To what shall we compare you
Who are greater than all we can fathom
How can we tell of you?
No eye has seen no ear has heard
The senses fall short to describe you.
We reach out and try to understand
Seeking something tangible and real
We learn and study and think and choose
We can realize and rationalize
We see the odds of our reality
We know how perfect the details
And we cannot help but think this is more
More than chance, more than serendipity
The details and exactness make it seem
Like something greater was at work
How else could we make sense
Of such an impossibility?

All the earth speaks to Your glory Lord

The trees strong and tall stretch up to the sky

Giving food, shelter, shade to so many creatures

The flowers so delicate and beautiful bringing color

And joy to so many. A wonderful gift

The birds, insects, and all creatures create a symphony

You are the master orchestrator Lord


The wind: at times gentle and pleasant others powerful and destructive

Sometimes moving or inspiring, still more, pushing, prompting


Water: reminding of patience, calm, creativity

Great power. Life giving and Life taking. Water shows

The power of teamwork.


Fire: so much power and destruction. Violence and death

But cleansing, purifying, strengthening too

A little bit can be light, a source of pleasant warmth

A guide and used properly a blessing; attractive to others


All nature all earth speaks to Your glory Lord.

Praise and Glory and Honor to You Lord of All!


Amen!

May our prayers be as incense rising up
Our joys and sufferings, our longings, be a sweet perfume unto you
We bow our heads, we bend our knees
We lift our hearts and we begin to find peace.
We lift our voices and our hands
Sing together across seas and land.
Lifted up as we fall down
We, the nail in your hands, a thorn on the crown.

You are loved more dearly than you'll ever know.
Hold my hand, follow me into the light, we'll take it slow.
You're walking on the water while the waves and wind rage on
But fear not, I'll never let you go.
I have heard your cries, I have heard your prayers.
Though you forsake me, I will never forsake you.
I hold you in my hand, I hold the sun in place,
I know you, I love you, I give you my life:
Will you do the same for me?
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the sinner and the saint.
Welcome the poor into your home and into your heart.

You do the same for me;
You make me all I am.
You raise me up to more than I can be on my own.
You fill my soul with your song,
You sing your love over my life and I'm amazed.
I'm aware of your presence, but sometimes I can't see
The greatness of your master plan and why it has to be.
But I trust you, Lord help me to believe.

Some day I'll understand the wisdom of your plan
When all will be revealed and all will be made new
When I'm finally home where I can be with you.

But until that time Lord, be with me today.
Free me from these chains that bind, be here with me always.

Amen

It is in dying that we come to life
It is in giving that we receive
It is in surrendering that we are freed
It is in losing ourselves that we are found
It is in silence that we hear
It is in consuming that we are consumed
It is in failing that we succeed
It is in stillness that there is movement
It is in sorrow that we find solace

Jesus is the rhythm that keeps my heart in time
Jesus sends the Spirit who inspires with his rhyme
Jesus is the harmony that makes my life complete
Jesus is my meter in whom I find the perfect beat
Jesus is my center, source of the living word
Jesus is the anchor to which I am secured
The Spirit finds the notes to make the perfect chord
Jesus composed the symphony in which my life is scored
Jesus is the purpose, the passion, the fire
And with the music's cadence my soul is taken higher
Let it rise up to the Heavens, full clear and strong
To be in holy communion right where it belongs

There is power in the prayer laid before the king
From my joys, fears, hopes, dreams and every little thing
Although I don't feel an answer or hear a word or see a sign
I get a sense that still he hears me and things will work out in time
There is power when we get specific about our needs
There is power when we humble ourselves on our knees
There is power in the stillness and the calm
There is power in the praying of the psalm
There is power in the silence in between moments
There is power that can be found in seeking atonement
Prayer doesn't change God's heart
It changes ours to see his art
Prayers have been answered in more ways than one
And I get the feeling God is far from being done
It's up to me: do I believe and trust his plan and will
Do I become anxious when he seems to stand still
Or do I trust him enough to let it go and he will see it through
Sometimes he may be testing us wanting to see if we'll be true
Is my heart open enough for him to work and move
Once again it is an opportunity for me to prove
My love, and hope and strength are found
In Christ whom mercy and grace abound
Here I struggle to stay awake and keep watch for an hour
There is power in the prayer as I pray for strength and power
We should never have to go through things alone
With prayer and good companions we are never far from home
A place of peace, refreshment and rest
And I have to smile when I remember that God knows what's best
I need to lean on God and ask him in my weakness
For peace and healing that I can't do and so I will seek his
The power in the prayer is simple yet strong
And gets better the longer we walk along
The picture isn't always clear sometimes shrouded in mystery
But every time I pray I get a little more of his-story

There is power in a moment. A moment of weakness a moment on your knees. A moment of silence a moment of ease. A moment can feel so long and pass by in the blink of an eye. Between life and death there is but a moment. How did I use the moments I was given? So much can be said, conveyed, felt in a moment of silence between friends and so often we want to fill these moments with noise because the silence is deafening. There are defining moments and moments that take our breath away. All these moments and many others make up our lives. Just sit still and be quiet for a moment and you begin to realize everything you’ve been missing. We are so distracted and we distract ourselves so we don’t have to listen to the uncomfortable truth and the tough love. We become oblivious to what is in front of our eyes. And what is in front of our eyes right now is Jesus. He leads us so he should always be in front of our eyes. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us while we were unworthy to free us and be with us one day. It was over in a moment. Let us take a moment now to stop and listen and feel the power of that moment. The moment that God said “I Love You. See how much I love you!”.

Be careful little one what you speak
It can make mountains crumble and empower the weak
Be vigilant of your tongue and practice control
For words have the power to pierce the soul
For good or ill they may be used
And poor judgement finds us accused
But my dear words are so much more than pain
In the desert place they can be as life giving rain
They may paint a beautiful story reveal mystery untold
They can take a person so shy to be brave and bold
They can dance across the mind and page
They can calm a soul and seas and wind that rage
They can love and laugh they can forget and forgive
They have given sight to the blind and made the dead live
Words are as tools. They can be used for building up or breaking down
They can put a smile on someone's face and turn their day around
Or they can hurt someone and cause bitterness and sorrow
Try to make it right before today becomes tomorrow
You see words are many things to many people
They come in all shapes and sizes and in a way
Sometimes I find words in a church with a steeple
Other times I just listen and write what I feel God say
I'm not perfect I know and I've a long way to go
But I try to be wise and speak truth to be kind and not uncouth
So please forgive me my lapse of good sense
And know that I learned from my error hence

Dream your dreams and live your life make every moment count

Go on now and be

The person you are. Forever loved by your father and me

Now is the time for our little one to leave the nest

Spread your wings and fly

We are always with you; your mother and I.

Wherever you may run, however far you may go

The light is on the door is open when you come home.

Choose your goals, go into the world

Be all you can and bloom like the flower unfurled

But when you are tired and weary and things get rough

When storm clouds cast darkness on your sky and sun turns to rain

If laughter turns to sadness and joy gives way to pain

Know that here at home you can have peace and rest

We always love you. Always have and always will and we are truly blessed

Every day we think of you, bow our heads abe pray at night

That you be blessed and safe and ever in the Lord's sight!

God said to Noah "Hey, listen up bud!
Gonna rain real soon now, it's gonna flood
The people are sinning, tearing it apart
And to see it man, really breaks my heart.
It's gonna be huge, it's gonna get wet
I tell you now, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
But you and yours are gonna be just fine
You've been good, a real friend of mine
Listen up good now and listen up well
Here's just how you'll be safe from the swell
You'll build a boat yea big and yea wide
'Cause two of every animal's gotta fit inside
You'll be in there forty days and as many nights
And when it's safe again, the bird alights
Never again will I cause a flood so great
Never again will the earth suffer this fate
So, this is my promise, a sign in the sky
A rainbow to remember the covenant by"

God said to Noah "Hey, listen up bud!
Gonna rain real soon now, it's gonna flood
The people are sinning, tearing it apart
And to see it man, really breaks my heart.
It's gonna be huge, it's gonna get wet
I tell you now, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
But you and yours are gonna be just fine
You've been good; a real friend of mine.
Listen up good now and listen up well
Here's how you'll be safe from the swell:
You'll build a boat yea big and yea wide
'Cause two of every animal's gonna fit inside.
You'll be in there forty days and as many nights
And when it's safe again, the bird alights.
Never again will I cause a flood so great
Never again will the earth suffer this fate
So, this is my promise: a sign in the sky
A rainbow to remember our covenant by."

There in the stillness, the whisper of angel's wings
There in the stillness a place for beggars and kings
There in the stillness a fluttering of the soul
There in the stillness someone broken is being made whole

There in the stillness and silence of this room
Like standing there in Easter's empty tomb
There in the stillness and silence of this place
I open my eyes and find myself standing face to face

There in the silence I think I feel you say
There in the silence that all will be okay
There in the silence I hear my heartbeat still
There in the silence you hold me and you always will

There in the quiet a word of blessing and peace
There in the quiet there is freedom and release
There in the quiet I sing and praise and dance
There in the quiet a part of the sacred romance

There in the rest a river of life overflows
There in the rest a fruitful garden grows
There in the rest I am anchored and secure
There in the rest is a joy so real and pure

There in my life a battle day and night
There in my life a war between darkness and light
There in my life the Lord is always by my side
There in my life my God be glorified

Praise and glory to God on high
Prayer and song fill the sky
Lift your heart and raise your eyes
Please dry our tears and hear our cries

Amen

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

There is a time for all things

There is a time for all things a time to laugh and love and live
A time to receive a time to make and a time to give
A time to work a time to play and a time to be blessed
A time for talking a time to listen and give it a rest

There is a time for all things a time for weeping and for sorrow
A time to remember the past and time to look forward to tomorrow
A time for family friends and loved ones a joy to be around
A time for knowing where your hope and joy are found

There is a time for all things a time for loss and for gain
A time both for times of growth and with them time for pain
A time for time alone with God in prayer and in thanksgiving
A time to ask for help when life seems unforgiving

There is a time for all things a time for healing and for prayer
A time to know that in all things God is always there
A time for peace a time for mercy and grace
A time to see in others Christ Jesus’ face

There is a time for all things a time for life and for death
A time to belong to Jesus through our last earthly breath
A time for ends and time for new beginnings
A time to take what seems like loss to change it into winnings

There is a time for all things under the moon the sun and stars
A time for learning and maturing and finding who we are
A time for trying to find our place in this world and God’s will
A time to thank him for his love and ask that our souls be still

There is a time for all things God has got the plan
A time to know just what God see’s in the heart of man
A time to question a time to walk by faith and not by sight
A time to believe that God knows best and he is right

There is a time for all things glorious and great
A time for love and a time for hate
A time for building and a time for destroying
A time for rushing and a time for enjoying

There is a time for all things in the time that we have here
A time that is important and something we should hold most dear
There is a time for all things
And for it, joyful, my heart sings

There's something bigger, there's something more
There's something greater than there ever was before
A difference so subtle I almost paid it no mind
Hard to put my finger on and harder still to define
Life goes on and time inexorably passes
It seems the same, but now and then there are flashes;
Glimpses of what was, what is, and what could be
There, I observe, I am alive and well and free
What I would need to change to make this future a reality!
I could never get there on my own; the gap is just too wide
I need someone to build a bridge to cross the great divide.
There is one who has the tools to do the task
But I need to take initiative and ask.
I like what I see, but do I really want to do this?
All the comforts and control of the vices, I would miss.
How could I live without them around?
It would be uncomfortable not to have them weighing me down.
I think this now, but there I saw real joy and peace
And if this could happen, I'd love that sweet release.
I could sing with all my heart, I could dance with every part
I could cross the great sea with the wind filling my sails
And anchored steady and secure in the storms and the gales.
I could fill the sky with words of love, with thanks and praise unceasing
Writing poetry and prayers, across the world reaching
If this is what could be, what reason do I have to resist
Open my hand, put it in yours and walk with you instead of making a fist
Lead me to this future and help me follow you
Help me if I stumble and guide me straight and true!

Lord you reveal yourself to me in a way so profound
That if only I would seek you, there you would be found
For I opened the doors and there you were waiting
My steps falter and my words are now hesitating
I opened the windows and, on my heart, you alight
You were singing so happily like a bird that’s in flight
Once you were there you began to build a nest
And for now and always it is where you now rest
Lord I have found you in the hearts of the poor
And seen you dwell in those I thought were the least
I have known you when I doubt if anything is real
I have felt that when I’m hurting you helped me to heal
This is the revealing of the soul’s great lament
The moving of the spirit by which we are sent
The yearning to be united to our Lord once again
The working and waiting that we have until then
You know my inmost being Lord you know my every thought
Nothing is secret; all my efforts to hide are for naught
So Lord help me open myself to your holy and perfect will
To accept you and in my empty spots, won’t you fill
In your love and by your power, make me complete
Won’t you melt and refine me and turn up the heat
By the power of your passion, your burning love and desire
Burn me and brand me with your Holy Living Fire
Little by little you restore and reveal and I am being remade
Some things are sharpened and some places seem to fade
One day when this life is finally over
And I go walking through the golden field
Questions will be answered, eyes will be opened
And that which once was hidden, in truth, shall be revealed

"I think I know the right thing for me
I think I know what will make me happy
I think I know why and when and how
And I think that this is what I need right now
Lord you must be mistaken. Surely, I know best!
I got this Lord. You just take it easy and rest".

But it turns out that I wasn't completely right
Not completely no. Pretty close, but not quite
I don't ever like to admit that I was wrong
That you really knew what was best all along

"Maybe I should listen a little more when you speak
Maybe I should try to be more humble and meek
You come when I need it most, at just the right time
And the feeling when you come to me is simply so sublime
Let Your Will be done Oh Lord in me, with me and through"

"Be open to my love and let me work miracles through you
My timing is perfect, my plan, definitely divine
Everything has a purpose everything is by design.
When the time is right trust that you will know
But until then, be content to live in my love and grow
I hear your prayers and answer you
But not always how you thought
This relationship requires not one, but two
It takes some skills that can't be taught
But with work, with patience, and with care
We create something beautiful beyond compare.

Oh! And there is one more thing... I know it's challenging
But child, I need you to have patience with me
I promise you, you'll love it! Just you wait and see!
Trust me when I say that what I have in mind is worth the wait
It will arrive just in time. I guarantee it won't be late
So take my hand and come with me as we walk for a while
By your side is where I'll be. I love to see you smile!"

Arrested by God's grace and blinded by His light
Convicted by the Spirit and found dead to rights
You are found guilty of ****** in the first degree
The sentence to be carried out: death on a tree
Justice will be served, and the price must be paid
About to be led away, but the crowds are stayed
By a voice soft and strong: "Let them go. Take me instead."
A perfect stranger was tortured, he suffered and bled
It should have been me on that cross on that hill
But He had plans for me and, to this day, He does still
I had condemned, I had tortured, and I had slain
I felt no remorse, and even enjoyed their pain
But God's love and mercy found me on the road
My life is His now: a life is saved, a life is owed
If God can take a wretch like me and turn my life around
Use me as an example of how much his grace abounds
He humbled me greatly: knocked me off of my horse
And, with a mighty wind, I was forced to alter my course
I am by no means the greatest, rather I am the least
But He bids me rise like dough to His yeast
Through his goodness I have done great things
I have seen the blessings that a grateful heart brings
For it is not I, but Christ that lives within me
I die with him and in rising He sets me free
Glory to Him who sits on the throne
Honor to Him to whom I am intimately known
Praise be on my lips and in my heart
For we have been given a brand new start

The same blood that flows in you
Flows in me too
The same song that stirs and shifts
Stirs my soul and bears gifts
The same melody that rises like perfume
Permeates the air in every room
The same sweet notes that ring out so clear
Have power to move me even to tears
The same heart that beats so steady
Keeps time with mine already
The same eyes, the same ears and nose
The more I think, the similarity grows
We are different, unique but so much the same
And, over time, it becomes quite plain

These are the things I love

Running through the meadow in fields of wildflowers
The sun shining bright and gentle spring showers
The sound of waves gently kissing the beach
At night when the stars seem so close to reach
The warm summer stirring my hair
Knowing always my family will be there

These are some things I love

Fresh baked bread and homemade apple pie
A long happy day concluded with a tired sigh
Friends that are forever and love that is pure and true
Spending time with those I love and when I think of you
Being there for those in need and ones that are suffering
To take a bad day make it happy and the joy we bring

These are some things I enjoy

To lie on my back and watch the stars at night
Sunrise and sunset the glorious sight
To know in my heart what my eyes cannot see
Spirit soaring in flight with the eagles so wild and free
A cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day
The blessings it brings when children obey

These are some things I adore

Take a moment now and then
To make a list you can use when
Joy in life seems hard to come along
Sing to yourself a happy song
If you try real hard to don a grin
I think you’ll see changes slowly begin
A little smile is a potent thing you know
Filling all around you with a warm and radiant glow

In this day and age we seem not to remember
What it means to be humble kind and tender
There are many sleepers lost in their own dreams
And, if I’m honest, some days the world is lost it seems
Ship at sea: battered sails, no anchor, at the mercy of the wind
We are all in the same boat. All have fallen short, all have sinned
With the chaos and the noise it must have slipped our mind
That most things (including people) respond better when we are kind
Society, the media seem to have turned to what sells
Blurring lines between the heavens and hells
We have taken the easy road but it isn’t always best
Sometimes the narrow high climb is better than the rest
We seem to have lost the ability to communicate
We have lost the knowledge of how to debate
We don’t have to agree, but we do have to listen
Can we begin to get back all that we’ve been missing?
But there is hope; it’s not too late to turn around
To steer the ship so it doesn’t run aground
We didn’t get where we are overnight
It’ll be a while before we set things right
But it can start right here and now
With you and me and here is how:
We must listen, not just hear
Have courage, don’t give in to fear
We must see, not just look
Look inside ourselves and the good book
Bring joy and peace to all whom you meet
And, with a smile, those whom you greet
Stand for those who cannot stand, kneel if you must
Cry out for those who have no voice and trust
In the good you are doing.

If you stand, some will mock you and some may join you- stand still
If you believe, some will question and challenge you- believe still
If you pray, you may not get what you were asking for- pray still
If you live, though you may be threatened or killed- live still
If you cry, some may tell you it’s foolish others may admire you- cry still
If you dance, you may look foolish and silly- dance still
If you sing, you may be praised or criticized- sing joyfully still
If you love, you open yourself up and can be hurt- love still
If you give- and you have so little left to give- give still

For, in the end, it matters not what other people think
All that really matters is what’s inside your heart

Lord this day I ask and pray:
Purify my heart, create anew: a spirit to serve, love, and adore you.

Every day and through each night: may you be my guiding light.
Instill in me the servant's heart: and help me please to do my part.

A light for the lost and alone: and in all things, let Your love be known.
Lord I pray in me you fill: a hunger and thirst to do Your will.

Reaching out to the poor and broken: a voice for all those unspoken.
The servant's heart is made of: sacrifice and selfless love.

Your blood and life spilled on a tree: was cost enough to set me free.

Song and praise; Your name I'll lift: for there is no greater gift;
Than to lay down ones life for a friend: and give of self until the end.

And in doing so I ask: be at my side in every task.
In every day and every hour: You oh Lord are my strength and power.

Grant me strength to serve awhile: and do the things that make You SMILE!


Amen!

I long for you and even faint
For You, the Lord, my God
When we are close, I leap for joy
And when we are apart, I weep
You always reach down and lift me up
During the days out in the desert
When faith and hope are dry
And I wander through the barren land
You are an oasis of shade rest and drink
You restore me and refresh
You bring me back to life
And when I find myself in darkness
In this lonesome weary season
You want to teach me for some reason
And you will bring me back into light
I reach for you My Lord Holy One
Even as flowers reach for the sun
In you I find peace and rest
As high as the mountains
As deep as the seas
As far as the east is from the west
I proclaim your greatness Oh Lord My God
I sing of your mercy I shout of your love
You are beautiful beyond measure
No word can express or define
And still with all I am, I try
I would give anything to be united again
But I cannot yet so here I remain
To know love and loss, joy and pain
When I cry out I know you hear me
I take comfort knowing you are near me
And so I live in awe and wonder
And wait for the day I might join your number

You are the source, the spring, the living well
You are the summit, fulfillment,
Your breath is life itself.
Mercy and grace flow; as water and blood from your side.
You are my source of pure joy.
Perfect peace and rest I find 'neath your shadow.
My rock, my stronghold, my fortress;
You are my strength and my help.
Everything I am, everything I have, you gave me.
I am nothing without you, you make me what I am.
I am beloved, cherished, treasured,
I am worthy, I am loved, I am yours!
You are my joy, the fire in my soul, the light in my eyes.
Kindle the fire, let me never lose my joy!

Amen

The spirit is willing to hear your every word
But my body says, this is right now, absurd
For sleep comes welcome to the weary worn
But I have made a covenant that will not be torn
Give me strength Lord for my lids are as stone
Give me light for my sight grows dim
Give me your promise I won’t go through life alone
Give me your heart afire from within
The struggle is real Lord and the fight is long
The spirit remains, but strength is gone
Tomorrow is a new day full of promise and vigor
And I’ll be there with strength and a heart that is bigger

We are called to be the spirit of Nazareth. We are like a city on a hill: defending, protecting our families an communities as well as being and shining the light of Christ for all to see. As Christ is the vine and we are its branches which bear great fruit when rooted firmly in Christ, so too are we called to stand strong and secure in Christ's teachings so that those around us; our wives and children can grow and flourish. The spirit of Nazareth is a call to action. We were made to be courageous, to take a stand, to lead, to love, to light and guide. We are here to follow Christ who came before us and strive to set a good example for those who will one day do the same. We are men and we are the Spirit of Nazareth! AMEN

When the world is all but the blackest of night
And the sky is starless and you can’t feel the light
When you feel crushed and it’s more than you can take
Try to remember that morning will break
The sun still shines

When hope seems all but gone to dust
Your life destroyed by thieves, moths and rust
Suffocated slowly by sin and shame
And you have none but yourself to blame
Look toward the horizon and see
The sun still shines

The sun still shines in spite of our fault
Remaining constant and steady it does not halt
The sun still shines even if we block it’s radiance
On our bad days the sun still shines it’s kindly countenance
The sun still shines

Let my light be the sun that still shines for you
That you too may shine for another
Let my light shine both pure and true
May it connect us as sister and brother
And remember: the sun still shines

When you wake in the morning for another new day
Give thanks and praise to God and say:
The sun still shines and warms the ground
This wonderful world in which I am found
With one word he made it so the sun still shines

When you rest your head in your nice warm bed
And dream sweet dreams of joyful scenes
As you drift away to soft sweet surrender
His might is great, His love is tender
The sun still shines

In faith, we know, the sun will shine again
We have confidence when we say Amen
Somehow we know the sun will shine once more
And it is something I hold deep in my core
The sun still shines

And when the sun does shine it’s last
I pray we will be in a place so vast
That even in our darkness the Son still shines
And in Heaven above we are washed in the light of love
So for now and always the sun still shines

As I turn my face again to you
I see your light come breaking through
In the darkness and the pain of life
And the sorrow that cuts like a knife
I look to you to help me through this hour
As I call upon your Heavenly Power
I turn my eyes again to see your face
And feel your presence fill this place
I see you stretched upon that cross
I see the love and I feel the loss
I try to fix my eyes on you
But I stumble and lose my way
Sometimes I get distracted it’s true
But as I practice it gets better each day
I know you still love me and call me your own
And even in the hard times I am never alone
I lift my gaze to the heavens a song will I sing
Glory and honor and praise to the Risen King
You have my undivided attention I am restored
Speak to your servant for he is listening Lord
I turn my face to you in humble form concealed
Through the eyes of love is this mystery revealed
Turn to me oh God your face do not hide
Please continue always to stay by my side

Lord, I love the way you move me
But you move me in mysterious ways
And so often Lord I cannot see,
But, always, you never cease to amaze
Sometimes Lord I love the way you move me
Sometimes as a subtle soft sound in the trees
Sometimes in a flood and mighty gale
Sometimes through the love that tore the veil
You move like fire coursing through my veins
And I come alive with joyous strains
You move me through the seasons' change
And sometimes, my heart, you rearrange
You work in ways I don't always comprehend
I don't always understand them I won't pretend
But though I don't know why or where or how
I know that someway someday somehow
That you are there and it is you
You are there living, loving, and true
And I will trust:
That as sure as the sun rises and the wind blows
I will follow it wherever it goes
For, you are God, and you move me
And where you are is where I want to be

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!

Here I sit in this holy room
Surrounded by God and a heavenly host
Of saints and angels who give him glory.
Each changed by the body and blood
The power of love and beauty in the sacrifice.
Here I sit in this holy room
A witness to the saving power
A devotion to the perpetual presence
Of Christ with us and in us.
We are each bearers of light, bearers of Christ;
We carry him in us wherever we go.
Here I sit in this holy room
To listen and take in this wondrous gift.
I choose to accept this gift.
How can I not want to share this love with others?
How can I keep from singing and shouting His name?
Here I sit in this holy room
Holy Spirit fill this place and my soul,
Uplift them to the throne of God above.
Start a fire in me that cannot be quenched
And set in me the bright flame of love and passion.
Lead my feet and guide my steps along the path
Be my compass and my Northern Star
So I may never lose my way;
So I can always find my way back home.
Here I sit in this holy room
To add my voice to those around the world
At this moment praying for a change
In others and in their own lives:
Praying for safety and peace,
Understanding and patience.
Praying for survival, praying for the faith's revival.
Praying with men and women past and present
To call upon your aid as we aid those in need.
We pray for many things: our families, friends, nation.
We pray for each other, we pray for ourselves.
Lead us to you, take us closer to your merciful heart,
Love us and heal us and teach us where to start.
Here I sit in this holy room
I give thanks for the gift of undeserved love
And cast my gaze to Heaven above.

This time Lord I'm gonna trust you
This time Lord I'm gonna get it right
This time Lord I'm gonna change
This time Lord I'll walk in the light
But this time I falter, this time I fail
I take my eyes off you, and start to flail
You reach out and pull me in tight
You never grow weary of forgiving me
It is I who grow tired of asking to be
I know I'm unworthy, but I am ever grateful
Because without your grace I'm incapable
Of doing any good apart from You

This time Lord I'm gonna spend with you
This time Lord everything will be alright
This time Lord, you're changing me
This time Lord I'm awash in your light
And this time Lord I wait, and I wonder
As waves of mercy pull me under
You reach out to me and pull me close
You never grow weary of showing your love for me
It never gets old; this sensation of being free
You call me worthy, and so I will rejoice
Because by your grace I am given a choice
Of never having to be apart from You

Two different churches, two denominations
Two separate cities, a real conglomeration
Coming together to help those in need
First as strangers replaced by fast friends indeed
And we, though many, begin to be one

Throughout work and during play
Dew in morn, crew time at end of day
Working side by side, laughing, crying, sharing,
Praying, growing, changing, and above all: caring
And we, though many, are becoming one

Sharing a meal, the churches; they two
A common bond is shared between me and you
New friends are made as time goes along
Doubting no longer; happy you were wrong
And we, though many, are nearly one

A family we are now: close knit and firm
Through our experiences, much we have learned
A power there is, far great than any;
That makes beautiful the one with the many
And we, who were many, are now as ONE!

In our sorrow and our sadness
When all hope is lost and so is gladness
I fall on my knees in pain and suffering
As I cry Abba Father, keep me from the sting
If you are there, if you love me: save me from my foes
Turn this darkness into light and bring me from my woes
Can you not feel my pain? Do you not know my hurt?
My God, without your love, I am no more alive than dirt
One small drop in a sea of people, do you hear me?
If you would say but one word, I could finally be free
But if you don't Lord and this is to be my fate
If this is something that isn't up for debate
Then help me carry my heavy wooden cross
For you are my strength when all hope is lost
I remember your agony, your sweat and your tears
I remember all the pain and heartache and fears
You asked for the cup to pass you by
With eyes raised up to the dark night sky
"But not my will, but yours be done
And I will be your faithful son"
So, Lord let your will be done in me, your child
In your mercy hold me as the storms rage wild
Let me glory in my weakness where you are made strong
And at the right time, bring me home where I belong

Lord I am suffering, someone I know, and love is suffering. In your merciful love, take this pain away from me, but Your Will Oh Lord My God, not mine. Help me trust in you and rely on your strength because mine has long since failed. There are times when all I can do is weep, because I have no words to speak. Comfort me Lord, let me know your presence and peace even for a moment like the angel in the garden. I know you feel my pain even as your own. I know you weep for me and with me. In times of suffering and when I am facing death, help me remember how much you suffered for my sake. You offered yourself in total surrender to God for the sake of the world. Help me surrender to you.

Lord, I give You my life and all that I am and have, because You gave Your life FOR me and because You GAVE me life. On the cross before You died, you gave me life when You FOR-GAVE.
Amen

What is more precious, more fleeting than time? So much of the world and our lives revolve around it. We have a set amount of it and all too quickly it is gone. What do we do with the time that we have? How do we spend it and what do we spend it on? Many of us try to do too much or do too little and regret our spending. We wish we spent more time with our families, our children, our friends: on the things that truly matter. This is all well and good, but how much of our time do we invest in our relationship with God, our time in prayer, worship and fellowship? How important is it and how important is it to us? Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in doing things that we forget to just be. We forget to stop, pause, or even slow down. We are always racing somewhere and we miss the beauty and the blessings that are all around. Let us take a little bit of our ever precious time and spend it with God, the one who gives us this gift in the first place. Did God ever feel lonely and want someone to talk to him? Is there someone in our lives that we haven’t talked to or spent time with in a while? Giving someone part of your time is one of the greatest and most meaningful gifts you can give someone. You give them the gift of your presence and it lets them know how special and loved they are because it’s not something that most of us give away freely.

What is more precious, more fleeting than time? So much of the world and our lives revolve around it. We have a set amount of it and all too quickly it is gone. What do we do with the time that we have? How do we spend it and what do we spend it on? Many of us try to do too much or do too little and regret our spending. We wish we spent more time with our families, our children, our friends: on the things that truly matter. This is all well and good, but how much of our time do we invest in our relationship with God, our time in prayer, worship and fellowship? How important is it and how important is it to us? Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in doing things that we forget to just be. We forget to stop, pause, or even slow down. We are always racing somewhere and we miss the beauty and the blessings that are all around. Let us take a little bit of our ever-precious time and spend it with God, the one who gives us this gift in the first place. Did God ever feel lonely and want someone to talk to him? Is there someone in our lives that we haven’t talked to or spent time with, in a while? Giving someone part of your time is one of the greatest and most meaningful gifts you can give someone. You give them the gift of your presence and it lets them know how special and loved they are because it’s not something that most of us give away freely.

Challenge: take some time today or in the next couple days to visit, call or send a message to someone you haven’t spent time with, in a while. Talk to them or, better yet, listen.

Challenge II: Spend some quality time with Jesus sometime during your day (everyday). Find a time that works and stick with it.

Challenge II Cont: Make it a point to go to Adoration at least once this week. If you’re feeling really bold, go to Adoration once each week during Lent and beyond. Experience and reflect on how it affects your day and your week when you do go

Some weeks, Lord, are great. The days are smooth and pleasant and all is well, thank you for those weeks. Other weeks are less than stellar. The days are rough and choppy and I feel frustrated and impatient, thank you for those weeks. In weeks like this, I am forced to rely on you for the strength and grace just to get through today. Not tomorrow or the next day, just today. My patience seems to be out of town and I’ve had it up to here. I need a vacation; a time away. Maybe just to sit here with you, talk, and pray. I know there will be better weeks and other weeks not good, but this is trying my patience and mercy more than it normally would! Thank you for getting me through today. It is good to feel the love and know that soon it will all be okay. I doubt you would give me tough days just so I would be with you more often. I don’t have to have tough days to keep you company for an hour or so each day. I know you hear and help me out so I know I’ll be alright. It’s when things are darkest that we can most clearly see your light. AMEN

Lord help me to right and keep me in your sight;

Today, forever and always.

Lord make your light be shone and let it be made known;

Today, forever and always.


To all people and nations we will spread the good news;

Today, forever and always.

Give shelter to all in need and care for the abused;

Today, forever and always.


Give hope, love, and peace and get down on our knees;

Today, forever and always.

Power is there in the act of prayer;

Today, forever and always.


We have a friend in the one up above;

Today, forever and always.

Each day we have is showered with love;

Today, forever and always.


So for today forever and always we are watched for all days.

Today... Forever... and Always!



AMEN!

Today, Lord, I come here to sit and be near you. I come to stay with you, remain here with you. Be with me as I sit here in silence and gaze lovingly, longingly, upon your face at once hidden and revealed. Amen

To lead by example to live out your love
To speak words of wisdom and live a life of grace
To show others the way to see Jesus’ face
Loved by the Father of Heaven and Earth
Wanted to be with you he became human by birth
I want to lead your children help me to follow you
Help my heart be a place where you can grow
Be born in me as I bear you within
Cleanse me wash me from my sin
Bring me to your heart, the heart of the father
A love that has no end it is unconditional, forever
We can’t earn it and don’t deserve it
But that’s what makes it a miracle
Show me how to love, and pray, and work
Help me to write and play and sing
In a way that gives you glory and brings a smile to you
Turn your face to me, look with favor upon your child
Thank you for loving me

Forgive me Lord, when I doubt you and don’t believe what you say. I don’t think I’m qualified to lead anyone. There are so many more people more qualified, more experienced and more wise. But like Jeremiah, you show me that you can use anyone and you don’t call the equipped, you equip the called. You are Emmanuel (God With Us). You are with us always even to the end of the age. Help us take comfort in that and grant us the strength and courage to stand up and lead your people trusting that you are in control and you have a reason. Something that we alone can do. Lead us Lord always and help us to lead your flock with wisdom and grace. Amen

To look on love is to gaze at Jesus' face
To start to understand the depth of Amazing Grace
To look on love is to see past the faults to the good within
To still be loved and cherished even when we sin
To look on love we open ourselves to pain and heartache
But to keep pressing on when it's all that you can take
To look on love is to find someone who challenges us to grow
Attuned so well that, when something is amiss, they know
To look on love is to find a true friend; a treasure most precious of all
And when you are in need they come breaking down the wall
To look on love is to be at peace when there are no words
Someone to carry you when the cross you bear really hurts
To look on love is to see with eyes beyond the human mind
That searching the depths of our souls we find
To look on love is to take the joy with the pain
And find sunshine in the middle of the rain
To look on love is to find a place of inner peace
Where light and life are found, fears are stilled, and troubles cease
To look on love is to find that which does inspire
And will find your soul's one true desire
To look on love is a feeling so swell
For love takes all but a lifetime to tell

Let me serve you the best that I know how
Every word and every page devoted to you now
How can I best serve you in the world today
Use me as your instrument: this is what I pray
I’m waiting for a tug, a gentle little leaning
Hoping for an answer to give my life some meaning
Then I wonder if I should STOP...
And just listen to the silence
I might feel that quiet breeze
I might hear the spirit whisper
Father let me serve you the only way I can
By being open, listening, and saying yes to your plan
Wherever the road may lead, may it lead me straight to you
Whatever the outcome, may the outcome let me be made new
By your will, through your love, in your grand design
I am yours: your humble servant until the end of time

Overwhelmed by your beauty
The beauty of the sacrifice
The majesty of love
The mystery of life
I sit here in your presence
I lie here at your feet
Not fear not cold can touch me
I take in the light and heat
Here I am alone with you
Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses
You call me and I respond: Here I am Lord! Speak, your servant is listening
I will go where you send me
I will love how you loved me
I will follow where you lead me
I will see what you show me
While I know that I am yours Lord
I can see how blessed I am
I haven’t always given you the same
And spending more time with you I can afford
I am yours: totally, completely
I want you to be mine: totally, completely
You had something special in mind today
Something to see, something I heard you say
To live with integrity, honesty and truth
To be united in body and soul
In communion with Christ and his body
Moving with one heart and mind
Bring the children, let the children come to me
They are our hope, our future, our legacy
Care for the poor, the sick, the prisoner
For we were all poor, sick, and slaves
To this world and it’s tempting ways
‘Twas by the amazing grace and now in faith
We are rich in His love, healed, and set free
We forget from where we came
Often fail to see how much farther still
Do not be discouraged, rather, take heart
To see the progress you have made
Life has led me here to this day and to this hour
When I give myself totally, completely I will flower

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

Lord, you turned my life around
When you brought me out of the ground
You breathed on me Spirit and Life
And raised me to the higher height
Spirit and Life are your words
Its song is echoed by the birds
I am touched by your love Oh Lord
From your Sacred Heart outpoured
I am moved by the grace you have given
Taken from the dead to the land of the livin'
So inconceivable that you were back
But when you came, I about had a heart attack
Now I stand before you deeply moved
You gently take my hand as it is proved
That you are alive, and it is really you
I stand before you with my hand in your side
And I feel your heart opened wide
I touched my Lord's Most Sacred Heart
And, for me, his work he has set apart

There is a treasure island that lies before us
Across the sea of faith there is dry land
A place of refuge to strengthen and restore us
A wondrous place with riches, God has planned
For, in God's word, I find a precious treasure
Far greater than one could ever measure
It is His heart's desire that we have a fire
That would burn brighter, hotter and higher
More precious than silver, more costly than gold
More beautiful than diamonds, is the sight that we behold
The riches and treasures; it is priceless in its value
And to the King of all Creation you are priceless too
Some days there are wild storms that try to bar the way
But we have a Northern Star to help us not to stray
Trust in Him and do not fear and you will soon see the light
And when you are scared and alone, He will hold you tight
We can get to treasure island any time we take a look
Into the word of God and open up His good book
Learn to take the treasure into your heart of hearts
To help you out when trial and challenge starts
You can bring it with you wherever you may go
To lift someone up who might be feeling kinda low
Or a reminder: you are precious, loved and His
And nothing else matter more in the final analysis

Thank you Lord for giving us such a precious treasure in your Word, in your Love, in Us Lord! You gave the most valuable thing you had because you treasured us so much. You gave us your very life! There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for a friend, and yet, you laid down your life when we had fallen out of your friendship! Help us remember the value of our lives and the value of all life, especially the most vulnerable: the elderly, the unborn, those who have special needs. You have given us your Holy Living Word to read and what treasure there is when we take the time to see what is just below the surface, waiting for us to find. May Heaven and Earth rejoice together when we realize what it is we really have and may we share that treasure with others so that, they too, may be richly blessed. Amen

Many are the trials that will come to pass
Many are the hearts that are made of glass
The faithful will be tested, shaken to the core
In the coming in the presence of the Lord
Many are the sorrows and challenges ahead
Many will despair, I cling to hope instead
The days are coming when the world will be dark
And in the light of Christ the contrast is so stark
Many are the sufferings we will undergo
We have a chance for our faith and love to show
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
He will come in glory, justice and peace shall ring
Hold fast to your anchor as the storm rages
Soon is the coming of a new golden age
When all will be made new and mysteries revealed
No sickness death or hunger and hearts will be healed
We will see his love perfected in the Holy Trinity
To see this Circle of Life it is as divine poetry
But until that day comes when we finally meet the Son
We must do our best and pray that His will be done
There will be trials but together we will overcome

Today's Gospel is from Matthew 15:29-37. It describes Jesus performing miracles of healing and a vast crowd of people had gathered and followed him for several days. He looks out and says: "My Heart is moved with pity for the crowd... I do not want to send them away hungry and possibly collapse on the way back." They have a little food between them, Jesus blesses it, breaks it, gives it to his disciples and from there to the people with seven baskets full of leftovers. What I want to focus on is not the miracle, but Jesus' statement that "My Heart is moved with pity." It's a fine enough description in English, but in the Greek, it is called splaghchnizomai, which means "be moved in the inward parts". It comes from a word meaning internal organs, a deep gut-level response, "visceral feeling/reaction".

Have you ever experienced this? Something so powerful, it turns your insides out and can make you feel physically ill? We've all seen those commercials of starving children or helpless animals on TV before. That's how Jesus probably felt or worse to see those people before him starving for physical and, more importantly, spiritual food. I get the feeling when I see someone suffering and there is nothing that I can do to ease their discomfort. I can only pray. To be honest, prayer might be the only thing that can help, and we should take great joy in the fact that we have a way to help, we believe and have faith that prayers will be answered, and we have the gift of asking others to intercede and lift their voices in prayer joining our own.

Lord God, how perfectly, how intimately, you must understand and experience our joys, our burdens, and our sufferings with us. How connected you are to all we go through. If this is true, it's unimaginable what you must have experienced on the cross with the weight and pain of all sin, all the suffering in the world. It makes our trials easier to bear because, at mass, you unite your very self within us. You become part of us and, likewise, we become part of you. We do not walk this road alone, because you share and understand, better than anyone else, what we are going through.

Lord, help us to develop a greater connection with you, give us the grace to be moved in our inward parts by love, compassion, mercy and all the gifts and blessings that flow from you. Let us act swiftly and come to the aid of those in need. Perhaps, our own crosses, our own struggles and trials, are preparing us to have that tender heart of mercy toward someone in a similar situation that they can find hope and peace in the midst of the storm. We ask this and all things in the name of the Father who created us, the Son who died for us, and the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Amen

What this world so desperately needs is a true conversion
We need a divine healer and, sometimes, a divine surgeon
Right now, so many believe the world revolves around them
And anyone who argues differently, we quickly condemn
For all who miss the bigger picture, there is only one solution
What we need right now is to renew a Copernican Revolution
The idea that we are not the center of the universe
It must seem so backwards, it must seem so reversed
The earth revolves around the sun
And we revolve around God's only Son
For He is the glue that binds it all together
He is the anchor in stormy weather
What the world needs is a change of heart
But the change in me is where it needs to start
With Jesus at my center, I've got a radioactive core
And then there is the glow which is pretty hard to ignore
But not just once, I need it now and every day
I have this true conversion when I humble myself and pray:
I need your love, I need your mercy and grace
I need your presence to fill my every space
I need you Lord, more than breath, more than life
I need you because, without you, I am but dust in the wind
You still loved me even when, against you, I knowingly sinned
Death and separation should be my eternal reward
But in your sacrifice, you paid the price I could not afford
So now I live, not I, but Christ that lives within me
And by the blood of the Spotless Lamb, I have been set free
You are in my heart and in the depths of my soul
So Jesus, you are driving; help me give you all control

Lord Jesus, creator of all the universe, thank you for making it the way you did. The earth and the planets revolve around the sun just as our lives are in balance when we revolve around your Son. So many people in the world today put other things in the center of their lives and put themselves at the center of their universe. As Christians and Humans, we can do this too. Forgive us for our shortsightedness and open our eyes to see the bigger picture. Show us, Lord, that our lives make more sense are more in balance, when we put you in the middle. All things came from you in the first place. You were the beginning; you were the first cause. Help us refocus our priorities Lord and have this true conversion we need. And let us lovingly witness to others this change in word and prayer and deed. We ask this and all things with confidence to Jesus; the Son who is the Center in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen