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.

Ask of me what you want
What does your heart truly desire?
I delight in providing for your needs
Even when you do not ask me.
Come to me in your weakness and strength
Seek my aid each morning.
Offer me your day and everything in it
And ask me to bless it and give you graces
I rejoice in your asking, and I love to give
Open yourself to me and receive
Receive my love and affection
Receive my presence and do my will
Receive the gifts I have prepared
Believe that I live within you
In all you think and speak and do
Let me help you do more good
What would you do if only you could?
Have faith in me
For, with me, all things are possible
If you are truly doing my work
Do your best and I will make it work
Give it to me that I may bless and multiply
Walk with me faithfully
and I will teach you how to fly
When this happens, and it will, be assured,
Be not proud, but rejoice and give me thanks
Everything you do, do it for the greater glory of God
For you have been chosen to bring
A bit of heaven down to the earth
You are a beloved Child Of The King
Called to a purpose before your birth
Call me up: I'm always free
For you, I'm never too busy
But when you are done, stop and listen
Be patient, persevere even if I seem silent
Sometimes I speak through things
Sometimes what you want is not what you need
Sometimes I have something better
Sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder
So often you take for granted
The many blessings you are given
You don't appreciate their value as much
Until it is taken away
My spirit longs for you
As a desert longs for rain
How long must I wait
To feel your presence again
Let your face shine upon me
Take not your spirit from me
Open my eyes to truly see
As I live out this new reality

Maybe it's the sun, but maybe you're the one of whom I'm dreaming
Maybe it's not real, but this is how I feel: my soul you're redeeming
Maybe it's just sound, but maybe I have found a love that's unending
Maybe it's the air, but maybe you are there I'm constantly depending
Maybe it's war, but maybe it's worth living for
It's time to take a stand
Maybe I'm kneeling, and maybe you're healing
With a touch of your hand
I come bowed and broken, hearing words so softly spoken
Teach my heart and heal my soul
For sin exacts a heavy toll
But a deal was made, the debt was paid
As water and blood flowed free
Now at long last, no longer slave to my past
What do you see in me?
Given a second chance, at Blessed romance
I know not why or how
But maybe it's enough just to live in your love
For it's all that I have now

Listen to the Lord in the silence of your heart
Be still and know that He is God and King
The Author Creator Sustainer of Everything
Be filled with His presence in every breath you take
Know that He is with you in every choice you make
To know Him is to love Him to love Him is to see the light
To listen to Him is to hear the words of everlasting life
May the peace of the Lord shine upon your face
And may you walk forever in the light of His grace

Amen

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

Don't you know that you are loved?
You are loved more than life itself.
Don't you know how much you are worth?
You are worth more than the treasure on earth.
Don't you know your past does not define you?
And, when you are free, nothing can confine you.
Don't you know how beautiful you are?
More brilliant than the sun and every star.
Don't you know that there is hope
And a place of peace beyond all scope?
Don't you know you are wanted and cherished?
That what was before is gone and perished?
Don't you know there is a real belonging?
New life, like the morning sun, is dawning.
Don't you know you are more than fear, than doubt?
There is a light inside you that won't be put out.
Don't you know what lies just over this hill?
And in the climb your lungs he will fill
Your strength and spirit will be renewed,
And you will find a most pleasant mood.
Joyful tears flow as mountain springs
To take in the splendor of such things!
The soul: it longs and even faints
For the brush of love by which He paints.
Don't you know you do not need to hide
From that which waits just on the other side?
Don't you know life is a chance worth taking?
That you are a masterpiece in the making?
Don't you know you're not in this alone?
That we know the ache, that we also groan?
Don't you know it doesn't matter what you've done before?
Don't you know your life is all this and so much more?

Our best defense against the devil and his tricks
Is to quickly procure and utilize a spiritual fix
To don an aura of humility relying on God's grace
And ardent love for Him will put the devil in his place
The war is raging inside our souls
Love and passion stir the coals
We fight against enemies unseen, but quite real
Eternally fighting for another soul to steal
Defend us in our weakness, rid us of all vanity
Lift us up as we struggle in our humanity
The flesh is weak, and the mind may doubt
But the spirit is willing, and the heart is stout
Come to our aid against the sea of foes
And hold us firm while the mighty wind blows
Rely on God and others to find the strength within
To hold fast against temptation and fall not into sin
Sometimes we may falter and sometimes we will fail
But fear not: in the end, Good will always prevail
Sometimes we must fail, and our failings teach
Us to lean on Him and to learn how to reach up
We have been blessed with great love and passion
Help us channel this energy in a healthy fashion
If you feel pinned and you're up against the wall
Just summon up a hearty spiritual battle call
And cry out: "Who can be compared to our God?
For He is my vision to see through the glamour of sin's facade"

Let's get back to basics
To find our origin our source
We have strayed so far away
The ship is now off course
Go back to the time that grace found you
Remember the joy your soul knew
There, in that moment, you ended
And God began
You are a new creation; so beautiful
You have a new life; so immutable
Where was it that we lost our way
When did we forget to play and pray
The devil may be in the details
But God has the whole picture
Satan tries and, ultimately, fails
Against the Living Loving Word of Scripture
Let's go back to where we were
Before the demands of life began
To have faith so great and pure
To rest knowing we are in His hand
Let's go back and try to relearn
The knowledge that love isn't something to be earned
It is a gift, a sacrifice; it is open and free
And it does something amazing for you and for me
Let's go back to when life was still simple
Where innocence could still be found
Where life's simple pleasures were routine
Where hope was full, and joy would last
Let's bring back the child-like faith
And let's get back to the basics

Have mercy on our souls Oh God
Your faithfulness and love go on forever
Turn our hearts back home to you Oh Lord
Hear us as we fervently pray
For healing and peace upon this scarred earth
For righteousness and justice to flourish
For wisdom and understanding above all
Restore our hearts and heal our lands
For, great is the love that flowed from your hands
You have blessed me with a gift: help me use it well
I am moved and touched, and my soul will dwell
In the house of the Lord all the days of my life
Have mercy on us and on the whole world
Amen

Lord, how I wish I was comfortable enough and at ease enough to fall asleep wrapped in your loving arms. Help me offer up this sleeplessness and place it at your feet. The only light I have are some candles' soft and tender glow. They dance and sway when the spirit blows. Sing a sweet lullaby over me that I may dream such happy dreams. Grant, Oh Lord, that I may live until the morning light. Keep me safe through many a perilous plight. By your right hand you deliver me from my foes and out of danger. You protect me, Oh God, from the snare of the stranger. You lead me by still waters where the grass is lush and green, I am never left wanting and times are never lean. Help me find rest in the shadow of your wings. Help me find the joy that only knowing you brings. By your grace, let me experience this gift of profoundest peace and, in your mercy, grant me sleep's sweetest release!
Amen