Redemption

Lord we all betray you and turn our heads away
We do not acknowledge You. Forgive us all we pray.
Peter thrice denied You when put upon the spot
Though he professed he loved you ever such a lot.
When the time of challenge came he was running scared
And, to stand beside You, he was not prepared!
Three times You then asked him if his love was true
And despite his failures you told him what to do.
He had got a calling and once he was redeemed 
He would follow truly however tough it seemed,
Of course he could not do it with his human strength 
But with your Holy Spirit he could go to any length.
Peter still remembered the night of his great shame
But died and rose to glory still praising Your great name
Lord give us forgiveness for the times when we fall back
And send your Holy Spirit to keep us straight on track.
Let us all proclaim You and stand firm in the test
Until at last you welcome us to our eternal rest.

Altitude

I did something yesterday that I was scared about.
It filled my heart with terror and filled my mind with doubt.
I have flown commercially all around the world
Never being worried as the flights unfurled
But flying with one engine in a tiny little plane
I had just considered to be quite insane!
I refused trips in a seaplane looking out for whales
I wondered what would happen if the engine fails?
I didn't want to venture to explore Grand Canyon's sights
I wanted my feet planted cos I am scared of heights!
Imagine then my horror when offered a round trip
In a little airplane! My stomach did a flip!
I felt that I could not refuse. It was offered as a treat!
And I would be sitting in the co-pilot's seat!
I heard myself agreeing while my mind was shouting "no!"
As you might imagine I didn't want to go!
But for me the die was cast for I had given my word
To change my mind in cowardice I would find absurd!
In my life l've many times done things that I have feared 
But I got more nervous as the adventure neared!
Come the day I'm praying that I can find the will
For I know my Saviour will protect me still
He has seen me safely through all the trials of life
Through my mental torment and every sort of strife.
My pilot friend was working as I approached the plane
And his thorough checking surely eased my pain
I strapped the plane around me (that is how it feels)
And relaxed my body from my head down to my heels!
We taxied to the runway then sped upon our flight
And I was filled with wonder at every wondrous sight!
The bumps and jumps and tremors of the thermals in the air
Seemed like extra thrills to me as I sat watching there
I've felt exhilaration at many things before
But nothing quite as moving as to feel an airplane soar
Too soon we land at Duxford and look around the site
And I am looking forward to my homeward flight!
The same exhilaration as we sail up on high 
Waltzing back and forward across the lonely sky
The land is meant for mortals. The air just sets us free.
Altitude has got to be the place for you and me!
A thank you to my pilot for giving me the chance 
And to my Lord for leading me on this merry dance.

The high life

There was an old man on a cruise
Who pigged out on pastries and booze
Now just fancy that
He's getting quite fat
And now he's got ten pounds to lose

Why me?

I'm sitting on a cruise ship sipping a cool beer
Thinking just how lucky I am to be here.
Lots and lots of people live in poverty
Hoping their next supper will be given free
Also there are others with a life that is so tough
Without a home to go to so they're living rough
Then there's the disabled who live in lots of pain
Or suffering depression with a tortured brain
May God in his mercy hold them in his love
And assure them of a future up in heaven above
As for me, a sinner, what more can I say?
I thank you God my father each and every day!
I cannot deserve the riches that you pour on me
For even from my sinning you have set me free!

Introspection

I'm lying here relaxing and feeling really good
Wondering why yesterday I was in a mood!
I do not see the fault in things as an optimist 
And with others moaning I get rather pissed.
They should just enjoy life and be more like me
The world is full of beauty for all of us to see.
Now I'm feeling guilty for the temper that I show
People are all different is something that I know
Why should everybody react just like me? 
I must be more arrogant than everyone I see!
God just make me tolerant of the faults of others
For I know I'm just as bad as any of my brothers!

Growth

When I was young and eager
I had no need to fear
I was full of confidence
Which grew from year to year
I met life’s every challenge 
And felt no price too dear

I tilted at my windmills
And fell from time to time
But picked myself right up again
And then resumed the climb
For I was young and foolish
And failure was no crime

I progressed in my work life
Looking for promotion
When it didn’t happen
Hurt was my emotion
So I moved to other parts
An optimist’s locomotion 

I married in the meantime
A girl who won my heart
And filled my life with rapture
Together or apart
She held my life together
My defender from the start

Our children were a joy to us
As we watched them grow
Would we could have taught them
Everything we know
None the less they have survived 
And flourished even so

Now we’ve reached maturity
And live a life of leisure
And we have sufficient 
To never long for treasure
We can look back upon our lives
With undiminished pleasure

I thank my God for everything
That I have done and seen
From all my murky doings
He has made me clean
And looking to the future
I’m eager and I’m keen