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1. |
Motions In The Darkness
03:59
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I’ve spent a lifetime searching for my long elusive dreams
Stopping now and then to earn some honest pay
Running through the half-light of the wilderness it seems like
All I’m following are only shades of gray.
As I reach into the misty night no substance do I find
Just illusions of the dreams that fate denies
Yet I keep pushing onward for I know that they are there
But my dreams are wearing such a fine disguise.
But all I see are motions in the darkness faded colors in the shadows
Seeming all too real to me yet so hard to discern
Barely revealed and then quickly concealed again
Stirring something deep within me leaving nothing in return
Somewhere between the heart and mind there lies a hidden space
Where I know that I must find a common thread
But all the things I know are real get lost among the traces
Of the dreams I keep pursuing just ahead
A dreamer’s often called a fool who’s never satisfied
In the search for something that might never be
But I could never end the quest or let the chase subside
It’s the dreams I have that set my spirit free.
But they’re just motions in the darkness faded colors in the shadows
Seeming all too real to me yet so hard to discern
Barely revealed and then quickly concealed again
Stirring something deep within me leaving nothing in return
Friends along the way keep asking “Has it been worth it,
Ain’t there something that you’d rather seek instead?”
Well even if today should be my last day on earth
I’ll go down believing that there’s still some dreams ahead.
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2. |
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They gathered on the river bank to hear the word the Baptist said
As he stood there in the cloudy rolling stream
“Repent”, he said, “and be baptized and all will be forgiven.
In this muddy water you can be made clean.
But there is one who’s coming who can wash away our sins
Not with water, but the spirit from above.
And though we are unworthy he will freely take us in,
For he is the sign of God’s unending love.”
“And he will fill us with his spirit, heal us with his water,
The Master walks among us now to deliver you and me.
He will wash away our sins forever, walk beside us as we wander,
He will let our captive hearts be free.”
The moment John saw Jesus he said “There’s the Lamb of God!”
John said to him “Lord you baptize me!”
But Jesus answered “John, you know it has to be this way.
For there are things that even you can’t see.”
And as the water touched him the sky began to clear
God’s spirit fell upon his as a dove.
A voice said “Now behold my son in whom I’m very pleased,
For he’s my gift to you to show my love”.
Now, Lord, please fill us with your spirit, heal us with your water
As with Jesus at the Jordan, let your spirit fall on me.
Wash my sins away forever, walk beside me as I wander.
Let your dove descend on me.
In the miracle of water, in the cleansing of the soul,
In the moment that our spirit is restored
The Lamb of God who freely bore the sins of all the world
Has paid the price that we could not afford, that I could not afford.
Now, Lord, please fill us with your spirit, heal us with your water
As with Jesus at the Jordan, let your spirit fall on me.
Wash my sins away forever, walk beside me as I wander.
Let your dove descend on me.
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3. |
Sea Breeze
04:16
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Three days ago in a port somewhere after spending so long on this boat
I finally had the chance to rest my feet and read the letters that you wrote
The scent of your perfume drifted across my face as I sat in a gentle wind
And as I read each line more and more I wished this journey was at an end.
But soon I’ll be home and I can’t wait to take you in my arms again.
And as I gaze back across the open sea I can’t remember anyplace I’ve been,
‘Cause a moment ago I could swear I caught your perfume on the sea breeze,
And it won’t be long until I hold you close again.
Now we’re closer to home, two more days to go, and the yearning’s getting strong.
And it’s clear to me that this big old sea just ain’t the place where I belong.
I’ve been around the world a dozen times I guess, but this trip will be my last.
Though I’ve said the same thing a time or two before, this time I’m holding fast.
For soon I’ll be home and I can’t wait to take you in my arms again.
And as I gaze back across the open sea I can’t remember anyplace I’ve been,
‘Cause a moment ago I could swear I caught your perfume on the sea breeze,
And it won’t be long until I hold you close again.
Maybe it’s just these old love letters I keep here in my pocket,
Maybe it’s just old memories of being home,
But a moment ago I could swear I caught your perfume on the sea breeze,
And I miss you more than you could ever know,
Yes I miss you more than you could ever know.
Now the homeport’s in view and we’ll soon lay to and I can step out on the dry land.
And I know then I’ll be with you again and I can’t wait to hold your hand.
Then I see you waving through the morning mist, and I forget all about the high seas
And just a moment ago I could swear I caught your perfume – on the sea breeze.
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4. |
Separate Houses
03:56
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He goes out to meet her one Saturday evening
To work out a detail or two
Now he knows that it’s ending, there’ll be no more pretending.
They tried such a long time to hold on to promises
That always just seemed to fall through
Now there’s no more believing, ‘cause they’ll soon be leaving
For separate houses and dreams long forgot
Two separate people with heartbreak they bought
At the high cost of watching their love go for nought
Seems like it was over a long time ago.
What happens when two people realize they don’t feel
The same as they did once before?
There’s a part of him dying, and there’s no use in trying
To blow on the coals with the hope of rekindling
The flame that was there once before
And the hardest part’s knowing that they’ll soon be going
To separate houses and dreams long forgot
Two separate people with heartbreak they bought
At the high cost of watching their love go for nought
And they realize it was over a long time ago.
There once was a time when they swore love was blind
But too soon they discovered it’s also unkind.
Now they’ll soon be leaving each other behind
It was over a long time ago.
Separate houses and dreams long forgot,
Two separate people with heartbreak they bought
There’s a price you must pay when your love goes for nought
And you realize it was over a long time ago.
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5. |
Never Time
04:44
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Building his own bridges just so he could burn them
Laying down his own tracks just so he could turn them
The path of least resistance is the only one he knows
Seize the day but take no prisoners, that’s the way life goes.
In the quest to gain the forest there’s no time to see the trees
Or to know life’s simple pleasures like a gentle autumn breeze
Or the soft voice of a woman or the laughter of a child
Overtones from the NeverTime that he can’t reconcile.
NeverTime, the sad remains of hopes and dreams misplaced
Fleeting glimpses, shadows of a lifetime lived in haste.
Passing through the NeverTime he comes to understand
The minutes come, the hours go, then the glass runs out of sand.
Letting so much time slip through impatient fingers,
A thousand words he leaves unsaid to those he can’t seem to remember.
Never time for taking time to find the reason or the rhyme
The path he’s chosen led him through the NeverTime.
NeverTime, the sad remains of hopes and dreams misplaced
Fleeting glimpses, shadows of a lifetime lived in haste.
Passing through the NeverTime he comes to understand
The minutes come, the hours go, then the glass runs out of sand.
The walls he built around him reach a mile into the sky
Too thick for any crack or breach, too high to overfly.
Building his own bridges just so he could burn them
Laying down his own tracks just so he could turn them.
Never time for taking time to find the reason or the rhyme,
The road that he chose led him through the NeverTime.
NeverTime, the sad remains of hopes and dreams misplaced
Fleeting glimpses, shadows of a lifetime spent in haste.
Passing through the NeverTime he comes to understand
That as the lifeline comes unwound…
The minutes come, the hours go, then the glass runs out of sand.
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6. |
Mystery
06:03
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Just a lost and lonely soul seeking a direction in the
Wilderness of life and finding none;
Always seeking straighter paths but constantly returning
To the crooked avenue where I’d begun.
Then I felt the touch of someone gently on my heart,
All at once I knew I’d found my way.
God’s love is a mystery that I can never understand
Though I was a slave to fear and doubt He set me free;
God’s love is a mystery, so hard for me to comprehend;
That He could sacrifice his only Son for an undeserving sinner like me.
As I wander through life’s journey, I still feel the hand of someone
There who gently leads me down the road.
Just when it seems all hope is fading the loving hand of God is there
To calm my fears and help me bear the load.
Never failing always there when darkness shrouds the path,
Shining light that never fades away.
God’s love is a mystery that I can never understand
Though I was a slave to fear and doubt He set me free;
God’s love is a mystery, so hard for me to comprehend;
That He could sacrifice his only Son for an undeserving sinner like me.
What have I ever done and Lord what could I do
To earn the love you freely give to me?
I can feel His loving hand and hear His gentle voice,
But still it’s hard for me to understand.
God’s love is a mystery that I can never understand
Though I was a slave to fear and doubt He set me free
God’s love is a mystery, so hard for me to comprehend
That He could sacrifice his only Son for a sinner like me.
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7. |
A Song for Ellen
05:06
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Always knew there'd come a time I'd fall in love again,
Never knew it'd happen quite this way;
All that I was searching for was hidden in your eyes,
You became a part of me that day.
To me you’re like a morning on a lovely summer day,
A golden beam of sunshine in my eyes;
You always know the things to say to make me feel okay,
Your love for me's not hard to recognize.
It wasn't hard to figure out that loving you was right;
I'd tried love before; it never was more
Than a crash back to earth from some lofty height.
But ever since your eyes met mine, I knew it had to be;
You gave me your hand, now I'll do what I can
To keep you here with me.
Stay beside me if you will, forever and a day,
Let me take you places you've never been;
And at the start of each new day just look into my eyes
And you will see me fall in love again.
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8. |
Breath of Your Spirit
03:50
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From the Father above it came down like a dove
And it rested on all who came to hear
Gathered together in perfect harmony
Those first believers felt the Holy Spirit near.
With a rushing of wind it began to descend
‘Til it filled every soul in that space
Through wind and fire the Holy Spirit came
In that Feast of the First Fruits, in that moment of grace.
Come Holy Spirit, come Holy Spirit
Show us visions of your glory as we gather in this place
Let us all breathe the breath of your spirit
Fill us with your presence, let us know the wonder of your grace.
In this house of the Lord where we’re all in one accord
Lord, we pray for that presence that they knew
Show us wonders of heaven through your signs on the earth
Let your sweet holy spirit shine through.
As we celebrate here may our hearts be sincere
May we all know your spirit so sweet
Let us hear your voice in ways we understand
Let us go out and share it with everyone we meet.
Come Holy Spirit, come Holy Spirit
Let us feel your rushing wind and see your tongues aflame.
Let us all breathe the breath of your spirit
Fill us with your presence as we gather in your name.
Come Holy Spirit, come Holy Spirit
Show us visions of your glory as we gather in this place
Let us all breathe the breath of your spirit
Fill us with your presence, let us know the wonder of your grace.
Let us know the wonder of your grace.
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9. |
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Out upon a hillside overlooking Bethlehem
Sits a band of shepherds keeping watch while daylight quickly dims
So the flock will not be scattered they must put aside their sleep
And though they’re tired and dirty they must tend the master’s sheep.
Late that night the vigil took an unexpected turn
At first the sound of music faint gave no cause for concern
But as the voices louder grew fatigue turned into fear
The shepherds’ hearts began to pound as the music filled their ears.
A host of angels from on high gave tidings to the lowly,
“A Child is born, you must go and see the Son of God most holy.”
Three men of vision on a journey driven by a star
Men of wealth and noble stature, some say kings they are
Searching for a different king whose coming was foretold
Bearing precious gifts of myrrh, of frankincense and gold.
These wise men closely watched the star and traveled by its light
Stopping every now and then to find out what they might
And after many days they finally found their journey’s end
The star had come to rest above a shed in Bethlehem.
Men of vision, men of wealth had found the newborn King
They worshiped him and knew it was of him the angels sing.
Kings and shepherds, come and worship, one and all
Kings and shepherds, weak or mighty, great or small
Jesus was born in a cattle shed, Mary laid him in a manger bed
Heaven bids us welcome now where kings and shepherds bow.
A child is born in Bethlehem who awaits our visit now
Kings and shepherds, princes, servants, all before him bow
He is the child whose birth was promised, “God with us” his name
Kings and shepherds, all are welcome, we are all the same.
Kings and shepherds, come and worship, one and all
Kings and shepherds, weak or mighty, great or small
Jesus was born in a cattle shed, Mary laid him in a manger bed
Heaven bids us welcome now where kings and shepherds bow.
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Michael Stephen Ellis Bedford, Texas
Michael lives in the Fort Worth, Texas area. He has been a member of various bands over the years. His band Eli Michaels had a regular following in the early 1980's. Since then he has written and performed mostly as a solo act. In 2006 he began writing songs with a Christian theme along with others of a purely secular nature, but all of his songs tend to have a personal connection. ... more
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