Divine Prescnce, thank you for the gift of today.
My weary eyes see how much each moment is
filled with grace.  I am grateful that my friends
help me see how I have been holding onto fears
and resentments, to the point that life felt like
a burden.

I offer up myself to You.  Help me to be useful to You
and those that are still suffering.  Thank you for taking
away my fears and helping me see my part in the resentments
I held.  

I feel lighter and little more free today, so I offer this poem
of praise and gratitude.  Thank you for helping me glimpse
the reality of each moment being as a free gift offered out of love.  May I share this precious gift with others.  Amen.

I want to read a book
That's never been read
Hear a gentle word
That's never been said
I want to sit back
And close my eyes
When I open them up
Everything is alright

I want to ring a bell
That's never been rung
Sing along to a song
That's never been sung
Pull back the curtain
With all of my might
So I can expose
Everything is alright

I want to see
What has never been seen
Take a long walk
In the hands of a dream
Reach as far as I can
The highest of heights
And pull down to earth
Everything is alright

I want a spot
Where I feel I belong
Take all that I've got
Before it is gone
I want to shine
The brightest of lights
So I can find
Everything is alright

A diamond is made 
From pressure and stress 
The carbon and heat
Create hardness

From ashes to beauty
Just dirt purified
From hard circumstances 
And persistence combined 

A diamond withstands
The harshest force
It's cut by itself
From the initial coarse

Nothing can scratch
Nor its perfection mar
And from its hard ordeal
It bears no scar

It is the strongest substance
Won't bend or even give
No heat, impact, or tension
All else it will outlive 

Diamonds are an image
They serve as a display 
For something that's much harder
And endures through any pain

Diamonds worn around the finger
Bound to a golden ring
Represent the marriage pact
That outstands everything

Love that never, ever fails
Love that keeps its word
Love that lasts throughout the storm
Love that's tested sure

A diamond shines for all to see
It glitters in the light
And the love that's in the heart
Shines in the blackest night.

I feel like I'm walking on the seashore
Some ground firm, some not anymore

Reality's clear when I don't think of you
But when my mind slips, I lose that good view. 

It seems that I wallow in sand to my knees
When all I am doing is aiming to please 

But when I look to what God asks
It's easier than struggling to fulfill my own tasks.

I want to obey
Because I know I'll be safe
When I follow You.

love is everything
our only hope
love does not begrudge small things
it does not judge or hate
it is not impatient
it does not jump to conclusions
it does not hold people to standards
it sees everything as joyous
accepts all
blesses all
seeks to understand without stereotyping
forgives every wrong
gives everything
does not hold back
love is what our hearts were meant for
it is everything
never hold back your love,
never say someone isn't worthy of it,
never condemn,
if God can love them, you can too
you are made in the image and likeness of God
your heart calls to him every moment
and he is love
so we were made
our very souls formed
in order to love and forgive and understand perfectly
so please, please
love with all your mind, heart, and strength.
that is the greatest commandment.
that is the only commandment.
love is everything.