
Than everything you made me to be

You walk right by my side
And I feel ten-feet tall
You give me power and authority
To overcome it all

There’s nothing I can’t do
When I’m doing it all for you
And when I’m standing in your love
Nothing can make me fall

With all of my soul I worship You
With all of my joy I sing
With everything I have in me
I sing praises to thee

With all of my heart I lift my voice
With all I have I cry
“You are my God, my Lord and King!”
And it’s to You I sing…

Before the world began, You remembered me
When I was at my worst, You set me free
Your smallest drop of mercy is greater than an ocean of my sin
Because of Your abounding love, it’s You my hope is in

With all of my soul I worship You
With all of my joy I sing
With everything I have in me
I sing praises to thee

With all of my heart I lift my voice
With all I have I cry
“You are my God, my Lord and King!”
And it’s to You I sing…

From age to every age You remain the same
Your love pours down on me and You lift my shame
Crippled by the chains that tied me down
In Your love I stand upright on solid ground

How many more times must I strike a nail’s head?
Have I no greater purpose than to pound it ’til it’s still?
I see no need to do a hard stone’s deed, why must I yield to another’s will?

I could have been cast as a centurion’s spear
Or a sword that would make its owner’s intentions clear
Given a chance at the end of a lance to be a hero the people could cheer

But instead I’m just a hammer that some nameless carpenter swings
Held in the hand of a simple little man to make simple little things

Indeed I’m just a tool to help another extend his force
My power lies in one’s greater strength, unable to chart my own course

And worse, even now, I don’t build but destroy!
To bring criminals to their end as they hang from a tree
I try to resist the well-swung fist that condemns the man who would set the world free

I wish I was more than a hammer with the power to make a change
To stand up and make a difference in a world filled with fear and rage

But as I look back on all that was said and done
I can see how God used me in a special way
Though not the blade of a warrior’s trade, but a weapon of His to keep Death at bay

My shame was turned to honor for I see His ways are good
I have become more than just a hammer because I let Him use me as He would