Redemption is my broken hearted story,
Life lived in the shadows feels important,
Bright lights trying to hide the dark night,
Rushing around busy completing useless tasks,
Frenetic activity seeking to calm my anxious mind,
Feeling like overwhelmed is the easiest path,
Until the self constructed life breaks in pieces,
Fragility masked by the clutter of riches.

The redeemed look arrogant rebellion in the eye,
Watching it retreat from the light,
Finally acknowledging that truth is never busy,
Honesty knows the miracle of forgiveness,
That brings creation into completeness,
Life flows freely from my trusted source,
Anxious fear forgotten forever.

I am surrounded by praise,
When my thoughts centre on His majestic plan,
My soul’s longings are my never dry well, my life source,
Understanding bringing a smile to my lips every day,
Providing for my needs and my heart’s cry,
Reaching out to me in loving compassion,
Showing me how to love unconditionally,

Eternity celebrates a faithful heart,
The heart that knows his true name,
Grace calls my special name formed from love,
My imagination cannot contain the praise,
Not one creature is missed by His love,
Every piece of ground is witness to His light.

Every person is called to worship God,
From the arrogant power mongers,
To the smallest child,
Only one God has lived among us,
Coming close so that his breath joined with mine.

Today’s defeat is tomorrow’s opportunity,
God’s calling is the ultimate equaliser,
Beloved, is the name of every last child of His,
Seated with all His loved children,
Brought together through love’s sacrifice,
Excited by the possibility of eternity,
And, the never ending opportunity to give thanks.

My delight begins with finding words to praise God,
And, in celebrating the lessons of disobedience,
The firm reminders of God’s hand on my life,
Tell me that nothing is left to chance.

Blessing has come from my wilderness wanderings,
When I had nothing left then beauty was found,
Light drew me to mercy’s soft eyes,
To the place where kindness speaks loudest,
Where compassion is heard and justice received.

I have decided about the life I want to live,
This is the life of hope that welcomes every day,
Firstly to listen to God’s voice and to obey,
Then, to live a truly generous life,
One that shares grace abundantly,
Trusting God for every moment lived,
Seeking greatness in every small opportunity,
Searching out the needs of others,
Giving out of blessing,
Knowing that there is always more to come.

I want the life of victory,
Where fear is kept where it belongs,
A life that knows about broken trust,
But, chooses to find what is trustworthy,
A life that has seen the fruit of selfish gain,
But, chooses to give without counting.

I am ready to leave selfish ambition behind,
He has prepared well for his own destruction,
Basking in his angry hollow threats,
That are forgotten and confused by the next lie,
His threats fading into the the abyss of nothing,
All his words a prison of endless frustrated anxiousness.

My delight comes from seeking out praise today,
The promise of seeking and finding answered again,
My heart’s deepest gladness celebrated in prayer,
Blessing after blessing found in praise.

God is never dismayed by the selfish taunts,
Of those who think that they have got it made,
Declaring their own greatness,
Making out that they are better than some ,
Thinking that somehow they control destiny,
Setting themselves up to be God,
Surrounded by likeminded wannabes,
A stinking mess of empty boasts.

In the middle of this cesspool,
A courageous beacon of hope calls my name,
Lifting me above the stench of self righteousness,
Together we stand in the presence of God,
Taunts fall by the way, powerless to reach me,
My soul replenished by Mercy’s protection,
What threatened to crush me is left to die,
I celebrate the promised victory each day,
My inheritance eternally assured.

Praise is truth spoken from my heart and my head,
It’s voice won’t be silenced by evil plans for long,
Hatred’s spittle is splashed all around me,
My kindness abused by the blows of resentment,
The moment he opens his mouth the lies flow,
A never ending barrage of angry words,
My love returned with constant betrayals,
Faithful devotion repaid with selfish gain.

I will continue to trust God for justice,
No longer compelled to defend myself,
A self serving life will count for little,
Soon forgotten in death’s quick accounting,
Here today gone tomorrow,
Short term gains lost because of greed,
No one listens to his whining, blaming words,
No one wants to be his friend,
No one remembers his pathetic lies,
Everyone of his hateful angry acts tallied up,
Remembered forever by God’s heart for the poor.

When mercy was an opportunity,
He kept at me day and night,
Chasing my thoughts,
Kindness his weapon used to stab the deepest,
Each wound bringing death closer,
Till the final hope in friendship was lost.

I came to the end of my rope,
Dangling from a thread,
Then I felt softest touch,
At first I thought I imagined it,
Then I heard the kindest words,
I didn’t think he was speaking to me,
Then I saw my total destitution,
When I was lowest I found unfailing love,
My worst shame became my beautiful coat,
My deepest failure my badge of victory for Grace,
Deserted at my worst possible moment,
The tables are now completely turned,
All the curses paid back double with blessing.

I stand confidently with the witness to Grace,
To my left and right are the faithful worshippers,
All the hateful accusations drowned out by praise,
Together celebrating blessing after blessing,
Sharing the gift of God’s strong hand,
Delivering us from the abyss of death.

Salvation songs stir up love’s beautiful longings,
Sunrise brings a new song,
Praise starts in my heart and is shouted out,
Heard by everyone near and far,
Love finds everyone’s deepest heartaches,
Seeking out the kindest response,
That lifts me up alongside his heavenly glory,
Worship’s fullest expression found,
Faithfulness expressed in eternal loyalty.

My life is surrounded by a holy promise,
Clothed in the sweet safety of redemption,
The gifts given to me are underserved,
My wealth is ten fold what was expected,
It rubs salt in the wounds of my dear enemy,
He looks on with envious despair,
Blessing is mine again,
Found in the safe haven of trust.

Safety is found in God’s protective presence,
Strengthening me for fresh adventures,
Ready to face the world with courage,
There is nothing to fear in God’s will,
The despair of hopeless failure,
Is banished by belonging to hope,
God holds up my life as a witness,
Of how gracious kindness can transform,
Nothing is ever lost or forgotten for his child,
Abundant blessing is the sweetest victory.

Life without God is the ultimate stupidity,
It is a life lived without any wisdom,
Beginning from a prideful spirit,
Ending with foolish self deceit,
Self destructing is the end result,
Of believing stupidity’s lies.

Compassion searches for the broken hearted,
Love’s touch is for those at their end,
Those who know their need for God,

Wisdom has learned it’s lesson,
Stupidity does the same thing over and over,
Until finally it’s foolishness is rewarded,
The lesson is learned too late,
Their fate is eternal ignorance,
But, belonging to God brings understanding,
Restored to be the centre of His pleasure,
Sharing eternity’s creative cries of wonder.

I long to know God’s loving gaze,
That comforts my deepest fears,
Eyes that seek out my heart,
And soothes my anxious thoughts.

My day begins with questions for God,
Why do you let my enemy succeed?
Isn’t it time justice was done?
Why don’t you stop his evil acts?

My deepest sadness,
Is calmed by God’s loving words,
My biggest failure,
Is God’s greatest opportunity,
Love’s kindest expression,
Is my daily transformation,
From despair to renewed life,
That brings a song to my heart,
Sung loud and clear for all to hear.

The bloodlust roar of the crowd surrounds me,
Shouting their deceitful lies,
Thinking that they are influencing truth,
Each lie building on a false foundation,
That seeks to justify their pride,
All of this is self deceit,
Doesn’t influence God one bit,
His heart is for the poor and broken,
The people the crowd jeers.

God’s anger is building against the liar,
His lies cause deep hurt,
The pain that God sees,
Will be the liar’s undoing,
The broken hearted will hear truth,
They will see pride’s back broken,
By God’s loving justice,
Bringing Creation back to order,
The liar’s time in the sun is brief,
Brokenness is restored.

Trust reaches out to me from heaven,
Offering me a loving embrace,
When I am surrounded by uncertainty,
I long for Eternity’s touch on my shoulder,
That turns me from facing fear,
To God’s loving gaze.

Search my untrustworthy heart,
Help me to find every sinful thought,
That doesn’t belong to love’s conversation,
I passionately long for your truth,
Your heart meets with mine,
Two hearts that are loyal forever,
Those choosing destruction don’t belong,
Instead I will bask in your loving gaze,
Celebrating your truth lived loyally,
Wrapped in your daily embrace.

All the grandiose plans people make,
Thinking that they are God,
Believing they control destinies,
Saying, “I don’t need God”,
Are piling up their stupidities,
The more plans and words,
Increases the amount of foolishness.

God is not intimidated by their words,
Even their feeble arrogance,
Quickly quivers before God’s presence,
Contempt ignores God’s warnings,
Until God finally brings justice home.

Everything is set right again,
My inheritance is put in place,
God’s promises to me fulfilled,
My enemies will be shattered,
Their words become their condemnation,
Illusions of grandeur quickly destroyed.

My happiness is found with God,
The lessons of trust are learned,
I see the warning signs of disloyalty,
They are quickly dealt with,
There is only room for serving God,
My day begins and ends with loving Him,
Joy is found knowing his protection.

Temptation has a million enticing words,
That seek to give false hope,
Always centred on evil intentions,
That believe arrogance will trump Eternity,
Always wanting to build themselves up,
By plotting my destruction.

My happiness is found in God,
Temptation’s words bounce off me,
I am grounded in God’s truth,
My purest delight is discovered,
Firmly rooted in Eternity’s truth,
I watch temptation’s words,
Get swept away to nothing,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
No substance in their false promises,
The temptor faces his destruction,
His own words become his condemnation,
While I live in God’s approval.