When darkness falls all around me
My eyes are clouded by sin and iniquity
And hope seems distant, prayers unheard
Feeling insignificant in terms of eternity

Still Your goodness toward me ever flows
I’m cherished as a child of the covenant
Knit in love with others whom He knows
Indwelt by the Spirit’s sweet commandment
Words of grace and truth that will remind me
Flesh and blood aren’t meant to be my enemy
I will trust in You and claim Your might
Knowing then my failures turn to right
In Your mercy glory will surround me
I will praise Your name in eternity
You alone are worthy, worthy, worthy
I will praise Your name in eternity.

When weakness seems to abound in me
My arms are crippled by laziness and apathy
And life feels stagnant, steeped in pain
You remind me of the truth in Your reality
I’m cherished as a child of the covenant
Knit in love with others whom He knows
Indwelt by the Spirit’s sweet commandment
Words of grace and truth that will remind me
Flesh and blood aren’t meant to be my enemy
I will trust in You and claim Your might
Knowing then my failures turn to right
In Your mercy glory will surround me
I will praise Your name in eternity
You alone are worthy, worthy, worthy
I will praise Your name in eternity.

Lord, we are just children
Snared by our ignorance
Measuring the universe
With feeble tools and foolishness.

Lord, we think we understand
The length of Your creation
The width of Your perfection
The depth of Your heart’s intention.

But all we really need
The Lord will surely provide.
Help us to see clearly, always in the Light
Speaking for You fearlessly, always in the Light.
Walking like You… Lord, what would You do?
Guide our steps plainly, always in the Light.

Lord, we need Your help to focus
Rightly and to accurately weigh
How to use our time and talents
Mightily for You every day.

In the world yet separated
From evil, conceit, mediocrity
Refine us, keep us consecrated
Mindful of spirit and eternity.

But all we really need
The Lord will surely provide.
Help us to see clearly, always in the Light
Speaking for You fearlessly, always in the Light.
Walking like You… Lord, what would You do?
Guide our steps plainly, always in the Light.

Overwhelmed with worldly care
Help us remember You are ever there
Satan with his smoke and mirrors
Cannot withstand the Light of You.

We’re created for Your purpose and plan
Meant to follow those great in faith
Sacrificially giving, courageously living
Transformed by Your love and grace and strength.

And all we really need
The Lord will surely provide.
Help us to see clearly, always in the Light
Speaking for You fearlessly, always in the Light.
Walking like You… Lord, what would You do?
Guide our steps plainly, always in the Light.

skies like blue water
peaceful and calmly watching
the shaking and the breaking

The catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12 has resulted in unfathomable chaos and devastation for hundreds of thousands of children and families.

Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit.

The people of Haiti desperately need our help and hope.

Please reach out in the name of Jesus to bring relief, comfort, love and restoration to precious children and families whose lives have been devastated by this crisis.

HOW CAN I HELP?

1. You can provide immediate relief today. Click on the words “Haiti Earthquake” or go to http://bit.ly/HelpHaitiCI.

• $35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.
• $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.
• $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.
• $210 gift helps care for two families’ needs.
• $525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.
• $1,050 gift helps care for 10 families’ needs.
• $1,500 helps rebuild a home.
• $2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.

2. You can pray. To see the prayer requests from the Haiti Country Office of Compassion International, click on the words “Pray for Haiti“.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” ~ John 17:20-21

3. Spread the word via email, your Facebook account, your blog, or any other means available to you.

Pouring autumn rain
Annoyed when “time-savers” don’t work properly
Wasting even more precious time
Efforts lost with no fruit to show.
Thunder rumbles overhead
Deadlines looming
Stripping my branches
For what?

Piercing winds scatter dead leaves
False expectations
Friendships shatter
It’s You and me.
Yet promises stand
Tall, unyielding, strong as an oak
More enduring than time
Or our colorful surroundings.

Prepare for new growth
Once the chaff has blown
And I’m ground to powder
Sifted and refined.
Fill me with Your Spirit
Knead me with Your hands
Once the fire is past
May I burst forth
Renewed and pure as an apple blossom.

Buy THIRD DAY

From the album 
Chronology 1

by THIRD DAY

(Click to listen)

Your love, oh Lord, reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean’s tide

I will lift my voice
To worship You, my King
I will find my strength
In the shadow of your wings

Buy Barlow Girl

Psalm 73 – My God’s Enough
(Click on Title to listen)

From the album Another Journal Entry
By Barlow Girl (featuring Todd Agnew)

I’ve had enough of living life for only me
And reaching just for the things that keep destroying me
So sick of envying the lives of so many I see
Somehow believing that they have what I need

My God’s enough for me
This world has nothing I need
In this whole life I’ve seen
My God’s enough, enough for me
I can’t explain why I suffer though I live for You
Those who deny You they have it better than I do
Cover my eyes now so that my heart can finally see
That in the end only You mean anything

Who have I in heaven but You
Nothing I desire but You
My heart may fail but not You
You are mine forever

My God’s enough for me
This world has nothing I need
In this whole life I’ve seen
My God’s enough, enough for me
I can’t explain why I suffer though I live for You
Those who deny You they have it better than I do
Cover my eyes now so that my heart can finally see
That in the end only You mean anything

Be confident that God is on your side, and invest all your hopes in Him.

Consider the faithfulness of the LORD, and the depth of His love; be assured that you can count on Him.

Dawn’s glory will seem dim beside your righteousness in Christ; like the Son, your justice and mercy will shine.

Every day, hour, minute and second are wholly His; patiently wait until He decides the time is right. The prosperity of evildoers is not worth even a moment’s thought.

Fury is never a solution, and acting in anger should be avoided; even worry demonstrates a lack of trust in His faithfulness.

God will execute justice on those who reject His goodness; but those who know Him and trust Him will freely receive everlasting life.

He will not preserve the legacy of the wicked; they vanish in the blink of an eye.

Inner peace is the reward for humble trust and obedience; you will know the fulfillment of God’s faithful promises.

Joyfulness in the midst of trials sustains you, but causes the wicked ones to foam at the mouth like rabid dogs.

Knowing the mockers are expecting the worst, the LORD will laugh as he openly turns the tables, pouring blessing on his faithful children.

Look at the wicked defying God! Kicking the poor, spitting on the needy, and squashing those who are blameless; their weapons are ineffective and injure only those who wield them.

Money and materialism won’t save anyone; but the LORD defends the righteous, who have placed their trust in Him.

No circumstance you face today can destroy you; God’s promise to the faithful is abundant life, even in times of great trouble.

Outward prosperity, charm, and beauty will count for nothing when the evil ones face the judgment of God; eternal life will escape them.

Possessiveness breeds envy and dissatisfaction that ends in total emptiness and ultimate destruction; giving and forgiving are the acts of those who love God, who are favored and blessed with eternal life.

Quiet your fears; you are beloved of God, Who directs your steps to solid ground and holds your hand securely.

Rest assured, the LORD has always provided for His own, and in turn, you pour out blessings on others; See how He causes your children to flourish!

Start anew, O sinner, seeking holiness at the cross of Jesus; Your faith will be rooted deeply in the mercy of God, so His justice is satisfied. Stand back and watch your life blossom supernaturally, then give Him the glory.

The Word of God is wisdom in the mouth of the believer; it flows from his heart and rains truth and justice on the Earth in the power of the Spirit.

Undoubtedly, the wicked want you dead and buried; but they don’t realize that Almighty God is sovereign.

Victory is guaranteed to you who are part of the family of God! So don’t freak out, just patiently wait; and you will see His triumph with your own two eyes.

When it seems like the unrighteous ones are enjoying the spoils, look again; their power, popularity, and prestige will be popped like a balloon.

X-ray the hearts of the wicked and the blameless, and reflect on the impact of one’s life decisions; endless separation from God — or eternal life with God.

Your good works won’t do it, as only the LORD can banish our sins to the bottom of the sea; only He is our safe harbor in a storm.

Zealously our God helps the righteous one, delivering you from every trouble, and saving you from every enemy; because you trust in Him, Who faithfully and lovingly shapes and grows you into the likeness of Christ.

Tracing steps that led me here.

Washed away in strings of years.

There’s no way back.  No way back.

Yesterday was not my home.

In Egypt’s desert where I roamed.

As manna’s taste is too well-known.

There’s no way back.  No way back.

Urgently pressed, gather my load.

Wrath and fire, the skies unfold.

Left behind, both friends and foes.

There’s no way back.  No way back.

Betrayal marks the heated trail.

The bond of blood was made for sale.

Threshing through this fragile bale.

There’s no way back.  No way back.

Sweat and blood and tears congealed.

Time slowed down across this field.

Penning new words; fates are sealed.

There’s no way back.  No way back.

When I arrive where I can stay.

With gold terrain and endless play.

There will be no more talk of this yesterday.

And no way back.  No way back.

BUY Casting Crowns

BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR

From the album Live From Atlanta

By Casting Crowns

(Click to listen)

All my days I will sing this song of gladness
Give my praise to the Fountain of Delights
For in my helplessness, You heard my cry
And waves of mercy poured down on my life

Beautiful Savior, Wonderful Counselor
Clothed in majesty, Lord of History
You’re the Way, the Truth and the Life
Star of the Morning, glorious in holiness
You’re the Risen One, Heaven’s Champion
And You reign, You reign over all

I will trust in the cross of my Redeemer
I will sing of the Lamb that never fails
Of sins forgiven, of conscience cleared
Of death defeated and life without end

Beautiful Savior, Wonderful Counselor
Clothed in majesty, Lord of History
You’re the Way, the Truth and the Life
Star of the Morning, glorious in holiness
You’re the Risen One, Heaven’s Champion
And You reign, You reign over all

Wonderful Counselor, beautiful Risen One!

Beautiful Savior, Wonderful Counselor
Clothed in majesty, Lord of History
You’re the Way, the Truth and the Life
Star of the Morning, glorious in holiness
You’re the Risen One, Heaven’s Champion
And You reign, You reign over all

I long to be where the praise is never ending
Yearn to dwell where the glory never fades
Where countless worshipers sing one song
And the voices of the nations
Sing worthy, worthy, worthy
Worthy Beautiful, Beautiful One
Jesus You are worthy, Beautiful, Beautiful One
Jesus You’re worthy, Beautiful, Beautiful One
You are worthy, Beautiful, Risen One