Pleasanton Texas
A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
"I cannot praise the Lord in this dark place,"
A child of His cried out in bitter tone,
"How can I praise Him when my heart is torn
And all I've loved is lost and I'm alone?"
And from somewhere there echoed back this phrase,
"Ah, offer Me the sacrifice of praise."
"I've watched my world collapse beyond repair
And every treasured dream has died or fled,
How can I take a tragedy of pain
And try to make a praise of it instead?
My life is but a tangled, tearful maze."
"But there is still the sacrifice of praise."
"How can You ask for praise from broken hearts?
From lives reduced to deserts, bleak and bare?
Oh, You were broken once on Calvary
I cannot think You do not know or care."
"You do not understand My word of ways,
What else could be a sacrifice of praise?
"For out of deserts I will cause a spring
Of life to bless wherever it may flow,
And to the barren waste, a grassy plain
And double pleasure to replace each woe,
But blessed is the one who hears, obeys
And offers first the sacrifice of praise."
COME CHILD OF THE LORD
Come, child of the Lord, so weary tonight
Come to the Father for rest,
Tell Him your troubles and feel His deep love
Lean your tired head on His breast.
Come, child of the Lord, He's waiting for you
Longing to comfort and cheer,
Turn to your Father and rest in His love
He'll soothe away heartache and fear.
Come, child of the Lord, for this is your right
Come into God's presence alone,
Let Him enfold you there close to His heart
Come, child of the Lord, you're His own.
AFTERMATH
I am a thousand and one today
And feeling every year,
There's very little left to say
But each word hides a tear.