Day: June 1, 2008

Face It – KANSAS

/ Roye Glass / Leave a comment

“Face It” by Kansas, 1982.

How many times do I have to tell you
That things just can’t go on this way
We’ve tried so many times but things go on the same
We’ve spent one too many years in all this pain
And the light is shining in your eyes
And still it makes you wonder

(Chorus)
It’s time we face it (are you blind can’t you see)
It’s time we face it

How long will we go on playin’ this fool’s game
How long will a candle burn its flame
We’ve tried, we’ve tried so man times, so many ways
When will we ever learn from our mistakes

And the point is either right or wrong
‘Cause when I’m weak then I am strong
And the truth will find us all someday
And the price is more than you can pay

It’s time we face it (are you blind can’t you see)
It’s time we face it (can’t go on in misery)
It’s time we face it (was it really meant to be)
It’s time we face it (I don’t know)
It’s time we face it

June focus

/ Roye Glass / Leave a comment

At 1:30 this morning, I decided as a part of my focus for June I would read through the book of Mark.  It’s been too easy for me this past week to keep my eyes on me… the fear, anxiety, and worries that I face right now.  In light of my early morning blog, God wants me to give it all away.

We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do?  (My Utmost for His Highest, June 1)

I struggle with real surrender.  To really give it all away.  For some reason I find comfort in holding on to my fears… but is that really comfort?  Of course not.  It’s lack of faith and trust in Jesus to be my All in all.  That’s one of my weaknesses.  This is an area of vulnerability for me…  I want to trust. I want to believe.  I want to live in freedom not in bondage to my fears.

I was helping Walker ride his bike the other day.  He still rides with training wheels.  But the fear of losing control is real strong for him.  I try to encourage him by letting him know I am there to help him… to keep him safe.  He needs to learn to trust that with those training wheels he can do it. 

There will come a time when the wheels will come off and he will be able to trust what he has come to learn.  Right now he needs my help but there will be a day soon when he will learn to do this without my help and the two of us will move onto something else where he will look to me for guidance.  And the lesson of trust and faith will be taught and learned on a deeper level.

I guess this lesson grows each passing year of life.  Life is a test and life is a trust.  The only way to pass the test is to trust.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed– that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.  And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message). 

Give it all away

/ Roye Glass / Leave a comment

Did you ever listen to Kansas?  I loved and still do love the music of Kansas.  As you can tell by listening to the lyrics mostly written by Kerry Livgren are searching for answers to the spiritual life.  If you are unaware, in the early 80’s the majority of the lyrics were Christ-centered as Livgren gave his life to Christ.  If you have not read the book “Seeds of Change” you need to read it.  During that era of Kansas, John Elefante was one of the lead singers. 

Earlier today I was riding in the car with Walker while listening to one of Elefante’s solo albums “Defying Gravity.”  The song we were listening to was “Give it all away.”  Again, God used my son to get me to really think about the meaning to a song.  He asked me, “What does this song mean?”  I don’t understand why my 5 year old asks such questions sometimes.  I believe God has special plans for him.  God is using him in so many ways right now challenging me! 

Give it all Away

Deep in the heart of a man
There are battles that we fight within ourselves
We question the surest of things
We keep secrets in our hearts we never tell
And we say that we rely on You
That we will seek Your way
But to give You all and nothing less
Do we really have the faith?

Chorus:
Can we give it all away, give it all away
Give it all to You
When we give You just a little
We give You nothing at all
Can we give it all way, give it all away
Give it all to You
When the only thing that matters
Is the hardest thing to do

Why would a man give up his soul
To gain a world that has no just reward
We’re lead to believe in ourselves
But without You there’s nothing to look toward
You can remove the veil of darkness
That has covered up our face
And take us from this wretched land into Your holy place

Chorus

And we say that we rely on You
That we will seek Your way
But the hardest of all questions
Do we really have the faith?