Gratitude is the first note in my song of happiness,
Eternal love is my wall of sound.
Surrounding me with those who sing and laugh with me,
Eternal love is my song to sing.

When my back was pressed against a wall
that offered no further retreat,
I had no place to go, no friend to rely on,
He offered me a safe haven,
Reaching into my soul parts that ached the most,
Condemnation spat at me at the start of the day,
Despair the parting gift to end work’s agony,
Encouraged to die in my darkest moment,
I was ready to take the most awful of advice,
I believed the lies that confused all truth,
Disorientated by the shifting sands under my feet,
My best defence found in my humiliation,
Left with nothing was the beginning of fresh horizons.

Trust no one but love abundantly,
Is the wisdom that comes from a life shaped by disappointment,
My focus is on Mercy not revenge,
Forgiveness conquers hatred every time,
It’s no easy victory that comes from choosing love first,
The corpse of hatred left to rot on it’s own,
Here I stand a living witness to what love can do.

Rejection was the final straw,
But, also the new beginning,
All my despair wrapped up and tossed away,
A new foundation of hope became my guiding light,
Each day drawing me to new ways to praise.

God’s life touching mine is blessing felt,
All the family are joined as one in this blessing,
We hold our heads high as we walk in step,
Unity is declaration of our shared desire,
To praise God without holding back,
To live life in total abandonment to God,
To love abundantly holding nothing back.

Praise is the heartbeat of life,
Eternity lifted high on forgiveness’ shoulders,
Carried along in open hearted celebration,
The crowd gets bigger with each step forward,
The thrill of this shared adventure ,
Sending a shiver through my body,
I have joined Eternity’s party,
And this is now my life forever,
Thank you Lord,
I am always grateful for this chance to love you.

Praise has one true name,
Love declares to everyone that I know it,
There is one true source of faithful friendship,
And, I am one of his closest companions.

Everyone is rushing around trying to create truth,
Making up new gods every day,
Each built on the dead bones of the previous god,
They are the outcome of stupidity’s foolishness,
Their only response to pain is ignorance,
Their understanding limited to blank stares,
Compassion betrayed by the pursuit of selfish gain.

Eternity’s close knit family know about trust,
Known in the truest form of the rescued soul,
When I was left dangling on the cliff’s edge,
I grasped for anyone to reach down to me,
Desperation sought any false hope,
It was God’s hand that lifted me from the precipice,
Aloneness was sheltered by total trust,

I was never forgotten by God,
He knows the lessons that I needed most,
Using every painful reminder of failure,
As the way to restore the broken life.

Love seeks to discover the gift of abundance,
Most of my day is spent counting my blessings,
Knowing that nothing is trustworthy in this life,
Except what is promised from Eternity’s love,
Love’s voice will not be silenced by death’s wishes,
The hollow croaks of revenge’s threats,
Are overwhelmed by praise’s victory shouts,
Celebrations are all around me,
Welcoming me to join in the party.

Redemption is my broken hearted story,
Life lived in the shadows feels important,
Bright lights trying to hide the dark night,
Rushing around busy completing useless tasks,
Frenetic activity seeking to calm my anxious mind,
Feeling like overwhelmed is the easiest path,
Until the self constructed life breaks in pieces,
Fragility masked by the clutter of riches.

The redeemed look arrogant rebellion in the eye,
Watching it retreat from the light,
Finally acknowledging that truth is never busy,
Honesty knows the miracle of forgiveness,
That brings creation into completeness,
Life flows freely from my trusted source,
Anxious fear forgotten forever.

I am surrounded by praise,
When my thoughts centre on His majestic plan,
My soul’s longings are my never dry well, my life source,
Understanding bringing a smile to my lips every day,
Providing for my needs and my heart’s cry,
Reaching out to me in loving compassion,
Showing me how to love unconditionally,

Eternity celebrates a faithful heart,
The heart that knows his true name,
Grace calls my special name formed from love,
My imagination cannot contain the praise,
Not one creature is missed by His love,
Every piece of ground is witness to His light.

Every person is called to worship God,
From the arrogant power mongers,
To the smallest child,
Only one God has lived among us,
Coming close so that his breath joined with mine.

Today’s defeat is tomorrow’s opportunity,
God’s calling is the ultimate equaliser,
Beloved, is the name of every last child of His,
Seated with all His loved children,
Brought together through love’s sacrifice,
Excited by the possibility of eternity,
And, the never ending opportunity to give thanks.

My delight begins with finding words to praise God,
And, in celebrating the lessons of disobedience,
The firm reminders of God’s hand on my life,
Tell me that nothing is left to chance.

Blessing has come from my wilderness wanderings,
When I had nothing left then beauty was found,
Light drew me to mercy’s soft eyes,
To the place where kindness speaks loudest,
Where compassion is heard and justice received.

I have decided about the life I want to live,
This is the life of hope that welcomes every day,
Firstly to listen to God’s voice and to obey,
Then, to live a truly generous life,
One that shares grace abundantly,
Trusting God for every moment lived,
Seeking greatness in every small opportunity,
Searching out the needs of others,
Giving out of blessing,
Knowing that there is always more to come.

I want the life of victory,
Where fear is kept where it belongs,
A life that knows about broken trust,
But, chooses to find what is trustworthy,
A life that has seen the fruit of selfish gain,
But, chooses to give without counting.

I am ready to leave selfish ambition behind,
He has prepared well for his own destruction,
Basking in his angry hollow threats,
That are forgotten and confused by the next lie,
His threats fading into the the abyss of nothing,
All his words a prison of endless frustrated anxiousness.

My delight comes from seeking out praise today,
The promise of seeking and finding answered again,
My heart’s deepest gladness celebrated in prayer,
Blessing after blessing found in praise.

God is never dismayed by the selfish taunts,
Of those who think that they have got it made,
Declaring their own greatness,
Making out that they are better than some ,
Thinking that somehow they control destiny,
Setting themselves up to be God,
Surrounded by likeminded wannabes,
A stinking mess of empty boasts.

In the middle of this cesspool,
A courageous beacon of hope calls my name,
Lifting me above the stench of self righteousness,
Together we stand in the presence of God,
Taunts fall by the way, powerless to reach me,
My soul replenished by Mercy’s protection,
What threatened to crush me is left to die,
I celebrate the promised victory each day,
My inheritance eternally assured.

Praise is truth spoken from my heart and my head,
It’s voice won’t be silenced by evil plans for long,
Hatred’s spittle is splashed all around me,
My kindness abused by the blows of resentment,
The moment he opens his mouth the lies flow,
A never ending barrage of angry words,
My love returned with constant betrayals,
Faithful devotion repaid with selfish gain.

I will continue to trust God for justice,
No longer compelled to defend myself,
A self serving life will count for little,
Soon forgotten in death’s quick accounting,
Here today gone tomorrow,
Short term gains lost because of greed,
No one listens to his whining, blaming words,
No one wants to be his friend,
No one remembers his pathetic lies,
Everyone of his hateful angry acts tallied up,
Remembered forever by God’s heart for the poor.

When mercy was an opportunity,
He kept at me day and night,
Chasing my thoughts,
Kindness his weapon used to stab the deepest,
Each wound bringing death closer,
Till the final hope in friendship was lost.

I came to the end of my rope,
Dangling from a thread,
Then I felt softest touch,
At first I thought I imagined it,
Then I heard the kindest words,
I didn’t think he was speaking to me,
Then I saw my total destitution,
When I was lowest I found unfailing love,
My worst shame became my beautiful coat,
My deepest failure my badge of victory for Grace,
Deserted at my worst possible moment,
The tables are now completely turned,
All the curses paid back double with blessing.

I stand confidently with the witness to Grace,
To my left and right are the faithful worshippers,
All the hateful accusations drowned out by praise,
Together celebrating blessing after blessing,
Sharing the gift of God’s strong hand,
Delivering us from the abyss of death.

Salvation songs stir up love’s beautiful longings,
Sunrise brings a new song,
Praise starts in my heart and is shouted out,
Heard by everyone near and far,
Love finds everyone’s deepest heartaches,
Seeking out the kindest response,
That lifts me up alongside his heavenly glory,
Worship’s fullest expression found,
Faithfulness expressed in eternal loyalty.

My life is surrounded by a holy promise,
Clothed in the sweet safety of redemption,
The gifts given to me are underserved,
My wealth is ten fold what was expected,
It rubs salt in the wounds of my dear enemy,
He looks on with envious despair,
Blessing is mine again,
Found in the safe haven of trust.

Safety is found in God’s protective presence,
Strengthening me for fresh adventures,
Ready to face the world with courage,
There is nothing to fear in God’s will,
The despair of hopeless failure,
Is banished by belonging to hope,
God holds up my life as a witness,
Of how gracious kindness can transform,
Nothing is ever lost or forgotten for his child,
Abundant blessing is the sweetest victory.

Life without God is the ultimate stupidity,
It is a life lived without any wisdom,
Beginning from a prideful spirit,
Ending with foolish self deceit,
Self destructing is the end result,
Of believing stupidity’s lies.

Compassion searches for the broken hearted,
Love’s touch is for those at their end,
Those who know their need for God,

Wisdom has learned it’s lesson,
Stupidity does the same thing over and over,
Until finally it’s foolishness is rewarded,
The lesson is learned too late,
Their fate is eternal ignorance,
But, belonging to God brings understanding,
Restored to be the centre of His pleasure,
Sharing eternity’s creative cries of wonder.

I long to know God’s loving gaze,
That comforts my deepest fears,
Eyes that seek out my heart,
And soothes my anxious thoughts.

My day begins with questions for God,
Why do you let my enemy succeed?
Isn’t it time justice was done?
Why don’t you stop his evil acts?

My deepest sadness,
Is calmed by God’s loving words,
My biggest failure,
Is God’s greatest opportunity,
Love’s kindest expression,
Is my daily transformation,
From despair to renewed life,
That brings a song to my heart,
Sung loud and clear for all to hear.

The bloodlust roar of the crowd surrounds me,
Shouting their deceitful lies,
Thinking that they are influencing truth,
Each lie building on a false foundation,
That seeks to justify their pride,
All of this is self deceit,
Doesn’t influence God one bit,
His heart is for the poor and broken,
The people the crowd jeers.

God’s anger is building against the liar,
His lies cause deep hurt,
The pain that God sees,
Will be the liar’s undoing,
The broken hearted will hear truth,
They will see pride’s back broken,
By God’s loving justice,
Bringing Creation back to order,
The liar’s time in the sun is brief,
Brokenness is restored.

Trust reaches out to me from heaven,
Offering me a loving embrace,
When I am surrounded by uncertainty,
I long for Eternity’s touch on my shoulder,
That turns me from facing fear,
To God’s loving gaze.

Search my untrustworthy heart,
Help me to find every sinful thought,
That doesn’t belong to love’s conversation,
I passionately long for your truth,
Your heart meets with mine,
Two hearts that are loyal forever,
Those choosing destruction don’t belong,
Instead I will bask in your loving gaze,
Celebrating your truth lived loyally,
Wrapped in your daily embrace.