Jordan Mentz

On the outside what others may see
Faith without works is dead like the sea

On the outside you can put on a show
On the inside your broken no one has to know

Why not reevaluate your view about what you believe
Stop listening to the one who deceives

Trying hard to take the pieces of a shattered heart
Placing them on the floor in front of me, not knowing where to start

If you want to be saved from a life of disaster
You could go to church and listen to the pastor

You got to make your faith your own in order to make it real
You got to give up your desires and you don’t got to kneel

Giving up what you thought you needed
Selfish nature you have conceded

You can surrender yourself to the one
There is life when you trust in the Son

When your life is messed up and you are feeling shame
When Christ looks at you he places no blame

What does it mean to fight for something greater
Trying to save yourself from a mile-deep crater

The gospel is a hard thing to hold
It’s for the people who’s hearts are cold

On the cross he paid the price
For our sin more than grains of rice

We don’t need to curse to be cool
We don’t need to be drunk to be a fool

People you better listen
With your bling all you do is glisten

I ran away from you today with my actions
Oh Lord I am slippin’ and can’t get any traction

I am a prodigal like a sheep without a shepherd
You can show me what it means to live life unhindered

I wanted to give up and toss in the towel
Have no money to buy a vowel

Trying to restore what has been damaged out
Trying to fight off the urge to give up and doubt

I’m not asking for the world, an overabundance of things
I know that in a society that never has enough, it seems strange
I am begging for you to give me just enough to get by, so I rely on you
There are things that would be nice, but they may take my focus off you

Living paycheck to paycheck is not the norm
But all I am asking for is for you to get me through the day
If we are honest, it’s out of our comfort zone
Today’s culture screams for us to get ahead we will be better off

Just enough money to pay the bills,
Just enough strength to step out in faith today,
Just enough energy to show others your love
Just enough stamina to make a difference for you

I don’t want to cheat to get ahead
I don’t want to lie to get even
I don’t need to worry about what my future holds
It says, you already know the plans

Proverbs 30:7-9
“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.

It’s hard for me to understand what it means to forgive them, the people who want to inflict harm on others, just because it gives them an adrenaline rush. I know that there is forgiveness, but I just don’t understand the hurt they must feel. I know there is hope for the worst of people, because I know that I am one of them. I know that the sacrifice you made is for everyone, but sometimes I try to compare my self to others, and say I am better than that. I know it’s not the truth, but I am asking you to show me that I don’t deserve anything good. I know that your love is a gift, for everyone and please help me not to be selfish and keep it to myself. When we don’t forgive we only hurt ourselves, and where we go wrong is when we start justifying our actions and putting them up against the most heinous crimes against humanity. I know that I was the reason you had to die, because of sin I am separated from you. I am hopeful for tomorrow, because I have a future. I am trying to love others that seem too hard to understand. I admit I am not perfect, and I am not any better than the rest. I just want you to know that I need you to guide me in this journey called life. I am asking you to teach me how to love unconditionally, even the people who find joy in making my life difficult. Life isn’t always fair, but I know that you will make it right in your timing. So many times we don’t want to wait, we want to take matters into our own hands and administer our version of justice right away, but we need to trust you to make every wrong right. The people involved in Columbine, the victims, the gunmen, the families, all are searching for your love.
The people who were involved in planning September 11, all are in need of grace. When I look at them, teach me not to look at them with anger but with a broken heart, because if I didn’t know you could I be capable of such crimes. We all want the bad guys to lose, but in your upside down world we need to love them.
I don’t understand why you are using me to communicate your heart, but I feel honored that you have given me a gift. I don’t have it all figured out but hopefully your words will come to life for people who read them on my website. All glory goes to you Lord.

Inspired by Tenth Avenue North’s song “Losing” off their album “The struggle”

Trying to make sense of the world but I have given up
There are situations that remind us that we live in a broken world
We try so hard to understand the reason why people do the things that kill
We are so wrapped up in the questions, that we forget the one with answers

We want to move on but how can we when we’ve lost so many
We long to figure out the motives, but we may never comprehend
We are asking questions, but ignoring the one who holds the answers
We try to forget but some things are forever etched in our minds

We may never forget what happened on that dark day in April in the year 1999
We may never forget what happened the morning of September 11, 2001
We may never forget what happened at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007
We may never forget who has fought for our freedom to make us who we are

We forget the lives that are being aborted
We forget the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
We forget things that have really drawn this country to God
We forget the people who are living in poverty

Trying to figure out what makes this country great
Trying to unearth answers when we need to look to Calvary to find them
Trying to comprehend what it means to be at peace
Trying to endure the suffering that is sin

May we never forget there is hope for those who believe in Jesus
May we never forget there is justice for the poor
May we never forget there is a place where there are no more tears
May we never forget to seek God while He may be found

In memory of the tragedy that occured on 4/20/99 at Columbine
In memory of the tragedy that occured on 9/11/01 in NYC, Washington, PA
In memory of the tragedy that occured on 4/16/07 at Virginia Tech
In memory of the soldiers who have lost their lives in the war on Terrorism

I am strugglin’ to keep my head above water and I feel like I’m drowning
There are days when I feel the world will suck me under, holding me down
Times when I feel like giving up, to play dead and float on the top
People are screaming “you’re not good enough”, “you need to try to harder”

I understand that this world seems unfair
I have figured out that we are fallen, ruined by the fall
I have been wounded by the words of others
Trying my best to look ahead to try to comprehend your words that it will work out

In the end, justice will be served
In the end, the broken will be healed
In the end, the crying will cease
In the end, you will win

I am trying so hard to look past the imperfection sin has caused
I am realizing that I don’t have to have it all figured out
I need to learn to trust you for my next breath
I would like to comprehend what you mean when you tell me in the end you’ll be new

Jesus was put to death on the cross for our sins on Friday
On Sunday Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead
On Friday people were stricken with fear
On Sunday people were overwhelmed with joy
On Friday we shouted for him to be put to death
On Sunday, we cried because he wasn’t in the tomb

Jesus died for us while we hated him
The power of the cross is for those saved by it
Jesus loved the dirty
Jesus can relate to the outcasts, and calls them friends
Jesus has more power than Satan could ever posess
On Sunday, Jesus rose victorious over the grave

On Friday we couldn’t believe our eyes that Jesus was on the cross for us
On Sunday, we couldn’t beleive our ears when the angels said “He is not here”
On Friday, we didn’t know what to do but mourn
On Sunday, we didn’t know what to do but stand amazed
On Friday, we were so sad as he hung on the cross, knowing we put him there
On Sunday, we couldn’t wait to put our hands where the nails went

When situations seem hopeless, when you are faced with Fridays
Remember that Sunday is just around the corner
When you’re faced with mountains, remember you serve the God who can move them
When storms arise and it seems like you are sinking, God walks on water
When rain comes, there is gonna be a rainbow
Will you trust in those promises.

Would you know the truth if you’d been lied to your whole life
Would you long for the affection of others if you were constantly ignored
Would you know what love was if all you had known was anger
Would you lay it all on the line, if it meant you may die
Would you try to hide to keep the pain inside

Would you die for someone knowing that they may not see the sacrifice
Would you live for something if it meant you had to suffer
Would you be at peace seeing the world in chaos
Would you want another chance when the world says you’re through
Would you know what hurt was if it meant you were healing

Would you be vulnerable to others if it meant feeling exposed
Would you understand what God meant if He said “You’re forgiven and free”
Would you walk away or run to a God who has open arms
Would you lay on the bed looking at the sky
Would you fight the lies that the devil whispers “You will never make it”

Will you turn the other cheek when someone mistreats you
Will you practice the upside down economics of Christ’s kingdom
Will you put yourself last to be the first
Will you humble yourself to be lifted up in due time
Will you take God at his word when he tells you he loves you

Will you be strong enough
Will you be brave
Will you be bold
Will you be gracious
Will you be a light

This is a story about trusting God even when you don’t know what the next step is

As I walk through life, feeling like I am all alone, and no one could possibly understand
As I try to reminisce about the life I led before I found the answers
That was just the problem, I was the one leading and I was getting nowhere
I am bowing before you, asking for you to show me the way

I don’t want to live in darkness any longer, I long for the light
Struggling to keep my head up, but whenever I look away all I do is fall
Show me what a life of freedom has to offer
Show me what it means to let you lead

There are obstacles that I can’t get past, but you know how it will end
There are struggles that leave me gasping for air
Getting tired of allowing hurt to get the best of me
Having tried everything by myself leaves me searching for something greater

Show me what it means to live for you
Show me what it means to die for something that you love
Show me what it’s like to be called a child of a king
Show me what it’s like to be the spotless bride

You tell me life will be a long, hard road
Full of twists, turns and things you don’t expect
If a long hard road is what it’s gonna take to bring me back to you then let’s get started
You didn’t promise a life without pain, but you promised you’d never leave my side

A long hard road, is the high road and the path is barely traveled
Can’t see my destination, but knowin’ that my Father is not only beside me, but waiting at the end
Don’t know how to understand, comprehend the paradox of God bein’ with me, in me, before me and after me
Tryin’ to put my hope in things that are going with me, when my life on earth is done

I chose a long hard road, filled with many obstacles, when I chose to follow you
People sometimes think that the road is always easy, but they haven’t really walked
You don’t require me to do it on my own, or even with my own two feet,
You put me on your shoulders, you took my guilt, my shame and fear and nailed it to the tree

A long hard road means actin’ with integrity when no one is looking,
A long hard road could mean gettin’ the short end of the deal and not complaining
Life can be a long hard road but our Savior calling you to be free
God wants to spend eternity with you

You’re the one Lord
You’re the answer
You’re the firm foundation
You’re the rock

I choose to build my house upon the rock
I have decided that I want a legacy that can withstand the winds of the world
I have concluded that my life is nothing without you
I want to be living proof that you’re the rock

Rock on and say it like you mean it
Rock on and sing it like you live it
Rock on and scream it like you’re the only one
Rock on and proclaim it like you’ve only got one chance

Tryin’ to build your life around things that the moths destroy
Tryin’ to count your successes based on the things you have
Tryin’ to find meaning in your hard earned trophies
Tryin’ to look beyond yourself

Rock of my soul, live it loud
Rock of my heart, sing it louder
Rock of my salvation, make me bolder
Rock of my being, make me a light