Everywhere

From the mountains to the valleys
From the skies so far above to the depths of the seas
From the poorest in the world to the rich in lofty seats
From the small town to the big city and every street
You are there, Lord you are everywhere

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot escape from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

The single mother with a baby and the one down on their knees
The outcast the unloved those who suffer from disease
The helpless and the broken burdened and betrayed
The forgotten or neglected happy just to greet another day
You are there, Lord the one who cares

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot run from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

For the widow and the orphan crying out for peace
For those who stand up asking violence to cease
For those who work to help and those who work to save
For the many whom, for their belief, their very lives they gave
You are there, Lord the one who loves

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot go from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

From our innermost thoughts to the deepest parts of us
When we love you and when we fuss
From what we are now to what someday we will be
When we tie ourselves with our choices and when we are set free
You are there, Lord the one who knows

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot hide from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere


You are here in our midst as we gather as one
You are here with us when the hour has come

You are here when we come to you in prayer
Even when we do not feel you, still you are here

You are here at all times whether we want you or not
You never leave us even when we leave you and that means a lot

You are with us every minute and every hour
You are with us by our side when we are feeling satan’s power

You are with us always until the end of time and there forever after
You are with us in our tears, our sufferings, our joys, and our laughter


No matter where we are or what we do we cannot be away from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

These are the things I love

Running through the meadow in fields of wildflowers
The sun shining bright and gentle spring showers
The sound of waves gently kissing the beach
At night when the stars seem so close to reach
The warm summer stirring my hair
Knowing always my family will be there

These are some things I love

Fresh baked bread and homemade apple pie
A long happy day concluded with a tired sigh
Friends that are forever and love that is pure and true
Spending time with those I love and when I think of you
Being there for those in need and ones that are suffering
To take a bad day make it happy and the joy we bring

These are some things I enjoy

To lie on my back and watch the stars at night
Sunrise and sunset the glorious sight
To know in my heart what my eyes cannot see
Spirit soaring in flight with the eagles so wild and free
A cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day
The blessings it brings when children obey

These are some things I adore

Take a moment now and then
To make a list you can use when
Joy in life seems hard to come along
Sing to yourself a happy song
If you try real hard to don a grin
I think you’ll see changes slowly begin
A little smile is a potent thing you know
Filling all around you with a warm and radiant glow

Regrets (Going Home)

I’m sitting at the stop light waiting for the light to turn green
Traffic is bad and I’m waiting for an hour it seems
The song on the radio is playing one from Red
And thoughts keep spinning ‘round, like a carousel in my head
I’m living like I’m driving: always moving but not taking time
To be in the moment or to read the signs
Going through the motions on autopilot every day
What more is there to life? Is there a better way?
What have I been missing that is hiding in plain sight?
There is more in this world outside my personal plight
You know I’m thinking about you now
And I sit here wondering how
You are doing and everything I’m missing
I had so many chances and here I am wishing
Hoping I could go back and do it all over again
To be there for you to be there for my best friend
I lost sight of what was truly important in pursuit of personal gain
I have all this money but the fact still remains:
I have no family now and money simply cannot fix
This emptiness inside the sadness from all this
I want you to know I’m sorry and I was so wrong
I never realized how much I had until all of it was gone
Please know I pray for you and for the kids whenever I can
I know I could’ve been better, been a Godlier man
I could’ve gone to church on Sundays, prayed a little more
I could’ve stood up for our family: a thing worth fighting for
If only I had been aware before all that I now know
I might have done things differently if so
I have come to understand a little a purpose far greater than me
Life is more than just a job, money, or nice things I believe
It is family, it is love, it is a something that you feel
In your heart, in your soul, and it is very real
Helping others, taking care of yourself, being there, showing love
These are all things that matters most if push comes down to shove
Then again it’s not too late to try to reconcile
I’ll take responsibility for consequences and go the extra mile
The only thing I would ask is to keep me in your prayers
And that you know wherever you go someone really cares
The song changes, the light turns and I continue heading home
To a place I can go back to no matter how far away I might roam

I Asked For Only

I asked for a shelter; you gave me your home
I asked for acceptance; you loved me as your own
I asked for love; you gave me your heart
I asked for patience; you were here from the start
I asked for understanding; you have been to the core
I asked for very little; you gave me so much more

I was a stranger; you welcomed me just the same
Outcast and without purpose; you gave me a name
I was in prison; you came and visited me
Troubled and confused; you opened my eyes to see
I was naked and without clothes; you gave me something to wear
Cold and exposed; you took the time to care
I was hungry and thirsty; you gave me water and bread
And in doing so, my soul was also fed
I was sad; you gave me comfort and dried my tears
Scared and alone; you quieted my fears

In all my years I only dreamed that I could be this blessed
Now this dream a reality never adequately expressed

Remember when we used to play outside until the sun went down
Remember when we used to laugh run and have no cares or worries
Remember how much brighter the sun was and colors radiant
Remember what it felt like to fly with the birds and swim in the sea
Remember how we were once young and fierce and free?

Now the world seems a little colder a little darker than before
Now it seems that little by little, life has somehow passed us by
We no longer know what it feels like to soar what it means to be alive
Full of concern we worry and fret we begin to forget
What things were like before we grew up.

Eyes so full of wonder filled with a sense of awe capturing each moment
Ears that take in every word every sound
Heart so filled with love and hope and more than big enough for all
Head full of hopes and dreams imagination and inspiration
Have a light and happy heart and never forget to bring your smile

There are many things we may end up teaching our kids one day
Important things to be sure
But our kids teach us and remind us where our focus should lie
Though we may not feel it sometimes they keep us young I would be remiss
If I forgot to mention the wisdom of a child is not a thing to dismiss

They look up to you and for better or for worse they are constantly watching
“I want to be a man like you” or “I want to marry a man just like daddy”
No sweeter words could a father hear, a greater gift no parent could ask for
Let us live our lives with balance: equal measures of youth and maturity
Of work and play, of fun and sincerity

May we have the grace to find balance in our lives
May we receive the judgment to put it into practice
And the peace that comes from having it realized

Amen

Noises and distractions abound
Calling out for our attention all clamoring
All the motion, all the lights, all the sound
Pulled apart in every direction, the hammering

Living in a society with life in constant chaos
Sensory overload and constantly connected to everything
In actuality totally disconnected to what really matters
Distant from people, apart from sadness and grief
Brain racing faster than a bullet train can’t get any sleep

Is there anyone as gone as I am today?
Losing the commotion of the world for a moment
It is then that we can begin to start finding ourselves
Finding who it is we really are and why we’re here
Connected with our joys, fears, hopes, sadness and dreams
So many wondrous things you can see when you cut yourself free

Breathe in deeply. Smell life, smell love, smell joy
Listen closely. Hear the symphony of life. Hear the song in your heart
Feel again. Feel warmth, peace, and light
Taste the spice of creativity and crave a zest for life
Touch the world. Reaching hearts and helping hands
Press pause or at least slow down

Lose yourself in the mystery the majesty of the moment
Discover yourself in the deep and the divine daily
See yourself in the stillness and the solitude of silence
Free yourself from fear from fame and fortune
Peaceful presence is yours in the power of perpetual prayer
Find yourself once more in Jesus Christ the Lord

If we were to somehow able to learn
The secret to happiness and peace
Perhaps we could then discern
Sometimes silence is sweet release

Close your eyes; sit in silence and in still
Empty yourself: be open, free, and calm
Watch, wait, listen: patiently let it fill
Until you find in your mind no qualm

Be alert and aware of what it is you feel
To know your soul is the goal, please do not dismiss
Define the lines between what is false and what is real,
Of all that is important, always remember this:

Take a moment now and then to search for who you are,
Know your heart and know yourself, be the best you can
Know this and know with confidence you can go so far
Try to see and bring out the best in every woman child and man