Author Archives: Brian

The Bitter Dark, The Coming Light

So let us be like the birds who sing amidst the Darkness
Let us carry their song till the coming of the Day
For it is His love that lifts our hearts to praise
As it is His power that lifts the sun to blaze.

And yet amidst this dark there is much to suffer
As Night seems to rule this present hour

Great pain and loss are our closest companions
Doubt and regret are our right and left hands
They seem to walk with us shadowing the Way
Stealing our joy and turning it to weeping
Stealing our breath from the song we’re to sing
Oh LORD we await the coming of Your Day

The Abyss cries out in the lack of Your presence
The shadows condemn us and we begin to fade

Tripping and stumbling trading walking for crawling
Wishing to be running so tired of falling

We remember O LORD when our legs were strong
Marching with the saints amidst Your mighty throng
We remember O LORD and it brings bitterness
Looking at now while we’re in the thick of this

Remind us O LORD of the strength that comes from You
Give us this strength for we long for what is true

We are laid low by the lives we have lived
And sometimes it wasn’t us but the things this world did
Sometimes O LORD we feel like Job
Abandoned by You and left alone in the cold

These waters they continue to rise
Above our chins they seek our demise

If we can’t turn to You where else do we go?
No one else has power like You
Not in Heaven, Earth, or Below

And then we hear them like distant stars in the sky
Little voices singing like the angels on high

Their voices gather into a chorus
And we see Light coming up before us

It begins as a glow awestruck we wait
Then it begins to grow and the Light becomes too great
The sky is filled with red like the blood that was shed
Behold! The waters around us recede and the Darkness has fled

The colors dazzle our eyes
and the warmth brings joy to our souls
We forget the days of our weeping
We leave behind those days of old
But we remember those little voices
that sang amidst the cold
Giving birth to the hope in our hearts
the coming of Christ foretold.

So let us be like the birds who sing amidst the Darkness
Let us carry their song till the coming of the Day
For it is His love that lifts our hearts to praise
As it is His power that lifts the sun to blaze.

-Brian Carter

Reading the Gospels

Been reading the Gospels to my kids as they fall asleep and a verse, one that hits me whenever I read it but forget about it when I’m done, hit me again tonight and I want to make note of it. Mark 5:17-18

“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.”

Two kinds of begging back to back. One for Him to leave, one to go with Him. Books could be written and probably have been of why the first group would want Him to leave, and common sense explains the latter. But to me, its Jesus’ response that smacks me because its a bit opposite of what I’d expect. He actually fulfills the first request but denies the second. Huh?

Could it be that Jesus knew the Garasene demoniac, I’ll call him Steve, would have more success than the Son of God in that area? That’s just weird to me. But it makes me think, who has God put in my life that only I can reach, only my story could have the effect needed to bring them to Jesus. If even He Himself were here, it wouldn’t be enough to open the door.

But He gives us that honor and He waits inside, arms open wide.

Blows My Mind 6

A Scripture that blows my mind- Matthew 7:22-23

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I (Jesus) will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”

Its a bit humbling to know that even the people that Jesus will kick out of the Kingdom have done such things as I have never experienced.

Blows My Mind 5

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:12 NIV

Greater than walking on water, healing the sick, feeding multitudes, blind receiving sight, lame walking, demons fleeing, raising people from the dead etc.? Sign me up.

Yes, another Scripture that blows my mind.

-Brian

Blows My Mind 4

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Another passage I can read a million times and still be blown away. I think its remarkable that Peter pretty much invited himself to Jesus’ party on the water. Jesus didn’t say, “No Peter, only us holy people can be out here.” No veil with Jesus, no separation, we are only limited by the desires of our heart.

Blows My Mind 3

I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Mark 11:23

I can read this a million times and still be blown away. I’m taking this as a “for real” mountain, not just the figurative ones we like to use this passage for. Mainly because a “for real” mountain beats a “figurative” mountain any day.

-Brian

Blows My Mind 1

The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot.

Acts 23:12-13

I wonder what went through their heads when they saw the 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen that accompanied Paul that night…

Rhythm, Time, Anthem, Rhyme

LORD
keep us in step with Your Spirit
unite us in the common rhythm of love, Your rhythm for You are love
guide us in the common time of faith, for we trust in You
fulfill us in the common anthem of hope, for You are our hope
unbind us in Your common rhyme, for Your rhyme is truth
and Your truth sets us free

May the pounding hooves of the horses on the prairie
May the crashing ocean’s waves and the wonder they create
May the quake of the earth and the eeriness of the quiet
draw us nearer to You.

-Brian

A Pauper’s Prayer, an Insult, a Joke, or Something More?

Its funny to me the reactions I get toward my cd title. It reminds me of the chapel services I used to lead at GLCC. After almost each one I would have some students thank me while other students would tell me how I offended them. The last few reactions I’ve had toward my cd have had a similar split. I had one guy read it who was obviously rich (or in serious debt and denial), laughed and just kept walking. Another fellow picked it up, read “prayer, and sinner” in the song titles and became offended and said, “I don’t like to talk about those things,” and promptly walked away. “Who does?” I thought to myself. And still I’ve had others thank me for the music and the honesty.

I was thinking of the guy who got offended and the Spirit whispered something- Probably the most devastating claim to the evangelization of the Gospel, especially in a culture that worships “self”, is that we are sinners and that we need Someone greater than us.

It is a tough pill to swallow, but the side effects are blessings. We have the opportunity to become something more than what we could make of ourselves. We take part in a greater cause than recycling, feeding the poor, or world peace, because with Him we are dealing with the eternal.

I want to run down this path even if I am an insult to some and a joke to others, because I serve a God who makes water into wine, who takes a meager meal and feeds thousands. My God makes paupers rich.

God bless,

Brian