There is beauty that makes my heart ache
There is beauty in every breath I take
There is beauty every time I come awake
There is a beauty so profound that it can't be fake
There is a drop of grace in every little step
There is a bit of hope in every word I write
There is a little love in every child's eyes
There is a hint of heaven in the miracle of life
There is joy that defies all reason
There is peace that passes all understanding
There is hope that burns eternally
There is love that transcends even death
There is the truth deeper than this reality
There is the way which brings me to life
There is the life, and it is so beautiful
And oh, how I love, this Beautiful Living!

So often, my love is shallow or fake
Unwilling to do what I know it takes
I am too wrapped up in my self-love
Self-interest and self-pity
To see that my vision is itty-bitty
I miss the sunset staring at the ground
Tenser than a spring, I'm so tightly wound
In the war between the spirit and the flesh
Caught in the middle, I'm a hot mess
So easy to say I love you
But so difficult to really prove
You love me without condition
And you send me out on a mission
Jesus; source of love in pure perfection
In your love help me be a reflection
Imperfect as I may be, shine through me today
Grant me the grace to turn back to you
And the discipline to obey

For freedom is found in following
The law of the Lord is the light of love.
Perfect peace and power pass over
When we watch with awe and wonder
What happens when, in our need, we kneel.
Sorrow and sadness in the savior's shadow
Are arrested in authentic love's atoning act,
Shed for sinners in the ultimate sacrifice.
Body and blood broken and beautiful
We are given the gift of God's great grace.
Recall the wretched reign, be reborn; renewed
For Christ has come to call his child.

At this moment Lord, I am feeling a little uncomfortable, a little irritable, a little restless. It's not bad, but it certainly isn't pleasant, and I don't know just why. So, Lord, I ask for peace. I ask that you make it go away for I know that you are able, but if it is not your will Lord, help me offer this up for the salvation of souls and that you would ease someone else's discomfort. I unite this moment to the moments when you were also distressed. I offer these prayers and this feeling not for myself, but for the many others who, at this very moment, are in far greater need of your comfort and peace than I.

Lord come to our aid: in your mercy help us

Hear us when we cry out to you Oh Lord
Though we sail the sea of faith
We are buffeted by the trials of life
Tossed about by waves and wind
Lord come to our aid: in your mercy help us

Protect us from danger and grant us peace
Watch over us in our waking and our sleep
Help us remain ever vigilant in our watch
That not one lamb may find itself lost
Lord come to our aid: in your mercy help us

We know you hear our prayers Oh God
For you are good and gracious indeed
You hear the cries of your beloved children
Oh Lord, come swiftly in our time of need
Lord come to our aid: in your mercy help us

When troubles come and hard times assail
Remind us that evil will never prevail
You overcame the world so we shall not fear
Nor, for anything, want as long as you are near
Lord come to our aid: in your mercy help us

You consecrate our lives in your blessed truth
In your compassion fill all of our youth
With love for you and the world outside
Shine your light upon us, your face do not hide
Lord come to our aid: in your mercy help us

Every good thing, Lord, comes
Every good thing comes from you
Every day is showered in blessings
Every morning your graces are new
Every night you watch over us
Lord, keep us safe from harm
Every thing I have is from you
Every thing I am is who you are
Every beat of my heart beats for you
Without your love I fall apart
So when life is only clouds and rain
And all I can feel is sorrow and pain
Give me the eyes to see your rainbow
Give me hope and help me to grow
For, in the ultimate act of derision
Came a far more perfect vision
You took the cross designed for shame
And made a bridge out of the same
In death you destroyed sin and death
And in the span of the very next breath
You restored us to life and made all things new
For, every good thing Lord, comes from you

Though we suffer for a time
And not everything works out fine
Nothing compares to what is waiting
For those, with hope, anticipating

A time of peace and comfort

Not everything is healed
Nor all wounds erased
But His Glory will be revealed
And sadness will be replaced

And we shall know His comfort

Sometimes all we have is comfort
Sometimes a point we make peace
A strength in the shadow of the cross
To comfort one who knows of loss

In whom we find our comfort

Maybe a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on
Maybe a cheerful smile or a listening ear
Maybe just to know someone will be there
To know, beyond a doubt, someone does care

Maybe this is the greatest comfort

Jesus never said there would be no pain
No sorrow, no loss, no sadness
But he also said he would never leave us
And, one day, turn our mourning into gladness

So, for now hold on to hope
And pray for peace and comfort

Crowned with glory like the sun
In robes of dazzling white
He is lifted up; the Holy One
Behold, the Ascension of Christ!

You have seen and you have heard
Bearing witness to the Living Word
Live your lives to reflect the change
And some people will think you strange

What hope to know Jesus goes before us
To intercede and prepare a place for us
Then sending down His love made manifest
His Holy Spirit by creation blessed

He empowers us to boldly proclaim
And do great things by the power of His name
Our hearts too small to keep the love inside
And must be shared high, far, deep, and wide

As Christ ascends to Heaven above
We too are ascended by His love
He lives within and we are lifted high
And on the wings of hope we fly

So shine upon the world so that all may see
Your true joy and come to believe
Go therefore and preach the good news
Be instruments for your God to use

We are one heart, one body, one mind, one soul
Your goodness and mercy, as one, we extol
You are found in me as I am found in You
And all my dreams are becoming true
My flaws are perfected in your divinity
Truest expression of love Oh Blessed Trinity
Let your will and mine be of one accord
That I would live in harmony, not discord
Help us be as one. One faith community
And, in all things, help us sow peace and unity
We are one body in Christ, and we do not stand alone
For His love is made manifest, His Life is made known

Lord, you held nothing back, not even your life
You forgave me when I denied you thrice
You still loved me when I betrayed you with a kiss
You ran out to meet me with grace and forgiveness
You desire to give me all I could possibly need
But so often, I ignore you and pay you no heed
Help me give you everything, to abandon it all
Because I know it is Jesus who calls
If I don't surrender to the power of the love
I am missing out on all that could be
And I won't experience a more wonderful reality
I come to life in the light of your love
Help me live a life that is fully realized
Yours is the blood that courses through my veins
And when all is stripped away, only your love yet remains

You, Oh Lord, are the light of the world
Come into the darkness of our ignorance and sin
Enter in and cast away the sky of perpetual gray
Let the light of your Son break through this day
Burn off the clouds of despair and gloom
Come and fill each dim and dusty room
The light hurts my eyes especially when I realize
How much I am a prisoner in a cell of my own design
And how much of it is no one's fault, but mine
And still, I see that this is only a part of me
Help me radiate the light that shines eternal
Grant a steady inner glow
So no matter where I go
People everywhere will know:
You are the Light that sets us free
You are the Light by which I see
Lord, You are the Light in me