The mountain praises You with its height
The valley worships You with its river
At the glory of Your rugged cliffs
And at the soaring eagle, I shiver

Your forests shout Your name
The rocks cry out in song
If the smallest sparrow knows You reign
Then why did I fight that for so long?

The pine clings to the steep mountainside
And the hawk feels secure in flight
So Lord, in my fear and doubt,
Please be my shelter tonight.

the birds sing songs of praise rising to the heavens.

babies

2. biracial hair

3. seeing my mother in love

4. the smell of nail salons

5. praise & worship

6. ny-is-thegoal

7. perfect execution

From the valleys till the hilltop
From the fall on to the shore
From the nature of unhappiness of us
Through a message, I was informed--
"Don't give up.
Don't lose hope.
Live your life.
Live for yourself."
"How selfish! How shameful!
How terribly open to ridicule"--
Of course I thought,
I could not comprehend.
That life is for the living,
That happiness for all
But for whose life is mine
In this world of toiling, striving?
Happiness--
A selfish desire?
But wouldn't those you happy
Want you to happy you as well?
Live for yourself! Live for your life!
You are you! You're right
And do let them be--
Let them be happy
Life is for the living.
Don't spend it happying them all
Until you, yourself
Can thrive.

My heart is open, speak Your truth
I’m waiting for Your word
For I know that You’re the only one
Who can heal my every hurt.

My eyes are open, show Your face
I’m waiting for Your love
For I know that You’re the only one
Who can fix my heart up.

Open me, I’m asking You:
Take and break these chains;
Flood my heart with mercy
And blind my eyes with grace.

My hands are open, take Your glory
I was stealing it all for me
But I know that You’re the only one
Who deserves my bended knee.

My mouth is open, take Your praise
I’m tired of praising my own name
For I know that You’re the only one
Who can make that claim.

Open me, I’m asking You:
Take and break these chains;
Flood my heart with mercy
And blind my eyes with grace.
Open me, I know it’s You
Who holds a hurting heart
Drown my soul in Your love
And heal my every scar.

very short reach very high climb
very all yours very not mine
very not wood very much pine
very too rust very dull shine
very not real
very fun time very time
very time
consuming
very narrow
as it is buried
very deep
inside your lips
and it tips and turns and crashes and
leave it on the table where it’s easy to find
you wouldn’t ever want to leave it behind
please
praise
the
feet
that
move
you
play the song that we know the words to
play the song that we know
we know
the song that plays us
we know.

Jesus was a Carpenter
Enthroned without a coup d'état
Never drove a Cadillac
He lived, as it were, in lack!

With so little, He was contented
Though He was frequently tempted
All the worldliness of the world
He always overcame with the Word!

King of kings and Lord of lords
He redeemed us from the laws
By His pure and cleansing blood
He has saved us from the flood!

His steps in life should be our course
Each bearing his and her own cross
Our hands and voices we must raise
To worship Him and give Him praise!


© Raphael Uzor

So blissful is the morning
When in my ears are heard
The songs

Which are sung by angels
Up above as they
Awaken with the dawn

Going on their appointed
Duties to make a day
Become so alive

With the love of the
Eternal One who dwells
Up in the sky

The flowers open wide
This day, with their beauty
Giving Him praise

The birds majestically
Spread their wings in prayer
Dancing as they spiritedly
Fly on their way

And the sun so bright
Mightily awakens and
Truly shines his very best

For he knows the Lord
Is deserving of his praise
And he will never
Deliver anything less

So blissful is this
Wondrous day which
Is so alive with our
God’s great love

That I am just
Like all the others
For He alone each day
I think of.


'Thank You Lord, for the gift blessing  
I could never repay, of another year of life
... on this 22nd day of May.'

It takes little more than a kind word
To carry me through a month
To hold me up against battle
To force me, against trials, to triumph.

It takes little more than genuine praise
To burn a soul to memory
To lose all sense of proper speech
To fly unbound and freely.

And with a word comes a smile
I can't get it off my face
With a word comes gratitude
So potent my hands shake.

With a word comes a flattered feeling
That blossoms just under my ribs
With a word comes a jittery, happy panic
On which I cannot put a lid.

I laugh boisterously
I forget my usual frown
With a word I am lifted
And I will never come back down.