Jordan Mentz

You promised me that nothing I could ever do would make you love me less
You said there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus

I feel so deserted but I know you’ll look for me underneath the covers
I feel so condemned because I am so ashamed of everything I’ve done
I feel so distant because I chose to run away

My heart is weary because its in need of rest
Runnin’ to things to try to fill the void
Knowing that your my Father
I feel vulnerable before your throne

My sins have held me down
If I confess my sins to you; I know you will forgive them
As I called on the Lord thirsty; you answered and gave me water

Scriptures

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (New International Version)

I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah Psalm 61:4 (New International Version)

When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions. Psalm 65:3 (New International Version)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (New International Version)

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:9-11 (New International Version)

I know that you’re feelin’ lonely
I know that you’re feelin’ down
I know that you’re feelin’ distant
I know that you’re fallin’ apart

I will never forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8)
You will rise up on Eagle’s wings (Isaiah 40:31)
Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you (Hebrews 10:22)
I am close to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:18)

I know that you’re hurtin’
I know that you’re weak
I know that you’re cryin’
I know that you’re searchin’

I will bind up your wounds (Psalm 147:3)
I will defend the cause of the weak (Psalm 82:3)
I will hear your cry (2 Samuel 22:7)
You will find me if you search for me (Isaiah 55:6)

I know you’ve felt abandoned
I know you’ve doubted
I know you’ve lived life as a captive
I know you’ve experienced pain

Father why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46)
Stop doubting and just believe in me (John 20:27)
He has come to set the captives free (Isaiah 42:6-8)
The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10)

I’m fallin’ apart
This life is hangin’ by a thread
Tryin’ to comprehend the reason
For your promises to me

You will not hurt me
You will sustain me
You will be there for me
You will carry me through

Do you not know there is a God who loves you
Do you not know there is a God who cares for you
There are people who try to tell you don’t matter
And there are people who try to take away everything you live for

Some of us are like bruised reeds
Some of us smoldering wicks
Some of us are fighting to stay afloat
Some of us are flickerin’ like light in the distance

Matthew 12:20
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory.

Look around the debris wonderin’ how anything so hard could ever happen
Tryin’ to see through the dust that has covered all we ever knew
My eyes are straining to see your hand in this awful tragedy
Everything we ever had is now laying before you in ruins

I had very little to begin with now I have nothing left to offer
My ears are filled with the sounds of sirens
My soul is filled with questions
My hands; the dust that reminds me how much you love me

I offer you my heart; I ask you for your healing touch
I offer you my life; all I have left is you
I give you these relics; asking you to bring beauty from the rubble
Sand is what I have; I give you every grain

You offer me your hand in return
You offer your grace if I’ll give you my sorrow
You gave me freedom; all I saw was bondage and tyranny
My eyes are tearing up; it’s so hard to explain

The amount of devastation that disaster brings
Then I remember it’s of your love that my heart sings
You take away the pain, and offer me comfort
You place within me a peace that passes all understanding

You provide for me even if I have nothing to give you
You offer me your hand when I often turned my back
You’ve been my redeemer, and you’ve been my savior
You’re gonna bring beauty from the rubble

From the rubble we will emerge stronger
From the rubble we will become more desperate for you
From the rubble You will triumph
From the rubble You will prevail

Written after the Earthquake in Haiti 1/12/10

I wanna break free from the bondage that seems to hold me back
I wanna break free from the things that I once loved
I want a clean break from everything that has weighed me down
I want a fresh start to be who God created me to be

I want something more
I want to live for something greater than myself
I wanna dig for deeper meaning than what lies on the surface
Tryin’ to find the one I am lookin for

Breakin’ free experiencing the life that lies in front of me
Breakin’ free from the things that held me back before
I am crashin’ through the walls that I have created
Like a prison cell that I locked myself in

Darker than the night
Darker still was my heart before you found me
You tore away the things that kept me from seeing you
You helped me realize that my only hope is you

Inspired by Mess of me, off Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot.

There are so many people tryin’ to make ends meet
Anyway they can try to stay alive and warm
Breaks my heart to see, there are homeless people right in our own backyard
Always tryin’ to pretend there can’t be needy people here because this is the USA

Tonight my eyes were opened to a new realm of reality
People livin’ underneath the bridge, with only the light of a candle
People wantin’ somethin’ more, hopin’ with everything they have to make it another day
The homeless get neglected, rejected and yet no one seems to notice

We are called to love one another and that includes the homeless
We are called to take the gospel to the world
Even when we are led out of our comfort zones
When it doesn’t feel natural to lend the helping hand

Show us how to love the homeless
Show us how to love the less fortunate
Show us what it means to give out of the abundance of our hearts
Show us how much we have blessed, and how to share our joy with others

Written after serving in downtown Indianapolis

Would you feel the same way if you were in my situation
I’m just wonderin’ if you would respond any different
The news that you were precious, and loved by a loving God
Tryin’ to sort out the things that were runnin’ through my mind

There are things that I thought would help me understand
My feeble attempts to comprehend the magnitude, left me wanting to know more
If there was any doubt that my Savior loved me,
I looked to the cross, and saw you on Calvary

All my doubts escaped my mind
Tryin’ to grasp the amount of love that you showed me that night
You whispered that I am your child
You already bought me back with your blood

Didn’t know how to respond you offered me your hand
It was then I saw the scars
I didn’t know what to say as tears filled my eyes
You reached out and whispered you already were holding me

I hear you tell me that I am your child
You are my Savior
You are my God
You are my Father