The sun peeks through my window

I yawn and stretch and wake up slow

Get ready for a new day of adventure and surprise

Hear the birds greet the brightening sky

A smile on my face and a song in my heart

A good day and a great start

A day a work and a day spent with family and friend

Talkin' 'bout life, love, and good times by the day's end

The sun is slowly sinking in the sky; setting eart on fire

The air cools and the colors inspire

Soon the sun is asleep and with it the women and kids

A yawn escapes, a wolf howls, and heavy are they lids

The day is through, a new one will greet you soon

You fall asleep under the blanket of stars and the moon

Before you know it you are roused from sleep

By soft rays of light, the golden wamth penetrates deep

I thank God and look forward to another glorious day

Mary, in your life there was great sorrow and pain. From the very beginning you knew it was going to be a long hard road. Seven sorrows you endured during the life of your son. You bore them all with fortitude and divine grace. The number seven is for fulfillment and perfection and it is through our sufferings and trials that we are shaped, refined, and perfected. Not once did you give up or give in to despair; rather through grace and faith, you remained steadfast. How your heart must break for your children, Mary. There is so much pain, violence, and hate in our world today. Grant a deep peace and love in my soul Oh Blessed Mother, that I may do what I can to console your sorrowful heart.

Amen

This moment now under a starry night
Bathed in the soft glow of firelight
Slightly cool air brings the scent of flowers
Time stands still and minutes are as hours
Nature comes to life in praise of your name
As I lift my eyes to profess the same

Lord I stumble; I fall and lose my way

Lord like sheep I tend to wander astray



Lost in the darkness; alone and afraid

I said “I am sorry” “Help me” I prayed

In the vast silence you heard my desperate plea

And there in an instant you were there with me

You offered your hand and helped me stand

You looked at me and softly smiled. Why I don’t understand

“Child, I love you always. I’m here by your side for all days

Wherever you go whatever you do I will always love you”



I know I make mistakes and do the things that are wrong

Walking slippery slopes and blinded all along



Lost in the darkness; alone and afraid

I said “I am sorry” “Help me” I prayed

In the vast silence you heard my desperate plea

And there in an instant you were there with me

You offered your hand and helped me stand

You looked at me and softly smiled. Why I don’t understand

“Child, I love you always. I’m here by your side for all days

Wherever you go whatever you do I will always love you”



Guiding me along the road to tread the path you trod

Send your angels to keep me; be my stronghold oh God



Lost in the darkness; alone and afraid

I said “I am sorry” “Help me” I prayed

In the vast silence you heard my desperate plea

And there in an instant you were there with me

You offered your hand and helped me stand

You looked at me and softly smiled. Why I don’t understand

“Child, I love you always. I’m here by your side for all days

Wherever you go whatever you do I will always love you”



Lord be the lamp for my feet and the light on my path

Anoint my head with oil and guide me with your staff



Lost in the darkness; alone and afraid

I said “I am sorry” “Help me” I prayed

In the vast silence you heard my desperate plea

And there in an instant you were there with me

You offered your hand and helped me stand

You looked at me and softly smiled. Why I don’t understand

“Child, I love you always. I’m here by your side for all days

Wherever you go whatever you do I always will and always have loved you”

Mercy and Healing

Drink from the fountain of mercy
Be washed in the waters of love
Where the chains fall away and you are free
The sun giving warmth and light from above

Come to the table of goodness and plenty
Partake in the great wedding feast
Where blessings run over and never are empty
All are now equal no greatest no least

In the great light of love there is mercy and healing
Joy and peace will be together once more
When we can move past the hurt we’ve been feeling
We find the forgiveness we’ve been searching for

He bled and died from the wounds we inflict
His ultimate sacrifice the cost of our sin
The greatest act of love and grace he chose to depict
And as he was murdered they were all forgiven

Jesus forgave his killers so why can’t I let go
Of a burden that is not even mine to bear
Lord forgive my un-forgiveness and help me to grow
Remind me that in every situation you are waiting there

Cover me Lord in your loving embrace
Wash me with your precious blood
Fill me with mercy, healing and grace
Drown me in your Most Holy flood

Sing to my soul the sweetest note
Burn your word into my mind
Move me as I read what you wrote
That where I seek you, my heart may find

A place of profound peace and refreshing sleep
A place of great joy where it is forever content
A place of restoring grace and where mercy runs deep
A place where broken things are mended you are present

I ask this and all things with great confidence in your name
To the one who was and is and ever will remain
For we know you hear our cries and hasten to us when we call
But Your will be done not mine for you are Lord of all

Amen

Forever is the longest time that there is
That's how long it seems to take until you're a ****
We are friends forever and a day
That's how long this bond will stay
But you can pass the time so quick when you're having fun
That is no problem when you have number two and one
When I'm feeling blue you make my day so happy
You get me really nice when I'm feeling snappy
You're having fun and you got some time to spare
When you're enjoying life you have no place to care
Sitting back relaxing allowing the time to pass
As you walk barefoot you are tickled by the grass
Forever never comes 'cuz forever doesn't end
You can't change forever or make it bend
Have the power to make life enjoyable
Then at times being you can be annoyable
I see a smile start to creep along your face
Even if the prey was lost don't give up the chase
Make the choices to your life's great path
One is good and the other bad now you do the math
We can't make your choices but we can help you
We can't force you, but we can tell you what to do
I couldn't have a better friend if I lived a million years
Wrote a million poems or shed a million tears
Thank you for helping me to see
Because of you I am a whole new me

Full of mercy and compassion
Abundant grace and blessing
Justice and peace are never out of fashion
Focus on what we can do and stop stressing
Rest easy and be quiet as we go about living
The Lord rejoices in cheerful giving
Giving some of our time or money or skill
We use what we have been given for good will
The humble and the broken are graced
The lonely and oppressed are lifted
Those who mourn will have a taste
Of hope and joy and all will be gifted
We are to be light for a world that is blind
We are to be love in a world often unkind
We are to be warmth in a world now cold
We are to be courageous when so few are bold
We are to be strength to lift up the weak
We are to be gentle in a world that is not meek
We are to be pure in heart for a world that is broken
We are to be the truth that must be spoken
Be a blessing for others and a blessing for the Most High
Help others, do your best, and always try
Allowing God to bless what little we bring
We find that this can be a wonderful thing
Whatever you did for the least ones
Whatever you did for my daughters or sons
You did for me says the Lord God of Hosts
Help us be humble and honest lest we should boast
You gave us everything we could ever need
You are like good water to our seed
You gave us all we could want and ask
You will aid us in all of our tasks
Be with us Lord when we are burdened and  worn
Keep us safe through the night and wake us in the morn
Let your love go before us strengthen us while we pray
Let us bring your kingdom here this very day
There are so many who suffer in spirit and in physical pain
Give us the grace to bring them back and there, remain
Bring me to your heart and help me love with all I am
Take my hands and use them for your healing
Remind me why I do good with this wonderful feeling
To praise you with all that is in me
Bless and glorify so everyone can see
This is what I hope to do
And serve your people the best that I can
Let me not be prideful in me but rest in you
Continue to refine me in your perfect plan

I'm sorry for living like Jekyll and Hyde
One life at church and another outside
I'm sorry for not loving and trusting you like I should
I'm sorry for the times when I've caused pain and not good
I'm sorry for when I choose wrong over right
I'm sorry when I choose darkness over light
I'm sorry Lord for the things I've done
I'm sorry Lord that I hurt your son

How Do You Pray?

Do you pray in silence do you pray with peace?
Do you pray when standing or on your hands and knees?
Do you pray with head bowed low or hands raised up?
Do you pray to satisfy your spiritual plate and cup?
Do you pray for the blessing of others or ask to be healed?
Do you pray to bring down the kingdom and find truth revealed?
Does it matter so much how we pray as that we do?
Does it matter what we pray or for who?
Do you pray with simplicity and words within reach?
Do you pray with eloquence and is it something you can teach?
Is there a better way to pray?
Do you pray from the depths of your heart with every fiber of your being?
Do you know just how much prayer can be freeing?
Prayer truly changes us on a level most profound
Soaring high with feet firmly on the ground
Prayer is more than just words
Prayer could be found in the songs of birds
Prayer is beyond sound into silent surrender
In prayer you never hear about return to sender
God will hear for he is here
Our tears of loss and our tears of joy
He feels our laughter and our pain
He knows our triumphs and our struggles
He has been down that road before
He loves us to the end beyond life beyond death
In eternity He waits for us to be with Him once more
He calls us to follow wherever he may go
He sends us out in the field to sow and reap great yield
We toil and labor and in time it is revealed
The reason for our presence on this Earth we call our home
And none of us should go through everything alone
In a greater plan we have an integral part to play
And sometimes we ask that when we pray
Prayer like conversation is a two way street
We give and take and in the middle we meet
It is more about relationship than it is about the act
It’s a promise of heart and soul more binding than a contract
When we pray, how do we pray?
Are we saying all the words but going through the motions?
Or struggle to find a word but have the greatest devotions?
To just be silent and present could be something strong
Maybe only tears when everything seems to be going wrong
Maybe there is more to prayer than it seems at first glance
Maybe it’s okay and maybe someone gives prayer a chance
Maybe someone’s life is changed by reading this simple prayer
Maybe someone reaches out and finds there is something there
Maybe all of this will make a difference maybe I’ll never know
But maybe just maybe you’ll see the love I pray to show

Psalm 24 Alternate

Jesus you hold everything in your hands
All the earth, the sea, and every land
Take my soul and hold it close to your heart
Lord you know I desire a fresh start

And though I might sin in secret thinking I could hide
You are everywhere and to know you must have cried
I ask you for forgiveness, I beg for help and grace
But I go and set myself up to fall flat on my face

The song so aptly says it Lord I cannot think to add
Another word or phrase and it makes me glad:

We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

Give us clean hands give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another (X2)

Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
Seeks your face Oh God of Jacob (X2)

Lord, help me do what I know I must
To rid myself of the chains of worldly lusts
That I might be free to meet you on the mountain top
And allow me the strength to persevere and not to stop

You hold my life and all that I am
You are the Shepherd I am your little lamb
You are the poet I am the pen
You were, you are, you always have been

To you Oh Lord, I lift up my head my heart I open to you
You are great and mighty the victor over sin and death
May the King of Glory enter in and find a place of purity and truth
Help me re-consecrate all of me to all of you through my final breath

And though I fail both then and now my desire remains the same:
To try to live and act and love in a way that exalts Jesus’ name
I also ask you help me quiet me to hear the whispers of my soul
To know the perfect peace and rest that being in You brings
To be more attentive and open to the extraordinary glimpses of You in ordinary things
This will be or rather is now my goal

When the path ahead is dark, find the light inside:
Believe in yourself and let your heart be your guide.
Reach out through the darkness and take my hand,
I will bring you from stormy seas onto dry land.
Keep the faith, the flame of hope alive
And, though you don't know the way, you will arrive.
Listen to your heart beating in your chest
Have you ever wondered how much you are blessed?
Feel my heart beat just like yours
That, when you are close, it swoops and soars.
What is this feeling? It's painful, and it longs.
I long to find a home, a place my heart belongs.
It's a feeling so tender, so clear and real
Could it be love that I now feel?
You give me joy, you are my life
My life is yours. Will you be my wife?
I promise to live as your love deserves:
Walking together in straight roads and curves.
I promise to cherish and protect you every day
To communicate and listen, to comfort and pray.
You have my heart, you are my life. The choice is yours to make:
Will we join together in heart and hand and take the leap of faith?

Spirit of the Living God
Breath of Heaven, holy nod
Settle on my soul tonight
In your presence I delight
Paraclete and God’s great guide
May the gates of Heaven be opened wide
Teach me how to act and speak
To speak life to the dying and give strength to the weak
My heart is open my mind is free
My soul is still and I am eager to see
The message of love for the world I bear
To plainly show just how much you care
Holy Spirit rest now and burn hot within
Set me ablaze and let the spreading begin
Live inside me fill and overflow
Lead me as you will be with me as I go
Under your sight may I grow in wisdom and grace
That one day I would be honored by seeing Jesus’ face
You take us out beyond the seas and land
To a place of faith and trust to find our savior’s hand
Beyond our understanding to see with the faith of a child
That when we did you looked at us and smiled
You move as the wind sometimes quiet and still
Were I at sea on a boat, my sails you would fill
You are water freely flowing; raining down upon the earth
You are joy and laughter comfort and mirth
Of the Holy Trinity you are least understood
And so many don’t give you the time and reverence we should
Flood our lives with your presence Oh Holy One Of God Most high
May we never have too much and may the well never run dry
Come to us Oh Spirit Divine
Transform the gifts of wheat and wine
Bear our gifts to Heaven and place them at Jesus feet
That they return as blood to drink and flesh to eat
Through this greatest mystery of love
May we join our voices with the angels above
To praise the one to took on flesh
And showed us love even beyond death
That we may one day rise with Him again
To praise and glorify Him and forever say Amen

She is a cutie, a real American Beauty
Watch her as she walks along
Pulled in by her Siren's Song
Smell the flowers in her hair
Smile my way and I'm lighter than air
Dancing in the window by the light of the moon
One look at her and I'm about to swoon

Flowing so gracefully; "My God, she's Divine!"
One day I'll be hers and she will be mine
Dressed head to toe in garment of purest white
You can bet I'll be soaring higher than a kite

I know life doesn't work like the fairy tales say
No magic, not perfect in every little way
As long as we're together I promise we'll make it through
Take it moment by moment, take it day by day. That's what I'll do:

To be by your side through every little thing.
But more than to give you diamonds or ring,
I want to give you peace. And also from this boy:
To love and respect you and bring you joy!

From me to you, my heart is aflame,
Lord, how I pray that you feel the same.

Close your eyes; sit in silence and in still
Empty yourself: be open, free, and calm
Watch, wait, listen: patiently let it fill
Until you find in your mind no qualm

Be alert and aware of what it is you feel
To know your soul is the goal, please do not dismiss
Define the lines between what is false and what is real,
Of all that is important, always remember this:

Take a moment now and then to search for who you are,
Know your heart and know yourself, be the best you can
Know this and know with confidence you can go so far
Try to see and bring out the best in every woman child and man

Watch for the star shining in the east
Watch for the prowling of the beast
Watch for the light that neither falters nor dims
Listen for the sound of the angelic hymns

Watch for the coming of the one true king
Watch for the baby in the manger
May we bless him by the gifts we bring
May we see him in the face of the stranger

Watch for the day that is drawing near
Watch and be wary so you can hear
Him when he comes in all his glory
To write the final chapter in creation’s story

Watch and wait with bright joyful eyes
Watch Christ and ever stay fixed on the prize
Watch and see the greatest gift the world got
Do we remember or acknowledge? I think we have not

I wish I could see what Jesus sees when he looks at you and me
I wish I understood the price he paid to set us all free
I wish I could turn our thinking upside down
And I wish I could make people smile more than frown

I wish a lot of things but what can I do to make an impact
To change or save a life and not be an act
The little things we do can turn the world
There is poetry in all nature and a flower unfurled

So let us watch for the coming of our precious savior’s birth
Reminding the world just how much we’re worth
That Christmas is so much more than just stuff
We have family friends and faith and that is quite enough

There is a change I simply cannot ignore

So great that I am shaken to the core

I will never be the same as long as I live

By Your death and ressurection, life eternal You give

In a world with so much sickness, death, and crime

Use me, let Your will be done throughout all time

A desire to serve in every way I can

Though I don't know, I know you have a plan

My hands be Yours Lord, my feet to serve

My heart, my mind, my soul, all of me you deserve

The love you give; far greater than the Grand Canyon

The Cross the bridge that spans the chasm

This change you call me to go and touch the world

To open up, to share your gifts and joy like a flowers unfurled

To live and serve and follow you, A Beautifull Change It's True

Lord may I be A Beautiful Change For YOU!

Hello, dear child. It is I, your Father.
I love you. Always and forever I love you and will never stop loving you. At times, like sheep, you wander and go astray. In danger you cry out. And I am there by your side to take you back safe and sound. Yes! I would leave the flock to find you and keep you safe. Have I not said I'd leave 99 to find the lost one? Would I not rejoice in a lost one returning home? Did the father not celebrate and run to his prodigal son when the son that was lost and spiritually dead came back? Amen, I say to you, I'll take you back with open arms. When you are weary and tired come to me and I will give you rest and strength. When you are scared or alone, run to me and in the shelter of my arms I'll give you peace and comfort. And if the way is dark, the path unclear; call out to me. Pray. Do not be afraid to ask and reach out. Does it not say "Seek and you shall find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened? Yes if you seek me with all your heart, you will find I am there with you". Amen I say to you, "Trust in Me. Do not worry about the things you need in life". Do not fret about the food you need to stay alive or about the clothes you need for your body. I will provide. See? How the little birds are provided for? How much more are you worth than the birds! Remember child: I am only a breath away. Remember child: how much I love you. Stretching out my arms and dying for you. I love you. Never forget that! I am your Father.
Love,
Daddy

Mary Mother of God, Mary Most Holy
Take me into yourself and in doing so draw me closer to Christ
It is through you that we find we are led to a deeper understanding of Christ
The more we understand who Christ is the better we are able to know who and what we are
Mary, take me as your son and love me as my mother
Comfort me when I am and stay with me when I feel sad
Grant me the ability to treat you with the love, care and respect you deserve as the mother of Jesus and as my mother
Mary you are pure and blameless with no stain of sin or death
By your grace, grant me some share in fellowship with our Lord
I know your son well enough Mary, but I want to know you better
This prayer is very much like a letter
Today we celebrate simplicity, humility and love for creation
With St. Francis of Assisi
Remind us of the sanctity and beauty of life in all its stages and forms
Look with favor upon your church and upon this earth
See all the destruction we have brought upon ourselves
In our ignorance and arrogance of Jesus
Look with mercy and love upon your children longing to make a change
Bless and strengthen us to act with love, peace, and wisdom
As we go about our lives strengthen our devotion
To you and your son and the Holy Spirit
Guide us along the one true road
As we pray to the angels and saints
May we learn and grow in sanctity and holiness
One day we stand before our maker in all his perfect glory
Did we enjoy the life we had, did we use the gifts we were given, how did we love
What will be my answer and will I be counted among the shepherd's flock
Mary be my shelter in the storms of life
Mary be my way to be closer to your son
Mary be my love that shines forever
Mary be my peace and the grace for everyday
Mary be with me always in every little way

It was grace that found us together
God used me to help through stormy weather
When your lives were changed about a year ago
My gifts may have helped, but I was a tool you know
I needed a friend, you an ear and someone to care
If we need to talk will we be there
Words are past me, but a smile steals across my face
This is what you might call saving grace

Be silent. Listen. Breathe. Easy enough to say, but much harder to put into practice. Sometimes I talk to fill a void. I talk to avoid having to feel the weight of silence like judgement, so I don't have to go down deep and see what actually lives there. Help me deal with my emotions, help me feel my emotions, especially those that are uncomfortable or unnatural to me. Be silent. Listen. Breathe. Maybe the hurts and sadness, the hungers and scars deserve to be recognized for what they are. They are part of life. The help me know and feel I am alive. They help me remember and be more grateful for the many wonderful blessings I have in my life. There is a time for talking, but now it is time To Be Silent. To Listen. To Breathe.

The rulers of the earth take heed
Kings and leaders remember well
Respect the Lord and fear Him in kind
Tragedy and ruin happen when we stray from the way
When men conspire and plot and scheme
Bullets, broken glass and bodies lay
Families separated, a world in pain happy days a distant dream
There are those who serve money, popularity, fame, possessions
Other worldly things
But none can wholly satisfy no joy will they bring
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord
Try to live a life that resembles your love freely poured
Those who serve the Lord and fear Him are richly blessed indeed
And those who lose themselves in the Lord, find themselves more free
Happy are they who take refuge in the Lord and seek shelter in his arms

Won’t you take me back to a time before
When life was simple no one keeping score
When I was full of innocence and total trust
Before the dreams that I held turned to dust
I was filled with a sense of awe and wonder
I heard you in the soft wind and in the thunder
Over the years that faith has slowly faded
And life’s experiences have left me jaded
Won’t you take me back to when I was a child
Young and free, rambunctious and wild
I would leap off and with perfect faith I know
You would catch me and never let me go
You would set me right where I needed to be
I could safely be anything. With you, I could be me
I feel sometimes as though I’ve forgotten your voice
I’ve been distracted and concerned with the other noise
Help me relearn Lord like a child once again
To recognize the sound of your voice and then
To listen for you purposefully and with great care
In the stillness and silence I feel the breath of air
The spirit is moving and lifting and healing
The very word of God in truth revealing
Come upon me and illuminate the dark
I love your law for it helps me hit the mark
I know I can’t go back to where it all began
I know that it is all a part of your great plan
But if I could know again a little joy and laughter
It would help remind me why and what it is I’m after
Someday you will take me back and I’ll be home once more
To be with Him for all eternity: Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord

God of All

God of all the universe
God of heaven and of earth
You who made the mountains and the sky
With your Holy breath you spoke Life
God of all, so powerful and mighty
You humbled yourself to be one like me
No words can reach nor all lessons teach
No poets sing nor instruments bring
Justice to your greatness and power
No heart can express nor mind dare to guess
The richness of your love and how much you bless
You Oh Lord are our everything our God and Father
We are so small and frail and yet you still bother
To call us chosen to make us know that we are dear
You give us the reason that we never need to fear
To call you savior is nothing less than right for you
To say brother or friend at times seems less than true
But you love us the same in our brokenness and shame
In our sin and our failings you love us still
You always have and you always will
Creator of the universe you are never very far
You are with us everywhere that where I am, there you are
You have set the way before us you know the path we take
You have been down that road this was no mistake
You are God of the great and small
You are God of all!

There are many ways to fast and many things to fast from. The gospel from Matthew helps to unravel the deeper reason for fasting. One is to give up something pleasurable like eating, drinking, watching TV, or being on the phone in order to bring our minds and hearts to remember Jesus' suffering. We can also recognize how good we have it and that many people have so much less. What little things can we do to help them? By fasting from these things that give us pleasure and satisfaction and take up so much of our time and attention, it allows us to quiet our minds and our hearts to connect with God and hear his soft voice. In fasting from a meal or part of a meal, we can become hungry. This hunger can be a reminder of the time that Jesus was in the desert after his baptism with nothing to eat or drink. In the "Our Father" we ask God to "Give us this day our Daily Bread". God will provide for all of our needs both Physical and Spiritual. Our hunger is physical, but it can also be a reminder of our spiritual hunger and the ways we try to fill the God-shaped holes in our hearts with things that can never truly satisfy. Fasting reminds us of our need for God and helps us to be dependent on Him in everything. We are called to be His children. Should we not, then, depend and rely on Him to be the perfect Father?

Lord, when we fast from things this Lent, open our hearts and minds and in your mercy, reveal to us the deeper value of it. Help us rid ourselves of the distractions in our lives in order to draw us closer to you. And while fasting is good; it alone is not sufficient. In the void of giving something up, help us to do something good, something pleasing to you Oh Lord. May we all "(Finally Find) What We Have Been Looking For". May we all find you!
Amen.

Stand in the rain,
Let the water wash over.
Stand in the joy and the pain,
Feel the drops upon your skin.

Stand in the darkening sky,
Feel the power and promise;
If you focus, if you really try,
You might hear the voice of God.

Stand in the sea
With the waves crashing wild.
Stand; for the one calling is He.
He is the Lamb so meek and mild.

Stand in the temple and sing,
Lift your heart to the One True King.
The waters of mercy, love’s healing touch;
A gift from the one who loves you so much.

Sometimes I’m drowning in a sea of regret,
The storm of sin is bearing down hard.
In these times I seem to quickly forget
That you gave me your calling card.

Sometimes I’m drowning in your love,
Caught up in the storm of your mercy.
You wash me as white as the new winter snow
Your rain helping me as I try to grow.

I am renewed as I stand in the rain
You are life for my soul like a desert oasis.
Strip me away until you are all that remain
In you, I take root and have my basis.

Stand in the rain; sing and dance.
Remember how we got a second chance?
After the flood that covered the earth
God sent a rainbow and a sign of rebirth.

Stand in the rain sense the peace.
Stand in the rain feel the life.
Stand in the rain know the joy.
Stand in the rain see the beauty.
Stand in the rain come alive.

Big or small thick or thin
No matter the place you live in
Black, white, brown, red
I know every hair on your head
I know you, I know your name
And when you hurt I feel your pain
Do not listen or pay heed when the world calls you freak
Because, in you, there is something special and unique
And because I love you as you are
If it seems you don't fit in, can't find a place where you belong
When the world says they're right and all you are is wrong
There are people of compassion who look beneath the skin
To find the light that burns inside, the beauty that's within
And remember I love you as you are
Sometimes the world can be cold and cruel
They might mock your belief and call you a fool
Being different can make people uncomfortable
They'll try to define you and give you a label
But you already have a label more important than the rest
You are called my child and it is you that I will bless
And I love you just as you are
Be yourself, be honest, be gentle and kind
And, throughout your life you will come to find:
You don't need to change who you are to make me love you
For I love you as you are
Always

I sit now within a circle of friends

Sharing their stories of beginnings and ends

Of laughter and love, tears of joy and tears of pain

The sun being out and bearing the rain

We are a family forged by blood sweat and tears

We have seen each other grow and learn over the years

The warm fuzzies and hugs are some of the best

Long days and short nights, 7 days with little rest

Exhausted and beat down, but elated too

There is so much I learn from all of you

The care, love, and compassion that each of you extend

The friendships to strengthen and bond, not break but bend

I pray our fears be all relieved

Everyday I am shown miracles most might not believe

The hard work, motivation and grit is truly an inspiration to me

I pray that tonight each and every one of you can see

You have made a difference in my life tonight

The future is yours, you are all such brilliant lights

Light the world on fire, you are a spark

The smallest ray can illuminate the dark

Today you can say, "I made a difference for one"

And rejoice! For the day of the Lord has just begun!



I love you and thank you! God bless you all, everyone!

Even behind the clouds and the rain
There is a rainbow, and I won't complain
My faith will stay, my faith will remain
When I call on Jesus' name
When you look beyond the seas of gray
You'll see the light of a brand-new day
The sun breaks through to show the way
So, through it all, I'm gonna say
Even behind the clouds and the rain
There is a rainbow, and I won't complain
Now I'm looking back, and I see it all so plain
What I thought was loss was really gain
Sometimes life is more than I can take
And I'm sure another step and I'll break
I believe you know best, but for Heaven's sake
I'm a little concerned when my life's at stake
I trust you though and I choose to abide
I run to your open arms and curl up inside
Your love is deep, and your arms are wide
And in your merciful heart I will reside
Because there, behind the clouds and rain
Lies a rainbow, so I won't complain

Purify

Lord won’t you purify my heart and soul
Wash me clean transform this lump of coal
By the holy waters and the blood of the Lamb
In this flood I see at last who I really am
I am wonderful I am beautiful I am forever yours
I am precious I am loved by death my life restores
You have put me in a crucible a trial by fire
To purify and strengthen me to lift me ever higher
Right now all I feel is hurt and pain
But with your help my faith will yet remain
I know you’ll see me through this time and place
And on tougher days I gaze upon your face
I find the strength to get up and keep going
One day I’ll look back and see that I was growing
Refine me Lord and renew my beating heart
I know that you are creating a work of art
I am under construction and my Lord is far from done
He is building me in the sight of every one
Purify me Lord that I may be as holy as I ought
Redirect me when I forget the lessons I was taught
You are holy perfect blameless and true
Hear our prayer and make us more like you
In this mess Lord you see only beauty
Like a butterfly one day we will break free
Piece together my broken heart mend my broken wings
Cleanse me from within of sin and other things

Bowing low before your cross
I feel the hope I know the loss
Broken you healed a broken land
Kneeling you showed us how to stand
Cursed you broke the curse of sin and death
You gave your life to give us life with your last breath
You opened your arms to open our eyes
You were truth so we could spot true lies
You were the way when we had lost our way
You spoke life and taught us how to pray
Glory to God the Father and the Son
And the Spirit three in one

Amen

Rejoice and be glad for you have been set free
A Holy Nation, a Fruitful People you will be
You were once long in exile and shame
For you turned against God and His Sacred Name
You were a people lost in great darkness
A creation of your own desire and wickedness
But rejoice for your light has come
Bright shining like the sun
He will raise you up again a mighty nation
Your God has chosen you from all creation
Freedom for prisoners, strength for the weak
Justice for the oppressed, life for those who seek
Give thanks and praise to the God who saves
Sing to Him a new song born of a grateful heart
Live your lives in the light of Christ so others imitate
Your example and may also enter the narrow gate
Rejoice; for today, salvation has come
Now go and share it with everyone!

Ask and you shall receive
Imagine what you can achieve
When you love Him with all your being
Miracles can happen if you keep believing

For He is near to those who call upon His holy name
He is freedom and forgiveness in our sin and shame
We repeat the same mistakes and He loves us just the same

His love endures his hope secures
From His side grace and mercy flow
He took on flesh and was put to death
So that the world would finally know

How much he loved us to the end
We betrayed Him and he calls us friend
He looked beyond my faults to the hurt I hold inside
He held me and healed me and my heart was opened wide

The miracle of mercy the miracle of life
The miracle of peace in the middle of strife
The miracle of being loved for all time
The miracle of God choosing a heart like mine

The miracle of the change happening in me
The miracle of light when the blind can see
The miracle of wonder in the eyes of a child
The miracle of a baby so tender and mild

The miracle of a touch, a word or smile
That one sign a person was praying for
You could be the miracle someone was waiting for

Lord make me a miracle for you to use. Let my words and actions bless others and be a light to show them someone is there, someone who cares. So often we look for the big miracles and, while they do happen, we don’t see them all the time. Help us remember to look for and see all the little miracles in our day to day lives. Birth, the beauty of nature, the sun rising each day, making it through one more day, a helping hand you needed, but didn’t expect. Open our eyes Lord to truly see life around us through your eyes. Thank you for all the miracles you give us big and small and, by your will, allow us to be a channel for your miracles working in and through us. We ask this and all things with confidence to God our Father, in union with the Son and the Holy Spirit who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Oh Lord my God! Thank you for this day, thank you for all your blessings and graces that are new for me each and every morning! Help me find peace and rest of mind, body and spirit. Refresh my dry and weary soul. You are my stronghold and my refuge, my strength and blessed assurance during hard times. Enfold me in your arms of love. Bless my family and friends Lord. Be my center. Be the center. Send your Holy Spirit to descend and rest within me. Move me and work in and through me for your greater glory. Let me be your hands and feet reaching out into the world. Never let me go Lord and in your mercy, help me always know you are near especially when I cannot see or feel your presence in my life. Help me to empty myself so that you can come and fill me. May I be less so that you can be more. I ask you to give me what I need today: to give me this daily bread of patience, peace, love, forgiveness, healing. You know my needs Lord: I trust that you will provide. I know you hear my prayers. Thank you, Lord, and always may your will be done. May your will be done in me. Amen.

What would I do to see you smile again

What would I give to see you happy

For just a moment or two crawl out of that fox-den

I'm sorry life is rough and you feel really (******)



I wish it were me to take or share some hurt and pain

To be your sun, your rainbow, an umbrella in your rain

The wind to blow your clouds away

A paintbrush to color your world; banishing all the gray



I want to be your salt, I want to be your light

To chase away the dark of night and say that it'll be alright

But I can't do any of this and it hurts me to the core

To see you suffer and not be able to help more

Mary holds the lifeless body
As tears flow from her eyes
Does she also know that
Soon her son must rise?
Mary holds her baby's hand
So little and so frail
Does she also understand
That they would be pierced by a nail?
Mary holds her son close to her chest
When they find him teaching
Does she feel so blessed that
Even to death He is reaching?
Mary holds her son to wish him a good day
As he works with Joseph at his trade
Mary holds our hand as we walk the way
God says: see the work my hands have made!

When you smile, my heart skips a beat
When you sing, I move my feet
Your bright bubbly personality is a breath of fresh air
It always makes me better knowing you are there
You brighten my day and make me smile
You possess a beauty that is always in style
You shine like the sun and the stars at night
You are a constant source of warmth and light
You are my friend, this much is true
You are my friend and that's why I love you

Be patient
Be kind
Be generous
Be loving

Be helpful
Be merciful
Be slow to anger
Be quick to forgiving

Be peaceful
Be prayerful
Be hopeful
Be cheerful

Be not afraid
Be amazed
Be bold
Be gentle

Be meek
Be mild
Be saved
Be reconciled

Be found
Be healed
Be on solid ground
Be sealed

Be soil
Be sun
Be rain
Be the one

Be builders
Be makers
Be movers
Be shakers

Be you
Be true
Be genuine
Be mine

Be faithful
Be trusting
Be reaching
Be preaching

Be walking the walking
Be talking the talking
Be walking the talking
Be talking the walking

Be humble
Be blessed
Be remade
Be at rest

You work all things for the good of those who love you. You don't waste anything Lord: there is nothing that you won't or can't use. Suffering being chief among them. Perhaps our suffering will lead us to even more amazing graces and take us to greater unimagined places. Maybe our sufferings (at least some of them) are truly blessings in disguise and later we will see the purpose. Maybe we ask for the wrong things, maybe we aren't asking the right questions. We can't know your mind Oh Lord, but in your mercy, help us begin to understand: the reason for the suffering and the glory you have planned. In all things, help us have the right attitude and adopt a proclivity for profound gratitude. Hear us and help us Oh Lord of all to carry out this (Be)Attitude call.

Amen

Silence

Stay here with me and find your rest
Find relief in the shadow of my loving embrace
I challenge you in the practice of silence and patience
The point is not to find words where there are none
The greatest friends are comfortable in the silence
In the space between moments
Are you comfortable in the silence yet?
Do you trust me enough that even in the silence I will speak
I just want you to be with me spend time with me
Find the deep inner peace in your life
Be content with me and what I give you
Be content just to be and nothing more
Trust me: I am more than enough
I am all you need and I love you
Lose yourself in the shadow of the cross
Rejoice for I come to seek and save the lost

You are a special person in many, many ways
Loving and patient for all of your days
Your smile means everything (though you may never talk)
And your heart soars on the wind (though you may never walk)
You might not express yourself like I can
Or explain what you mean like I can
But I learn from you.
“Oh yes, I do”
I learn how to Love
Like the One From Above
I learn how to Care
Helping others and ourselves through the talents that we share
You are the feared, the looked down upon
But we are the ones who are the real cons
For everything is here for a reason
The world is so cruel and cold it’s like its freezin
We need to warm it up start a fire
No time to sleep, we can’t retire
Light it with love, compassion is our kindling
Keep it in our hearts till to all the world we bring
This revolution starts with two
It starts with me and it starts with you!

Lord let me be your hands

Your hands reaching out helping the lowly

Healing those who hurt and suffer lifting up the people


Lord let me be your arms

Your arms outstretched loving the entire world

A warm embrace, a shelter, a safe haven


Lord let me be your feet

Your feet carrying the good news to the corners of the Earth

The feet that walked the road to the hill where you died for me to live


Lord let me be your eyes

Your eyes that saw the measure of a man saw the good in all

The eyes that cried when Lazarus died the joy when the lost was found


Lord let me be your ears

Your ears that hear the pleas and listened with great care

The ears that hear the quiet breeze and the truth of God above


Lord let me be your mouth

Your mouth to speak what is right and true

The words make them yours and guide my tongue


Lord let me be your heart

Your heart overflowing with love and moved to compassion

The heart to minister as you will it remembering to recharge


Lord let me be your instrument

Your instrument to use

For peace, joy, hope and love I give myself to You!


Thank You and God Bless!

Lord you bless abundantly those who obey your command
For if we would listen and take heed you have given the promised land
So often you have preformed great signs and wonders in our age
Then we celebrate and proclaim your holy name and give you thanks and praise
How soon do we forget your glorious works Oh Lord
How fickle we are; how quick to fall into discord
Forgetting just how blessed we are, we worship those false earthly pleasures
Lured into traps by sin that sparkles as golden treasures
Money power greed jealousy and especially lust
Cause me grief, leaving me empty, treasure destroyed by ashes and rust
Stolen by thieves and vanishing like the winds throw the dust
Please remind me how much I need you always and go deeper into trust
We have separated ourselves from you and for it we pay the price
The consequences of our sin; repercussions of our vice
You have shown us the great error of our thoughts our actions and our speech
But please remind us that no matter how far we fall we are never out of reach

That there is forgiveness and there is grace
That there is love and a warm embrace
When we turn our hearts back to you
Are honest in our confession
And earnest in our desire to surround myself in what is pure and true

Make my heart beat for you and you alone. I want to spend every moment with you and when I’m not, I want to be thinking of you. Your love is greater than life itself. It’s a miracle that you could fall in love with a fool like me. You know all of my deepest secrets there is nothing I can hide from you my love. To feel you near me is to know peace and rest and when I’m scared, I feel safe when you hold me close to your chest. I’m not perfect and sometimes I fall, but know that I am sincere and earnest when I proclaim that I want to love respect and treat you like you really deserve. I want you to be the only one for me and I want for your happiness more than anything else. Help me to be all that you see in me and help me to see it too. I want to be your friend, your confidant, your other half. I want to be wholly yours. May our two hearts be joined so as to beat as one and share a bond so strong it cannot be undone? I want to wake up each morning with you next to my side and fall deeper in love with you each day. I want to keep learning about you all the time; I want to be able to be surprised years from now. I never want to be bored with loving you. I want to be so comfortable with each other for silence to not be awkward. I want to find a million different ways to show you how much I love you not just tell you I love you. I want to live selfless love and give myself up for you. I want to die to who I was and all of the obstacles that hold me back from giving me to you completely. I also know there is no such thing as perfect and there will be tough times, and I want to learn how to communicate well so that we can make it through together and come out stronger. I vow to stay by your side and help you in every way I can. All of this I want, and I am willing to do whatever it takes together to make this dream a reality forever. I love you.

We are called out for the mission
To give of love without condition
Some are called to the foreign land
But all are to be his feet and hands
Where words fall silent, love speaks
To find a home is what the heart seeks
Our own homes can be the mission field
Our towns and communities to be healed
Preach with conviction, with peace, not rage
The voice of a prophet and wisdom of a sage
They will see your joy and how it is portrayed
In the face of persecution, you stand unafraid
If they question, they are open
If they are open turn them not away
Pray for them and with them
I will break their hearts of stone
Until they beat for me alone
Each of us has a mission should we accept it
Something to reach out right where we are
At work, in town, or riding in your car
Each gifted uniquely for a special role
And what a gift to uplift another human soul
To care for the widows and orphans
The forgotten and the oppressed
The stranger and the refugees
To work and know the work is blessed
Each of us is on a mission to do the work of God
Just don't expect the whole world to applaud
Sow the seeds of faith and hope
The seeds of charity and love
The wisdom of God was spoken
Like an echo from above

Be merciful even as your Heavenly Father is merciful
Thy kingdom come thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
The Father who loves us died for us and paid the debt we could not pay. May we strive to be merciful, loving, forgiving for the small things. Let us be like Jesus to others. God is LOVE. The reason the world does not know God is because it does not know LOVE. And what is Love? Love is patient, love is kind, slow to anger, protects, trusts, hopes, believes, perseveres. Love never fails. Forgiveness is a great weapon. It disarms, diffuses, stuns, kills hate, squashes vengeance. It heals and sets free, but surprisingly it most often frees us. If someone can forgive you for something and move forward, never think for a second that God can’t forgive you and hasn’t already. God is so much better and so much more merciful and loving by far! The challenge is you need to learn to forgive yourself. God, help us to be merciful, forgiving, loving and kind to all, especially those who probably don’t deserve it. In these moments Lord, remind us gently that we didn’t deserve your mercy, forgiveness, love and kindness, but you gave it anyway and we aught to do likewise. Amen

I come before you now and I lay down at your feet
I come before you now with the weight of this day
I come before you now in Humble praise and joyful Adoration
I come before you now to show honor and thanksgiving

I praise you for your goodness and for another day of living
I praise you for your love and mercy brand new every sunrise
I praise you for your grace and peace that stills my restless soul
I praise you for the gifts you give and blessings from my life's role

I sit at your feet and listen to all you have to say
You walk by my side and give me the spirit to illuminate my way
I sit at the table and take in the great feast and try to go out and to share with the least

I lay down my burdens my stresses my troubles and tears
You raise me up with strength and peace give me rest and quiet my fears
I lay my heart before you bruised, broken and unclean
You lift my eyes towards Heaven and to yourself bruised and broken so I could be redeemed

I fight surrender even though surrendering is the only way to win the fight
I don't let go of the chains that bind me
When you don't let me go and I cling to the one who sets me free
I don't trust you enough to completely be open
But you can be trusted completely, trust me, I know

With all of my faults I try to run away and hide
But you love me the same and run to me to bring me by your side
How great this love that I don't deserve
It's painfully obvious how much you love us if we stop to observe!

Happy are those who dwell in the light of the Lord

And do not follow the wicked's ways

Woe to the sinner who lives in the darkness

They will be judged accordingly

Happy are those who take joy in God's love

They will flourish and grow all the days of their lives

He will keep the just safe from harm

But the wicked he will destroy

Listen to the world around you
Take in all that it has to offer
Tune out the distractions of life
Tune in to the love of God in creation
Listen to the song of life and love
Feel the Spirit move in the air
And for a moment just be present, aware
There is more to this life we are living
We can be giving, we can be forgiving
We can find peace and joy when we stop
Or even if we just start to slow down
We are chasing after shadows
Insubstantial projections of what is really real
If you're not careful, your soul they will steal
So listen and let the Spirit surround you
So listen and let the love of God enfold you
So listen and let peace pervade you
So Listen

I don't know how many people have been in love; I mean truly, madly, deeply, hopelessly in love. I thought I was once. When you are that in love it changes you inside and out. It changes how you think, act, and what you say. It changes the way you feel, how you look at things, how you spend your time and money. Being in love changes you, usually for the better. Love forces us to think of someone else's wants and needs before our own. We make sacrifices in big and small ways to make the relationship work. It is a give and take, talking and listening and it is open and honest communication. A relationship is a dialogue not a monologue.

Loving someone changes a lot, but loving God and being in a relationship with Him changes EVERYTHING.

Working from the belief that you believe in the stories; you can't stay the same. You can't truly live your old life when you know The Life. The apostles were the perfect example. They weren't great men, particularly smart or famous, but when they saw Jesus, they dropped what they were doing and followed him. Then imagine the Transfiguration and the impact that that moment had on the apostles. This was the transforming love of God made manifest: He was radiant like honest-to-God glowing. It hits like a ton of bricks if you begin to understand the magnitude and the scope of His death and resurrection. How can one heart love that much?! And this fact is especially hard given the knowledge and experiences we have in the world we know today!

And then the most intimate and profound act of love is the gift of the Eucharist which comes from the words meaning grateful, thanksgiving, well and offer graciously. Kharis is the Greek word for Grace.

Catholics believe that the bread and wine at the mass are transformed in essence although not necessarily in substance to the body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the reception of the Eucharist, God's ultimate gift of love is revealed and shared with us as he gives us his very life. And we consume him in a profoundly physical and spiritual way. We are literally uniting with Christ and the two become one in body and soul. It is the most perfect expression of love's life-giving power. Christ marries (joins) himself to us.

When you have something so good, so amazing, you can't keep it to yourself. You just have to share it and tell all the world about it. You are in love, and you are loved. You are loved by God and THIS... CHANGES EVERYTHING!

Your love is deeper than the oceans
Your grace reaches through the valley below
So much more than just a savior, more than just a friend
So much more than just a power that I can't comprehend
You are truth, you are grace, you are joy I can't contain
You are love, you are life, and I'll never be the same
All the stars shining down on a clear night sky
You came to save a wretch like me I can't imagine why
So much more than just a light you came into my life and now I glow
You made a home inside my heart and softened every hardened part and I start to grow
I once was lost adrift at sea the wind and waves grew wild
Afraid I prayed and through the storm you heard and you found me
For years I was blind I could not see your face
But with open eyes I see the depth and power of your amazing grace
You aren't just a man who was born who lived and died
Son of God and son of man you were crucified
You weren't just a prophet a teacher or a king
You are the author of life and creator of everything
So much more than simple stories the parables you shared
Your death to show us just how much you really cared
You aren't just a healer a doer of good deeds
You tended to our spiritual needs
You are so much more than surface going right to my core
Satisfy this longing this hunger! It's you I'm yearning for

What are the keys to holiness and perfection? Practice, patience, time, and integrity. Like any good thing, it takes work and lots of it. You don't become Van Gogh, or Mozart, Michael Jordan or Mother Theresa overnight. Granted, some of these people have certain gifts and talents that make it easier, but it still took practice and consistent work. Patience is also necessary. There may be setbacks or failures, mistakes and sleepless nights, but one must be patient and endure, because if you keep going, things are going to look up and trials will strengthen and give us the tools we need for the future. Time is something we all have and never seem to have enough of. Make good use of your time and fill it with good and wholesome things. Do not hurry or rush perfection or holiness or any good thing. Nothing good comes to those who hurry and rush and do not wait. Finally, and perhaps most importantly is integrity. To be holy and strive for perfection, one must have true integrity. As Shakespeare said once "... above all else: To thine own self be true". Be true to who you are and who you were made to be. Do not try to live someone else's life or be someone else. You aren't. You are you and that is that. Be the best you that you can be. For, as Mother Theresa is quoted as saying: "in the final analysis it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway".

God bless us all on our path to holiness and perfection. Amen