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

So sings my soul a song for my Lord
Glory and praise to his name on high
His wondrous deeds and mighty works
Are clear in creation and written in the sky
He lifts the lowly and humbles the proud
A word from His lips could silence a crowd
He is full of compassion, merciful and just
My eyes have seen the glory in Him I will trust
Nations will bow before His mighty right hand
Against love and forgiveness no force can withstand
The Heavens declare the greatness of God
The rocks and trees and Earth cries out
The mountains and valleys echo the sound
And so our Lord in glory is crowned

The angels sing in Heaven above
Full of adoration and of love
Trumpets blare and harps will play
To bring in a brand new day
Christ the King is on His throne
Praise to Him who stands alone
Far beyond the mortal man
Are the workings of His hand
None can fathom the depths of the Lord
The price he payed in love outpoured
Dance with the drums; the pulsing beat
Sing your praises and, for joy, repeat
Lift your voices with the Heavenly Host
Glory to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Praises fill the air as music fills the sky
Praise to the Lion and the Lamb, God Most High
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace
May the songs that we sing never cease
Songs from Heaven ring over the earth
Sung with joy, laughter and great mirth
Let me sing to you with every part of me
I speak from my heart and soul you see
Remind me Lord that I am because you are
And even when I can’t feel you, you are never far
You hold me in your hand and sing a love so great
You taught me with stories that I could relate
You keep watch over me as I sleep and dream
You are in my corner, you are on my team
Our prayers rise up with our song
And in our frailties you make us strong
The songs from Heaven sing the Hymn of Your glory
Telling, to all the nations and people, Salvation’s Story
The songs from Heaven give glory to your name
Let your people on Earth echo the same

Amen

Forever I will be
Loving you eternally
I am your strength and salvation
I am your hope and song
I walk beside you, for the road is long
I will keep you safe in my arms of love
Close to my heart you will remain
I will give you comfort in the pain
Lean on me and I will carry you
Know in your heart that this is true
Do not fear, for I am here
Take my hand and you can
Rise up from your mat and walk
Be silent and rest while I talk
Be filled with the living spirit
Come to life as you draw near it
I am as close as your shadow
As close as your very next breath
Nothing will separate us: not even death
I am as close as your heartbeat
Lay your troubles at my feet
Because forever I will be
Loving you eternally
I give you my peace and my love
And, my child, that will be enough
Trust in me and remain in me
As I will remain in you
Let me help you, let me heal you
Let me work in and through you
I will provide in your time of need
For, I hear the prayers of those who intercede
Find your strength and solace and light
A ray of hope, even in the darkest night
From our hearts to yours
For you, we'd break walls and doors
Because forever we will be
Loving you eternally

With hands held open you pour out blessing
With hands held open I lay down my burden confessing
With hands held open you give us the greatest gift
With hands held open we are here to uplift
With hands held open we receive your very life
With hands held open we come to you tonight
Our hands are open; so too our hearts and minds
Enter in now, move and stay
While we sit and watch and pray
With hands held open you gather us in
Washing the stain of guilt and sin
I struggle so much and so often fail
And on my own I will never prevail
But I’m not alone for I have Emmanuel
And Mary and the saints and angels as well
I must fight the good fight and call upon the name
Who is and was and will forever remain
With hands held open you beckon and call
And help me back up when I trip slip and fall
I am not perfect, but I can always improve
Embrace and face shadow and light
And by the grace of God I’ll make it through this night
It’s not easy and it hurts but the struggle could be worse
God can make a blessing from what once was a curse
With hands held open we prepare
To celebrate this great mystery
I know a peace beyond compare
When I share in His-story

Surrounded by friends and angels and saints
In awe of your power and love
My soul longs for you and it even faints
For the grace that flows from above

Surrounded by your holy fire
Surrounded by your perfect peace
I marvel at how you inspire
I’m breathless by the sweetest release

Covered in prayer and in praising
Drowned in your holy flood
We as one our voices are raising
Washed clean by your precious blood

Surrounded by your holy fire
Surrounded by your perfect peace
I marvel at how you inspire
I’m breathless by the sweetest release

Renewed by the ultimate sacrifice
Filled with the spirit of God
This is the true body of Christ
Break through our hardened facade

Surrounded by your holy fire
Surrounded by your perfect peace
I marvel at how you inspire
I’m breathless by the sweetest release

As I sit here now, I ponder
I gaze at your face and sit at your feet
And though sometimes I wander
Still I know: my life is complete

Surrounded by your holy fire
Surrounded by your perfect peace
I marvel at how you inspire
I’m breathless by the sweetest release

Now here again I stand awe
Of your promise and your power
Of your faithfulness I saw
So much gift in a short half hour

It cannot be contained: this great joy and bliss
It is contentment and more than happiness
A laughter and light in the soul and the eyes
When the clouds are dark and pour rain it brightens the skies
It flows like spirit and life giving water through the veins
It stays positive when it experiences great pains
This exuberance bubbles over and spreads to one and all
It sings a little when loved ones come to call
It befriends and listens and beckons us to turn
An ear of mercy toward the least of these and teaches us to learn
This joy I feel inside is enough to drive me mad
But the best thing is that none of it is bad
I’m overcome with gladness and my heart it beats so fast
I’m not sure how much longer I can last
To have a friend by your side an answered prayer or two
I think you’d have a hard time containing your excitement too
If feeling this great is a crime then throw me in jail
But my joy will never be quenched and my gladness will prevail
God is great and rightly to be praised
So often has He shown is goodness and still I stand amazed
You have given me a love without limits a mercy without bounds
You spoke into my silence and looked upon me with favor
You have given me a gift greater than any I’ve known
To write for you in love and Adoration
And to share that love with all
You are my daily strength and you made me who I am
I am loved by you more fiercely than a mother for her child
I was molded in your hand formed with love and gentleness
This year I (You) have said is a year of Hope
The numerous signs point to this being true
You have blessed me abundantly in my trials and my strengths
You have given me patience and grace
Please help me now to hear your voice and find which way to go
Should I be a priest or deacon or is there something I still don’t know
Continue to be with me in my daily endeavors
Continue to send your angels over me as I sleep
You set the stars and moon at night and the sun for when we rise
Help me Lord not to look down, but keep my eyes ever fixed on you, the prize
Bring me deeper to your sacred heart of love
Bind me to the immaculate heart of your Mother
Give me a righteous and upright heart like Joseph
Fill me with the burning light of the Holy Spirit
Irradiate me and make me glow when others look at me
Let me shine for you Oh Lord shine your love your life your truth
Watch over us throughout our lives in our old age and in our youth
When the day is over and the sun has set low in the sky
I look toward the heavens far above as in my bed I lie
I pray the Lord my soul to keep and thank him for this day
Before I close my eyes to dream I think I hear him say
Sleep now my child and Rest In Peace
The day is done and work will cease
Live in my love wrapped in the shelter of my wings
Dream sweet dreams and look forward to what tomorrow brings
New mercies for you everyday new blessings from above
Be joyful be content for I am a God of Love

One, the only, but sometimes one is all it takes
One, the light, that through my window breaks
One, the love, that died for me, a wretch
One, the arms, on the cross are outstretched
One, the wounded heart, that bled for me
One, the God in three persons: Holy Trinity
One, the peace, that is so profound
One, the home, that my heart has found
One, the light and love of the Lord
One, the hour, He is rightly adored

What would drive me to make a journey so far
What would give me patience through obstacles
What would give me such joy to finally arrive
And to be where you are one more time
I think it must be love

It is love that gives me the strength to go on
It is love that propels me when the road is long
It is the stars to guide me when the sun is gone
It is the joy that arises with the first rays of dawn

Isn't it crazy that I need you like water or air
That I would expire without you always being there
It is medicine to which none can compare
If it is all I have, still, I will not despair

It is love that goes beyond all measure
It is pure love which is the source of highest pleasure
It is the Father's love the most precious treasure
It is the soul's embrace the sweetest gesture

There is no distance too great or too small
That I wouldn't go to answer your call
There is no path that I wouldn't take
And no way that I could ever forsake
A friend in a time of trouble or need
It's written in my core, it's part of my creed

It's love that is so incredibly amazing
It's love that sets my heart a-blazing
It's love that puts my mind at ease
It's only love's sacrifice that truly frees

Help me love you Lord
More deeply than before
Help me trust you
No matter what life has in store
Help me see you
In the way that you see me
Help me Lord, to act
Like I have been set free
Help me separate
What is lie and what is fact
Let my words build up and create
Giving hope to a world that's diseased
Strength to the weak and love to all
Praying always and down on my knees
Help me be silent
So, I will hear the call
Help me Lord to always be brave
In the knowledge you are mighty to save
I want to know you
More personally and intimately
Even if it takes all eternity
I want to meet you here
And search harder, dig deeper
What lies inside the heart of a seeker
Take me into the holy of holies
Pull me closer and take me deeper
Deeper than I've ever been before
I am aware of my faults and failings
Aware of the cracks and imperfections
But I am also aware
Of your mercy and grace
And in the presence of your love
All my fears have been erased
I can say with blessed assurance
I understand the Lord my God
More deeply than before

I can be your shelter when your world is rocked
I can open door that once were only locked
I will be your strength when you are weak
I will be the refuge you so desperately seek
My gift of grace is all that you could ever need
Run into my arms and find yourself freed
I give you peace, my peace I give to you
Let it wash over all that you say and do
Weeping turns to laughter, night turns into day
The world fades, my love will not pass away
Talk with me, walk with me
Stay with me, pray with me
Cry with me, sigh with me
I understand better than you can imagine
How my heart aches for you, you can't fathom
Let me hold you, let me console you
Lean on me and let me show you
The difference one life, one light, can make
When it shines bright like a candle in the dark
Like a beacon, a lighthouse to safe harbor
Dance and laugh and sing
There is hope in suffering
This is not an end, but a beginning
For so many await our coming
From our birth into eternal life
To welcome us into our new home
The pain remains for those behind
But we can smile through the tears
If we live with this thought in mind:
We'll be together for eternity's years

Speak to me Lord
Tell me what I need to hear
You have called my name out loud
Speak Lord, your servant is listening
You have the words of everlasting life
And I have confidence in Christ

When life has me tired and worn
When I find myself in the storm
When I am on the long, lonely road
Burdened by a heavy load of my own design
You are there walking too
And I have confidence in you

I have come through many trials
I have walked through the fire
While I'm walking in the light
I am safe from the shadows of the night
Because you are with me
And I have confidence in thee

In the sun and through the rain
I am new, I'm not the same
In the movement of the Spirit
I come with gladness to visit
My Lord with all love and affection
And this will be my true confession:
I have confidence in Him

I have confidence in my Jesus
Who frees us and who sees us
I have confidence in my savior
Sacrificial love is his very nature
I have confidence that he is at my side
And I know that he will provide

In faith I believe
And in faith I receive
The greatest gift of all
To love him
And to know him
And to answer to the call

For he speaks to mind and heart
He speaks and then I will start
He speaks and the soul draws near
He speaks and I have no fear
He speaks and says "Come Follow"
He speaks and I leave it all without sorrow

No matter what the future holds
I will pursue the highest goals
I fix my eyes toward the heavens
My help comes from the Lord
So, I will have confidence even through strife
I will have confidence in my Jesus Christ

We come with humble hearts to listen
To listen to our Savior speak
We bend our knees in humble adoration
In adoration to the Blessed Christ
We bow our heads and lift our hearts
Lift our hearts to the Lamb on Hight
With the angel choirs in Heaven we sing
We sing sweet songs in glory to the Lord
Fill our hearts with child-like wonder
In wonder do we see such awe-full splendor
We leave it all to follow you
Follow your way, your life, your truth

When the world falls to pieces
And life is crashing down on me
The walls close in and I’m falling fast
And it’s so dark I can’t even see
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put my heart back together again
Lying there like so many shards of broken glass
These are all a result of my broken past
From the midst of the shadows you step into view
My first thought is: it’s too good to be true
But you kneel and pick up the pieces one by one
Until even the smallest is collected and it is done
Then you rearrange them so careful and so sure
I watch; captivated by the mystery and allure
You have softened some edges, others are still cracked
Here was my heart yes, but it was different in fact
I still saw the scars the memory of pain
But the bitterness and anger did not remain
A feeling of peace settled over and for the first time I saw
The bigger picture overcome with awe
I see the good and the bad more clearly defined
I see how I am beautifully wonderfully perfectly designed
This is my present, the future isn’t set in stone
I can change, I can learn, my choices are my own
I look ahead with newfound hope on my present circumstance
That with every new horizon there comes another chance
To be the best that I can be make every moment count
Together there is no challenge that we can’t surmount

Behold the bloodied anguished face
In whose eyes are love and endless grace
Who alone truly knows your pain and sorrow
And still clings to hope for a better tomorrow
Leave it all behind
In the hands of the divine
Let loving arms enfold you
As prayers uplift and hold you
Allow peace and rest to enter in
As the healing soon begins

Wash me white as the new-fallen snow
Purify my heart and cleanse me from within
I come to you with filthy rags and scars and sores abound
You wipe them away and they are nowhere to be found
Transform me let me shine your light anew
Though I don’t see, you’re making me more like you
No longer red and filled with dread, sweat upon my brow
Purest white the soul’s delight the color I see now
To find victory I must surrender
Sometimes strength is gentle and tender
A peace sweeps over, brings me to my knees
A door was locked and now you hold the keys
I am found when I lose myself in you
By burden becomes light in the shadow of your cross
To tell you all my deepest secrets though you know them all
Leaves me feeling better and I can once again walk tall
The hardest part is getting there being vulnerable and weak
And every time I’m amazed by the loving words you speak
Each time, I am transfigured; made into something more
Each time you patiently wait for me every time I ignore
I will fall and fall again but you love me just the same
How amazing, how great, is the power of Your name

Take a look outside and relay what you see
The rainbow, the dew, mountain and tree
We look at them, yes but try to look deeper still
There is beauty complexity and a purpose to fill
The glory of creation reflecting the creator
Beauty so divine nothing could be greater
Who can look at nature and not be moved?
Who can truly see and say God cannot be proved?
Everywhere I turn there is beauty and grace
It brings a tear to my eye and a smile on my face
In a society so focused on progress and speed
We lose so much of what we desperately need
We miss the signs, and miracles and wonders
That are there just waiting to be found
The beauty of creation our Lord in glory crowned
So dance in the sun and run in the field
In smelling the roses, God’s love is revealed
The rainbow a promise of forgiveness and light
The stars to guide us through the night
Everything in life so perfectly designed
To try to comprehend just blows my mind
So next time don’t just look, but truly see
The majesty, the splendor, the art of God’s glory

"Doth not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Doth not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Doth not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Hath not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?"

- Charles Spurgeon

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."

- Martin Luther

Lord thank you for the gift of nature and creation. So often, we are so preoccupied with life that we miss all that life and life in you has in store. Help us to see your fingerprints all over and have the childlike joy in the smallest things. Bless us Lord and open our eyes and hearts to not just look, but truly see your beauty and how much you mean to me. Amen

Just be with Me in the silence
Be present to Me here and now
Be at peace with Me in My plan
Be in love with Me and all that I am
Be content with Me and that I give you
Be honest with Me and be true
I am here always by your side in every step
I am here in your very next breath
I am here when the light is no more
I am here when you spread your wings and soar
I am here to calm the wind and sea
I am here just be with Me
I am here down every dusty road
I am here to share the heavy load
I am here when you need a friend
I am here from the beginning to the end
Be filled with Me and never thirst
Be best in Me when you are at your worst
Be found in Me when you have lost your way
Believe in Me that I hear and answer when you pray
Be alive in Me and my love for my child
Be gentle like Me so meek and mild
I have come to set you free
I am here just be with Me
I am here when you make your way back home
I am here so you are never all alone
I am here with glory and power
I am here to guide you through the darkest hour
I am here with mercy and grace
I am here right now in this place
Belong to Me and find peace and rest
Trust Me that I know what is best
I love you and you will never be forsaken
I have set the sun to rise and greet you when you awaken
I have marked you as my own from before time began
I know you intimately well and hold you in my hand
I wrote my name upon your heart
You are mine from the very start
I burned my word into your mind
So with that you are sealed and signed
I put my song into your soul
Words of wisdom and love that we extol
I have called you by name and sent you share
Spread the good news to people everywhere
I am here to open your eyes to see
I am here just be with Me

It's time to take a spiritual audit
Take stock of our accounts and plot it
Where are we spiritually? Red or Black?
Are we simply playing defense or are we on the attack?
What is cluttering our lives preventing light from getting in?
And what is so loud that we can't hear God above the din?
Do not be afraid my children, do not live in fear
Trust in the power of God knowing He is here
Let his love lift you up from the spiritual grave
Go therefore and proclaim: "My God is mighty to Save!"
At times we lose sight of what matters the most
None are perfect, indeed, so that none may boast
But we return to God with all our hearts
Cleanse us Lord of all that keeps us apart
Fear has no place before God's amazing grace
Trusting in God and his power and glory
We share in the writing of salvation's story
Let it be done to me according to Your Will
And give me the courage to wait and be still
Lead me back to your loving arms once again
Trusting in the power of God and not men
I fall on my knees "Lord, rescue me please
From myself and from my enemies.
I (re)dedicate my life to you in this hour on this day
And the fear that once controlled me be overcome I pray

So many of us have so much clutter in our lives (both physical and spiritual) that we miss all the blessings and God's great purpose and plan for our lives. Two stories that come to mind about clutter and houses in the Bible are the story of Zacchaeus and the story about Jesus overturning the tables in the temple. Our heart's house (temple) for the Lord is cluttered and there are places we are ashamed of; places that are locked and hidden away. The Album (See Inside) by Out of the Grey is wonderful and ties to this theme quite well, especially the song "That's Where I Live". We know you live inside our hearts, make our heart your home, a place you want to live, and help us open the door and welcome you in. Lord, give us the courage and strength by your grace to dedicate or (re)dedicate our lives to you today. Amen

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

Into the desert you call me
Down in the valley below
Into a place I can can finally see
Just how much I will grow
You take me into the wild
To be tempted and challenged and tried
But I am your precious child
And to free me you hung bled and died

Into the desert I go now
Led by the Spirit within
Every morning I wake and bow
And pray for the strength not to sin
You send your angels to watch and guard
You feed my body and soul
Though the road is long and the journey hard
I know I will reach my goal

Into the desert for forty long days
To fast and pray and learn
To trust you and follow your ways
And find a gift I cannot earn
You satisfy my hungry heart
You give me strength for the miles
You are creating a beautiful work of art
And you paint me with beautiful smiles

Into the desert I learn quiet and still
Into a place of simple surrender
Free of distractions I’m seeking your will
I count on my great defender
I move past the hurt dare to look deeper
Beyond the surface into the space
In the depths of my soul I find a keeper
Full of love and mercy, compassion and grace

Into the desert to walk with my Lord
I ask for his patience his wisdom his love
He paid the price I could never afford
And I smile as He keeps watch from above
On this journey of faith you help me realize
My blindness when I see through your eyes

Sometimes it’s okay to think, speak, act, etc. but we do it so much; constantly moving, rarely slowing down, and almost never stopping. There are times that we need to stop. Don’t speak, don’t think, don’t act. Just listen and be. Listen to the world around you, listen to the silence that you may hear Him speak. Empty yourself so you may be filled, lose yourself so you can be found. Try letting everything fade away so you can focus on the one thing that matters most: your presence to Him and His presence in you. Be patient, don’t give up or get discouraged and keep trying when it doesn’t work. Listen!

Lord help me trust you that I don’t worry
Help me to take it easy and not hurry
Help me quiet my anxious mind
Grant me peace if you are so inclined
Lord help me learn that in stillness waits
The keys to unlock heaven’s gates
Lord help me hear that still small voice
And block out the extra noise
Help me see with the eyes so tender
And eyes to identify the great pretender
Lord give me the strength I require to do your will
And when I need to wait, help me just be still

Lord be the food that fills and sustains
And remind me that only love remains
Walk with me in the daytime
You tell me “You are mine”
Hold me in your arms at night
Wrap me ever in your light
You are great beyond all measure
And giving you glory brings me pleasure
You are holy and powerful mighty are your ways
You alone are worthy of all my thanks and praise

Your faithfulness never falters or fails
Your word is the wind that fills my sails
Your hands of healing bind the broken
Your arms to take us in spread wide open
Your heart so full of tenderness and care
Your constant presence everywhere
My soul sings for you, a song springs from my tongue;
The words pour down like drops of rain when your praise is sung
I love you Lord my God for just what you mean
More than the fact that you restore and redeem
I love you for all that you are to me
I love you for who you are shaping me to be
I love you lord for more than words can ever do
I love you Lord for everything, I love you Lord for you!

I hold your name close to my heart
I shelter your memory in my mind
I do believe in life everlasting
And love without end amen
As long as I live, and life lives within me
Part of you will be with me now and forever
You are as close as my next breath
And you move me with love and grace
Everywhere I look I see your face
There is evidence of you everywhere
So many things touched by your presence
And your gentle loving spirit
I wish I could put my hand in yours
And feel the warmth of your embrace
And saddened as I am right now
I rejoice in the hope that one day
I will be with you again
To spend eternity with the one we love

Holy Mother through your grace
We can see our Jesus’ face
Your heart so full of love divine
All part of God’s grand design
You are the path through which we come
To know and praise and love your son
I know, but sometimes still fail to see
The great things God has planned for me
By your virtues pure and holy
Direct my life to be yours solely
Through purity and love and truth
May I live an upright youth
And in my final days on Earth
Let my end be but rebirth

I Need You

Jesus I need you more than ever before
I have no idea what the future has in store
I rely on you to be my refuge and my strength
It is through you that I can go to such lengths
Jesus I need you more than ever
To be my anchor in the stormy weather
You have put me in this position for a reason
And I hope that my response has been pleasing
I lean on you more heavily now that I ever would
And you have shown me that this is quite good
Jesus I need you more each day and each week
You are the light of my life when the day is bleak
Jesus I love you more deeply than when I first began
And I can’t help but wonder if this was all part of your plan
To show me how much I really need you
Oh how I want it all so much to be true
To show me that I can rely on you to take care
Of all my life and my needs and mend the tear
Jesus I need you I know you listen and take heed
Jesus I need you to water the seed
How you must be smiling in Heaven to see me finally understand
That all of this was your doing, to see the working of your hand
I’m still learning and I’ve got quite the road ahead
This time I think I’ll let you lead instead
Jesus I need you more than I can express
For all my eloquence is fruitless I confess
Jesus I need your love be with me now
Open my heart to more completely allow
Your grace and peace in my inmost being
In binding myself to you it is freeing
Jesus I need you to come take over my life
To be the Lord of my great joy and deep strife
Jesus I need you I can’t do this alone
And Jesus sometimes it scares me to the bone
But I need you and it’s getting to hard to ignore
So don’t come knockin’ ‘cause here is the key to my heart’s door
Jesus I need you, I come here today
To be with you, to thank you and pray
Jesus I need you and I know things will be alright
Keep me safe and close to you this night
Look with love upon this child and let your light shine
I am yours forever and you are forever mine

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

The sun on my face
Going outside to have fun
Happy summer days!

Take my life and mold and shape
Take all that I am and recreate
You made me in your image
When you carved me in your hand
You know my inmost being
Loved before time began
Carefully made with such love and care
No craftsman on earth can compare
To take something and give it
New purpose, new life, new identity
To look within and set a spirit free
It is the gift of a precious chosen few
And so, it is why I sing this song for you
The wood rejoices and it sings
It even dances for the master
It takes on a life all its own
Speak to my soul in purest tone
Bless us with the song of the carpenter
With hands both rough and tender
With eyes to see what may lie hidden
With patience for the hours ahead
With humble heart that's spirit led
May all we do and think and say
Lead to the life the truth and way

For those that fight for the rights of others
For those that stand up against injustice
For those who defend the faith
For those who seek the truth and fairness
For those with wisdom and eyes to see
Bless and keep them safe Lord
Remind them of your presence
Let them act with Justice and yet be merciful
Let them not judge too hastily but look for the good inside
Protect their minds and hearts
Against discouragement and cynicism
Let your love fill them, the Holy Spirit guide them
They have great power, help them use it responsibly
On this day we celebrate St. Thomas More
Patron saint of lawyers, adopted children, those who work in the courts
By your grace and strength may they too be
The “king’s” good servant, but God’s first
The work they do is often hard and difficult to see an impact
Please remind them that they are making a difference
That what they do DOES matter
Put people in their lives to give them encouragement and support
People to turn to on the hard days to carry them
Bless all those in the court system as they work to bring peace
For they are the children of God
May we all be like children living with faith hope joy and love
Grant them and all of us Oh Lord the spirit of Wisdom and Understanding
We ask this and all things in Jesus the Christ your son who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. One God forever and ever Amen.

St. Thomas More: pray for us!

Gift of Life

Mary, mother of Jesus the Christ my Lord and savior
Great is your name indeed and blessed are you among women
Blessed and holy is the fruit of your womb Jesus
You were pure and blameless giving birth to the one who gave us his life so we could have life with Him forever
Breathe your sweet breath upon my soul and fill me with your virtues
Care for me and love me and pray for me Oh Holy Mother of God.
In my weakness help me fly to you and cry to you
Help me reach for you always and hold my hand. Be with me as I try to follow your son.
Bathe me in you soft light and help me to be ever open to Jesus and his will in my life
Thank you for helping me love Jesus better,  know him deeper and follow him closer
Your "Yes" has allowed me to be where I am today and do what I am able to do
I plead for your intersession and help as I struggle to be pure and chaste
I yearn to be free of these shackles but it has given me a humility and requires me to stay closer to Jesus
Everything I think about right now is life in some way when I think about you tonight.
The gift of life and what a gift and how great is truly is.
Mary I give honor and praise to your most holy name. It is an honor to come to you today
You have many titles and honors, but I believe the greatest honor and title of all is that of "Mother"
It fills me with a warmth and peace, a gentleness and love
It is a great embrace it is a the sweetest song I know
They say that behind every great man is an even more amazing mother
They would be right in this case.
Your husband Joseph is not to be forgotten either
A holy righteous and honest man was he and I'm sure he taught Jesus a great many things
I can imagine that every decision big or small was made in love, with prayer, together
That is how we should be doing things, but sometimes it seems that we have forgotten how
I pray for the world and its peoples that there would be peace and love across the nations
I pray for our families and relationships that they would reflect the loving and holy nature of your Most Holy Family
I pray for our heath especially our spiritual health
I pray for those who have said yes and for those who haven't yet that they would be open to walk where he leads
I pray for us sinners that our hearts would be changed and we could live a life of purity and grace
I pray for your protection and help in all things but especially for mothers and for those in difficult situations
I pray that I would bring joy and peace to your heart and do the things that make you smile
I thank you for the opportunity to stay here with you and your son for a while.

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!

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?

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
We are your children who 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

Lord, in my humanity I am weak. I am pulled between the devil’s twisted images and the divinity I have through you. So often I fall prey to these temptations and do what I know is not good for me. Forgive me, a poor sinner. I ask for the courage and strength to come before you humble and broken just as I am. I am coming home Lord, run out to meet me! I know that I am more than my faults and failings. I can do better, I can be better with your help. Let me be content in my suffering and weakness because I know that my strength is found in you. It is in my weakest moments that you can truly show your strength. I know what I need to do Lord, by your grace and strength, help me act promptly upon this knowledge and so Glory in Your strength. Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done: on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our DAILY BREAD! (Your Word and Your presence in the Blessed Sacrament) And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. You are my strength Lord. Help me be content in my weakness so to testify more powerfully to Your strength.

I no longer beat for myself alone
I beat for one who made himself known
Humbled himself to be one like me
I was locked away and he held the key
He knocked on the door said “May I come in?”
He got to work cleaning me from within
Though I was unworthy he loved me the same
The lifted me up and called me by name
When I was broken he made something new
Put me together with something stronger than glue
Piece by piece I began to realize
How special I was in his loving eyes

Eye has not seen nor ear has heard
What I know to be perfect and true
One look at the sunset or creation around
Is all I need to know where He is found
To truly believe what the eyes cannot see
Hold fast to what it means to me
I may not see, or think but i know what i feel
And in the deepest part of me, I know this is real

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

Valentine’s Day will be here soon
Love is in the air; thicker than humidity in June
Hugs and kisses for the mister and the missus
Smell the rose’s perfume carried on the breeze
While the birds sing love songs in the trees
Hearts are happy when we celebrate with friends
We pray that the good time never ends
For all those who bring us warmth and light,
Who answer a call in the middle of the night;
We express our thanks and let them know
How much we cherish them in our highs and lows
The moments together are more precious than gold
To cherish and treasure, to have and to hold
Sure it’s flowers, chocolate, cute cards from the store
But Valentine’s Day is that and so much more!

You call me to yourself, come follow and believe
Cast off your old ways and seek me with all you are
You call me to the unknown with only faith that you are there
I hear you calling in the night “Awake, sleeper; and rise”
“Here I am Lord” I say as I yawn and rub my eyes
I call you my child, I call you my sheep
I watch over always, never slumber nor sleep
I call you to go out and spread the good news
Fear not, I equip those whom I choose
Heal the sick and love the unloved
Let all people know that they are beloved
I call you by name I hold you in my hand
Have faith, and believe in what I have planned
You call me to walk, leave it all and follow you
I want to but it scares me, it’s true
Still you call me without ceasing
To surrender and by releasing
I find a peace I’ve never known before
A peace that comes only from the Lord
I call you into prayer and out to action
To learn the Spirituality of Subtraction
As I empty myself I am able to be filled
With Christ and what he has willed
The less of me the more you are
When I forget, remind me that you’re the star
You have given me everything so everything is yours
I am nothing without you: you are my everything
You gave me life and the ability to laugh and dance and sing
So for you I’ll laugh and sing and dance
To my last breath I’ll praise you at every chance
You call me for more; for a greater mission
And I could know if I would listen
“So here I am Lord, speak to me
My ears to hear and my eyes to see”

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?

You call me to journey with you
Between the desert and the sea
Between life and death
Between darkness and light
Between desolation and consolation.
In this life I will know joy and pain
I will see fire and I will see rain
These trials, they will test me
But you, my God, have blessed me
So, I will walk with you on this journey
Between the desert and the sea.
Even in the desert you did not desert
I can see the son walk upon the sea.
I cannot see the path before me
But I trust that you know the way,
So, Lord, if you lead, I'll follow still
And, with your help, I'll listen and obey
As we walk on this great journey
Between the desert and the sea.

All my life, it’s always been all about love. The gifts and strengths that I have been given, the way I live my life, my passion, my work, my connection to the Most Holy Eucharist, and even my struggles. For me, everything comes back to love. I’ve never been a fighter, I always want peace and love and it pains me to see others in pain. I love to live and I live to love. It seems fitting when I look at the temptations I am most assaulted by, appropriate even. Love is our greatest weapon and strength and that same love leaves us open and vulnerable. But vulnerable is not the same as weak. We were designed to love each other and manifest that love as new life. We were created to be the image and likeness of the creator who is the embodiment of perfect eternal love to reflect it back to each other and in doing so reflect the same to Him.

There was a little girl in a small quiet town
Wherever she went there was nary a frown
The birds would sing, and the flowers would bloom
Whenever she entered a room
A kinder soul you'd never meet, full of grace and beauty
Gentle, sweet, and pure she was always happy, never moody
All the people loved her and cared for her like their own
All life was good and there was peace in all their homes
But then one fateful day her life was changed forever
A terrible accident occurred that caused her old self to be severed
And she, once beautiful and full of life and joy
Now her beauty was marred and life as she had known was utterly destroyed
The very same ones who once loved and cherished her in every way
Were now the same who drove her away
On the run, lost and alone, tired and afraid
She wandered for many miles, many long nights and days
Her heart turned cold and she grew hard and distant
Now bitter and angry the hurt she felt was very persistent
She became cruel to hide her deep pain
But no matter what she did, the wound still remained
Those she tried to get close to ran away in fright
Alarmed by her nature and disgusted by her sight
Thsi only made the whole thing worse growing in hatred and rage
So, over time, there was hardly a trace of the sweet little girl from Bethphage

Lord, help me be open and present
To your will and your love
Even when I only hear silence
Grant my soul peace and my mind calm
As I am before you, open and present
And still, I know you are with me
I know you are near
You are faithful now and always you will be
I will remain faithful to you
It has been thirty-four days on this journey to you
And somehow, I'm still blown away even though I knew
That it could happen that it would happen:
Forty-six days forty-six brand new writings
With twelve days left and Holy week fast approaching
Help me continue to be open and present
That you for this gift that is heaven sent
That you for the trial and transformation of Lent
That you for the preparation and peace of Advent
That you for this daily living
For the breath that you keep giving
For the bread by which we're fed
For the light by which we're led
Thank you for the gifts you bring
Thank you, Lord, for everything
Lord, help me be open and present

Amen

To the lame he says get up from your mat and walk
To the mute he says open your mouth and talk
It’s a call to action a movement come alive
It’s a summons for the people it is time to rise
To rise above the anger and pent up rage
To look forward and write a new page
We are lifted up to more than we can be
And it’s on those shoulders that we can start to see
Sometimes the only way we stand is on our knees in prayer
Sometimes it’s only looking back that we see God was there
Cast your eyes to Heaven with prayer like sweet perfume
Let it saturate the air around you and fill this holy room
We were made for more; something truly grand
And one day, someday we might finally understand
We are more than our weakness the sins of our past
We are covered in mercy and grace so vast
We will overcome heartache and sorrow
As sure as the sun will rise again tomorrow.
We have the love of Christ Crucified
We received Life when we should have died
When we die to ourselves we live for each other
We will see through his eyes to love our brother
When we stand united I begin to realize
That there is hope and from the ashes we may rise
Like the Phoenix that dies to be reborn in flame
I believe that, one day, we will do the same

You are everything we ever need
You are the living water to seed
Fill us with your Holy Spirit
Give us these spiritual gifts
As, with our voices, your praises we lift
You are greater and stronger
Your sin controls you no longer
In the light of your amazing grace
Come Lord Jesus, invade my space
Drive out the darkness and fear
I come crawling; will you meet me here?
Receive the greatness and the power
Of this glorious and holy hour
Shout to God be honor and glory
The world needs to hear your story
Free us and heal us from our sin and shame
All is possible when we call on your Holy Name

What the world needs now is a little faith hope and love
A little tenderness and mercy raining down from above
What the world needs now more than ever before
Is a time to heal and a time to restore
It's a wondrous place, this world that we live in
Let go of the poisonous bitterness and be forgivin'
Carefully place your feet and, upon solid ground, stand fast
Helping each other out is the way we will last
The challenges we go through help us to grow true
Mistakes teach us as hard lessons reach us
And find us stronger and better than we were
Life is tough, but we are too; we will endure
What the world needs now is to give love a chance
To grace a stranger with a more than passing glance
To look into the face of a mortal enemy
And dare to find a place of peace and unity
Let not the sun go down on your anger and hate
There is time to turn around, it is not too late
Perfectly imperfect is what we are
Still beautiful and bright as the evening star
What the world needs now is people who still care
What the world needs now are stories to share
There is one thing the world today seems to lack
We all need to find our way back
To the place of faith, family, and grace
Don't forget where you've been and where you're from
On the way to get where you're going
Lift up your voice and add it to the song
And find that what's been missing
Has been there all along

Lord God, Father of Life and Love, whose word is Truth and Peace, who bestows on us, in his greatness, an abundance of Grace and Mercy; hear my prayer. I love you, I adore you, I honor you; for, in you, all good things have and find their source, their fullness and perfection. How is it that in all the vast universe you, my God, should want me? You do not need me. You want me. I need you Lord. Without your Living Spirit I could not breathe. Without your blood your very life, sustaining me; my heart would not beat. Without you constantly thinking of me, I would cease to exist at all. You do not need me Lord, but you want me. You want me with you, you want me close to your side, you want me to sit with you because you love me. I am important to you, and you want me, and, for now, that's all that really matters. You desire me, you seek me, you wait for me, you want me. I run from you, I hide from you, I betray you, I deny you. Still, you pursue me, you catch me, you hold me, you love me. Through it all, you still want me. Help me want you as much as I need you. Help me need you as much as you want me. Amen

"Okay Lord, here I am. Today, I'm just spending time with you. Come and meet me where I am. Be with me. I know you love me. I love you too. Thank you."

Ok Lord, here I am. Today I'm just spending time with you. Come and meet me where I am. Be with me. I know you love me. I love you too. Thank you.