Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,
You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to Your people Israel.”

—Luke 2:25–32

Simeon had been waiting his whole life for this moment—and when it finally arrived, he basically said, “All right, Lord, I’ve seen enough. I’m good.” Faithful patience, holy obedience, and one very contented exit.

Go in peace, and thank you for joining us for the past 37 Days of Christmas. Keep your eyes open for ways to be involved next year—we have a lot planned for 2026 (and no, you won’t have to wait as long as Simeon).

—Trailand

 
Sovereign Lord | Lyrics

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised
Now dismiss us with your peace
As our eyes have seen salvation
And our souls have been released
You’ve prepared this revelation
Of a truth that was concealed
In the sight of all these people
Lord, your glory now revealed
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised
Now dismiss us with your peace

©2008 Douglas C. Eltzroth c/o http://www.collage.org

Today in 37 Days of Christmas, I’m sharing “For the Lord is Good”—built on Belhaven’s Verse of the Year (2024):

“For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.” (Psalm 100:5)

The chorus comes straight from that promise. The verses come from Psalm 100—and from a holy, unforgettable afternoon in a backyard memorial for my dear friend Jim Cambier. Jim’s favorite phrase was simple and stubborn: “This is the best day ever!” He’d say it over the smallest joys—an unexpected parking spot, a good wave, a meal with friends, time with his wife, Loralee. And somehow, even in grief, that phrase didn’t feel naïve. It felt like faith—choosing gratitude because the Lord God is still good.

This song holds both things at once: tears of mourning and tender mercies in the morning; a broken heart and a thankful one. And it dares to say: today—right here—still is the best day ever to sing His praise.

May Psalm 100 put a song back in your throat.

– Doug

Today in 37 Days of Christmas, I’m sharing “On Solid Rock”—built from Belhaven’s Verse of the Year (2022):

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

Jesus says wisdom isn’t just hearing His teaching—it’s following it. That’s the difference between a life that looks sturdy in sunshine and a life that still stands when the rains come and the floods rise.

I love how this song makes it plain: We heard the Word—we made our plan. Not silt. Not sand. Not wishful thinking. Bedrock. And if you’ve lived in Mississippi long enough, you know the truth in that line: we built on Rock, not Yazoo clay.

Storms will test what we’ve built—but they don’t have to erase it. Obedience isn’t glamorous, but it’s how you stay standing.

– Doug

PS – this arrangement and recording is a great example of why I love working with Trailand…he took this song to a better place. A more solid place, if you will.

On Solid Rock | Lyrics

Anyone who listens to my teaching
And follows it is wise,
Anyone who listens to my teaching
And follows it is wise,

Like a person who builds a house
On solid rock,
Like a person who builds a house
On solid rock,
On solid rock.

We heard the Word, we made our plan.
Use firm bedrock, not silt or sand.

The rains will come and the floods will rise.
Storms will leave, we’ll realize
The house still stands, it didn’t cave in.
We didn’t give up and we didn’t give in.

We built on rock, not Yazoo clay.
Didn’t fall down, we’re here to stay
On solid rock,
On solid rock.

Today as part of our 37 Days of Christmas posts, I’m sharing “Light Dawns in the Darkness”—built from Belhaven’s Verse of the Year (2020): Psalm 112:4 — “Light dawns in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.”

2020 didn’t feel like a “light” kind of year. The lyrics don’t dodge that—death’s shadows, trembling neighborhoods, restless nights, the future dimming. But the verse makes a stubborn claim: darkness doesn’t get the final word. Morning mercies are drawing near.

This song is my way of holding a candle up in a hard season—one more step on the path, one more glimmer getting brighter, one more reminder that darkness cannot quench a flame. And it’s not just personal comfort; Psalm 112 says the light shows up in a people marked by generosity, compassion, and righteousness—the kind of holiness that looks like help.

– Doug

Light Dawns In The Darkness | Lyrics

Chorus:
Light dawns in the darkness for the godly
They are generous, compassionate and righteous
Light dawns in the darkness for the godly
They are generous, compassionate and righteous

Verse 1
Darkness all around us while death’s shadows circle ‘round us 
Hope is fleeting seems defeating as the future dims
Darkness is dissembling, while the neighborhoods are trembling
Lost what matters in the chatter – Will it never end?
This is not the day that I had hoped for
These are not the dreams that I prayed most for        
Restless nights, awake with fear
But morning mercies are drawing near

(CHORUS)

Verse 2
The word of God is shining on the path that we are finding
Night concealing, light revealing at least one more step
As we’re passing through the curtain, where the unknown seems more certain 
Coming nearer to the glimmer growing brighter yet
Darkness cannot quench a candle’s flaming
At midnight sparks resemble fires blazing
Together let us   climb the slope
Build a city on the hill give the nations hope

 (chorus)

Verse 3
As a symbol good is winning, let’s remember the beginning
When God spoke into the blackness, “let there now be light”
Now redemption tells the story of the knowledge of God’s glory 
Shining now within our hearts found in the face of Christ
The world will always have great tribulations
But Christ has overcome through His salvation
We’re pressed by troubles, but we’re not crushed down
We’re oppressed, mistreated, but we’re not devoid
We’re confused and puzzled, but we’re not despaired 
We’ve been hurt, knocked over, but we’re not destroyed

(Chorus)

Tag:
Light dawns in the darkness for the godly

Today we are sharing “Be Strong in the Grace”—written from Belhaven’s Verse of the Year (2019): “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

This isn’t a “try harder” kind of strength. It’s the kind that starts with the truth: all of us are broken, all of us fall down. And somehow that’s exactly where grace meets us—because God’s power doesn’t wait for us to get impressive… His power is made perfect when we’re weak.

So if today feels heavy—if the challenge is great, the failure is great, the trial is great, or the sin is great—this song is a quiet-stubborn-strong reminder: His grace is more than enough. Not barely enough. Not “maybe” enough. More than enough. Let’s be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

– Doug

Be Strong in the Grace | Lyrics
Chorus:
Be strong in the grace
That is in Christ Jesus
Mighty in the mercy of the Lord
Be strong in the grace
That is in Christ Jesus
In the kindness of the Lord we will be strong

Verse 1
All of us are broken, all of us fall down
When grasping for the beauty of the greatness of our God
His manifold perfections are far outside our reach
His power is made perfect inside us when we are weak

(chorus)

Verse 2
Love for the unlovely, peace for restless hearts
Deliverance from, salvation for the life falling apart
Favor undeserving if healing’s out of reach
His power is made perfect inside us when we are weak

(chorus)

Bridge
When the challenge is great you will find His grace
Is more than enough, more than enough
When the failure is great you will find His grace
Is more than enough, more than enough
When the trial is great you will find His grace
Is more than enough, more than enough
When the sin is great you will find His grace
Is more than enough, more than enough
More than enough…

(chorus)

In the kindness of the Lord you will be strong

In today’s video my father explains the story of the song. Listen and enjoy!

Happy 2026.

– Trailand

On Each New Year’s Day
Lyric by Dietrich Bonhoffer
Music by Douglas C. Eltzroth

With every power for good to stay and guide me
Comforted and inspired beyond all fear
I’ll live these days with you in thought beside me
and pass, with you, into the coming year

While all the powers of Good aid and attend us,
boldly we’ll face the future, be it what may.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
and oh, most surely on each new year’s day

The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening:
the long days of our sorrow still endure.
Father, grant to the soul thou hast been chastening
that Thou hast promised—the healing and the cure.

Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving
even to the dregs of pain, at thy command,
we will not falter, thankfully receiving
all that is given by thy loving hand.

But, should it be thy will once more to release us
to life’s enjoyment and its good sunshine,
that we’ve learned from sorrow shall increase us
and all our life be dedicate as thine.

To-day, let candles shed their radiant greeting:
lo, on our darkness are they not thy light,
leading us haply to our longed-for meeting?
Thou canst illumine e’en our darkest night.

When now the silence deepens for our harkening,
grant we may hear thy children’s voices raise
from all the unseen world around us darkening
their universal paean, in thy praise.

While all the powers of Good aid and attend us,
boldy we’ll face the future, be it what way.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
And oh, most surely on each new year’s day!

© 2015 Douglas C. Eltzroth c/o www.collage.org

Today I’m sharing “He Delights in Me”—a song rooted in Belhaven’s Verse of the Year (2009): Psalm 18:19 — “He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.”

This one doesn’t pretend life is calm. The lyrics start in a hostile place—waters rising, fear tightening, threats that feel personal. But then the turn: rescue. Safety. Not because I cleaned myself up, got it right, or earned God’s help—but because He delights in me.

So, if you’re feeling unworthy, unseen, or undone—listen close to the bridge: it’s one of my favorites!

– Doug

He Delights In Me | Lyrics

Verse 1
In a hostile place
Devoid of grace
Waters rise to cancel mercy
I am terrified
For cancer hides
Like a stranger deployed to hurt me

Fear won’t let loose
This hangman’s noose
It draws my soul up off the ground
Will breathing end
While ropes ascend
From empty graves to pull me down

Somebody save me
Somebody save me

Chorus
He led me to a place of safety
He rescued me because
I am His delight
He led me to a place of safety
He rescued me because
He delights in me

Verse 2
When He heard my prayer
Angels stopped and stared
All of heaven’s host assembled
With the Lord Most High
Broke through the sky
Every rock and mountain trembled

The smoke and ash
Covered every path
It blurred the air, it made me blind
Grace fell like snow
On dusty roads
Our footprints showed that just in time

Somebody saved me
Somebody saved me

Chorus 2
He led me to a place of safety
He rescued me because
I am His delight
He led me to a place of safety
He rescued me because
He delights in me

Bridge
Even though
I have been unworthy
I have been unfair
I have been untrusting
I’ve been so unprepared

I have been unnoticed
Unfulfilled, unqualified
I have felt unhappiness
So unsatisfied

Undependable, unbendable
Often found unclothed
Unbelieving and uneasy
Even to myself I’m so unknown

Undeserving and unnerving
Undecided, so unkind
Unlawful, unholy
My purpose undefined

I have been unable
Been unstable, been unjust
Unteachable, unreachable
I have totally come undone

No doubt I’ve been unfaithful
But I’ve never, never, never
Been unloved

Chorus 3
He led me to a place of safety
He rescued me because
I am His delight
He led me to a place of safety
He rescued me because
He rescued me because
He rescued me because
He delights in me

 This song was written based on Belhaven’s Verse of the Year (2007)—Luke 18:27: “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.”

Dr. Parrott’s kickoff speech that year framed that verse with the story of William Wilberforce—how God used a faithful, weary man (and even the arts) to turn what a whole culture said “can’t change” into something that finally did. Then he brought it home: storms we don’t anticipate, moments we feel alone, and the temptation to forget who Jesus is when the waves get large and loud.

That’s exactly what this song keeps reminding of —faith the size of a mustard seed, dreams that need to be magnified, and the invitation to let “sanctified imagination” take flight. If you’re staring at something that feels too big, too broken, too stuck… perhaps this is your reminder: the impossible is not the end of the story.
From where I’m standing it seems impossible… but it is possible with God.

– Doug

It’s Possible with God | Lyrics

Chorus
What is impossible from a human perspective
What is impossible is possible with God
What is impossible from my own understanding
From where I’m standing it seems impossible
But it is possible with God
(1 st time repeat chorus)

Verse
You wanna move a mountain to the sea
It’s possible with God (choir)
With faith the size of a mustard seed
It’s possible with God
Gotta look a life thru God’s own eyes
Your dream’s too small gotta magnify it
Let sanctified imagination fly
It’s possible with God

Bridge
There’s a God-size dream growing in my soul
That God put there it’s out of my control
I can’t achieve it on my own but I believe it in my soul that
It is Possible with God

CHORUS

Ending
It’s possible with God…
Let sanctified imagination fly
It’s possible with God

Sometimes the hardest part of faith is accepting that God isn’t obligated to explain Himself to us. I wrote today’s song, “Higher Than the Earth,” around Belhaven’s 2006 Verse of the Year:

“My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

That year, I sensed an invitation to loosen my grip on what I think should happen and to trust the One whose perspective is infinitely higher than mine. A couple of weeks ago, Trailand and I stood on a high vista in Rocky Mountain National Park during our Christmas tour, and that truth surfaced again—how limited my sightline is, and how vast God’s truly is.

Throughout this Christmas season, we’re reminded that God’s wisdom doesn’t always look like power or clarity. Sometimes it looks like a baby, a manger, and a way forward we never could have imagined. This song is my response—surrendering my small story to His greater one.

– Doug

Higher Than the Earth | Lyrics

As the heavens are higher than the earth
My ways are higher than your ways
My thoughts are higher than your thoughts
As the heavens are higher than the earth

As the rain and as the snow falls
May your word fall and flourish in my life
For I believe and I will walk 
With Him who knows all
I will not pretend
That I’ll ever comprehend  
The fullness of the words 
My God has spoken
But I’ll trust the One who spoke them

“I Will Use Well” (Matthew 25:29)

“To those who use well what they are given even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.” Matthew 25:29 ­ 2005/06 Verse of the Year

Most of us want to plan our way into abundance — but Jesus calls us to something simpler (and harder): use well what we’ve already been given.

Jesus doesn’t promise abundance to the best forecasters — He promises it to faithful caretakers:

The future isn’t mine to control — only today is mine to steward.

So, I pray the prayer of this song – inviting you to join me.

Doug

I Will Use Well | Lyrics

Unto those who use well what they are given
More is placed within their care
Unto those who use well what they are given

An abundance will be theirs

It is my prayer my heart’s intention
To be faithful and to serve the Master well
So I pledge my full attention
To all that I’ve been given I will well
To the abundance I’ve been given, I will use well
To the few things I’ve been given – I will use them well