Spiritual Journeys Today

‘Jubilant’

Jubilant, now there’s a word
That we don’t use too much
It describes my feelings perfectly
When I feel God’s fingers touch
My soul,
Makes my life whole
I love You so
My Lord, my God

It’s easy to go through life each day
Feeling so down about the way
I think life’s going
I need to stop and realize
You’re working here
I can’ deny
It, look how much I’ve changed

Jubilant, now there’s a word
That we don’t use too much
It describes my feelings perfectly
When I feel God’s fingers touch
My soul,
Makes my life whole
I love You so
My Lord, my God

I spend so much time feeling sorry
About my job, so foolishly
Always ignoring
That others would give anything
To have this job
And my whole life
Here, I should be so ashamed

Jubilant, now there’s a word
That we don’t use too much
It describes my feelings perfectly
When I feel God’s fingers touch
My soul,
Makes my life whole
I love You so
My Lord, my God

(Bridge)
Joyful and jubilant
I celebrate God
All the while working, through weekdays I plod
Writing songs on my lunch hour
Jotting trigger words down
All my joy and my happiness comes In the time spent with You,
Jubilant in your love

I want to work for God full time
It’s hard to keep my wand’ring mind
On what I’m paid for
These songs keep running through my head
Must write them down
Before they’re gone
God, you give the words I write,

Jubilant, now there’s a word
That we don’t use too much
It describes my feelings perfectly
When I feel God’s fingers touch
My soul,
Makes my life whole
I love You so
My Lord, my God

Copyright 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

‘Imagine’

Maybe grace is the filter that God sees us through
What if we could see others from the same point of view
Not judging the way that they live
Never seeing their faults so no need to forgive
Imagine the world this could be
If we’d all just accept everyone that we meet

Imagine no fear, imagine no hate
Imagine no reason to discriminate
Imagine no anger, pride, or jealousy
Imagine this world peaceful as it could be

Maybe grace is the filter that God sees us through
What if we could see others from the same point of view
Not judging the way that they live
Never seeing their faults so no need to forgive
Imagine the world this could be
If we’d all just accept everyone that we meet

Imagine no slav’ry, imagine no castes
Imagine the previous war is the last
Imagine no hunger, murder, poverty
Imagine a world where each person is free

Maybe grace is the filter that God sees us through
What if we could see others from the same point of view
Not judging the way that they live
Never seeing their faults so no need to forgive
Imagine the world this could be
If we’d all just accept everyone that we meet

Imagine no crime, imagine no doubt
Imagine that God is what life’s all about
Imagine love for all was reality
Imagine us living as God could conceive

Maybe grace is the filter that God sees us through
What if we could see others from the same point of view
Not judging the way that they live
Never seeing their faults so no need to forgive
Imagine the world this could be
If we’d all just accept everyone that we meet

Imagine this future, imagine it now
Imagine God doing this through us somehow
Imagine it all as possibility
Imagine we all could believe

Maybe grace is the filter that God sees us through
What if we could see others from the same point of view
Not judging the way that they live
Never seeing their faults so no need to forgive
Imagine the world this could be
If we’d all just accept everyone that we meet

Copyright November 21, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

‘Ignite My Spirit, Lord’

What do people see
When they look at me?
Would they recognize that God rules in my life?
Is Your light obscured
by my ego, Lord?
Do my wants and needs make me seem black as night?

Ignite my spirit, Lord
With the flames of truth and justice
Help me to live a life that blazes like the sun
Fuel me with peace and hope
Love, faith, charity, compassion
Then launch me through this world as a shining signal flare
Shouting out what You have done… for me

Help me bear good news
To those people who
Have yet to hear the story of Your love
Give me words to speak
As I roam the streets
To describe the wondrous gifts you give to us

Ignite my spirit, Lord
With the flames of truth and justice
Help me to live a life that blazes like the sun
Fuel me with peace and hope
Love, faith, charity, compassion
Then launch me through this world as a shining signal flare
Shouting out what You have done… for me

Use my hands to do
The work that You choose
To make this world a better place to live for all
Let me always treat
Each person that I meet
As a special part of You, worthy of awe

Ignite my spirit, Lord
With the flames of truth and justice
Help me to live a life that blazes like the sun
Fuel me with peace and hope
Love, faith, charity, compassion
Then launch me through this world as a shining signal flare
Shouting out what You have done… for me

All those you’ve set free
Broken just like me
Must be the ones who tell Your stories, Lord
I must use my voice
A plain and simple choice
I will spread your word all my life, I am Yours!

Ignite my spirit, Lord
With the flames of truth and justice
Help me to live a life that blazes like the sun
Fuel me with peace and hope
Love, faith, charity, compassion
Then launch me through this world as a shining signal flare
Shouting out what You have done… for me

Copyright November 16, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

‘If You Want To Follow Me’

If you want to follow Me, don’t look away
There are things that you must see and feel
As you walk through life each day
Just look at the people around you
What are they going through?
What I offer you will astound you
Trust in Me and you’ll find that it’s true

I never promised you riches,
I never promised you fame
If you want to get the most out of life,
Simply go forth in My name
Live your life as I did,
Make it all about others, not you
Love and forgive, teaching others to live,
As God’s children, just do what I’d do

If you want to follow Me, don’t turn away
When you see the lost and hurting ones,
All around you every day
They don’t know of My grace or My love
No one has told them about Me
You can be the one who informs them
Imagine how joyful they’ll be

I never promised you riches,
I never promised you fame
If you want to get the most out of life,
Simply go forth in My name
Live your life as I did,
Make it all about others, not you
Love and forgive, teaching others to live,
As God’s children, just do what I’d do

Jesus, we all call You
We know we need You here
We know You have the answers
To our worries, our hate and our fear

If you want to follow Me, remember to pray
For the lonely, the sick, the dying,
For those who have gone astray
Your prayer doesn’t have to be formal
A quick whispered line will do fine
Just ask for help, I will answer
Because all who you see are still Mine

I never promised you riches,
I never promised you fame
If you want to get the most out of life,
Simply go forth in My name
Live your life as I did,
Make it all about others, not you
Love and forgive, teaching others to live,
As God’s children, just do what I’d do

Copyright November 22, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

Where can you look and not see God? I was on the bus, people watching when this ‘master of the obvious’ idea for a song hit me.
JOHN

‘God Is There, Everywhere’

Look to the left, look to the right
What can you see, is God in your sight?
No matter what you see there, within your view
You can be assured that, God is present too.

Everywhere that we go, God is there too
Everywhere that we look, God is within view
Have you learned to see with more than your eyes?
View the world through your soul, see the word come alive
God is there, everywhere, calling you!

Walk through this world, of wonder and strife
The joy and the pain, are all part of life
You can help to change the hurt that you see
God will work through you, God’s love is the key

Everywhere that we go, God is there too
Everywhere that we look, God is within view
Have you learned to see with more than your eyes?
View the world through your soul, see the word come alive
God is there, everywhere, calling you!

See Stars in the sky, and birds in the air
In the fish in the sea, God is always there
Of all of the wonders God’s chosen to give
The best is the fact that with God, we do live

Everywhere that we go, God is there too
Everywhere that we look, God is within view
Have you learned to see with more than your eyes?
View the world through your soul, see the word come alive
God is there, everywhere, calling you!

Copyright 2011 John Lage, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

I did meet Lynn for coffee yesterday. We had a great and far-ranging conversation. I saw God’s healing processes at work within him as we spoke. It’s so obvious that he misses Carla so but also that he has found a way to cope. I woke up this morning and shortly thereafter the first line of the first verse came into my mind. I went and got my phone and started writing. Lynn and Carla, your love was obvious, special and at a level that the rest of us all strive to achieve. I hope this song captures a tiny bit of the essence of what I believe you must be feeling.

May you feel and recognize God moving in your life today and always!
JOHN

‘God Has Blessed Us So’

I keep a photo in the pocket of my heart of
Someone so dear to me who has departed
From this life we shared together
Twenty months, ten days, and fifteen hours ago
She left the pain and hurt cancer imparted
My agony will last forever

I know that she is still with God in another of life’s phases
Full of so many questions ’bout this new world she now faces
Waiting impatiently for me to join her there
Our love continuing to grow, our souls still share
Our precious mem’ries, God has blessed us so

I keep on looking through the albums of my mem’ry
Just to keep the pictures fresh within my mind
Sharp and bright, dreams made together
Children, grandkids, friends made throughout the years
The laughter, tears and joy, treasured bits of time
Go flashing past my eyes forever

I know that she is still with God in another of life’s phases
Full of so many questions ’bout this new world she now faces
Waiting impatiently for me to join her there
Our love continuing to grow, our souls still share
Our precious mem’ries, God has blessed us so

I must keep going life moves ever onward each day
The love she gave us all has now continued
Back to her, as it will, forever
I make it through each day by thanking God for her
Her message and her hope for all God’s children
Remembering, time spent together

I know that she is still with God in another of life’s phases
Full of so many questions ’bout this new world she now faces
Waiting impatiently for me to join her there
Our love continuing to grow, our souls still share
Our precious mem’ries, God has blessed us so

Thanks for the mem’ries, God you’ve blessed me so.

Copyright December 3, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

This song came to me this morning as I was thinking about meeting a friend of mine, Lynn, for coffee later today. I hadn’t seen him in quite a while and he called a few days ago to let me know he’d had an article published in a local magazine. Lynn’s wife, Carla passed away in 2010, leaving a gaping hole in his life. Carla loved Christmas and I knew the holiday would likely be tough for him again this year. He wanted to meet for coffee and he is one of my Christian friends who has been an inspiration to me, so I said yes eagerly. I hadn’t read the article yet but I started to think about those people who have been there for me over and over again, taking time out of their busy lives, in spite of their own problems, hurts and pain. God took over and in a little over an hour, this is the result. I read the article twice on the way to work this morning and cried both times. Awesome article, Lynn and thanks for the inspiration yet again.
JOHN

‘As Your Hands’

As I review, the people who have been
An influence and shaped what I believe
I start to realize how many you have sent
To help me grow up spiritually

As Your hands, they’ve molded me
As Your eyes, they’ve let me see
As Your guides, they’ve led me through
The times when I, couldn’t see You
As Your heart and soul and wisdom
They’ve made me understand
That without Your love, I’ll never be much more than a man
With the knowledge of You that they have provided
I am a new being in your Spirit, Lord, free and excited

My mom and dad, people who’ve always lived
Their lives each day to match what they believe
They put their trust in You and tithed inherently
They demonstrated living faith for me

As Your hands, they’ve molded me
As Your eyes, they’ve let me see
As Your guides, they’ve led me through
The times when I, couldn’t see You
As Your heart and soul and wisdom
They’ve made me understand
That without Your love, I’ll never be much more than a man
With the knowledge of You that they have provided
I am a new being in your Spirit, Lord, free and excited

Preachers, teachers, I’ve learned so much from them
About Your Word, the stories of your love
The things I once believed, became foundation for
Knowing you live within, not up above

As Your hands, they’ve molded me
As Your eyes, they’ve let me see
As Your guides, they’ve led me through
The times when I, couldn’t see You
As Your heart and soul and wisdom
They’ve made me understand
That without Your love, I’ll never be much more than a man
With the knowledge of You that they have provided
I am a new being in your Spirit, Lord, free and excited

My Christian friends, who spend their precious time
In fellowship, share what they know of You
Living examples of, the way I want to be
Living, loving, serving, Lord praising You

As Your hands, they’ve molded me
As Your eyes, they’ve let me see
As Your guides, they’ve led me through
The times when I, couldn’t see You
As Your heart and soul and wisdom
They’ve made me understand
That without Your love, I’ll never be much more than a man
With the knowledge of You that they have provided
I am a new being in your Spirit, Lord, free and excited

Copyright December 02, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

Many of us keep looking somewhere else trying to find God and trying to find happiness. I’m convinced God is with us every moment of every day, if we can just find a way to see.

May you feel and recognize God moving within your life today and always!
JOHN

‘Already Here’

I’ve heard ‘Good things in life are hard to find’
I know that it’s not true
The problem is that most the time,
We’re not looking, Lord, for You
We wander, searching everywhere
But you’re already near
Can’t find the hope we’re after, Lord
Though you’re already here

Hope of the world, grace to save us all
Why is it so difficult, to hear You when You call
If only more of us, would live as we should live
Following Your footsteps, learning just how to forgive
Loving as You do, unconditional and free
We’d stop and realize, how truly happy we could be

I’ve been, there and I know for sure it’s true
Lost, scared and so lonely
Just praying I could see the path
You had set in front of me
I was hurt by someone I had loved
And no one seemed to care
If only I’d have realized
You were already there

Hope of the world, grace to save us all
Why’s it so difficult, to hear You when You call
If only more of us, would live as we should live
Following Your footsteps, learning just how to forgive
Loving as You do, unconditional and free
We’d stop and realize, how truly happy we could be

We choose to carry on it seems
Without You, chasing empty dreams
And yet You wait,
For us to figure out…
You’re already here

Hope of the world, grace to save us all
Why is it so difficult, to hear You when You call
If only more of us, would live as we should live
Following Your footsteps, learning just how to forgive
Loving as You do, unconditional and free
We’d stop and realize, how truly happy we could be

Copyright November 15, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

Starting in late April 2011, I felt distant from God for about 5 months. This song was one of the few I wrote during that time. Reading it now, I still don’t know what brought on the distance that led to despair I must have felt while writing this. In the good times, that pain can seem so far away but it can also come rushing back so quickly.

May you feel and recognize God’s spirit moving in and around today and always!
JOHN

‘Sometimes’

Sometimes within the castle of my soul,
I pull the drawbridge up when guilt and fear have taken hold
From the piercing eyes of God I try to hide,
Fearing God will find me as guilty as I feel deep down inside

Remember God’s compassion lives
When we would judge, God only gives
His grace and love have overcome the worst we can do
So praise Him with your voice raised high
Sing all about God’s love cause I
Know God loves me just as God loves you

Sometimes within the loneliness I feel
That God has left me helpless to the evils of this world
But when I open up my eyes I always see
That God’s standing right here with me and forever he will be

Remember God’s compassion lives
When we would judge, God only gives
His grace and love have overcome the worst we can do
So praise Him with your voice raised high
Sing all about God’s love cause I
Know God loves me just as God loves you

Sometimes within the hopelessness and pain
I wonder where God’s gone and if I’ll see his face again
From the bottom of my heart I loudly cry
Have you truly forsaken me and left me here to die?

Remember God’s compassion lives
When we would judge, God only gives
His grace and love have overcome the worst we can do
So praise Him with your voice raised high
Sing all about God’s love cause I
Know God loves me just as God loves you

Copyright May 6, 2011 John Lage, Jr All Rights Reserved

This song originated in a period where much of my focus was on the soul literally being a part of God. I still think it extremely likely that this is true. I wrote the first two lines of the first verse then God took over and the song moved away from that central theme to one of being open to God’s will. I started it a couple of months ago and finished it today.

May you feel and recognize God’s blessings in your life today and always!
John

‘Open’

Open my soul
The piece of me that is You
Open my ears
Let me hear Your truth
Open my heart
To Your loving way
Open my hands
To do Your work this day

Open heart, open hands, open door
I’m ready to live as You’d want me to, Lord
With Your Holy Spirit, every inch of me fill
I’m open, ready, willing to do Your will

Open my cupboards
I’ve plenty to share
Open my closets
I’ve clothes to spare
Open my wallet
To those in need
Open my eyes
To view the world You see

Open heart, open hands, open door
I’m ready to live as You’d want me to, Lord
With Your Holy Spirit, every inch of me fill
I’m open, ready, willing to do Your will

Open my thoughts
And let my spirit soar
Open my time
So I serve You more
Open my arms
To embrace those in pain
Open my mouth
To sing Jesus’ name

Open heart, open hands, open door
I’m ready to live as You’d want me to, Lord
With Your Holy Spirit, every inch of me fill
I’m open, ready, willing to do Your will

Open my will
Do with me as You please
Open my world
To opportunity
Open my fears
And help me understand
Open my palms
To welcome every hand

Open heart, open hands, open door
I’m ready to live as You’d want me to, Lord
With Your Holy Spirit, every inch of me fill
I’m open, ready, willing to do Your will

Copyright December 28, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.