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Ruins and Temples

from Ruins and Temples by The Longing

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lyrics

Ruins and Temples

I thought I'd find You in the glorious desert sky, in pillars of cloud and fire.
I thought that You would part the way before me, win my battles and lift me higher.
But when I ate the bread You gave me, feeding me day by day,
I saw You more in the darkened corners, and in the war-torn faces of saints.

Chorus 1 Laying brick by brick, Building stone upon stone
Making these ruins a temple, Making this temple Your home

My heart was hard but still I tried to chase You, into the wild and into the wind
leaving behind all the faces You gave me, all the hearts You were dwelling in.
I Didn't know You weren't waiting for me there, and I was turning my back to You
Didn't see all the light I was leaving, or the shadows You'd take me through

Chorus 2 Walking each step into exile, breathing each breath as a prayer
Leaving a ruin behind me, always feeling the tear
and as the faces of those behind me, were burned into my heart
I was left with nothing to treasure, but the memories and the scar

Still I waited for You each day, and I longed for You each night,
from the moment I’d lay down, to the moment that I would rise
In the daylight hours I searched, through all the grains of desert sand
for the life You'd left for me to find, the crumbs that fell from Your hands

(If I could write a thousand songs to sing regret away
It wouldn't touch the surface of the words my heart could say.
And if I walked a million miles and further still did roam
There'd never be as fair a land I'd find as our first home.)

When I awoke in this new land, to the sounds of stone and steel,
You took me up into Your hands, nourished, washed and healed
You placed a trowel into my left hand, and a sword into my right,
And I will chase the wind no longer, I will stand and build and fight.

Laying each brick by brick, building stone upon stone
Making these ruins a temple, making this temple Your home
Bound hand in hand to my brothers, never to wander free
This is my only purpose, no other life for me

(No turning back
There's only forward
and if I thought it would do any good
I'd undo it all
Put it back together
Pray things would be the way that they should.)

Lay each brick by brick, Build each stone upon stone
Make these ruins a temple, Making this temple Your home
Bind us to our brothers, never to wander free
This is our only purpose, no other life for me...

credits

from Ruins and Temples, released September 30, 2012

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The Longing Selmer, Tennessee

The Longing is music by John and Yvonne Cullimore.

We seek to bring music that will connect with you both in sound and poetry, melding loops and beats with hammered dulcimer, 12-string guitar and layers of vocals and harmonies.

More importantly is that we enjoy our music, and can use them for worship and prayer. We certainly do hope and pray that you can do the same.
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