My Hope

Where does your dependence lie
on money that you've piled high
on the insurance that they say to buy
on the doctors that reads your chart
do my words pierce your heart.

Is it for your comfort that you strive
to live in peace and never cry
to have enough to get you by
to pile up enough not to worry
do my words make you squirmy

Where does your hope rest
is it in two nail scarred hands
is it in a body pierced
is it found at the foot of a blood soak stake
Am I making my point, changing you fate.

Don't trust in yourself to make it right
your just in for one big fight
trust in the One who's been through it
who's got the scars and stripes to prove it
the Lord of Host, the King of Kings
the One called Jesus, my only King.

Richard.

Fix Me God

I seek Your face, I call Your name

but nothing seems to ever change

like a giant vending machine

I insert my prayer

I pull the handle

there's nothing there.

Again and again I fall on my face.

I call Your name, I seek Your grace

You're suppose to serve me, isn't that right

I desperately need You to fix my life

I'm not happy

things aren't right

not in my sight.

Where have You gone

You won't answer me

I try and I try

I plead and I plead

isn't it really all about me

please help me

I'm in desperate need.

I seek Your face, I call Your name

but nothing seems to ever change

like a giant vending machine

I insert my prayer

I pull the handle

there's nothing there.

Richard.

Jesus our King

Eternal embrace
cheek to cheek
face to face
the grip of Your hug
the purest of Love
always in Your sight
in Your arms
I delight

What joy is found
eternity bound
with You in front
leading onward
forever to reign
You as our King
leading us
in glorious abandon

Droves upon droves
moving forward we go
together singing harmony
Jesus our King
Jesus our King

Be coming one
with the Father and Son
forever we praise
and adorn You
Jesus our King
Jesus our King

Richard.

Praise Him

Holy is the Lord Almighty

Majestic is His Name

Holy is the Lord Almighty

Raise your voices

Praise His Name

Shout out to the Heaven

All who walk the earth

Lift up your voices

Sing praise to Him

in Him place all your worth

Holy is the Lord Almighty

Majestic is His Name

Holy is the Lord Almighty

Raise your voices

Praise His Name

Shout out to the Heaven

All who walk the earth

Lift up your voices

Sing praise to Him

in Him place all your worth

Richard.

Extravagant Lover

You pursue me relentlessly
effortlessly You over take me
like quarry in Your eyes
with Love in very stride
I fall in to Your grip
irrationally I know
You'll never let me go
I'm Yours to have and hold
consume me

extravagantly you laid me bare
exposing the things I held so dear
for You they depart painfully
those idols of my heart
standing nevermore
I'm Yours completely
eagerly I take You in
standing where there once was others
my Lord, my Life
my extravagant Lover

Richard.

What is the Gospel

God became man
moved into the hood
died on a stake
like He said He would
took His place
among the dead
behind a stone
they made His bed
three days passed
He rose to life
appearing to men
and women alike
taking His place
at His Father's side
He sent the Comforter
to live inside
to reveal His nature
to poke and pry
to help you see
what's hidden inside
the good news is
it happens today
to lost and weary sinners
who can't find their way

Thank You Jesus.

Richard.

Light of Love's calling

out of sin He called you
from slavery you were saved
out of the darkness
you came crawling
into the Light of Love's calling

in the Light you discovered
discovered how wretched you've been
showing you the depths of your depravity
He leads you to the Cross again
into the Light of Love's calling

by a new name He calls you
your life it isn't the same
by this new name He calls you
as He leads you on your way
into the Light of Love's calling

everyday is a new day
showered by torrents of Grace
full of praise and adoration
I'm dancing all over the place
into the Light of Love's calling.

Richard

He ran

He ran to me, wretched sinner that I am
picked up me, held me in His hand
snatched me up and swung me around
"Quickly" He said, "Bring my best gown"

He ran to me, the God of Creation
picking me up, a huge celebration
holding me tight, fingers in my hair
putting His ring on my finger
right then and there.

He ran to me, my Father in Heaven
from very far off, he detected me
to Him I was crawling, down on my knees
I saw Him running, He's faster than fast
"Quickly"He said, "Kill that calf"

He ran to me.

Richard.

Dualality

Battle rages
knee deep in the struggle
all the time standing watching
no longer in the rubble.

feeling the blows
like never before
stammering, staggering
not falling to the floor.

responding in love
is the way it will be
it's getting easier
even I can see.

it's not numbing out
you still feel it
but it's not you now
your no longer in it.

it's Christ you see
your feeling His pain
He living inside
He doing His thing.

so learn to enjoy
take the free ride
follow the Spirit
wow, what a ride.

Richard.

Rambling of the heart

seems to be taking a downhill slide
should bring a tear to my eye
things that you said
stuck in my head
feelings of love
now fading
dead

know what to do
not how to do it
don't think there's anything left
tried and tried
tired inside
everything coming
back dead

this is the way
the way it is now
path to be taken
not knowing
there's nothing to do
keep trusting in You
knowing You're taking me somewhere

to Your chest I turn
pressing hard against it
face buried deep
in Your bosom
Like an infant I cry
You're holding on tight
speaking words of comfort
to me
through the night

hold me like this
I might get sick
the battle is brutally waging
the world's just not right
what a terrible sight
the blood and the souls being battered

in You I rest
for you are the best
You're my conquering hero
the battle's been won
wonderfully done

Richard.