I wish I had what I needed
To be on my own
'Cause I feel so defeated
And I'm feeling alone
And it all seems so helpless
And I have no plans
I'm a plane in the sunset
With nowhere to land
And all I see
It could never make me happy
And all my sand castles
Spend their time collapsing
Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
And let that be enough
It's my birthday tomorrow
No one here could know
I was born this Thursday
22 years ago
And I feel stuck
Watching history repeating
Yeah, who am I?
Just a kid who knows he's needy
Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
And let that be enough
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Slipping Away - Switchfoot
Baby when we're coming home at 4 in the morning
Before the sun was up
Back in the east was a fire of gold
Just waiting for the rest of the sky to fall in love
Our hope is just a metaphor
A simple matter for all of our dreams tonight
And fear is just a shadow of
The things that matter the most
and I fear that I'm losing hope tonight
Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's 4 in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like I'm running
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I can say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel I'm slipping away
Remember that kid with a quiver and that
His heart was on his sleeve like a first aid kit
Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Remember that kid didn't know when to quit
I still lose my breath when I think about it
Oh where'd you go?
(Oh where'd you go?)
Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's 4 in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like I'm running
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I can say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel I'm slipping away
I know this isn't what you wanted
Last word til it comes and we're all in this now
And on and on and on and on
My heartbeat could tell you what time it is
I try to shout but the words don't come out
I feel I'm slipping away
Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's 4 in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like I'm running
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I can say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel I'm slipping away
Before the sun was up
Back in the east was a fire of gold
Just waiting for the rest of the sky to fall in love
Our hope is just a metaphor
A simple matter for all of our dreams tonight
And fear is just a shadow of
The things that matter the most
and I fear that I'm losing hope tonight
Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's 4 in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like I'm running
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I can say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel I'm slipping away
Remember that kid with a quiver and that
His heart was on his sleeve like a first aid kit
Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Remember that kid didn't know when to quit
I still lose my breath when I think about it
Oh where'd you go?
(Oh where'd you go?)
Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's 4 in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like I'm running
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I can say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel I'm slipping away
I know this isn't what you wanted
Last word til it comes and we're all in this now
And on and on and on and on
My heartbeat could tell you what time it is
I try to shout but the words don't come out
I feel I'm slipping away
Oh oh
I feel like I'm dreaming
Oh oh
Staring up at the ceiling
Oh oh
It's 4 in the morning
I can't sleep and it feels like I'm running
Oh oh
You wouldn't believe me
If I can say it just the way that I'm feeling
Oh oh
The words that I wanted to say
I feel I'm slipping away
Total Trust by Dr. Woodrow Kroll
Original source: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/devotions/authors/lessons_on_living_kroll.html
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
Total Trust
Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging storm at sea. Seeing his wife's fear, the man tried to comfort her. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped back and drew his sword. Pointing it at her, he asked, "Are you afraid of this?" "Of course not!" she answered. "Why not?" he inquired. "Because I know you love me too much to hurt me," she said. He replied, "I also know the One who holds the winds and the waters in the hollow of His hand, and He loves us too much to fail to care for us!" Job had that same trust. He had lost his children, his wealth and his health. Even his wife had turned against him. He had only one more thing to lose--his own life. Yet Job declared that even if it were to come down to that final loss, he would continue to trust that God had a purpose in everything that happened to him. In Job's eyes, the important issue was not what was happening but whose hand was behind it. If God did it, Job knew he could trust it.
Often our trust is based on the "what" rather than the "who." We focus on the event rather than the One who controls that event. Consequently, when trials and tribulations come crashing down upon us, our faith is shaken. We can't understand why a loving Heavenly Father would allow such grief to enter our lives. Yet if we truly believe that He is loving, we can say with Job that even though He slay us, we will believe He intends it for our good.
In His infinite wisdom and goodness, He will take the most difficult circumstances and use them for our good. When you are facing life's most severe trials, focus on the character of God. Build your trust on who God is, not on what is taking place. When you know who He is, you never have to worry about what He will allow to happen. Trust is based on character, not circumstances.
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
Total Trust
Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging storm at sea. Seeing his wife's fear, the man tried to comfort her. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped back and drew his sword. Pointing it at her, he asked, "Are you afraid of this?" "Of course not!" she answered. "Why not?" he inquired. "Because I know you love me too much to hurt me," she said. He replied, "I also know the One who holds the winds and the waters in the hollow of His hand, and He loves us too much to fail to care for us!" Job had that same trust. He had lost his children, his wealth and his health. Even his wife had turned against him. He had only one more thing to lose--his own life. Yet Job declared that even if it were to come down to that final loss, he would continue to trust that God had a purpose in everything that happened to him. In Job's eyes, the important issue was not what was happening but whose hand was behind it. If God did it, Job knew he could trust it.
Often our trust is based on the "what" rather than the "who." We focus on the event rather than the One who controls that event. Consequently, when trials and tribulations come crashing down upon us, our faith is shaken. We can't understand why a loving Heavenly Father would allow such grief to enter our lives. Yet if we truly believe that He is loving, we can say with Job that even though He slay us, we will believe He intends it for our good.
In His infinite wisdom and goodness, He will take the most difficult circumstances and use them for our good. When you are facing life's most severe trials, focus on the character of God. Build your trust on who God is, not on what is taking place. When you know who He is, you never have to worry about what He will allow to happen. Trust is based on character, not circumstances.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
A Big God by Dr. Woodrow Kroll
Original source: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/devotions/authors/lessons_on_living_kroll.html
"Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?"
A Big God
As the people of Job's day walked the earth, they likely didn't know that our world is 8,000 miles in diameter, with approximately 198,980,000 square miles on its surface. It is unlikely that they realized that this globe we call home is composed of 264 billion cubic miles. Most surely it was beyond their knowledge to compute that even though Earth is big, Saturn is 995 times bigger and Jupiter is 1,281 times bigger still. Furthermore, they had no inkling that beyond the few stars they could see there were at least 300 billion more.
Yet even without the benefit of all these mind-boggling figures, the people of Job's day knew that God, the Creator of all they saw, was bigger than anything they could comprehend. Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job's friends, was right when he said that no one could plumb God's depths or find God's limits. His thoughts run deeper than any human wisdom; His power outstrips man's best efforts.
Some people object to the concept of God because He is beyond their ability to understand. They argue that if they can't comprehend Him, then certainly He must not exist. Others simply dismiss Him as irrelevant because He fails to act as they feel He should. Yet God says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9). Who is man to try to whittle God down to what he can understand?
Let God be God. Don't try to shrink Him down to fit neatly within your scheme of things. If He were small enough for you to comprehend, He wouldn't be big enough for you to worship. The fact that He is beyond your understanding is confirmation that no situation will ever exceed His ability to handle it. To live confidently, you don't have to understand God--you just have to trust Him.
Only small people insist on a small God.
"Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?"
A Big God
As the people of Job's day walked the earth, they likely didn't know that our world is 8,000 miles in diameter, with approximately 198,980,000 square miles on its surface. It is unlikely that they realized that this globe we call home is composed of 264 billion cubic miles. Most surely it was beyond their knowledge to compute that even though Earth is big, Saturn is 995 times bigger and Jupiter is 1,281 times bigger still. Furthermore, they had no inkling that beyond the few stars they could see there were at least 300 billion more.
Yet even without the benefit of all these mind-boggling figures, the people of Job's day knew that God, the Creator of all they saw, was bigger than anything they could comprehend. Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job's friends, was right when he said that no one could plumb God's depths or find God's limits. His thoughts run deeper than any human wisdom; His power outstrips man's best efforts.
Some people object to the concept of God because He is beyond their ability to understand. They argue that if they can't comprehend Him, then certainly He must not exist. Others simply dismiss Him as irrelevant because He fails to act as they feel He should. Yet God says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9). Who is man to try to whittle God down to what he can understand?
Let God be God. Don't try to shrink Him down to fit neatly within your scheme of things. If He were small enough for you to comprehend, He wouldn't be big enough for you to worship. The fact that He is beyond your understanding is confirmation that no situation will ever exceed His ability to handle it. To live confidently, you don't have to understand God--you just have to trust Him.
Only small people insist on a small God.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Back to the Beginning Again - Switchfoot
I can feel it building up inside
Images that play inside my mind
Dreams that I’ve been dreaming all my life
The colors that live outside of the lines
But dreams aren’t all I hide beneath this skin
The chord is cut, the fear, and doubts begin
My hope is anchored on the other side
With the colors that live outside of the lines
And the oceans roar
And the wheels, they spin
And the old promises
Bring me back, bring me back to the beginning again
But the cold again at harbor stacks
With the weight of these machines across my back
I know a mountain road where time unwinds
But I’ve visited it in a single fall I had
And it all just sounds like poison on my ears
The background noise makes your voice so hard to hear
So I grit my teeth and straighten up my spine
I’m stuck in traffic on the dotted yellow line
And my heart is yours
And what a broken place it’s in
But you’re running far
And I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind at my back again
And my heart is yours
And what a broken place it’s in
But you’re running far
And I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind
I want to feel the wind
I want to feel the wind at my back again
Images that play inside my mind
Dreams that I’ve been dreaming all my life
The colors that live outside of the lines
But dreams aren’t all I hide beneath this skin
The chord is cut, the fear, and doubts begin
My hope is anchored on the other side
With the colors that live outside of the lines
And the oceans roar
And the wheels, they spin
And the old promises
Bring me back, bring me back to the beginning again
But the cold again at harbor stacks
With the weight of these machines across my back
I know a mountain road where time unwinds
But I’ve visited it in a single fall I had
And it all just sounds like poison on my ears
The background noise makes your voice so hard to hear
So I grit my teeth and straighten up my spine
I’m stuck in traffic on the dotted yellow line
And my heart is yours
And what a broken place it’s in
But you’re running far
And I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind at my back again
And my heart is yours
And what a broken place it’s in
But you’re running far
And I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind at my back again
Back to the beginning again
Back to the beginning again
I want to feel the wind
I want to feel the wind
I want to feel the wind at my back again
Thursday, January 9, 2014
You Already Take Me There - Switchfoot
When all I have is on the floor
Divided, divided
When I'm a world away from peace
Behind Your eyes is where I know
I'll find it, I'll find it
'Cause who You are defines my dreams
You already take me there
You already take me there
You already take me there
Heaven in the here and now
I'm a brokenhearted man
Complacent and tired
When I've been knocked out of the race
I've been a fool for long enough
To fight it, to fight it
It's in Your arms I find my place
You already take me there
You already take me there
You already take me there
Heaven in the here and now
Yeah, You meet me where I am
Forgive me where I am
Where I lose myself in grace
(Where I'm lost and found)
I want to lose myself in grace
Let Your love reign down all over me
Over me
Over me
Cover me
You already take me there
You already take me there
You already take me there
Heaven in the here and now
Heaven in the here and now
Heaven in the here and now
Divided, divided
When I'm a world away from peace
Behind Your eyes is where I know
I'll find it, I'll find it
'Cause who You are defines my dreams
You already take me there
You already take me there
You already take me there
Heaven in the here and now
I'm a brokenhearted man
Complacent and tired
When I've been knocked out of the race
I've been a fool for long enough
To fight it, to fight it
It's in Your arms I find my place
You already take me there
You already take me there
You already take me there
Heaven in the here and now
Yeah, You meet me where I am
Forgive me where I am
Where I lose myself in grace
(Where I'm lost and found)
I want to lose myself in grace
Let Your love reign down all over me
Over me
Over me
Cover me
You already take me there
You already take me there
You already take me there
Heaven in the here and now
Heaven in the here and now
Heaven in the here and now
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
A Lapse Into Sin by Dr. Woodrow Kroll
Original source: http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/devotions/authors/woodrow_kroll.html
Our folly and God's grace; if you see one, can the other be far behind? Frequent are the occasions when God's children foolishly mire themselves in difficulty only to have God graciously dig them out. Even the venerable Abraham found himself in this situation more than once.
After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham departed from the groves of Mamre and journeyed south to the Negev. Here he dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, pitching his tent in Gerar. Upon arriving in the south country Abraham hatched a plan which he had tried unsuccessfully in Egypt some twenty years earlier. He instructed his wife, Sarah, to claim that she was his sister.
Because of the disastrous consequences which it previously had brought on the pharaoh of Egypt, it is almost inconceivable that Abraham would try this scheme again. Apparently the stern rebuke Abraham received from Pharaoh had by this time faded from his memory. Still, Abraham had only recently received God's assurance that Sarah was destined to be the mother of the promised seed. By spreading the half truth that she was his sister and therefore eligible for marriage, Abraham placed Sarah's virtue in serious jeopardy. This constituted a foolish lapse in Abraham's usually stellar performance as the friend of God.
The arrival of Abraham and Sarah brought a greeting from Abimelech, the warlike king of Gerar. Having heard that Sarah was unmarried, Abimelech immediately sent and brought her into his harem. This likely was done to ally himself with the rich nomad prince, Abraham. Sarah was by this time ninety years old and probably not the beautiful maid she used to be. Suddenly Abraham's lie had come back to haunt him once again.
The whole course of human history could have been different if it were not for God's intervention. Genesis 20:3 begins, "But God," words which usually indicate the turning point between man's foolishness and God's grace. Abraham had lied about his wife and she was now part of Abimelech's harem. Her virtue would undoubtedly be violated. But God warned the Philistine king in a dream that Sarah was already a man's wife. He also caused Abimelech to be afflicted with an illness which prevented him from coming near Sarah. Thus, miraculously and graciously, the mother of the chosen nation was kept from impurity, not because of the wisdom of Abraham, but because of the grace of God.
In the dream God revealed to Abimelech that, although he had done no wrong, nevertheless he must restore Sarah to her husband. If the king refused, his death and that of all his kingdom would ensue. This was enough to convince Abimelech. The king "rose early in the morning, and called all his servants," relaying the message to them (Genesis 20:8). Respecting the authority of the living God, Abimelech was anxious to heed the divine directives. The Philistine wasted no time in returning Sarah to her husband but not without a sharp rebuke to Abraham. Happy to have his wife back safe and sound, Abraham received the reprimand with a sigh of relief. In return he prayed to God and Abimelech was healed along with his wife and maidservants. The kingdom returned to normal.
Once again God's grace had prevailed over man's folly. The results could have been drastically different, however, had not God's providence overruled man's foolishness. Yet, how much anguish could have been spared both Abraham and Abimelech, both Sarah and the Philistine's wife, if there had not been that one lapse from righteousness. The knowledge that God's grace is waiting in the wings is insufficient grounds for contemplating foolish action. As Abraham finally learned, every friend of God must carefully guard against even slight lapses into the folly of sin (Romans 6:1-4).
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Our folly and God's grace; if you see one, can the other be far behind? Frequent are the occasions when God's children foolishly mire themselves in difficulty only to have God graciously dig them out. Even the venerable Abraham found himself in this situation more than once.
After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham departed from the groves of Mamre and journeyed south to the Negev. Here he dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, pitching his tent in Gerar. Upon arriving in the south country Abraham hatched a plan which he had tried unsuccessfully in Egypt some twenty years earlier. He instructed his wife, Sarah, to claim that she was his sister.
Because of the disastrous consequences which it previously had brought on the pharaoh of Egypt, it is almost inconceivable that Abraham would try this scheme again. Apparently the stern rebuke Abraham received from Pharaoh had by this time faded from his memory. Still, Abraham had only recently received God's assurance that Sarah was destined to be the mother of the promised seed. By spreading the half truth that she was his sister and therefore eligible for marriage, Abraham placed Sarah's virtue in serious jeopardy. This constituted a foolish lapse in Abraham's usually stellar performance as the friend of God.
The arrival of Abraham and Sarah brought a greeting from Abimelech, the warlike king of Gerar. Having heard that Sarah was unmarried, Abimelech immediately sent and brought her into his harem. This likely was done to ally himself with the rich nomad prince, Abraham. Sarah was by this time ninety years old and probably not the beautiful maid she used to be. Suddenly Abraham's lie had come back to haunt him once again.
The whole course of human history could have been different if it were not for God's intervention. Genesis 20:3 begins, "But God," words which usually indicate the turning point between man's foolishness and God's grace. Abraham had lied about his wife and she was now part of Abimelech's harem. Her virtue would undoubtedly be violated. But God warned the Philistine king in a dream that Sarah was already a man's wife. He also caused Abimelech to be afflicted with an illness which prevented him from coming near Sarah. Thus, miraculously and graciously, the mother of the chosen nation was kept from impurity, not because of the wisdom of Abraham, but because of the grace of God.
In the dream God revealed to Abimelech that, although he had done no wrong, nevertheless he must restore Sarah to her husband. If the king refused, his death and that of all his kingdom would ensue. This was enough to convince Abimelech. The king "rose early in the morning, and called all his servants," relaying the message to them (Genesis 20:8). Respecting the authority of the living God, Abimelech was anxious to heed the divine directives. The Philistine wasted no time in returning Sarah to her husband but not without a sharp rebuke to Abraham. Happy to have his wife back safe and sound, Abraham received the reprimand with a sigh of relief. In return he prayed to God and Abimelech was healed along with his wife and maidservants. The kingdom returned to normal.
Once again God's grace had prevailed over man's folly. The results could have been drastically different, however, had not God's providence overruled man's foolishness. Yet, how much anguish could have been spared both Abraham and Abimelech, both Sarah and the Philistine's wife, if there had not been that one lapse from righteousness. The knowledge that God's grace is waiting in the wings is insufficient grounds for contemplating foolish action. As Abraham finally learned, every friend of God must carefully guard against even slight lapses into the folly of sin (Romans 6:1-4).
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Friday, January 3, 2014
I Am Still Running - Jon Foreman
You remember me
before I learned to run
At the kissing tree
before I learned my guns
We were 17
17 years young
I am still running
I am still running
I had no idea the pain would be this strong
I had no idea the fight would last this long
In my darkest fears the rights become the wrongs
I am still running, I am still running I am still running I am still running
Build me a home
inside your scars
Build me a home
Inside your song
Build me a home
inside your open arms
The only place I ever will belong
I am still running
I am still running
I am still running
I am still running
Build me a home
inside your scars
Build me a home
Inside your song
Build me a home
inside your open arms
The only place I ever will belong
The only place I ever will belong
inside your open arms
The only place I ever will belong
before I learned to run
At the kissing tree
before I learned my guns
We were 17
17 years young
I am still running
I am still running
I had no idea the pain would be this strong
I had no idea the fight would last this long
In my darkest fears the rights become the wrongs
I am still running, I am still running I am still running I am still running
Build me a home
inside your scars
Build me a home
Inside your song
Build me a home
inside your open arms
The only place I ever will belong
I am still running
I am still running
I am still running
I am still running
Build me a home
inside your scars
Build me a home
Inside your song
Build me a home
inside your open arms
The only place I ever will belong
The only place I ever will belong
inside your open arms
The only place I ever will belong
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