Oh, the places you'll go
All the people you'll meet
All the things you'll know
Without leaving your seat
Pull up a comfy chair
Open a book and look inside
Be transported anywhere
Come and join me on this ride
Get lost in a world apart
Visit lands near and far away
You can have fun and get smart
And you don't have to pay
Grab your passport to thrills
Romance, sci-fi, and mystery
Love, action, adventure, chills
Maybe a classic or some history
Don't judge a book by its cover
Take a look and give it a try
It may just be that you discover
It makes you laugh and cry
Like people, there are all kinds
Fat and thin, short and tall
If you look with open minds
They tell a story one and all

Today, I contemplate the cross and Christ upon it. I contemplate the blood, the sweat, the tears, and the unimaginable pain. If he hadn't, all suffering and sacrifice would be in vain. I want to be closer to Christ and to His Most Sacred Heart. I see the mark of the spear in His side that pierced his heart and from where the fountain of mercy and love poured. His death is on my soul and His blood is on my hands. I have probably broken every one of the commands. Still, He catches my eyes, and I understand? I have been forgiven. I am greatly adored. I am called to a more perfect union of Christ in me through prayer and daily actions. Let me not be led astray by the worldly attractions. I am not perfect, even far from it, in truth, but Christ within me fills me and completes me that His will would be done more perfectly. If, in your wisdom, we must suffer, then let our suffering glorify your Holy Name and may we unite our suffering with your own pain. We pray for the conversion of souls and repentance for the wicked, for such was what you suffered for.

Lord, as I contemplate the cross and you on it, help me unite myself more perfectly, more personally, and more intimately to you. 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.

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

The Lord is faithful kind and gentle
And, in our souls, he makes a temple
What he starts he will see to the end
And is always there if you need a friend
The Lord remains faithful and true
Even in our infidelity to You
So often I falter, so often I lose sight
Of Your Way Your Truth and Your Light
So, Lord, help me come back home once more
Bring this ship safely back to the shore
How great is your faithfulness that reaches
How amazing the grace that teaches
That shows me what it is to be cherished
That I received life when one life perished
The greatest sacrifice that love could make
You knew full well what price it would take
And yet, through it all, faithful you stayed
It could've been different, still you obeyed
Lord, help me be more faithful in my walk
And live what I believe and not just talk

Holy Mary crowned with glory
Bright shining as the sun
Queen of Mercy and of Love
You crush the evil one
We are in your tenderness
In your kindness and endless grace
Children whom you love to bless
And wrap with sweetest embrace
Gentle woman blessed mother
Obedient to Our Father's will
Your faith in God was like no other
And that courage inspires still
Taken wholly up to Heaven
When this life on earth was through
Now we ask your intercession
Pray for us in all we say and do
Dear mother by virtue of the union
Lead us to your son our Lord
That, we too, may live in communion
In that Life and Love outpoured

I lift my eyes to the heavens where does my help come from?
I lift my hands to the sky ready to bring the kingdom come
I lift my voice in song, singing praises to the Holy One
I lift my life in honor to the Christ: God's only begotten son

Whatever is holy whatever is pure
Whatever is just whatever is right
What good you do you can be sure
Is pure and blameless in His sight
Let peace and mercy and hope endure
In a world full of misplaced love
We can rest easy our souls secure
For we rest in the heart of God above
We are sick and looking for a cure
Options exhausted we begin to doubt
Some miracle drug to help reassure
That, in the end, things will all work out
I've heard of some great treasure
And the claim it makes is pretty bold
Still, its promise holds a strange allure
And many swear by it I have been told
This Jesus fellow, they say, He can save
How He loves us beyond all measure
Some even claim he rose from the grave
And from our right living He takes pleasure
Whatever is pure and holy
Whatever is good and true
And goodness in us is only
God's work in me and you

Don't be afraid, but be brave,
Have courage and take a leap of faith.
Step out on the edge beyond the known,
Dare to move outside of your comfort zone.
You can't be disappointed if you don't try
You also won't find that you were meant to fly.
Take a chance on loving and you will see
Take a chance on living all there is to be.
I give you my peace, my peace, I give to you
Look into my eyes and you will see it is true.
Don't be afraid but be brave.

Lord, there has been so much anger, violence and death lately; so many innocent lives lost. It breaks my heart; I know your heart aches for them as well. You, Oh Lord, are the Great Comforter. You know our suffering and pain for you suffered too for us on the Holy Cross. Lord, help us unite our pain with yours and offer these sorrows up for the grace and peace of those victims, their loved ones, and especially for the souls of those who hurt so many. Mary, mother of God, you were no stranger to sorrow. Comfort and console us as we grieve the loss of our children and, in your mercy, help us cling ever tighter to your Son our Lord Jesus Christ that we may not lose our faith in God or in humanity. God, give us the courage to move forward, give us the grace to forgive, and give us the strength and peace to heal. Amen

Be watchful, be alert, be vigilant
Guard your soul and do not be lax.
Prepare yourselves for the moment
When the thief suddenly attacks.
Build up treasure in your heart
Where thieves and dust cannot destroy
Where moths and rust cannot corrupt.
Guard your heart from evil things
Fill it instead with the perfect love of Christ.
Care for your spiritual health and faith
As a man cares for his lawn
Or, a gardener, his plots.
Arm yourself with the weapons
Of fasting, truth and prayer.
Be unified and protect one another
Breathe deeply the sanctified air
Be a band of sister and brother,
Linked by threads of grace
And by bonds of purest love
And army of angels and a sea of saints
Fight by our side defending our souls.
So you, my brothers and my sisters,
When the day comes at that unknown time
May the Lord find us prepared and ready
That we may partake of the wedding feast
With our fellow man
At the supper of the Lamb.

You search me Oh Lord and you know me,
You created me before I was even born.
In the palm of your hand I was formed:
Created in your image and likeness.
There is a part of you that lives in me.
You live in me and I am alive in you.
You knew my inmost being even before
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
What do you see when you look deep inside
To the dark places that I try so hard to hide?
You love me just the same and then,
With tender, loving, nail-scarred hands
You reach down and pick them up.
You illuminate and restore them.
Lord, you take broken things
And make them beautiful.
I am broken and you make me beautiful.
You took the cross and made it a bridge,
A gruesome death and turned it into life.
You were pierced and you poured forth healing
All so that, one day, I might come to know you
As you, my God, have always known me.

The years pass and the seasons change
And sometimes I wonder am I still the same?
I look around and see others moving by
And I feel like standing water: still and dry
Am I in a desert of my own designs
Or are you leading me to the divine?
Lord, I feel like I should be waiting for you
Or am I just afraid of what you're calling me to?
My heart and my mind are at odds again
Locked in a battle of faith and of reason
Lord Holy Spirit come now and descend
Put these two warriors to rest and easin'
Lord, take my fear, and in your mercy, grant me peace
You love me perfectly
And perfect love drives out all fear
Break through this stubbornness
And help me to draw ever near
Near to your heart and into your arms
A refuge of safety, a place that warms
Through all of these questions, fears, and doubts
There is one thing that I'm quite sure about:
I have your life within me
And it changes everything
Though sometimes I can't see
Just what difference it will bring
Change me Lord from the outside in
That I may be transfigured: made holy and pure
Making beauty from wretchedness is a miracle to be sure
You lift me from the ashes and breathe life into my bones
My spirit cries out to you with sweet and wordless groans
I am not, today, as I was once, before,
I have grown and matured and what's more
I am a work in progress, I am still being made
And so, my fears of stagnancy are allayed

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

Little children are taught that sharing is caring
The weight of troubles Jesus is gladly bearing
For, when two share the work, the load is light
And together things often turn out all right
Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it
And gave each of his friends a little bit
He said "This is my body broken and shared
This is my blood poured out; wounds repaired
Do such as this in memory of me
Share with all whom you meet"
Share your faith and share your bread
Do this and you, yourself, will be fed
I've heard that we aren't truly living
At least not until we are truly giving
Jesus gave himself body and blood
Gave his life freely for us out of pure love
He gave his life that we might have life
On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave
I sing praise for my God who is mighty to save
Sharing brings joy to the heart of the giver
Let it wash over you like a mighty rushing river
Live in the light that never passes away
And soak up the glow of love every day

Arms outstretched
Hands open
Palms up
Ready to receive

Hands cupped
To hold
Then together pointing up
Directing thoughts to Heaven

Finally, cradling hands open
To accept and take in
And there they rest
Brought tenderly to the heart

The world today, in which we live,
Is concerned about worldly treasure
Like addicts searching for the next pleasure.
We store up things and wealth and toys
And fill our existence with riotous noise.
Silence hurts worse than bombs and guns
Yet how many dead? Fathers, daughters, mothers and sons.
The riches of this world are frail and fleeting.
Not so, the life from a heart freely bleeding.
Many are those who have great money
And somehow their life is not so sunny.
And yet some who have naught in the world's view
Are the most joyful happy people I ever knew.
Their true riches are found in God their Lord
And in their hearts their wealth is stored.
Blessed are they who do not have much,
But are rich in love and such.
Happy are those who have less and are more free...
Because the weight of stuff slows us down you see!

Do not try to be what you are not,
Rather, be yourself and who you are.
You are special and you have great value,
But you are searching for a place to belong,
Struggling to find a family; a place to call home.
Your family are the people whom you care for
And who also care for you.
Though people may exploit the love and care that is shared
Your family is your greatest asset and strength.
The bonds of love are stronger even than the bonds of blood.
They know you, so for goodness' sake don't be fake, but get real.
Let their love steady you to keep you on an even keel.
Let them be the compass for you to find your way back,
And their light be the stars at night to keep you on track.

Christ is born within us
We bear him in our hearts
Prayer and offering borne to heaven
On the wings of the angels
In his dying, we are crucified with him
By his rising, we are born again
On his shoulders, he bore our sin
Suffered for our sake with arms wide open
Than the gift of life, there is none greater
We have been given a new lease on life
Let us not squander this second chance
So great the magnitude of our circumstance
Born of spirit and flesh, body and soul
Two worlds longing to be whole
Spirit of God come fill me up
So that the love of Christ, in me, is born
Then I may go to plant and sow
And seeds of faith, one day, will grow

Pray first, pray often, pray always
Begin by acknowledgment and praise
Our Father who art in Heaven
Blessed and holy is thy name!
He is Lord and, as such,
We should treat him the same
Once we have done this we can begin
To open our hearts that we might listen
Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done
Come to him in humble surrender
Ask him your questions, ask him to reveal
What He desires for us to feel
Open our eyes to recognize
Your love as your word comes alive
In our hearts and in our souls
After this we come to a place
Of forgiveness, repentance and grace
Forgive us our sins as we ourselves
Forgive those who are in debt to us
Lord, we pray, bless our foes
Make them Holy and happy
Forgive me Lord, I bought the lie
That you did not know as well as I
What was best for me and for my good
I see now that I was wrong
And I should've listened all along
I beg your grace to follow still
And the strength to do your will
Finally, ask God to bless your life
Pray for others who are in strife
Believe that God will hear and answer
If he overcame death, he can overcome cancer
Give us, this day, our daily bread
Lord of life, please keep us fed
Ask, seek, knock, and pray
To the Life, the Truth and the Way
Pray first: ask what God wants you to pray for
Pray often: pray daily and be faithful to it
Pray and fast: it focuses our mind and our heart
Pray always: pray without ceasing
Be patient and persistent; do not lose heart
Like a friend or doctor, make an appointment
Make a time and keep it Holy and Blest
Do your part and God will provide the rest

Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
I make my home with you closer to your heart
Because I wanna be right where you are
I'll live every moment with love and devotion
I'll pour out my soul bursting with emotion
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
I could spend eternity just sitting at your feet
The smile on your face makes my joy complete
My days are filled with longing
My nights are filled with dreams
I am searching for a belonging
But it's not as easy as it seems
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
No tongue could confess, nor song express
The greatness you possess
No heavenly choir could e're inspire
And better stoke a holy desire
Than to see your face and know such grace
Such a kindness feels out of place
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
To spend one day in paradise
Would be worth all the heartache and pain
If not a day, just an hour'd be nice
Or even one second, I wouldn't complain
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true

In the deepest depths of darkness,
In the searing searching of the soul
In this cavern we are now aware
That we are naked and made bare
The air is still, it's as silent as a tomb
Our lives are reflected in this room
In the darkness, we must find our peace
Through the silence, the Lord, speaks
The soul, it knows, such darkness
But in the darkness, there also, is light
Under pressure, darkness and cold
Forms a beauteous sight to behold
For, deep within the soul's mine
Are diamonds that sparkle and shine
The soul of man is a mighty mystery
With great potential and storied history
To self-reflect, to dive inward to reach out
To be so fragile, and yet, so stout
To long and feel, to love and create
To sing and dance and associate

Not all that is dark is evil
Or leads to deadly sleep
Some is soft and gentle
A place to hide and be safe
Not all that glitters and gleams
Is always exactly as it seems
So, keep your wits about you
That you may follow what is true

No power on earth is greater
Than the heart of the truest believer
If you truly believe it
That you have received it
It will be yours indeed
True: there may be times
When what we want
Is not what we need
"If I have someone who believes in me, I can move mountains" (Diana Ross)
"There can be miracles when you believe" (Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey)
If we believe that God is all powerful
Then why do we doubt that he can take away our cancer?
If we subscribe to the belief that He rose from the dead,
How can we doubt that He isn't truly in the Eucharist?
"For those who believe/have Faith, no explanation is necessary
For those who don't believe/don't have Faith, no explanation will suffice" (Thomas Aquinas)
Belief in someone or something can grant strength
We can do the impossible, we can change the world
We can turn this nation around if, together, we believe
There is wisdom in a child's innocence
In a world so full of potential
Anything can happen where we can just be
The dreamers the believers and me
If you believe it, you can dream it
If you can dream it, you can do it
Deep down inside, you know it's true
The Heart of the Truest Believer lies in YOU

This is the most good, this is the better part
To sit and listen with mind and soul and heart
Sit at the feet of Jesus, let your troubles melt away
To be so close and hang on every word they say
There is a time for serving, for preparing fresh bread
But it is the words of Christ, by which our souls are fed
Sometimes what is hardest is what we most need
I worry, I fret, often times I think too much
And, consequently, I think I'm losing touch
With the whole point of this exercise
Getting distracted, I lose sight of the prize
Often, God speaks so others may be filled
Sometimes, my presence, is what he has willed

I struggle to sit still where thoughts run wild
Lord, please come and hold your precious child
My heart is restless Lord, help me rest in you
And help me live my days in spirit and in truth

Amen

Wisdom is a gift from God perhaps it is the Holy Spirit. It leads us down the correct path and guides our steps if we would listen to wisdom and prudence. Reflection of this passage to me parallels somewhat, in the Catholic Tradition, Mary's prayer and life.

"Reflecting on these things and considering them in my heart" (v. 17) At the birth of Jesus in Luke 2: 19-20 "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart".

"Now, I was a well-favored child, and I came by a noble nature; or rather, being noble, I attained an unblemished body". (v. 19-20) By grace and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was conceived and Mary, herself, was immaculate (free from sin). When the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear a son, and she is troubled, he says "do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God" (Luke 1: 30-31) it is the gift of God the Holy Spirit without which this would have been impossible.

Mary "sought the Lord and prayed with all her heart" (v. 21) what we know to be the Magnificat in the Catholic Tradition. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day, all generations will call me blessed for the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name..." (Luke 1: 46-49)

Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your wisdom, prudence, and your love. We give you thanks and praise, for you have blessed us and we are "Highly Favored". Help us to be truly wise and may we always be mindful and appreciative of the gift that you have given each of us. You were and you are the spotless lamb, the unblemished sacrifice to atone for our sins and unite us to yourself once more. By your grace, Oh Lord, help us to grow in holiness that we would be ever more in communion with you and with each other. Amen.

No greater love than this:
To lay down one's life for another
No greater charity than this:
Humbly serving your sister and brother
Where charity and love are, God is also found
In grace and mercy, your heads are crowned
Care for the sick and comfort the weeping
Give generously to those in your keeping
Bring peace to the dying and lift up the low
And the Lord will be with you wherever you go
Bring Christ to all the world
In all you do, BE Christ for others
Charity and love are intertwined
For love is putting the other before yourself
And by serving humbly, love may be expressed
In this exchange, both parties are blessed
Through love and charity may you live in joy
For you are third in this simple key:

Jesus First
Others Second
Yourself (that's Me)

Put it together and what have you got?
J O Y

Stay JOYfull my friends!

You love me with the greatest devotion
And, as I wonder, I'm struck by the notion
I can run, but I can't hide
You won't ever leave my side
I can push you and I can fight
But I won't ever leave your sight
So, Lord, won't you carry me
Hold me in your arms, enfold me in your peace
Hold me close and don't let me go
Oh Lord, come carry me
I saw you walk beside me
When the sun shone in the sky
But I couldn't find you in the pain
So, I shook my fist and asked "Why?!"
In these lowest times I still made it through
So, it seems to me, I didn't need you
Looking back, I realize I was very wrong
You were there carrying me all along
It's your love that lifts me up
It's your peace that fills my cup
It's your truth that gives me wings
It's your joy that makes my heart sing
Grant me courage, grant me strength
And I can go to any length
In your arms I'll always know
That I'll be safe from any foe
You raise me up to more than I can be
Oh Lord My God, come and carry me

What must I do to enter the Kingdom of God?
What must I do to obtain eternal life?
Love God with all your mind, heart, soul and strength
Live your life for others in a Holy Sacrifice
Do not stop at the letter of the law
But follow it to its heart.
To love your neighbor as yourself
You must first know how to love yourself.
God only desires our happiness,
He takes great delight in his children.
The times when we are most happy on earth
Are when we are not in shame and sin.
He came that we might have life and have it to the fullest,
All we need to be forever happy is to not sin.
Sounds simple, but the reality is far from it.
Jesus died a perfect blameless sacrifice
To atone for our evil and pay the price
By the blood he shed to cover our sin
We have the chance to be with him.
How much he wants us with him to share his joy!

Lord, help us to wholeheartedly believe
In the mercy and grace which we receive.
You have blessed us with the faith,
Let us manifest this by acts of love and hope and charity.
Bless us, Lord, that we may serve you and others
By the power of your Holy Name.
You were humble and servant and we imitate the same.
Help us show compassion and mercy to all those in need
For, who is our neighbor, but all whom we meet!

Lord, I live for you as you lived for me
I give you my all you gave everything for me
It is so hard to accept this gift sometimes
It's so overwhelming, this love outpouring
And it is all I can do to simply be adoring
You only want my happiness
You desire only my joy
You sing over me and you smile
You gaze at me in awe and wonder and love
What else can I do, but live for you
I believe Lord, help me to receive you
More fully into my body and my soul
Take it all Lord, for I give you control
I surrender to you though it hurts
So live and move and breathe in me
I make my life an offering of love
So as to live for you, my God, above

You are good: so, so good to me
Father in Heaven, you never let me down
All the good that is in me is from you Lord
You are Holy and Perfect and Blameless
And, by the precious blood, you make me spotless
You come running out to me to embrace me
When I turn around and come back home
You are waiting; arms flung open wide
You held me close while we both cried
Tears of sadness and pain, healing and relief
In this flood of tears comes a flood of peace
Lord, let me rest in your presence for a while
And Lord, always help me to live for you

Oh, my soul, rejoice and be joyful in your King
For He is good and has created everything
Oh, my soul, take flight and soar above the clouds
In the air that fills your wings, let go of any doubts
Rejoice in the one who made you and calls you his own
He has found favor with you and made his home
Oh, my soul, be still and quiet and free
It is in those places that you will find your God to be
Reach up to Heaven, ascend to Him on high
Be at peace with the glorious divine sigh
But he who sits on the throne is also very near
And, as I sit, one thing seems quite clear:
Rejoice, my soul, in every time and every place
Because everywhere you look is the Lord's face
He loved you so much he died to show
That his love is real and not just a show
He died so you could be set free
By his Hands and Feet, nailed sin to a tree
Rejoice, my soul, for your God is risen
To break you out of spiritual prison
Rejoice, my soul, for healing in pain
Life in death, and loss in gain
Sing with one clear voice
Oh, my soul, rejoice

Jesus- has got to be the foundation to get others to Heaven
Others- a lot easier when Jesus is the foundation
Yourself- to love others as yourself you have to love yourself
= JOY

God has got his eye on me
In love with the Holy Trinity
I look at Him whom I adore
And still, He loves me more
There is a peace that passes understanding
Even when life is so demanding
There in his arms I can run and hide
Though I turn away He is at my side
His heart pursues me relentlessly
Yet, in love, He waits for me patiently
I am unworthy, yet he makes me so
And through His Grace in Holiness I will grow

One day more until the work is done
One day more to work and sweat and pray
One day more to rise with the morning sun
To wake and greet the Holy One

One day more to shine the light
One day more to spread the love
One day more to see with His sight
To know He is smiling up above

But it isn't just for one day more
To minister to the widows and the poor
He is with us now and forever more
So, dear friends, what are you waiting for?

We are sent out to the ends of the earth
We are sent to proclaim each one's worth
To preach the Gospel of Good News with great joy
In word, thought, and deed, His praise we employ

We are loved by the Father, saved by the Son
Filled by the Spirit, the three in the one
We are His children beloved in His eyes
He is our portion, and He is our prize

So, what do we do? Where do we go from here?
It seems to me the mission is quite clear:
Proclaim the name of God to all people and nations
Be bold, be courageous, and rejoice in creation

Come Holy Spirit breath of heaven
Come to us and bring us to life
Come Holy Spirit rain down your love
Consoler, comforter, help us in our strife
Sweet kiss of peace come wash over me
Move me, move in and through me
Use me as you will
And when I find you, I am blessed to
Find my restless heart is still
Come Holy Spirit come upon us now
In our rising and our falling
In our working and in our play
Grant us strength again somehow
For we are weary, and we ache
And under blazing sun these bones bake
But Breath of Heaven in you we come alive
We rise once more and, once again, we thrive!

What a beautiful way to start the day
To spend an hour with Jesus
To give him my joys and challenges
And see Him how he sees us
To see him is to know him
To know him is to love him
To love him and be loved by him
There is nothing better
In Heaven or on Earth
Bread from Heaven the original Wheaties(TM)
It truly is the breakfast of champions
It gives me the strength I require
It gives me the tools I need to succeed
And it gives me the grace to inspire

I truly believe that of all the wonderful gifts God has bestowed upon us (and there are many!) the greatest is the ability to create. Not just things, but life itself. The very act of creating/creation is to bring to life. It is Love (invisible and immaterial) made manifest (physical expression) in a very real way. The question to ask is: do my words and thoughts and actions speak life? Or do they destroy? Do they bring myself and others up? Or do they bring them down? Jesus is the Word Made Flesh, the Living Word and Bread of Life. For me, what sticks out to me that I am creating in my life is writing. Creating poetry and prayers that are inspired by the creator and shared with many by words of hope, comfort, peace, love, joy, etc. In my case, what I am creating very much reflects what I believe. When I eventually leave this earth; God willing many years from now, I want my legacy to be that I created or tried to create a little better and a little brighter world and future for our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all of our youth. I want to be remembered by how I lived and how I loved. What are you creating, what do you want to create, and what will be your legacy?

In the fullness of time, you will find what you seek
You will, at last, stand atop that great high peak
There will come a day when all doubt is wiped away
The pieces all fall into place and the picture becomes clear
You know, with great certainty, that this is meant to be
But now is not that moment. The time is not yet now
So, we must patiently wait and abide in the Lord
Until he says: now, the moment you've been waiting for!
In the fullness of time, we shall see our King
One day we shall know him and know him well
We will have the fullness of time to praise and sing
To ask who and what and why and how
But it's not today, it's not quite now
And so, this time, we must depend
On the prayers of holy women and men
And ask for their intercession on our behalf
Take comfort: all is revealed in the fullness of time
All sight becomes clear in the fullness of time

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

In you, Oh Lord, I take comfort
In you, Oh Lord, I find rest
In you, Oh Lord, I take refuge
As you hold me to your chest

When I am weary and tired
And the sky is cold and gray
When I'm feeling uninspired
Then I see to feel you say:

I am with you in the silence
I walk beside you in the wild
I know the pain and heartache
And the void of losing a child

I have come to make it known
You are loved and not alone
I have come to restore and heal
And, to this end, I act with zeal

Offer your cross for others' good
That your sorrow might bring relief
By virtue of that knotted wood
Amen, I tell you: I will give you peace

Peace be with you! Peace, I leave you, my peace I give to you.
Do not be afraid, but trust in me.
Amen, I say to you: happy are those who believe and have not seen.
For surely, "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen".
And with Peace like a River; sweet peace of God, flow over me.

I open my heart to you Lord
As you poured out your heart for me
Fill me with your wisdom and love
And bind my will to thee
So that, here today, I can say:
"I am truly free!"

Trust in the Lord, Oh my soul.
Be still my restless heart and know:
my soul proclaims the greatness of God; for all my days I will trust in Him.
Amen

You have shown us, Oh Lord, the power of your judgement and the greatness of your mercy. The prayers of the faithful and the just will not go unheard. Their cries do not fall on deaf ears. The Lord has spared me from his wrath. He has delivered me from danger. Your blessings and mercies are new each day and great is your faithfulness as the sun will rise once more.

Bless my mind Lord and the thoughts that I think
Bless my lips Lord and the words that I speak
Bless my throat Lord and the songs that I sing
Bless my heart Lord and the love that I give
Bless my life Lord and the way that I live.
Amen

Lord, help me be open so that I can receive Your Will
Help me be silent so that I can hear Your Will
Grant me courage Lord so that I can do Your Will.
Amen

Just keep calm and just be still
God has your back and always will
You can stop fighting; let it go
Be at peace and truly know:
The Lord himself will, for you, fight
Even when it cost him his life
The Lord is fighting our battles
With the enemy all around
He won't give in; won't be rattled
Not even death can keep him down
Stop fighting for a moment and find
God has never left you behind
Be still and let not your heart be troubled
For, fear and worry will only double
Don't fight Him, he's on your side
Rest, young warrior, in a love so deep and wide

Cloud of witnesses, champions of the faith
Warriors of prayer on our behalf
As we are sitting in the most holy walls
The song of salvation echoes in these halls
Such wonder I can hardly take it in
And now I stop so You can truly begin

Oh Mother Most Holy, Oh Mother Divine
To my prayers and petitions thine ear incline
Strengthen me in my weakness
In my darkness shine your light
In your graces ever flowing
Grant a heart of peaceful knowing
Though I am small, I need not be afraid
For great is the work they hands have made
Who am I that my Lord would choose me
So that I might become his blessed sanctuary

Lift high the Cross of Christ: your sword
Gird your waist with the shield of faith
Bind the devil with Heaven's holy cord
The most holy Rosary, Mary's great grace

"Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist; and the Eucharist, in turn, confirms our way of thinking". -- St. Irenaeus

Who can know the mind of God
Or plumb the depths of his wisdom?
What song can rise to Heaven's height
Or word can aptly describe Him?
Such mysteries plague the mind of man
No simple solution for this searching soul
It slips away like water through the hand
And loathe are we to relinquish control
We look upon the Eucharist with grateful thanksgiving
And offer graciously our petition and praise
For the purest act of love: life-giving
This source of food and drink in the form of bread and wine
Transcends and crosses through both mortal and divine
In this life-giving and purely creative force
I find my own creative imagination's source

There is a golden chain of love
That ties us all together
It unites us in one spirit and heart
Joined as sister and brother
Across the land, the sky, and sea
There is a chain by which we're bound
The world's most wondrous mystery
Is this love so deep and so frofound
Do to others what you would
Want to have done to you
This was the old law and fair
Now we take this command to new heights
When we love one another
As we have first been loved:
With a total, radical, sacrificial
Eternal, unconditional, unwavering
LOVE
Make peace, not war. Make love, not hate.
Be kind, not callus. Be genuine, not fake.
This love that binds us breaks the chains
We wrap ourselves in of sin and shame
Though our differences seem great
They really become quite small
When we stop and think and wonder
At the love God has for us all
So, live your lives in this tapestry of gold
And reject not a proffered hand to hold
For we are all a link in this great chain of love
Connected to each other and God up above

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

In the soft and silent stillness
Of the soul the Spirit speaks
Of conviction and of comfort
And a heart that wholly seeks
The higher truths of Heaven
And the deepest truths of man
That form faith's firm foundation
And discern God's greater plan
The soul that finds repose and rest
To dwell so close to God's own heart
Indeed, that soul is richly blessed
My Lord, my God, how great though art!