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Well, my 700th post is two-fold. First, to all of my friends...my wife continues to improve day by day. A big step was taken Friday...her staples were removed. Things are looking up!

Stan, Tink, and Amelia seem to be looking up also, which brings me to my next offering. Its sort of short...2 verses and a ?...and I'd love to improve on it. Thanks, and blessings in advance...Clark

And this is a true story...

The Conversation
© 2000
w/m by Clark Dickinson

This hasn't been a real good day
I've sinned a time or two
Now it's ten p.m...I just can't sleep
Think it's time I talked to You
I flipped through the t.v. channels
But there was nothing on
I tried to read...I tried to pray
I wonder what went wrong.

Dear Lord, I'm scared and tired
Sometimes it seems I've had enough
I profess to be a Christian
But this warrior ain't too tough
Father, please forgive me
But peace is hard to find
One touch from You is all I need
To ease my troubled mind

(8 bars of music...spoken...
'And then The Lord answered me. He spoke
into my spirit in that still, soft voice,
and here's what He said to me.'

He said, 'My son, My son, My precious one
I still love you anyway
On Calvery's hill where My Sons blood spilled
Your sins were washed away
So you slipped and fell...I'll pick you up
To call on Me was right
So my child, don't fear, for I am near
And I'll be with you tonight.

My child, don't fear...for I'm right here
Everything will be allright.

[This message has been edited by thousandslove (edited 04-16-2002).]

[This message has been edited by thousandslove (edited 04-16-2002).]

Clark, so glad to hear that things are looking up for you and your wife! This is very touching -- been through this a time or two myself. The only thing on the first go-thru that I thought might sound better was "ON CALVARY HILL, WHERE MY BLOOD SPILLED"
I'll read through again to see if there's anything else, but I'm sure you will have other comments to help you. (I'm not the greatest on critiquing, but I try!)

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Mary Lou

Glad to hear thjings are on the up Clark.
My thought here is it is 4 am so unless you got a real early start at being bad, it has gotta be yesterday that was a bummer.
That sort of runs down to the tonight bit later down the story.
Very noce all up.
Regards.
Graham

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http://artists3.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Graham_Henderson/

Hi Clark, very pretty and comforting. I think I'll print it out...and keep it when I hit those tough days, that I seem to have had too many of lately.
Thanks for posting, and sharing

Take care,
Amelia

Hi, Mary Lou...Thank you so much. Things are much better then they were last month. God surely has His hand in our lives. I'll surely keep your thought in mind. Even tho 'God' is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one, I felt God the Father speaking to me that morning. By the way, this lyric represents the second time I ever heard Him speak to me. Blessings to you. I appreciate all your prayers and encouragement!
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Hello Graham! I'm so pleased to see you tonight. Thank you also, for your thoughts and concerns regarding my sweetie. She's recovering quite well! This lyric happened several years ago, and if I remember right, the 'sin' was more of a bad attitude thing. The step-children weren't listening, the job sucked, this n that...and I just wasn't handeling things well. Pride or ego or just plain tired kept me from taking these problems to Him in prayer...until...about four in the morning. I was working at the time from 3-11 at night, so I guess 4a.m. was night for me! Guess I could change it to 10 p.m...yeah, that would fit just fine. Good point, Graham. Appreciated very much. Be blessed down there, ok...
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Hi Britney...I mean Jennifer...I mean Amelia...our newest diva! Ok...I'll quit. Really, I'm real glad you were able to come visit this one. Satan used 'things' and 'situations' to get my goat...and he was successful. Had I went to God in prayer like I should have, I would have saved myself and others aggrivation and undue stress. I'm learning...and growing...and so are you. I would encourage you not to do what I did...but go back to Calvery at the first indication of an unresolved issue. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath. He's as close as the mention of His name, ok? Bless you, and yours tonight...Clark

Hi Clark,
This is beautiful,very touching
Only nit I have is the 1st verse doesn't seem to flow as well as it should IMO
especially the last 4 lines....Maybe
My soul is in turmoil
and peace is hard to find
so I'm asking you Lord
to clear my troubled mind

Just a thought
God bless
ClaireJeanne

Hi Clark,
I am glad everything is looking better for you and yours. I think this is a pretty strong start and I too wanted a little more. maybe you could go with another verse that would express the calm that you must have felt or the security of knowing He was there all along. This reminds me of the "Footprints" saying. Good luck...
Tony

Hi Clark....

Nice to see you post...and glad...
your wife is improving...i'm sure it's
been challenging...Hope your job is going well.....

this is well written...left me wanting more.. and..was wondering..on one line..
and you might have been doing it intentionally to give it a country gospel feel..."wasn't nothing"... was nothing?..
i think....

you take care...
Kaley

Hey clarkster,

These are the best type of spiritual lyrics; i always think it's best when it's first person and they are sharing their struggles cause it avoids being preachy..so well done there.
I agree with MARY LOU; that was the one line that seemed like it stumbled....don't think ya need RED.

I might reword the SPOKEN part; it seemed a little redundant...maybe:


Then the Lord spoke to my heart
In His soft, still voice,
The words he said comforted
He reminded me of His son's choice...

just some thoughts anyway.

Glad to hear the wife is doing well!

Hi, Clark. I'm very glad to hear your wife is doing well. And I'm intrigued that you've heard God speak to you. No offense, if He should speak to anybody, it should be me, not you-- I would probably become a believer in seconds! Show me some proof that He exists, that's all I've ever asked anyone. The existence of a supreme being is too big to take on faith and circumstantial evidence.

But anyway, I basically like this lyric. I don't consider it too short, since it has two verses and a bridge in between. That's a full-fledged song in anyone's book.

Nit-wise, "I've sinend a time or two" could be improved. "Two" comes off as a too-easy rhyme for "You". And the I-tried-to-pray thing in line 7 seemed weird, since it doesn't jibe with "It's time I talked to You", which implies you hadn't talked to Him yet that night. And besides, praying seems like too easy a thing to two to merely "try" (and fail) to do.

Nice job overall. This one's about finished already as-is.

Anthony

P.S.: Did you get the reply I e-mailed you a couple weeks ago? It's okay if you did. I was just wondering whether you did, that's all.

Hi folks. Good to see everyone this afternoon

Dear Claire, nice to have you around. Tell you what, I do like the first two of your lines. Let me ponder on that, ok? Thanks for your help. Much appreciated
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Thank you Tony. Yes, last month was...depressing, to say the least. Lots of 'stuff' going on. Regarding the lyric...well, there sure was a sense of peace and calm after this encounter. I'll see what I can come up with. I appreciate your thoughts.
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Hi Ms. Kaley...Jerry's wonderful...the surgery has cleared up more than a bad back, and working with our pastor has many benefits! All is well, and will continue to get better, in all areas! You want more too? Ok, we'll see. Regarding 'wasn't'...that wasn't going country...just a simple case of bad grammar. Thanks for coming by!
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Hello Blakester. Good to see you also! Ok, between you and MaryLou, we'll do without the blood bit. The spoken bit, truthfully that varies from time to time...nothing's really etched in stone there. I do like what you have...keeping that 'soft, still voice'...Take care, and thanks!
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Hey Anthony, great having you over as well. In fact, this was the second time I knew...I heard Him speak to me. The first time...well, I'll share that through 'e'. I do know that He is no respector of persons tho...I have no doubts that He'd love to spend some time with you also As I shared earlier, my sin (or two) was more of an attitude thing. 'I need to talk to You'...'I tried to pray'...meaning I went through the motions, but my heart wasn't in it. I was dwelling on the situation at hand when I should have cast my burden on Him and let Him sustain me (Scripture). Instead I tried to go before Him with this sack of guilt and anger and whatever...and it didn't work. Not till hours later did I aproach Him the 'right' way...

regarding our previous conversation, yes I did, and I am sorry for not responding right away. Forgive me? You'll hear from me soon. Thanks for the visit, my friend. Glad you liked the lyric.
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I really do appreciate all of you. Thanks...for your help, and your concern. Big blessings to each one of you...

Clark

Hey, Clark. Thanks for the reply. Your "tried to pray" explanation makes sense. I look forward to your "e".

Anthony

Clark, a lovely testimonial lyric. I can see the need to keep the spoken part variable...so it fits the occasion when performed. My only thought was not so much a "soft, still voice" but a "still, small voice" is backed up by Biblical references, but if it seemed "soft, still voice" at the time I suppose it's best to go with how it seemed at the time it happened. Truth always wins out regardless.
Anthony, it is so easy to fail at praying...one can let it become an exercise of kneeling down and saying some "trite" or "repetitive" words that it culminates in pure failure. I think the bridegroom in Revelations sent a message by His best friend, John to the seven churches...some were really off course, some were doing well inspite of all their troubles. One that was failing so miserably was one that had lost their "first love"...their love for God and His Will for their lives had gotten lukewarm...they'd gotten into the "habitual form" of worship...it's a very easy thing to do. But the bridegroom gave them due warning...if they didn't return to their "first" love of God, He would spue them out of his mouth. Humans tend to be creatures of habit but that doesn't cover the needs of the moment or day. I've been told by Biblical scholars, that often it isn't even necessary to say a word to God...just go to him in prayer...be quiet and listen. Sometimes we get so carried away with our vocal end of the thing, God can't get a word in edgewise. He's pleased to know that we know what to pray about, but He also is pleased that we just supplicate to him with bowed heads and uplifted hands, indicating being "poor in spirit". Sorry, Clark to use your post...but hope Anthony can find some answers someday soon.

Good evening Sharon,

Thank you, for your visit, and your correction. 1 Kings 19:12...'and after the fire a still soft voice.' That was an innocent misquote. Ya done good. Glad you enjoyed the lyric. Be blessed, my friend...Clark

Evenin Clark... HOW in the world did I miss this one amidst my troubled soul? This is exactly what I needed to read a couple of days ago. I found some peace since then, and now reading this lyric tonight, I've found even more. Thank you for writing this, it is a blessing!!

Glad your wife is doing well!! I continue to offer prayers in her time of healing...

Tink

Good morning Tink,

I am awfuly glad to see you this morning. Also glad this was something else you could use. I suggest that you read Phillippians 4:4-8. If that is too much for you this morning, focus in on verses 6 and 7.

Have a wonderful day...and thank you for your prayers on behalf of my wife. She is doing remarkably well!

Blessings to you and Larry this morning, as always...Clark

Mornin' Clark! What a truly beautiful and inspirational lyric! Made even more special by it's personal history. Thanks for sharing. So wonderful to know that your wife continues to improve! The best to you both dear friend!

Hey brother...I think this may be one of my favorites that you've written. Boy, I can sure relate, which makes it even more appealing. Music??? Thrilled with news on Jerry, and I got your e-mail from the other day. I will try to write you from work today before I leave. Thanks for touching me with this lyric, and I'll talk to ya soon!

Good evening, friends,

Sorry this took so long...long day on the job, shower, supper, church, and here I am...
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Janice, Glad you enjoyed the lyric, and the 'behind the scenes' of how it came to be. Jerry's wonderful, thanks to the Divine Physician, and the prayers of friends like yourself...thank you...bless you.
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Hello Tim, Glad these words were able to minister to you also. Been there, done that too, eh? Got your 'e'...give me a day or so to respond. Jerry says 'hi'. Blessings to you and Chrissy.

Clark,
Wow, that's a conversation we all need at times... to be hearing from the Lord like that!

Powerful stuff. Evidently someone's working on the music already.. (?) Please keep us posted when it develops. Thanks and keep hearing from the Lord, Ok brother? Lol
Michael

Clark,
Wow, that's a conversation we all need at times... to be hearing from the Lord like that!

Powerful stuff. Evidently someone's working on the music already.. (?) Please keep us posted when it develops. Thanks and keep hearing from the Lord, Ok brother? Lol
Michael

Hey Clark..

Very heartfelt and sincere...I'd love to hear this sung...How "bout it !

I assume you are a singer...

Glad that your wife continues to improve..that's great !

Your heathen friend

Bob

Good afternoon gentlemen,

How are you, Michael? Thanks for visiting, and for the encouraging words. Yes, I do have a melody for it...more basic 4-chord country...sort of. One day I'll get a music site...
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Bob, a joy to see you also. I'm not in the same catagory as yourself, but I do try. Jerry's wonderful, and is very appreciative of all the prayers and thoughts.

Blessings to you both...have a wonderful day. Clark

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