Dear Friends,

As a close friend of Michele Dawn Cuffs, I consider it a honor to write down these songs that she wrote during her lifetime and wanted to share with loved ones after she went to be with the Lord.

She once told me that all of her adult life, before she was saved and after, she loved to write songs. In fact, she once had a dream and a goal of becoming an accomplished song writer, but she later realized that was not God's will for her life.

Of the many songs she's written, these are the only ones she felt the Lord wanted her to share. Through them she hopes to encourage salvation and a dependence on the Lord in every part of life.

Michele passed away on the evening of Sunday, March 16, 2003. Please don't cry for Michele, for she is right where she wants to be - in the arms of Jesus. And her earnest desire is that all of us know Jesus and join her there someday.

In Loving Memory of our Dear Friend,

Betty Bockoras c 2003

all rights held by
Betty Bockoras
P.O. Box 594
Okeechobee, FL 34973

contents

Michele Dawn

Suzan Christopher Marley

Mama's Goal

Her knees were bleeding when she came in from working

Every night with a sack of food.

Her hands were blistered. Her back was always hurting.

Her eyes couldn't hide her health was just not good.

We were only kids when we all prayed to Jesus

"Please help us know how we can ease Mama's pain."

As she lay dying she said, "I sure do love you."

I gave my life for you, now hear me while I say:

Chorus

Jesus will take my soul,

But on earth I have reached my goal

If you children will love the Lord forever more.

I understood then why Mamma worked and labored

Far beyond her strength, beyond her call.

It was to teach us that honest work is favored.

If life is worth a thing, it's worth our all.

And Mama gave us her life so we'd see Jesus,

A living sacrifice poured out in love.

But she was happy. In joy she'd always teach us

Why Jesus came to earth and gladly poured His love in blood

Chorus - She sang:

Jesus will take my soul,

But on earth I have reached my goal

If you Children will love the Lord forever more.

She'd read the Bible to us. John 3:16

And every time I hear First Timothy 1:15

Now I understand what it means.

Chorus- 'cause she said:

Jesus will take my soul

But on earth I have reached my goal

If you children will love the Lord forever more.

Chorus- She sang:

Jesus will take my soul

But on earth I have reached my goal

If you children will love the Lord forever more.

contents

Michele Dawn

Acceptance

I just want to be accepted. Just want to be me.

Don't want no one pushing me to be what I can't be.

I've got to be me.

But I don't like the failures I have been.

Still I've got to be myself 'cause God made me.

He made each of us different oh so uniquely,

I've got to be me.

But I don't like the failures I have been.

Hey there, Creator, I know You made me.

But I don't believe You made any of my faults.

Oh, no You're greater than all my failures,

So it must be me who has been wrong.

But Lord I've only sought acceptance. Hey world, Its me!

But the only ones who notice seem to mislead and deceive me.

I've got to break free

From confusion and failures I have been.

Well there's got to be a way to make a new start. I need a brand new heart. A new part of living.

There's got to be a way to make a new start.

Oh my heart feels hard. Got to feel pardon

For the stone cold weight of my sins.

I know, I'll turn the radio on because I can't stand 

A choir sings songs, words of guidance.

Preacher comes on sayin', "Why don't you let Jesus in?"

Let Him in. Let Jesus m.

He only wants acceptance. He wants to set you free.

But first you've got to let Him in and trust Him 

You'll really be free.

Just let Him wash away and overcome your sins."

You mean there really is a way to make a new start?

Hey, a brand new heart! God's part of living.

There really is a way to make a brand new start.

When God's forgotten all you've ever done rotten You'll be on your way to Heaven again.

That's right, repent!

Michele Dawn

All I Know

All I know, is that I know many people

Who I love, or think a lot of in my own way.

And yes it's so, in days gone by we shared much evil.

So now that I have something good to share -- they look the other way.

And it's so lonely to be concerned about eternity,
When all of those you love the most don't want to know the Lord.
'Cause its only He who can save our souls and set us free.

And it hurts to see them bound for hell - by rejecting His Word.

And all I know, is when I kept hanging 'round with them

It got so hard to keep from doing the things they do.

Yes, Jesus rose me up but friends just brought me down.

So to come out from among them was -the only thing to do.

So He called me to go, into the world and preach the Gospel

To every living creature, because He loves them so.

And all I know, is if fellow men are worth loving at all

Then they're worth loving through all eternity -and that is all I know.

And it's not lonely to be living with Christ deep inside of me

Working along with others who sincerely love the Lord.

'Cause there's hungry to feed, naked to clothe and souls we must help reach

And we keep praying for our loved ones too -- so there's no time to get bored.

He calls us to go into the world to preach the Gospel To every living creature,
that's what the Bible says to do. And all I know, is if fellow men are worth loving at all
Then they're worth loving through all eternity and that is all I know.

Yes, they're worth loving through all eternity -and that is all I know.

All I know.

Michele Dawn

Back Of The Book

Chorus

Look in the back of the book and you'll find out we win,

So I'm glad I believe in Jesus.

Better take a look at all of your sins, and think about what you're believing.

Hey, hey if Jesus came today, well where would you say

That you would be spending forever?

Well, I'm glad to say that I'm on my way to Heaven

I know you have problems, that's just part of living,

But how you will solve them is what you must live with.

Once I was alone without Jesus. Didn't know which way to turn.

Seemed no matter what I did, it fell through.

Then a friend said, "Hey Jesus loves you.

He died then rose again to save you." To Revelation she turned.

Looked in the back of the book and she showed me they win, So I thought I'd better believe in Jesus.

Took a good look at all of my sins, and thought about what I was believing.

She said, "If Jesus came today, well where would you say

That you would be spending forever?"

Oh, and that was the day I decided to pray and head for Heaven.

Well, nobody's perfect and God above knew that.

He told Jesus, "Forgiveness is where it's at.

Go down there and save them from sin.

Live a perfect life for them. Die for them then rise again,

Help them overcome their sin so they can enter in."

Some have been known to be a fun-time boozer,

A two-time lover or a three-time loser.

They grow to feel that life is useless. Just keep on losing control

Well, I know what its like 'cause I've been there

When your soul just cries and seems like no one cares.

Oh, but Jesus died to show He does care. The whole story's been told.

Chorus

Look in the back of the book, and you'll find out we win,

So I'm glad I believe in Jesus.

Better take a look at all of your sins, and think about what you're believing.

Hey, hey if Jesus came today, well where would you

That you would be spending forever?

Well, I'm glad to say that I'm on my way to Heaven.

Yes, I'm glad to say that I'm on my way to Heaven. Hope I will see you there.

Michele Dawn

Not My Will But Thine

Help my heart to understand the things I cannot see.

Cause my eyes to see the things I don't understand.

I know I'm not all I should be, Lord. Have mercy on me.

Help me trust Your love. Help me do what You have planned.

Not my will but thine, Lord. I know You do know best. But I need you to help me do what's right, I must confess.

I know You made everything and You created me.

My mind is a tiny thing compared to all that You know.

But I get independent and think I'm smart as can be.

And even good intentions fail when I don't give you control.

Not my will but Thine, Lord. I know You do know best. But I need you to help me overcome self righteousness.

Just help me understand what You want me to do, Lord.

Please help me understand just what You have in mind.

You know I do a lot of dreaming, but I'll leave it up to you,

What's best for this here life of mine.

 I'm going to take Your hand and let You help me climb.

Oh-oh, getting higher. Oh-oh, getting higher.

 I'm going to take Your hand and let you help me climb.

We are only human and its hard to live the life,

But we are more than conquerors when we humbly obey.

Help us to fully trust You. We love You, Jesus Christ. We love You and we praise You as we sincerely say,

Not my will but Thine, Lord. I know You do know best. But I need You to pull me through and help me climb each step.

Oh-oh, getting higher. Oh-oh, getting higher.

 I'm going to take Your hand and let You help me climb.

C 1979

Michele Dawn

Danny Dean

Danny Dean was born one rainy morning.

The air was cold and gray like clouds above.

The city of Chicago breathed to him this warning:

In this town you fight more than you love.

His birthing nearly caused his mama's last breath.

All attention turned to her while he cried alone.

He never understood why his parents love didn't last long.

As he grew older and they were always stoned.

Loneliness chilled Danny's little bones.

Blades of grass were growing in the countryside.

The Lord above would breathe and they would sway.

Each year the Lord grew new grass, and He always thought

How nice it would be if Danny Dean came here to play.

But Danny Dean grew up on concrete playgrounds

In a city where the grass and people fade.

The only life he knew is the kind where you just gang around

And fight for life to prove you're not afraid.

But way down deep inside he was afraid.

Blades of grass were growing in the country side.

The Lord above would breathe and they would sway.

Each year the Lord grew new grass and He always thought

How nice it would be if Danny Dean came here to pray.

But Danny felt secure in his miseries.

It was the only life he'd ever known.

Now grown into a man he did not know quite how to stand

Or how he could ever reach his goals.

Danny Dean lay bleeding in an alley.

His heart grew cold as his warm blood ran free.

Suddenly he thought of how the city never really

Helped him be the things he'd longed to be. His heart cried out. "Dear Jesus set me free."

Oh, Lord You know there's grass out in the country side.

Please help me live so I can watch it sway.

And as he lost his consciousness, some folks there thought he died

They said, "This is a man who never prayed."

But God knew that he did

No matter what anyone said,

And folks can't judge when Jesus holds the way.

Yes, Danny got forgiveness when he prayed.

Blades of grass growing in the countryside,

And Danny lives his life in peace today.

He still has daily problems, but oh he loves his life. He built his home out where the grass still sways.

Danny Deans so glad he finally did break away
And pray.

Michele Dawn

Oh Jesus

Oh Jesus, it's so peaceful just laying here

And spending a little while with You.

I know I don't set aside near enough time

To pray or read my Bible or do the things I really ought to do.

But Oh Jesus, you know I'm tired.

Life is such a rat race and so full of things I can't face.

Sometimes I don't know where to turn or what to do

to just unwind.

Oh Jesus, I know that You're the One.

One that I should lean upon and face my life and dreams upon.

From dawn to setting sun and all night long

You really are the One.

Oh Jesus, You are God's Son

So help me live my life in ways that honor You, In humble awe of You. Help me give all to You.

'Cause I am just a human being small and frail.

Oh how much I fail. Lord I need You.

Oh Jesus, it's so peaceful just lying here

And spending a little while with You.

I know I don't set aside near enough time

To pray or read my Bible or do the things

I really ought to do.

But Oh Jesus, its so peaceful just lying here Andspending a little while with You.

Its so peaceful just lying here And spending a little while with You.

Lord, I love You.

Michele Dawn Cutts

Help Me Stand

When the depths of my soul, have lost all control

Then I cry out, Dear Jesus please help me to hold on.

I have wept Lord you know, 'til I can cry no more,

And somehow I've lost the strength to be strong.

Chorus:

Help me stand, take my hand.

Help me do what Your have planned.

Help me follow Your love for my life.

Help me know what to do

That will most honor You.

Help me know, help me stand. Help my life.

There are times I get unstable, and then I turn to You.

Oh, but I should lean on You, Lord, all of the time.

'Cause the times I am not able to do all I should do

Are when instead of doing Your will I'm doing mine.

Chorus:

Help me stand take my hand

Help me do what You have planned.

Help me follow Your love for my life.

Help me know what to do

That will most honor You.

Help me know, help me stand. Help my life.

Michele Dawn Cuffs

I Want To ... Delight in You

I want to love You Lord, Oh but my flesh is weak.

My thoughts and desires often seem to interfere.

Please draw me close to You. I want to be close to You.

Jesus, please help me to love You; and delight in You.

I want to trust You Lord, Oh but I need your help.

I have my doubts and fears like anyone else.

Please help my unbelief Help my faith be complete.

Jesus, please help me to trust You: and delight in You.

Chorus:

I want to praise You Lord. Praise You Lord.

Raise my heart and my soul unto You.

Praise You Lord. Praise You Lord.

Jesus, please help me to love you; and delight in You, Lord.

I want to serve You Lord. Quicken me with Your Word.

Help me not to seek vain glory. All praise is Yours Lord.

Help me share Your love through me, in all that I do for You.

Jesus, please help me to serve You; and delight in You.

(Repeat Chorus)

Michele Dawn Cuffs

(unfinished)

Please Help Me to Be

Chorus:

Please help me to be who You want me to be

In the ways that you want me to be tat person.

Help me to stand how You want me to stand

Even when standing is sinking sand.

'Neith it all, is the rock of Your salvation

No matter how shaky the situation.

I stabilizes me like a rooted tree

Always reaching for Thee.

Please help me to know you, Lord for who You really are.

Help me to know Your heart.

Please help me to overcome my faults, my wrong desires.

Soften my hard heart.

I'm only a flesh and blood human, weak and insecure.

I need Your love, Your blood

To help to overcome the things Ishould not do,

And help me do what I should.

(Repeat Chorus)