The Light

It was dark, oh so dark,
No light could there be seen.
Then like magic, a light,
A glimmering, as a candle small
Glowed there in the dark
And grew each passing day.
The dark did try to put it out,
But could not do it;
For it was the light of the world
That shone there .
Still it shines and stronger grows
As more and more
The people come to it
And worship God as the source,
The source of light and life.
     1964

Can You Hear Me, Lord by Jerry Browning

Can you hear me, Lord?

By  Jerry Browning

Can you hear me, Lord; how did I come to be?
Can you hear me Lord; is this Your Love I see?
Seems the world you made has turned its back on me.
If you hear me Lord, I’m longing to be free.

Do you love me, Lord; I feel inside you do.
Do you love me, Lord; my heart cries out to you,
In the dark of night, let me see your light shine through,
If you love me Lord, then let me walk with you.

Can you tell me, Lord; all the reasons I am here?
Can you tell me, Lord; what is it others fear?
Why is hate so strong & love so rare and dear?
Will you tell me Lord, for I feel you standing near.

Will you take me Lord; I’m longing to be free.
Will you take me Lord; my soul cries out to thee
For the only love I know you placed in me.
If you won’t take me Lord; why did I come to be?
(repeat last two lines)



Can you hear me, Lord?

By  Jerry Browning

Can you hear me, Lord; how did I come to be?
Can you hear me Lord; is this Your Love I see?
Seems the world you made has turned its back on me.
If you hear me Lord, I’m longing to be free.

Do you love me, Lord; I feel inside you do.
Do you love me, Lord; my heart cries out to you,
In the dark of night, let me see your light shine through,
If you love me Lord, then let me walk with you.

Can you tell me, Lord; all the reasons I am here?
Can you tell me, Lord; what is it others fear?
Why is hate so strong & love so rare and dear?
Will you tell me Lord, for I feel you standing near.

Will you take me Lord; I’m longing to be free.
Will you take me Lord; my soul cries out to thee
For the only love I know you placed in me.
If you won’t take me Lord; why did I come to be?
(repeat last two lines)

Challenged

Challenged
To do more
Than what we are.

Challenged
To be more
Than what we have been.

Challenged
To show God's love
To the whole world.

Learn

Can we all learn to love another and accept each as a child of God ? Or is it already too late for us ? We make too much of differences between people .  Annd there is the problem - we make of differences a reason for hatred when hatred should have no place in us .Can we learn to replace hate with love and redeem the world ?

Higher

I float, I fly higher than any drug on the strength of God's love for me! That love is always there for me and is stronger and more complete than any other love  known. Come with me and learn about this God of love.

Unique

I am me,
Unique
In all the world.
There is no one else
Quite like me,
For no one else
Quite has
My combination
Of experiences
And genetics.
So here I am,
See me
And accept me
As the special person
That they I am.

A Child of God

A Child Of God

By Jerry Browning

Chorus:

I'm a child of God - You made me like You want me

And You want like You made me,

Not for others to deceive,

I'm a child of God - and in my heart I hear You

I'll never have to leave You, if I live what I believe.

Someone will turn the Master's words to music

Someone will paint a sudden burst of spring

Each life is given a gift to share with others

But some will turn away and never see a thing.

Chorus :

So when the time has come to meet the Maker

And I'm taken from the pastures where I feed,

Will I be true? Did I live the life You gave me

Or a life some other mortal made me lead?

Chorus :

God Loves...

God loves me!
Shout it out aloud
God loves me!
And I do not
Have to do a thing
To gain that love,
For God loves me
As I am
Right now!

Remember Me

Remember Me

Remember me?
I’m the person
You just passed
On the street,
I am human
And alive,
Remember me!

Remember me?
I may be your neighbor,
Living near you,
See me
And get to know me
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am that person
Who is poorly dressed,
I don’t have  much money
And I may be homeless.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am that person
Who is so very different
From those around me,
But I’m still human.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I’m gay or asexual
And other people
Don’t approve,
But I am
As God created me.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am Yahweh,
Your Creator.
All people are mine,
And I love them
As they are right now.
See them all
As beloved children
Of mine.
Remember me!

My God Sings Me A Love Song

My God Sings Me A Love Song

Jerry Browning
c 2009 Evergreen Studios
Great Falls, MT

As I wander through the mists of early morning
My mind can see the distant hazen hills.
My heart reaches out to catch the dawning
And I see the wildwood flowers and daffodils.
Then the sweet breeze brings to me the strains of a melody
As my God sings to me a love song.

All the stirring words seem to set my heart in motion
As they echo through the valleys far and near.
And the song can lift me like a magic potion;
It’s so hard to feel alone when you’re up here.
Through the meadowlands it calls as the evening starts to fall
When my God sings me a love song.

I can soar above the mountains in the springtime
I can sail the ocean’s mighty swell
I can wander in and out of dreams and sweet rhymes;
And escape from my own prisons where I dwell
I can reach the highest star and yet not have gone too far
When my God sings me a love song.

Then I lie awake and listen to the night birds
Wondering why I haven’t heard it for a while
Wondering if some time or place we’d be together
Or could it be the love song’s out of style.
Then the sweet breeze brings to me that familiar melody
As my God sings me a love song.

Help, Oh God

Help, Oh God
        for Joe Mackey

Psalm 39:1
Help me, oh God,
That I might
Learn to watch
What I say.
Help me to control
My tongue and my brain
That what I say
Will not hurt another.

Romans 7:21
You, oh God,
Are my help
To keep me
From the wrong
That I would do
Or from saying
Anything that would
Hurt another.
I want to say and do
Only the good,
But without you near,
I have no strength
To walk in the right.

Ephesians 2:8-9
It is you, oh God,
Who has come to me
And by your grace,
Saved me.
You have shown me
The way to go,
That is not of anything
That I might do
But only
Through faith in you.

Titus 3:5
Oh my God,
I often do or say
The wrong things.
But through your mercy,
I am saved
And your spirit dwells
Always with me.

Hebrews 4:14-16
And now I can
Approach your throne
With confidence,
Because Jesus has come
And shown me the way.
Always grace
And mercy are mine,
Because I believe
That Jesus is your Son,
And He shows me the way
That is best,
And your help and love
Always is mine.

Dwelling in Darkness

Dwelling is in darkness ,
Finding no light
To show me
Which way to go .

Dwelling in darkness ,
Sadness and sorrow
My daily lot
And no one to help.

Dwelling in darkness,
But then comes a light
To show me the way that
To life and love .

Dwelling in the light,
God always beside me
To help me find the way
To happiness and love .

Walk in the Light

Walk in the Light   

I John 1:5-7

Come with me,

Walk with me

In the light

Of God's love.

There is no darkness

When we walk

Always with God.

I John 2:9-11

Come and see,

There is no hate here

And the darkness

Has no place.

Here there is

Only light and love,

And any who hate

Have no place here.

I John 3:1-3

And if we are

Of the light,

We are called

Children of God.

Ah, such love

That is there

For us all

That God should

Come to us

And call us by name

And tell us

That we are

Children of God.

I John 4:11-12

Because we are

Children of God,

We should love

One another.

And in the light

Of that love

We will learn

Who God is,

For God will dwell

Always with us.

Light

Light
   For Roland Smith
Psalm 27:1
The light of God
Is always with me,
Therefore I don’t need
To be afraid of anything,
For God is my strength
And my light.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Stand up and see,
The light of God
Is come to you.
Let it shine
Through the darkness
And all people
Will come to it.

Matt 1:4-9
And the light
Has come to us
To break up
The darkness,
And all people
Can come
To dwell in that light.

I John 1:5-7
God is our light.
If we dwell with God,
There is no darkness
Anywhere near us.
If we walk
In the light,
Jesus is with us,
For He is the light,
There for all
Who would walk
With Him.

Do Not Fear

Do Not Fear

Psalm 27:1-9   

God is near me,

I need not fear

Any person,

For the God of love

Is my help and strength.

I will always

Seek the face of God,

To have that help

No other can give me.

John 3:16-17

I sought God,

And found such love

That no one

Can take away from me.

And God's love

Is always there for me

Because Jesus came

To show us all

How to live in love

Without fear

Of anything.

I John 4:16b-21

I found

That God is love,

And there is such love,

That there is no one

Who can make me

Fear anything

For in God's love

There is no fear,

Nor any hate.

Only love dwells

With God.

A Prayer 3

Oh God, immerse me so much in your love that there is no one

who I can hate or think can be outside of your love.  Fill me

so full of your love that no matter who the others are or what

they believe, I will remember that your love is theirs, also,

even when they disagree with me.  Help me to love others, for

it is so much easier to love family and friends than to love

others who are so much different. AMEN

Love There

Father to me
And strong right arm;
My protector
And strength is He.

Mother to me,
Gentle, calming touch;
Always there
In time of need.

Leader for me,
Showing me the way;
Helping me to find
The proper path.

Love there for me,
Encircleing me always;
Never letting me stray
Away from that love.

A Prayer 2

Dear God, I'm sorry, but I'm not doing as well as I should. I

there are still some people who I would like to

hate, or at least think that you do not love them. These people

think too differently than I do, and I cannot handle that.

Remind me again that those who are different in any way are

still your children, created by you. Help me always to remember

that your love cannot be restricted to just some people, but

is inclusive of all. Stay always near me, and help me to learn

your love. AMEN

A Prayer 1

Loving God, thank you for reminding me every day that you do

love me.  But you also remind me that you love all other people,

too.  You have told me that it does not matter what people

look like, who they are or what they believe.  You told me

that you still claim them as your children, and you love all

of them.  You have said again and again that there is no one

who is outside of your love.  Please keep reminding me until

it is so much a part of me that there is no one who I can hate,  

for I do not want to ever do anything that is outside of what

you want. AMEN

Dear God, I'm sorry, but I'm not doing as well as I should. I

there are still some people who I would like to

hate, or at least think that you do not love them. These people

think too differently than I do, and I cannot handle that.

Remind me again that those who are different in any way are

still your children, created by you. Help me always to remember

that your love cannot be restricted to just some people, but

is inclusive of all. Stay always near me, and help me to learn

your love. AMEN

Before Me, Behind Me by Terry Lee Ousley

God, You know everything about me;

You know every thought of my day.

You know where I stand

And You know when I stop and rest -

Every moment You know where I am!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.

You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.

This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!

Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!

I can never be lost from Your love.

When I've climbed my highest mountain You are there.

And when I'm in my deepest pit, You're even there!

It is so precious, Lord, to realize You are with me constantly!

When I call out Your name, Your thoughts turn toward me!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.

You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.

This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!

Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!

I can never be lost from Your love.

BASED on Psalm 139

Come, Praise God

Come and let us
Together
Praise God!

God, the Creator
Of all people,
Is always near
To help and strengthen
And gives to all
Unlimited,
Unconditional
Love.

There are
No barriers
Between us here
And a loving God.
We put our own
Barriers there
Thinking that
What we hear
From others
Is the truth.
But come, see,
And hear;
God is always
Near to us,
Loving us
Always.

Come now,
Sing and dance
And praise God,
Who accepts
And loves all people!
Lift up your voices
In praise!

I Am Love

I Am Love

I Am here.
Before the world was,
I Am there,
And I created all.
Yahweh, Elohim,
Call me what you will,
I Am always near.
Out of love
I created you.

John 1:1-5
I am the word
That created all,
And I became
One with you
To show you all
The way to live
With each other
In love.

John 3:16
I came in love
To teach all
How to live together
In peace and love.
Can you learn
To follow me
And love
All that you meet?

I John 3:1
In this know
How much you are loved,
You are my children!
You are all
Precious to me
And I would
Hold you close
If you will only
Come near.

I John 3:11
And being all
Children of mine,
Learn to love
One another,
For you all are
Brothers and sisters.
Come together
And see
Who you really are.

I John 4:7-10
I came
That you might
Know what love is,
And how much
I really love you.
Come and see
And find forgiveness
And love
For yourself.

I John 4:11-16
You will come
To live in union
With me
If you will only
Love one another.
And in this union
Is my love shown,
That though you have
Never seen my face,
You still live in union
With each other.

I John 4:17-18
You need not
Fear anything,
For my love
Is always there
To protect you.
Come to me
And see
How great my love
For you is.


I John 4:19-21
I created you
And I loved you
Before you knew me.
I came that you
Might know love
And not hate,
For there is no room
For hate near me.
If you love me,
You love others!
Come to me and know
My great love
For you!

Song of Joy

We are Strangers
In a strange land
Of violence and war
Yet we are singing
Songs of joy.
From the desert
Songs of joy;
From the mountains
Songs of joy;
From the prairies
Songs of joy.
We are bringing
Songs of joy;
We are singing
Songs of joy;
God is near us,
Songs of joy;
God is loving,
Songs of joy;
All of us;
Songs of joy.
We are living
Songs of joy;
We are giving
Songs of joy;
We are loving
Songs of joy.
We are strangers
In a Strange land,
We are always
Singing songs of joy!


And it could go on and on, with different ideas, thoughts.  For example:
Songs of joy,
In our life time;
Songs of joy
At our death
Songs of joy;
In our bad times
Songs of joy;
In our good times;
Songs of joy;
God is with us
Songs of joy;
Never leaves us
Songs of joy.
Evil surrounds us
Songs of joy;
God is with us
Songs of joy;
Never leaves us
Songs of joy.

A Musician

A Musician       

Yes, I met Jesus.  I had become crippled and could

not play any of my instruemnts.  I had heard about

the healing powers that Jesus had and thought that

it was worth tyring to see ifI could be healed.  I

wanted to get back to playing my music. I didn't even

have to ask.  I was there in the crowd listening to

Him teaching.  Quite a fellow, I'll tell you!  I like

the way He teaches!  But then Jesus stopped teaching,

and went through the crowd, touching people and healing

them.  Of course, I watched where He was going and

put myself near where He was.  He stopped and talked

to some folks nearby, then looked at me.  And before

I could ask Him - "Please heal me," He reached out

and touched my shoulder.  I could feel the warmth

coursing through my body.  And then all my brokeness

was gone, healed.  Both inside and out! Of course,

since then, I have been a follower, a disciple.  And

I find that I am now composing my own music, in praise

of God, who sent Jesus to us.  It's so easy, especially

when you know that God loves you!

Who is My Neighbor?

Who is My Neighbor?
Leviticus 19:18 ,33, 34; Mark 12:28-33

Love your neighbor
As you love yourself.
           Who is my neighbor?
            The person next door
             Who is like me.
Love your neighbor
As you love yourself.
              Who is my neighbor?
              The person far away
               Who is different
                In so many ways.

We so often  ask
Who is my neighbor?
And for get to look
Around to see
Who God I loving now.

Dear  God, forgive me,
For I so often
Ignore those around me
Or turn my back
On those in need.
I often fear to see
That those who are
Different than me
Are my neighbors,
And deserve what help
That I can give them.
Help me to learn
That they all
Are loved by you,
And are my neighbors.

God is here,
Among us
And loving us all;
And for giving us
When we forget
Who our neighbors are.

We have come together
To learn who
Our neighbors are.
Let us now go out
And pass the love
That is of God
To all people
Who are our neighbors.

Go in peace
And walk in love
With all people
Always,
Remembering
That all people
Are God’s children
And are loved.
         

One People

One People    for Rev Troy Perry

Isaiah 6:3-8
Let all nations
Come to me
For all people
Are mine.
No one will be
Turned away.
All who come,
No matter who they are
Will be accepted.

John 17:21-23
Let all become
One people,
And know the love
That is theirs to have.
Let all divisions
Go away,
For all are mine.

I Corinthians 8:6
I am here for you,
I gave you life
And all my love
Is yours to have.
I sent Jesus
That you might
Know what love is.

Ephesians 4:4-6
And as you are
All mine,
You should be
One people,
One in spirit
And body;
For all people
Were created by me
And I love them all.