Jeff Leslie
Lyrics and Poetry
pg. 8

IF JESUS CAME AT CHRISTMAS-IF NOT US, WHO THEN?-
IN THE LAND WHERE LIVING NEVER ENDS-IN THE MORNING, LORD, YOU HEAR ME-
IRONS IN THE FIRE-IS HEAVEN LIKE OKLAHOMA-IT WAS YOUR GRACE



“IF JESUS CAME AT CHRISTMAS”   by Jeff Leslie  12/25/98

If Jesus came at Christmas
Instead of ol’ St. Nick’las
He wouldn’t ride a flying reindeer sleigh
He wouldn’t have a belly
That shook like so much jelly
Or say “Ho-Ho” and “Jingle all the way”

He wouldn’t spend the winter
And spring and fall and summer
At the northern pole, a frozen neighborhood
Warming with hot chocolate
Reading through his checklist
To see this year if we’ve been bad or good

Christ wouldn’t hire helpers
Like all the little elves there
Busy all year ‘round just building toys
He wouldn’t count the cookies
And peppermint striped candies
Which pay the elves that Nicholas employs

Instead His happy Kingdom
Is up above in heaven
His paradise. For us, the promised land
Where he watches all His children
And lifts our heavy burdens
With compassion and a love that understands

If Jesus came at Christmas
Instead of ol’ St. Nick’las
He wouldn’t lay our gifts beneath the tree
He wouldn’t use the chimney
He’d only knock so gently
As patiently He waits to be received

So go on with tradition
And buy each other presents
But as you gather ‘round remember this
That Jesus came at Christmas
So long before St. Nick’las
Just believe Him and you’ll be upon His list




"IF NOT US, WHO THEN?"   by Jeff Leslie  12/30/92

There's a child in a chair
With a look of longing on his face
Gazing through his window
Watching the kids run from base to base

If he could play like they do
If he could run when they race
And not be alone in his room
Like a prisoner in a cage

Is there a friend for the friendless?
Jesus would be that for him
Who'll hear the cries from the distressed?
If not us, tell me who then

There's a man with a cane
He can't see through glasses he wears
Although he doesn't complain
Deep down he knows people stare

If he could know where he's going
If he could see where he's been
There would be joy in the knowing
There would be peace deep within
 
Is there some help for the helpless?
Jesus would be that for him
Who'll hear the cries from the distressed?
If not us, tell me who then

Jesus came not just to sacrifice
But show us the way we should live
Not for ourselves but for all of mankind
Each day find a way you can give

Somewhere there's help for the helpless?
Jesus would be that for them
Who'll hear the cries from the distressed?
If not us, tell me who then



“IN THE LAND WHERE LIVING NEVER ENDS”  by Jeff Leslie  2/4/98

There’s a grave that could not hold a Man
Instead became a launching pad
Where the dead Man rose to live again
To the land where living never ends

Where the water really tastes like wine
And blood makes snow of these sins of mine
Where the dead in Christ will live again
In the land where living never ends
In the land where living never ends

When the innocent was sacrificed
The guilty, then, won’t pay the price
And the dead in Christ will live again
In the land where living never ends

They worshipped Him Who washed the feet
Of the lowly ones He chanced to meet
Well if He did than this is true
A king can be a servant, too.

A grave will never hold the man
Who takes hold of the Saviour's hand
And follows Him to live again
In the land where living never ends

Where the water really tastes like wine
And blood makes snow of these sins of mine
Where the dead in Christ will live again
In the land where living never ends
In the land where living never ends



“IN THE MORNING, LORD, YOU HEAR ME”  by Jeff Leslie 7/30/90

In the morning, Lord, You hear me
In the morning, Lord, I sigh
Kneeling, waiting, anticipating
Your comforting reply

Because I, by Your great mercy
Have the pleasure, Lord, to live
In Your house, Your home, Your heaven
Where Your peace You freely give

O Lord, lead me in your righteousness
Make straight, for me, Your way
I will sing Your song with gladness
Every hour, every day

When my enemies attack me
From the left and from the right
You're my shield, my shrine, my shelter
In your presence I will hide

You surround me with Your favor
As a Father to His young
Then console me by Your Spirit
Until each new day is done

In the evening, Lord, You hear me
In the evening, Lord, I sigh
Kneeling, waiting, anticipating
Your comforting reply
 
Then I rest against my pillow
Without worry, without care
For I've given You tomorrow
And You're waiting for me there



“IRONS IN THE FIRE”   by  Jeff Leslie      4/21/87

The plea of Pontius Pilate 
Another man to die on crossing timber
Spikes are to be molded
Irons in this fire of burning ember
Fashioned by these hands of mine
Formed before a thousand times
To think that I would crucify my Saviour

Irons in the fire--Spikes of mine have crucified Him
Irons in the fire--Fashioned in a blazing fire
Irons in the fire--These spikes of mine have crucified my Saviour

The command of the Creator
The Son of Mine must die on crossing timber
To cover acts of evil
Like irons in a fire of burning ember
Fashioned by these hands of mine
Performed before a thousand times
To think my sins have crucified my Saviour

Irons in the fire--Sins of mine have crucified Him
Irons in the fire--He's saved me from a blazing fire
Irons in the fire--These sins of mine have crucified my Saviour

Through the flesh of the same hands
That with one touch could heal a dying  man 
Captured there in time and space
For my offense He suffered in my place

Irons in the fire--Sins of mine have crucified Him
Irons in the fire--He's saved me from a blazing fire
Irons in the fire--These sins of mine have crucified my Saviour



“IS HEAVEN LIKE OKLAHOMA”   by Jeff Leslie 2/24/86

God, I’ve seen Your handiwork
Where You molded up the mountains we call Wichita
Where I grew up we would climb them
And never even had to travel very far
And I have smelled the winter wheat when it was ripe enough to eat
Then I held it in my hand and watched it blow away like sand
Life has been so good
How I love this great land

(1st CHORUS)
Is heaven anything at all like Oklahoma?
Do fields of green lay long between each town?
If heaven’s anything at all like Oklahoma
It’d be the place for me to settle down

Well, I know the weather changes
Changes sometimes fast as you can turn around
And sometimes it won't rain for many days
And dust gets blown the from off the ground
And you might hear me complain when it's been long since I've seen rain
But I don't really mind when I can see a sunny sky
In the summertime
Dear God, I love this great life!

(2nd CHORUS)
Is heaven anything at all like Oklahoma?
Do sparrows fly against the sky of blue?
If heaven’s anything at all like Oklahoma
I wouldn't mind and to spend some time there, too

From the windy West to the eastern green
It's the very best that I've ever seen


(RPT. CHORUSES)



“IT WAS YOUR GRACE”    by  Jeff Leslie   5/19/89


I dreamt I stood before You as You hung upon the cross
Ashamed of my iniquity and all the pain it cost
I reached to wipe the tears that rushed a river from Your eyes
And saw my sins before me with each drop of pain You cried
I turned and could not look You in the face
For there I would have hung but for Your grace

It was Your grace that bore the weight of all my sin
It was Your grace that suffered in my place
You made a way to rise from death and live again
It was Your grace -- amazing grace

I dreamt I knelt before You as You sat upon the throne
Ashamed of my iniquity with judgement yet to come
You reached to wipe the tears that rushed a river from my eyes
And wiped my sins away with each drop of shame You dried
I stood then to receive Your warm embrace
And knew I would have died but for Your grace

From now until the end of all my days
I will tell the world it was Your grace

It was Your grace that bore the weight of all my sin
It was Your grace that suffered in my place
You made a way to rise from death and live again
It was Your grace -- amazing grace


All Lyrics Renewed © 2005 Jeffrey K. Leslie
All Rights Reserved.  Non Profit Use Permitted
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