The Cry of the Depressed - The Hope of the Redeemed

A cloud has descended
damp, heavy,
with unease and fear,
longing
for the sweetness
for the assuring nod of the Father's Touch.
Distant memories of His Presence
bring no satisfaction,
for they are but distant.
A breakdown in routine,
the snow, the ice, bone-chilling winds.
Hunched over in body and soul.
Heavy-lidded, muscles tensed.
Please, God, be not distant.
No more.
I need You
to smooth me out,
to make supple my mind and limbs,
to pour drops in my eyes to clear the mist
to sparkle in Your radiance.
Heart, soul and mind longs
to be thawed and warmed in Your Presence.
Soul satisfied.
O God, let that ominous cloud
be transformed into that cloud
which so often wrapped up Your glory
and filled the temple.
Let Your glory fall in this Your temple
today, Lord,
In me.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (The Message)

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

Genesis 1: 2-3 (The Message)

2.Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. 3. God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared.

Father, may Your love dissipate the murkiness of our minds. Speak light into our darkness. Fill our our void with Your Spirit. Thank You that You indeed are our HOPE!

Jimmy Cliff - I Can See Clearly Now

(Click title to see/hear song performed)

I can see clearly now,

the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds

that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now,

the pain is gone

All of the bad feelings have disappeared

Here is the rainbow

I've been prayin' for

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

Look all around,

there's nothin' but blue skies

Look straight ahead,

nothin' but blue skies

I can see clearly now,

the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Here is the rainbow

I've been prayin' for

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

It's gonna be a bright (bright),

bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day

He Reigns - Newsboys

(Click title to listen)

It's the song of the redeemed,

rising from the African plain

It's the song of the forgiven,

drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers,

filled with God's holy fire

It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation,

a love song borne of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singing

glory, glory, hallelujah,

he reigns

Let it rise above the four winds,

caught up in the heavenly sound

Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals,

to the faithful gathered on the ground

Of all the songs sung since the dawn of creation,

some were meant to persist

Of all the bells on a thousand steeples,

none rings truer than these

It's all God's children singing

glory, glory, hallelujah,

he reigns

And all the powers of darkness

tremble at what they've just heard

Because all the powers of darkness

can't drown out a single word

When all God's children sing,

glory, glory, hallelujah,

he reigns

It's all God's people singing glory, glory,

hallelujah, he reigns!