For Everything
Songbird in the light of day sings a snatch of melody
Goes along her merry way but never learns her song
Till the cage is covered ‘oer and in darkness now is she
Wondering what the night is for, and how the days are long
Wondering what the night is for and, “where did I go wrong?”
Then she sings;
Refrain: God made the darkness as well as the light
Surely He’ll give me a song in the night
Then in eternity’s morning I’ll sing
When I’ve learned to praise Him for everything
I was once a songbird too--I could fly and I could sing
Thought I had a lot to do, but had a lot to learn
And then a mighty Hand brought pain
And darkness stopped my lilting wing
Up against my cage again and where was I to turn?
I was up against myself again, and where was I to turn?
-Repeat Refrain-
Bridge: For everything, for everything
For the rainbow and the rain, the pleasure and the pain
For the loss and for the gain, for everything
-Repeat Refrain-
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Brighter Day
Refrain: Little birds just keep on singing in the dead of winter
And the sun just keeps on shining hidden above cloud cover
I will not believe my senses, I will close my eyes and pray
I will speak in future tenses, dwelling on a brighter day
Brighter day,
When all the world will live in peace and harmony
That day,
When every voice will swell to join the melody of praise
A song of hope, how long we’ve waited in the darkness for that day
-Repeat refrain-
Brighter day,
No blight of death nor sore affliction will be felt that day
The lame will dance
The mute will sing His praise, the sick will say“I’m whole again, how long I’ve waited in the darkness for that day!”
-Repeat Refrain-
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Footsteps
I had a dream last night of footsteps in the sand
God and I were walking—it must have been hand in hand
For there were two pairs of footsteps in the sand
His footsteps and my footsteps in the sand
And in the dream I had, we walked the peaceful shore
It seemed that we would walk that way, hand in hand forevermore
Two pairs of footsteps in the sand,
His footsteps and my footsteps in the sand
And then the crashing waves of a wild and angry sea
Broke upon the shoreline of my life
Things I could not control were like churning, turning tides
And angry winds of strife
And when I was almost beaten and needed a helping hand
There was just one pair of footsteps in the sand
“You stayed when all was peaceful, but then where did you go?
“Perhaps You’d had enough
“When fortune fled and friends too, but oh, I needed You
“When times got so rough
And then He said so gently as patient fathers do
“When trouble stormed the shoreline, My child, I carried you”
I had a dream last night of footsteps in the sand
Jesus bore my burden when I could no longer stand
One pair of footsteps in the sand
Just His pair of footsteps in the sand
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Job's Song
First verse by Robert Browning Hamilton
I walked a mile with pleasure, she chattered all the way
But left me none the wiser for all she had to say
I walked a mile with sorrow, not a word said she
But oh, the things I learned from her
When sorrow walked with me, when sorrow walked with me
For when I walked with pleasure and confidence was high
Her wisdom made me foolish, contented with a lie
But when I walked with sorrow truth did set me free
Oh, the things I learned from her
When sorrow walked with me, when sorrow walked with me
Bridge: And as I look back, I would choose no other road
Than that which I walked, that my friend sorrow showed
I walked a mile with pleasure, she chattered all the way
But left me none the wiser for all she had to say I walked a mile with sorrow, not a word said she
But oh, the things I learned from her
When sorrow walked with me, when sorrow walked with me
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On Rock or Sand?
A sandy shore, a rocky height, a multitude each choosing a sight
The question comes, “Will I build on the sand
“Or on the rock will I stand?”
Here on the sand, so close to town life will be easy, let’s settle down
Weather is mild a thin wall will do, all done in an hour or two
Refrain: On rock or sand, each builds his home
Each builds a future all his own
And all can hear the Master’s plea
“Build on the rock and live eternally”
High on the rock, it’s much too rough
But who’s that man climbing over the bluff?
All his supplies must be carried up high
Such toil, such hardship, and why?
And blackness fills the daylight hours
The sky unleashes her wind and her showers
The ocean swells and forgets all restraint
All hearts grow suddenly faint
-Repeat Refrain-
His house will stand and this His plea
“Fall on the rock and be broken on Me
“Then let me bear you up this lofty height
"You’ll find that My burden is light”
-Repeat Refrain-
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From the Clouds
From the clouds will come my Savior and the dead in Christ will rise
And we will be caught up together to meet Him in the skies
Oh, give the wind a voice to shout it, let the earth her echo sing
For soon the humble Galilean will come to reign as King
In that morn will sound the trumpet and forever with the Lord
He will end our constant conflict, we will cast away the sword
Oh, let the angels sing yet higher as your case is sealed above
And then in eager expectation await the God you love
Are you ready for the Master? Is your crimson sin now white?
For every secret He’ll uncover in that clear, dazzling light
Oh, let His awesome love compel you to return to righteousness
Trading a rank and filthy garment for the pure heavenly dress
And my heartstrings play an anthem as I ponder gratefully
How my Lord has left His promise to prepare a place for me
But it’s more than crowns and mansions, more than being glorified
Precious above all else is Jesus, forever by my side
Oh, forever by my side
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Paradise Lost, Paradise Found
Lyrics by Christian LeGoff
Translated by Jennifer
A garden of green with flowering trees
Inundated with light . . . it was paradise
Feathered birds of the air, and the rivers so fair
All in soft rainbow hues, made it too good to lose
Refrain:
Oh, I would find once again that paradise lost to fallen men
And oh I would find once again that paradise lost
For lost I have been
In the midst of their home stood a tree all alone
God had said of the tree, “Of its fruit do not eat”
But the tempted man ate, and was sorry too late
For the garden was lost, such his error had cost
-Repeat Refrain-
And the first dying leaf brought a great wave of grief
To the man and his wife who had forfeited life
But in God’s perfect plan, He extended His hand
And restored to them life, through the man Jesus Christ
-Repeat Refrain-
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The Cross
Jesus came from glory and He left it all for me
May I never tire of the theme
It was love that drove Him all the way to Calvary
May I always love to tell the story
We have all seen crosses in the churches of our land
Yet we worship and don’t understand
In a stained glass window or in gold upon the wall
Yet the symbol has no power at all
Refrain: Oh, the cross of Christ, I would understand
Jesus’ condescension, God became a man
Took our human form but that was not enough
Tasted hopeless darkness, friend, that is love
That is why my heart breaks and my mind is lost in thought
Dwelling on the wonder love has wrought
On the cross of Jesus shines a love so broad and deep
Come with me, we’ll worship as we weep
-Repeat Refrain-
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It Takes Two to Tangle
When no one seems to love me as I think that I should be
It’s then I need to give love and give it cheerfully
And may I think more highly of my brother’s than my own
For love is in proportion to the sacrifice that’s shown
Refrain: May I strive for union and shun the push and shove, for
It takes two to tangle, it takes two to tangle, it takes two to tangle
But only one to love
Have I hurt you, precious brother?
Have you wept o’er things I’ve done?
Well then, won’t you please forgive me, and we will be as one
And may I think more highly of my brother’s than my own
For love is in proportion to the sacrifice that’s shown
-Repeat Refrain-
And when there comes a difference, oh who will be the first
To yield the pride inherent, for with it all are cursed
Now, unto Him who loves us with all of his great heart
Without cooperation, but hatred on our part
-Repeat Refrain-
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Turn
“Turn” is the word I hear, “turn,” says the Savior, dear
“Turn, and you’ll see meek, lowly Me
“Turn from the sons of men, turn back to God again
”You’ve turned before, turn back once more"
Refrain: Turn like the blossom’s beauty will turn to the sun
Turn like a river to the sea and run
Turn as a child to your Father above
There is love, there is love Turn from all wickedness, turn to His holiness
There find your place, saved by His grace
Turn when you cannot cope, turn to your only hope
Your righteousness. Turn, He will bless -Repeat Refrain- Turn, whether old or young, wise man or simple one
None are turned away, all may come and stay
Often to Him I’ve turned, He is always there, I’ve learned
Then let us learn, come now and let us turn
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What Kind of King Will You Choose?
Oh, have you heard the tidings
Let me tell you, for the line will be drawn
And soon every choice will be made
For the dark of night or the glory of dawn
The weight of our decision hinges on who we’re serving
Will it be the prince of boasters or the Lord of the undeserving?
What kind of king will you choose?
Oh, if the King of Kings came to your door
In the humble garb of His day
And had no recognition in this world
Would you welcome Him, or turn Him away? What kind of friend would you be to the one who had left His palace?
To live His life out in poverty and bear our reproach and our malice
What kind of robe will He wear—a travel-stained garment, at best
Except at the trial when mockers in royal robes decked him, in jest
What kind of king will you choose? And if you saw Him fall beneath His burden, what would you do?
Would you lift it and say, “My friend, let me make things
“A little easier for you”? What kind of courts were prepared when He left all that splendor
And dwelt with the people who dared
To mock and deride their defender? What kind of king will you choose
One whom His own brethren accuse?
One whom His own people abuse?
One whom all our follies would bruise?
What kind of king will you choose? Oh, would you wash His feet with your tears
And dry them with your hair
Or would you nail Him to a cross
And let Him suffer and perish there? What kind of king will you choose?
One whom His own brethren accuse?
One whom His own people abuse?
One whom all our follies would bruise?
What kind of king will you choose?
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Down Damascus Road
Down Damascus road, I traveled on my mission
When there came a light, bright shining all ‘round me
Falling, I heard someone’s voice plea
“Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”
Oh, I was turned around that day on Damascus road
“Who art thou Lord?” the question burned within me
“Who art thou Lord?” and He replied, “I AM”
“Jesus whom thou persecutest, in His voice I heard no contest
My question answered He that day, “Who art thou, Lord?” “It is hard for thee, to kick against the pleadings
“It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks”
I was trembling and astonished, when so gently He admonished me
That it was easier to yield—“It is hard for thee” Lo, I’d lost my sight, the strong and independent
Lo, I’d lost my sight, then my soul’s prayer did rise
Let me see my real condition, let me feel for sin contrition
How I was helpless in midstream, lo, I’d lost my sight Ananias came when three long days were over
Ananias came, the helper sent from God
Scales of blindness fell from my eyes
Then I rose up and was baptized
My pensive heart was glad the day Ananias came Lead me every day down my Damascus road, Lord
Lead me every hour to penitence and prayer
Break my confidence if need be, let me die and then remake me
New heart, new spirit and new man, lead me every day
New heart, new spirit and new man, on Damascus road
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Angels
When darkness tries to reign I pray for help aloud
And though relentless storms may threaten
I can see Him through the cloud
All bright with smiles of reassurance, offering to take the heavy load
And then Jesus sends me an angel to keep me on the road
Though pain and toil are yours all heaven’s help is too
What’s more, the Son of God commissions a bright angel just for
you
Constant companion, he will guide you as long as you desire to be
And the Lord Himself gives direction to the path of liberty Beneath a crushing load of misery and sin
Angels despaired to see their Master helpless at the hands of men
They would have saved Him, had He asked them
But when the noontide turned to night
All of the angels veiled their faces, they could not bear the sight
All of the angels veiled their faces, they could not bear the sight So, this is love’s exchange the Prince of Glory made
Suffered the second death on Calvary and alone in pain He stayed
We with the Father, Son and Spirit never forsaken walk the way
And then Jesus sends us our angels lest weary feet should stray
And my friend, He’ll send you an angel, to turn your night to day
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Thank You, Father
Thank You, Father, now I see Christ the Lamb was slain for me
Gazing on the One who died, there the prophecy applied
All of my life I’ve been a wanderer
Yes a voyager looking for the way
And though my search was now and then delayed
Still the yearning stayed
But I’m filled today, thank You, Lord
Thank You, Father, now I know
Precious blood for me did flow
And beneath the scarlet wave surging strong was grace to save
I’m looking forward to my life with you
For my heart is new, what more could I ask?
For you have given more abundantly than weak faith could see
You’ll complete the task, thank You, Lord Thank You, Father, now I’m sure
Endless life is sealed, secure
If for me You gave Your own, surely You will guide me home
And in the endless bliss of heaven’s peace
May the depth increase of my heartfelt praise
To You who left the holy rapture there, all my grief to bear
Now this song I’ll raise, thank You, Lord
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