He Remains Faithful

 She said that she looked over her life, and that the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir song "He's been faithful"... That the song fit. In both her times close to the Lord and far from the Lord, the Lord had still been faithful to her.

And it was very encouraging to hear to say that, very encouraging to hear her happy.

-----

He's Been Faithful

Carol Cymbala / Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir 

In my moments of fear

Through every pain and every tear

There's a God who's been faithful to me

And when my strength was all gone

When my heart had no song

Still enough, He's proved faithful to me

And every word He has promised is true

And what I thought was impossible, I've seen my God do

He's been faithful, faithful to me

Looking back, His love and mercy I see (oh, I can see)

Though in my heart, I have questioned, even failed to believe

But He's been faithful

So faithful to me (to me)

And when my heart looked away

The many times, I could not pray

Still, my God, He was faithful to me

The days I spent so selfishly

Just reaching out for what pleased me

Even then, God was faithful to me

Every time that I'd come back to Him

He is waiting with open arms and I see once again

He's been faithful, faithful to me

God, You are so faithful

Looking back, His love and mercy I see

So that I can see

Though in my heart, I have questioned, even failed to believe

That He's been faithful, so faithful

Faithful, faithful

In my heart, I have questioned, I've even failed to believe

But He's been faithful, so faithful

In my heart, I have questioned, I have even failed to believe

But oh, He's been so faithful

So faithful to me

Oh God, You have always been faithful

Even when I failed to believe You, oh (faithful)

Faithful (faithful)

So faithful to me

Old People and their bad habit of dying

 I am Steven.

Son of Christine and William

Grandson of Diann and Ed, Ruby and James

Great grandson of Catherine and Elmer, Frances and Albert, Tsona and Peter, John and Allison.

An American mutt of Northwest European descent.

.....

Ten years ago today, my father died.

I posted a few years ago (http://romans-837.blogspot.com/2017/09/four-years-gone.html) a few thoughts about having lost him, and conversations I never got to have with him.

And now there's more I wish I could talk to him about. The challenges, the grind, the things I've learned...

I owe him so much and in some ways I'm so much like him.

.....

January 4, 2038.

The day that I would be my dad's age. 

And, with both his early passing and my wife's medical issues, the words of the Riverside Captain come to mind.

"And how we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn't you say?"

memento mori

4-9-22 Brass

 The 21st Anniversary.

The "Thank God she didn't die last year" Anniversary.

Yeah. 

Very short version: Ivy almost died from COVID-19 last December. But she survived (Thank God) and she came home on New Year's Eve. It's been a long recovery, and she's got a long way to go.

But today, we celebrate.

Twenty One

My Girl

Elvie Shane

[Verse 1]

She ain't got my smile, that don't bother me a bit

She's got somebody else's eyes I'm seeing myself in

I'm holding on to every moment, God knows I've missed a few

The day we met I knew I had some catching up to do

[Chorus]

She ain't my blood, ain't got my name

But if she did, I'd feel the same

I wasn't there for her first steps

But I ain't missed a ball game yet

And that ain't ever gonna change

I could never walk away

Yeah, she's my girl and that's my choice

She ain't my blood but she's my, she's my girl

[Verse 2]

It hit me like a train, the first time she called me dad

In a three stick figure crayon picture with all of us holding hands

Her mama said, "I understand if it's too soon for this"

I didn't let her finish, I took it to the kitchen and I stuck it on the fridge, yeah

[Chorus]

She ain't my blood, ain't got my name

But if she did, I'd feel the same

I wasn't there for her first steps

But I ain't missed a ball game yet

And that ain't ever gonna change

I could never walk away

Yeah, she's my girl and that's my choice

She ain't my blood but she's my, she's my girl

[Bridge]

She's Saturday morning cartoons

She's "Hey, can I sleep in your room?"

She's bigger than the plans I had

She's making me a better man

[Chorus]

She ain't my blood, ain't got my name

But if she did, I'd feel the same

I wasn't there for her first steps

But I ain't missed a ball game yet

And that ain't ever gonna change

I could never walk away

Yeah, she's my girl and that's my choice

She ain't my blood but she's my, she's my girl

she's my, she's my girl

or, Beagle to Doghouse, things are going great

Truth Be Told

Matthew West

Lie number one: You're supposed to have it all together

And when they ask how you're doin', just smile and tell them, "Never better"

Lie number two: Everybody's life is perfect except yours

So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets safe with you behind closed doors

But truth be told

The truth is rarely told, no...

I say, "I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine"

But I'm not, I'm broken

And when it's out of control I say it's under control

But it's not and You know it

I don't know why it's so hard to admit it

When bein' honest is the only way to fix it

There's no failure, no fall

There's no sin You don't already know

So let the truth be told

There's a sign on the door, says, "Come as you are" but I doubt it

'Cause if we lived like that was true, every Sunday mornin' pew would be crowded

But didn't You say church should look more like a hospital?

A safe place for the sick, the sinner and the scarred, and the prodigals, like me

But truth be told, the truth is rarely told

Oh, am I the only one who says...

"I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine"

But I'm not, I'm broken

And when it's out of control I say it's under control

But it's not and You know it

I don't know why it's so hard to admit it

When bein' honest is the only way to fix it

There's no failure, no fall

There's no sin You don't already know

So let the truth be told

Can I really stand here unashamed

Knowin' that Your love for me won't change?

Oh God, if that's really true

Then let the truth be told

I say, "I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine"

But I'm not, I'm broken

And when it's out of control I say it's under control

But it's not and You know it

I don't know why it's so hard to admit it

When bein' honest is the only way to fix it

There's no failure, no fall

There's no sin You don't already know

Yeah, I know

There's no failure, no fall

There's no sin You don't already know

So let the truth be told

Back to Back on Sirius 63, or

Save My Life

Sidewalk Prophets

Tell me what I need to hear

Tell me that I’m not forgotten

Show me there’s a God

Who can be more than all I’ve ever wanted

‘Cause right now I need a little hope

I need to know that I’m not alone

Maybe God is calling you tonight

To tell me something

That might save my life

I gotta make it, these people depend on me

Fight Song

Rachel Platten


Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion

And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep
Everybody's worried about me
In too deep
Say I'm in too deep (in too deep)
And it's been two years I miss my home
But there's a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe