Gave You My Heart

On May 23, 2016June 1, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, poems, The Heart20 Comments

I came home from work Friday night and Kim told me Deanna, one of her best friends and mentor, told her about a vision her daughter had. Her daughter just finished her freshman year of college and truly lives for Jesus. Deanna said maybe Rob can turn her vision into a poem or a song. I took Kylie up to get her shower ready and sat down and this is what came out.

It is truly an inspiring vision and I hope my words do it justice.

Gave You My Heart

I gave you my heart and you walked away

You’re my dad, you were supposed to stay

I couldn’t keep it all together today

I grabbed what was left of my heart and walked to the beach

Walked far enough until your memory was out of reach

I screamed at you dad until I was too hoarse to speak

Then I saw a piece of sea glass so bright

It had such a mysterious light

It was like a piece of day in the darkest night

I bent down and dug with my free hand

There had to be more pieces under the sand

That’s when I felt the presence of another man

It was like a dream as my other hand held my heart

The one that you, dad, had ripped apart

Then I had a thought, this isn’t the end but a brand new start

I felt this man telling me to turn in his direction

But I couldn’t so I grabbed my sea glass collection

And I tried to hold a piece just right to see his reflection

I couldn’t turn around, I knew what he wanted me to do

I couldn’t give him my heart dad, I had given it to you

And I was scared he would walk away with it too

Then his hand touched my shoulder

My courage grew just a little bit bolder

My tears started to flow as I began to molder

I turned and as he reached for me I saw the scars on his hand

He looked at me and I knew he wasn’t just a man

That’s when I dropped my sea glass in the sand

I let him hold me for what seemed like an hour

I could feel his gentleness, as well as his power

I felt his love pour down on me like a summer shower

I whispered, “If I give you me heart will you walk away?”

He said “I’m your father. I’ve never left, I will always stay.”

I knew he was telling the truth so I gave my heart to him that day

(image credit: Kevin Carden Photography)

Busted Heart ( Hold On To Me) by For King and Country –

Let Down Your Guard by JJ Heller –

Every Beat Of My Broken Heart by Hawk Nelson –

Take A Broken Heart by V Rose –

I Let My Heart Open by Charles Billinsgley –

Here’s My Heart by Lauren Daigle –

Friend Of A Wounded Heart by Point of Grace-

<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/fairytale/”>Dream</a>

If I Were An Island

On May 3, 2016May 4, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Lyrics, music, Poetry4 Comments

If I were an island

In the Caribbean Sea

Would you come hold my hand?

Would you visit me ?

If I were a mountain

How high would you climb?

If the winds were poundin’

Would you keep looking if you ran out of time?

If I were an ocean

If the waves would turn and toss

How deep is your devotion?

Would you still sail across?

If I were a desert

If the sun was beating down

Would you walk until you hurt ?

How far would you go for me to be found?

If I were the sky

Would you say there’s not a chance?

Or would you learn to fly?

Overcome the circumstance

If I asked you to take my place

Could you ignore all the chaos?

Would you give me the same grace?

If it were you instead of Me on that cross

Would you crawl, walk, run?

How far would you go, what would you do?

Do you understand what I’ve done?

Do you not realize how much I love you?

Get Here by Oleta Adams –

No Place Your Love Won’t Go by Mark Schultz –

I Am Not Alone by Kari Jobe –

How Far I’ll Go by Micky & The Motorcars –

Where The Street’s Have No Name by U2 –

How Deep The Father’s Love by many but I chose Austin Stone –

This Man by Jeremy Camp –

What Has Happened?

On April 25, 2016May 4, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, Live for God first, music, My God Is With Me, poems, Questions for God6 Comments

Normally on my days off I “sleep in” until 7-730. This morning, I was awakened at 5:57 with these words and they just came pouring out. I can only say God was moving early this morning.

Five year old little man

Doesn’t seem to quite understand

Why he only sees his dad every other weekend

What has happened to til death do us part, do not commit adultery?

Everyone only looking out for number one

They don’t give a crap about the damage they’ve done

Only living for the moment , living for fun

What has happened to caring about someone else?

In a democracy we now have the minority that rules

We have men able to use the bathroom of my little girl

I just can’t comprehend what’s happening to this world

What has happened? God, what is happening?

When did our homes become a house of cards

My feelings, when did you start to disregard?

Man, life isn’t supposed to be this hard

What has happened to the golden rule ?

Hurting each other no matter the cost

Will there be another holocaust?

Can’t we see all we’ve lost, we’ve all lost

What has happened, what happened to my voice?

The entire world seems to be living in sin

They don’t care about the way they live

They don’t care about how little they give

What has happened to compassion and empathy?

The animals go extinct at alarming pace

The judges common sense has been erased

Since when does every one have to win the race?

What has happened to one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all?

We spend more than we make

Keeping up with Jones’ for the Smith’s sake

When are we going to wake up? Are you awake?

What has happened to saving for a future?

When the majority stands up to the few we get pulled under

Shows get cancelled , majority loses, is it any wonder ?

We sit by and watch it get worse, can you hear the distant thunder?

What has happened God, how much longer ?

Health care can’t afford, no worries, someone else will pay

Climate change, getting warmer each and every day

Claim ignorance is bliss if you can’t hear what I say

What has happened to living how Jesus taught us to be ?

The ones that are to protect us are killing

The ones that are to save our money are stealing

Our kids won’t get better when dealers are dealing

What has happened to integrity and honesty ?

People killing people in our streets, in our cities

Sending our soldiers to fight wars in other countries

This world’s a mess, has it ever been pretty?

What has happened to love God, love your neighbor?

Our government allows sugar and toxic chemicals in our food

Our tv shows, our music, our words are becoming more lewd

My words represent the majority yet they are booed

What has happened to treating people right instead of just making a profit?

Not too long ago the Cold War came to an end

The Berlin Wall fell, reuniting family and friends

Today, new rules, new laws, borders changing without end

What has happened ? God what is happening?

God and me, we love you for who you are

If you live near me or if you live afar

Look up, we are all living under the same stars

What has happened to my rights and what I believe in?

We’ve taken God out of schools, work and lives

We tell Him we don’t need Him then run and hide

Then we have the nerve to ask God why

What has happened? I ask you my friends, what is happening?

Something To Believe In by Poison (alternate lyrics) –

Something To Believe In by Poison (original lyrics) –

Happiness by NeedToBreathe –

Never Too Far Gone by Jordan Feliz –

Breathe by Jonny Diaz –

It’s Not Over Yet by For King & Country –

Faith To Believe by Shane & Shane –

Believe by Letter Black –

Believer by DecembeRadio –

Dear God, Are You Hearing My Prayers?

On March 24, 2016March 24, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, prayer26 Comments

Dear God,

Are you hearing my prayers? I have been praying the same prayer for as long as I can remember but my prayer isn’t being answered. Is there another way I can reach you? Can I send an email, text, tweet, Facebook message, any other way? Can You at least send me a message received? Should I keep praying or should I move on to another prayer? Do You get tired of hearing the same prayer every day?

Am I asking for too much? Am I asking with little faith? I don’t think so. Is my heart sincere? I think so. You say ask and it will be given to me. I believe in You and believe You will answer my prayer request. I just want to make sure You are getting it. I know you probably get more prayer requests each day than there are grains of sand so I could understand if one or two get missed. I’m not saying you miss any or anything, just saying I understand if You did. How do you keep track of all of them anyway? Health requests go in one file, relationships in another, financials in another or are they grouped by person or country?

Back to my prayer, sorry I got sidetracked. I seem to do that when I pray also. Can you figure out what I am asking when I start then go elsewhere then come back to you ten minutes later right where I left off? Sorry but my mind is constantly going, thought in, thought out, start, stop, start, where was I? Oh yeah, as you know I have been praying for people I know to get their health back, to even get partial health back. I am sure to be 80% would be a lot better than where they are now. It seems like some of them are getting worse. Or they get better only to relapse. Some of them have a much stronger faith than I do and I know they are praying to get better also. It is okay to pray for themselves right? I know I pray for me. Fix my mind God. Are their prayers stuck in your inbox also? Have you checked your spam folder? I know there are many people out there that pray for bad things or things they shouldn’t be praying for so maybe they go straight to spam so you don’t have to even acknowledge them. Maybe some honest prayers get stuck there also.

I don’t know God. I am just throwing ideas out there why my prayers aren’t getting answered. How about just send me a sign that you received it and will get to it when you can get to it? I know maybe my prayer requests are probably far down on your list. Look at all the evil in the world. The people starving. The homeless. The lonely. The deathly sick. The enslaved. The persecuted. I pray for them also and honestly, I know answers to my prayers can wait so You can take care of all those worse off than me. Those with more urgent requests. Please take care of those first. I totally understand.

Just in case you have missed them here is what I pray for. I pray for my wife and daughters, God. I just pray that they walk with You in this life. I pray for my friends and family to get their health back and to trust in You. I pray for my church to follow You, the truth. I pray for my job to stay secure. I pray You heal my mind and help me resist temptation. I thank You for giving me another day to rely on You. As You know that is the super condensed, none rambling version. Whenever You can get to them. I will try to be patient while You take care of the ones that need Your help more than I do.

I have noticed as I get older my prayers have changed. Those things I prayed for in my youth, I am glad You didn’t answer a lot of those prayers. I could only imagine what kind of mess I would be in now if You had. I have learned to be a lot more patient than in my youth. I can only imagine where all the people I prayed bad things to happen to would be if You answered them. I am glad You ignored them. I am glad You handled those situations in Your way and not my way. Even if Your way was just to give them grace and mercy. I am glad You didn’t answer people’s prayers about me either, extending me that same grace and mercy.

I also just want to say thank you God for answering prayers I didn’t ask for. Giving me what I didn’t know I wanted or needed. I also want to thank you for answering my prayer to use me a few years ago. It was not the way I wanted You to use me but it has made me a stronger person. It also helped my wife be closer to You.

Thanks for taking the time to listen. More prayers coming your way. I will trust in You and wait for your answers, even if your answer is an unanswered prayer. You know what is best for me.

Healing by Blessid Union Of Souls –

Pray by Manafest –

Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks –

Pray For Me by Kirk Franklin –

If His People Prayed by Casting Crowns –

Somebody Said A Prayer by Billy Ray Cyrus –

Sinners Prayer by Deitrick Haddon –

Say A Prayer by Veridia –

Pray It Down by 7eventh Time Down –

Pray For Me by Sixx Am –

Pray About Everything by Luke Bryan –

Pray by Sanctus Real –

The Power Of Prayer by Matthew West –

One Prayer Away by Jonathan McReynolds –

A Mother’s Prayer by Rachel Aldous –

The Marriage Prayer by John Waller –

Let Us Pray by Steven Curtis Chapman –

Just Pray by Moriah Peters and Rhett Walker –

I Pray For You by John Rich –

I Only Know To Pray by Sherry Anne –

Pray For You by Blessid Union of Souls –

Not Broken Anymore

On March 23, 2016March 23, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Broken Pieces, Christian life, Not Broken Anymore8 Comments

As I was getting my thoughts together to write this and I asked myself this question. Was I ever really broken? Sure, I have a few dents in my fender and some scratches in my paint but was I broken. I think I have felt like I was, many times. Is there a difference between being knocked down and being broken? Is it all just a matter of how you think about it?

This is how, and why, I think I am broken. Or at least why I have broken pieces.

I am broken because I have no close friends. I take all responsibility for this because I don’t reach out to anyone. I don’t reach out to my family enough so don’t take it personal. Sometimes I envy people that have a lot of friends but then I hear them complain how they are always having something to do and never have time to relax. Then I say I don’t know how anyone has time. Maybe I am selfish and just want my time to be my time. I would rather spend my days and nights off with myself or my family. I find it hard to stay in touch with people on Facebook let alone take the time to do something with them. But, with that being said, I also miss having a couple close friends I could talk to about anything. I know I have to take the time to invest in that and I don’t have the answers on how to do that without giving up something else. Maybe it comes down to my lack of trust. Maybe I am just not that interesting of a person for others to take their time to get to know me.

I am broken because my marriage isn’t where I want it to be. Well, whose is right? We all wish we had a better marriage. Again, this falls mostly on me. I am not a talker. I will give all the time I can but I am just not an open book. Too many thoughts bouncing around in my head. Trust issues from the past. Every time I think of doing something to make our marriage better I get sucked into what’s the point. We can talk about the issues and it gets better for a few then we find us back where we were. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife and don’t want to be anywhere else and our marriage is good, it’s just not where I think it should be. Maybe my expectations are too high. Maybe I don’t give enough. Maybe I think it’s more about me than her. A lot of maybes but how can I get from here to there. I know what to do, what’s holding me back?

I am broken because I am not emotional. Miss the game winning shot, make the game winning shot, I have the same emotions. At times I think if everyone close to me were taken out of my life that I would feel nothing. Life goes on. Would I really feel that way if it happened? Beats me. At times I think I could live on a deserted island with just me and some fruit trees and I would be okay. Oh yeah, don’t forget to give me a volleyball so I have someone to talk to when I get tired of talking to myself. But that’s not really a problem because I don’t talk. I doubt I would talk to the volleyball.

I am broken because I don’t keep in touch with my family. Yeah I know, life is short and it can be ripped away and say what you have to say today because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed but…. I don’t call home to talk to mom enough. I barely have any contact with my brother. I should reach out to my daughters who are not at home anymore more. Yep, these are on me also.

So am I broken? I know what is wrong. 99% of it is all me so maybe I am not broken. How many people are out there that don’t know they are the problem. How many people are out there that are searching for who they are. I know who I am . I have come to understand who I am and where I want to be. I just have to take the steps to fix me. I would say maybe I am not broken, maybe I just have broken pieces.

They say I am made in God’s image. God must be messed up. Even God disappeared for many years. People were constantly asking God where are you? Maybe He is an introvert also. Or just likes to get away by Himself and take a look at what He has made. Does He still think it is all good?

I know God isn’t messed up. I know He loves me and accepts me for who I am. I know I am made in His image. I know this world has made me the way I am. Not God. I know He will take my broken pieces and put them together. I know it takes effort on my part. God doesn’t make mistakes. I know where I am and where I need to go. With God’s help I will get there. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow but one day… one day it will all click. I am not sad or mad or any of that. I just know I have something that needs to be fixed.

I know I have family that loves me. I know I have friends that think about me and pray for me. I know God loves me. You can take me off your worry list. I will be okay. I know I have it a lot better than most. I know through the pain and the rain there will be a joy and the sun one day. I know things are never as bad as they seem. I know to put me back together again I just need to take one step at a time until all the broken pieces are fixed and I am not broken anymore. I have broken pieces but I am not broken. I am whole in the hands of the one who made me.

Not Broken Anymore by Blue October –

The Broken by 3 Doors Down –

Tell Your Heart To Beat Again by Danny Gokey-

Take Us Back by Mavis Staples –

Broken Places by Plumb –

Fix Me by Icon For Hire –

Scars by Jonny Diaz –

The Broken Beautiful by Ellie Holcomb –

Broken & Beautiful by Mark Schultz –

The Broken by Bebo Norman –

All The Broken Pieces by Matthew West –

We Are The Broken by Seventh Day Slumber –

Why Did God Put The Tree There?

On February 10, 2016February 10, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music4 Comments

Adam and Eve could eat anything they wanted in the garden, except from the tree of good and evil. If all was good and everyone and everything- man and animals- got along and didn’t eat each other then why was the tree there?

This is one of many questions I have. Add that to if the tree wasn’t there then maybe the serpent didn’t have to be there and all would still be peachy keen right? Did God have to put the tree of good and evil there? No, of course not. He did give us free will and with that free will comes choices.

Do I or don’t I? If I do what is the consequence? If I don’t what is the consequence? Do we all ask ourselves before we do anything what would Jesus do? I know I do not. I know I should. It would stop a lot of dumb things I have done.

Here is another way I think about it. In school we are given tests. We are given opportunities to study before the test. I can either study or not study. I can study a lot or a little, or none at all. My grade will depend on how much I study. I don’t want to fail so I study. Yet, when it comes to God I find myself skipping school. I find myself making a choice to not study God’s word. I find myself relying on me more than on God. But I reach for God’s hand and He pulls me up and brushes me off and gives me another chance.

So back to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If we don’t eat from that tree that God didn’t have to put there then we will rely on God for what is wrong and right. If we do eat from the tree then we take it upon ourselves to know what is wrong or right. We are saying we don’t need to rely on God because He said if we eat from it certainly we will die. But we didn’t die in the way of dying , no more breathing. We died to relying on God. We died on the inside.

I am not a theologian but in my layman terms and what I think is that God put the tree there to give us a choice. He doesn’t want us to be robots. Because He gave us free will he gave us freedom to choose. Adam and Eve chose wrong. I choose wrong. I eat the fruit and sometimes I go back for seconds.

Did God have to build the tree? No. Did God want us to turn away from sin and rely on Him? Yes.

What I need to start doing is walking away from the tree. I need to quit reaching for that apple. I need to say no thanks, I am full of making my own choices. I need to starve myself from bad choices and start making healthy choices.

I don’t know about you but I know I can use a little less knowledge of good and evil and a lot more of relying on God.

What choices have you been making? Do you rely on God or on yourself? The wonderful thing about God is His grace and mercy that He gives all of us another chance every day to choose again.

The Way by Jeremy Camp –

Prodigal by Sidewalk Prophets –

Promises by 7eventh Time Down –

Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray –

Why Did It Take So Long? by Abandon –

Angels Or Devils by Dishwalla –

Angels and Demons by Tedashii (feat Crowder) –

Angels and Demons by Colt Ford (feat Lamar Williams) –

Angels and Demons by Disciple –

Where Did The Angels Go? by Papa Roach –

Living In Sin

On January 27, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, Sin4 Comments

No, not the Bon Jovi song. I wrote this one back when I was writing a song or two a day. God was saying write and I was writing. Maybe one day someone would like to put music to it and turn these words into a song. If not, maybe it’s just a poem and I hope you enjoy reading the words.