I find my personal security
In knowing who God is
How great the Grace and mercy
That saved me from my sins
Words alone cannot spell out
The plague of fear and doubt
That He removed from me
I am a slave to it no longer
In His Awesome Presence
The darkness must flee
The guilt and shame
Is no longer implied with my name
Because of the blood
Washing like a flood
Over this sinner's soul
I have been made whole
My eyes can see
The value of a life
As the Lord intended it to be
I am loved
I live to love
No one should offend me
Not when God Almighty
Left his only Son to
Die on a tree
I do not fear
What I may see or hear
Others say or do today
My identity rests
And I am blessed
With this new life that's
In me to stay

If you want real change
You have to want it bad enough
Bad enough to stay resilient
When life gets really tough
Circumstances change
Feelings do too
You don't have to let yourself
Forever stay blue
Not everyone in the world
Will be faithful and true
The only thing or person you will have power over
To control or change
Is you

Never make promises that you cannot keep
Always back up your words with action
Consistency leads to
Satisfaction
But talk is always
cheap
Every idol word
spoken
Is another piece of trust
broken

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not shouting, "I am saved!"
I'm whispering, "I was lost..."
That is why I chose this way.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't speak with worldly pride
I'm confessing that I stumble,
And need Someone to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong
I'm professing that I'm weak
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting I have failed,
And cannot ever pay the dept.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are much too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I call upon His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I do not wish to judge
For I have no authority
I only know I'm LOVED!

I don't hate the people
I hate what they do
As they stubbornly pretend to
Be someone they're not
Real security and confidence
Is not something they've got
Misery is their lot
As they go around faking
Undertaking
To fool those that care the most
Utterly forsaking
A real attempt at making
Genuine relationships
Real and close
I don't hate the people
I hate what they decide
As they put on a front
To cover up and hide
The undealt with mess
And turmoil inside
What they need is not
A good disguise
Or more convincing lies
But to face and embrace
The truth
And towards freedom
Rise

The mind is a battlefield
Where wars are often fought
Between conflicting forces
From which freedom has been sought

Just what is it we are fighting?
As we wrestle and we juggle
In an ocean of mixed emotions
With what and why do we struggle?

We have a long time enemy
This much I know is true
And he has raged against our minds
Ever since he knew
That he could tempt us, bend our wills
With evil intention
Our souls pursue

We fight against ourselves as well
Though maybe sometimes it's hard to tell
Why we so easily do this
Overthinking is a spell

A merciless black hole
Is what it has always been
And if you are not careful
It will **** and pull you in

It will put you in a tailspin
Causing confusion from within
Making you believe you're a goner
That the fight you'll never win

Fear is the root beneath this
So I have come to believe
An accuser and abuser
From which we seek reprieve

Total control is not the answer
Should we again remind
Ourselves that we don't control the whole
Stream within our minds?

The pictures, the visions,
The memories, the words
The desires they invoke
The passions they stir
A tangle of feelings
That soon become a blur

Why are they so strong?
Are they right or wrong?
In what part of the heart exactly
do they belong?
I won't be denying that I've been trying
To figure this out
For way too long

We're only human
So I know it's OK
To have this struggle
From day to day
We all do battle in our minds
Just in different ways

I picture my thoughts as little waves
That pass through the immeasurable Ocean of my brain
I desire them to flow smoothly
In and out with little pain
So that my connections and reserves
Will not drain
My thoughts are the current
From which the wind must restrain
Itself from raging upon
When it tries in tyranny
To reign

My thoughts I will master
They will not detain
Me from forward progress
From spiritual gain
I WILL keep my head
And forever stay sane

Whatever the chaos
Or things that go wrong
I know who I am
And to whom I belong
I have confidence and trust
In the One who makes me strong

To my future son:
With utmost awe and reverence, we greet and bring you to this world. Everything to you is new and intriguing; your life has yet to be unfurled. We're so happy that you made the trip here safely and unharmed. We're glad to see you holding fast, here in your mother's arms.
You mean so much to your mother, and me; more than this world around you will ever see. You are a special blessing from above; a reminder of God's faithfulness, and His love.
I do not have all the words to tell you, indeed, what must be said. And I know your eyes are small and fragile, and cannot see ahead. For a prodigious journey lies out before you; there are many joys and afflictions you have yet to come to. And in your innocence and nescience of mind, true understanding you have yet to find. But I know without a doubt, and that with all my heart; God will watch over you always, and from you never depart.
Enjoy your days of simplicity for as long as they shall last. For the time won't be long, my dear son, until these years are past. Learn and grow the best you can with what life brings your way. For soon the truth will dawn upon you, and bring you to many a fateful day.
Little by little, you will come to apprehend: The wilderness around you; the troubles of life that seem to have no end. Though you be disappointed or dismayed, do not let your heart be afraid. Do not believe your life is done. For a road to destiny lies our before you, and your mysterious pilgrimage has just begun.
Your trials and your hardships will bring you to a choice. Will you open up your mind and heart to hear the Savior's voice? For that inevitable moment will come to you the same; when you realize God is oh so real, and that He knows your name.
One day you will see the importance of God's calling on your life. Someday, you too will rise to say: "I want to give Him ALL my life!"
Even as you make the decision to take Jesus by the hand, you may wonder how to see this world exactly; and to know exactly where you stand. Some days you will think that maturity seems unattainable and far. But no matter the winds and storms that threaten, NEVER forget just who you are.
Jesus Christ has chosen and adopted YOU, as a child in His kingdom, son. There is no higher purpose; this world will offer none.
He has the perfect will and plan for your eternal being. One that you will find in faith, not by physically seeing.
Fret not, my son, for I will stand by you, as sure as you are my token. I will do my best to counsel you wisely; to speak only words that must be spoken. I will share your happiness and heartaches the same; I will endeavor to identify with your dusty frame. I won't give up on what God has invested, no matter what way in this life you are tested.
And when the time comes for you to be more on your own, I will remind you that with God's presence, you are never alone.
He knows your deepest desires; He longs to satisfy your needs. Even ones you cannot identify, God Himself can see.
Jesus will love you perfectly, when no one else can. Remember He is ALWAYS good, and He has a plan.