life: acoustic & amplified

have you ever seen a lassie?

Take my heart

and set it free,

free among

the summer trees,

free in spirit

free in verse,

take my heart

but it may burst

burst into the glowing sun,

stay with me

and be the one,

stay with me

and dance.

– JD James

“‘I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:14).

💞

I know the word story carries with it so many emotions, so much heaviness, but relief, too. I know in your head you want words and memories to make sense. You want things to line up, and it is tough to not have answers, to not be able to explain the reason behind this happening, the cause of this event.

What if you knew more than you did? What if you could give an answer to the whys of your heart? What if you didn’t have to struggle with weakness, with inadequacy, on your own? Can you imagine where that would lead you?

Do you trust how I protect your heart?

I protect you, and I push you on, too. I lead you, but it is your choice whether or not to follow. I give you vision, just enough, to see where I am and know where I go, with you. One foot in front of the other. Why do you need to know more?  Do you? Do you need to know more to believe Me more? Do you need to see more to know I am here, whispering to you, loving you, guiding you?

My daughter, you are not alone.

My daughter, you have what it takes, my creation, my dear one, to follow Me.

My daughter, you are the only one of you I’ve made. There is just one. Only one, my dear. You are my crafted jewel, my sparkling flower, my glistening water as it falls from heaven.

You delight Me, child.

Please don’t look away, believe this is too good to be true. You feel that way to Me, you know. . .  too good to be true. You are radiant and captivating and you need only stand with Me, watching where I beckon you, knowing I am the sure place for your legs to stand.

So, rest now. And then rise up. When you believe, a little more, choosing these words, my love for you, as true, you are on your way to a deeper place I have for you.

I have so much more for you, child.

💞

Loop

I came to the end of the sidewalk

I was wondering which way I should go

There were gates for each road all around me

The signs up above were all flashing to show…

…this way

and that way

right way

wrong way

There was your way

and my way

and his way

and her way

I stood at the end of the end of the sidewalk

It was all so confusing you know

Which gate was the one I should enter?

Which road was the one to lead me back home?

Cause there was

high way

and by way

low way

and long way

There was which way

and what way

there was fast way 

and slow way

there was dream way

and scream way

There was wander way

and squander way

One sign read short way

one even read no way

there was one reading far away

all the way to the milky way

Then I saw a small sign near the bottom

It wasn’t flashing or bright

But this sign it caught my attention

Cause this sign in the shape of an arrow

sat pointing toward a dirt road marked LIFE…

Now this road it had a small entrance

Not many had gone through before

The gate was all rusted and creaky

Had to knock just to open that door…

It was dark and a little bit lonely

There was just a small lamp for to see

It took me awhile to adjust to the style

For this road was far greater than me

For it’s Your way

not my way

It’s a new way

Walking life way

The longer I walked, I saw better

Though it never got easier to see, 

But this road lead right where I followed

cause Life was the journey, you see…

💞

Amy Lloyd

Diamond Road…Sheyl Crow

Walk with me the diamond road

Tell me every story told

Give me something of your soul

That I can hold onto

I want to wake up to the sound of waves

Crashing on a brand new day

Keep the memory of your face

But wipe the pain away

When you¹re lonely (you¹re not alone)

When you¹re heart aches (on Diamond Road)

It’s gonna take a little time

Yeah, it’s gonna take a little time

When the night falls (you’re not alone)

When you’re stumbling (on Diamond Road)

It’s gonna take a little time

To make it to the other side

So don’t miss the diamonds along the way

Every road has led us here today

Little bird, what’s troubling you

You know what you have to do

What is yours you’ll never lose

And what’s ahead may shine

Beneath the promise of blue skies

With broken wings we’ll learn to fly

Pull yourself out of the tide

And begin the dream again

When you¹re lonely (you¹re not alone)

When you¹re heart aches (on Diamond Road)

It’s gonna take a little time

Yeah, it’s gonna take a little time

When the night falls (you’re not alone)

When you’re stumbling (on Diamond Road)

It’s gonna take a little time

To make it to the other side

So don’t miss the diamonds along the way

So don’t miss the diamonds along the way

Every road has led us here today

Won’t you shine on

Morning light

Burn the darkness away

Walk with me the Diamond Road

Tell me everything is gold

Give me something of your soul

So you don¹t fade away

When you¹re lonely (you¹re not alone)

When you¹re heart aches (on Diamond Road)

It’s gonna take a little time

Yeah, it’s gonna take a little time

When the night falls (you’re not alone)

When you’re stumbling (on Diamond Road)

It’s gonna take a little time

To make it to the other side

So don’t miss the diamonds along the way

Don’t miss the diamonds along the way

Every road has led us here today

Life is what happens while you¹re making plans

All that you need is right here in your hands.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

You have your story,

the knife that stays in the wound,

a tapestry of hidden pain

made of twisted threads of silence,

turned backside out, unseen.

No one wants to hear,

the wall keeps its secrets.

Behind your lips the darkness

is a tomb, still deepening.

A body wrapped in stiff linens.

But the Beloved wants to hear.

Knows the story, of course,

having suffered it.

But waits patiently at the table,

sits resting in the silence,

like his hands in his lap,

belonging there.

Lends courage for the telling,

remembering the men and their stones,

the crown of harsh words,

the women running from the garden.

Stands weeping outside the tomb.

And waits for the Lazarus moment

of your story coming out,

alive, and changed.

__________________

Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Unfolding Light

http://www.unfoldinglight.net