You have searched me and you know me
You have laid your hand upon me
You ordained for me perfection
Obtained thru your ressurection
I was made in a secret place
and your eyes saw all my days
all the days you ordained for me
before any of them came to be
I am fearfully wonderfully made!
the price for my sin is paid!
though evil is all around me
its snares will never surround me
Your thoughts are like the grains of sand
Lord I am reaching for your hand
Is there any offensive way in me?
I ask you Lord to cleanse me!
copyright by lori hollaway
Monday, February 15, 2010
Psalm 73 (Warfare)
Jeering laughter fills the silence, seeking to destroy my peace
Each day I rise to mounting sorrow, will this battle never cease?
Uncertain futures make me quiver, events that make the soul cry out
Must I beseech you God, forever? While evil victors point and shout!
See the christian! see him suffer! see his pain, his agony!
Will his God not come to save him? Is He too far away to see?
They strut about in pure defiance, there is no law that governs them
They think that God will never stop them, they cannot comprehend their end!
The battle rages ever nearer, I cannot give up this fight!
What does God call me to do here? I can and will believe His might!
See the wicked! Their destruction! See his designated end!
Where is now his jeering laughter? Before God's wrath he will not stand
God can and will appear to save me, His perfect planning will not fail
The tempters day at last has ended, The gates of hell could not prevail!
copyright by lori hollaway
April 4, 2000
Each day I rise to mounting sorrow, will this battle never cease?
Uncertain futures make me quiver, events that make the soul cry out
Must I beseech you God, forever? While evil victors point and shout!
See the christian! see him suffer! see his pain, his agony!
Will his God not come to save him? Is He too far away to see?
They strut about in pure defiance, there is no law that governs them
They think that God will never stop them, they cannot comprehend their end!
The battle rages ever nearer, I cannot give up this fight!
What does God call me to do here? I can and will believe His might!
See the wicked! Their destruction! See his designated end!
Where is now his jeering laughter? Before God's wrath he will not stand
God can and will appear to save me, His perfect planning will not fail
The tempters day at last has ended, The gates of hell could not prevail!
copyright by lori hollaway
April 4, 2000
Calling
Jesus calls the souls forgotten, by the world that passes by
Reaching out he longs to love them, longs to hear their broken cry.
Sinner let me take your sorrows, sinner let me heal your pain
I cannot let you surrender, to a world that has no gain.
Come to me and lay your burden, at my feet and go be free
Cease your strifing, cease your longing, for something that cannot be.
If the church would only hear them, if they cared about their tears
They would lead them to the Savior, who alone can calm their fears.
But there seems to be no interest, in a soul that's gone astray
If we see them linger near us, we cannot wait to turn away.
We don't like to see the sinner, as someone that we once were
We forget that grace once saved us, we never got what we deserved
Help us Lord, to see the hurting, see beyond their smiling face
To the real dejected person, longing for a pure embrace.
People hide their true emotions, from a world who cannot know
How hard it is to face tomorrow, while reeling from a brutal blow.
He's my neighbor, he's my brother, he's the bum across the street,
He's the lonely sad-faced stranger, he is everyone you meet.
He's the one who lost a loved one, who cannot seem to understand
How a God who claims to love him, dealth him such a cruel hand.
He's the sinner who in anguish, cannot bear to show his face
He's led a life of pure defiance, all he sees is his disgrace.
Tell them, tell them about Jesus! Tell them of his saving grace
Help us Lord, to love the vilest, let them see YOU in our face!
copyright by lori hollaway
Reaching out he longs to love them, longs to hear their broken cry.
Sinner let me take your sorrows, sinner let me heal your pain
I cannot let you surrender, to a world that has no gain.
Come to me and lay your burden, at my feet and go be free
Cease your strifing, cease your longing, for something that cannot be.
If the church would only hear them, if they cared about their tears
They would lead them to the Savior, who alone can calm their fears.
But there seems to be no interest, in a soul that's gone astray
If we see them linger near us, we cannot wait to turn away.
We don't like to see the sinner, as someone that we once were
We forget that grace once saved us, we never got what we deserved
Help us Lord, to see the hurting, see beyond their smiling face
To the real dejected person, longing for a pure embrace.
People hide their true emotions, from a world who cannot know
How hard it is to face tomorrow, while reeling from a brutal blow.
He's my neighbor, he's my brother, he's the bum across the street,
He's the lonely sad-faced stranger, he is everyone you meet.
He's the one who lost a loved one, who cannot seem to understand
How a God who claims to love him, dealth him such a cruel hand.
He's the sinner who in anguish, cannot bear to show his face
He's led a life of pure defiance, all he sees is his disgrace.
Tell them, tell them about Jesus! Tell them of his saving grace
Help us Lord, to love the vilest, let them see YOU in our face!
copyright by lori hollaway
I wish I had written this
There is a peace that reigns even in sorrow
of hope surrendered, not of hope fulfilled
A peace that does not look upon tomorrow,
But calmly on the storm that it has stilled.
A peace that liveth not in joy's excesses
Nor in the happy life of love secure
But in faith's strength the heart possesses
Of conflicts won, while learning to endure.
A peace there is in sacrifice concluded
A life subdued, from will and passion free
It's not the peace that over Eden brooded,
But that which triumphed in Gathsemane!
of hope surrendered, not of hope fulfilled
A peace that does not look upon tomorrow,
But calmly on the storm that it has stilled.
A peace that liveth not in joy's excesses
Nor in the happy life of love secure
But in faith's strength the heart possesses
Of conflicts won, while learning to endure.
A peace there is in sacrifice concluded
A life subdued, from will and passion free
It's not the peace that over Eden brooded,
But that which triumphed in Gathsemane!
Conviction
I shall seek the face of Jesus, apply him to my every way
For I know he always see's us, as we live each passing day
We could never live life fully, as God intends for us to do
Unless we submit to Him wholly, remain in Him, steadfast and true.
There are endless things that call us, away from time with Him in prayer
If we heed their idle chorus, Jesus still lingers, waiting there.
Is this the day that we will heed him, and come bow down before his throne
Or will we once again defy Him, and choose to try to fight alone.
There is no power without His Spirit, no way that we can win this war
we need His supernatural merit, only He knows what lies in store.
come let us walk today in honor, of a great and mighty King
Let our lives be clothe in His glory, and let our lives His praises sing!
copyright by Lori Hollaway
March 2, 2001
For I know he always see's us, as we live each passing day
We could never live life fully, as God intends for us to do
Unless we submit to Him wholly, remain in Him, steadfast and true.
There are endless things that call us, away from time with Him in prayer
If we heed their idle chorus, Jesus still lingers, waiting there.
Is this the day that we will heed him, and come bow down before his throne
Or will we once again defy Him, and choose to try to fight alone.
There is no power without His Spirit, no way that we can win this war
we need His supernatural merit, only He knows what lies in store.
come let us walk today in honor, of a great and mighty King
Let our lives be clothe in His glory, and let our lives His praises sing!
copyright by Lori Hollaway
March 2, 2001
In Spite of Me
Jesus came, in spite of me, from sin and death to set men free
Redemption's holy work was done, in spite of me, by Christ the Son.
IN SPITE OF ME, IN SPITE OF ME
HE DIED FOR YOU,HE DIED FOR ME
IN SPITE OF ME HE BROKE OUR CHAINS
AND SET US FREE WITH CHRIST TO REIGN
The sinner lives, in spite of me, redeemed by blood for all to see
Christ Jesus blessed my humble means, restored the lost, in spite of me.
God works through me, in spite of me, If I walk with humility
In spite of my unfaithfulness, He clothes me in his righteousness.
God's will be done, in spite of me, His plan won't fail to be complete
The lame shall walk the blind shall see, and all of this in spite of me.
for Maggie, in spite of me, you are with Him today!
copyright by lori hollaway
Redemption's holy work was done, in spite of me, by Christ the Son.
IN SPITE OF ME, IN SPITE OF ME
HE DIED FOR YOU,HE DIED FOR ME
IN SPITE OF ME HE BROKE OUR CHAINS
AND SET US FREE WITH CHRIST TO REIGN
The sinner lives, in spite of me, redeemed by blood for all to see
Christ Jesus blessed my humble means, restored the lost, in spite of me.
God works through me, in spite of me, If I walk with humility
In spite of my unfaithfulness, He clothes me in his righteousness.
God's will be done, in spite of me, His plan won't fail to be complete
The lame shall walk the blind shall see, and all of this in spite of me.
for Maggie, in spite of me, you are with Him today!
copyright by lori hollaway
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Psalm 13
Life is full of heavy burdens, tearing at my soul and strength
Causing doubts and fears to surface, feelings of abandonment
There is darkness all around me and the firey billows roll
Satan's voice is ever louder, as he wrestle's for my soul
Peace! I cry, oh Jesus save me! Show me your eternal way!
Guide me thru this evil darkness, onward to eternal day.
Jesus quietly, gently beckons, saying christian, follow me!
Donot heed the evil voices, or the tossing of the sea.
There is refuge! there is refuge! come into my fold and rest.
I will hold this weary soldier, ever closer to my breast.
Jesus! Blessed Master! Savior! Loving Lord I cling to thee
Guide me thru this evil darkness, as I serve you faithfully!
August 18, 1999
copyright by Lori Hollaway
Causing doubts and fears to surface, feelings of abandonment
There is darkness all around me and the firey billows roll
Satan's voice is ever louder, as he wrestle's for my soul
Peace! I cry, oh Jesus save me! Show me your eternal way!
Guide me thru this evil darkness, onward to eternal day.
Jesus quietly, gently beckons, saying christian, follow me!
Donot heed the evil voices, or the tossing of the sea.
There is refuge! there is refuge! come into my fold and rest.
I will hold this weary soldier, ever closer to my breast.
Jesus! Blessed Master! Savior! Loving Lord I cling to thee
Guide me thru this evil darkness, as I serve you faithfully!
August 18, 1999
copyright by Lori Hollaway
Holy!
author unknown, but man do I love this
On Zion's glorious summit stood, a numerous host redeemed by blood
They hymned their King in strains divine, I heard their song and strove to join
I heard their song and strove to join!
HOLY! HOLY! HOLY LORD! GOD OF HOSTS ON HIGH ADORED!
WHO LIKE ME THY PRAISE SHALL SING?
OH ALMIGHTY KING!
All they who suffered sword of flame, for truth of Jesus' lovely name
Shout victory now and hail the Lamb, and bow before the great I AM!
and bow before the great I AM!
While everlasting ages roll, eternal love shall feast their soul
While scenes of bliss forever new, rise in succession to their view
rise in succession to their view.
On Zion's glorious summit stood, a numerous host redeemed by blood
They hymned their King in strains divine, I heard their song and strove to join
I heard their song and strove to join!
HOLY! HOLY! HOLY LORD! GOD OF HOSTS ON HIGH ADORED!
WHO LIKE ME THY PRAISE SHALL SING?
OH ALMIGHTY KING!
All they who suffered sword of flame, for truth of Jesus' lovely name
Shout victory now and hail the Lamb, and bow before the great I AM!
and bow before the great I AM!
While everlasting ages roll, eternal love shall feast their soul
While scenes of bliss forever new, rise in succession to their view
rise in succession to their view.
Ephesians 6
Today I stand before my God, as a witness of his love
In Ephesians 6 the Word of God, inspired Paul from above
He tells us how the evil one, tries to destroy our lives
but all our battles have been won, since Christ was crucified!
We're told: "be strong in Christ our Lord, and in His mighty power
The shield of faith and prayer be worn, so when in that dark hour
As satan's army tries to test, our covenant of blood
our God's great love and faithfulness, prevents that evil flood.
Let truth be a belt about your waist, your feet firm on the ground
The breastplate of righteousness in place, in readiness be found
As we in God's salvation rest, His spirit is our guide
and then when we have stood the test, we shall with him reside!
copyright by lori hollaway 1994
In Ephesians 6 the Word of God, inspired Paul from above
He tells us how the evil one, tries to destroy our lives
but all our battles have been won, since Christ was crucified!
We're told: "be strong in Christ our Lord, and in His mighty power
The shield of faith and prayer be worn, so when in that dark hour
As satan's army tries to test, our covenant of blood
our God's great love and faithfulness, prevents that evil flood.
Let truth be a belt about your waist, your feet firm on the ground
The breastplate of righteousness in place, in readiness be found
As we in God's salvation rest, His spirit is our guide
and then when we have stood the test, we shall with him reside!
copyright by lori hollaway 1994
Trial by Fire
God chooses to reveal his way, not in the brightest light of day
But in the lonely searching night, walking by faith, and not by sight.
And in the dark night of my soul, He chose to cleanse and make me whole
I could no longer see my way, the darkness grew each passing day.
I could not spurn the sufferings, for it's in those that life begins,
A life that's built on faith in God, that in this world so long I sought.
The crucible became my mold, the ugly scars will be pure gold,
One day I'll rise from this abyss, freed from this searching lonliness
God's chosen destiny for man, is too profound to understand
We must submit and be brought down, to depths where no solace is found
It's there the unrelenting pain, becomes for me eternal gain
There is no other way for me, but to believe, relentlessly
That God is who He says He is! Yahweh Jireh! Faithfulness!
He's near me when the darkness falls, and never leaves me through it all!
copyright by Lori Hollaway December 2002
But in the lonely searching night, walking by faith, and not by sight.
And in the dark night of my soul, He chose to cleanse and make me whole
I could no longer see my way, the darkness grew each passing day.
I could not spurn the sufferings, for it's in those that life begins,
A life that's built on faith in God, that in this world so long I sought.
The crucible became my mold, the ugly scars will be pure gold,
One day I'll rise from this abyss, freed from this searching lonliness
God's chosen destiny for man, is too profound to understand
We must submit and be brought down, to depths where no solace is found
It's there the unrelenting pain, becomes for me eternal gain
There is no other way for me, but to believe, relentlessly
That God is who He says He is! Yahweh Jireh! Faithfulness!
He's near me when the darkness falls, and never leaves me through it all!
copyright by Lori Hollaway December 2002
Questions
How do you feel when your children are hurting,
When they raise their voices to you with their cries?
How do you feel when they feel so deserted,
When you sit on high, just watching them die?
How do you feel when you have the power,
to calm their fears and remove all their pain
How do you watch them, hour after hour
Struggling to overcome, and start living again?
Why do you torture the one's in your service?
Who decides if they've suffered enough??
Is this how you thank them, and say they deserve this?
Is this how you show your invisible love?
How do you feel when the pain's so tremendous?
We've heeded your word and surrendered our all.
Exhausted with weeping you still donot hear us!
We doubt that you ever existed at all.
What is the purpose of endless suffering?
Our loved one's are dying, our children in pain!
When hours of praying and pleading and offering,
We wonder if we're slowly going insane!
Who are the one's that claim to adore you?
They sing in your churches of your endless love.
But who or what would they run and cling to,
If you refuse to respond from above?
To them God is good, and faithful and loyal
They've never had trials with terrible cost.
But what if the reaper should claim all their toil?
Abandoned by God when all hope is lost?
When I was a child I wanted to know you,
You were the Father I longed to adore
I never suspected that you would not come through,
For me, when I could not take anymore!
I searched for you in the midst of great sorrow
of anguish and pain and confusion of mind
I could not fathom how I'd face tomorrow,
when darkness and lies caused me to go blind!
The tempter is winning! I need you to save me!
I cannot hold on the billows are high!
I'm angry and frightened, confused and I need you
Oh Jesus please save me, or I'll surely die!
copyright by lori hollaway October 2003
When they raise their voices to you with their cries?
How do you feel when they feel so deserted,
When you sit on high, just watching them die?
How do you feel when you have the power,
to calm their fears and remove all their pain
How do you watch them, hour after hour
Struggling to overcome, and start living again?
Why do you torture the one's in your service?
Who decides if they've suffered enough??
Is this how you thank them, and say they deserve this?
Is this how you show your invisible love?
How do you feel when the pain's so tremendous?
We've heeded your word and surrendered our all.
Exhausted with weeping you still donot hear us!
We doubt that you ever existed at all.
What is the purpose of endless suffering?
Our loved one's are dying, our children in pain!
When hours of praying and pleading and offering,
We wonder if we're slowly going insane!
Who are the one's that claim to adore you?
They sing in your churches of your endless love.
But who or what would they run and cling to,
If you refuse to respond from above?
To them God is good, and faithful and loyal
They've never had trials with terrible cost.
But what if the reaper should claim all their toil?
Abandoned by God when all hope is lost?
When I was a child I wanted to know you,
You were the Father I longed to adore
I never suspected that you would not come through,
For me, when I could not take anymore!
I searched for you in the midst of great sorrow
of anguish and pain and confusion of mind
I could not fathom how I'd face tomorrow,
when darkness and lies caused me to go blind!
The tempter is winning! I need you to save me!
I cannot hold on the billows are high!
I'm angry and frightened, confused and I need you
Oh Jesus please save me, or I'll surely die!
copyright by lori hollaway October 2003
Friendship
I have no friends that I can say, are there for me each passing day
Who care what I am going through, and come to see what they can do.
Someone who knows about my goals, and fills the vision of my soul
who donot feel they're wasting time, to commune with me and mine.
Am I so different from the rest? Does no one think that I'm the best?
Does no one think that I'm a friend, who'll stick with them until the end?
Is there someway I need to be, that makes a more attractive me?
Did I offend someone, someway, and carelessly go on my way?
I turn again toward The Book, I better take another look
At what the Bible has to say, how I should live each passing day.
Love your neighbor as yourself, and donot put him on the shelf
And think you'll do another day, what God has said to do today.
Are you lonely? Do you hurt? Do you realize your worth?
Do you feel out of touch with friends? Are you too proud to make amends?
Do you strife each day to see, who you can pretend to be?
People see right through the show, you're not someone they want to know.
Love and value come from God, it does not matter where they're sought
A human friend can never be, what only God intends to be
God is my friend and I am His, there's no one else, I must confess
Who comes to me when I am sad, and always, always makes me glad!
copyright by Lori Hollaway March 25.2001
Who care what I am going through, and come to see what they can do.
Someone who knows about my goals, and fills the vision of my soul
who donot feel they're wasting time, to commune with me and mine.
Am I so different from the rest? Does no one think that I'm the best?
Does no one think that I'm a friend, who'll stick with them until the end?
Is there someway I need to be, that makes a more attractive me?
Did I offend someone, someway, and carelessly go on my way?
I turn again toward The Book, I better take another look
At what the Bible has to say, how I should live each passing day.
Love your neighbor as yourself, and donot put him on the shelf
And think you'll do another day, what God has said to do today.
Are you lonely? Do you hurt? Do you realize your worth?
Do you feel out of touch with friends? Are you too proud to make amends?
Do you strife each day to see, who you can pretend to be?
People see right through the show, you're not someone they want to know.
Love and value come from God, it does not matter where they're sought
A human friend can never be, what only God intends to be
God is my friend and I am His, there's no one else, I must confess
Who comes to me when I am sad, and always, always makes me glad!
copyright by Lori Hollaway March 25.2001
Lament
What lonliness! What emptiness!
God seems so far away
Why has He forgotten us?
There's nothing I can say.
I search for Him all day and night
My troubles multiply
How can He not see my pain?
There's nothing I can try.
Each day is like a higher test
A cross that I must bear
Why can't God just say, "enough?"
Does He no longer care?
There's hope for every single one
That comes to Him in prayer
So why does He not answer me,
When hope is everywhere?
I see Him bless the very one's
Who donot know His name
Why does He seem to care for them,
While I know fear and shame?
My calling is to honor Him
And that is what I'll do
What can I do but trust and wait,
Believe His word is true?
One day I'll see the answer come
And drive the clouds away
He'll say, "My child, my grace made sure,
You never left the way!"
copyright by Lori Hollaway
God seems so far away
Why has He forgotten us?
There's nothing I can say.
I search for Him all day and night
My troubles multiply
How can He not see my pain?
There's nothing I can try.
Each day is like a higher test
A cross that I must bear
Why can't God just say, "enough?"
Does He no longer care?
There's hope for every single one
That comes to Him in prayer
So why does He not answer me,
When hope is everywhere?
I see Him bless the very one's
Who donot know His name
Why does He seem to care for them,
While I know fear and shame?
My calling is to honor Him
And that is what I'll do
What can I do but trust and wait,
Believe His word is true?
One day I'll see the answer come
And drive the clouds away
He'll say, "My child, my grace made sure,
You never left the way!"
copyright by Lori Hollaway
Captivity (It Is Finished)
One day a light shone brightly, into a darkened soul
Into a heart unsightly, to change and cleanse and mold.
God reached into the caverns, and dungeons of despair
And grasped the soul in anguish, that longed for freedom there.
He spoke to him so lovingly, and whispered words of grace
The soul could not believe the love, that shone on Jesus' face.
At first the soul resisted, and tried to turn away
From love it could not comprehend, convinced it would not stay.
The Loving Light persisted, the soul began to know
As much as it resisted, Jesus would not go
And leave the soul in torment, bound by sin and shame
Till he rose up in triumph, proclaiming Jesus' name!
So tentatively he took a step, and soon began to weep
The host of heaven shout and clap, as he began to leap
He knows the chains are broken, he is forever free!
By words of Jesus spoken, one day at Calvary.
copyright by Lori Hollaway October 2003
Into a heart unsightly, to change and cleanse and mold.
God reached into the caverns, and dungeons of despair
And grasped the soul in anguish, that longed for freedom there.
He spoke to him so lovingly, and whispered words of grace
The soul could not believe the love, that shone on Jesus' face.
At first the soul resisted, and tried to turn away
From love it could not comprehend, convinced it would not stay.
The Loving Light persisted, the soul began to know
As much as it resisted, Jesus would not go
And leave the soul in torment, bound by sin and shame
Till he rose up in triumph, proclaiming Jesus' name!
So tentatively he took a step, and soon began to weep
The host of heaven shout and clap, as he began to leap
He knows the chains are broken, he is forever free!
By words of Jesus spoken, one day at Calvary.
copyright by Lori Hollaway October 2003
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