Dare to Desire

And I feel it beating in my chest

like fire like a storm

Impossible to ignore

God wreck this life

Tear it all down

Make it new

I don’t want to hear it

I try to drown out the sound

of the rhythm and blues

of me 

coming to life

waking the dead inside

and you

there

you are drawing it out of me

unknowingly

The drums of passion

The dare to desire

The nerve to believe

its possible

The Cliff of Hope

Standing at the edge 

of the cliff of hope

A voice says to turn around

shrink back into safety

My heart is teetering

threatening to fall

daring and longing to jump

The next season naturally

should be summer

blooms and light 

but winter’s whisper

is taunting me

She flaunts 

her dark colors of fear

but the winters have always 

been good to me

even in the depths of her despair and death

So I’ll stand in hope here on this edge

knowing if I fly or stay earthbound

it will all be life to my blood

How I long for the summer

Her beauty and smile

her laughter and praise

her songs of delight

Oh let the sun rise

but if the winter comes again

let my song still sing

Let the bottom of my soul

still smile

and I will wait in patience

knowing summer is bound to come

at least I  hope

If winter is peering around the corner

let me store the sunshine

in my pocket

let me photograph

optimism and truth

lest I drown in the cold

dark pale death of her

and forget the spring

But Spring always comes doesn't it

and Summer loves to follow her

Elusive summer 

how you love to hide

how do I find you

Let me trust the tides of life

that you will come again

That you will grace me again

that I will feel the glory of you

through my being

in the bottom of my soul

Once again or maybe for the first time

Now I try to look to the sunshine

in my pocket

at the truth I carved in my heart

and wait on the cliff of hope

for tomorrow

I carry them

I carry him in my heart 

The lame man 

Crippled by life and disease

A mind as sharp as a knife  

Embers of potential 

Snuffed out by life 

A bachelor degreed beggar 

Finding home in Jesus 

Fighting for his freedom

I carry him in my heart 

I carry him in my heart

The boy who loves to kayak 

Whose father broke every promise 

Abandoned and angry 

He fights the rapids of life

With rebellion and sinful living 

I called him son 

I called him home 

But he just keeps running 

I carry him in my heart 

I carry him in my heart 

Seven years old and alone 

With four little sisters to feed

A scared of the dark provider 

He becomes hard and strong 

He fights and he begs and he bleeds

He should be playing childish games 

But he grew up too fast

Now he's eleven and they call him Dad

I carry him in my heart 

I carry him in my heart 

The man who cannot speak

His words stay inside his stomach 

He swallows them everyday 

The man who cannot hear 

The news that will set him free 

We sign our names 

 He beams with the delight of connection 

We lay hands and believe

But walk away without answers  

I carry him in my heart 

I carry them in my heart 

Children I've called my own 

Brought into this broken world 

With dreams and destiny 

Life tried to drown them 

But a Lifeguard came 

And I break to see them 

Walking in their fullness 

Made whole by a perfect love

That knows how to heal the deepest darkest wounds 

I carry them in my heart. 

I carry them in my heart 

The ones I loved who betrayed me 

Who have lost who they are

In the cruelty of this world

Full of lies and tricks 

They think will protect them 

Unaware that they have a father 

Who will never let them down 

Love rain down your mercy 

I carry them in my heart 

My heart is full and sometimes broken 

But everyday I just believe 

I believe in a love thats called unfailing 

That washes wounds and heals the hurting 

Let my hands and let my feet carry mercy 

So deep and so wide 

And ill carry them in my heart until

I see the Kingdom breaking light 

To love again

Who was she? I don't even know her anymore
Lying crying broken on the bathroom floor
She was stuck inside
A prison cell of tired and dirty lies

She said I'm gonna break free
Nothing and no one will ever have a hold on me
Ill be like a fighter wise strong and ready
I'm gonna break free

But God I hope she learns to love again
Let time take the fear and hope make her heart mend
To be loving but wise forgiving but crowned
Soft but strong with her feet on the ground
God I hope she learns to love again

He beat her up every single day
Tears were her drink
she was a bird in a cage
Her song faded away
Until the day when everything changed


She said I'm gonna break free
Nothing and no one will ever have a hold on me
Ill be like a fighter wise strong and ready 
I'm gonna break free

But God I hope she learns to love again 
Let time take the fear and hope make her heart mend
To be loving but wise forgiving but crowned 
Soft but strong with her feet on the ground 
God I hope she learns to love again

Life and love can knock us down
But don't lock down your heart or drowned out the sound
Of the truth that's been calling out to you
You're beautiful you're beautiful.  

But God I hope I learn to love again 
Let time take the fear and hope make my heart mend
To be loving but wise forgiving but crowned 
Soft but strong with my feet on the ground 
God I hope I learn to love again

White Flag

Pieces of me
Running from you
Trying to drown out your voice
I was fighting to go

In the opposite direction
Than the planet was spinning

I thought I'd die if I lost him
Holding on for dear life
So afraid of falling

We all fall down sometimes
But we can get back up again
I fell so hard and fast
Crashed and burned
And landed flat on my back
Don't wanna do that again
Maybe next time ill listen

You sent out a search light
And it landed on me
Found me almost dead in the darkness
You rescued me from
My final breath
I was limp in your arms
Your tears washed over me
Brought me my healing
I started to
Put one put in front of the other


We all fall down sometimes 
But we can get back up again 
I fell so hard and fast 
Crashed and burned 
And landed flat on my back
But you helped me get back up again 
Help me next time to listen

I was holding onto dear life for dear life
I buried myself in the arms of the One who made me 
And I'm stronger and I'm stronger 

So let a white flag be my banner 
Cause God knows I surrender
 So let a white flag be my banner 
Cause God knows I surrender
So let a white flag be my banner 
Cause God knows I surrender
So let a white flag be my banner 
Cause God knows I surrender

This is My Song

I tried to run away from you
It was all I knew to do
I was scared of getting hurt again
I was afraid of falling down
But you are the one that I love
You are the song in my heart
so I will sing and tell of my love
I will shout it out to the heavens up above
to the end of the world
This is my song

I will sing it
I will sing it
I will sing it
this is my song
I will sing it
I will sing it
to the end of the world
this is my song

God gave you to me
A gift so pure and free
So I will cherish with all that I have
I will grow and I will stand
on my own in the world
This is my song

I will sing it

I will sing it

I will sing it

this is my song

I will sing it

I will sing it

to the end of the world

this is my song

*SHINE*

I've been a shrinking violet
Hiding beneath the covers of my fears
I've been a pale wallflower
waiting for someone to ask me to dance
I've been holding out for the perfect moment
when the pieces come together
No more doubt no more hesitation
It is now or never to

Shine Shine
Shine Shine
in Glory like the sun

A butterfly must shed her cocoon
before she is free to fly
and I'm breaking out
of all that's held me locked inside
Oh how we burn the daylight we're given
as if we'll live forever
It's time to put aside our fears
and let the glory arise and

Shine Shine
Shine Shine
in Glory like the sun

You are the light of the world (like a city on a hill)
So let your light be seen by men (like a city on a hill)
Don't you know you're a child of the Most High
This starving world is in need of your light So

Shine Shine
Shine Shine
in Glory like the sun

Shine Shine 

Shine Shine

in Glory like the sun