The Gift Of Another Year

As my birthday comes around and I reach the ripe old age of 58, I look back to a few years ago when I never thought I would see 58, or 50, or 45...........

With the diagnosis of cancer, the words, that I have 6 months to a year to live, came as well. So what did I do......I went back to work and finished my day.

With an out pouring of prayers, cards, phone calls and love, and getting my attitude right, life just seemed to look up. At church, my preacher prayed for peace which came immediately. At work, having one of the most stressful jobs there, I just let it go and in one day, the stress was gone. As I went through the chemo and radiation, I grew tired, lost my hair, had mouth sores, colon and kidney problems and felt like......well....you know, but I endured.

Surprisingly, I never saw myself....... DEAD.......
A friend of mine at work said the same thing.
I watched others battling with the same cancer I had, giving up, fading away and yes.... dying, the same fate my doctors expected from me.

But I'm Here.....

So I thank God for this Birthday, just as I have the past few Birthdays, knowing that He is My Healer, He is My Strength, He is My Hope.......

My road is not and has not been an easy one, as my body continues to fight the battle. With some of the struggles over the past few years, it's been hard keeping my attitude in a good place. With the burdens of family, life struggles, the pain in my body and depression kicking in, there have been times that I've just wanted to give up......

But God Never Gave Up On Me......

So........Thank You God for Another Year......

I will continue to follow in your light, finding my hope in you, feeling your arms of love and warmth around me and continue letting you use me.......For You........to make this world a better place, now, and in the years I have to come......


and the Journey Continues.....

A Time To Praise

Working on a couple of praise choruses, I came across an old recording of them and thought I'd share. The recording is not that clear but if gives an idea of the first two choruses in my songbook.......

Enjoy......

Song Of Praise

We sing our praises to You, oh Lord our God most holy
We lift our hands in holy praise to You
For You alone are worthy, to receive power and glory
To You we lift our song of praise

In your presence, we will worship You
Love and adore You in all that we do
Living our lives just to magnify Your name
To You we lift our songs of praise

copyright 2012 Wynn W. Flaming Publishing


Greater Is He

Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world
Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world

And I will stand, yes I will stand
     (yes I will stand yes I will, yes I will stand yes I will)
I will stand on the word of the Lord
And I will stand, yes I will stand
     (yes I will stand yes I will, yes I will stand yew I will)
I will stand on the word of the Lord

copyright 2012 Wynn W. Flaming Publishing

A Moment Of Peace

Leaving the gym this morning, I turned on the radio to my favorite CCM station.  I usually leave the gym, worn out, drained and hurting all over, but driving down the road, this morning, I noticed something different......

I Was At Peace

It was if, the burdens of the world had been lifted, the pain in my gut was gone and the noise in my head had been silenced. It was so unexpected, it took me completely by surprise.

For the first time, in a long time, I felt completely at peace with the world, myself and life.........

The words to the song came to mind by Rich Mullins:

"You have been my King of Glory

  Won't you be my Prince of Peace"

So I took that moment to say.....Thank You Lord, for this special time of peace, for this time to feel Your presence, for this wonderful feeling of joy.

For this unexpected blessing.

and the Journey Continues.....

You Rescue Me

Yep,I'm finally getting the chance to finish my songbook and it's definitely bringing back a few memories of past songs written. It's also giving me a chance to share some for those who haven't heard them and bring back more memories for those who have sung some of these songs and praise choruses with me.....so enjoy.....

"You Rescue Me"

When the darkness falls around me, and the ways come crashing in.

And my life is drifting hopelessly, like a boat against the wind.

You are always there to lead me, in Your strength I can abide.

You alone are there to rescue me.

You rescue me from hidden dangers, when my heart begins to roam.

When the path seems long and weary, You never leave me on my own.

You are always there to lead me, in Your strength I can abide.

You alone are there to rescue me.

You rescue me, rescue me.

You rescue me, rescue me

You are always there to lead me, in Your strength I can abide.

You alone are there to rescue me.

You rescue me, rescue me

You rescue me, rescue me

You rescue me....

copyright 1994 Wynn W. Flaming Publishing

Why Settle

It's seems like in so many areas of life.....our lives in particular.... we settle for what life has given us. Maybe it's circumstances or environment, or maybe it's choices that have been made by us or others.

Hmmmm.....Seems like I've written about this before......

Maybe it's because certain areas of my life have been stuck in a rut, so to speak. I see the changes that need to be made, but I've slipped into the comfortable place of complacency. I like a routine in my life and when that routine is broken, I feel out of sync, a bit frustrated and a bit of an unhappy camper.

I plan the day with new expectations and fulfillment, but slide back into that routine where nothing seems to get done. I settle for another day of the same old same old, wasting another day of opportunities.

I settle..........

I have all the answers as to what needs to be done and what changes need to be made.....but, I settle.......

I blame it on old age or the woes of my body when it's racked with pain and depression......but, I settle.....

I could say that at times I'm just down right lazy.....but, I settle......

I'm settling for a life unfulfilled, a life where dreams are forgotten and plans are left behind.

But why....why do some of us rise above our expectations.....and some of us just settle?

As the song says, "I've Got a New Attitude".... that seems to be part of the answer. But the drive of the heart and spirit, the hard stuff, the getting out of our comfort zone and getting accustomed to being a bit uncomfortable, seems to finish the equation.

So as I write once again, I'm preaching to the choir and I'm the main soloist. It's time to get off of my butt, break my routine, and stop settling for a life of broken dreams and disappointments.

Will I succeed....
Or will I settle.....
What ever the outcome......it's all up to me......


and the Journey continues......

Lord Of All

For some reason I've had this song on my mind a lot lately. I wrote it a few years back.
I didn't have a vocal recording of it but will work on that soon. Here's the computer version......

"Lord Of All"

Lord be the Lord of all I am, and Lord of all I can be
Surround me in love and righteousness, in mercy and truth will You lead
Glory and honor I give to You, worthy the Lamb that was slain
With power and might, in Your holy light
You give life's meaning to me

(Repeat)

Worthy, You are worthy
You are worthy Lord of honor and praise
Worthy, You are worthy
You are worthy Lord of honor and praise

(Repeat)

Of honor and praise
Of honor and praise

copyright 1994 Wynn W. Flaming Publishing

I Choose Life

Seems like a lot of my blogs have been very gloomy lately, so today I offer some Joy.........


I Choose Life.....

I step outside and feel the warmth of the sun on my face
I see the beauty of nature all around with it's splendor and colors
I walk slowly so I don't miss out, taking in all the wonders around me

I breath deeply, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs
I feel the strength of my body
I notice the little signs of age catching up, but I have the joy of feeling those little aches and pains

I catch myself singing, yes singing, feeling that lost passion arise again
I look out and see the woes of the world hidden by the light of God's love
I feel His peace surround me like a warm blanket, shielding me from a cool breeze

I have a roof over my head and food on my table
I have been blessed with friends who care
I live in a town where music is a way of life

I have lost love ones, but have had the chance to have them in my life
I lived a life, blessed with great adventures, journeys and travels
I have dreams and hopes, yet to come, full of limitless possibilities

I know that life is a gift and today, is the first day, of the rest of my life
I can make a difference in this world with my choices, my talents and my heart
I will let God's love shine through me, erasing the darkness

I step outside and feel the warmth of the sun on my face
I breath deeply, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs
I catch myself singing, yes singing, feeling that lost passion arise again
I have a roof over my head and food on my table
I have lost love ones, but have had the chance to have them in my life
I know that life is a gift and today, is the first day, of the rest of my life

I Choose Life.....

Empathy

I don't know if it's possible to have too much empathy for the world around us. Add concern, sympathy and heart and that can lead to a lot of pain in one's life. Thus, I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse.

I tend to let the woes of the world over come me at times, pulling me down, and at times, take the life out of me.

I talk a lot about finding balance in life, probably because that's one of the hardest things for me to do. I look at the world around me and see the woes before I see the victories. I think because of the last few years of pain concerning family situations, it's become my norm. But as Shannon and Lin commented in previous blogs, it's that pain that I have felt that allows me to feel more deeply, the pain of others.

As I look at the political adds, opinions, anger and frustrations, I hurt....wondering why we have forgotten how to be human, show love and compassion and get along.

As I watch the screen above the highways showing 12 more people killed on Tennessee roads today, I hurt.....knowing so many families and friends have lost someone so special in a blink of an eye.

As I watched the couple at the pharmacy, who had walked for miles in the heat from the shelter, only to find that their prescription wouldn't be ready till tomorrow, I hurt....wondering what brought them to that point in their lives and how they must view their world.

As I watch hundreds killed everyday in foreign countries, I hurt.....wondering when will the madness stop.

I realize all these things are a part of life, a part of our journey. I realize we have to take the good and the bad and realize it all makes us who we are.........

But.......
I still struggle to find that balance......
I still struggle to see the joy before the sadness, the good before the bad......
I still struggle to not let my empathy....and sympathy.....and concern.....and heart, take away my own joy and uniqueness, my own purpose and fulfillment, my own hopes and dreams......
I still struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing it's there, just hidden by the darkness.

So I continue my quest to find that balance in life, to not let the hurts take away from my healing, to let laughter fill my voice where no tears seem to flow.
I continue on my Journey of Life, hoping to reach out, to make a difference, to share my heart, to dream of better days and to continue to Live my Life......the Best I Can......