Easter of this year, I posted on Facebook, the lyrics to an old Familiar Hymn, 'He Lives'. In the lyrics, the words 'He walks with me, and talks with me along life's narrow way.' and ending with 'You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.' made me stop and wonder. Can people tell, by looking at my life, that I have a walking and talking relationship with my living savior?

I was convicted that things were too shallow, and I decided to deepen my relationship with my creator and redeemer. I had always marveled at these type experiences when I read about them in books, or heard about them while streaming sermons on YouTube. You know, the time when someone feels a specific leading to do something that you might not understand, only to find out that the other person had prayed, asking God about that very thing, and God used the first person to answer a specific prayer of the second person. I have had these times in my life, (see previous blog from 2/2/15) but I want more. I wanted this to be the 'norm' instead of just on isolated occasions. I wanted a relationship where I would be sensitive to leading of the Holy Spirit, whether he wanted me to share words of testimony or encouragement, or preform acts of kindness or service that were directed and realized by a daily consciousness of walking/talking, seeking/surrendering relationship.

A few days later, as I was having one of these 'appointed' times, I found myself singing 'and He walks with me and He talks with me...' thinking I was singing the portion of the song from 'He Lives', but then realizing as I sang further into the song, that I was singing 'In the Garden.' These are BOTH hymns that I grew up on but I didn't realize they both had lyrics that referenced walking and talking. Right then, I felt a leading to write a song, that encourages me to live life with a walking/talking relationship, as opposed to coming to God, whether daily, or in emergencies only, with a 'wish list' of how I want Him to do things.

You gave the world freewill to choose

Choices made leave no excuse.

Yet for our sin, You paid the price

Your wisdom's sought, I need advice

In times I don’t know what to do,

You want me to ‘abide’ in You

Life gets busy, work goes long

If I don’t plan, my day is gone.

For you my Lord, I’ll make some time

The value You deserve is prime!

I’ll find a place, I’ll feel a prayer

I’ll give You time, I’ll meet You there.

I’ll share my heart, enjoy the bond,

I’ll wait to hear how You’ll respond.

You’ve been waiting all along

To take my ache, and give a song.

I feel Your power. You are strong.

Relief in knowing, I ‘belong’.

I’ll walk with You through all my days.

To You be glory, to You be praise.