Valerie's Lyrics

Valerie’s Lyrics

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Titles on this page are in alphabetical order.
Except where I've quoted (and noted) other sources, all lyrics on this page are ©2007.

According to My Lord's Good Pleasure
1991
This song makes me laugh because I'm so far away from the attitude it expresses.

Verse 1
According to my Lord's good pleasure
According to His perfect will
I bend my knee to serve my sister
To wash my brother's feet I kneel
Oh, let me be steadfast in service
Let me be faithful to Your word
According to my Lord's good pleasure
According to His perfect will

Verse 2
May ev'ry hour, may ev'ry moment
Be giv'n to Christ on ev'ry day
Each penny spent in true obedience
Each step within His chosen way
Oh, let me keep all Your commandments
Let my whole heart be set on you
According to my Lord's good pleasure
According to His perfect will

Verse 3
Let me accept both trials and comforts
As gracious gifts from my Lord's hand
And not despise the things that wound me
Or hate what I can't understand
Oh, let me suffer this world's burdens
Let me endure the hurts life brings
According to my Lord's good pleasure
According to His perfect will

Verse 4
If I may share in Jesus' dying
Then might I share the life He brings
The one true life, His resurrection
The only truth, the song He sings
Oh, let me dance to that sweet music
Let me rejoice eternally
According to my Lord's good pleasure
According to His perfect will

Confession Song (MP3)
1985, with various tweakages since

Chorus
Because of Your love, Lord, show mercy to me
Wash from me the things that you don't want to see
And show me the life that You want me to lead
Only through Your forgiveness can I be set free

Verse 1
I know what my faults are, I see I've been wrong
I see I've been sinful all my life long
Awaiting Your judgment I stand in this plight:
For You to condemn me would be just and right, but...(Chorus)

Verse 2
Wisdom and truth are what You require
But I've been a deceiver and I've been a liar
Yet though I'm crushed I will be glad again
For by Your forgiveness I'm freed from my sin...(Chorus)

Verse 3
Give me a pure heart and spirit today
Don't leave me alone, and don't turn me away
Restore unto me the joy of salvation
And then let me share it with all of earth's nations...(Chorus)

Cup of Tears
January 14, 1994

Verse 1
I look at my life—I see in me a longing
I thirst for water as does the deer
I long to drink deeply of the presence of the living God
But all I taste is a cup of tears
Oh, why are you cast down, my soul?
Why do you groan within me?
I will drink the cup and trust in God
And again I'll sing His praises

Verse 2
I look at Jesus—I see Him in the garden
I see His longing, I see His fears
I see Him praying, I hear Him cry out to the living God
"Please, Father, take away this cup of tears
Yet not My will, but Yours be done
Now as through the ages
I will drink the cup to the bitter dregs
And when it's done I'll sing Your praises."

Verse 3
I look at the Fam'ly—I see my sisters and my brothers
I see us struggling through the years
I see us longing to be faithful to the living God
I see us sharing the cup of tears
We are afflicted, but we are not crushed
We're perlexed, but not despairing
We will drink the cup, as Jesus did
And again we'll sing His praises

A Dime a Dozen
February 5, 1994

Verse 1
If sparrows are a dime a dozen
Yet one can't fall without His knowing
And He loves you more than every sparrow
That's ever lived, then wherever you're going
You can't run so far He can't follow
And you can't get so lost He can't find you
There's no place He won't be there above,
Below, beside, before, behind you.

Verse 2
If ev'ry hair upon your head
Is numbered by the loving hand
Of a Father who looks more toward what's inside you
Don't you think He understands
Ev'ry feeling in your heart
And ev'ry thought inside your head
There's not a word you've ever spoken
He hasn't heard before it has been said

Verse 3
If Jesus came to live among us
And suffered all of our temptations
And though He never sinned, He sympathizes
With you and hears your supplications
Then you can boldly go before Him
Without the need to hide your face
He sees it all and He calls for you
To receive His love, His mercy and His grace

Sparrows are a dime a dozen
Yet one can't fall without His knowing
Sparrows are a dime a dozen...a dime a dozen...a dime a dozen

Do You Know Anyone?
January 13, 1996

Verse 1
Do you know anyone who knows the mind of the Lord
Do you know anyone who knows the mind of the Lord
Not anyone I know. Not anyone I know
No one gives Him counsel, He's in no one's debt
No one has been able to trace out the paths He's set
So why are we so foolish, my brothers, you and I
As to think that we know better how to live our lives
Than He from whom all life flows
He who all life sustains
Who is the goal that all life should be longing to attain

Verse 2
So let us offer ourselves a living sacrifice
So let us offer ourselves a living sacrifice
Holy unto God, holy unto God
Our bodies are the offering that He will accept
Considering His mercy, can't you see that it makes sense
That we become the slaves of Him
Who freed us from our sin
That we let Him transform us
And renew us from within
If we don't, we might as well
Go back from whence we came
To be pressed into the world's mold
'Til we all look just the same

Verse 3
Let your life be transformed, let your mind be renewed
Let your life be transformed, let your mind be renewed
That you may prove His will, that you may prove His will
That which is acceptable, is perfect and is good
So you may choose the thing that are well-pleasing to the Lord
So you may find and follow
The path He's set for you
So you may test the will of God
And know it to be true

Do you know anyone who knows the mind of the Lord
Do you know anyone who knows the mind of the Lord

Elizabeth
1993 or '94???
This song is autobiographical. The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Verse 1
Elizabeth cried out to God, asking why He'd forsaken her
Expecting nothing in reply, she turned to go, but heard these words

Chorus 1
"Elizabeth, I promise you, I never will leave
Elizabeth, you silly girl, when will you believe
That I will never leave you, nor forsake you
How long will it take you
To trust what I've told you
That I'll always hold you
In My everlasting, ever-loving, never-failing arms
Safe and secure from all that harms"

Verse 2
Elizabeth turned 'round as tears ran down her exhausted face
She stumbled forward with a sob, and found herself in Christ's embrace

Chorus 2
"Elizabeth, you cannot always trust what you feel
'Though ev'ry sense seems to deny, My promise remains real
I will never leave you, nor forsake you
How long will it take you
To trust what I've told you
That I'll always hold you
In My everlasting, ever-loving, never-failing arms
Safe and secure from all that harms"

Verse 3
His words were like a lullaby, Elizabeth soon ceased to weep
She breathed a deep and peaceful breath, and slept a deep and peaceful sleep

Bridge
But when she woke, she was alone
She looked, but could not see His face
And once again she cried,
"Why have you left me in this godforsaken place?"
But then her heart within her stirred
And she remembered what she'd heard
And though it seemed somewhat absurd
She found the strength inside to whisper these sweet words...

Chorus 3
"He will never leave me, nor forsake me
How long will it take me
To trust what He's told me
That He'll always hold me
In His everlasting, ever-loving, never-failing arms
Safe and secure from all that harms"

Chorus 4
"Elizabeth, I promise you, I never will leave
Elizabeth, you silly girl, when will you believe
The love that I bear you is stronger than death
I'll never leave you nor forsake you, Elizabeth
I'll never leave you nor forsake you, Elizabeth
I'll never leave you nor forsake you, Elizabeth"

Great Physician (MP3)
February 12-14, 1997
"There is a Balm in Gilead" is a traditional American folk spiritual. I have quoted the first two lines -- lyrics and tune -- in the intro to this song.

Intro
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul

Verse 1
O Great Physician, I am wounded, I am broken,
I am needy for a token of Your love for me.
O Great Physician, with a word so sweetly spoken,
You have my soul awoken from its sin-sick sleep.

Chorus 1
When I --- see the sickness of my sin,
I --- turn to You for grace and then
I --- find that I've already been forgiven.
So I --- lift my voice to You and sing
Thanks --- giving for the love You bring
You --- come with mercy in Your wings
To heal my sin-sick soul

Verse 2
O Great Physician, when I fall before You, kneeling
Hoping that my depth of feeling's
Equal to my shame
O Great Physician, there's no need for all my dealing
All I need to get Your healing
Is to speak Your name (Chorus 1)

Verse 3
O Great Physician, when I look at my surroundings
At the sickness that's abounding
In my fallen race
O Great Physician, I can hear Your voice resounding
With a love that is astounding:
"Come receive My grace!"

Chorus 2
When You --- see the sickness of our sin,
You --- come to us with grace and then
We --- find find how freely we have been forgiven.
With our --- voices raised to You we sing
Thanks --- giving for the love You bring
You've --- come with mercy in Your wings
To heal our sin-sick souls

There is a balm --- in Gilead....

His Unfailing Love (Psalm 107) (MP3)
June 28-July 5, 1997

Verse 1
Some of us wandered in deserts and wastelands,
Finding no way to a city of rest.
Our lives ebbed away as we hungered and thirsted,
Then we cried out to God in distress.
And from out of our troubles our God has delivered us.
By a straight way to a city He’s led us.
From deep, living springs He has quenched all our thirsting.
With the bread of His flesh He has fed us.

Chorus:
So let us give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love,
We whom He has redeemed from the hand of the foe.
Let us sing songs of the wonderful deeds of our God.
Let us give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love.

Verse 2
Some of us languished in chains of our forging,
In prisons that we ourselves had devised.
We sat in deep darkness, the blackest of midnights,
’Til we prayed just to see the sun rise.
And from out of our troubles our God has delivered us.
And cut through the fetters of iron that bound us.
He’s broken the gates of our sin-sustained prisons.
Now the bright light of His grace surrounds us. (Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3
Some of us sailed out in pride on the ocean,
Thinking that in our own wisdom we’d stand,
But the storm winds arose and the tempest blew ’round us,
And we prayed once again for dry land.
And from out of our troubles our God has delivered us.
Out on the sea of our self-will He’s sought us.
He’s hushed the wild waves and He’s made the winds whisper,
And to a safe haven He’s brought us. (Repeat chorus)

House Upon a Rock
July 19, 1997

Verse 1
I can hear the storm winds blowing
I can see the dark clouds gath'ring in
But I can face the wildest temptest knowing
My house will still be standing, standing at the end
For You have builded me a house upon a rock
You've laid a firm foundation for my home
And though the deluge drives me to my knees, yet I will stand
Secure within my house upon a stone

Verse 2
I can hear the storm winds blowing
And fear begins to settle in my heart
But I trust that through the tempest You are showing
My castles made of sand that must be torn apart
For You have builded me a house upon a rock
And will not let me dwell in shifting sand
And so You let the torrents wash away unworthy things
And You lead me to my home on firmer land

Verse 3
I can hear the storm winds blowing
And I have seen these thunderclouds before
But I know You'll use this tempest for my growing
As You are forming in me Christ's image more and more
For You have builded me a house upon a rock
And you will keep on building 'til that day
When ev'ry threat'ning downpour's dried and ev'ry storm is stilled
And every tear I've wept is wiped away

Coda
For You have builded me a house upon a rock
You've laid a firm foundation for my home
And though the deluge drives me to my knees, yet I will stand
Secure within my house upon a stone
And though the deluge drives me to my knees, yet I will stand
Secure within my house upon a stone

I Want to Know You
From Psalm 27
May 1998, lost, rewritten 1999, tweaked and bridge added 2003

Verse 1
I could read a million pages, hear a thousand preachers preach
But there is a kind of knowledge that my mind alone can't reach
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Verse 2
I could answer every question that the intellect might raise
But it wouldn't quench my longing to be with You all my days
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Chorus
There is one thing that I am asking
There is one thing I'm looking for
That I might dwell within Your shelter
And gaze upon the beauty I adore
If I could live before your presence
And sing my praises to You, Lord
If I could be forever with You
Then I would want for nothing more
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Verse 3
I could strive with all my might to keep the letter of each law
But my efforts would not lift me from the curse of Adam's fall
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Verse 4
I could never hope to please You by the works that I have done
But for Christ's sake You have loved me and considered me Your own
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Verse 1
I could read a million pages, hear a thousand preachers preach
But there is a kind of knowledge that my mind alone can't reach
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Bridge
You're my light and my salvation
You're my refuge and my stronghold
Though an army might beseige me, I will not fear
Though my parents both forsake me
I will seek You, You will find me
As Your child You will receive me and draw me near
I want to know You, I want to know You.

Repeat Chorus

I Want to Say Yes
April 1994
From "The Invitation"

Verse 1
I've never had a better offer before this one
And never again will a better offer come along
Is it too good to be true? It feels like such a guess
But I can't be sure until I try, so Jesus, I want to say yes

Chorus
I want to say yes, yes to Jesus, to the life He offers me
I want to say yes to Hid forgiveness, to His offer to be free
I want to take a bigger risk than I ever took before
I want to say yes, I want to open up the door

Verse 2
So many times before I have been left behind
So many people have been so unkind
But when I look at You, and I see Your gentleness
I just can't believe You would ever leave me
So Jesus, I want to say yes (Chorus)

Verse 3
I feel so much guilt and shame about the things I've done
And I just can't get away from it, no matter where I run
Now I've gotten myself so lost, my life is such a mess
When I hear You calling, "Child come to me"
Jesus, I want to say yes (Chorus)

In Jesus' Name, Forgive Me
February 28, 1999
Based on a true story.

Verse 1
A Christmas card returned unopened
An empty chair where you won't sit
The cold politeness that's between us
Reminding me not to forget
The sin that you still hold against me
The sin that I cannot excuse
But if our holy God forgives me
My friend, why do you still accuse?

Chorus
In Jesus' name forgive me
And let this cold war cease
In Jesus' name, please love me again
In Jesus' name, make peace

Verse 2
Not only you and I are hurting
We've pierced the body of our Lord
And all our brothers and our sisters
Are wounded by our hearts' discord
Can you look past the pain I've caused you
And see I'm just a foolish child
Can we break down this wall between us
Can you and I be reconciled (Chorus)

Bridge
What can I do to buy your pardon?
What can I give in sacrifice?
What can I give but what's been given?
What can I plead but the blood of Christ? (Chorus)

Isaiah Six (In the Temple)
1995
My "fans" (all three of them) think this is my best song. I'm prone to agree.

Verse 1
In the temple of the Lord
In the throneroom of the King
I saw my God exalted
'Mid the rush of angels' wings
And I felt the temple tremble
As I heard their voices sing...

Chorus
Holy, holy, holy
Is Yahweh Almighty
Holy, holy, holy
The earth is filled with His glory

Verse 2
I cried, "Oh, I am ruined
I am unclean and ashamed
And my lips they are not worthy
To utter my Lord's name"
Then I felt the blessed burning
Of my God's refining flame, and I sang...(Chorus)

Verse 3
Then I heard a voice that thundered
Like the waves upon the sea
And the Lord said, "Whom shall I send
And who will go for Me
To this callous-hearted people
Whose eyes forget to see that...(Chorus)

Verse 4
As the echo sang around me
Where I trembled on my knees
I knew I must surrender
To His question, His decree
And 'though I knew myself unworthy
I said, "Here am I, send me, I'll tell them...(Chorus)

Jesus Christ My Righteousness
June 6-17, 2001
May be sung to St. Kevin

Jesus Christ my Righteousness, Jesus Christ my Savior,
Who with perfect life and death, bought for me God's favor,
Set aside His heavn'ly crown, shed majestic raiment,
Donned a servant's garb of flesh--born to bear sin's payment.

Jesus Christ my Righteousness, Jesus my Salvation,
Who with purity endured Satan's fierce temptation,
All the Father's perfect law perfectly obeying,
All His virtue, all His good to my credit laying.

Jesus Christ my Righteousness, Jesus my Redeemer
Suffered for a rebel's sake, bled for a blasphemer.
He, the pure and spotless Lamb, all my evil owning,
Bore the scorn, the nails, the wrath for my sin's atoning.

Jesus Christ my Righteousness, Jesus Christ my Glory—
For His sake, I nothing seek but to sing his story.
What to me all eathly gains? What this vain world's treasure?
He is all my wealth and peace. He is all my pleasure.

Let Justice Roll Down
2001, I think
Based on Amos 5:24

Verse 1
Let justice roll down like a river
And let righteousness flow like a stream
Until the desert has quenched all its thirsting
And life springs anew, fresh and green

Chorus
Let justice roll down like a river
Let righteousness flow like a stream
Let mercy surge forth like an ocean
Until all the earth is redeemed

Verse 2
Let love shower down now upon us
And let mercy well up pure and sweet
Until compassion outpours to our neighbors
And humility washes their feet (Chorus)

Verse 3
Let glory flood forth from God's people
And let fountains of joy sing His praise
Unitl all idols are drowned in the deluge
And sin is submerged by His grace (Chorus)

Like You See Me
May/June 1988

Verse 1
I found myself again today
Worrying about what people say
And wondering if my diguise
Hides my real self from their eyes
So many flaws, but do they show?
So much a fool, but do they know?
I hide, but do they see what's true?
And if they did, what would they do?

Verse 2
I fear that they'd reject me then
And so I'd be alone again
To face myself and all my fears
And, solitary, shed my tears
But when I run to You to cry
You show the truth behind the lie
You see right through my poor disguise
The real me's open to Your eyes

Chrous
I want to see me like You see me
I want to know me like You know me
I want to be what You want me to be
I want to see me like You see me

Verse 3
'Cuz when You're looking at my heart
And seeing all my deepest parts
You never would reject me then
Or leave me all alone again
You never turn away Your face
To leave me broken, in disgrace
You don't see sins of scarlet red
Just the blood that Your Son shed (Chorus)

Verse 4
I've worn so many different masks
That I see myself and have to ask
If I even know who's really me
Please clear my eyes so I can see
Just what it is that's right and wrong
In how I'm living out my song
Freedom comes from what is true
So I want to see me like You do (Chorus)

Many Waters
1991
So far my only lyrics based on Song of Solomon ;-)

Chorus
Many waters cannot quench love
No rivers can wash love away
Many waters cannot quench love
No house owns enough wealth to pay
For Your love, strong as the grave
That burns in my heart like a blaze
Many waters cannot quench love

Verse 1
'Though floods of self-will and anger have tried
To douse mercy's flame, it never has died (Chorus)

Verse 2
No deluge of guilt can rise higher than grace
No dark sea of sin drown the light of Your face (Chorus)

No Other Name
April 23-24, 1994

Verse 1
When I'm feeling alone and abandoned
I hear Your voice saying to me
"Don't let your heart be troubled
For someday you clearly will see
All of the plans and purposes
Behind all the questions you face
And someday I'll meet you in heaven
Where I've gone to prepare you a place"

Chorus
I call out your name, Jesus
I whisper your name, Jesus
There's no other name, Jesus
That says all I'm needing to say

Verse 2
When I've lost all my sense of direction
I hear Your voice saying to me
"I am the true, living Way
On a path that you can't always see
If you're longing to come to the Father
Have faith, and I'll show Him to you
If you're longing to give Him glory
I will do all you ask Me to do" (Chorus)

Verse 3
When I feel the world's weight on my shoulders
I hear your voice saying to me
"Come, all you heavy-laden
And rest I will give unto thee
I'll give you My yoke, and sustain you
With My everlasting arm
And close to My heart I'll hold you
Forever you'll be safe from harm" (Chorus)

Verse 4
When I'm feeling a sense of wonder
At all that you are and you've done
Or when I'm trapped in darkness
And I long for a glimpse of the sun
In pleasure or pain, joy or sorrow
My heart's deep response is the same
It speaks the name of Jesus
Jesus, there's no other name (Chorus)

O Heavens, Stand Amazed (MP3)
September 2002

O heavens, stand amazed at what's been done
At a people who trade glory for gods of wood and stone
At a bride who leaves her Lover, a bride who leaves her Lover
A bride who leaves the Lover she once loved alone

Repent and do the things you did at first
Forsake your broken cisterns that can never quench your thirst
Return to your first Love, return to your first Love
Return to your first Love who loved you first

Oh, how could you betray the Lord you followed through the wilderness
Who led you out of slavery, who pitied you in your distress?
To God alone is worship due, but you have worshiped worthlessness
And yet He calls you to return, that He might heal and He might bless

O heavens, stand amazed at what's been done
At the God who left His glory to redeem His chosen ones
Who arrays His bride in beauty, Who arrays His bride in beauty
Who arrays His bride in beauty, and makes paradise her home

O Sovereign Joy
June 2001
Based on the intro to John Piper's The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, may be sung to National Hymn

Verse 1
O Sovereign Joy that with a sweeter pow’r
Drives out all lesser loves and takes their place
O God, my true Salvation, Wealth and Light
Let all my life be captive to Your grace.

Verse 2
O Sovereign Grace that with a boundless strength
Makes naught of all the work of human hands,
Freely You grant me righteousness by faith
Through Christ my Lord, who met Your laws demands.

Verse 3
O Sovereign Truth that with a doubtless ray
Outshines the dimness of all fainter lights,
Here may I see Your glory and Your grace
Here clearly read Your majesty and might.

Verse 4
O Sovereign God, who with triumphant grace
Breaks all the fetters of my guilt and shame,
O God of mercy, holiness and life,
I now exalt the glory of Your Name.

Open
I'm guessing 1999ish???

Verse 1
Having nothing of our own, we come before the Father's throne;
For mercy and provision now we pray.
Beyond our wildest dreams we find that He is gracious, He is kind;
He grants us all the fullness of His grace.
We come with open eyes to see His glory,
We come with open ears to hear His will,
We come with open hands to receive what He will give,
And we find his open heart receives us still

Verse 2
With gratitude we come before the presence of our living Lord;
Our love for Him has set our hearts ablaze.
Our God is holy, He is pure, His mercy is forever sure;
For all He is and does, we give Him praise.
We come with open eyes to see His glory,
We come with open ears to hear His will,
We come with open hands to receive what He will give,
And we find his open heart receives us still.

Verse 3
With favor shining from His face, the Father looks on us with grace,
And answers all our needs with tender care.
He hears the songs of praise we sing, accepts the gift of thanks we bring,
Rejoicing when we come to Him prayer.
He comes with open eyes to see His children,
He comes with open ears to hear us pray,
He comes with open hands to bless us with His love,
And He comes into our open hearts to stay.

Something Out of Nothing
1992 or '93 or '94???

Verse 1
How can you make something out of nothing?
How can you make use of one who thrice denied Your name?
How can you want a failure to feed your sheep and lambs?
How can you redeem this man from shame?
"Simon son of John, do you love Me?"
And he says, "I love You, Lord, I love You, Lord, I love You."

Verse 2
How can you make something out of nothing?
How can you make use of one who persecuted You?
How can you want a failure to to preach Your holy name?
How can anything but curses be his due?
"Saul, Saul of Tarsus, do you love Me?"
And he says, "I love You, Lord, I love You, Lord, I love You."

Verse 3
How can you make something out of nothing?
How can you make use of one who so often forgets You're there?
How can you want a failure to since Your songs of praise?
How can you look at me and even care?
"My little one, My child, do you love Me?"
And I say, "I love You, Lord, I love You, Lord, I love You."

This Jesus, Whom You Crucified
January 23, 1993
Isaiah 61:1-4; Acts 2:14-36; Luke 4:16-21

Verse 1
This Jesus, whom you crucified
'Twas for your sins He bled and died
Though into lawless hands you sold Him
The pow'rs of death, they could not hold Him
We have seen Him risen
And stand here now to tell
The God did not abandon
His Holy One to hell

Verse 2
This Jesus, whom you put to death
God has restored to life and breath
And still God's Spirit rests upon Him
You needy need not look beyond Him
He is God's annointed
To bring good news to you poor
To tell of the Lord's favor
To comfort you who mourn

Verse 3
This Jesus, whom you pierced with nails
Is now the one the Father hails
As Lord and Christ of all the living
His wounded hands again are giving
Freedom to you captives
And sight to all you blind
He will touch you brokenhearted
Your wounds He'll gently bind

Verse 4
This Jesus, whom you crucified
Will evermore be glorified
As He rebuilds your devastations
And mends your ruined generations
See Him make you trees of righteousness
And see Him now adorn
With praises you fainthearted
And with garlands you who mourn

This Jesus, whom you crucified
'Twas for your sins He bled and died

To the Praise of the Glory of His Grace
March or April 2000
This was the first song I wrote after swallowing the TULIP bulb.

Verse 1
Blessed be the Father, who has blessed us
In Christ with every blessing from above;
Who chose us to be holy and be blameless;
Whose pleasure was adopting us in love;
Who planned before the world began
By His good will that we should stand
Before Him face to face
To the praise of the glory of His grace.

Verse 2
Blessed be the Son, who has redeemed us;
Whose blood, for our forgiveness has been spilled;
Who lavished grace, so rich and free, upon us;
Who showed to us the mystery of His will;
Whose kind intent made wisdom known;
Who’s made us heirs of all He owns;
In whom our hope is placed
To the praise of the glory of His grace.

Verse 3
Blessed be the Spirit who indwells us;
The promised One in whom we have been sealed;
Who tuned our hearts to hear salvation’s message;
By whom the Gospel’s truth has been revealed;
Whom God gave as a guarantee
That whom He owns, He will redeem;
Who stirs our hearts to faith
To the praise of the glory of His grace.

Verse 4
Blessed be the Father who has blessed us,
Blessed be the Son who shed His blood,
Blessed be the Spirit who indwells us,
Blessed be the Lord our God.

Turning in Circles
April 1994
From "The Invitation"

Verse 1
I've got to stop turning in circles and churning inside as I'm spinning in mindless thoughts and senseless deeds
I've got to unfurl all that's curled up inside and untangle this jangle of blooming flowers and choking weeds
I've got to stop turning away from the only One who can really set me free
I've got to stop turning and turning and turning and turning and turning in circles and just turn 'round to see...
Jesus, Jesus

All of my life I've been fooling myself, thinking I could get by never thinking much about what's true
And all of my life I've been empty inside, never knowing what I should be feeling or what I should do
All of my life I've been needing someone who could change me inside and make me new
All of my life I've been turning and turning in circles when I should be turning all my life over to You...
Jesus, Jesus

Please come and unwind and unbind what's inside all this tumbling jumble of fumbling deeds and bumbling thoughts
Please help me, I'm reeling in feelings that once seemed apealing and dealing with all the lies that I once bought
Please help me stop doing the things that I shouldn't, and help me start doing the things I ought
Please help me, I'm falling and falling and falling and falling and falling and needing so much to be caught...
By Jesus, Jesus
By Jesus, Jesus

When Adam Fell
August 21-22, 2001
Upon reading Genesis 3
May be sung to Vater Unser or Melita

Verse 1
When Adam fell, all men in him
Received the curse of death for sin.
The Second Adam bore the blame
For those who love and trust His name.
Into this world of dust and strife
He came to bring eternal life.

Verse 2
When Adam fell, God cursed the soil
With thorn and thistle, sweat and toil.
The Second Adam sweat like blood
And drank the wrathful will of God.
His hands and feet with nails were torn;
His head was crowned with curséd thorn.

Verse 3
When Adam fell, God set a guard
Of cherubim with flaming sword.
The Second Adam did prevail
To rend the separating veil
On which the cherubim were sewn,
Admitting us before God's throne.

Why Do You Worry?
1992 or '93 or '94?
Psalm 23; John 14:1-7

Verse 1
Why do you worry and why do you fret?
Just trust in God, just trust in Me
I've been with you so long, but you don't see yet
That all this time it's the Father you've seen
So don't let your hearts be troubled
I'm your Shepherd and you are My own
I'm just going to find green pastures
I'm just going to prepare yur home
If God didn't have a place for you
Don't you think I'd have told you so?
So don't let your hearts be troubled
I'm your Shepherd, and you are My own.

Verse 2
Why do you puzzle and why do you fear?
You can find that place, you'll be there one day
You've been given the answers, but you still don't hear
You go through Me, for I am the Way
So don't let your hearts be troubled
I'm the Way and the Truth and the Life
I will lead you in the right paths
Even through the dark of night
If I hadn't planned to come back for you
Don't you think I'd have told you so?
So don't let your hearts be troubled
I'm your Shepherd, and you are My own

Verse 3
Why do you think that you can't find the way?
Why do you keep searching when you're holding the key?
I've said it before and again I will say
It's the wise who are blind and the fools who can see
So don't let your hearts be troubled
There's no magic or mystery here
Just open your eyes and follow
And the way will be made clear
If there were anything else you'd need to have
Don't you think I'd have told you so?
So don't let your hearts be troubled
I'm your Shepherd and you are My own.

You Alone
November 16, 1999
After reading the evening entry for the day in Spurgeon's Morning and Evening

Verse 1
You alone are holy, You alone are good
There is mercy only in Your cleansing blood
By Your truth alone can a soul be freed
In Your name alone must a man believe

Verse 2
You alone are righteous, You alone are true
You alone could purchase and redeem the few
Who are called and chosen to become Your bride
By Your grace alone is Your church purified

Verse 3
You alone are Savior, You alone are Lord
Only by Your favor, only through Your word
Can a heart be changed and become Your own
So we bring our praise, Christ, to You alone
So we bring our praise, Christ, to You alone