“Come on in friend. I was just reminiscing on my younger days. Looking at all these old pictures brings back memories.”
“Take a look at this one. I was just a baby. My first shell.”
“I still relied on my parents a lot. They taught me what was going to happen as I got older. They taught me how to be polite and how to treat my friends, as well as strangers. One of my favorite things my parents taught me was to be kind to everyone. Treat others as you would want them to treat you. You never know when you are going to need someone to help you and they won’t if you are mean all the time.”
“Oops. You weren’t supposed to see that one. My mom took it in between shells. She embarrassed me so many times by showing that one to my friends. Moooommmmm!!!!!!”
“Here is me as a teenager. That shell was a little too small for me. I thought I knew it all then. I forgot how my parents told me how important it was to get the right shell. Too small and I will have to move again soon. Too big and I would have to carry that weight around until I could fill it.”
“That didn’t keep me from getting this shell as a young adult. Look how big it is.”
” I got it shortly after I left the care of my parents. I was going to take on the world. I didn’t need anything or anyone except me. I was growing so fast I was constantly changing shells. I was invincible. I ran over anyone who stood in my way.”
“Then I needed someone. Everyone just walked around me. That’s when I remembered what my parents had taught me. I was being terribly mean to everyone around me. It’s no excuse but it wasn’t easy for me to change shells. Every time I got comfortable and things were going my way I would grow a little more and have to leave my comfortable home. ”
“All I wanted was to have things stay the same. I liked many a shell and had to leave them. Some of my friends didn’t grow like I did and were able to settle into their shells for far longer times. Some even stayed in the same shell their entire lives. They were too scared to leave and to grow into a new shell. Can you believe that? ”
“I, however, changed each time I changed my shell. Not all of those changes were good but, looking back, I can see how they all helped me become who I am today. I have become wiser , kinder, and more giving. You see , as I moved out of a shell that left a shell for someone else to move into. A younger version of me if you think about it. I could mentor them and teach them what I have been taught.”
“Life isn’t always sunshine on a beach. Sometimes you get these big waves, and sometimes the small ones too, that knock you on your back. You have to fight to get back on your feet. Fight for what you believe in. Become a stronger, better crab.”
“Have you ever had someone be there for you every time you needed them? I didn’t think I did either but I did. And I do.”
“You see, one day I was just getting into a new shell when some humans were walking by. I heard them talking about God. How he made the sunrises and the sunsets I see every day. They were telling their children about how much he loved them. How he is always with them. When they are tired he can carry them. When they struggle he can help them overcome. They told them about his grace and how he forgives them for their mistakes. They even told them about who they are in him. That no matter what happens in this world, they are his children and they are loved and cherished by him. He even gave his one and only son to them and let him die on a cross to show how much he loved them. ”
“I wish I would’ve heard about God a lot sooner in my life. Maybe I wouldn’t have made a lot of the mistakes I did. I would’ve known that I didn’t have to live with those mistakes. I could live guilt and shame free and be forgiven.”
“I will also tell you God has a plan for me, and for you. Even in times of struggle, stay true to Him and His promises. Some of the hardest times in my life turned out to be blessings. I learned so much about who I am when I had to leave one shell for another. The moments when I was vulnerable and felt unprotected. The times when the shell didn’t fit just right but I had to hold on and wait for a better day. Those are the the times I remember the most.”
“Now that I have told you about what I know about God will you go tell your friends. Let’s learn more about Him together. Let’s go treat others like we want to be treated. It’ll be hard and some will reject what we have to say but we have to stay steadfast. Stay true my friend, stay true.”
She had mixed emotions as she approached the tree. She wasn’t even sure why she was here after all this time. She continued up the hill to where the tree was and sat in the shade of its branches. With her back to the tree she looked up and asked, “Why am I here?”
Yes, this was the same tree where she met him. She was okay before she met him. She had great friends that made her laugh. She did well in school and was the second best scorer on the basketball team. Her parents loved her even though her dad wasn’t around much. She was an innocent girl. She came to the tree to get a break from the summer heat.
That’s when he walked up to her. It was under this same shade tree that she let her guard down and welcomed him into her life. She immediately took a liking to him and opened up to him. She told him about all her fears, her concerns, her feeling unwanted by her dad. She knew he loved her but he was never around. Too busy working, too busy hanging with anyone but her.
That’s all he needed to hear and he knew she would be his. He was smooth talking and was easy on the eyes. She fell for him hard. It wasn’t long before she was doing things she never thought she would do until she was married. She started drinking. She started fighting with parents. She started sneaking out of the house. She missed more curfews than she can remember.
“Oh God, why am I back here?!!” she yelled.
She thought about the mess he caused of her life. Well, she knew she caused it but it was all because of him. He promised so much but fell so short. She thought back and could only shake her head and laugh. “I gave up so much for him. I was a mess. So why am I back here? Did I just want to see where it all started one more time? Was I wanting to go back to that life? Was I missing the excitement that he gave me? ”
No, that wasn’t it. She was happy where her life had taken her. She was happy with her family. She had the most amazing daughters and she couldn’t even begin to tell you how amazing her husband is. She found herself remembering the day she said yes to Jesus and no to him. She remembers the darkness that left her. She remembers the freedom she felt. It really was astounding to think that someone died for her. That someone gave His life so she can live. After all she had done, He still welcomed her home. Back to the place she was before she met him. Even when she had betrayed Him and went her own ways, He was still there waiting for her. She thought to herself, now that is an amazing story.
She thought about her journey. The good, the bad, the ugly. So why was she back here? Why did she have to come here? What was she missing in her life that she would go back to him? No, that wasn’t it. She wasn’t here to go back to him. As crazy as it sounds she thought she was here for closure. She was here to say good-bye once and for all.
“You tried to break me. You tried to turn me into your toy and it worked for awhile. But I am better off without you. I am better now that you are gone. I have Jesus and I don’t need you. You have no place in my life. I am stronger because of you and for that I thank you. I won’t fall for your tricks again though. Even when I feel you pulling me I know the pleasure isn’t worth the pain. It’s not worth the hangover the next morning. The shame and guilt. I’m past that. I am new now and I will never go back to you. There is one in my life that is stronger than you. One that is better than you. One that doesn’t lie to me. One that will hold me, will love me no matter what I have done. Good-bye to you. I am and always will be better off with you gone. Dead and gone. Like you made me for that period of my life when I fell for you. But I am alive and I am here because of Jesus. You are dead to me.”
“I am a widow to my old self, to my past sins, to him. I am a widow to the death that was inside me.”
“Thank you God for never giving up on me. Thank you God for searching for me when I was lost. Thank you for carrying me when I was too weak to walk. Thank you for holding my hand when I just needed to have you with me. Thank you for listening to me when I need to talk. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for loving me and thank you for who you are. I promise I will not go back to that life again. Thank you for the power of your love that I can walk away from him, he is truly dead to me and I have you to thank for that. You are all I need.”
With that she got up and walked back down the hill. She never looked back. She did look up and smiled.
Satisfy by Worship Mob – Long video but listen to 5:30 to the end if time is short
Thank you God for another day. Thank you for sending Your son Jesus to die for us and save us. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins even though we don’t deserve it. It is amazing that You would die for us knowing that we would continue to sin against You but You love us that much that You did it anyway.
Thank you for giving us Your word that You were coming, that You were here and that You will be coming back. Thank you for giving us the people that wrote Your word down for us to read and study to help guide us through this life.
Thank you for giving us life. From our first breath to our last. From conception to death. Thank you for the miracle of life. Thank you for all the miracles around us every day, from the big miraculous ones to the ones we don’t even notice.
I pray that people will come to You today. I pray that You will give them what they need. Peace, patience, perseverance, hope, healing, grace, goodness, faith, forgiveness, love, compassion, acceptance, answers, self-control, joy or anything else I pray God that You will help Your people.
Thank you for my wife Kim. Thank you for the person she is TODAY. I pray that she puts You first in her life. I pray that when she reads Your word that she understands it, relates to it, and lives her life by it. I pray that when the devil comes in her life that she will remember the lies of her past and listen for Your truth. I pray You will heal her back so she can live without pain. I pray for her salvation and that her story, our story, will bring others to Your kingdom.
Thank you for my daughters. Thank you for each of their unique personalities. I pray that each of them choose to follow You and live their lives for You. I pray that they are listening to You in the choices they make. I pray that they choose joy in You instead of happiness of this world.
Thank you for my job. Thank you for the opportunity it gives me and so many others to provide for their families and hopefully give some back to You. I pray that we get as many employees as You want us to have. I pray that we will be a good Christian company and stay in business for many years to come. I pray that we will make a profit by treating our employees, customers, and anyone else we talk to every day the way You want us to treat them.
Thank you for me and the way You have made me. Thank you for everything I have had to go through to get me where I am today, everything that makes me the person I am today. Thank you for the dead-ends, the u-turns, the wrong turns, the curves, the straights, the hills, thank You for every road I have had to travel to get to You. I pray that You my God, my Jesus, my Lord and Savior, Holy Spirit, that You take over my life. Fill me with You. Teach me how to live like You, be like You, to forgive and love like You. I pray that when You speak to me that I will listen. I pray that You lead me God and that I will follow. Give me words to speak that will bring others to You. I pray that today You will use me to change one person today. Thank you for healing my knee.
I walked by him at least twice a day. More often than not it was closer to six times a day. He was always in the same spot, always wearing the same clothes and always staring down at the ground.
Anytime that I would walk by and I had some change I would drop it in his hat. He would never look up. He never said thank you. As a matter of fact, I never heard him say anything. I was usually on the go or on my phone or talking to my co-workers so I might not have heard him if he did, but I really don’t think he did.
After a few weeks of dropping change, I decided to do an experiment. I started off dropping one dollar bills in his hat. When he didn’t react I started dropping fives. Then I would drop a ten spot here and there. Nothing, no reaction from this guy. He didn’t even look up to see what I looked like.
I even got my co-workers involved. I had them start giving whatever they had on them to this guy. They all reported back the same thing that I experienced. No acknowledgement that we even existed. No thank you. Nothing. We had to be giving him enough to pay for rent somewhere. Or at least buy some new clothes.
Many months passed. It was getting close to Thanksgiving. I had a really good year financially. Even got myself a promotion. Life was good. I was doing some early Christmas shopping and decided I would buy this guy a winter coat. I even put a hundred dollars in the pocket. I put the jacket down beside him on my way to work. Again, no acknowledgement.
I had enough. I was finally going to talk to this guy. I was going to ask him what his problem was. Why couldn’t he even say thanks. Why couldn’t he at least look up and give me a nod at least. Give me something man. I have been giving to you for over six months now.
As luck would have it though I was tied up in important meetings all day. I had to have lunch catered because I couldn’t get out of the office. When I left that day he wasn’t there. For the first time in as long as I can remember he wasn’t there.
The next morning he wasn’t there either. Same thing at lunch. Same thing on my way home. The entire week was the same. He was no where to be found.
The next week a lady came into my office. She asked for me by name. How did she know my name? Anyway, turns out she was the sister of this man. She told me how Jim, her brother, that was the guys name, had cancer and it took a turn for the worse. He passed away last week. He left a note for her to give to me. I asked how she knew about me. She said it was all in the note.
She also told me more about his story. One night Jim, his wife and kids went out to eat and on their way home they were hit by a drunk driver. Jim was the only one that survived. He never recovered. He never talked again. She never learned if it was trauma from the accident or by choice. Jim just checked out of this world.
I couldn’t believe what I heard. How come I never talked to him? Was I too lost in my own world to reach out to him? Did I think I was better than him? This was another human being and all I did was throw money at him. I didn’t even try to get to know him.
After his sister left I went to my office and opened the letter.
Dear Rob,
I know your name because I listened when you walked by me. I know you are married and have four girls. Congrats on your promotion by the way. I know all of this from listening to you talk on your cell phone. By listening to you talk to your co-workers.
I wanted to thank you for all you gave me. I wanted you to know that I listened because I cared about you. I listened waiting for you to say something to me. I listened, and waited for you to acknowledge me.
I would give you everything you gave me back to you if you would’ve said a single word to me. I would rather have had a friendship with you than your money. I wished you would’ve got to know me. I wasn’t always this way.
I heard you talk about God to your co-workers as you were leaving the building. I heard you thank Jesus when you got your promotion. I heard you talk about hope and faith to your wife in one of your talks. I would’ve liked to know more about God but you didn’t share him with me.
Take care,
Jim
All this time I thought he was ungrateful. What I have come to realize is how ungrateful I am. I realize how I take my life, my wife, my children, my friends, my health, my job for granted. I didn’t realize how lucky I am. No longer. I now realize how quickly all that can be taken away from me.
I also came to realize that I don’t share God or my beliefs with anyone outside my circle. I am not spreading the good news of my savior like I should.
For that, I will always be grateful for ungrateful Jim. I only wish I would’ve taken the time to get to know him.
Guilty by Newsboys – I am guilty of not speaking of God enough. I want to be guilty for sharing it.
I walked the land for days. I was told if I could find the castle I would find the Kingdom. Not many I came across had ever heard of the castle, let alone know how to find it. That did not deter me from searching. I heard it calling.
I continued my journey. Desperately looking for anyone who could tell me how to get to the castle. I entered a forest and saw the child. He was looking at me and had a smile on his face.
I asked the child if he knew where the castle was. He looked at me quizzicality and asked, “Where have you looked?”
I started to answer but he continued, “you look but you do not see. The thing you search for is right in front of you.”
This child did not know anything about a castle. “If it is right in front of me then why am I still searching?”
He again said, “because you look but do not see.” He then scurried off into the forest.
I scratched my head, perplexed at that conversation but continued my journey. It had been several days when I came upon another child.
“Hello, can you tell me how to get to the castle?” I asked.
“Where have you searched?” asked the child.
“I have been on so many roads, so many trails, so many paths that I have lost count,” I answered.
“Have any of those roads brought you closer to the castle?”
I thought, what kind of question is that? Isn’t it obvious the answer is no since I am asking you where it is? “I do not believe so. I have not found many people who have even heard of it, let alone know where it is.” What is wrong with the children in this kingdom? I silently thought.
“Many have been on this journey you are on. Some have succeeded in finding the castle. Some have never been on the right path. Others have quit searching when they were only steps away.”
“Why would they quit searching when they were steps away? Couldn’t they see it?” I asked.
“The evil one put scales over their eyes. He does not want anyone finding the castle and he will do whatever it takes to make you turn away and quit searching.”
With that, he left me with only more questions than answers. Who was this evil one? Why would anyone quit searching for something so grand? Why would they not want to live in the castle and the kingdom? None of this was making sense to me.
I continued on the path I was on. I was hoping that I would find someone who could lead me to the castle. It had been months since I saw the last child but I was on a journey and I was not going to stop until I found it.
I was rounding a corner when I saw a man sitting beside the road. “Where ya goin’?” he asked.
“I’m not really sure,” I responded. “I am searching for the castle in the kingdom but I have not been able to find it yet.”
“Oh, I see,” he said. “Mind if I tag along?”
“Not to be disrespectful but I prefer not. This is a journey I must take alone,” I answered.
“Why don’t you go down this way?” he said as he pointed to the left of me. “I have heard down that road will be all the money you could ever want.”
“Thanks, but I have had money and it did not bring me the peace I search for.”
“Why not go down this road?” he said as he pointed to the right. “I have heard there all the women you could ever desire down that road.”
“Thanks, but I have had my share of women and they did not fill the hole in my heart,” I replied.
“Why not turn around and go back to where you were? Surely it is a lot easier than searching for a mythical castle that you will never find.”
“You must be the evil one the child told me about. I will not listen to your serpents tongue. I will be on my way now.”
With that, I bid him farewell and was on my way again.
It seemed like another year had passed but I knew it could have only been days. I was getting frustrated. Why could I not find this castle?
I crested a hill and saw the two children again. “Hello again, will you continue to talk in riddles or will you show me the way to the castle?”
“The castle is located where you will never expect it to be. You will find it when you can cross the moat between your mind and your heart. You must understand, through faith, that what is seen was not made from the visible. You must have faith in what you do not see.”
Do what? Are these children serious? Moat, mind, heart, invisible, visible?
“You must lower the drawbridge and connect what you believe to be the truth and what you know to be the truth. When your heart and your mind are one you will find the castle. When you find the truth you will find the castle for the castle is the truth.”
“Keep searching. Walk in faith. You are on the right path.”
As perplexed as I was, I felt a peace that I had not felt before. Somehow, what they said was making sense. I knew I had not found the castle yet but I knew I was close. I knew I was heading in the right direction. One step at a time, one minute at a time, I will keep on walking.
Kingdom by David Dunn –
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2 –
Hey mom and dad, it’s okay if I fail. I tried. I will not succeed at everything but I have to fail at most things to know what I will succeed at. You have to let me fail.
I know it’s hard for you to not just jump in when I am struggling but let me struggle. I have to be able to figure things out on my own. I love when you hold my hand but there will be times when you won’t be there and then what? What will I do if you aren’t there? I will have to figure it out on my own. I am capable. I am strong. I am smart.
I know this is hard for you to hear but sometimes you just have to get out of the way. I know you love me and I know if I can’t get this figured out I can ask for your help. Just like the other day when I asked you about that math problem. I had to have time to think it through and figure out if I could do it on my own before I asked.
Chances are I will not be a professional athlete. No matter how hard you push me, no matter how many nights I spend in the driveway shooting free throws, no matter how many extra sprints I run. No matter how loud you yell at my games. No matter how many times you play catch with me. You know the odds are astronomical right? If I choose to pursue this though you better know I will push myself beyond my limits to do it because I know not very many make it. However, if I don’t want to play soccer this season but want to try to play guitar, let me. I may go back to soccer later. I may be a terrible guitar player, but I won’t know unless I try. Who knows, maybe I am the next Eddie Van Halen.
I will give 100% to everything I try. I learned that from you. I will not quit if I don’t like it at first. I may even end up liking it. You have never quit on our family so I know what it is like to keep trying and not give up. I just may not be good at what I try and that’s okay. I will do the most with the abilities I have. Success for me right now is trying.
I am not afraid to try. Fear of failure is not a part of me. I want to be able to fail, to find out more about me. I am still trying to find out who I am in this world. Not who you want me to be. I will fail. There is no doubt in my mind. I will also succeed at many things. I just need you to give me that opportunity.
I don’t know what God has in store for me but you have given me a great start. For that , I am forever thankful. As I grow older though I want to try new things. I want to see what I am good at. I want to be .. Well like you. You know what you are good at and you know what you are bad at and it’s all because of you trying and succeeding, and failing.
Do not let me make bad choices or go down the wrong road. I fully expect you to put me in place if that happens. There is a difference between making bad choices and failing at something I want to try.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to succeed. But I also want to fail. I want to pick myself up and dust myself off and say wheww I suck at that. I won’t know until I try though. I want to find out what it’s like to be knocked down and get back up. I want to figure out what I did wrong and how I can get better. I want to persevere. It even says in the Bible that perseverance builds character . I want to be someone that people look to and say they want to be like me. I can’t do that if you do everything for me. If you are always helping me succeed. I have to test my limits and my abilities. I know you will be there for me if I need you, but right now I just want to go for it on my own. I want to see what I am made of. I want to laugh at myself if I stink. I want to be proud of myself if I succeed. I won’t be able to do any of these things if you don’t let me try, knowing I may fail.
Please mom and dad, let me fail. I will be okay. I may cry. I may get mad. I will struggle. I will get hurt. I will feel pain. I will get knocked down. I will pick myself up. I will find joy. I will be proud of myself for trying. I will find something I really enjoy doing. I will be thankful for the experience . I will learn how to fight for what I want. I want to say I tried. I will succeed.
I will succeed, but first you have to let me fail.
No Boundaries by Kris Allen –
I Lived by OneRepublic –
Unafraid by Pillar –
Limitless by Colton Dixon –
Born To Try by Delta Goodrem –
Die Trying by Art of Dying –
Champ by Nelly –
Rise Up by Green River Ordinance –
Born To Rise by Redlight King –
Burn Bright ( You Were Made To Shine) by Natalie Grant –
I have been going back and forth, fighting myself on whether or not I should put my lyrics on here. On the plus side, maybe my words could touch someone without being in a song. On the negative side, what if someone used my lyrics without my permission. Anyway, in honor of October being breast-cancer month I have decided to put this one on here. I can hear how I want it to sound in my head but, unfortunately, God didn’t bless me with the talent to write music.
I wrote this 2/10/15 when I was in Kroger one day and saw someone in a wheelchair and the words just started coming out. I wrote if for cancer but a friend of mine said he could see this disease as just being sin in general. I had never thought of it like that but I can see it like that also.
I would still like to turn my lyrics into a song but finances are not what they need to be for me to do that. I would love to have Lily Messer sing it. Or the girl who sings Thank You by Jesus Army. Or Lauren Daigle. Or maybe there is a voice out there I haven’t found yet that will reach out to me. All my attempts so far have failed but I am not discouraged. God will take the words where they need to go and the rest will be history.
For those that have cancer, or any disease, I pray that you will find strength in the one who made you. I pray you will find comfort in His arms. I pray that you will fight.
This Disease
This disease is tearing me to shreds
Some days I can’t get out of bed
I still have a voice to pray
That You, God, can heal me today
I’m okay if this is the day I die
In you I know I will always be alive
Behind these tears know I’m at peace
I’ll miss this world but I’m ready to leave
I know I’m coming home
I know they won’t be alone
Your arms will comfort them like they have me
In Heaven, I will be rid of this disease
Thank you for giving me time on this earth
Thank you for dying, to show me what I’m worth
Thank you for giving me your words, your life
Thank you for dying so I can be alive
I’ll be an example, I’ll fight to the end
I pray that I’ve been a good friend
But when I breathe my last breath
As my time in this world is put to death
I know I’ll be coming home
I know they won’t be alone
Your arms will comfort them like they have me
In Heaven, I will be rid of this disease
Let them know I didn’t give up
That they will always have my love
I’ll be watching them as they grow
I pray that You they will get to know
It’s time to leave this disease behind
Your eyes they look so kind
As my soul leaves this body
I’m coming home to You God
I know I’ll be coming home
I know they won’t be alone
Your arms will comfort them like they have me
In Heaven, I will be rid of this disease
This disease didn’t win
Your love was always within
I Run For Life by Melissa Etheridge –
Healing Hand of God by Jeremy Camp –
My Story by Big Daddy Weave –
Through All Of It by Colton Dixon –
Your Hands by JJ Heller –
Believe by Elisa Lynee –
No One Fights Alone by Christian Spear –
Hold On by Dominic Camany –
Hope by Capri Ruberto Anderson (Capri Canada) –
I’m Gonna Love You Through It by Martina McBride –
Even if it is two days before November, I will be thankful for the time Kylie and I spent together this past Saturday. Having three older daughters, I know it will go by fast.
Since Kylie was little, we would watch College Gameday together whenever I was off work, which wasn’t often. When I worked we would always call each other and FaceTime the last ten minutes to make the picks together. (I could stream ESPN when I was at work Saturday’s.)
It is a tradition that I hope will continue well into her adult years. She likes the NFL better than college. I like college better than NFL. But in general I think both of us just like watching football together.
We went to watch College Gameday live since they were in Columbus for the Ohio State-Penn State game. We had a really good time, even though it was cold and raining, then snowing. 71 Friday, 35 Saturday morning. Only in Ohio they say.
I tried to get Kylie to stay and watch the Skull Session, where Coach Meyer talks and The Ohio State Marching Band, TBDITL, plays but she was too cold and wet.
Needless to say she didn’t want to stay and try to find tickets to watch the game live, nor did I want to pay $200 plus per ticket. We went home and warmed up and watched the game from home.
We were certain Ohio State would lose the game since everyone was picking them to win. They, Ohio State, tried to give the game away but in the end pulled out an exciting 39-38 win.
Plus we were on TV at least four times. That makes us stars in today’s society right.
This is my last Halloween post. I hope you enjoyed the stories. If you missed any be sure to go back and check out The Maze, The Funhouse of Mirrors and The Haunted House.
Even though I am no Edgar Allan Poe this is the scariest yet ( but don’t worry, it has a happy ending.) We all wear masks! This mask story is just one of many I could tell. It is a true story and it could happen to you. Not that the other stories weren’t true- that’s up for you to decide. Reader beware!
You wake up each morning
Ignore all the warnings
With a smile on your face
Our love was being replaced
Breakfast made and the kids are dressed
Don’t even know their lives are about to be a mess
Out the door they go to school You let the devil make you a fool
I come home from work
But you’ve been digging in dirt
You show me that beautiful smile
Right now, you are just in denial
You wear a mask of past shames
Yet, you continue to play games
You say you aren’t the one to blame
The mask of your past caused this pain
You where the mask of lies and deceive
Your family is the one you leave
You’re wearing a mask
Did you think this would last?
But you can’t hide it well
Did you think I couldn’t tell?
Oh love, what have you done?
Was it all just for fun?
You’re tearing our world apart You’re breaking our kids hearts
Fast forward through the hurt and lies
Fast forward through the tears we cried
Fast forward through the pain What did you think you had to gain?
I gave up and God stepped in
“Now let me take all this sin, ”
He whispered to me “it’s not about you,
I want you to stay until I am through”
He walked us through the dirt and mud
Our love went from ashes to a bud
You removed the mask you wore so long
Now you are back with God where you belong
Through all His redeeming grace
Our marriage found a new starting place
So my friends what can I say?
You have to pray to God each day
What can get you through the worst?
In your marriage, God must come first
Don’t fall for the tricks of the evil one
Don’t let your marriage come undone
His words are smooth but they are not true Don’t let the devil come between God and you
Be careful of the seeds you sow
Guard your heart with the truth you know
Be careful of the mask you wear
Let Jesus carry the cross you bear
Remember when you first fell in love Love each other, look to God above
Don’t let the devil come and destroy
Don’t fall for his games, his ploys
Even though you once believed he who lied
Because of God, our marriage survived
The devil tried but he isn’t winning With God our end became a new beginning
This story is scary because it is true
I will pray it doesn’t happen to you
But if it does, it doesn’t have to be the end of your story
Let God use your struggles and pain for His glory
If I Told You by Jason Walker – The perfect song for this post. Please listen.
Masqerade by Jonathan Thulin –
Change This Heart by Sidewalk Prophets –
You Are Loved by Stars Go Dim –
Behind The Mask by Eric Clapton –
Something More by Secondhand Serenade –
You Don’t Know How Beautiful You Are by Jon Foreman –
My God, My Music, My Life 