HEART SPEAKS (SOMETIMES)

Some days you just want to do over
Sometimes you wish to live again
Sometimes it just easier
To forget that you ever went
Down that road
Ah but there are no secrets
When it comes to the Lord
For all that is done in secret
Will be revealed one day
Oh how what is private
To our selfish flesh
Becomes everyone’s business
Once your heart speaks through your mouth
Bitterness will poison every word
Lust will drip from your eyes
Unforgiveness taints your heart
Oh how the heart speaks no matter
The package that it is wrapped in
Some days you just want to smack everyone
Sometimes you just about do
Sometimes it’s much easier
Never to have gotten out of bed
If only you could take back
The time spent where you should have never been
But what to do
What to do
When you have unclean hands
Ah but God in His mercy
Has laid out His way
Confession is good for more than the soul
It cleanses the space between God and you
Some days it can be hard to come to Him
Knowing what you know
Some things you don’t want to relive
Or tell anyone much less the Lord
Sometimes the pain is blinding
Oh but the relief you can have
Bring your sometimes to Jesus
That He may wash your heartspeak clean

Angel Barreto

WHAT COULD AND MIGHT BE

I could look in the mirror
To see the man I am
It is so much easier than
Looking at what You have of me
Oh this fear of failing
Takes it toll on me
Frozen from the fallout
Of what could and might be
Yet the spark that You ignited
Still burns deep
What would the possibilities be
If I simply trusted and believed
Oh this fear of failure
Of what could and might be
How one can make something
Out of nothing at all
There is a verse that floats in my brain
It keeps reminding me
Of all You will do through me
Yet this man gets so filled with himself
He has no room for this
Life of faith and love and mercy
So much easier to live in what could be
Yet the Holy Spirit keeps leading me
To places of joy and wonder
But oh this fear of failing
Of what could and might be
Shakes the sense out of me
Oh if I would walk by faith
If I would live like I do
If I would stop pretending
To be a martyr and a fool
Then I would be so amazed at
What could and might be

Angel Barreto

NOW AND THEN

Every now and then
I can’t find the next breathe
I can’t breath
My steps seem to go backward
No matter how hard I try
I find myself shaken
Wondering why Lord why
Every now and then
I don’t seem to have an answer
Just when I need to know it
I get lost
In my own world of fears
My faith seems as small as it can get
Yet here You are Lord
Right where You promised You’d be
Right where you said in your word
Now just believe
Help me in my unbelief Lord
Help me
Every now and then
Everything comes crashing down
And my mask cracks
To let my tears and cry go free
My friends and family can’t understand
My need to be alone with You
Before I go to them
Every now and then
My desire to be home with You
Overwhelms me
How it overwhelms me
Every now and then
You remind me that suffering is just
A little bit of living out
This faith You have given me
And You’ll be there Lord
You’ll be there

Angel Barreto

YOU MOVE ME

I can’t say why
But I find that I
Have to turn around
From where I was headed

I can’t believe my heart
But I find myself wanting to
Follow you anywhere
I’d follow you anywhere

You move me
You take away the fear
You are to me
The very essence of life

You take me
You lead me to the end of me
Right where I should be
This is where I want to be

I keep trying to
Slay this flesh of mine
I keep forgetting
To walk in what You have already done

Baptized in Your death and live
To walk and rest in Your strength
To pick up my cross
To follow after You

You move me
You give me new life
You reach me
You touch me where I hide
You Lord I belong to


Angel Barreto

A RESTING FAITH (Psalm 27:5)

For the God of my salvation
Is the God of my rest
For the Lord of all creation
Is the Lord of my faith
Wherever I may go
Wherever I may tread
There my God goes before me
That I may have rest in my faith
He will keep me safe in His dwelling
He will shelter me in His place
That I may enter into His rest
A place of resting faith
Oh the joy that He brings
Oh the peace that fills
Cover me in Your peace Lord
Shelter me in Your love
For the Lord of my health
Is the Lord of my life
For the God of my circumstance
Is the God of my faith
Wherever I may be called
Whatever valley I may trial through
There my Lord has already gone
That I may walk in His strength
He will keep me upright
He will be my rock and foundation
That I may be at peace
In His providential care
For the God who gave His word
Is the God who keeps His word
For the Lord who speaks His promise
Is the Lord who fulfills it
You are my resting faith Lord
You are my abiding peace
You are my strength
You are my Lord and God
　
Angel Barreto

I AM STILLED

How can I not be taken aback
When I am face to face with You Lord
All the things of this world
Burn away in Your presence
For they are truly seen for what they are
How can I not fall in love
When I hear Your voice call my name
All my fears just disappear
In the majesty of Your name
Like a child
I am stilled by Your mystery
I am stilled by Your beauty
How could I choose to be
Anywhere else but here
Anywhere else but here
How can I not be humbled
When I become aware of Your holiness
All the excuses evaporate
When confronted by Your truth
For nothing can withstand Your sword
Nothing can stay Your hand
No man
No power
No angel
No other name
How can one not rejoice
When faced with Your mercy
All my sins washed away
In the blood of the Lamb of God
Oh I am amazed
Oh I am ashamed
Oh I am restored
How I am made new
In who You are
I am stilled
I am humbled
I am filled with hope
I am what I am
Simply by Your grace
Simply by Your grace
How can I not worship You
When faced with Your love
How great is Your mercies
How great is Your name
How can one not be silenced
When in the midst of Your glory
All this burden lifted away
With the joy that fills ones heart
Who can be such a lover of my soul
I am humbled
I am silenced
I am stilled

THE END CRIES (BREATHE)

Please take these thing from me
All the pain and memories
I don’t want to remember
I don’t want to feel
No more
Please leave me be
All the worry and concern
Is drowning me
I can barley breathe
Right now
Oh I have been a fool
I have been misled
I have been the deceiver
Now I just want to live
Alone
Please help me forget to remember
All the things I promised
I could never keep
I had no intention
No possibility
Please forgive my weakness
All I wanted was to be liked
I don’t even like me
I don’t even want to be around
This man
If God can forgive me
If I can accept his love
If I can just believe
Is this enough
Is this a new beginning
Don’t know
Don’t think
Don’t ask
Don’t breathe
Please take this sin from me
All this darkness I have been living in
I can’t do this anymore
I can’t even see a way out
So lost
Where did my right go
Where did my wrong go
Can’t even tell anymore
Can’t even see the line
I should never have crossed
Please Lord hear me
I am at the end of this life
I can’t see no way out
But through Your mercy
But through Your grace
Wrapped up in Your love
Wash me clean
Speak Your truth in me
Breathe

Angel Barreto

HOW QUICKLY

I started out this morning
With a prayer on my lips
I started with praises of You
With my hands lifting me
Oh how quickly the praises quite
How quickly the tongue gives in
To words better left unsaid
Much less kept in thought
I started to get on my knees
With every intention for confessing
I started to then
Found complaints raised against my neighbors
Oh how fast these complaints
How fast the accusations
To justify my actions
In the name of Jesus Your Son
Oh when will I submit
Oh when will pride break
Oh when will I stop making
Your name a word of mockery
Teach me to be humble
Cause me to walk in Your ways
May I consider all that I can in the flesh
As good as dead
May I know that all I was before
Lies defeated in the grave
Forgive my ease at lifting
Myself above the crowd
I started out this morning
With a prayer on my lips
How quickly the words became
The sound of a complaint
I tried to change the wording
To make myself sound good
How often pride sounds like
The holiness of God
I started out this morning
With praise coming forth
My song of joy at living
My praise for all I have
Did I once again forget to
Thank You Lord for all You did
In death on the cross
In rising to bring new life
How quickly so quickly
So soon I do forget
　
Angel Barreto

PATH

Did I miss my chance
To turn from this path
Headed for a crash

Did I have my head
Held so high
I lost sight of where I was going

Is it too late
To apply the brakes
Turn this wreck around

I am shaking
From the rush of
The disaster that might come

Am I so in need of something
To wake this slumbering heart
I would risk crashing into a wall

Did I find out
How I got here
Rushing down this path

Did my feet
Just happen upon
This road of bad decisions

Is my heart so
Set on hurting
The knife goes deeper each time

Have I missed
The exit off
Is it too late to try

Does this path
Fork left or right
Tell me someone

Angel Barreto

JUST

I turn my eyes away from the scene
Didn’t feel anything
Just done
Just finished
No not a thing
And I didn’t even cry
At what was done
I didn’t even try to stop
I just wanted enough
I didn’t even make an effort
To turn away from the sin
Entangling me
Betrayal should not be so easy
Where are the bitter tears
Where is the fear
Of a Holy God
Is it enough to just believe
I got up from the scene of the crime
Washed my hands of it
Said my prayers like a good child
Whispered my goodnight
And closed my eyes
And I closed my eyes
Where is my confession
Where is my regret
No I didn’t even think to
Just made my rebellion complete
Just sealed in the sin
To dream in
To dream in
I turned my heart to no
Couldn’t even hear Your voice
In the hardness of the stone
I just wanted me to be
In charge of everything
And I didn’t even cry
At the thought of grieving You
And I didn’t even turn
At the moment I could have
I just wanted to be in control
Of this train wreck


Angel Barreto

LONGING FOR

Longing in my soul
To be home
To be home
Longing in my tears
To be done
With this sin
And You’ll be there
This I know
This I know
I know oh I know
Longing to go
To the place
Prepared for me
Prepared for me
To the place You prepare for me
I got my hand on the doorknob
My eyes on Your word
My ears leaning to hear
That trumpet call
That trumpet call
Oh this longing in me
To be home
To be home
To be before my King
To be before my King
Longing in these tears of mine
To be done with this sin
To be done with my sin
To be presented holy and blameless
Yes to be presented holy and blameless
Longing in these bones of mine
These bones of mine
Oh this vessel is waiting
For the glory of Christ
The glory of Christ
This child is excited
To see his Father
To see his Father
Longing in my soul
For that day
For that day
When my Lord Jesus comes

Angel Barreto

STOP THINK

Listen to the voice inside you
Stop before you think too much
Before you think too much about it
Do you really want to grieve the Holy Spirit
Quench the only fire that
Keeps you alive
Keeps you walking in the light
Stop think
Do you really need
To satisfy your desire your way
Stop think
Oh that you would stop
Oh that you would think
Before you find yourself
Where you really don’t want to be
Choosing to satisfy the stuff
That tries to entice you away
Stop think
Do you really want to go there
To the cemetery of memories
Stop think
Let the Spirit be your guide
Let God’s word be the light on your path
Listen to that voice of truth
Stop pushing Him aside
Do you really think that
You will be satisfied
Oh will you be satisfied
Keep asking
Keep seeking
Keep knocking
Take God’s way of escape
Take His way if just for today
Don’t you worry ‘bout tomorrow
Today has enough of its own
Stop think
Before you choose
Stop think
About the love that He demonstrated for you
Stop think
How much it cost Him for you to be able to
Stop think

Angel Barreto

EXISTANCE

Walk down the hall
On out the door
Move thru the day
Move thru the night
Drift in
Drift out
When I scream
When I shout
Just to be heard
By anyone
By anything

Can anybody hear me
Can anybody see me
Is anyone aware
Of my existence
Am I here

You can run only so far
Before you stop
Realize one day
You can’t hide from
Who you are
Just want to be heard
Just want to be loved
Just want to feel alive
In this world
In this life

You are born
You take your first breathe
You live and you die
What happens to the rest
What happens to you then
What becomes of this existence

Can anybody hear me
Can anybody see me
Is anyone aware
Of my existence
Am I even here


Angel Barreto

WAITING

Am I seating around and hoping
For the Lord to do
Everything for me
Instead of preparing
For when He says move
Am I waiting on Him
Or is He awaiting me
Am I listening for His voice
Am I waiting in vain for me
Do I go crashing thru the door
Instead of waiting for it to open
Is my prayer Lord move or move me
Is my attitude one of expectation
Is it one of forced labor
Do I even think to ask Him
Or have I heard enough
Sometimes it takes
All you have to wait
Sometimes it comes as a surprise
When the moment has passed you by
Will I be ready for Him
Will I be left behind
When it is my time to move
Into His plan for my life
Do I stand on the sidelines sitting
Am I dressed to go in
Am I waiting around for the Lord to move
Is He waiting for me to prepare for His word
Move
Step into the place I have prepared for you
To serve
To grow
To be
Right where I want you
Even if it’s right where you are at
Waiting
Seeking
Preparing
To move


Angel Barreto

THE SILENCE OF THE SHEEP

In the silence of my faith
The fear looms
In the silence of my knowing
The truth gets tongue tied
So simple the words
Yet so hard to put forth
Do I actually live what I say I believe
Do I let the blood of the outsiders
Stain my hands
The silence of the sheep
So afraid to offend
Do I not remember how offensive
The gospel was to me
A stumbling block
Foolishness
No evidence
No bases for worry
Yet over and over
The surety lessoned
The silence of the evidence was deafening
In the silence of my tongue
Where political correctness shames my faith
The fire from my bones
Tries to burn through
If I am to be
What Jesus calls me
Ambassador, salt, light
Let this silence be broken
Let Your salvation be known
Assurance be quick
To make yourself known
Let the silence of this sheep end


Angel Barreto

TO BE TEMPTED

I have often thought about temptation. I have often entertained it and invited it in. I have enjoyed its momentary promises to my distraction and self satisfaction. Only to have my senses return in a bang of conviction and realization.
I don’t know about you but sometimes when I am really suffering the pangs of disobedience I can get pretty full of myself. I can get pretty angry at my salvation. I can blame You Lord for not letting me know this was going to happen. Funny how your pride can become allies with the very thing you truly hate and yet crave. I guess that’s why He says we should consider our old self dead.

To be tempted
To give into temptation
To choose wisdom
To choose wrong
To have to repent
To be obedient

Sometimes I wish I were a robot oh yeah when I let myself go that’s when I act like one. Programmed by a fallen nature, reminded by the old man. I wish I had the nerve to just do it, be obedient and stop taking the easy path to a hard ground. Temptation can be a good teacher or it can become a harsh gate into the place of sin.
How can one keep their mind fresh and renewed? Transformed by what you ask, by God’s living word. I can dive deep into what others have discovered and try it on for myself and my set of issues. But I have come to understand it takes first hand knowledge to really become first hand experience. I need to know His word for myself.
A quiet time alone with the word of God can help you when you least think you will need help. The lose of time spent with God colors how you will react when faced with temptation. It can mean the difference between walking through or giving in to the situation you may face.

To be tempted
To be wise
To live connected
To live submitted
To know your Lord
To rest in His peace

Temptation can mean growth in your character depending on your reaction to it. Temptation can strengthen your relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You just have to pay attention to what He has to say to you. Yes He still speaks. But will I listen?

WHEN I REMEMBER YOU

When I think of the people
Who have come across my path
Through the lens of time
With fondness
With shame
With forgiveness
Of and for me
Of and for you
When I remember you
Is it with a hint of sadness
Does a touch of regret
Color the glance back
Do I forget to let go
Of that which ties me to the past
When I shift through the debris
The memories I have hid
Beneath the mask of time
All the cast off lies
All the misplaced guilt
Polluting the mind
When I think of you
Do I let in the light
Do I hold onto the hardness
That can envelope my heart
Forgetting all that Jesus has done
To free me from it all
When I remember at all
May it be in this truth
I have been forgiven that I may forgive
I have been set free that I may be
God’s witness of His grace
When I remember you
Let it be through the cross


Angel Barreto

OBEDIENCE OR EXPIERENCE

Like a kid who can’t decide
Hoping that he can have it all
Not just the cake but to eat it too
Not just to eat but to enjoy it all
Because of coarse
My happiness calls
Just under and over
The obedience of it all
The fight between
What I know and what I feel
The question over truth and experience
Which is better to live by
Which is better to desire
What do I hold to
When my happiness
Is at stake
What do I look to
When my life
Is about to fall apart
The tug of war
That burns the skin
Obedience or experience
This is how I have felt
This is what I know
What do I trust
Who do I believe
Will experience leave its scar once again
Will obedience blossom into hope
You would think this lesson
Once learned would not repeat
Yet over and over I find
This question raised
What will I trust
Who will I believe
Obedience or experience
Me or Jesus
I can bow the knee
I can kick against the goads
What is God more interested in
Obedience or a happy experience

Angel Barreto

ONCE BROKEN

broken man
broken life
broken heart
pieces of what
i once was
i am now
i will be
broken vows
broken promises
broken spirit
a life lived in shadows
once in darkness
now in light
one day revealed in Christ’s glory

oh my God
oh my Lord
oh my Shepherd
my Savior
what was once broken
now is being realized

for what it was meant to be
for what You see
for what I could never believe
now coming alive

this song I sing
of my Savior and King
the freedom found
in life in Him
of who I am
not who I was
of who He has called
to be in Him

broken as broken
whole as whole
times to be broken
times to be whole
once broken
once healed whole

Angel Barreto

CAUSE I KNOW WHERE I’VE BEEN

It can be so dark and lonely
The smiles can be such a mask
Hiding what is trying to drown you
But hope just won’t die
You can seem to be going nowhere
The dark and weary nights just blend
It can seem that no end is coming
But the light can never go out

Let me tell you a little story
Let me share with you some truth
I may not know your story
But I know where I have been
You shake your head to push me away
What works for me is just fine
How can I be sure that God is real
Let me tell you friend

I know where I am headed
I know the road He has called me to walk
I can tell you with conviction
There is a God who changes lives
You ask how I can be so sure
Cause I know where I have been
Cause I know where I am going
Cause I can trust Gods every word

It can seem to take forever
Have you never wondered why
You can turn and go only so far
Before you run into God’s mighty hand
He holds you closer than a father
He holds nearer than a friend
Don’t let the past trouble you
Don’t let the future get so dim
Just rest in His strength and promises
Just trust and hope in Him

I know where I am headed
Cause I know where I have been
Held so tight in His loving arms
Held so close in His grace
Nothing will ever separate me
From such a great and faithful God

Angel Barreto

TO LET IT GO AND BEGIN AGAIN

Was it your fault
Does it matter after all these years
When life has become fearful
When you can’t remember how to live

You hold to failure
Like it can be a friend
When God is trying to tell you
You got to let it go and begin again

The pain in your eyes
Seems dull yet alive
Memories can fool you
Into believing they live again

You hang onto the memory
The what ifs and maybes
When God is trying to teach you
How to live and trust again

Let down your armor
For it has rusted in your tears
Take a drink of living water
Bring life to these dry bones
Bathe in the light of hope
Get out of the shadow of shame

Can you let in God’s message
Of love and redemption
Can you believe in something other
Than the past that hangs on you
God is here beside you
To help you
Let it go and begin again


Angel Barreto

THIS IS HIM

This is Him
My dwelling place
This is Him
My refuge
Why need I fear
When His faithfulness is my shield
Why need I want
When He provides for my needs
Yes He is Lord
Yes He is King
Oh He is God
The Almighty
My refuge
My peace
My shelter
Yes He is
My fortress
My deliverer
My covering
He is yes He is
How can my soul not sing
How can my lips not praise
Let my life reflect His glory
Let my speech tell of His might
I will trust in Him
I will make Him my dwelling place
This is Him
My joy
This is Him
My peace
This is Him
My Lord
My God
My King
This is Him
Of whom I praise
This is Him
My faithfulness
He is my prayer
He is my peace
This is Him

Angel Barreto

ATTITUDE

It can seem to be alright
Life just chugs along
What’s that chip your carrying
It seems to speak first
In your face
In your walk
In your eyes
Attitude
Angry at what you don’t know
Pride
Lifting you higher than you should be
Arrogance
Can’t see past the log in your eye
All the while
You’re losing yourself in the desert
Sneaking up like a shadow
Coloring everything it can
Shaking your intention
To live for Christ
Yet you find
It’s all about you
In your
Attitude
Looking down on everything
Haughtiness
Lest you get contaminated
Selfishness
It’s got to be my way
Oh when will this end
This battle over who will lead
Is it you or Him
The One who died for you to live
When will you stop
Feeding your flesh
Just to starve the spirit
When will you stop
Quenching the Living Water
How it does cost
To pick up your cross each day
And follow His lead
To obedience to death
Oh let my attitude be
One of humility and grace

Angel Barreto

HE IS HE WILL (Psalm 46)

In the silence
In the quiet
Your voice is heard
In the thunder
In the rain
Your voice is heard

He is my song in times of distress
He is my strength in times of trouble
He is my joy when despair threatens
To overwhelm my soul
He will be my song in the morning
He will be my song throughout the day
He will be my song in the evening
He is my song after trouble has come

In the silence
In the quiet
Your love soothes my soul
In the thunder
In the rain
Your love shelters me

He will uphold me in the testing
He will restore me in times of want
He is the hand that wipes my tears
He is the truth that speaks to my soul
He is who He is
The Lord who is my refuge

Angel Barreto

TO FOLLOW

The importance of who you follow
And where they are leading you
The freedom or bondage that can be found
In the place they lead you to
The importance of knowing who you follow
And to whom they point to
Will you find hope or despair
Is there the do this and the don’t do that
Is there faith to follow and grow in
To follow
To chase
To be out of step with the crowd
The freedom found in cutting loose
In your faith and salvation
The importance of a future
And a hope to hold to
The importance of who you follow
And where they are leading you to
Is the One who was nailed to a cross
The source of the path you walk
The place where you will end at
Yes the importance of who you follow
And where they will lead you to
Examine the ones you look to
Examine who they follow
Is the path they ask you to tread
The same one Jesus walked
In obedience to death
That life would rise forth
To follow
To chase
To be out of step with the crowd
Who do you look to
Who is your standard
Who is your grace
The importance of who you follow
And where they are leading you to



Angel Barreto

THE PAIN OF LIVING

Is this the way you know you are alive by the pain of living? Is this then the pain of living is to know that you are alive? Is this when you know you are alive when you do not want to die? I have moved along in slumbers still waters never disturbing the depths of my sleep. To awake to the gentle nagging as I walked in my sleep. Is this what it means to be living? Reminders of death and its once sharp teeth. The pain of living the pain of being of alive. Feeling discomfort in joy and contentment in dissatisfaction. Is this that pain I am feeling, the rousing from my slumber? The desire to move from the shallows to swim in the depths of life.
The questions that have no answer the questions that are the answers. How do I keep from drowning in this wakeful state I find myself in? To whom do I give the questions to whom do I give the answers? To think that life has awoken from the laying down of a life.
Oh the pain of living the pain of knowing that I am alive. To know regret and godly sorrow to know that I have grieved and caused sorrow to the One who causes me this pain. To know what it feels like to cry out…I repent from my sin. To know a love like no other and that I will never know a love like this apart from God. To know Him as Savior to know Him by name. To know no comfort in what was safe to know no joy apart from pain. To risk the things I put before You is to know the pain of living.
Do I cast aside all that I have read and heard? Do I hold back all that I said I would give? Do I stand still as if nothing has happened do I ignore the pain of grief? Do I really have to ask myself as if I had a choice? The pain so sweet it lets me know just how much I am alive. I am no sadist who wishes to know but oh the pain of living. I have tasted that which is so pure I have heard the Word of Life. How can I consider becoming numb to life again to the fact that I am alive? The pain of living abundantly is knowing joy to no end. The suffering does not compare to the glory I will yet discover. The pain of living is knowing how alive I really am. To know that in this pain is knowing someday it will come to an end.

HIGHWAY 152

Face against the window
Pushing against the pain
The ache of flight soaring in me
Flapping these broken wings
As I look down the street
For a way of escape
I just have to run to somewhere
Can’t get out of this place fast enough
Yet the ties that hold me
Frozen to this place
Wrap a little tighter in moments of breaking free
To break free of the expectations
To be free from the what you gonna be
I hide my dreams for who would understand them
Who would not laugh when I slip up
Do I my eyes betray the crouching
Of my restless spirit
Does my lack of involvement
Give my fears away
Face against the memories
Pushing hard against the pain
The ache of remembering
As the moments live again
Is freedom in my thumb
Found on highway 152
Is my new life waiting
Where the highway runs
I have vowed not be like
Those I leave behind
May they not come to haunt me
Promises I can not keep
Is this a dream
Is this my reality
How can a kid find himself
Filled with such ache
If I could just see past tomorrow
If I could live life without fear
Face against the window
Pushing against the pain
Trying not to drown in memories
Dragging me back again