All The Hope I Need (Alyssa)

I am amazed that you would fall away
from the truth that was your saving grace
to listen to the lies that only live inside your head.

Who took your hand and told you that you were
Still the same, I swear you're not - look at what he's saved you from.

Every time you fall I see him
reaching down and picking up
the pieces of your life.

I see the person that you're going to be
not the person that you are
this is all the hope I need.

So run away, I know you won't run far
for there is life abundantly
safe inside your Father's arms.

And we will be here waiting for you
Telling you it's all forgotten
we are equal in the grace of God.

I see a whole Alyssa,
not afraid of anything
Free from all that used to hold you
Finally free to sing.

I see the world is changed
I see the nations praising.
Worshiping with you at Jesus' feet.
And this is all the hope I need.

Borrowed Lungs

It's hard to cry with borrowed lungs.
Harder still to cry,
knowing that my heart keeps beat
by no control of mine.

I was not asked if I should live,
or what my kind should be.
I cannot groan when life gets hard,
for life is mine for free.

Belief

Why are we afraid to question
the way it's always been?
Time does not validate
an opinion in the end.

Just because we've always thought it
doesn't mean it's true.
So how about you?
What do you believe?

What you and I perceive is true
and what we both believe,
will shape the world we live in
and tint the world we see.

If our beliefs are that important
we should find what's true.
So how about you?
What do you believe?

Tinkered by a Thousand Hands

Here I stand or fall, a man,
Tinkered by a thousand hands.
Countless people making me,
Forging, molding, patiently.

How do I thank a thousand hands,
That saw a treasure in the sand?
I choose to honor what they've done
By being another's, one thousand one.

Peace-Made Man

Silent night,

The air was still

The fog suspended mid-air.

Thirty-forth battalion crept

Along the edge of target.

Sergeant Lane

Determined quickly

Tonight would see the bloodshed,

Of some unholy target

Hiding in a foxhole.

Sights are raised,

Target seen,

Crouching in the distance.

Steady hand will find the bull,

The eye of villain target.

Through the fog,

And through the sights,

Sergeant sees the target.

Writing down the thoughts in mind,

No doubt, the pain of bloodshed.

Quickly falls

Determined valor,

A writer’s heart can see another.

Pain is equal on both sides.

Target is a man it seems.

War will make

A warrior-man,

But only peace can make a man.

Why destroy the peace-made man,

To make the man who targets man?

Pawn

To my flanks are those like me,

first to fight and first blood shed.

Uniformed we stand together.

Behind me skills I can’t imagine,

moves and slides beyond my grasp.

Bound we trod, our pattern set,

my brothers follow, strength in numbers.

Death to those who rush ahead.

“Stay by me!” I shout in protest,

the hand controls the fate of all.

I see the danger, cry aloud,

god has stopped his ears this time.

I can’t fall back, the turn is done.

Omniscience sees a bigger plan,

he justifies the end and means.

How to Change the World

When I was young

I asked the Lord

to give me power

to change the world.

To make my life

to count for something.

To bring it all

and leave with nothing.

In my mind

I know I meant,

"to give me famed

accomplishment.

"To be revered 

for all of time.

To make the name

above all, mine."

In my chest

I get dishearted 

when it beats

like when I started.

When I want for

fame and glory, 

like I'm the point

of this whole story.

The change inside 

is harder fought,

than any war

on any plot.

But still we fight

to battle pride

Daily seeking 

where it hides.

Rooting out 

the source of sin,

healing all the hurt 

within.

Self-deceived, 

I point and shout

at all the sin

I find without.

Seeing the speck

inside your eye,

consumes the plank

inside of mine.

Crying "Sight!"

it seems I'm blind

The world that needs

the change, is mine.