this is why i blog.

I walk the streets of London
and notice in the faces passing by
something that makes me stop and listen
My heart grows heavy with the cry
Where is the hope for London
You whisper and my heart begins to soar
as I’m reminded every street in London is Yours

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda
I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading
and they’re waiting for a cure no one can find
And I hear children’s voices singing
of a God who heals and rescues and restores
and I’m reminded that every child in Africa is Yours

It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor
and it’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
You’re the maker and keeper, Father and ruler of everything
It’s all Yours

I walk the sidewalks of Nashville
like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai
I brush by the beggar’s hand and the wealthy man
and everywhere I look I realize
Just like the streets of London
for every man and woman, boy and girl
All of creation, this is our Father’s world

It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor
and it’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
You’re the maker and keeper, Father and ruler of everything

It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God

The glory is Yours, God
All the honor is Yours, God
The power is Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God
You’re the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords

And it’s all Yours God, Yours God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor
And it’s all Yours God, Yours God
Everything is Yours
All the greatness and power, the glory and splendor and majesty
Everything is Yours
It’s all Yours

It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God

It’s all Yours, God (my life is Yours)
It’s all Yours, God (my heart is Yours)
It’s all Yours, God (my hands and my feet)
It’s all Yours, God (every song that I sing)

It’s all Yours, God (all gifts are Yours)
It’s all Yours, God (all our dreams are yours)
It’s all Yours, God (all our plans are Yours, God)
It’s all Yours, God (this whole earth is Yours, God)

It’s all Yours, God (everything is Yours)
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God (everything is Yours)
It’s all Yours, God

I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you.

- Steven Curtis Chapman, "Yours" (new verse)

insert your city in the top verse, insert your heartbreak and hope where it fits, insert your valleys and fears in the end. my friends, i pray that you can say with certainty and peace, we are Yours Jesus & it's all Yours Jesus.

this year, I've spent a lot of time repeating and meditating on this verse:

Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things,
and in him all things hold together

It's all by him and for him.

I hope my silly attempt to blog my thoughts and passions is for him too.

I am his.