Songs In The Night

About one and a half years ago, I stumbled across a wonderful songwriter and poet named Deborah Bolack. The lyrics of her songs and the devotional book she put together have been such a blessing to me. The songs that she has recorded and her visitors can listen to on her blog have been beautiful and edifying. But this year she has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined - twice! She composed music for two of my songs (one in June, and one just a few weeks ago). I cannot read music, so had no clue how wonderful the music she made was - until I got to hear both songs played at the Gospel Mission where I work. My heart was touched and a long-standing dream of mine was fulfilled - to hear something of mine played, and have sheet music available so that others can use it too. There have been a couple of songs I have written to existing music (such as from a hymn). One that I cowrote with Angela Trenholm and one of her daughters was used as the theme song for a Bible or Mission'...

The ABC's Of Thanksgiving A lthough things are not perfect B ecause of trial or pain C ontinue in thanksgiving D o not begin to blame. E ven when times are hard - F ierce winds are bound to blow - G od is forever able; H old on to what you know. I magine life without His love. J oy would cease to be. K eep thanking Him for all the things L ove imparts to thee. M ove out of "Camp Complaining." N o weapon that is known O n earth can yield the power P raise can do alone. Q uit looking at the future; R edeem the time at hand. S tart every day with worship. T o thank is a command! U ntil we see Him coming V ictorious in the sky, W e'll run the race with gratitude, e X alting God most high. Y es, there will be good times and there will be bad, but . . . Z ion waits in glory, where no one is ever sad. ~Author Unknown~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Sis Deb intrigued me with a recent post on her blog, and the thought of an intense look at the Saviour is what led to this poem. I hope it is a blessing to you. Just One Look Just one look to Jesus will bring healing to the soul; Just one look to Heaven and the heart will be made whole; Just one moment to see Him - just one glimpse of Him today; Falling in love with Jesus is only just one look away. One look away from the world, one look away from your sin, One look away from your idols - looking only unto Him; Just one look towards the Saviour, one turn away from the past, One heart reaching towards Jesus, looking only to Him at last. Just one look to Jesus, just the simple touch of faith; Just one heart that hungers for something real in its place; Just one conscience that senses there must be something greater; Just one longing within your soul to know your own Creator. Just one look to Jesus, a glance and then a stare; Just one look to Jesus, to the Lord who really cares; One look...

Recently, I have been thinking about how the Lord has enabled me to care for the clients at Kelowna's Gospel Mission. Saying, "I love you" to anyone other than my immediate family has always been extremely hard for me due to physical and mental abuse in my past. Though I may have a hard time saying it verbally, I know that I love the clients here - because this is where my heart is, where I put my time and many times my treasures. You can download the sheet music for this song here . Because Of Jesus Chorus: Because of Jesus, I know that I love you. Because of Jesus, I want the best for you. He did a work within my heart; His love to me He did impart. I love you - because of Jesus. When I was lost and all alone, Jesus melted my heart of stone; Now there's a wonderful change within; My heart is renewed because of Him. God helped me to reach out again; I love you - because of Jesus. There was a time I didn't care. My heart was wounded beyond repair; But then God...