Been a busy couple days and to be quite honest, it has been very nice and sunny and warm outside. Which means I didn’t want to be inside behind a laptop or computer.
Guess what though? I just passed a year on WordPress. I can not believe it has been a year since I started this venture. I pray God has used the words He has given me, and the ones I snuck in on my own, to touch you, the readers.
Thank you for the encouragement and comments.
Today, I will put a link to my very first blog here. Since most of you didn’t start reading my posts until well after this one.
Hope you enjoy.
The music thing with Lily hasn’t turned out like I hoped but when one door closes, God will open another.
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 –
No new musician followers this week. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote the lyrics to, Lily Messer is the voice and Ceylon Wise is the producer. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.
Thanks for all the follows, musicians and non-musicians.
Some other music from non-followers I have listened to recently. Pick out a few you haven’t heard and take a listen. In trying not to put way too songs on here I am going to start putting 1 or 2 per band max and just tell you the entire cd, or 90%, is good and I would recommend purchasing it or checking out more songs on your own. I may add more artists and their new cd’s as I listen to more songs from them. Not all the way through all of them yet.
JJ Weeks Band- As Long As We Can Breathe cd
Keith Urban – Ripcord cd
Randy Houser – Fired Up cd
Sixx A.M. – Prayers For The Damned cd
We Are Messengers- We Are Messengers cd
Count Them All by JJ Weeks Band –
Benediction by Josh Garrels –
Be As You Are by Mike Posner –
Between Here and Heaven by The Taylors –
Breathe by NF –
Chasing Down A Good Time by Randy Houser –
Children Of God by Phil Wickham –
Better Man by Sixx AM –
Don’t Ask Me To Change by The Wild Feathers –
Encore by Graham Nash –
Every Second by From Ashes To New –
Everything Comes Alive by We Are Messengers –
Excuses by Kane Brown –
Father – Daughter Dance by JJ Heller –
Flood by The Goo Goo Dolls –
and our song:
I Question You by Lily Messer –
On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943
I wrote this one today, thought about saving it because it’s different than most of the other songs I have written. I picture it being harder, faster, maybe Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch or NF could take it on. LOL, I can only dream. Well, since I have all but given up on my words becoming songs you get to be the first ones to see what’s in my head today. After all, it seems like every time I give up on something in my life, God steps in so….. I will wait, I know in God’s time and His will. Maybe it will never happen. Until it does or until it doesn’t….I will let God take these words where He wants them to go. I will keep writing what He puts in my head.
Hitchcock Movies
I wanna be a Marvel superhero
But I always feel like I’m less than zero
Did I just say that? Let me push rewind
Man I’ve been messed up a long time
I want the whole world to know my name
Maybe I’m just playing the wrong game
I can’t believe these choices I make
Man, I think I’m losing my way, I’ve lost my way
It’s like I’m tearing my world apart
Ripping out my heart, do I have a heart?
Can’t you see me? Can’t you see me? Can’t you see….
It seems like I have Hitchcock movies playing in my head
I have killer birds and psycho killers
I don’t know what I’m gonna do, my soul is dead
I only need one thing but I have all these fillers
I push you away, tell you to leave
Then ask, why won’t you reach out to me?
Why are all these demons in my head?
Man, I’d be better off dead, am I already dead?
I want to rip out my brain, am I going insane?
If I’m being honest I know I’m the only one to blame
Oh my God what have I done?
Oh my God what have I become?
Can’t you see me? Can’t you see me? Can’t you see….
It seems like I have Hitchcock movies playing in my head
I have killer birds and psycho killers
I don’t know what I’m gonna do, my soul is dead
I only need one thing but I have all these fillers
I’m on my knees
Begging you please
Take my life, take my life, take my life
Cut these demons out, I’ll give you the knife
Can’t you see I’ve hit the bottom
I’m no longer fighting Him, fighting Him
Rip off these chains
Take my shame
You alone have taken my sin, You alone give me reason to live
You alone forgive all, You alone forgive all, You alone forgive
You can see me, You can see me, I know you see….
It seems like I have Hitchcock movies playing in my head
I have killer birds and psycho killers
I don’t know what I’m gonna do, my soul is dead
I only need one thing but I have all these fillers
I sit here in shorts and a sweatshirt, in the middle of May. What the heck? One day it’s in the seventies and beautiful. The next day it’s in the forties. I have to think really hard the last time we had to turn the heat on in May. That’s more for the cold blooded females that live here than for me but still…
I was excited in March when the three month forecast for April-June was above average temperatures and below normal precipitation. So far it has been the exact opposite. I think the groundhog can predict the weather better with his shadow than the weather people can with all their fancy technology.
It wasn’t that long ago when it was freezing but here I am anxiously awaiting warm weather. Warm that’s here to stay and not leave after just one day. I know it’s coming but I get frustrated when it seems to take so long. Longer than it should. I remember running around with just shorts on this time of year not too long ago. I remember people laying out on the oval at The Ohio State University well before now. We didn’t discuss global warming back then. Pools open in just two weeks but will it be warm enough to swim?
This brings to mind my walk with Jesus.
How some days are beautiful and nice and warm. I feel His presence. My fears and worries are gone and I feel like I can conquer the world.
Then the very next day something happens and I’m like what the heck? Where did you go God? Why is it so cold and rainy, or snowy, all of a sudden. What changed? How can their be such a quick shift from warm and beautiful to cold and ugly ?
When I look back most of the time it’s because something I did. Something that His words have told me not to do. Some of the times it’s because of something someone else did and I let if affect me more than it should. Their actions bring me down.
Even in those days I anxiously await the sun again. I know they are temporary and that the Son is forever. I wait for His return. Whether it’s just in my life or if it’s the final judgement I wait. I wait for the better days because I know they are coming. I have to wait out the cold and ugly just a little longer. I have to persevere through the bad to fully enjoy the good. If all I had were good days then how would I know they are good? I would want better. The bad days make me realize that just an okay day can be a good day.
At least the sun is out. Cold and windy. Feels more like fall but the sun is out. There is hope. I cling to that hope like a life preserver. It is my only chance to survive the cold bad days.
The rain will make the grass greener, the food we eat grow, and bring the reservoirs up to the levels they should be. Even in the cold rain there is good that is happening.
Persevere. Push through it.
Putting it in terms I know from running and working out if you don’t push through the challenges, the tough days, if you don’t try to run farther or lift more your body will never change. It will only change once it responds to the challenges and pushes through them.
So today I will put my sweatshirt on, umbrella up, and I might grumble a little but I will get through it.
Five new musician followers this week. Will split them up between the two posts. Please take a listen and find some new music to listen to. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.
Off The Market by Stevie Jewell –
Lifted by I Am Victim –
Thanks for all the follows, musicians and non-musicians.
Some other music from non-followers I have listened to recently. Pick out a few you haven’t heard and take a listen.
Right Here by Charles Billingsley –
Set It On Fire by Citizen Way –
Silhouette by Birdy –
Sing My Blues Away by Cheap Trick –
Sleep On The Floor by The Lumineers –
Somebody Else by The 1975 –
Stay Low by Rita Wilson –
Still by Anthony Hamilton –
Still Gone by Rita Wilson –
Wake The Dead by Sam Riggs –
Walk In My Shoes by Anthony Hamilton –
Waves by Tonight Alive –
The Way Of The Future by Black Stone Cherry –
We Are by Tonight Alive –
We Can’t Stand Each Other by Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots –
What Am I Becoming by Pop Etc. –
When I’m With You by Citizen Way –
When Will The Next Blow Fall by Robin Trower –
Words by Birdy –
Wrong by Zayn –
and our song:
I Question You by Lily Messer –
On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943
I have got to learn to be more selective. Way too many songs but I liked a lot of songs this playlist. If you only knew how many songs I did not put on here. lol
Last week I did two posts on Friday but hardly anyone saw the first one so this week I am posting one on Thursday, then the usual Friday.
Don’t be confused and not show up to work tomorrow, today is only Thursday. Call it a Thursday special.
Five new musician followers this week. Will split them up between the two posts. Please take a listen and find some new music to listen to. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.
It Ain’t Easy by Landen Russell –
Masterpiece by Jessica Domingo –
At The Cross ( Blood Ran Red) by Nate Fancher (Chris Tomlin cover) –
Thanks for all the follows, musicians and non-musicians.
Some other music from non-followers I have listened to recently. Pick out a few you haven’t heard and take a listen.
Mama’s Table by Jamey Johnson –
Mountaintops by Charles Billingsley –
Moving On by Consumed By Fire –
My Friends by Hayes Carll –
Never Letting Go by Anthony Hamilton –
No Direction Home by Cheap Trick –
On My Side by Citizen Way –
One More Chance To Stay by Sam Riggs –
Open Your Eyes by School of Seven Bells –
Please, Don’t Forget Me by Pop Etc. –
The Pop Kids by Pet Shop Boys –
The Rambler by Black Stone Cherry –
Rear View by Zayn –
Strong Tonight by Rita Wilson –
Sweet By and By by Miranda Lambert –
Talking To Me by Rita Wilson –
Tell Her No by Ronnie Spector –
Thank God For Girls by Weezer –
This Town Gets Around by Margo Price –
Thorns and Sorrows by Consumed By Fire –
To Be Free by Tonight Alive –
To Save Something You Love by Sam Riggs –
Wild Horses by Birdy –
and our song:
I Question You by Lily Messer –
On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943
Since we had another, yes another, day of rain I ran on the treadmill again. It’s May, I should be outside but it seems to rain every day I have off. Anyway, we have an awesome treadmill so I decided to map out my hometown. I ran from old 35/588 intersection down 588 to downtown Gallipolis. I ran along the river front and the park, past the old football stadium, elementary school and my old high school.
So many memories came back. Some good, some bad. Some good decisions I had made and some bad ones. People I haven’t thought about in years as I ran by their house or the street that lead to their house. People came to mind that I didn’t run by their house but I remembered if I would’ve mapped it out to go left or right I would’ve been right there. Right where I spent many days and nights of my youth.
I ran by my old elementary school and high school. I remembered recesses and I remembered running out of high school to be the first to get to Charlie’s or Remo’s, or the other place beside Charlie’s, can’t remember the name, to be the first to eat lunch. I remember when there used to be a pool behind the old shop building where I took swim lessons. I don’t remember so many big trees in front of the high school. Maybe those are new. A lot can change in twenty eight years. Wow, it’s been twenty eight years since I left that life. Like, there is a new high school now.
There were some new stores open along the way, some that replaced stores I remember being there but are no longer. There were shuttered businesses that used to be open. It’s crazy how all that came back. The old record store where I bought probably 80-90% of my vinyl records and cassettes is now something else. The same record store where some of my friends and I stood in front of all night long to be one of the first in line when they opened to get Bon Jovi concert tickets.
I remembered how “busy ” I was with friends, girls, sports, work and everything else instead of spending time with my grandparents or parents. How dad would try to teach me things about a car but I was too busy to have him teach me. If my car breaks down I will just pay someone to fix it. I didn’t need to learn those things. I’m paying for it now. How I wish I could have just one of those days with my dad back.
The small creek where we “hunted” crawdads. No big city lights to block out the stars or the lightning bugs. Running barefoot in the back yard playing wiffle ball. Swinging on the front porch as the sun went down.
Most people say they wouldn’t go back but I would go back. Even it was for only a day. Only if I could do it all over again and still end up where I am of course. Everything I have gone through has helped shape me into the person I am today. I wouldn’t want to change my kids for anything. I love who they are and who they are becoming. I like where I am in my life now.
Yes I would go back. Just for a day. For the simple life of a small town. For mom’s cooking and advice, she still gives that to me. Maybe the past me would listen this time. For friends I wish I still had. To treat certain people a little better than I did. To be able to waste a Friday night cruising around the park. To be able to go out in the early morning and come back just before dinner and not have to worry if I was kidnapped or where I was or what I was doing. To not be attached 24/7 to a cell phone. To be able to come home and talk about my day because we hadn’t talked all day.
A simple life in a small house in a small town. Where you knew your neighbors and they actually cared about you and your kids. A simple life with dandelions and daffodils in my yard and not getting a letter from my home owners association that I need to get rid of them.
A simple life. One where I can actually live this life God has given me instead of living to pay bills. A simple life where I can give more. More of my time, more of my money, more of my life.
A simple life. Where there is more love and less hate. A simple life. Where there is more good and less evil. A simple life. Where more people lived for others and less for themselves. A simple life.
A simple life. I see a tiny house in my future. One I can take around the country until I find a simple place to put it. A simple place that’s warm of course.
A Simple Life by Green River Ordinance –
Simple Life by The Lost Trailers –
Wasted Time by Keith Urban –
Huntin’, Fishin’, Lovin’ Every Day by Luke Bryan –
Simple Life by Lynyrd Skynyrd –
Simple Man by Shinedown, cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd but since I have them above –