College Degree

I’ve got a college degree but no salary just memories of straight A’s but no pay days, no career, nothing to say. I’m limiting my snacks, limiting my calories because I can’t pay the bills when I’ve got no salary. Just a college degree. Is that all that is there for me? All I’ve got is my name in print but no hint of what’s up next. I’m not getting hired, this is nothing I’ve desired, and I’m tired of searching, looking and working to find work, to find a job, all the things they promised me when I worked for and worked towards and looked forward to earn my college degree. Just a long and tiring search and for what? What is it worth? Nothing much so I’m finding out. So, I’ll stay and wait in this drought. Maybe something will someday find me but until then at least I’ve got my college degree. Some help that’s been for me.

Cold Coffee

Like cold coffee on a perfect morning,

So, came you without warning.

Temptations I never expected,

So, I now look to the One that was resurrected,

from the grave,

came down to save,

the souls that were headed to the gates of Hell,

for headfirst into sin we fell,

slipping on the lies we would tell,

to make ourselves believe we were alright,

just fine,

you see,

pride once was a good friend of mine.

Until one day I awoke and I realized the coffee wasn't warm anymore,

It was as cold as the skin on my back that I wore,

It was as cold as my heart even though I swore,

that I was alright,

just fine,

you see,

pride once was a good friend of mine.

But now I crawl into the palm of the hand,

of the One that lifts me up when I forget how to stand,

maps out the way of grace that He had planned,

for me,

and I'm alright,

just fine,

you see,

Jesus is a good friend of mine.

Once upon a time I was drinking cold coffee,

But now I'm not.

I'm not buying the lies I once bought.

I'm fighting the good fight that still needs to be fought,

But I know I will win.

Because Jesus has saved me from my sin,

And He's all that matters in the end.

So drink the coffee that is hot,

choose a life that won't rot,

and seek the one who should be sought.

Orlando

There was a city who woke up to a bang.
The world awoke and could hear the echoes of their pain.

Lives were taken, too many, too soon.
The night was black,
the stars would not shine,
neither would the moon.

One man and a gun was all it took,
And the city and the people all were shook.

Sometimes we tend to live our lives in vain,
Forgetting there are still wolves out with fangs.

No, we shouldn't live our lives in fear,
But we shouldn't forget that we never know when danger is near.

Our lives should not be taken for granted.
'Cause more often than not our visions are slanted.

Pray for the families who woke up in dread.
Pray for the friends of the ones who are now dead.

Pray for the city,
Lord we turn now to You.
Pray that we know how best to help out,
And show us,
Show us what to do.
Oh, Lord, we turn now to You.
Lord we turn now to You.

Stay Grounded

I don't know whether the trees grow tall to look down on us all,
Or maybe it's because they want to leave its mark on the world when they fall.

If I was a tree I'd grow tall just so I could see,
See the beauty I never saw though it surrounded me.

If I was a tree I would remember my roots and how I came up from the ground.
If I was a tree I would remember how as a seed I was so lost but one day someone watered me and I was found.

But then again, maybe I don't have to be a tree to learn these things.
Just like I don't have to be a bird to grow a pair of wings.
I don't have to have a good voice to sing;
I just have to have one.

To be just me;
I just have to be.

That's what a person can learn from thinking about a tree.

Ages to ages to ages

Twelve.
Twelve years old,
Eyes of starlight and gold,
Doing everything you are told.
Innocence protecting you, keeping you bold.
Your heart not yet tasting the cold.

Sixteen.
A year of tears.
Year of insecurities and fears.
Trying to grow;
 but you learn there is nothing you actually know.
Confusion lies in the lies of your peers.
They hold tight to the shears.

Twenty,
Twenty you have all in the bag.
Done with the childish years of playing tag.
Able to make your decisions,
But a long with that are many revisions.
College paving the way to your career.
You think you are done facing your fears.
Life is a breeze, my dear.

Twenty-Two,
You're unsure of what is up ahead.
You thought you knew,
You thought you grew,
But as an adult, it's not your fault, but you still have some growing up to do.
Jobs don't come easy, and life isn't easy too.
Your mind changes,
But you will keep learning.
You will get older,
And keep discerning;
What is right and wrong.
Finding your heartbeat and your song.
But maybe you have known it all along.
Maybe you've known it all along.

Either way,
This or that,
Time will come,
The ball will fly,
And the bat will swing,
And so will I.
Yes, so will me.

Distracted Eyes

With distracted eyes,
Come easy lies,
Come blurred directions,
In multiple sections,
Of life.

We need to focus our eyes,
Get up and try,
To live a pleasing life to God,
Find a steady path to trod,
And glorify.

The Creator,
The Savior,
The Redeemer,
Who made life more.
The lamb,
Clothed in blood,
Sacrificed,
Turned rain into a flood,
Of grace,
Washing us,
Of love,
Of trust,
My Lord,
My King,
My Friend,
My Everything,
The one who helps and holds,
Keeps us safe inside of the fold,
While we were wandering,
Searching,
With distracted eyes.
Looking for earthly things,
Looking for gold,
Letting our hearts grow cold,
Cause we're looking in all the wrong places.
Full of sin,
Full of death.
Looking to Satan who wants to take away our life,
Take away our breath.

Because our eyes did not see...

How broken are we?
Oh. how broken are we?

You Oh Lord,
You save.
You heal.
You ache with us,
You feel what we feel.
Even when we wander,
Even when we do not see.

You open our eyes,
and you forgive us each time.

Turn them back to You I pray,
And keep them far away,
From me.

The River

There once was a river,
Between the snowy trees.
Filled with ice,
That was colder than you and me.
But in those trees we found life,
Fluttering around on its wings.
And we listened as the new birds began to sing.
They sang a song of sadness,
So bittersweet.
But their words also contained happiness,
Between each mournful tweet.
I never knew what they meant,
I just knew what I heard.
I don't understand why I felt at ease,
I just know what I learned.
Between the trees and the river too,
I learned that when sadness and happiness collide,
They reminded me of me and you.