Songs from the journey.

Three days after I became a pastor, My world came crashing down. I found myself in a hospital bed, With no answers to be found. I thought I knew the road ahead, I thought I knew my place. But Father had another road, And another way of grace. Three times my heart broke, Three times I faced the pain. Three times my world came falling down, But Father knew my name. He knew the road before me, He knew what lay ahead. Three times my heart broke, But He wasn’t finished yet. I spent my life above the clouds, With the heavens all around. But the day came when my wings were clipped, And my feet were on the ground. Another heart attack had come, And the life I knew was gone. But Father hadn’t lost His way, He was leading me along. Three times my heart broke, Three times I faced the pain. Three times my world came falling down, But Father knew my name. He knew the road before me, He knew what lay ahead. Three times my heart broke, But He wasn’t finished yet. The third time came with winter, And the doctors spoke of odds. They opened up my broken heart, But my life belonged to God. I couldn’t see tomorrow, Or know what lay beyond. But the One who knew my beginning, Had known my ending all along. Three times my heart broke, Three times I faced the pain. Three times my world came falling down, But Father knew my name. He knew the road before me, He knew what lay ahead. Three times my heart broke, But He wasn’t finished yet. Now I sit and watch the sunsets, And I praise Him through the day. The world I knew has faded, And the years have slipped away. I’ve walked a long and winding road, And there’s little left to roam. I’m waiting for the Father, To take this lonely man home. Three times my heart broke, Three times I faced the pain. Three times my world came falling down, But Father knew my name. He knew the road before me, He knew what lay ahead. Three times my heart broke, But He wasn’t finished yet. Three times my heart broke, Three times I faced the pain. Three times my world came falling down, But Father knew my name. He knew the road before me, He knew what lay ahead. Three times my heart broke, But He wasn’t finished yet. Three times my heart broke, But He wasn’t finished yet. And when His work is finished, He’ll take this lonely man home.

The sun was sinking in the west, the prairie turning gold, An old man watched the distant hills, remembering days of old. He'd traveled many winding trails, through sunshine, wind, and rain, And wondered why the road of life held so much grief and pain. Then somewhere in the evening wind, a Voice began to speak, Not from the mountains far away, but somewhere still and deep. "I know the trails that you have walked, the places you have been, I knew you long before your birth, and I will see your journey's end." Ride on, ride on, the morning's drawing near, Beyond the darkest valley, there's a Voice that you will hear. No trail shall last forever, no child shall be unknown, For the One who gave us life will bring His children home. He saw a thousand riders then, upon a distant plain, Some riding through the sunshine, some struggling through the rain. Some wandered through the wilderness, some stumbled in the night, But every road they traveled lay beneath their Father's sight. And some were being humbled, while others learned to hear, Some had yet to understand the Voice that drew them near. The journey was not finished, nor the lessons fully known, But the One who made the riders had a purpose of His own. Ride on, ride on, the morning's drawing near, Beyond the darkest valley, there's a Voice that you will hear. No trail shall last forever, no child shall be unknown, For the One who gave us life will bring His children home. The old man asked, "And what of those who've wandered far away? Those whose hearts have hardened, who've never learned to pray?" The Voice replied, "They're children still, though they have yet to see, The trials they are passing through will teach them more of Me." "For every child has his own time, and every field its grain, Some first must know the wilderness, some first must feel the rain. But I have not forgotten them, nor left them on their own, And I will keep on teaching till the last one has come home." Ride on, ride on, beyond the setting sun, The night is not forever, and the journey's not yet done. The Father knows His children, and He calls them each His own, And the heavens will rejoice when the last rider comes home.

I used to fear the judgment, I used to fear the flame. I thought that God was angry, And I would bear the blame. They told me fire meant torment, A place where hope would die. But Father showed me something, That opened up my eyes. I read about His mercy, I read about His love. And how He brings correction, Not anger from above. The fire wasn't made to end me, Or leave me in despair. It burns away what's hurting me, And shows me Father's care. Through the fire, through the flame, My Father calls my name. Through the fire, through the pain, He brings me home again. Oh, the fire, let it burn, There's a lesson I must learn. Won't leave me in the flame, He'll bring me home again. The gold must pass through fire, Before its beauty shines. The branches need their pruning, Before they bear the vine. A father loves his children, And corrects them when they stray. He doesn't turn His back on them, He leads them all the way. The child may fear the discipline, And never understand. Why love would bring correction, From a Father's gentle hand. But when the work is finished, And the lessons all are learned, The child will see the Father's love, In every place He turned. Through the fire, through the flame, My Father calls my name. Through the fire, through the pain, He brings me again. Oh, the fire, let it burn, There's a lesson I must learn. Won't leave me in the flame, He'll bring me home again. The nations face His judgment, And every knee shall bow. The things that men have trusted, Will all come tumbling down. But judgment has a purpose, And correction has an end. The One who made creation, Will make all things right again. Through the fire, through the flame, My Father calls my name. Through the fire, through the pain, He brings me once again. Oh, the fire, let it burn, There's a lesson I must learn. Won't leave me in the flame, He'll bring me home once again. When Your judgments fill the earth, The people learn what's right. When You bring us through the darkness, You are leading us to light. Not a child will be forgotten, Not a harvest left undone. For the Father knows the ending, And He's bringing home each one. Through the fire, through the flame, My Father calls my name. Through the fire, through the pain, He brings me back again. Oh, the fire, let it burn, There's a lesson I must learn. Won't leave me in the flame, He'll bring me home again. Through the fire, through the flame, My Father calls my name. Through the fire, through the pain, He brings me back again. Oh, the fire, let it burn, There's a lesson I must learn. Won't leave me in the flame, He'll bring me home again.