No Matter The Cost – Poem

The end has come

No wonder I feel so numb

I worked so hard to comfort her

But in the end Lord you knew what would occur

I gave her every bit of strength I had

Lord You used me to be her launching pad

Teach her about the faith & life

I am thankful You made her my wife

I never thought we would be compatible

But some how You made everything translatable

So now I walk alone

I clenched her hand to the bone

Never wanted to let go

Her smile always had a glow

But God I know it is time to shut the door

Yesterday you brought me back to the shore

Reminded me of all the fun I once had

Told me again don’t be sad

For I know the plans you have for me

You continue to open my eyes to see

That today is a gift for all to receive

So open it & no longer grieve

Take what I have in front of you

I have come to pull you through

Nothing can stand against His will

So as I stand still

I am reminded that God wants to use me

We are called to set His people free

Don’t let the dark cloud block your joy

He has something better in store

Throughout this cancer journey I have seen

How we can get caught up in a smoke screen

Thinking that everything revolves around us

When really God is doing His math which is a plus

Adding us to the lives of others who have no clue

Showing them that God’s word is true

Even when they choose to yell and scream

The Lord can come to them in a dream

Yet again Lord I cry out to be a tool

Help me as I go back to school

Allow me to be open when You need

Help me expose those who try to mislead

Always pointing people back to You

Continue to do whatever it takes to renew

My mind, body, & spirit

So I can tell the world all about it

The gospel that saves

Because You have

Your life no matter the cost

To save all that are lost. ✝️

Copyright KNG Music 2020

Praise First Publishing

Right Now, I Wait On You…

How do you pick up pieces that were never meant to be broken? How do you find what was lost? We had something so special and now I am just me, without my special half, holding on to God because I don’t have much else. Waking down a path that very few have walked before. Waiting on God to give me a new purpose, a new direction, ready to start a new chapter, whatever that looks like. I don’t want to stand still in pain. Deliver me oh Lord, take me to a new place, a deeper place, a place of comfort and peace again. I need to know there is more for me. I want to be used again and not just sit on the sidelines. Help me to understand the whys because is saving the life of others worth more than hers? So many questions that truly swirl in my head. The enemy wants to attack and hold me down but I know that God has something bigger in store. How long do I wait? How long do I seek? This pain has left its stain on me. Cleanse me oh Lord, wash me and make me new. Give me a heart of compassion. Right now, I wait on You…

When The Light Goes Out – Poem

What is done

Can’t be undone

How do you handle

Her light blown out like a candle

No longer here for me to see

She has been set free

Free from pain that bound

Death chased her like a hound

She fought long & hard like a soldier

This life she tried to carry on her shoulders

When the pain was too much

She couldn’t handle even my soft touch

A woman sworn to live by her vow

Cancer hit her with a POW 💥

Her strength removed like Samson

Unable to walk outside in the sun

We cried together many nights

Wondering how long we would have to fight

Cancer doesn’t care about your age

It doesn’t care if you make a living wage

It attacks the body with a vengeance

Looking for every compromised entrance

Oh God, oh God, death where is your sting

With Christ there is no more suffering

What was lost

Jesus paid that cost

So now she is restored

No more hurting vocal cords

Singing praises to the King

Death you really did lose that sting

I know that one day soon

I shall rise up like a balloon

For now I sit and wait

Until God reopens the gate

Copyright © 2020 KNG Music and Praise First Publishing

You Won’t See My Tears – Poem

You won’t see my tears

Doesn’t mean they disappeared

I fight hard to remain strong

Even when things feel so wrong

My heart breaks

That I can’t fake

God is my only root

Even my only parachute

I can’t jump without Him

The world is so dim

When He is not around

Because of Him I have been found

Now isn’t that profound

A God that lifts me off the ground

No matter how much I say

I can never find the words to repay

For all my sins have been taken

Since that day that I was awaken

From such a deep sleep

I was probably counting sheep

But sin has met its end

There is no need to pretend

I opened the door & let Jesus in

To wash away my sin

Help me to claim victory & the win

God just tell me when

I stand at attention waiting

No more debating

No more procrastinating

Jesus send me out

Help me to remove all doubt

Teach me to proclaim & shout

Water my soul & remove the drought

So I can pour out

And run about

The Lord still heals

That is how I feel

Maybe not when you say so

But it is His timing you know

Continue to pray

No matter what others say

Hold me close Lord

I am excited to see what’s in store

Maybe not today

But soon You will pave the way

Never let me stray

I need more of You today

Copyright 2020 KNG Music & Praise First Publishing

Until The Sun Sets And Is Gone…

You don’t think I care

When all you see is my blank stare

You think I don’t understand

But really my life is crammed

You don’t think I love you

But really that just ain’t true

You don’t think I listen

But your smile just seems to glisten

I look at your face

And I am thankful for God’s grace

You don’t think anyone feels what you do

But when you hurt, I do too

Your disease does not define you

Jesus Christ will pull you through

Your Bible is a tool

Those who ignore it are fools

Take a moment to get lost in His word

God is still speaking, haven’t you heard

Turn off the noise around you

Turn up the God inside you

Don’t let hope fade away

It’s the enemy that wants you to stray

Get back in the fight

Your future is looking really bright

Many have already succumbed to defeat

But with God you can’t be beat

I know I know it sounds too good

Your pain is real & shouldn’t be misunderstood

I never said it would be easy

I can’t even count all the times you’ve been queasy

Sickness has become a daily struggle

I try to comfort you with my snuggle

Pain

Pours down like rain

With no end in sight

How can any of this be right

But what is the real reason

That God has you stuck in this season

Is it to reach others who hurt

Who have been kicked down & left in the dirt

You see there is no way for you to comprehend

Really when this storm will end

So instead I implore you

Walk with me, I really adore you

Together with Christ we shall press on

Until the sun sets & is gone

For today we have what we need

For tomorrow there is no longer a guarantee…

God Can Use Your Battles

What if you inspired thousands of people? What if your suffering opened the eyes to thousands of God’s mercy? No one wants to ever suffer, but what if God was using your story, your suffering, your pain to show others around you that He is still healing, supplying for your needs, and moving on your behalf?

I wish my wife wasn’t sick. I wish my wife never had to feel pain. I wish my wife was able to sing God’s praises every day. I miss the days that my bride would have music playing all day at the house and just singing along with the radio.

Many have asked me, “if I had to walk this journey again would I?” I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt I would most definitely walk this journey over and over again if God asked me to do so. Why you ask? Because seeing God move repeatedly through these battles is like the moment that doubting Thomas saw the hands of Christ. Our journey doesn’t bring doubt but instead brings more faith.

We serve an amazing God that has no limits. My eyes have seen God deliver on our behalf over and over again. I implore you to get right with God. Stop being half in and fully submit to the Lord. Your current life will change, doors will open, and God will use YOU to do amazing things through Christ.

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Are you ready?

Why Are Christian Leaders Walking Away?

Can I be honest with you for a moment? Will you take some time to put yourself in my shoes?

My parents raised me well, and took me to Church almost every Sunday. We attended an Assembly of God church. I remember getting saved when I was just 6-years-old.

Why do we get so caught up in seeing these big-named pastors and songwriters that are walking away from their faith? Does their faith have any real bearing on your faith? If their beliefs have control of your walk with Christ, then you are not living a Christ-centered life.

I gave you some short background on me because I can understand how easy it is to walk away; I have walked that dark road. I am not going to try and justify anything that these leaders are doing or saying, but instead I will share what happened in my life.

From my younger years up through high school, I was very active in my church. I did “Royal Rangers” as a kid, went on missions trips with my youth group, but then came college.

I went away for college which was about four hours from home. I tried to find a church; I visited several but none of them felt right. I couldn’t find what I was looking for and life decided to take over and occupy my time.

I walked away from my faith. I cut God out of my life, I didn’t make any time for Him. I can tell you that I bought my first house at the age of 20 years old, had a new car, had a good job, had my first son, and yet when I walked away from God, all of those things fell apart. I had everything the world tells you that you need and yet I was more empty than before.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Satan’s best way to distract you from what God wants is to occupy your time and entertain you with life. Satan doesn’t care about your future, but God truly does. Don’t let the enemy distract you from what God has called you to do.

I can’t stand here and say I can’t believe these men have walked away from their faith when I know I have done the same thing in my past. I can tell you that with praying parents, I may have walked away, but I came back after realizing how much I gave up by walking away.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

As Christians, we can fall into a trap and believe that the road ahead will be easier but the truth is that it becomes much harder. It is easy to be of the world, but it takes work to be Christ-centered. The word of God helps us to understand how to adjust what we focus on.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

What I failed to realize as a young Christian was that I was going through the motions and that I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. It wasn’t until I was 32 years old that I decided to let go of control and trust the Lord completely. When I did that, I found my walk with the Lord. Before then, I didn’t realize that there was or even could be more to being a Christian.

Through my trials and tribulations with my wife’s cancer journey, we have seen God provide and move mountains for us. If we never choose to go deeper with the Lord, how can we expect to build a strong foundation that can’t be toppled in a storm? We have to be willing to seek Him out.

As for those that have walked away, I implore you to pray for them. God’s timing and plan for each of us has different paths. Let our prayers be united in asking the Lord to soften their hearts and open their eyes to His truth.

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:24

The prodigal son can return home; we need to pray that he does.

But God…

Everyone asks me, “how do you press on?” How do you manage all of that stress?” “I can’t believe how much you are doing? Is it all worth it?”

My life hasn’t always been easy. I have been through many trials and pain. I have been through a divorce more than once. My first wife left because she missed her family and wanted to be closer to them. My second wife had an affair and through a DNA test, I found out that my daughter is not my little girl. I was ready to give up and throw it all away, but God.

Now many of you know that my wife Kristeen has stage 4 lung cancer. When she was first diagnosed, the doctor gave us maybe 6 months to a year left. I had finally found a bride that completed me and due to life’s circumstances, it felt like my happiness was going to be ripped away. Tomorrow will make 22 months since we started this cancer battle. Plenty of times I felt like the end was near, but God.

Satan is a liar; he wants to prey on your fears. Time and time again, God has shown up and brought the healing into my wife’s body. I can’t wait until the day that I can say Kristeen is cancer free. That is a difficult concept to comprehend when the doctors give you a death sentence, but God.

We have seen God show up when Kristeen had 4 cancer spots in her brain. The doctors were able to treat them and they haven’t shown up again on anymore scans. We have seen spots show up in Kristeen’s liver and through prayer we have also seen that go away. The cancer was up and down her spine and all over her pelvis yet the treatments have killed all the lesions. I can go on and on about what God has done. It was in those moments that I had to surrender it all to God because I had no control that God made Himself known. When all hope appeared to be lost… but God.

Kristeen was on oxygen for numerous months when she was first diagnosed. I never imagined that with her on 4 liters of oxygen that she would ever be off of the oxygen, but God.

Last night, Kristeen was singing like a songbird again. I can’t explain with words the emotions that I feel every time I hear her sing. It no longer is just about her voice but instead of what God has done. God’s ways are higher than our ways. I also can’t explain the path that God has taken me on, and yet I have continued to see how God has never left us. If you are feeling lost and alone, I promise you that God wants to meet you were you are. He has a plan to help you overcome your adversity but you have to submit your life to Him.

P.S. I hate to write, but God has used me to pen some amazing things. God can fill in the gaps when we think there is nothing left in us.

My Story – Poem

I cry more than you see

Enough to fill a crystal sea

I don’t understand it all

But I still stand tall

Leaning on God to hold me up

It would be easier to just give up

But what good would that do

Every day I say “God is not through”

Tomorrow I shall wake again

A new day, a new sheet, a new pen

Lord I give my life to bring you glory

For that reason I share my story…

Copyright 2019 KNG Music & Praise First Publishing