Suddenly the chorus came to me. The words was so basic, but yet it was the summary of what is sung in heaven 24/7 - HALLELUJAH!
My heart was flooded with the amazing thing Jesus truly did for us when he became flesh…I hope you enjoy the song!

Some members of the South African Youth Choir joined on the recording, but hope to make a great recording of this one day with a massive choir!

He gives us His love and His passion. We feel His desires. We don’t have to carry these things with our own capacity. It’s His heart we receive and is so much bigger. He places things in our heart. His gold flows in us. His life flows through us, as we pass it on. We live in Him.

“I got flaws / but I’m yours” (Fingerprints - Joakim Arenius & Praise Unit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNY-1cnFiRw)

Verse 1:
I am flawed
But I am yours
I am broken
But you have spoken healing

Verse 2:
Jesus
You pick up my pieces
You take my
Ashes and make them beautiful

Chorus:
Thank you
For your Grace
For the Cross
For salvation’s story

Thank you
Yes you have
Set me free
To live for your glory

Tag:
I love you Lord
You alone are worthy
So I give my all
Give it all to you

I was looking back at some of the poems I’ve written since the end of the summer and I found this one again and I thought I’d share it with you all. It’s a good reminder of who we are in God.

—-
All these things I don’t understand
It is all within Your glorious plan
One day we shall see Your Kingdom come
Into Your loving arms we will run

There is nowhere that can escape Your gaze
Your joy surrounds me like a rising haze

It was Your good pleasure to hide
Your wisdom from the rich and wise
Give it over to the children instead
Flip all knowledge upon its head

Until death has passed and life begun
We put our faith in a victory long since won

Oh my God how could I ever deny
These arms that protect are always nearby
Your love for me is so plain to see
The commands You spoke are life to me

I’m longing for Your beckoning call
In Your hands I can never stumble or fall

So give me eyes that see much more
And ears to hear You knocking on the door
In Your plans I shall place all my trust
From Your breath I am no longer just dust

I know that you forgot.
You forgot I blotted out your transgressions
You forgot I stopped the curse from spreading,
You forgot I stemmed the shedding of your blood
and instead, shed that of myself, clothed in flesh.
You forgot I drank your iniquity like water
that I led my Son as a lamb to the slaughter
that I gave all I loved, to make you my daughter.

You forgot my pain and only saw it as your gain
to use your freedom in half-hearted struggles
and apathetic intentions. Bound by conventions
and the inventions of men, you forgot
my promises, your place, and my loyalty to you.

Your poverty and my royalty were exchanged
on that day, where I asked you to lay
your own crown of ashes aside
and to wear the crown of my flawless bride.
Did you forget?
You betray your allegiance to me in the words
that you don’t speak, in your conscious silence,
in sighs of discontent, in empty whispers.
Did you know a flower cut from its life-source withers?

You forgot that I don’t measure your obedience
or your diligence in fears and dreams,
in the unseen and seen.
I don’t measure your adherence to law
in words or in deeds, in fruit or in seed.
I don’t measure your penitence
with scales, or your negligence
in black marks and fails.

I measured it on that day, between nails
and innocence, between the harmless
hands of the one Hailed as King.
On that day when
pain lost its power and death lost its sting
on that day when the mourners could sing
and the flightless birds grew wings
and the lame and the cripples had spring
in their step,
and the your rebellion was intercepted
and your unrighteousness was swept
from my presence.
This is love, the core of my essence.

But you forgot how to love. You forgot
how to limitlessly give, and simply live
you forgot how to seek justice for the poor
you forgot how to give but just stored
wealth for yourself.
You forgot how to bless your enemies
and pray with surrender on your knees
You forgot I carry your burdens with ease
and that I do not change if you disagree.

You forgot why you were made to live in the light
You’ve crept towards the shadows of night
because you
forgot the power and strength of the Spirit
and you tried and strived in your own merit.
You forgot the beauty of my grace without walls
or the majesty of my mercy without laws
so you thought you were in control
and that life was your own to worship.
You didn’t call on my name and your shame
overcame you. But not me.

You forget the present, resenting that you
You live in the past, forgetting every fresh
start I give you and every lesson I teach you.
I beseech you, reach back to me.
The I AM, who will always BE.
For now

I am not asking you to change
But I am asking you to remember.

To a uniquely beautiful girl, who taught me so many things in a very short time,

Our lives are so different, more different than I think you will ever be able to realise. For the majority of my 21 years of living, my life has been comfortable, for your 11 years I think the opposite is the case. I know my own name, and you are unsure of yours. I know what it is to feel safe, but I think your view of being safe is from the inside of a cardboard box, or eating rotten vegetables on the side of a dirty road.I am well fed and healthy, and up until a few weeks ago you were malnourished and slowly dying.

I am from a country that claims to care and provide for its people but you are from the newest country on earth, but its a country still gripped in oppression and corruption, stained by years of war and genocide. Your country, Southern Sudan, is like a seed struggling to grow in its own soil, but there are things in the soil that are poisoning its roots. Everyone rejoiced at the planting of the seed, it promised so much, it looked like the fruit from its branches would feed its people. But it is being suffocated by outsiders thinking they know best and insiders betraying each other. Everyone is trying to hard to preserve that precious seed, and to see a bright green shoot emerge from the dust. I can see it in people’s eyes in the streets-a desperation that longs to see the shoot burst forth soon, soon, soon. Your brothers think ethnic war will cause the soil to dry up, your sisters remain hopeful of growth. In my country the seed has deep roots that haven’t always grown in clean soil, it has often been suffocated by insiders thinking they know best and outsiders being ignored. My country is mostly healthy, in comparison to yours, but I still refuse to eat some of its fruit. You will learn throughout your life, sweet Mercy, that to be different is a very good thing.

Our bodies are different from each other. You are short I am tall. You are dark, darker than most of your friends, I am fair, fairer than most of my friends. My arms are both the same length but your left arm is shorter than your right arm. They say your arm was broken and not fixed so the bone just fused together. Your small beautiful body is covered in scars, and there is a scar that I don’t like to look at that covers the part of your chest where your heart is. Your leg is covered in wounds where people have beaten you, and in fact one of the 4 words you know, and say again and again is “Tso!”-Stick, in Juba-Arabic. My legs run fast for fun, your legs run fast because they have had to.

They found you on the streets and the market ladies said you were crazy. The market vendors probably told the Aunties not to bother with you. But the Aunties did, and with their own Rescuer guiding them, they saved you from those streets. They think you are “autistic”, which is a label in our country for people who are different, or people who have minds that are gifted to think in a certain way. You hold your neck when you speak, and my Mum who used to be a speech-therapist, later explained to me, that its probably because it comforts you to feel your own voice vibrating against your fingers. You love to touch things. We loved drawing together, but you preferred to watch me draw, while you touched the crayons. You lined them up depending on how smooth or pointy their tips were. The only colours you wanted to draw with were white and purple, but the white didn’t show up on the paper, and it made us both laugh, but you still drew and drew with white.

Somehow our minds work the same way. I only like to speak when I want to, and I am thoughtful like you. Our thoughts don’t always make sense to the world around us, and we are often misunderstood. We both love colour and shapes and could be quite content with sitting on a mat arranging nuts into patterns for hours, or sifting dusty sand through our fingers. We find it difficult to communicate what we are truly thinking alot of the time, but now, we have people around us who want to understand us.

You as an 11-year old girl know that your imagination is powerful, you are reminded all the time by your new family, that you are an anomaly because of the way your mind works. I have only just learnt, at 21, that having a mind that works differently is a good thing. It is Mercy, I promise. You will learn this. Your imagination has probably been useful growing up on the streets, you have probably created own worlds inside your head, worlds of unselfish love and kindness, worlds where you can truly be yourself, and you aren’t treated with injustice, and where pain doesn’t exist. I used to create those worlds as a child, but God has taught me as an adult that there is a place where those dreams are a reality, and He is the only one who can get us there, we can’t get there on our own.

You call everyone around you “Mama, Mama”-its your second out of four words. I think its because your own Mama left you as soon as she saw you were different to other children. You love eating in your new safe place, because food was witheld from you for so much of your life. Let me explain something to you, my darling friend. I have never had nothing to eat,I have never been cursed by a witch-doctor, I have never been hit out of anger, I have never been raped, and watching you makes me somehow hate. It makes me hate those who have hurt you, and hate myself for having everything that you have never had, or having things you once had but had taken from you. Why you and not me? Or why me and not you?

I love watching you eat because you enjoy each mouthful, you have known what it is to be starving. You challenge me to enjoy each mouthful of food before me, infact you challenge me in so many ways. I love watching you dance because your shorter-arm bounces around and your legs cant walk in a straight line but you don’t care what other people think. I love that though you have been hurt so much, you can still dance. I love having hugs from you, you saw me each morning, cried “Mama!” and shuffle-reversed into me and wrapped your arms around my waist, it was the clumsiest hug in the world but it was best start to each day. I could hear you speak your four word vocabulary over and over again and still smile as if I was suprised with you when you point and say “What?” in your language, at something every ten minutes. I try and explain what it is to you that you point and you listen well but you don’t understand, this makes us laugh too. You have the most incredible mischievous smile and your laugh makes me laugh, and my laugh makes you laugh.

I was born into a family that loves me and a society that protects me. I was taught that we are weak but God is strong, and Jesus longs for us to know Him because he doesn’t want us to die all alone. But I think you, Mercy, were conceived in sin, deceit and shame. You have been taught to be strong because others are weak, and God doesn’t care. You probably don’t fully know who Jesus is yet, but somehow, He was next to you, when you felt alone, He never wants to you be alone again, He was even there when the aunties rescued you a few weeks ago. Because of how people have treated you in your short-life you may think that you are valueless, but you are the most valuable thing in the world.

I knew you for one week. Seven days. I know it was God’s plan that we met, I just know it. You taught me more than many people have taught me in my whole life. One day, I hope to see you in that place where your most hopeful imaginings are a truthful reality, ruled over by a perfect God. Yes it does exist-trust me.

Thank you for everything you gave me.

Acoustic version of new song based on Song of Songs verse ’ Do Not Awaken Love until it so desires.’

I am joined by two friends from church on beatbox and violin. This track is the title track of the new EP just launched on iTunes this week.

www.alicewatts.co.uk

Below is a VERY powerful kids story that I regularly read Jacob that makes we want to cry most times I read it. Potentially you could read this at the end of your MG. It was written by Max Lucado and there is a fantastic picture book that goes with it. I was hoping to read it out on Sunday but ran out of time. Let me know what you think of it

YOU ARE SPECIAL by Max Lucado

The Wemmicks were small wooden people. Each of the wooden people was carved by a woodworker named Eli. His workshop sat on a hill overlooking their village. Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses, others had large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore hats, others wore coats. But all were made by the same carver and all lived in the village. And all day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing: They gave each other stickers. Each Wemmick had a box of golden star stickers and a box of gray dot stickers. Up and down the streets all over the city, people could be seen sticking stars or dots on one another.

The pretty ones, those with smooth wood and fine paint, always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars, too. Some could lift big sticks high above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars.  Some Wemmicks had stars all over them! Every time they got a star it made them feel so good that they did something else and got another star. Others, though, could do little. They got dots.

Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the others would gather around and give him dots. Sometimes when he fell, it would scar his wood, so the people would give him more dots. He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly, and the Wemmicks would give him more dots. After a while he had so many dots that he didn’t want to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb such as forget his hat or step in the water, and then people would give him another dot. In fact, he had so many gray dots that some people would come up and give him one without reason. “He deserves lots of dots,” the wooden people would agree with one another. “He’s not a good wooden person.”  After a while Punchinello believed them. “I’m not a good Wemmick,” he would say. The few times he went outside, he hung around other Wemmicks who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.

One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he’d ever met. She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lucia. It wasn’t that people didn’t try to give her stickers; it’s just that the stickers didn’t stick. Some admired Lucia for having no dots, so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall off. Some would look down on her for having no stars, so they would give her a dot. But it wouldn’t stay either. ‘That’s the way I want to be,‘thought Punchinello. ‘I don’t want anyone’s marks.’ So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she did it. “It’s easy,” Lucia replied. “every day I go see Eli.”
“Eli?” “Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him.” “Why?” “Why don’t you find out for yourself? Go up the hill. He’s there.” And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped away. “But he won’t want to see me!” Punchinello cried out. Lucia didn’t hear. So Punchinello went home. He sat near a window and watched the wooden people as they scurried around giving each other stars and dots. “It’s not right,” he muttered to himself. And he resolved to go see Eli.

He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of everything. The stool was as tall as he was. He had to stretch on his tiptoes to see the top of the workbench. A hammer was as long as his arm. Punchinello swallowed hard. “I’m not staying here!” and he turned to leave. Then he heard his name. “Punchinello?” The voice was deep and strong. Punchinello stopped. “Punchinello! How good to see you. Come and let me have a look at you.” Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded craftsman. “You know my name?” the little Wemmick asked.  “Of course I do. I made you.” Eli stooped down and picked him up and set him on the bench. “Hmm,” the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles. “Looks like you’ve been given some bad marks.” “I didn’t mean to, Eli. I really tried hard.” “Oh, you don’t have to defend yourself to me, child. I don’t care what the other Wemmicks think.” “You don’t?” No, and you shouldn’t either. Who are they to give stars or dots? They’re Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn’t matter, Punchinello. All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special.” Punchinello laughed. “Me, special? Why? I can’t walk fast. I can’t jump. My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to you?”

Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden shoulders, and spoke very slowly. “Because you’re mine. That’s why you matter to me.” Punchinello had never had anyone look at him like this—much less his maker. He didn’t know what to say. “Every day I’ve been hoping you’d come,” Eli explained. “I came because I met someone who had no marks.” “I know. She told me about you.” “Why don’t the stickers stay on her?” “Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them.”  “What?” “The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about the stickers.” “I’m not sure I understand.” “You will, but it will take time. You’ve got a lot of marks. For now, just come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I care.” Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground. “Remember,” Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door. “You are special because I made you. And I don’t make mistakes.” Punchinello didn’t stop, but in his heart he thought, “I think he really means it.” And when he did, a dot fell to the ground.

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted here but anyways I was inspired to write this after a prayer meeting in Holbeck this morning. I originally wrote this with a mixture of singular and plural first person but I felt doing it all in the plural was a better reflection.

There is no-one like our King
Who would dare to welcome us in?
We’ve wondered in a pitiful mess
Brought to a place to confess
For in our hearts we were lost
Until You paid the ultimate cost
You sent Your Son, to us You gave
Now He has torn up the grave
Raised up to the most high place
We are astounded by Your boundless grace
‘Cause one cannot same themselves
Astonished by how deep Your love delves
For this we can shout “Come and see
My Lord, my God, my Saviour has rescued me!”

Thrashing winds cutting and spiralling around
Fear-filled air comes bearing down
I walk in Your stead as You lead me by hand
Through the valley of the shadow of death
‘Cause it was for the sake of love that
You came down to the deepest depths
Following His footsteps on this narrow path
Past the bedrock of the derelict hill
I collapse to my knees in a weeping mess
A wail protrudes from my lips in utter distress
As I look heavenward, raising my eyes
From the very foot of the blood drenched cross
You see maybe I’ll die today, maybe I won’t
Maybe I’ll live a full amount of days
But I can feel the clock slowing
As my every breath escapes me
There You are, on the doorstep waiting
But just how long will You wait for me?
From my high throne, my shattered crown
Until it all comes crashing down?
Now I have walked away from it all
Though I cannot speak it now, I am too proud
For without I would not even be able to begin to cope
But it is in His resurrected life I place my hope

Obviously the recording is all very (ahem, very) rough and ready BUT please do let me know what you think, especially open for suggestions about the lyrics - I’m still not sure if the rhymes are just too blatant and cheesy.

At your feet is the only place that
I find mercy I find grace
In your love is the only place that
I find strength to run this race

There’s no other I can run to
with my troubles with my strife
There’s no other whose almighty hands
are holding my whole life

Lord you’re the only one the only one
Who’s praise-worthy
Boundless your love boundless your power
Yours is all authority

Forgive us Lord when we run to places other than your feet

Lyrics:
Amazing love, now what else shall I need
Your name brings life, it’s more than the air I breathe

My world was changed, when Your life You gave for me
My purpose found and all that You want for me

And I’ve found myself in You, Jesus
And I’ve found myself in You.

So take me to a place where I can see You face to face
and all I wanna do, yeh all I wanna do is worship You

When everything crumbles in my surroundings
That’s when I know to you I must cling

I’m learning You are faithful
I’m learning You are true
I’m learning You are worthy of the praise we bring to You (we bring to you)

(I’m learning You will catch me when I fall)

When I can’t see forests for all the trees
You whisper reminders of Your love for me

We’re learning…

A poem I wrote a couple of weeks ago now, I guess it’s a bit like a psalm.
As ever all my poems can be found at http://dancingwithgorillas.org/

With lips that never cease
I will cry out all my praise
To the Prince of all peace
I shall ever follow Your ways

With my head and my heart
Spirit, body, even my soul
This life is only the start
And You shall make me whole

Sing aloud you nations sing
No shame here in these lands
Before His throne your worship bring
He shall gather you in His hands

I am secure in His arms
My strength and portion are
From His love which surely calms
And shall heal all my scars

From the Fountain of Delight
Joy wells up on the inside
I gain hope and all my might
As I rest with Him and shall abide

All the days He has given
I will give them up
Since I am redeemed, forgiven
I shall joyfully share His cup

Thank the LORD for all He’ll do
And for all that He has done
Stand firm and to His Word be true
Into His presence we shall run

Links with wind/air/nature and identifying this force by its visual effects. I hope the concept of that comes out in the poem.
I am unsure and I am quite new to this kind of poetry/creative writing so please can I have feedback and advice.Cheers!

Poem:
Wondering in this maze of roads and buildings towering over me
the city, once a God given concept, now twisted and torn
Feel separated from my father in a busy crowd unable to see
the fear of being lost, running scared I am tired and worn

Steered upon a new path leading me to fields of green
I see ripples in the water, the long grass swaying, rustling of leaves
like fingerprints in the wind, forces unknown and unseen
a force felt all around us, what a beautiful and delicate life he weaves

I no longer feel lost, here in this sanctuary of peace and love
I sit and marvel at his creation, comforted in his hands
my worries are blown away with the spirit of God above
yearning to walk with him far across the lands

Whatever trials lay ahead, whatever hardship is in store
I will walk back to this place of green, where my thoughts are free
in company of ducks and chirping birds, watching them fly and soar
just like fingerprints in the wind, once unseen, now so clearly I see.

his verse was submitted by Vicky Curry. Please feel free to suggest bible verses that particularly speak to you and if I can think of a way to visually express/represent it then I’ll do it!

This one is from John 3.21 and it reads ‘whoever lives by the truth will come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God’.

I had in mind a tunnel or a light in the dark. Visually representing light and dark actions the the heavy contrast. The radial distortion comes from how it isn’t easy to live by the truth and clarity/answers can be hard to achieve/grasp.

The three colour options are just me showing the vibrance of the piece but also that it isn’t seen as a negative/dark take on a bible verse as I get so much joy and inspiration from them. That is the whole point of the poster series.

Plus I can be in decisive so I would love your thoughts on your favourite colours and suggestions welcome.

Again, I will make a screen print of this so it’s not the final piece as of yet. The colour background will be paper stock.

Cheers

This verse was submitted by Vicky Curry. Please feel free to suggest bible verses that particularly speak to you and if I can think of a way to visually express/represent it then I’ll do it!

This one is from John 3.21 and it reads ‘whoever lives by the truth will come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God’.

I had in mind a tunnel or a light in the dark. Visually representing light and dark actions the the heavy contrast. The radial distortion comes from how it isn’t easy to live by the truth and clarity/answers can be hard to achieve/grasp.

The three colour options are just me showing the vibrance of the piece but also that it isn’t seen as a negative/dark take on a bible verse as I get so much joy and inspiration from them. That is the whole point of the poster series.

Plus I can be in decisive so I would love your thoughts on your favourite colours and suggestions welcome.

Again, I will make a screen print of this so it’s not the final piece as of yet. The colour background will be paper stock.

Cheers

This verse was submitted by Vicky Curry. Please feel free to suggest bible verses that particularly speak to you and if I can think of a way to visually express/represent it then I’ll do it!

This one is from John 3.21 and it reads ‘whoever lives by the truth will come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God’.

I had in mind a tunnel or a light in the dark. Visually representing light and dark actions the the heavy contrast. The radial distortion comes from how it isn’t easy to live by the truth and clarity/answers can be hard to achieve/grasp.

The three colour options are just me showing the vibrance of the piece but also that it isn’t seen as a negative/dark take on a bible verse as I get so much joy and inspiration from them. That is the whole point of the poster series.

Plus I can be in decisive so I would love your thoughts on your favourite colours and suggestions welcome.

Again, I will make a screen print of this so it’s not the final piece as of yet. The colour background will be paper stock.

Cheers

A humble king once did seek
For those so far from home
To return them back to his keep
Rambunctious and yet his own

Those, the lost, his treasures are
Diamonds amongst the rough
Those who hurt, & curse, & mar
He’ll brush from his cuff

He sought so long and far beyond
His treasure scattered wide
To hold so tight and look so fond
Yet we continue to hide

Since we’re so anaesthetised
We look so peaceful and calm
To be grasped as this wanted prize
We can’t even raise our arm

But this king is greater than all we
who cower beneath the dirt
He’ll lift our heads that we can see
The one who removes all hurt

This mighty king that all should fear
Abounds in mercy and grace
He calls his beloved and draws near
And they shall see his face

Musically this song is very average for a congregational song, it’s not breaking any conventional boundaries. But the words have been seriously thought about (but open to revision - perhaps the middle section).

I have tried to strictly keep it to one theme throughout, using it as a bit of a conclusion to what I’ve been studying about the righteousness of God (and how this relates to us).

The verses dwell on the bigger perspective (based on Ephesians 1) and by the chorus it narrows down to the implications of/reasons for God’s righteousness revealed (centred on romans 1-4). On the way the pre-chorus section summaries Ephesians 2 in general where both views of what is called “new” and “old” perspective on righteousness are laid out right next to each other. The bridge brings in the implications of our own righteousness from Romans 5 and by the end it refers to Old Testament promises fulfilled.

Verses:
Praise to the God and father of Jesus Christ,
Who has blessed us with every blessing in his son, in the highest. (Eph 1v3)
He restores the world. (rom 8v21)

He unveiled his sovereign plan to save the world, his promise to Abraham, (Gen 12v3)
To gather up everything in His son, when the fullness of time has come. (eph 1v10)
He restores the world.

Pre Chorus
For we’ve been freed not to carry on in sin, for we’ve died and come alive in him. (Rom 6v1-11)
And we’ve been called not to live our life by ourselves but as one to be the light of the world. (Eph 2v13-16, 3v10)

Chorus:
For the righteousness of God has been revealed,
Through the faithfulness of Christ for those who believe. (Rom 1v17, 3v21)
So that the promises of God my rest on grace, guaranteed to every race. (Rom 4v16)

Verse:
He chose us before creation of the world, to be holy and blameless,
and carried our sin and shame to the cross, we share in his faithfulness. (Eph 1v4,7)(Phil 2v8)
He restores the world.

Middle:
We’re in the right, we’re in the right, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. (Rom 5v1)
We share his death we’ve died with him, and now he’s raised our vindication. (Rom 4v25, 6v4-5)
And surely the day has come for the raising of David’s son.
We will leap like calves from the stall, when God is all in all. (2 Sam 7v12, 1 Chr 17v11, Mal 4v2,1 Cor 15v24-28)

Enjoy!

Ok, I changed it a lot. I did actually do a screen printed run of the poster before. Just like the digital version already posted here. The texture that I applied didn’t work on the screen print,  it just filled in on the mesh. Plus it looked like poor and grainy.

So I flipped the layout and took away the texture, leaving only the natural texture of the screen print and the pressure applied.

All in all. I am very happy with the result and it does the job of inspiration/banner/motto that I had intended. As this bible verse is very evocative to me.

I have around 10 of the orange and 10 of the blue on 130gsm paper, let me know if you want one.

Ok, I changed it a lot. I did actually do a screen printed run of the poster before. Just like the digital version already posted here. The texture that I applied didn’t work on the screen print,  it just filled in on the mesh. Plus it looked poor and grainy.

So I flipped the layout and took away the texture, leaving only the natural texture of the screen print and the pressure applied.

All in all. I am very happy with the result and it does the job of inspiration/banner/motto that I had intended. As this bible verse is very evocative to me.

I have around 10 of the orange and 10 of the blue on 130gsm paper, let me know if you want one.

Blue detail shot.

Another lovely detail shot.

Oooh, a lovely detail shot of the ink.

I made these to celebrate Mark’s baptism on Easter Sunday, which was pretty ace.

This is the amalgamation of lots of ideas I’ve had. It basically is meant to be quite provocative and make you think. Enjoy:

Let us imagine for a moment, if you dare,
That we could forget the sun, no longer see the air
That we are groping around in darkness which surrounds
What would we think of light, would we think it profound?

So I ask, where can you go to escape yourself?
What would you do if ruin became your wealth?
What depths would you descend to survive?
If God is dead, how are you still alive?

Why just open the door and wait for a king to enter
When you could run outside and revel in his splendour?
Stop your foolish searching and pray “open my eyes”
Those of your heart which are blinded by lies

Like the calm before a storm be as silent as the grave
Open your mind to truth and hold fast to the one that can save
Can you look forward to when time will end
Stare death in the face and embrace him as a friend?

This is a song I started to write about a year ago, trying to express the experience of baptism in a personal way and the power of the symbolism, and trying to put across some of the truths of Romans 6. It stayed as one verse and an unfinished chorus for over a year, and then a few weeks ago all the rest of the verses tumbled out in one sitting as I was worshipping.

Vocals and acoustic guitar are me, all additional instruments and production is by my friend Ben Trigg, general musical whizz kid and very talented chap. 

Here’s a song I wrote about sorting yourself out with Jesus. Hope you like it.

See the first post for details.

Blue colour scheme.

See the first post for details.

I have tried a muted pink colour scheme. More to follow.

This is the first poster in my typographic poster series exploring excerpts/quote/verses from the bible that never fail to inspire me.

I want to open this up to everyone, please e-mail me verses that you love and gain inspiration from, that you would like to see visually explored. I would love to hear from you, or find me after service at Church.

I will post a few other colour versions. The aim is to silkscreen print them in various colours. Holla at me if you would like one.

We trust in you alone

VERSE 1:
Jesus, You chose the cross
You gave Yourself, Instead of us
Jesus, the sin You bore            
It was not Yours, It was ours

CHORUS:
And so we love you
Because you loved us first    
We trust in you alone
We lay our lives down
In sacrifice to you
We trust in you alone

VERSE 2:
Lord God, You’ve chosen us
Adopted us, As your sons
Saved by grace, through faith in You
Your Glorious love made us new

BRIDGE:
Holy Spirit
Speak to us, strengthen us
Holy spirit come

That’s as far as the plagiarism goes though. Fun project from a couple of years ago. It’s a bit truncated and could maybe do with a chorus!

Silence has gone away my friend,
My friend
Buildings too many without end,
Without end
The hunger is there inside
Inside
How does it feel being alive,
Alive

The World is growing but I’m getting smaller now

Buried in a shallow grave
Shallow grave
Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead?
Of the dead
The struggles, they lurk deep inside
inside
Face the truth: You have to pick a side

The world is growing but I’m getting smaller now

The Sherpas (sherpascinema.com) are proud to present All.I.Can: a two-year feature film project that fuses our passions for riding and exploring the mountains with our potential to help the environment. The film strives to unite global mountain culture and bind us together as the leaders of a revolution. We must be inspired to do all we can for the environment, and we must learn how to take that first tiny step in the right direction.

I wrote this song as part of an ongoing reflection of how I can find true satisfaction and joy in God by pouring myself out in love for others, like Jesus did. How to be a ‘Christian Hedonist’ as John Piper would say. I was prompted to upload this after hearing Matt’s rally call for passion to tell people about Jesus and world mission on Sunday.    

Lyrics:

Guide our hearts, Lord

Guide our prayers

In our worship

We bring ourselves

In view of your mercy on the cross

All of my strength

I place it here

Every offence

I Lay it here

In view of your mercy on the cross

Ch:

We awaken, Lord, To shine

The knowledge of Love Divine

In Jesus Hope revealed

in him our longings filled

v2:

Guide our hearts, Lord

Guide our hands

In the good works

you have planned

In view of your mercy on the cross

All my hopes

I place them here

The best of my years

I lay them here

In view of your mercy on the cross

(Chorus)

Bridge:

We place our treasures into your heart

‘Cause we want to go to be where you are

Growing compassion for this world you love

We look to your kingdom come!

(chorus)

rpt bridge

2nd chorus/ Anthem:

And forever I will dwell in the house

of my Father in whom all good things are found

(chorus)

In one of the prayer meetings before the service I was inspired by the subject of the week which I think was God’s hospitality to us. On the way home these verses started forming in my mind…
The chorus came as a celebration that all these privileges come as a result of being in Christ. I found it interesting also that we are in Christ, we have been given a heavenly home, but also that God lives within us, we are the new temple(s) where he dwells. Jesus says in John 14 v20 ‘...you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.’
Also, I really enjoyed recording the clapping parts!

Lyrics:
How good it is to be loved by the King
How good to be given a home
How good to have all my sins forgiven
How good to be given brand new clothes

I am in you
I am in you
I am in you
thankyou Jesus
That I am in you

How good it is to be loved by the King
How good to be near Father’s throne
To be filled with joy in his presence
And from him, I won’t be told to go

(chorus)

Middle: Yes, he will keep us
Till the day of Christ Jesus x2
He has not left us as though we were orphans
He lives within us
He has made us his home.

(V1)
(Chorus)

Broken, 2010 (Acrylic on Canvas)

Pears, 2009 (Acrylic on Canvas)

Resilience, 2009 (Acrylic on Canvas)

Lyrics:
I am like an olive tree
My roots are in God
Grafted, planted
And rooted in love

I am like an olive tree
My roots are in God
Always to flourish
In the house of the Lord

verse:

Not so the wicked,
For they are like chaff
And when the wind blows
They will be gone
But Christ came to us
For sinners to save
And I am so glad
‘Cause that was my name

(rpt chorus)

Middle: Lord remember your great faithfulness
to our Fathers when they were in distress x2

Scripture refs: Psalm 52, Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17, Romans 11v17, 1 Timothy 1v15

I got inspiration for this poem partly during my FP training week at Centre Parcs, and partly during the sung worship on my first Sunday back. The idea of our praises being a battle cry is such an awesome image.

I was a broken man,
Wondering lost, without a plan,
Toiling in my laborious work,
Struggling though the gloomy murk,
Living in the curse of the fall,
Not knowing His blood covers all.

But then I saw my saving grace,
Redemption in a dead man’s face,
Conquering death in just three days,
Now captivated by His loving gaze,
Ascended to His Father’s side,
And in His life I do hide.

Although the war is won,
Still the battles rage on,
You can find me here,
Living in hope not fear,
May my praise arise,
My glorious battle cry.

Through the darkest night,
I fix my eyes upon the light,
And wait until the dawn,
When no more shall I mourn,
Rising joy and grace abound,
And eternal life is forever found.

I was reading the about Carl Jung and how the bible influenced his thinking. Don’t really understand it much but the ‘Archetype’ is a key concept.

‘The archetypal image is expressed…in the heroes of myth and legend but above all in the image of Christ “who exemplifies the archetype of the self”’

-From The Oxford companion to the Bible. 

Anyway thought I’d do a spot of googling on this, and happened across an interesting sounding band called ‘Becoming the Archetype’. I gave it a listen and discovered the band were Christians. I really like it so thought I’d share their version of ‘How Great Thou Art’.

I’m interested in this idea of ‘Becoming the Archetype’. It immediately reminds me of this scripture:

2 Cor 3 v18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I hear phrases such ‘being Christlike’ and ‘becoming like Jesus’, but after being repackaged into my small and limited ideas of God, a truth as big and grand as the universe (if not bigger), can become stale in the mental tupperware I keep it in.

Anyway I’m not going to try and do a bible study or anything, but I like what this band are doing.

Also, I read that this album is also inspired by C.S. Lewis ‘Out of the Silent Planet’ trilogy of books, which I’ve recently read and enjoyed.

So the song.. love it… or hate it?!

And any thoughts on the above?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smHoALlJqG4

This Video had me laughing, then the brokenness of it completely winded me. The follow up is inspiring…

Perfect time of the year for stories like this…

////////Information taken from the Youtube video description//////////////

Throwing this video from the Columbus Dispatch out there, hoping we can find this talent a place to call home.

UPDATE-1: Many thanks go out to all of you who have been tossing phone numbers and e-mails my way for Ted’s sake. I went up to Hudson/I-71 (Columbus) today, but Ted wasn’t there. He is going to be on air tomorrow morning on radio station WNCI. I’ve left my contact info w/WNCI to call/e-mail me on a way to get your enormous opportunities over to him.

I’m going to give him a Trac phone (w/ample minutes) so that he can return calls to all of you.

Hopefully, in some way I’ll get in contact w/him. Peace.

UPDATE-2: To all those who have been writing me (as one of Ted’s only means of contact), I have learned that the radio station interviewing him tomorrow (1-5-11) a.m. is going to make him a formal offer. Whether true or not, we’ll see.

Hope it works out well for him. That was the whole point of me posting this video. I cannot thank enough everyone who was willing to do their part in offering Ted their helping hand.

Whoever lands him is certainly getting much more than a memorable personality; they’re getting a great human being as part of their team.

My best to all.

UPDATE-FINAL: Well everyone. You can give yourselves and Ted a high-five. He’s being given offers hand-over-fist over the air. He’ll be set for life.

My request to all. Whenever you run across a story such as this, don’t assume it’ll take a life of its own, on its own. It won’t. It can’t. There are too many other stories that drown out the one before it.

You need to spend time to get that story and its word out to many. If you care, you’ll do it.

Keep the faith, pay forward and always lend a hand; even if you’re the one who needs it.

God bless Mr. Williams. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of him for sometime to come.

Some good food for thought from the McMillan

http://johnmarkmcmillan.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/the-greatest-song-i-never-wrote/

Dark am I, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon.  Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected. 

Ch2 v 1-4
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.  Beloved Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.  He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. 

V8 - Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. 
V9 - My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. 
V10 - My lover spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. 
V11 - See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 
V12 - Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 

Ch4 
V1 - How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. 
V2 - Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone. 
V3 - Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
V4 - Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance [a] ; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. 
V5 - Your two breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.  V6 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense. 
V7 - All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

Hey, not sure if anyone has posted this before, it’s pretty cool though.  It’s a stop motion music video for Michael Gungor band; constructed entirely of felt!

I love the fundamental message it brings, and the way it covers many polemic church issues in a powerful yet wonderfully child-like way.

Peace

tx

Way Back Home is the incredible new riding clip from Danny MacAskill, it follows him on a journey from Edinburgh back to his hometown Dunvegan, in the Isle of Skye.

Find out more at: theiheartfilm.com or i-heart.org
——————————————
Director / Designer / Animation / Sound Design: Glenn Stewart
——————————————
© 2009 Mindscape Films

I’m posting this by request of my friend (and fellow artistic type) Louise Wood:)

It’s the first track on an EP I recorded in ‘08 called “Let it be said”.  I should probably mention that you can find said EP on ITunes. 

This song is about how passion for God flows out from us and changes the world around us, because he’s the source of everything good.

I mainly did this because it made me laugh a lot, but also because I hate having my photo taken… so I thought if I deliberately made myself look silly then that would be ok. And it turns out it is! If you can think of a face I didn’t pull then maybe show me one day - but don’t give me any warning, just do it, ok?

This project also doubles up as a cheap christmas present for my parents, who will get to see my face every day for a whole year on a 2011 calendar. Lucky them.

Watercolors and pencil.

In my former life I lived in Norwich and taught Sunday school there. This was one of the large art projects we did- with loads of chopped up paper and quality street wrappers!

Based on the rainbow being a visible sign of God’s promises to be faithful to us, and how it symbolises God’s covenant with his people. We then attached our own ‘promises’ to the rainbow, as a response in light of what God is continually doing for us.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.Genesis 9:13

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ” Jeremiah 31: 31-33

Christmas song

Verse 1
Incarnation, the mystery of God made man
You came to rescue me.
All your glory, you poured into a human frame
You came to set me free.

Chorus
And light -  that caused the stars to flame,
Created worlds, sustains all things -
Was captured in a baby boy,
Tiny fists and bright new eyes,
Looking out on a broken world

Verse 2
Immanuel, the wonder now of God with us
You came to be with us.
Calling us closer, the obstacles have been removed,                               
So we can be with you.

Verse 3
Life creator, standing on the solid earth                                                         
You came to make us whole
Love in nature Living in the dust and pain                          
You came to save my soul

Last Chorus
And light - that caused the stars to flame,
Created worlds, sustains all things -
Was captured in a baby boy,
Tiny fists and bright new eyes    (Pause)
Bringing hope to a broken world

This song came out of a traumatic personal situation, where I found that at the time I ought to have been most anxious and afraid I was instead filled head to toe with the utterly supernatural peace of God. It’s found in Jesus!!
My lovely wife Emily on bvs

ps excuse the image!

The inspiration for this came last Sunday during the evening service at Mosaic Church. During the sung worship I had this extremely vivid picture of a child being held snugly in his fathers arms; it was a warm and orange scene. I started by trying to capture the child’s thoughts:

Sat upon the rocking chair, his child cradled in his arms
His crimson top, in the crackling firelight, glowing
A soft voice sings, masking the rain against the window
Curled up tightly, secure on his fathers lap
The child whispers in the quiet of his heart:

“Hold me close, Father, snug within your arms.
Shelter me from the driving rain falling all around.
Sing over me everything flowing from your heart.
Whisper sweetly, softly words my soul understands.
I feel the warmth of your breathe, giving me life
And peace as I cling to you.
Never let me go, Father, always
Left me have your embrace.”

The inspiration for this poem came from a vivid image of a small bird on a spindly branch spreading her wings to sing just after the sunset in that time between dusk and night. It really captured my imagination and I hope the following poem encapsulates what I saw.

The twilight songbird spreads her delicate sings,
The night opens as her calling softly begins.

A melancholy tune to a lonely ear,
A sonnet of love to a cheerful dear.

Her song fills the still evening air,
Her lover embarks to join her there.

Together they form an estranged duet,
Together their sound rises above the sunset.

Golden fades to silver blue,
Blue to deep, and then comes the moon.

This animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA’s Benjamin Franklin award.

The Bible talks about how God will “reason” with us - that he loves us, and he loves to hear from us, and that when we do talk to him and appeal to him, we can see change in our lives and our circumstances.  I think God cries out for us to communicate with him.  That is the premise of this song.

This is an old hymn which I have just been singing a lot in my own times of praise recently, and i think it is an awesome song which deserves a fresh version. The melody is beautiful, and the truth in the lyrics is unchanging and just awesome.

I know this recording is a bit raggedy round the edges, but I think maybe I prefer things that way anyway.

Hope you enjoy and are led to worship Him!

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my pardon this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my cleansing this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Nothing can for sin atone
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Not of good that I have done
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Now by this I’ll overcome
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Now by this I’ll reach my home
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Glory, glory this I sing
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
All my praise for this I bring
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

My first song upload! .

This is a song I wrote for the North 2010 camping weekend.  It’s written from the perspective of God speaking to his people (in Christianese, we’d call it a “prophetic song”).  I really felt to communicate the aspect of God as a jealous lover.  I’m captivated by this facet of his character, and I think it’s something that we can so easily miss, or just skim the top of. 

Here are the lyrics…

“TOGETHER”
Oh, you thought that you knew me
Through and through
But you’ve barely seen what I am to you
I’m the glory of kings, I’m the glory of kings
And the lover of the weak

You can’t earn my love by what you do
Cause you didn’t find me, it was me who found you
And you’ve stolen my heart, Oh you’ve stolen my heart
With one glance of your eyes

Don’t give me a lukewarm life
It’s never gonna be enough, It’s never gonna satisfy
I don’t want your duty, I want your love
I want you with a jealous fire, I’ve written you on my arms
Cause you’re the one my heart has desired

So come ride, come away, let me hear you sing
Oh my love, there is no shame in your longing
Oh I am yours, Yes I am yours
And you are mine

So come ride high with the clouds of heaven
Lift your eyes, and let them fall on me
Oh you and I will come together
You’re the song of my heart
And I’m yours and you are mine
I’m yours and you are mine

So come with unveiled eyes
Come, come, come
Cause this is the time of our love

I know that one day I’ll see right
May not be now but it’s in sight
Whether I am right or wrong
Could affect the place where we belong

We just let it pass us by
Something affecting our whole life
And not only does life seem long
But it could go beyond

Choose.

There’s a day you’ll see what’s right
You might be blinded by a light
Don’t just sit and wait
Don’t let yourself be too late

Clocks are ticking all the time
Think over a glass of wine
Could you give an evening to
Suss out if what you live is true

This a collaboration with my sister for her GCSE coursework last year. We sampled our parents car, then played about with rhythms and noises.

Anyone fancy making a video?

It’s not rocket science…

Playing around with scans of some woodblock type to create this postcard. Thinking of running it as a screen print if anyone wants one?

With a few other artists from church I am looking to run a market stall has anyone else had experience of this , any hints or tips?

I’d wanted to write this poem since I had a really clear daydream about a leaf slowly falling. I now want to write a few more poems about different aspects of nature where I give them personalities. Enjoy!

Autumn approaches as the winds turn blue,
Velvet air hugs the silent trees.

The first leaf takes hold in the morning light,
She spreads herself and prepares for flight.
“Release me”, she whispers in a rustling sound,
As she begins her decent to the bare ground.

But the wind hears her sorrows no to be alone,
And gathers her friends in a swelling moan.

Falling the leaf tumbles and turns,
Going this way and that only to learn.
Her friends are not as brave and cling to fate,
The winds tries hard but alas too late.

Landing softly she looks and sees,
Her friends raining gently, a heavenly view.

So. This is a song about the fear of ending up alone, drinking Tizer watching the snooker. Not that I don’t do that already, I’m just hoping this habit will pass eventually. Anyways, it’s still pretty rough and ready so any suggestions for improvement would be much appreciated. Here’s the lyrics:

Sunlight escapes from the curtain of grey
But I can’t jump out of the bed I have made
I am clawing dust off my shoulder blades
Suddenly, Someone appears on the stair
Tender of touch and close to the air
I am breathing, heaving
And then it fades

I want to find Love in the end
Not to know that I’m alone

When I try to choose something that I should love
No option to circle “All of the above”
I am clutching, grasping at shortened straws
If Hope should appear from a flickering light
Would I be bothered to depart the night?
I am closing open doors

I want to find Love in the end
Not to know that I’m alone
To desire the hold of a friend
And the quickening sense of Home

Jesus, You chose the cross
You gave Yourself, Instead of us
Jesus, the pain You bore
It was not Yours, It was ours

And so we lay our lives down
In sacrifice to You
We’re giving all we are
For the glory of Your name

Lord God, You’ve chosen us
Adopted us, As your sons
And now we’re saved, by Your grace
Not by our strength, It’s all through You

Holy Spirit
Speak to us
We’ll follow You where You lead

I cry out for You
When I’m in the darkest place
I call on Your name

I cry out for You
When troubles come my way
I call on Your name
And You’re not far away

Because of Your great love
You’ve called me into Your presence
Your faithfulness never fails
You are my rock and I will wait for You

Your mercies are new
Every morning, every day
I’ll set my hope in You
Every morning, every day

I cry out for You
When I’m broken and confused
I call on Your name

I cry out for You
When I long for Your embrace
I call on Your name
And You’re not far away

You are all I want
You are all I need

And you never know who’s within earshot….

(These guys are distant polar relatives of the other ones, hence the white fur (just in case you were wondering).)

This is a remix of Just As I Am for 8 voices.

The idea was to showcase the voice and features the following:

A barbershop quartet,
Mouth trumpet,
Rapper (the lovely Viv)
Beatboxer (KK),
Reversed spoken voice

I didn’t compose it for listener enjoyment, but rather to showcase the voice, and take the listener on a rather unusual journey through everything from super-locrian harmonies to jazz and is probably not like anything else on here! Enjoy.

The music is supposed to reflect the dramatic transformation of our planet from being null and void into something harmonious, perfect and Glorious!

I always find that the easiest way to convey gender with non-human characters is to just give the females big eyelashes and a bow on the head.  (Hey, it worked for Walt Disney!)

Into this mind a thought
entered, exciting but dangerous.
It spoke of new ideas
Of new paths and new hopes.

The mind was scared and fear
overwhelmed reason and it forgot.
Hidden in secret biding its time, soon
It was nothing more than a memory

Distant at first, it grew, in silence
It found its strength, in darkness
It prevailed not tainted.

Once more it returned, bravely
It spoke, all who could hear listened.
It spoke of new ideas
Of new paths and new hopes.

It spoke a picture of beauty,
Of grace and unconditional love.
Of heaven touching earth
And of perfect joy.

Oh to see the mountains,
to climb upon their backs,
To scramble in the foothills
and discover their secret tracks.

The grandeur that my heart does seek
To survey the world from the lofty peaks.

Away from me you cityscape
built by mighty hands,
Not your comforts or cathedrals
in my pleasant lands.
Bid me farewell

I whisper this to you alone,
You’re my love and I have shown
You all the secrets of my heart,
All things the world wish me part.

I found glory for all to see,
It is joy that wells up inside of me,
He bids me come and drink my fill,
To approach him boldly and be still.

So do not listen to the lies,
Hear the voice that clearly cries,
Come with me and don’t be shy,
Shed your fears, embrace the sky.

Soar above the drifting clouds,
On the wind that blinds the proud,
Be brave and don’t look down,
Forever forward into the great unknown.

What would you do to save the one you love
How far would you go to keep them safe
Would you give it all, go beyond faith
Would you drown to keep them above

Would you endure until all hope is lost
Stand beside them and never budge
Take their place in front of a judge
And in love stay silent, face betrayal,
even to death on a cross?

A lullaby sung softly over the crying child,
Held tightly within the embrace of the loving father.
Tears flowing down reddened checks so mild.

“Hush my child and let it go,
Do not grasp onto the sorrow.
Hush my sweet and let it rest,
The deeds are done no more to confess.
Be still dear one and hold it not,
The night is cold be shall be forgot.
Be still my child and let it be,
Tomorrow is new the sun told me.”
Eyes are closing, tired heads laid to sleep,
Troubled faces succumbed to peace.
Father smiles, bends down to kiss his keep.

Before the night, before the day,
Before the world and creation lay,
Before the heavens and the earth,
Before the light had been birthed.
Before it all stood the King.

Above the sky’s, above the clouds,
Above the stars and all that shrouds,
Above the fears and the woes,
Above all evil, above all foes.
Above it all stands the King.

After the storm, after the sun,
After all war and battles are done,
After the rise, after the fall,
After man, his descendants and all.
After it all will stand the King.

I lie awake and wonder,
About places I have yet to be,
And on and on I ponder,
About places I shall never see.

Further than the rising sun,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Wider than any savannah runs,
Taller than the tallest tree.

Snow shimmers and gleam,
Waters froth and churn so free,
Clouds scatter broken by beams,
Grass gently swaying, and me.

It is only after death does life truly start.
The place where the end is just the beginning.
Search long and wide, deep and far.
Go further to seek the places lost in time.
Yet they’ll remain just that.

Forever, Always.

And the only place left to look is the deathbed.
But can you get there any sooner?
The answer, no, wait to be where you belong.
It is there you will find me.
My true self without the shackles that bind.
Without the fears, the worries, the pain.
I live forever in the shadow of my King.

And there I sit, staring out of my window
out into a world of pain & lose that I do no understand.
Yesterday a baby died, & a mother cried.

And there I sit, staring out of my window
out into a world of pain & suffering I have not felt.
Today a brother will die, & a sister will cry.

And there I sit, staring out of my window
out into a world of pain & disaster I hope to miss.
Tomorrow a father will fall,
a son will crumble,
& a brother will not wake.
A man will die
& no tears will be shed
no, non at all.

Even if you loved me, I cannot come home
For it is too late now, I’ve already gone.
Please forgive me that I left
But I know it was for the best.

“Now don’t go crying”, is what I tell myself,
“And for broken heart? Drink to good health”.

I have run from the thunder, fled from the rain;
These foes they follow, to haunt me again.
Don’t think I’m lying to make myself stronger
There tears are real, hidden in laughter.

I want to tell the world about my secret superhero,
the one who saved my day
made the bad things go away

I want to tell the world about my secret superhero,
the one who brings a smile to my face
loved me when I deserved no grace

I want to tell the world about my secret superhero,
the one who knew me like no other
knew my flaws yet held me tighter

I want to tell the world about my secret superhero,
but I’m afraid I’ll lose what I’ve got
afraid my hand will slip,
my heart grow heavy,
& tears will drop.

Autumn sun, Winter rain,
Spring wind, and Summer again.
Seasons come and seasons fall,
Seasons change for us all.

Man was made to work and praise,
Man did sin and One man did save.
Before the world He was there,
Knowing endless joy but harbouring despair.

For He knew that man with lustful heart,
Would turn their backs and hence depart.
So He set in motion a plan to free,
His beloved creation from their own misdeeds.

So thanks to Him who gave His life,
Our debt is paid and we’re free from strife.
Time continues ever on,
But we shall not fear,
our hope is in a victory already won.

What makes a man?
At what point does the boy lose that something
& put on the new garment of manhood?
Can a boy learn to be a man by his own devices?
Or does he need a guide to show him the path?
& if so we must look to our Father in Heaven.

What is it that separates the two?
Like water & air there is a fine line between them.
Can a boy stand up to the test of life?
When all around him his life is crashing & burning
is it a boy, or a man that can stand up?
A man that knows when it is time to retreat.

But life is not all full of misery.
There are things to do, sights to behold,
treasures to find, secrets to keep.
Is it in boyhood a man gains his adventurous heart?
Each man is different, & yet is some way alike.
All fighting a battle to survive is this world.

A boy cannot always be boy, or should not.
It is a sad sight to see a boy in a mans body.
There you see the truth of a society slowly
falling down at the wayside.
We need men, real men to boldly stand up
for what is right, good & just.
& guide the boys down the path to manhood
& robe them in the mantle of love, bravery,
compassion, strength, kindness, humbleness,
joy, leadership, and love.

The joys of poetry rhyming,
Lie quite simply in the timing,
From syllables that form the line,
And haphazard beats there to shine,

To constructing sentences in orders different,
To help the poor poet make the rhymes consistent,

There is so much more to be said,
On these words written to be read,
But simply put there comes a time,
For poems to end, still with rhyme.

God, so much do I need Your grace,
That shines so brightly from Jesus’ face.

I beg for mercy, most undeserved,
& find it there, Blood brought, here on Earth.

You sent Your Son to die for me,
A sinner; hopeless case or what I thought would be.

Through Your Holy Spirit my inner workings are changing,
All because of You, & Your sacrifice given & willing.

To do the Father’s will so my debt could be paid,
& clothes of Righteousness before me laid.

By Your power & for Your glory I put them on,
Forever shining, praising God’s only begotten Son.

Bad rhyming poetry, you may think is simple
Writing line after line that has no coupling
But, be warned of you will of the human mind
To seek patterns in verses of which are not there
Very good it is at finding hidden meanings
That even smart poets thought where non-existent
Even now in this very poem you’re reading
Each line matches in the number of syllables
So there you go, in poetry with bad rhyming
Hidden timings can stare at you there in full view
Please remember not the mistakes that have been made
Enjoy the bad rhyming poetry written here