God Does Exist

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...

A man went to a barbershop to have
his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.

'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment,
but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here , and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

God does exist and don’t forget it

Everything

Everything

Come to me so that I may know
Come to me so that I may believe
You are the one I long the most for
You are the one I love the most
My days are spent thinking of you
My days are spent dreaming of you
Everything about you draws me close
Everything about you ensnares me
You are all I want
You are all I need

The Ride

The Ride

Sometimes things do not go our way.
When you fall off that high horse,
you have to pick yourself up,
and dust yourself off at some point.
No one wants to sit in the dirt forever!
Things happen that we cannot change.
People come in and out of our lives,

friends become enemies,
enemies become friends,
you learn to be thankful for

what you have while you have it.
Thank God for the things

in your life both good or bad.
Everything happens for a reason
and if you are in God's will,
then it will all work out
and He will pull you through it.
Look for the positive in people.
Friends will come and go,
but true brothers and sisters in Christ
will always be there

to help you up when you fall.
So get back up on that horse
and do not be afraid to ride!

The Voice

The Voice

There is a voice inside my head
that is screaming how I feel.
I refuse to listen to it
because the truth may arise.
I know not why I'm scared
other than I just am.
It could be nothing more
than a friendly affection.
Yet it could be that I'm in love.
For so long I have held the reigns tight
yet tonight i can't seem to hold on.
The emotions that were so deep
are now striving to escape.
I am afraid to listen to the voice
because I'm afraid of what I might hear.

You Are

You Are

You are the one I think about when I wake up every morning,

and before I close my eyes every night.

I carry your heart on a chain around my neck wherever I go.

You are the one person that chooses to take care of me

even though you do not have to.

You always have a way of making me smile when I’m feeling down.

You encourage me when I need a friend.

You tell me if you see areas in my life that need to be worked on.

You are very caring, loving, and sweet.

You are really fun to be around.

I cannot wait until I see you next.

You are always striving to put God first no matter what.

I can call you at anytime in need of help,

and you would be there as soon as you could.

Of course you have flaws but you are amazing to me

all the way around.

I love you with all of my heart and I cannot wait to spend forever with you.

Your Smile

Your Smile

Your smile lights up the world.
The darkness recedes
and your light shines through.
The days may be dreary and boring
but whenever you smile
sorrow vanishes and joy takes over.
With teeth pearly white
and a demeanor soft and smooth
your smile warms the coldest heart.
You make other girls envious
and you make other boys jealous
because they know that you have the smile.
The suns rays cannot out shine you
and the moons radiance can't out do you.
Therefore your smile lights up the world!

Dreams Come True

Dreams Come True

People come and go during our lives.
Some leave faster than they came
and some stay around forever.
You are the latter of the two.
Like the stars in the sky
your beauty shines bright in the darkness.
Like the river running through the mountains
you stand firm through the worst life has.
Unlike the leaves that are constantly changing
you stand resolute through the strongest storm.
Of the most prized items in the world
you are the greatest.
Nothing that this world has in store
can make me as happy as your smile does.
The Lord above has truly blessed me
in just having you in my life.
I can ask for nothing more from Him

for He has given me the woman of my dreams.

Let Freedom Reign

Let Freedom Reign

In a time where freedom reins
oppression is all around.
Everyone is saying let freedom reign
yet nothing they do reflects their words.
Our leaders say that they want the best
but they take away everything they can.
Our freedoms which were once free
now cost us our very lives,
Those who say we are great
are in fact the ones who are tearing us down.
Where once freedom reined
now nothing but oppression exists.

So I say to all of you out there

let freedom reign loud and clear.

After Your Own Heart

After Your Own Heart

Thank you lord for this peace in my heart.
I pray that it’ll last but if it doesn’t
thank you for the time that I had.
Lord give me the strength to persevere
through whatever it may be that I have to go through.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
Whether it be bad or good, thank you.
Whatever I must go through will help
mold me into the man I need to be.
A man after your own heart.

Be Still and Know

Be Still and Know

Words spoken to me by a wonderful woman

and I think I will never forget them.

She told me to be still and know.

She told me in those few words

everything I needed to hear.

God is great and in control

and he loves you when no one else does.

He gives us strength when were at our weakest.

Be still and know

that you have a friend with you always.

Quiet everything around you

and listen to God speak to your heart.

Forget everything you know about life

and know that God’s wisdom

is infinite and he understand.

Be still and know

that god has a plan for you

and if you walk by faith and out of love for God

then your path will be long and hard

but at the end of the road you will find

happiness and peace the likes of which

your heart has never known.

Be still and know that nothing

is impossible with God on your side.

Be still and know

Comfort and Shelter

Comfort and Shelter

During the good times and bad

You were on my mind.

No matter what happens

I will continue trusting in You.

You are all I need

and I will choose to remain

in Your arms no matter what.

For in Your arm I will always

be comforted and sheltered.

Contentment

Contentment

Anger deep inside of me.
It boils up like water on stove.
Yet it doesn't stop there.
It just keeps getting hotter.
I try to control it
and put it back down,
but every time I try to
the force with which it hits me
increases ten fold.
My mind can't take it anymore.
I just don't understand why I'm angry.
Is it because of family,
or is it school.
Maybe it is work,
yet it could be my girlfriend.
I cannot understand why any of them
would make me this angry.
Yet maybe it isn't them that's hurtin me,
instead it could be my own mind.
I'm the only one that has the ability
to cause myself so much greif.
I know now why I'm angry.
Now I just need to know
how to let it all out.
There are those around me
that really and truly love me.
So can I go to them?
Maybe so but I think not.
How about those who don't love me?
I think not again.
There is one though who is impartial.
He is my Lord and He comforts me.
He puts His arms on my shoulders
And whispers in my ear.
He tells me to not be so angry
for he knows my heart
and feels my anger.
He tells me that if i let Him
He'll take it all away.
So why am I still holding on to it?
That's a mystery to me.
I think now I know how to let it go.
Christ come into my heart
and Christ cleanse my heart.
Lord make me whole
and Lord make me happy.
Take my anger and cast it away.
Lord with you in my heart
I can be nothing but content!

Fragility

Fragility

We walk through our days seeing the sun
and feeling the warmth on our face.
We want those days to never end
but they are as fragile as a fresh rose petal.
One wrong move and the petal shatters.
Yet we try so hard to keep the pieces together
and the only thing we do is to scatter them more.
We finally realize though that that petal is just one of many
and we return our focus on what's important.
It's not about the petal that tore
but instead it's about why the petal tore.
It wasn't because we were careless
but instead it was because we cared too much.
We codled and cared for it so much
that it finally withered under the attention.
That's why those days always end,
because we try so hard to make them last.
We should just take enjoyment in the fact
that the sun is warm and th light is bright,
but that is never the case.
My challange then is to focus on the light and the warmth
instead of worrying about breaking the petal.
There will always be a fragility about those days
but we must take enjoyment in the light
and focus on the happiness that comes with it.

Hope When There Is No Hope

Hope When There Is No Hope

The sun is shining bright
but the clouds block out the light.
No matter where I turn all I can see is dark.
From the flashlight that sits in the drawer,
to the candle sitting on top of the mantle.
All the light seems to be drained
from the world around.
As hard as I may try
nothing I can do bring a sliver to the world.
Yet I know of who did just that.
He came into a world surrounded by despair,
and gave those with no hope
a chance to be saved.
He did what no other man has done before.
He brought light to a place filled with darkness.
He saved those who could not be saved,
and He rescued those with no hope.
He is my savior and my friend.
I call upon Him when I'm weak
because I know nothing I can do
will ever be good enough.
Only He has the power to challenge the darkness.
Only He can bring light to a world full of despair.

Only He provides hope when there is no hope.

I Can Do All Things

I Can Do All Things

I can do all things,
though it is not by me that I do
it is by Christ that it is done.
My wishes and my dreams
may be nothing more than that.
Yet when Christ calls into my life
I will do more than answer.
My life will no longer be mine to live
but His will, shall control my every move.
With Christ at my side
I can do all things.

The Future

The Future

Do we truly know what our future holds?

So we look and we strive to know

but nothing we do will ever grant us

that awesome and unexpected knowledge.

Do we truly know what our future holds?

The weathermen try to predict the weather

and psychics tell us what we want to hear.

Yet neither of them can truly know

what will ultimately come to pass.

The only person that can ever know that

is the Father that resides in Heaven.

Only He knows when the house will be built

and only He knows when His son will return.

All we can do is trust in Him and have faith

because if we do not then we are saying

that God is not big enough or great enough.

God truly knows what the future holds.

God alone sees what is to come

and only God can foresee

what tomorrow has in store for us.

My Desire

My Desire

Life is not about what we can get out of it.
It is all about what we can do for Christ.
We strive to serve ourselves
but we gain nothing.
The things of this world mean exactly that.
They mean absolutely nothing.
Why is it then that we strive so hard?
It can’t be because these things fulfill us,
nor can it be that they make us happy.
So why?
That is the question that is running through my head.
I wake up in the morning dreading the day
because I know what I’ll see
and the sight makes me long so.
I know that this shouldn’t be the case
because it is something of this world.
So why then am I not turning back to God?
It is because I am too prideful.
If I could just take a step back
and see everything from the view of God
Then maybe I would start to follow him again.
That is the desire of my heart.
To really and truly serve him,
I love those around me
and I enjoy the life I have
but they are all meaningless.
God is the only thing that matter in this life.
When I start to realize this then everything changes.
This is what I want.
I no longer want to be the man I am.
Instead I want to be the man that God desires for me.
The type of man that God smiles upon
and says thank you my son for giving unto me
I want to be a man after God’s own heart.

One Without the Other

One Without the Other

In all things we must remember
that God is great and He will never forsake us.
When we give our lives fully unto Him
He'll give us the desires of our heart because
the desires of our heart will then

be the same as that of the Father's.

God's heart is one where love never ends.
We must also take notice and remember
that in times of blessings we must be happy
but in times of heartaches we must be joyful at our sorrow;
for God has made the blessing as well as the heartache.
We cannot have one without the other.
So during times of heartache and sadness
we must remember that God will provide no matter what.
Yet at the same time we need to be aware that
when God is blessing us those blessings
are not for us but instead to bring glory to Him.
We cannot know joy without knowing sorrow
"God has made the one as well as the other"

Open Before You

Open Before You

With hands wide open I come before you.
I open them completely
so that you may fill them again.
I let go of all I know and love
so that you may fill them again.
Take everything away from me and
cast it as far from the east is from the west.
Lord with arms wide open I come to you.

Embrace me lord and hold me close.
I bare myself before you
so that you see the real me.
With my heart bare before you
I open myself completely
so that you may fill me with your presence.
Take it all away from me so I'm empty.

Lord fill me with your presence.
I come to you with hands wide open;

nothing in them just waiting for you.
Lord fill them with all that you are.
I come to you with

my hands and arms, body and soul

completely and utterly wide open.

Silent Screams

Silent Screams

The silence feels our ears like the water fills the ocean.
Our hearts screams out at the tops of it's lungs,
but the sea swallows it up and the screams are drowned out.
Nothing we do makes a difference.
It's as if honeycomb has filled our ears
and as hard as we pull it will never come out.
The sad fact is that our friends and family
bellow at the tops of their voices begging us to hear their pleas
but we ignore them for our own selfish gain.
Now that this is known maybe we can open our ears
to the cries of the world and take enjoyment in listening
instead of speaking and hearing instead of talking.

So Many Times

So Many Times

So many times we get wrapped up in moving
That we forget to slow down and breathe
So many times we get wrapped up in talking
That we forget to slow down and listen
So many times we get wrapped up in ourselves
That we forget to slow down and help others
So many times we get wrapped up in the world
That we forget to focus on God
So many times we get wrapped up in our own wants
That we forget to slow down and see Him work
So many times we forget to be still and know
That God will provide even during the night

The Choices

The Choices

The choices we make in life

directly correlate to our relationship

with God our friend and father.

If we choose to take the easy route

and to walk down the path

that draws us closer to the world

then the only thing we have to look forward to

is heartache and misery.

Wide is the gate and broad

is the way that leads to destruction.

Yet there is another path that we may follow.

This gate is straight and narrow.

It is hard to follow and it is easy to fall off

but to make this choice is one

that will bring us closer to God.

When we choose to act Christ like

we show those around us

just what it means to be a Christian.

The Wind

The Wind

When we stand on the shore
and look out across the sea
all we see is the endless field of blue.
Our deepest desire is to step out into
that blue field and see where the wind blows us.
Finally we get the courage to set sail;
to finally face the unknown.
After a time we start to loose control
and we fear that we might capsize.
We try to give the rudder over to God
so that He may rescue us from the rough waters.
What we fail to realize though
is that He is already there on the water with us.
He is actually the wind that has been
steering us and bringing us closer to Him.
The times we have smooth sailing
are the times we are in the center of God’s will.
The wind that is Him is steering us safely through the troubled waters.
Yet the times when the boat is pitching and rolling
are the times when we are steering into or across this very wind.
We try to take control but we are just making life more difficult.
Finally we steer back with the wind
and life becomes smooth again.
God does not take complete control of our lives
but instead gives us direction and a purpose.
All we must do is strive to continue to sail with the wind.
That way our course is not our own
but instead is being guided by God’s own hand.

There are Days

There Are Days

My mind never stops moving
and there are days when I wish
that this was not so.
But there are days
when I am thankful
for the gifts I have.
I over think most everything
which has it's down sides.
But there are days
when I am able to help someone
and God is given the glory.
I hate the stress that comes
with a never ceasing mind.
But there are days
when the constant movement
keeps me on my feet
when I would normally fall.
The days when I lay in bed thinking
make me rue the day
that I first opened my eyes.
But there are days when
I’m so excited that my eyes are open
that nothing can make me
want to close them again.
Give God the glory and those days
will no longer be far and few in between
but instead will be as numerous the stars in the sky.

What If?

What if? I ask. What If?

God gives us gifts to use
so that we may further his kingdom.
But how often do we use them for our own purpose?
Mostly we use them for our own gain.
But what if, I ask, what if?
What if one day we woke up and said
God to you be the glory
may my life be yours to live
and may my gifts be a blessing for others.
If we say that, then what is impossible?
For the man who feels comfortable in a crowd;
or the woman who loves kids;
or the teenager that loves theatre.
What if, I ask, What if?
What if the man speaks to crowds of unsaved?
What if the woman teaches children about Christ?
What if the teenager in theatre stars in a play about Christ?
What if we really give our lives over to Christ?
To the individual that says life is too hard;
or that they can't do it just because.
I say to you rise and stand strong.
For there is nothing that is impossible for God.
The child that was abused and says family is overrated,
I say join a church and see what family is really like.
To the old man that has arthritis and says he can't move,
I say to you rise my brother and walk just like the lame man.
For the woman that was raped and says all men are dogs,
I say to you read about Paul and see the man he is.
We all have a gift no matter who we are.
Whether we be good speakers or just teachers,
or maybe it's computers or sales.
Whoever you may be;
I say to you, rise up and be strong.
God has blessed you so
use those blessings for Him.
And see your life change before your eyes.
Everything that once was will now no longer be,
and that which was impossible, now becomes possible.
What if? I ask. What if?

Working Hands

Working Hands

Calloused and tough,

these hands work from dawn till dusk.

Just because night has fallen though

does not mean that the work is done.

It just becomes time to strike up a light.

Grease and oil; blood and sweat,

nothing hurts these hands.

One day they will grow old and wrinkled

but they will still be working hands.

Cuts and bruises; hangnails and scars,

just means that they have been used.

Nothing stops these hands from working

and the only thing they like better

than working through the day,

is to be working along with a friend.

These working hands will last forever,

and the Lord above knows

that I love these working hands.

The Guardian

The Guardian

My guardian angel watches over me.
He does not do it out of duty
but because he cares for my well being.
He is always there when I need him
and he is never absent in times of glee.
Never failing to be my friend
I can always call upon him
and trust in his wisdom.
Yet do I really know who this angel is?
Only I can actually answer this
because none knows my heart
other than him.
Each night I pray and ask
that he will comfort those in need,
and keep my family safe and sound.
Yet is this guardian angel actually listening?
My answer to the ones who ask the question
can be nothing other than YES!
Because the guardian angel I speak of
is none other than the Father of us all.
He covers me with His feathers,
and under His wings shall I trust.
His words and wisdom shall be
my shield and my sword.
I will fear no thing under heaven.

The Meaning of Life

The Meaning Of Life

Life is but a mystery;
ever changing and always moving.
Nothing we can do will ever allow us
to comprehend the extent of life.
We read books about the meaning
and we study habits that people have
trying desperately to discern
what life has in store for us.
We spend hours upon hours
in solitary or in crowds
looking so passionately
for the answer to the mystery that is life;
but we can never find it.
Is it family or is friends?
Is it school or is it work?
What is it that motivates us
to do more than just exist?
We do not know because
we cannot comprehend
the ever moving mass that is life.
If we were ever to discover
the answer to the ultimate question
then maybe our lives would have meaning,
but until then we can do nothing but exist.
This is what the world tells us.
If we do not have a purpose then we are nothing,
but I challenge that and say to you
we have a purpose
and I know the answer to the mystery.
It all comes down to love.
Everything comes from the heart
So I stand against the world and say
even though you may not know your purpose
there is hope because you have love.
Since you have love that means you have God
and there is nothing greater than God.
With Him at your side
you need not fear or worry.
You are safe with God and His love.
You do have a purpose.

The Next Day Is New

The Next Day Is New……

The days may be dark and dreary
and you never want them to come again.
Those are the times when life seems the worst
but the next day is new……

The days may be bright and shiny
and you never want them to end.
Those are the times when life seems the best
but the next day is new……

The Nice Guy

The Nice Guy

One upon a time there were men that lived

and those men set down the creed by which we live.

It wasn’t about being free

or even about being important.

The creeds these men laid down

were those of the cowboys.

They treated ladies like real women

and took care of their families like real men.

I live my life according to those creeds.

Not because I want to be one of them

but because those were real men.

Their lives had meaning and purpose

where most of ours are empty.

Those were the original nice guys.

Most people take advantage of the us

but its ok because we want to helps others.

We want to be like the cowboys of old.

We want to be the nice guys of today.

The Path

The Path

Everyone has a path that they must walk
and no one can walk that path for us.
Sometimes that path is easy and fun to be on
but there are times when the darkness
is so thick that our very noses disappear.
We strive so hard to stay on path
but so frequently we fall away
without ever looking back.
Yet God brings us right back into His arms.
We kick and scream trying desperately
to maintain control of our lives
and we strive so hard to serve God
but we want to do it our way and walk our path.
Many times while walking down God's path
we see side trails that draw us to them.
In our minds we think that God
is calling us to travel those paths
but these trails leads us away from the Father
and towards our own wants and desires.
We want the easy path and the smooth road
yet the path we need to walk down
is actually the path we most fear.
Our fears are most often just Satan driving
us away from God's true path.
So instead of walking down the open road
step aside and face your fears
because with God walking down the path with us
we have no reason to fear.
Walk strong, stand firm
and allow Christ to show us
the path that leads to the Father.

The Rod and The Staff

The Rod and The Staff

Though the mountain rises up and covers us all
There is no reason why we should fear
The staff and the rod of the Lord is with us
Nothing we do and nothing the world can try
Will ever be able to touch us
Though the trials and snares cover the trails
The Word becomes a sword unto the path
So that our way is made clear
Though our path is clear
The trials are still there
Even though fear may block out the sun
We have a light unto our path
Yet with that light also comes a shadow
Though there is no reason we should fear
Because Thy rod and Thy staff protect me