Repentance

This simple song was born out of my struggle with iniquity, where my habit of sin had become a lifestyle.  The sin–repent cycle was so repetitive, I doubted that I was truly forgiven.  I failed so many times, I no longer believed it was possible to be free.  It was hard for me to comprehend that God forgave me, when I could not forgive myself.

I was working late one night, monitoring a mentally ill patient, and began humming to relax him.  He fell asleep, and I continued humming and doodling.  My doodling became a written prayer.  Every time I wrote out a confession of sin, the Holy Spirit brought a scripture to my remembrance.  The exchange of kicking myself, and God comforting me, brought about deliverance.  The hum took on a melody, and the song Repentance was birthed….

Verse 1:

I’ve been guilty of vain repentance

No fruits of change I see

For the same old habits, weights, and sins

Are plaguing me

I’ve said some pretty prayers

Made some earnest pleas

For forgiveness far too

Habitually

Chorus:

(I need) freedom from the pain

Cleansing from the stain

That sin leaves

(Being) entangled once again

In the yoke of sin

The Holy Spirit grieves

Redemptions price was paid

Provisions for me made

To be born again

For the stench of my old sin

New mercy He gives

Every morning

Verse 2:

In sin shall I be found

That grace may abound

Being dead to sin, yet living therein

God forbid

When troubled times arise

In His pavilion I shall hide

In the secret of His tabernacle

I am hid

Repeat Chorus

Consider the Dog

I was reading the scripture in Proverbs 8:34 (KJV), “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors,” and the Holy Spirit reminded me of what it is like having a dog.

When the master returns home he is greeted with unconditional love, exuberance, and excitement.  The dog has been waiting, and knows it’s not an intruder, but his master.  He simply yearns for the fellowship and provision found in the master’s presence.

Ivan Pavlov is credited for discovering that conditioned stimulus provokes a conditioned response.  We, like Pavlov’s salivating dogs, should expect to hear from God.  It’s in daily fellowship we are renewed, strengthened, and directed.

I was also reminded of a sign posted in an office reception area stating, “Wagging accomplishes more than barking.”  It speaks to our posture in waiting.  While barking dogs don’t go unnoticed, we are drawn to dogs with wagging tails.  God is drawn to folks with waving hands in worship.  We need to invoke His presence, before barking out our complaints in prayer.

Biographical Statement

Brent Terry was born the youngest of six in the small college town of Ypsilanti, Michigan.  The son of a factory worker, graduated first in his high school class, and went on to study computer engineering at the University of Michigan, College of Engineering in Ann Arbor.

Professionally, Brent has been an architectural information systems specialist; a software engineer in robotic controls; a financial consultant in the insurance industry; and is currently a hospital administrator.

Being raised in a suburb of Detroit, Brent developed a love for Motown and singing.  While his family did not attend church, gospel music was played every Sunday.  In college he joined the campus gospel choir, and became curious about the song lyrics.  This was the start of his relationship with Jesus.

Brent became active in campus and community evangelism.  He was a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and choir member throughout his late teens and twenties.

The “dirty” thirties brought about a decade of struggle, failure, and addiction.  With outward success and inward turmoil, Brent soon embraced a lifestyle of destruction.

At the age of 40, God magnified His redemptive power and grace in Brent’s life.  It’s been Brent’s mission to expose the devices of Satan, minister deliverance to disavowed believers, and applaud restorative change.

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:  the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” - Isaiah 55:10-12 (KJV)