Archives by: Gary Hoag

He never thought he cared so much about the minute hand,
Until he started playing for a second chance,
If he could only do it all again,
He’d trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk,
For all he missed, he tells his wife,
I wish that this moment in this room, was not me dying,
But just spending a little time with you

You only get just one time around,
You only get one shot at this,
One chance, to find out,
The one thing that you don’t wanna miss,
One day when its all said and done
I hope you see that it was enough,
This one ride, one try, one life to love.

She never thought she cared so much about those little hands,
That held on tight the day she left, til she was scared to death,
Sitting all alone on a hotel bed, the end of the road,
The sun has set on her big plans, to feel young again,
She picks up the phone, dials the number,
Hears that little voice,
That’s haunted every single mile,
Since she made that choice,

You only get just one time around,
You only get one shot at this,
One chance to find out,
The one thing that you don’t wanna miss,
One day when its all said and done
I hope you see that it was enough,
This one ride, one try, one life to love.

You only get just one time around,
You only get one shot at this,
One chance to find out the one thing
That you don’t wanna miss,
One day when its all said and done
I hope you see that it was enough,
This one ride, one try, one life, one ride,
One try, one life to love, to love.

33 Miles: One Life to Love YouTube Music Video:

I want to hold on ’cause I’m afraid
And I didn’t ask for it to be this way
Somehow I found myself caught in the grey
Reaching out for fear, running out of faith

You know what I don’t, so help me to let go
You’re in control, so help me to let go
I want to let go

I want to let go of what I can’t change
‘Cause I can’t wrap my mind around Your ways
I’ve got more questions than I have answers these days
Please don’t let my suffering go to waste

You know what I don’t, so help me to let go
You’re in control, so help me to let go
I want to let go

These are the moments it’s hard to believe
So please help me, please help me
These are the moments of surrendering
So please help me, please help me

‘Cause you know what I don’t, so help me to let go
You’re in control, so help me to let go
I want to let go

Matt Hammitt: Let go YouTube Music Video:

There was a time I was dead inside.
You’d call my name and I’d try to hide.
My heart was dark and so full of shame, full of shame.
But like the dawning of a brand new day
Your love has chased my shame away.
How amazing, now to hear You singing over me!
Over me!

Loudly, I sing, loudly, I live, giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that’s made me so alive
I’m alive, I’m alive!

Well, every day I find Your mercy new.
And every moment that I spend with You
I am overwhelmed by Grace I can’t keep to myself!
To myself!

Loudly, I sing, loudly, I live, giving You all I have to give
Until the world knows the Love that’s made me so alive
I’m alive, I’m alive!

Loudly, I sing, loudly, I live, giving You all I have to give
Until the world knows the Love that’s made me so alive
I’m alive, I’m alive!

Out of my sorrow, out of my night,
You called me into Glorious Light.
Where all of the lost, lonely and broken
Find Your Light. Shine Your Light.

Loudly, I sing, loudly, I live, giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that’s made me so alive
I’m alive

Loudly, I sing, loudly, I live, giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that’s made me so alive
I’m alive, I’m alive! Yeah,
I’m alive, I’m alive, yeah!

Pocket Full of Rocks: Alive YouTube Music Video:

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he’s moving on full steam
He’s chasing the American dream
And he’s gonna give his family the finer things

Not this time son I’ve no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we’ll have time to play
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away

So He works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better; better in time

And he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin’ crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

His American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
“Daddy, can you come to my game?”
“Oh Baby, please don’t work late.”
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

‘Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things will get better
It’ll just take a little more time

He used to say, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins”
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I’ll take a shack on the rock, over a castle in the sand
Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It’s not getting any better; looks like he’s running out of time
‘Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You

Casting Crowns: American Dream YouTube Music Video:

I’ve held on for all this time
To something that was never mine
I’ve kept Your love like there was none to spare
I’ve heard the call and seen the need
But I’ve been lost in apathy
When did I get to comfortable to care?
The world is crying out
So hungry for a change
Lord, let us be the ones to say

Take my heart, Lord I pray
That I can give it all away
Let me give it all away
Cause I long to feel compassion
For a world that needs Your grace
Take my heart
I want to give it all away

You have filled this empty soul
With mercy that has overflowed
The way You give to me seems so unfair
So here is my life it’s all for the one
Who gave it all in the name of love
Now this hope You give to me
I’ve got to share
The world is crying out
So hungry for a change
Lord, let us be the ones to say

Take my heart, Lord, I pray
That I can give it all away
Let me give it all away
Cause I long to feel compassion
For a world that needs Your grace
Take my heart
I want to give it all away

Let us be the change
Let us be Your light
Let us be Your hope
And let us give it all away
Let us be the change
Let us be Your light
Let us be Your hope
I want to give it all…

So, take my heart, Lord, I pray
That I can give it all away
Let me give it all away
Cause I long to feel compassion
For a world that needs Your grace

Take my heart
I want to give it all away
Take my heart
I want to give it all away
Take my heart
I want to give…
I’ve held on for all this time
To something that was never mine

Sidewalk Prophets: Give it all away! YouTube Music Video:

When the darkness settles in
And the world caves in all around me
You’re all I need
When my life becomes so easy
And I have everything I’ve ever dreamed
You’re all I need

And now I am finally home inside your love
And the hope I have in You is more than enough
And with all You’ve done my heart is finally free
‘Cause You’re all I need
You’re all I need

When my heart is in despair
And there’s no one left that cares for me
You’re all I need
When my days are all complete
And I’m met with things I’ve never seen
You’re all I need

I lift up my hands and give You it all
My life, my heart, my hope it’s all Yours

Revive: You’re all I need YouTube Music Video:

Teach us to number our days, that we might gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Why have daily office in the Word coupled with studying what saints through the centuries said of its teachings related to Christian generosity?

Why do this for 1,000 days in a row (and counting, because today’s the big day)? I think this song sums it up.

“I’ve seen an orphan’s heart filled with the Father’s love
I’ve heard the hungry and the thirsty say I’ve had enough
Yeah I’ve seen hopelessness get swallowed up in hope
When all God’s people say okay here we go

We can change the world, you and me
We can make a difference if we just believe
When the hands and feet start moving together
We can change the world forever

I’ve seen the broken one get healed of his disease
Witnessed the beauty of forgiveness save my family
So many cities need revival of the soul
And all God’s people say come on here we go,
come on here we go

We can change the world, you and me
We can make a difference if we just believe
When the hands and feet start moving together
We can change the world forever

We know what we’ve gotta do
It’s time for us to show the truth
It’s up to me, it’s up to you

We can change the world, we can change the world

We can change the world, you and me
We can make a difference if we just believe
When the hands and feet start moving together
We can change the world forever”

Hawk Nelson: We can change the world. YouTube Music Video:

In celebration of 1,000 days as the Generosity Monk, over the next 10 days or so, I will share some spiritually rich songs from my iTunes that encourage my journey of Christian generosity. I pray they are a blessing to you too.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

“One of the elders said: Just as a bee, wherever she goes, makes honey, so a monk, wherever he goes, if he goes to do the will of God, can always produce the spiritual sweetness of good works.”

An unknown Desert Father cited by Thomas Merton in The Wisdom of the Desert (New York: New Directions, 1960), p. 71.

If I am counting correctly, it was 1,000 days ago that I dedicated my life to encouraging Christian generosity, so on the eve of my 1,000th meditation (tomorrow), join me in this prayer, which came to mind after discovering today’s meditation:

God, I surrender all I am and all I have to you. I commit to do your will and walk in your ways as outlined in your Word, even when they are the opposite of what the world is doing around me. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me love people deeply, live life simply, and give generously from the spiritual and material abundance you so richly provide. With gratitude, I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

“Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it. Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching fish…Empty yourself completely and sit waiting, content with the grace of God, like the chick who tastes nothing and eats nothing but what his mother brings him.” Silence in the presence of God renews and refreshes the spirit–and gives you the ability to give generously in return.

Romuald of Ravenna (c. 950-1027) founder of the Camaldolese order of monks (a.k.a. “hermits”) as cited by Paula Huston in Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit (Ave Maria Press: Notre Dame, 2011) 73-75.

“Abba Theodore of Pherme had acquired three good books. He came to Abba Macarius and said to him, “I have three excellent books from which I derive profit; the brethren also make use of them and derive profit from them. Tell me what I ought to do; keep them for my use and that of the brethren, or sell them and give the money to the poor?” The old man answered him in this way, “Your actions are good; but it is best of all to possess nothing.” Hearing that, he went and sold his books and gave the money for them to the poor.”

Abba Theodore and Abba Macarius (4th century) as cited by Benedicta Ward in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 73.