Finish Your Story

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I read through the pages of your book

I get to know you and your every look

I’ve stumbled upon a terrible chapter

One that’s full of hurt and disasters

Some have chosen not to continue to read

They closed the book in your time of need

But I read each and every word

My eyes teared up and the pages blurred

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With each page I prayed you would make it through

Even at your darkest I knew there was a light in you

Another word, another sentence, another paragraph, another page

I couldn’t stop reading because I knew you would find your faith

I was at the end of the chapter and started the next

You made it through the worst but still weren’t at your best

But as I promised I continued to read

I will hold your hand when you are in need

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You are not alone and the next chapter could be amazing

Thanking God for the trials, his name we will be praising

Right now, I need you to keep writing

This world needs you to keep fighting

Don’t give up, don’t let the dark win

Through the wounds, let the light in

Because I know when I close your book after I read the last page

That after all the ups and downs you didn’t give up and you found your way

I know at the end of your story

We will give God all the glory

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Carry You by Ruelle – 

Beautifully Broken by Plumb – 

Turn It Around by Lincoln Brewster- 

Deep Down (Walk Through The Fire)  by Lincoln Brewster – 

Fighting For You by Tenth Avenue North – 

In Four Minutes Or Less

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In less than four minutes

I share my life and everything in it

I’ve got one shot to get it right

So you better hold on tight

I’ve got demons bouncing around in my head

Trying to fight the ones telling me I’d be better off dead

I’ve got scars on top of scars

Been to Venus, should’ve stayed on Mars

Fell into holes so deep I couldn’t claw my way out

My voice has been silenced when I would scream or shout

Buried alive beneath my pain

The sun would shine but I felt only rain

That’s my story so far when I went to hell

That’s only the beginning, so much more to tell

Days when  I didn’t think I could stand

He was always there holding out his hand

When I could see in the darkest of nights

It was because he was always there shining a light

When I gave up and hope and joy were nowhere to be found

The seas would part, the mountains would move and shake the ground

When I chose to believe in what I couldn’t see

I could see he was there fighting right beside me

I can’t say I have walked in your shoes

Maybe I don’t know what you are going through

You can’t say you have walked in mine

But I know we have crossed paths from time to time

So there’s my story and I pray it can help you

Life is better when you realize it’s not about you

It’s not about what’s wrong and what’s right

It’s about God’s mercy and grace and living Christ-like

So in less than four minutes I told you how I rose and how I fell

But there is so much more, way too much more to tell

I used to live in the dark

Until one day He changed my heart

Yes, I still worry from time to time

But I let God have my life

Whatever problems come, let them come

Let God’s will be done

It doesn’t matter what the circumstance

It doesn’t change who I am

The peace I found when I fell to my knees and started to pray

It changed my life, not just that day

The peace I found when from my knees I chose to rise

In four minutes or less you know how God has changed my life

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Changed by Sanctus Real –  

You Can by Building 429 – 

Inside Out by Bonray – 

I Got Saved by Corey Voss –  

Oh, Shooting Star

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Oh, shooting star why did you fall from the sky?

I guess you felt it was your time to fly

I wonder, did the other stars tell you goodbye?

Did you ever wish to see the light of day?

Will anyone miss you while you are away?

I wonder, did any other star ask you to stay?

Is there a reason you decided to leave?

Did you think you had nothing left to achieve

I wonder, when did you no longer believe?

The night skies will never look the same

You were one in a billion but I knew you by name

I wonder, could I have said, done anything? Am I to blame?

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have this wish I wish tonight

Oh shooting star, I wish that you were still alive

A Terrible Tale

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This is a terrible tale

One that doesn’t end well

If you must continue to read

You must know the hero will bleed

The hero fought all day and into the night

He fought a brave and valiant fight

I must tell you our hero was strong

Many an enemy did not last long

They died by his very own hands

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But our hero was alone when he took his stand

Our hero was very brave

But he died and he went to his grave

His story could have been different

If only a few others would’ve made a commitment

To stand by his side

To fight the good fight

His life could have been easily spared

But too many others are scared

Not speaking up for what is just and right

Tonight our hero drew his sword in his last fight

It could’ve been different, it really should have ended differently

In fact this terrible tale could’ve ended so magnificently

But because of you our hero has failed

This could  soon be your terrible tale

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Bullet Holes In The Sky by Mary Gauthier –  

When Legends Rise by Godsmack – 

A Few Good Men by Gaither Vocal Band –  

The Water ( Meant For Me) by I Am They – 

She Calls Me Pops

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She calls me Pops

And I call her Dots

I say I love you lots

She just smiles and walks away

One of those games she likes to play

But I know she loves me, even if she doesn’t say

We were close through the early years

Over football we bonded through the cheers

When we lost, we even shared a few tears

Two peas in a pod, we were thick as thieves

At night I would be on my knees

Praying to God don’t let her change, please

But now she says this is what teenagers do, we rebel

I say, ” But you are not a teenager, you are only twelve.”

Then she does an uugggh or some kind of tribal yell

But I know this time is only temporary

Because I’ve been through it before, her sisters and me

So I let it go and wait for the time when she will see

That good old pops was smarter than she thinks

And not everything I do really stinks

Because it will be over before she blinks

Then one day on her wedding day

I will be the one who gives my dots away

We’ll be on the dance floor when the music starts to play

She’ll look at me and say “hello pops”

And I’ll smile at her and say “hello dots”

Maybe, just maybe,  she will say I love you lots

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Short Are The Years by Jason Crabb-  

Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman-  

Fast by Luke Bryan –  

My Last Breath by Black Stone Cherry-  

Female by Keith Urban –  

Woman, Amen by Dierks Bentley –  

Gracie by Ben Folds-  

 

 

I Know It’s You

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I know it’s you

Who checks on me from the doorway

I know it’s you

Who loves me without one word you say

I know it’s you

Who left the Bible by my bed

I know it’s you

Who taught me Jesus rose from the dead

I know it’s you

Who left the guitar

I know it’s you

Who wants me to reach for the stars

I know it’s you

Who loves me with all your heart

I don’t know it’s you

That inside is falling apart

I don’t know it’s you

That keeps all the pain inside

I don’t know it’s you

That crawls into the dark and hides

I don’t know it’s you

That fights the voices in your head

I don’t know it’s you

Who sometimes wishes they were dead

I know it’s you

Who protects me and keeps me from danger

I know it’s you

That’s taught me I can be a world changer

I know it’s you

Who kisses me goodnight

I know it’s you

Who tucks me in nice and tight

I don’t know it’s you

That has so much hurt and doubt

I know it’s you

That I can never, ever live without

 

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From The Top Of The World

From the bottom of hell and on my knees

My rotting soul in the air I breathe

I hold my breath, want my lungs to explode

Fighting my mind from mistakes made a long time ago

I claw at my chest, want to rip out my heart

From this world I want to depart

I poke at my eyes, I no longer want to see

I’m sorry for things I’ve done but I can’t forgive me

I’ve become cold, heartless, and callous

Nothing but empty rooms in this palace

In this palace the demons say the lies are truth, they insist

From the darkness of hell they tell me the light does not exist

From the bottom of hell and on my knees

I find the strength to whisper please God, please

From the bottom of hell I give you my sins, my shame

From the top of the world you whisper my name

From the top of the world you shout my name

Love, Not Hate: Continue To Love

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The birds gathered in mourning again

Another school shooting, when will it end?

Another police officer killed in the line of fire

The evil tragedies were making the birds feel dire

The hawk looked at the eagle and asked, “what can we do, what can we say?”

“Why do they always seem to choose hate?”

“Why do they choose to live like this?”

“Sometimes, this life seems to be pointless”

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The eagle answered as he shed another tear

“We can not give up, we can not live in fear.”

“We must continue to have faith.”

“In all this mess, God will lead the way.”

“We must teach them it all starts at home.”

“We must tell them we are never alone.”

“We must give this country back to God!”

“How we live now is deeply flawed.”

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“We teach not to pray in school,

that it’s all about me and forget the golden rule.”

“Young birds  don’t learn how to fail,

so when they do, they don’t cope well.”

“Their entire lives are out for the world to see,

everything has to be perfect and they can never be in need.”

“They post pictures and Snapchat with smiles,

not letting anyone see they are going through trials.”

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“Holding it all inside until one day they snap,

do something that they can never take back.”

“It’s a tough world in which they live,

it is up to us to teach them they have so much to give.”

“Be honest and show some vulnerability,

Asking for help doesn’t mean you have a disability.”

“Hawk, we must stand strong,

show this world where they have gone wrong.”

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“We must give life and not take,

wake from their slumber, they must wake!”

“We must lend a helping hand,

we must heal this land!”

“They must know they are truly loved,

they must know about God above.”

“We will stand united in the face of adversity!”

“We must live our lives purposely,

showing love to all who enter our nests,

by going out in the world and telling the rest

about the good news of the one who died,

the one who loves, we must put away our pride!”

“We must remember when the winds are strong,

that even the strongest winds don’t last that long.”

“When the wind blows out the light,

we have to be persistent to reignite.”

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“We can never give up!”

“We must stop the hate and continue to love.”

“We can never, ever give up the fight!”

“Let our light light up the darkest night!”

Then the hawk, who was still new to the faith

Asked the eagle,  “how do we get others to see things our way?”

“We lead by example,” said the eagle, “let our actions be clear.”

“No matter the hate, no matter the terror, we will not fear!”

“We will pursue the enemy, even when they hide,

we will win because God himself will fight by our side.”

The hawk and eagle then flew over the land

Many other birds joined them, taking their stand

Their numbers grew as they flew from shore to shore

They helped birds, other animals, humans, and more

They talked their words but backed them up

These birds were showing the world how to love

Will you join the movement and show others how to live?

Let your actions show by the way you give

Never ever be dismayed and never ever give up

Help us make hate extinct as we always show love

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Image result for QUOTES about love instead of hate

Weep With Me by Rend Collective – 

Not Even Now by Alisa Turner – 

Bleed The Same by Mandisa – 

Help Us by Tasha Page Lockhart – 

Give Love by Andy Grammar – 

Divided States of America by The Script –  

Prayer For Peace by North Mississippi All-Stars –  

Moving Forward by G.I. – 

Faith Hope Love Repeat by Brandon Heath –  

Come, In Our Dark Time by David Haas – 

I’ll Keep On Praying by Karen Peck – 

Love, Not Hate: Tragedy At Mandalay Bay

I was sitting in church and some of these words started coming at me.  I said no God, I can’t write about this. Even though all the Birds stories are based on real-life events, I can’t write about this one. God was silent until I got home then the words started coming again faster than I could write them down. I don’t know if the right words were written down, I tried to remember them as they were coming, but I hope I can bring some healing to the tragedy.  So…..

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The vulture thought for a time

Then he thought this must be a sign

The hawk has abandoned me and our plans

I must now bring havoc to the land

He waited and waited for the day

He flew to the top of the Mandalay Bay

He let his hate fly through the air

Who they hit, he didn’t care

In the lives he took he didn’t realize

That heroes were there to save lives

That love was still there even in the hate

For some, healing would be a long wait

The eagle and hawk stood together

These birds of different colored feathers

The eagle spoke first:

“Our land seems to be cursed,

From one tragedy to another tragedy

From one community to another community.”

“When times like these feel like the worst,

I implore us, everyone, all of us birds,

When it is so hard to see past our grief

When it is so hard….so hard to see,”

His voice cracked as he spoke

“We must never, never give up hope!”

“This tragedy truly breaks my heart,

But I know a light will shine from the dark.”

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“Let us remember the ones that have been lost,

A senseless tragedy that has a great cost.”

“But let us learn from this tragedy,

There is a power inside you and me.”

“We must continue to let our light shine

For love has been here since the start of time,”

“Love was here then and love is here now!”

“I will, we will show love and that’s our vow.”

“We will not hide, we will not be afraid!”

We will not sit quietly, tomorrow is a new day”

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Then the hawk let out a deep sigh

A tear escaped his eye

“Dear hate, you held me captive for many years

And I let you because I had so many fears.”

“I feared that I was not worthy of love.”

“I believed in this world and not God above.”

“I was public enemy number one,

And I can’t change all the bad I have done.”

“But I changed my thinking and I changed my heart,

And that’s when I escaped the dark.”

“Hate, you will not win!”

“We have a greater love within.”

“Birds, we must continue to make a better tomorrow.”

“We cannot be overcome by our sorrow.”

“We will overcome, good will come from this tragedy.”

“Change starts with love, change starts with you and me!”

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Then the hawk and eagle joined wings

Friends had been made out of enemies

We cannot undo what has been done

We must let love rule, we will overcome

We will not let racism and hate destroy our land

We will show compassion, be virtuous and let love be our stand

From the streets to the steeples

We will love God, we will love people

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Dear Hate by Maren Morris – 

Why Not Me by Eric Church – 

Love Will Always Win by Travis Greene – 

Hope Is Marching On by Matt Redman – 

You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell-  

Drink A Beer by Luke Bryan – 

Find You There by Ellie Holcomb – 

Overcome by Jeremy Camp – 

Pray For The World be Deon Kipping- 

Healing by Blessid Union of Souls – 

Dear X, You Don’t Own Me by Disciple-  

Might To Save by many but I chose Laura Story –  

Love, Not Hate: The Reconciliation

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continued from The Division:

The hawk said:

“Tell me eagle, because I know you are also a bird of prey,

How do you continue to love and live this way?”

“I’m tired of fighting and tired of trying to hide,

Tell me Eagle, how can I have what you have inside?”

The Eagle replied: “It’s a choice to love instead of hate,

Even when you birds of prey frustrate.”

“We are not any different than you,

We are not better because of what we do.”

“We birds are all one and the same.”

“It is easy to play the blame game,

But where does that put us in the end?”

“Living in the mistakes of the past makes us enemies, not friends.”

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“We have to work together instead of apart,

We can not let emotions rule our hearts.”

“It’s not easy to always do what is right,

But what is accomplished when we fight?”

“We destroy the land and hurt every bird here!”

“When we are not united all the birds start to fear,

Instead of helping all they start to help only themselves,

They enclose themselves in a box and have no dreams to excel.”

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“Instead of giving we take and take, full of greed,

But when we are united and let no bird be in need,

Then we lift each bird up and give them hope.”

“When bad times hit it’s that hope that helps them cope.”

“We choose to believe that all birds should be treated equally,

The bluebird, cardinal, falcon, vulture, warbler, chickadee

The thrusher, sparrow, hummingbird, crow, owl, or duck

It doesn’t matter who you are, if you are down on your luck

We will be there to try to help.”

“We will put others ahead of ourselves.”

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“It’s not glamorous and sometimes it’s hard

Because some birds are always on their guard.”

“Quite frankly, a lot of times it is tough.

To always choose to love.”

“When the world seems to have gone their own way,

When marriages fail because one bird chooses not to stay,

When young birds grow up in a broken nest.”

“When you look around and see the world is a mess,

“Yes, sometimes we have to take a deep breath

We have to push on when we want to rest.”

“We know we can never give up,

Because, in the end, it’s all about love!”

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“It’s all about what we believe,

And we believe Jesus died for you and me.”

“He showed us how we should live,

That it is always better to give.”

“So, my friend, you ask what it is that’s inside,

It’s him, it’s His love and for Him, I will give my life!”

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The hawk thought about it for a few minutes

Then he said: “All the bad we have done, how do you forget?”

The eagle said: “We don’t always forget but we choose to forgive,

Nothing is accomplished when the past we try to relive.”

“We must move forward and look towards tomorrow.”

“There will be pain and there will be sorrow,

But there will also be hope and there will also be love,

And that little bit of hope and love can be enough.”

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The hawk asked: “Then why do so many birds, including myself, choose to hate?”

“Why is it so hard for us to love? For us, isn’t it too late?”

The eagle answered: “It is never too late, but do not wait!”

“We must get all birds to love today!”

“We must unite and show them the way!”

“We can do this together if you believe,

Together, great things we can achieve!”

“We can turn this pain into a blessing!”

The hawk thought about it for just a second

Maybe, just maybe, the birds of love are correct

He had to give the birds of love some respect

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Together they called an emergency meeting

“Our fellow birds,” they said together in greeting

The hawk started off first: “Birds of prey,

Today, my heart has changed its ways!”

“I have seen how hate has destroyed us,

And I have seen the power of love.”

“Today we will tear down our walls and take down the cage!”

“Any of you birds that are still filled with rage,

Come, talk to the eagle or me.”

“It is not really that hard to see,

That if you choose to love instead of hate,

Once again, we can make our land great!”

“Today all of us birds must unite,

We must find the love that’s inside!”

“We must show it to the world,

That even humans can be like us birds!”

Then the eagle said: “In memory of the words my father last said,

We must live with hope and kindness, not fly around like the living dead.”

“Build others up and always give  more than you take.”

“Most importantly, always love, love my birds, love instead of hate!”

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The Answer by Jeremy Camp- 

When We Pray by Tauren Wells – 

I’m Gonna Love my Neighbor by Karen Peck-  

No Room For Hate by Mark Lowry – 

The Answer To The Question by Tree63 – 

The Answer by Audio Adrenaline –  

Hope Of All Nations by Karen Peck- 

Hope For A Broken World by Selah – 

 

What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love by The Isley Brothers w/ Santana – 

 

It’s All About Him by Alan Jackson –