3am
Songbook
A
Collection of Poems
to Uplift Your Heart
Brian
Joseph Jeffries
Copyright
© 2019 by Brian Joseph Jeffries. All rights reserved.
Published
by Cross Paw Publishing, P.O. Box 571, Sewell, NJ 08080
www.crosspawpublishing.com
This
book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any
manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the
publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book
review.
ISBN 978-1-7329868-1-7 (eBook)
Cover design and
photography by Kathie Jeffries. Used with permission.
Illustrations
and sculptures by Déja Koch. Used with permission.
Scripture
quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James
Version.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by
Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
Visit the author’s website
at www.brianjosephjeffries.com
For
information about 3am Songbook, brian@3amsongbook.com
This
book is dedicated to my amazing wife for all of her
love and
support throughout our entire life together.
We’ve been on many
adventures and
have many more to come.
Above all, I dedicate
this book
to God for saving my life.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Theater
of Dreams
My Dear Friend Vincent
Antenna of Love
My
Wife
Renovate Your Heart
Jesus Got Our Six
Pet by Your
Side
Armor of God
Two-Wheeled Therapy
Nikola Tesla
A
New Old Psalm
Peace on My Side
The Return
Amanda’s
Field
Floydian Slip
Heartlight Hotel
Rock Went a
Rollin’
Lake Reflection
Stars of This Life
My Father in
All
Brotherly Love
Gateway to God
The Music We All
Sing
Starfighters Unite
World Series of Life
The Storm
Our
New Pledge
A Shining Moment
God’s Social Media
Nature is
Singing
A Family Guy’s Letter to Seth
Bucket of Love
God’s
Goodness
Rhyme for Today
Glad World
Wind of the Wolf
The
Gift
Clean Soul
The Answer
Thank You Song
Acknowledgments
I have so many people to thank, I’ve decided to express my gratitude in a poem. My “Thank You Song” is a lyrical poem written for all of the many people who have helped and influenced me over the years which inspired me to write this collection.
Psalms 95:2
(ESV)
“Let us come
into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to
him with songs of praise!”
Introduction
I started waking up at 3am and began writing down my thoughts and dreams. I was on a journey with the Lord and was filling my notebook with songs of my life. Eventually, I was writing throughout the days and nights, a combination of new things along with my life's experiences. I felt as if I was writing words that were given to me through divine inspiration, but this did not happen until God woke me up to life.
These poems are about the battles of good and evil, with the focus on God and positivity. They are told in a variety of ways focusing on family, friends, pets, careers, countless musicians, writers, entertainers, youtuber's, movies, etc. that have played an inspirational role in my life. Anything that was once negative has now been turned positive.
I began my career in the electrical trade. My childhood friend Brian introduced me to firefighting. I joined a volunteer fire company in Seaville, NJ and enjoyed being a firefighter. I then went to school to become an EMT and joined the local rescue squad in Upper Township, NJ. Everyone was very supportive at both places and had a huge impact on helping guide me on my path. I felt the medical career was for me, so I continued on to paramedic school and eventually became a flight paramedic. I was also teaching EMT and paramedic classes along with AHA courses.
I felt it was a gift to be able to help people in all different situations. I definitely learned a lot about life while running the streets and flying the skies as a paramedic. I was able to work with and meet many great people in the field and was always learning new things. Although at times it was a difficult and challenging career, I enjoyed being a paramedic. I’ve wanted to help people my entire life. I was definitely blessed in this career, but something didn’t feel right. It had been an amazing journey, but I felt there was something more.
After being in a car accident in 2011, I found out I had cervical disc injuries and a cyst in my spinal cord. I had permanent nerve damage and lost sensation in my left arm from the elbow down, which ended my flight paramedic career. Eventually I regained strength in my arm and got back into the field and started teaching too. Every year I had to get an MRI to monitor the cyst for growth. In the spring of 2018, my MRI revealed something new. As stated by my doctor, "it’s a miracle, the cyst in your spinal cord has disappeared." It’s amazing how many miracles happen every day.
After years of working in EMS, I was unable to hide my emotions anymore. The nightmares in my mind were becoming overwhelming. I was struggling to maintain my career as a paramedic. Even after going from the streets to teaching, it didn’t matter. I had dealt with anxiety and depression my entire life and in the recent years added PTSD to the list.
The darkness had finally consumed me, and I hit rock bottom. It was at that time I called out to Jesus like never before, then things began to change. My depression and anxiety now became visions of an amazing world I did not know existed. Jesus had definitely answered my call.
I believed in God, but always had a lot of questions. I hadn't gone to church for many years. I realized I knew of God but did not really know Him. I turned to the Bible and realized that to get my head right, I needed to get my heart right. I started studying the Bible and going to church again.
Music, pets, motorcycles and nature have been therapeutic for me since I was a child. Now I’ve added writing too. I feel we all have our own version of a book to write. I would urge anyone struggling with anything in life to reach out to God and see that the negative world they may be living in, does not have to stay that way. He will show you the way. As a work in progress, I'm learning how to address any difficulties or frustrations more appropriately now. Struggles will come, but through faith, I'm more prepared to respond to them. I feel as anyone in sports has told us, when you lose a game, put it behind you and prepare for the next one.
Follow your dreams, don't settle for: “I can't” or “that's just the way it’s always been.” Make a change in your life and see how God will show you things that you never thought were possible. That’s what I’ve done, and I’m excited to start this new calling and adventure as a writer and lyricist. I pray this book of life's journey blesses you all.
Now, I invite you on a journey, through the depths of your mind's movie screen, to the rainbow’s end, along a golden road of eternity. The time is now to come together, all the people of every nation, across this universe of a life without boundaries.
I got an early morning wake-up call from God about our lives that have true meaning, for which you're permanently awake and you never stop dreaming. There are limitless possibilities through a symphony message of hope and rhythmic positivity. Let's take a voyage in this supernatural world, beyond the realm of a comfortable existence of routine.
We’re living in the now, of a life less ordinary, on an angelic adventure of faith in God’s amazing story. Winning a galactic battle of good and evil, His light shines down upon us, forever in His glory. We see a reflection into a world of peace, through the eyes of our hearts. Unity is the message, for which we all can begin to start. Through the lyrics of our life’s dream, I welcome you to my heart and soul. Let’s begin and I’ll show you what I mean.
Theater of Dreams
From a dream I awoke
In my notebook I wrote
"Listen to the words they’re in you,
This is what your life is going to be,
Writing down the words, for all the world to see"
God wakes us up, sometimes around three
He’s got so much to say, to you and to me
I’ve opened my spiritual, eyes and ears
While in the darkest of night, I have no fears
The eyes of my heart, are now enlightened
Dark side of my mind, has been brightened
Take a ride, in that mystery machine
His love will open you, to the world unseen
Remember MLK Jr, he had a dream
The world was intended, to be one team
We're all one in God’s nation, upon this earth
Helping to start, this immense rebirth
When you awake and realize, we’re not all machines
Turn on your heart, to God’s theater of dreams
Heard the voice of God, in those early morning hours
Through the Lord, He gives us power
The lyrics to me, He has given
A gift from God, in this vessel I’m driven
To spread His word, on the wings of a dove
Freedom's ringing in our ears, song notes of peace and love
Giving me messages, all through the night
Now that I know, how to listen to 'em right
Sometimes you’ll awake, with a new kinda knowing
Jesus is knocking, His love He is showing
Went the distance, found the sunlight at night
I'm back on my feet, He's brightened my sight
The glare and the beam, what was happening to me
Loving this life, a new peace decree
Now’s the time, let’s all come together
We’re a world of one, and Christ is the tether
Take a ride, in that mystery machine
His love will open you, to the world unseen
Remember MLK Jr, he had a dream
The world was intended, to be one team
We're all one in God’s nation, upon this earth
Helping to start, this immense rebirth
When you awake and realize, we’re not all machines
Turn on your heart, to God’s theater of dreams
Joel 2:28 (ESV)
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
My Dear Friend Vincent
Seeing is believing, may not always be so
The air around us, hiding more than you know
Believing is seeing
Within all human beings
Starry night painting, more accurately displays
Flow of earth’s energy, around us everyday
Vincent like many, troubled and depressed
Struggled with demons, in life’s stress test
No one would listen, to the messages he had
If they’d opened their minds, they would have been glad
My dear friend Vincent
Your mind may have been distant
You had a gift from the Lord
Seems hard to understand, what you were heading toward
Found the missing peace, to the puzzles that we paint
We’re listening now, this time we will not faint
With a new brush, Vincent's loving hand is back
Another starry night, is painted 'cross the black
Always get back up, whenever you fall
We’re all painters on God’s canvas, in His glory we stand in awe
There are monsters in this world, that lurk in the unseen
Not everyone can see them, through their hidden smokescreens
He had abundant gifts, but constant battles with the beast
Pushed him to the breaking point, the fear became increased
Started a new painting, turning evol back to love
Endless color options, from the palette up above
The time has come
For the battle's already been won
Although difficult and tiresome
Evil has been overcome
Soon people will realize
So much of the world's real lies
With a new brush, Vincent's loving hand is back
Another starry night, is painted 'cross the black
Always get back up, whenever you fall
We’re all painters on God’s canvas, in His glory we stand in awe
Can’t always believe what you see
It’s all become so clear to me
I know that believing is seeing
Some may ask, what do you mean
God has given us a gift
Deception’s curtain, we’ll all lift
I now understand, how Don McLean
Painted a portrait, of Vincent’s life and pain
Other people's madness
Can turn into your sadness
Years gone by, they didn’t know how
Seems that they all, are listening now
Wheat field thunder cloud, eternity’s gate
Gone too soon, for fate would not wait
In these days, keep saying your prayers
Soon we’ll be headin', up those heavenly stairs
Vincent's now peaceful, for this I know
Live your life now, paint your own Van Gogh
Antenna of Love
Pool cue's clearing the table
Love is back ready, willing and able
The heart of a locket
Sending peace to every pocket
Tune your heart's radio, to human being
As you can see, the evil is fleeing
Gotta love one another, my sisters and brothers
Now is the time, unlike any other
The destructive signal, has been shut down
It’s God's peace that's now, going out to every town
For too long, love's signal they’ve been jammin'
No need to get back, to your regularly scheduled programmin'
From Wardenclyffe in New York, to the Paris Eiffel Tower
Love's going 'round the world, you can feel God’s power
Antenna of love
The peace of a dove
We’re talkin' worldwide K-Love
Spreading love on every station
Sending peace and love to every nation
Making sense of this abomination
Father's peace and love
Eternal from above
Rewrite our history
Sailing God's frequent sea
His plan has come
For us all to be one
The deception has been lifted
God's people have been gifted
As the new generations
He’ll save all the nations
Set the volume to max
Love will stop the attacks
In this life some call a game
Remember Thy name
Antenna of love
The peace of a dove
We’re talkin' worldwide K-Love
Spreading love on every station
Sending peace and love to every nation
Making sense of this abomination
We’re all Scooby Doo
The mystery’s in you
There's work to be done
Remember through all we are one
A world of paradise is to come
Welcome back to God's kingdom
1 John 4:7 (ESV)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
My Wife
Just as the Dude, I’ll always abide
Happily married, and enjoying the ride
Her swirl of cocoa galaxy eyes
Brighten the darkest of any skies
Promise 'til the end of time
A Pink Floyd nursery rhyme
Hand in hand, and heart to heart
Together forever, never be apart
My heart can’t stop smiling
Since the day you wore my ring
Bodyguard has us covered, underneath His wing
I’ll be your Costner, you’ll be my Whitney
Livin’ together, in this world of Disney
In this new year, our love it shines
Like God's music notes, so divine
Got across that river, to be with my wife
Lord knows she’s so fine, she brings such beauty to life
Celebrated 25 married years in the making
Always try to live, with more giving than taking
As the sun rises, a beautiful red dawn
We are birds in this painting, that He has drawn
God's morning skywriter
Paints with a purple rain highlighter
Love you pumpkin, my favorite pie
You’ve saved my life, that ain’t no lie
My heart can’t stop smiling
Since the day you wore my ring
Bodyguard has us covered, underneath His wing
I’ll be your Costner, you'll be my Whitney
Livin’ together, in this world of Disney
From those Firehouse days as a trainee
To where my heart is now set free
You’ve always been there for me
Together we’re stronger, a love guarantee
I’ve never had to wonder
I’ll always be your thunder
Lady, you look wonderful tonight
His plan made our hearts, as one unite
This love of a lifetime, was sent from above
We just couldn’t help, falling in love
How beautiful my darling, sunshine rose among the thorns
Through the challenges before us, we’ve weathered every storm
Blessed are those, that are thankful for this life
Moral of the story, I’m thankful for my wife
Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”
Renovate Your Heart
The highest of price, has already been paid
What sometimes may seem, to be poorly made
Is actually the builder's, design incentives
Strengthening our heart, for future endeavors
Constructing the framework, of Holy Spirit relations
His peace will take, away our frustrations
Reclaim your heart, like vintage hardwood floors
And use that old wood, for a beautiful new door
Magnolia company, the town or the tree
Pastor Bill, Milestone Church, helped set me free
Work's always in progress, don't build your castle on sand
Jesus is the rock, strongest in the land
Don’t hang a picture, to hide your heart's cracked wall
In this real estate of life, be an investor when God calls
God renovates your heart