I Will Praise You

Life is sweet up on the mountaintop.
This is where I like to be.
But as sure as the night follows the day,
There’s a valley waiting for me.

Chorus:
So I will praise You in the trials,
And I will count them as joy.
And I will praise You when the sun shines through.
You’re the Potter and I’m the clay;
And I will praise You.

I know You’re a loving God,
And that my days are in Your hands.
So why should I fear Your refining fire?
To conform me is part of Your plan.

You have given me life; my very breath.
Who am I to question You?
You ordain the means as well as the ends
And trials are the tools You use to make me like You.

So I will give You this failing heart
Though it’s been Yours right along.
And when I’m going through my darkest hour
Give me grace to keep me strong…

Written by C. Crane Copyright 8/29/03

Fixed On You

It's 12 O'clock and I'm awake in bed
Rehearsing "what if's" in my head.
I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
I know what's true and I know what's right,
But I think I'm losing the battle tonight.
These crowded thoughts I just can't seem to shake.

Maybe I just need to change my life
Maybe pack up the kids and wife
Maybe I should get far away from here
But then I catch myself again; I've fallen into familiar sin
And I don't think I like it here.

Chorus:
I need to get my eyes fixed on You;
Everything You are and all that You say You will do.
And if I get my eyes off of me;
then it's You who'll shine through;
I need to get my eyes fixed on You.

When I'm walking by my sight
and days without You pass me by
I live a life that shows I don't care.
Another Sunday rolls around
and I feel like skipping town
Would anyone notice if I weren't there?

Maybe I just need to change my life
Maybe pack up the kids and wife
Maybe I should get far away from here
But then I catch myself again; I've fallen into familiar sin
And I don't think I like it here.

You have set me free.
And You are all I need.
Sanctify me by Your Word til You are all I need
and all I see.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 1/1/03

Fly Away

Some say its getting better
That things are on the mend
Well, I don’t know, I cant’s see the signs
Is Daniel’s week all over? Is it all in the past;
Or yet to come; the end of time?

Or is the dream of Patmos about to come true?
I think we’ll have our answer very soon And if it’s true..

Chorus:
We’ll fly away
Fly away
We’ll fly away
Fly away; away with You

I wonder if it’s important.
Will I live to see the day?
I want to know just what’s in store.
Just when I think I’ve got it; I’ve got it figured out
The doubt comes back and I’m left unsure.

Have some missed the signs of Your coming
Like we did the first time.
While thinking the kingdom is here
They see You in the sky – and wonder why...

Have all the seals been broken?
Has the tribulation passed?
Or will we be caught up together
With the trumpet blast. And at last…

Written by C. Crane Copyright 7/25/01

In Control

Lord, You’re the source and creator of all things
You fashioned all of our days and all the joy they bring
And it’s true; there’s nothing You don’t know.

So why do I begin to question when things don’t go so right
As if somehow, when trials come, You’re not in charge of my life.
But I know; You are in control

Chorus:
You are over all and we can trust in You.
And when the trials come You will see us through
‘Cause even when things go wrong, the glory goes to You;
You are in Control.

You are my Savior.
I exalt Your name.
My faithful redeemer;
I’ll sing Your praise evermore.
You are in control.

You can spend your life going crazy trying to figure this out.
It won’t be ‘til we see Him that we know what it’s all about.
Then I’ll know. Till then I’ll do what He says to do.

You are my Savior.
I exalt Your name.
My faithful redeemer;
I’ll sing Your praise evermore.
You are in control.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 6/9/01

Thank You

Thank You Lord, for the sun coming up today.
Thank You Lord, when the stars come out to play.
Thank You Lord, when I draw the day’s first breath.
Thank You Lord, for the sweet times of rest.

I thank You for my children and I thank You for my wife
I thank You for Your providence, and the precious gift of life

Chorus:
But most of all, I thank You for Jesus.
I thank You Lord, that I am found in Jesus.

Thank you Lord, for the seeds that You have planted.
Thank you Lord, for the things I take for granted.

For not only that You took my sin and You nailed to that tree
But that You lived in perfect righteousness and You offered it to me.

I thank You for the gift of this simple, little song.
For all that You have given me, I’ll praise You my whole life long.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 6/98

Not My Own

Lord, I come to You in need again.
You know my heart
You’re my refuge; You’re my faithful friend
From me never depart
I was dead in trespass and sin till You pierced my heart

Chorus:
I’m alive because You live in me
I am not my own
You paid my ransom when You died for me
A greater love was never known
I’m so glad I’m not my own

Why You bother with this sinful man
I do not know
In the trial You take hold of my hand
Your faithful mercy to show
In my weakness You are strong
And that’s how You show…

While still far off You had chosen me
I can’t say why
With matchless grace and sovereignty
You bled and died and that is why…

Written by C. Crane Copyright 9/19/2001

Broad Gate

You speak the language
I hear the words you’re saying
Familiar terms and phrases
I even hear you praying

Everything is on the table
Nothing is taboo
Anything can be made okay
The choice is up to you

Will you follow me?
No truth here. We’ll just guide you along the way.
If you follow me
It will cost you more than you can pay.

Chorus:
Welcome to the broad gate
No need to fear.
Welcome to the broad gate
Nothing narrow here.

Itching ears may be soothed
The foolish think they’re wise
Why shouldn’t it be good enough?
Perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect lies.

Will you follow me?
No truth here. We’ll just guide you along the way.
If you follow me
It will cost you more than you can pay.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 8/12/01

No Time

On my shelf and in a row
You call out to me
With all the things I need to know;
The way to set me free

My heart longs for you everyday
I should crack the spine
My love tells me to spend a while,
But the clock says there’s no time.

Chorus:
No time to save my life
No time to do things right

There’s time for TV and time for fun.
Everybody jumps for the phone.
But why when I hear that still small voice,
Can’t I spend some time with You alone.

There’s time for TV and time for fun.
Everybody jumps for the phone.
But why when I hear that still small voice,
Can’t I spend some time with You alone.

When I’m walking upright and living in the light,
You words are like the air that I breathe.
That mountaintop time seems way too short
And when I have to leave it seems like there’s…

Written by C. Crane Copyright 9/1/98

Not Like Us

He who formed the earth and breathed the sky
Has been fashioned like a man in our minds
The timeless One has been defined by those in time
But, He is not like us.

Not to get our way is called divine neglect
To rule with human love is what we expect
But His good pleasure is both cause and effect
No, He is not like us.

Chorus:
He who reigns on high
From whom the angels shield their eyes
He is the High Priest who can sympathize
Still, He is not like us.

He who took the form of a lowly man
Was nailed to a tree as a part of His plan;
A tree whose matter was formed by His eternal hand
No, He is not like us.

Peels of thunder; a sea of praise
A throne afire with a holy blaze
Angel and Elder fall on their face
Who is like the Lord?

You whose darkened heart remains closed and locked,
With your empty words, His kingdom have blocked,
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked
No, He is not like us.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 12/16/01

I'm Still Falling

On the day that we both said “I do”
I wondered if I would ever see
A time when our love would grow cold.
What kind of life would it be?
Would I always be faithful?
To the promise that I made to you?

Chorus:
Lainey, I’m still falling; falling for you.
You’ll be my lover till life is through.
We'll spend our lives together,
But before another day goes by,
I want to tell you; Lainey, I love you.

We’re getting a little older now
The years continue to roll on by
But I couldn’t ask for anything more
Than to have you here, right by my side
I remember the day I first saw you
And how hard I fell for you. But…

You still got that hold on me
And I think it’s clear to see

Written by C. Crane Copyright 11/5/01

Due His Name

You say that you can tell me
What this life is all about;
Nice house, fast car, plenty of money
and a family that can make you proud.

You claim that life is for living
You should grab whatever you can.
"Life is just the sum of your experiences
and not some part of a bigger plan".

Chorus:
But it's Jesus who makes the sun keep shining
He holds your life in the palm of His hand.
He is the source of all of life's blessings,
So we should give Him the glory due His name.

All these things that we take for granted
are designed to make us look above.
Even though we deserve nothing
The Father gives us everything in love.

Life is a gift that should move us to thank Him;
each day an invitation of grace..
How do we thank Him? We say life is an accident,
While all the time we shake our fist in His face.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 11/02

Inside Out

If I could, I'd take the loot.
If I were there, I'd eat the fruit.
I'd form a fist and get the boot.
In my federal head, I'd follow suit.

Inside out, upside down;
I climb up and I fall down.
Who'll rescue me? I know You can!
It's all of You, oh Son of Man!

I want to do good, but evil's there with me.
What a wretched man I am!
Who'll rescue me from this body of death?
Only Jesus can.

Chorus:
But it pleased You to crush Him for me.
And He became my sin so I'd be free.
And I will sing Your praises for all eternity.

What I do, I should not
If I try, I can't stop.
My filthy rags have sealed my fate.
Not of works, but all of grace!

Written by C. Crane Copyright 2/15/03

Superstar

He doesn't see much meaning in the 9 to 5.
He feels he's got a lot more to give.
Day by day it seems that life is passing him by.
Surely, the Lord expects more out of him.
And he says:
Is this where I'm supposed to be?
Isn't there a grander plan for me?

Chorus:
You don't have to be a superstar,
Or have your name up in lights,
Cause He wants right where you are
to be a witness in your world
with your life..

Sometimes there'd be a day when she wouldn't leave the house.
She knows her work is never done.
And with the house a mess, and little hungry mouths
she'll close her eyes and whisper a prayer to the Son.
And she says:
Is this where I'm supposed to be?
Isn't there a grander plan for me?

Life's not about the glory we get, but how much we give..
It doesn't matter how important we are,
But its they way that we live.
God has given us good works to walk in.

All we must do is walk
Whether great or small, it doesn't matter at all
if we build our lives on the Rock.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 8/29/03

Glory

The river of Your mercy runs so deep.
You lavished Your grace upon us
And every promise You keep.
It’s easy to think we’re the reason for everything You do
But its not because of us, it’s because of You.

We live for but a while upon this earth.
Is it accomplishments or possessions that truly tell of our worth?
Help me make each moment and everything I do,
A living sacrifice acceptable to You.

Written by C. Crane Copyright 8/6/03