Take my life and mold and shape
Take all that I am and recreate
You made me in your image
When you carved me in your hand
You know my inmost being
Loved me before time began
Carefully made with such love and care
No craftsman on earth can compare
To take something and give it
New purpose, new life, new identity
To look within and set a spirit free
It is the gift of a precious chosen few
And so it is why I sing this song for you
The wood rejoices and it sings
It even dances for the master
It takes on a life all its own
Speak to my soul in purest tone
Bless us with the song of the carpenter
With hands both rough and tender
With eyes to see what may lie hidden
With patience for the hours ahead
With humble heart that's spirit led
May all we do and think and say
Lead to the life the truth and way

Oh Lord My God, that I would disappear
That I could hide inside your heart
And be content to rest in your presence.
That I could be still and silent
That I could melt in the heat of your love.
You are hidden in the bread and wine
Yet present all the same
And still, you revealed your heart
To those who humbly came.
May I imitate your life
As I try to reflect this love
And share your heart with others.
Increase Lord until we are
Of one mind, one heart, one soul
Until the two parts fade away
And the day I am finally whole.
Let me lay my head upon your breast
Where your heart speaks to me
And where I find perfect peace and rest.
Lord, that where you are, I may also be.

I believe in love everlasting
I believe in love that never dies
And I believe love is what I see
In your eyes

I believe in love stronger than death
I believe love is an eternal spark
I believe it is of God's very breath
And love will lead you through the dark

I believe love can take our breath away
I believe that it's more than enough
I believe it hurts, but it's worth it anyway
I believe in a little thing called love

I believe someone so loved me
He came for me, oh He bled for me
The way He loved so perfectly
It's what I long for so desperately

I believe in love that is not bound
To the ways of the world in which we live
I believe in love we'll find common ground
When we learn to take and learn and give

I believe that love is a great mystery
That we may never fully understand
But I believe in time we'll come to see
As we take this journey hand in hand

For I believe in love everlasting
I believe in love that never dies
And I believe that love is what I see
When e'er I look into your eyes

Who am I, but one?
Who am I from anyone?
I am small and weak
I can't do everything
So tell me: why should I try?
One can't change the world
And I am only one.

Who am I, but one?
Not just one, but some one.
I can walk and speak
And I can do something
So tell me: why not try?
I can change someone's life
And I am some one.

Who am I, but one?
I am someone
Who can do something
For someone else.
I can't do everything for everyone
But I can do something for someone
So I will not refuse to do
What I can do for one
And what I wish to do for all

Who am I, but one?
I am one,
But I am not the only one.
We can do great things
When we work together
When we are one

Rest Assured I will hold you through the night
I will be with you when you, again, see the light
I am here and I have never left your side
In the ups and downs of this rollercoaster ride
I am your strength, and I am your great shield
I am your warrior: I will not falter, I cannot yield
When life is fraught with danger, cling to me
I will be your anchor in the great raging sea
Be at peace for, in the valley, I walk before you
For I am God of the hills and of the valleys too
I never promised you a life that was free from pain
But I am near you now and forever I will remain
Rest Assured now you are safe and secure
By my grace and my love, you will endure
These hands were pierced for love's sake
Your pain and sorrow make my heart break
My hands are reaching out to pull you in
Breathe deeply and let the healing begin
Just trust and believe and, in faith, obey
And whatever happens things will be okay
I have come so that you might have life
Not just survive, but that you might thrive
So, rest assured and please don't fret
Because I love you, I'm here.
Don't ever forget

The word Commit was on my heart tonight. Sunday's Gospel is about prudence and commitment. It sure is a pointed and timely reminder in my life right now as I struggle with God's vocation for my life. In many ways, the commitment is what scares me, I think. The seeming finality and quite real finality of it. There is no maybe, no half-way, no lukewarm. It is yes or no, all or nothing, hot or cold. Starting something is easy enough, but the test is seeing it through to completion and being prepared to do so.

I pray for me and for all of you that we may be strengthened in our commitments, that we may be committed and strengthened in our commitment to Christ, and I pray for peace and clarity of vision in all of life's decisions. God committed his very life for all of us, may we have the grace and courage to do the same for others. Amen

There is something about a garden
Something so real and so divine
A secret place, a silent sanctuary
It is a feeling that is difficult to define

There is something about a garden
That leads my heart to prayer
A place of safety to where I run
And where I find hope in despair

There is something about a garden
And being surrounded by creation
Singing songs of praise to God
The Creator and Author of Salvation

There is something about a garden
That feels like mercy's ocean
And, like a crashing wave upon the shore,
I'm swept away with great devotion

There is something about a garden
That fills me with such great delight
Filled with awe and greatest wonder
On the wings of dawn my soul takes flight

There is something about a garden
That I can almost see the hand of God
The foretaste of Heaven on the Earth
We walk where the angels have trod