Spiritual Journeys Today

I wrote this song after going caroling with a group from our church. We had a great time, riding a trolley around town, stopping to carol three or four times including a stop at Methodist Hospital here in Rochester. This was my attempt to write a fairly simple, hopefully easy to remember Christmas Carol! I even hear a trombone part behind some of it. I hope to be able to put some files out here that will allow you to hear the melodies soon!
May you feel and recognize God’s hand moving in your life today and always!
JOHN

‘Glory Comes!’

Jesus has come, Christmas is here
The day of his birth is the best of the year
Gloria, hallelujah, God’s son is born
The greatest of gifts on this Christmas morn

Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Jesus was born on this day

Angel choir sings, Shepherds have come
To see the small child, to visit God’s Son
Gloria, hallelujah, our world has changed
Listen and rejoice at the sound of His name

Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Jesus was born on this day

Three wise men came, traveling far
Led by a very miraculous star
Gloria, hallelujah, bearing great gifts
The joy of this birth, the whole world uplifts

Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Jesus was born on this day

The day has come, our wait is through
The prophets foretelling has finally come true
Gloria, hallelujah, trumpets will sound
Spread word of his coming the whole world around

Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Glory comes, glory comes, hallelujah
Jesus was born on this day

Copyright December 5, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

I’ve been in the Christmas mood for about a month and I have written three Christmas songs so far. Each mentions several different persons who are mentioned in the Biblical accounts of Christmas. This one uses a first person perspective to provide a glimpse of each individual’s feelings. I like each of them even though they are very different musically and in the view of the world they present.
I hope you enjoy them.
Merry Christmas!
I hope each of you feels and recognizes God’s touch in your life today and always!
JOHN

I’m Just…

I’m just a peasant girl, never been with a man
Something is happening, I cannot understand
I’m going to have a child, angels tell me a king
Will soon be born to me, what changes life can bring
I feel so different now, like my whole life’s been changed
My life’s priorities, have all been rearranged

I’m amazed, awestruck, confused and so afraid
Is it me You’re talking to, have You made some mistake?
God, is this real or just a dream, what’s happening to me?
I trust You, God, I’ll do your will if You’ll just stay with me

I’m just a peasant man, a carpenter by trade
I love a pretty girl, Mary is her name
Something is happening, I cannot understand
She’s going to have a child, somewhere near Bethlehem
I know this Child’s not mine, the angels say that God
Has fathered this baby, it all seems very odd

I’m amazed, awestruck, confused and so afraid
Is it me You’re talking to, have You made some mistake?
God, is this real or just a dream, what’s happening to me?
I trust You, God, I’ll do your will if You’ll just stay with me

I’m just an innkeeper, on the edge of Bethlehem
A couple came tonight, felt sorry for them
She’s going to have a child, soon maybe yet tonight
Out there in my stable, hope it turns out right
I hear the baby cry, hear the mother’s prayer
Thanking God for His Son, what a sight I got to share

I’m amazed, awestruck, confused and so afraid
Is it me You’re talking to, have You made some mistake?
God, is this real or just a dream, what’s happening to me?
I trust You, God, I’ll do your will if You’ll just stay with me

I’m just a shepherd boy, out with my dad’s flock
Angels sang Hosanna, gave my heart a great shock
Something is happening, I cannot understand
Do not be afraid they said, we trembled to a man
Go and find the newborn king, go and homage pay
Blessed are you, a Savior, came to the world today

I’m amazed, awestruck, confused and so afraid
Is it me You’re talking to, have You made some mistake?
God, is this real or just a dream, what’s happening to me?
I trust You, God, I’ll do your will if You’ll just stay with me

We are three scholarly, wise men it is said
We follow a bright star, and go where we are led
It hails a prince’s birth, the coming of a king
Who knows the power of, the changes he will bring
We bear fine gifts for him, myrrh, frankincense and gold
He’s unremarkable, but he’ll change this world so

I’m amazed, awestruck, confused and so afraid
Is it me You’re talking to, have You made some mistake?
God, is this real or just a dream, what’s happening to me?
I trust You, God, I’ll do your will if You’ll just stay with me

I’m just a modern man, yet my life’s been changed
By the power of God’s love, by hearing Jesus’ name
Something is happening, I cannot understand
I feel God walking with me, taking me by the hand
The only gifts I bring, the talents you gave me
God help me change this world, the way that you changed me

I’m amazed, awestruck, confused and so afraid
Is it me You’re talking to, have You made some mistake?
God, is this real or just a dream, what’s happening to me?
I trust You, God, I’ll do your will if You’ll just stay with me

Copyright November 29, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved

One of my all time favorite songs is ‘WildFire’ by Michael Martin Murphy. As I was listening to it one morning, the idea came to me to write this song. I started it and then finished it a couple weeks later.

May you recognize God’s movement and direction in your life today and always!

John

‘Wildfire’

God’s here right now, with us today
God’s in this room, I feel His love and grace
It’ll change this world, if we’ll just try to be
God’s hands and feet today, Lord, please choose me

So spread the news like wildfire,
Lift up your voice in praise to God’s amazing power
The Bible didn’t end 2000 years ago,
So tell your story now and let the whole world know!

God’s left some work, for us to do
You know God’s counting on, all of us it’s true
To heal the sick and lame, to serve the poor
To bring the world some peace, what are we waiting for?

So spread the news like wildfire,
Lift up your voice in praise to God’s amazing power
The Bible didn’t end 2000 years ago
So tell your story now and let the whole world know!

If you hear God’s voice and walk His path
You’ll find that God is love, not anger, hate and wrath
God will walk with you, if you’ll just take His hand
He’ll guide and talk with you, we’re part of His grand plan

So spread the news like wildfire,
Lift up your voice in praise to God’s amazing power
The Bible didn’t end 2000 years ago
So tell your story now and let the whole world know!

Copyright March 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved

I wrote a note telling me I wrote this song after being inspired by a song called ‘Whatever It Takes’. Only one minor problem, I didn’t write down the artist or any other information. I looked at the songs I could find by that name and none rings a bell. Oops!

‘Use me, Lord’

I want to serve the creator of all.
I want to give until I’ve given my all
I want the whole world to know of God’s power and might
I want to tell of the diff’rence you’ve made in my life

Lord, whatever it takes
I want to give back to You
Take my heart and my hands, my restless spirit too
Use it all for the good of this world You’ve made
I want for nothing thanks to your grace, use me Lord

I want to sing of the power of Your love
I want to make the whole world feel that love
I want to write songs about all that You mean to me
I want to stand up and shout so the whole world can see

Lord, whatever it takes
I want to give back to You
Take my heart and my hands, my restless spirit too
Use it all for the good of this world You’ve made
I want for nothing thanks to your grace, use me Lord

I want to touch the hungry and poor
I want to give them what they’re searching for
I want to help every person be all they can be
I want to show them the ways that You’re working through me

Lord, whatever it takes
I want to give back to You
Take my heart and my hands, my restless spirit too
Use it all for the good of this world You’ve made
I want for nothing thanks to your grace, use me Lord

Copyright March 20, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.

I’ve often enjoyed the way some spiritual/blues singers and songs use a basic rhythm and a great deal of repitition to create a song that almost anyone can sing and enjoy. Truthfully, this song could easily go on forever, verses are easy to add and any verse’s lines ending could easily be added to whatever words you choose to put in the line repetition. It becomes even easier to do if a leader sings the line ending and the audience joins in the repeating words. This is my simple attempt to replicate one of these tunes.

‘Spend All My Life With Jesus’

I wanna, spend all my life with Jesus, yes I do
I wanna, spend all my life with Jesus, yes it’s true
I wanna, spend all my life with Jesus, knowing that he loves and frees us
I wanna, spend all my life with Jesus, yes I do

I’m gonna, thank God for all his mercy, yes I am
I’m gonna, thank God for all his mercy, that’s my plan
I’m gonna, thank God for all his mercy, he forgives me and assures me
I’m gonna, thank God for all his mercy, yes I am

I’m gonna, be with my Lord forever, glad to say
I’m gonna, be with my Lord forever, come what may
I’m gonna, be with my Lord forever, praising Him, it can’t get better
I’m gonna, be with my Lord forever, glad to say

Come on and, raise your hands and clap His glory, join me now
Come on and, raise your hands and clap His glory, make it loud
Come on and, raise your hands and clap His glory, tell the whole wide world His story
Come on and, raise your hands and clap His glory, join me now

I started this song months ago. I had the first verse written and most of the chorus was done too. I think this is the first time that I have gone back to something that I felt I had a good start on and actually completed. It feels good.
I do know that I have mixed male and female possesive pronouns in this song. It was intentional. I recognize that these words can be offensive to some but using ‘God’ over and over again can get very repetitious, especially when you already use that term in every line of the chorus.

May you recognize God’s movement and direction in your life today and always!
JOHN

‘I Believe’

I just have to tell you my story
Of God’s power, Her might and His glory
Of the life changing effects God’s love has had upon me
I now face each day with wonder
for this God whose spell I’m under
You can live this way too, just turn to the Lord and believe

I believe in the God of Abraham, Issac and David
I believe God sent Jesus His Son to show us how to love
I believe that God asks us to serve all the people around us
I believe that God wants us to know it feels great when we give

I just have to tell of salvation
Far beyond all imagination
Of the life changing effects God’s grace has had upon me
I now know that I’m forgiven
In this new life I am living
You can feel this way too, just turn to the Lord and believe

I believe in the God of Abraham, Issac and David
I believe God sent Jesus His Son to show us how to love
I believe that God asks us to serve all the people around us
I believe that God wants us to know it feels great when we give

I’ll tell you of the calm and release
In my heart, there is nothing but peace
Of the life changing effects God’s Son has had upon me
I will walk with Him forever
I’m not going back, no never
You can feel this way too, just turn to the Lord and believe

I believe in the God of Abraham, Issac and David
I believe God sent Jesus His Son to show us how to love
I believe that God asks us to serve all the people around us
I believe that God wants us to know it feels great when we give

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

I woke up one morning not long ago, thinking about the disciple, Peter. I think it may have come from a trivia question I answered, in a game the day before. Peter had a pretty amazing life, considering he started out as a fisherman. The song is done for now but it is one of those I may to add to in the future as there are still plenty of other very interesting facts about Peter left to cover. This song, based on a historic figure is a new and different thing for me. I hope you enjoy it.

‘I Follow Jesus’

My name is Peter, Greek word for rock
My lowest moment, the crowing of the cock
Although it didn’t kill me, I felt as if I’d die
My Lord and Savior, Jesus, three times I denied

I follow Jesus, my Master and my Lord
He died on the cross, He rose from the dead, his body walks this earth no more
yet He lives!
So I still follow Jesus, walk and talk with him each day
Lord, you called me, I will follow,
Yes, you called me and I will follow, lead the way

Andrew, my brother, God called him too
Nets no longer needed, with fishing we were through
Disciples of Jesus, becoming fishers of men
Who could have dreamed of what we’d become then

I follow Jesus, my Master and my Lord
He died on the cross, He rose from the dead, his body walks this earth no more
yet He lives!
So I still follow Jesus, walk and talk with him each day
Lord, you called me, I will follow,
Yes, you called me and I will follow, lead the way

I walked on water, started the church
Healing and preaching to those the world has hurt
I felt God’s awesome power, working through me
And Jesus, whom I follow, sets me free

I follow Jesus, my Master and my Lord
He died on the cross, He rose from the dead, his body walks this earth no more
yet He lives!
So I still follow Jesus, walk and talk with him each day
Lord, you called me, I will follow,
Yes, you called me and I will follow, lead the way

Copyright November 2, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved

This morning, as I started my exercise on my stationary bike, I started praying as well. A gentleman from our congregation, whom I really admire and like, is fighting cancer for the second time and came to mind. My prayer list is long enough these days that I often have trouble keeping track of all those who should be mentioned. I’m hoping that it’s a sign of my spiritual growth as well a sign of my recognition of how many people out there have greater needs for the time I use in my prayers than I do. Thank God that He has the ability to deal with them all! I stopped my exercise early as I had the words to the chorus and parts of the verses already prepared in a short time and I didn’t want to lose them. I’m not sure I like this song as it highlights problems, but life is very much like this, especially when you get to a point where you can look outside yourself at others who are in need. I believe prayer helps! So this song is dedicated to Stu Eickelberg. I am praying for you and God will take care of you, my friend!

The List

Matthew has cancer, today might be his last
Amy’s been beaten, Eric’s leg’s in a cast
Becky is homeless, Tommy hates his job
Eddie’s leaving his wife forever, so is Bob

So many people, so many needs
So many hurting, it’s easy to see
There should be so many more who make my list
What will I ask for? What will I say?
When I stop for a moment, close my eyes and pray
Who’s been forgotten? Who have I missed?
Who do I need to put on my prayer list?

Patty’s just been raped, doesn’t know what to do
Dan is a drunk, Emily’s destitute
Betty is missing, her family is scared
Susan is pregnant, alone, unprepared

So many people, so many needs
So many hurting, it’s easy to see
There should be so many more who make my list
What will I ask for? What will I say?
When I stop for a moment, close my eyes and pray
Who’s been forgotten? Who have I missed?
Who do I need to put on my prayer list?

Take time to talk to God, throughout your day
Ask Him to help someone you see along your way
Praise Him, ask forgiveness, thank Him too
For all He does for you

David is heartbroke, Richard just lost his job
Austin is searching, all over for God
Jim’s back in jail, after another joyride
Janie’s depressed, thinking of suicide

So many people, so many needs
So many hurting, it’s easy to see
There should be so many more who make my list
What will I ask for? What will I say?
When I stop for a moment, close my eyes and pray
Who’s been forgotten? Who have I missed?
Who do I need to put on my prayer list?

Today, who needs to make my list?

Copyright November 11, 2011 John Lage, Jr All rights reserved

I’ve reached the point in my life where my job I have isn’t meeting all my needs. I want to do something more in line with my spiritual beliefs but…my lack of a degree puts me in a place where I can’t earn enough doing other things to keep my family in the manner that we’ve become accustomed to. This song tries to put that into words. So God, here’s…

My Request

I’m weary, tired of
This treadmill that I’m on
I know I’ve got a good job
But my enthusiasm’s gone
I can’t find the answer
To this question, I’ve been asked
‘How do You, God, fit in to all of that?’

This journey is winding on
My faith in You is strong
Help me to find my way
In Your service, I belong
I yearn to spend my time
Working, Lord, for You
Spending ev’ry moment
On the tasks You’d have me do

Been to the mountaintop
On mission trips and such
I have had some moments, Lord
When I knew I’d felt your touch
Electric and exciting
I felt changed, inspired, renewed
I want to dedicate my life to You

This journey’s winding on
My faith in You is strong
Help me to find my way
In Your service, I belong
I yearn to spend my time
Working, Lord, for You
Spending ev’ry moment
On the tasks You’d have me do

Help me to make a plan
A map to guide my way
I’m anxious to get started
Let’s take the first steps yet today
I want to find the answers
To each question that I’ll ask
Light my way, God, in Your glory I will bask

This journey’s winding on
My faith in You is strong
Help me to find my way
In Your service, I belong
I yearn to spend my time
Working, Lord, for You
Spending ev’ry moment
on the tasks You’d have me do

Copyright November 12, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.+

To put it bluntly, God is that spark of life within us. That will never change. Thank God!!!

‘Within’

I see it now, so clear it seems
No more foggy vision, no more hazy dreams
God lives within, each one of us
‘fore this life’s beginning, after death’s last touch
The essence of our being, what we all call our soul
Is just one part of God, eternal, pure and whole

You walk with me, close by my side
Through life’s ev’ry journey, help me recognize
You live within, each one of us
‘fore this life’s beginning, after death’s last touch
The essence of our being, what we all call our soul
Is just one part of God, eternal, pure and whole,

The final beat, of my feeble heart
Is not the end of me, it’s just another start
God lives within, each one of us
‘fore this life’s beginning, after death’s last touch
The essence of our being, what we all call our soul
Is just one part of God, eternal, pure and whole

Help me to live, my whole life through
Thankful for each moment, Praising only you
God lives within, each one of us
‘fore this life’s beginning, after death’s last touch
The essence of our being, what we all call our soul
Is just one part of God, eternal, pure and whole

Copyright October 30, 2011 John Lage, Jr. All rights reserved.