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           A winter tree

            Against the sky

            Around it's feet

            The dead leaves lie

            But look deeper

            Deeper still

            The earth is still

            The year is old

            Nothing moves

            In ground so cold

             But look deeper

            Deeper still

            Death is darkness

            Death is fear

            End of the road

            Always too near

            But look deeper

            Deeper still

            A jeering crowd

            A wooden cross

            Weeping women

            Mourn their loss

            But look deeper

            Deeper still

            A heavy stone

            A lonely tomb

            Sad men gathered

            In a locked room

            But look deeper

            Deeper still

            Look right inside

            See life!

Once I was locked away inside

A hard and brittle shell

Kidnapped by fear, imprisoned in

My own personal hell

Possessions, fear of failure

The heavy weight of sin

Jealousy, bitterness and hate

The things that held me in

I feared the dark, I needed light

To dry my fragile wings

I longed for love, compassion and

The joy that freedom brings

I couldn't reach out and be free

Like other butterflies

My wings were pinioned closely by

A chrysalis of lies

The World said "Stay inside your shell

You will be safe in there

And if you never do come out

No-one will really care"

But then a voice said "That's not true

I want you to be free

I'm all you need to break your shell

Come out - and follow me"

I knew that if  I did escape

I'd follow where He led

But still I doubted - could it be

As easy as He said

I couldn't face another day

Without a glimpse of light

So I reached out and held His hand

And found that He was right

I'm out at last, my wings are dry!

I'm flying!  Look at me!

The ransom's paid, I'm coming home

My Lord has set me free!

                        There have been times

                        Though not enough

                        When the timeless and the temporary

                        Met and touched

                        It happened to the Prophets

                        Men of God from long ago

                        When He showed them the future

                        Opened time to let them know

                        He let them see what was to be

                        And revealed his rescue plan

                        He showed them He'd bring salvation

                        When He became a man

                        It must have been amazing

                        At the edge of time to stand

                        And gaze into eternity

                        By the power of God's hand

                        One evening He reached out

                        His mighty hand to me

                        And placed me at the edge of time

                        For an instant - just to see

                        That all the things the Father loves

                        Live through Eternity

                        And, in that instant - yes, I knew

                        That one of them was me!

           A strange meeting - not sure I like it much

            I'll let it all go right over my head 

            And gaze into space for a while

            A strange meeting - suddenly I'm miles away

            Even years away - centuries

            And I'm not gazing into space at all

            A strange meeting - eye to eye contact

            Over miles  and endless years

            And I'm gazing right into His face

            A strange meeting - it cuts me to the quick

            I'm trying to ignore it all

            But He won't let me look away

            A strange meeting - so much is said

            But not a word is spoken

            Yet I know that all of it is true

            A strange meeting - to see across the ages

            To feel such a deep compassion

            To be reminded that He loves me

            A strange meeting - to know for certain

            If I had been the only one to save

            He would still have died for me

            A strange meeting  -  too quickly it was over

            Back into the here and now

            Not sure I like reality

            A strange meeting - just when I think it's over

            I look into the here and now

            And see His face

I used to be unsure                              "Well, that sounds okay" I said

So uncertain                                        Why don't you come on in?

Afraid of life                                       What's stopping you?"

Shut up within myself                         The voice replied:

On the inside                                       "The door is bolted -

Looking out                                        On the inside"

I was never sure                                  And I saw that He was right

What was real                                     That I myself was shutting out

And what was just illusion                 The truth and light

I couldn't see                                       So I pulled back the bolt

Bricked up in here                               Opened the door

Behind my wall                                   And let Him in

Sometime, in the distance                   And now that I am truly free

I'd catch a glimpse                              I look around

Of glorious light                                  At all the other prisoners

The truth was there                             Who are still in there

But distorted                                       Shut away behind their walls

By my barriers                                     So sad - so lost

One day I heard a noise                      And I want to break in

Someone knocking                              To make them understand

And found, to my surprise                  Just what it means to be free

That in my wall                                   But I can't reach them

(Unknown to me)                                Their doors are bolted

There was a door                                 On the inside too

At first I took no notice                      Oh listen, all you people

Then I just said                                   Shut in - hidden away

"Why don't you go away?                  When you hear Him knocking

Leave me alone -                                 Don't be frightened

I'm safe shut up                                   Open the door

Alone in here"                                     And let Him set you free!

But then a voice said:

"How can you live

Forever in the dark

If you just let me in

I'll bring you light

And air and love"

I’ve often wondered what it was you wrote

As you knelt there in the dust

When they brought the woman to you

Who was caught in sin and lust

They wanted you to judge her

To say that she should die

To trap you into saying

That forgiveness was a lie

But you turned the tables on them

And they had to walk away

Leaving her forgiven

By the price you’d yet to pay

But I’ve often thought about it

Wondered what those words could be

Perhaps – “No condemnation

For those who put their trust in me”

I sit in my corner                                     Come, child, don't be frightened                      

While my friends are all praying                    I know that you love me

Giving thanks for their gifts                          I will always be with you

Oh Lord - What  about me?                           Come - Walk by my side

I'm lost and I'm lonely                                   If you just give me time    

I'm slipping and sliding                                   And try to obey me

You seem oh so distant                                   I'll supply all your needs

Lord - What about me?                                    Come - Walk by my side

Please make them see me                                 I'll show you the way, child

Make them see that I'm frightened                     To live without rushing

I'm drowning in fear                                          Just ask and I'll give it

Oh Lord - What about me?                                 Come - Walk by my side

I'm scared for my family                                And because of my love

And for my friends                                      And the love that you give me

What if they never know You?                      I will care for your family

Lord - What about them?                              Come - Walk by my side

I know that my life's wrong                            Just pray for your friends

That it's always a bustle                                 And the ones that you love

There never seems time                                  I will pour down my blessings

Lord - Not even for You!                                  Come - Walk by my side

I need to slow down                                    I will show you the way

Need to get off this treadmill                        To give my word to others

But it's going too fast                                    You will glorify me, child

Oh Lord - What about me?                            Come - Walk by my side

You say that we only                                    My child, let the tears flow

Have to ask to be given                                 For tears are so cleansing

So I'm asking - I'm pleading                             Our love's overflowing

Lord - What about me?                                  Welcome to my side