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.

Jesus you are so much more than I deserve
It’s a miracle that you would choose someone like me
But you love me beyond measure
You took on pain and it was your pleasure
You gave yourself to me fully
Still I hold back somehow unsure
From the love that makes me pure
Lord I need you more fill me up
Satisfy this hungry heart fill my cup
Let your blessings overflow as mercy abounds
Let my praises fill the sky and let heaven resound
Help me Lord to give you more
So that you can be more in me
In your greatness make me small
So that I can see you are Lord over all
It’s amazing that the one whom I adore
Wants to give me so much more
In all things Lord help me surrender
Wrap me in your arms love me soft and tender
You mean so much more than I admit
And sometimes it scares me a bit
But God be more and give me rest
Help me see just how much I’m blessed
I love you Lord help me live it out loud
As I try to live well I know you are more than proud
Make me more than who I am
Make me who I’m meant to be
Make me more than just a man
Make me all of what you see

I hear the birds singing in every tree
I know they sing because they are free
But today it seems they're singing for me

Let love light the way
Love has come to save the day
Love was nailed and crucified
In the light of love you cannot hide
Let his love come cover you
Redefine and rediscover you
Let it enfold you in its arms
And as it soothes and warms
Begin to melt the heart of ice and snow
Stoke the fire and the embers glow
Let love be your candle
Fueled by the eternal flame
Given the courage to handle
Any darkness in Jesus' name
Let it be the compass
When reality is only tenuous
The light that leads you safely home
When you feel cold and all alone
Let your light shine like the sun
Let it rest and reflect on everyone
Let your love be high
Let it be deep and wide
Let it reach to the heavens
Let it not be kept inside
Let your love serve as a sign
In every place and every time
To point to its origin and purpose
The one to whom it is in service
Let your love light the way
In all you do and think and say
And let it be your answer
When asked how you pray

Love by example
Lead by example
Live by example

Love like Jesus
Lead with Jesus
Live by Jesus

Dancing in the breeze
Rainbow colors everywhere
Sweet to smell and give

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

40 hours to pray and fast
40 hours to put Jesus on blast
40 hours to sit and adore
The mystery of the living Lord
40 hours of silent reflection
40 hours of soul introspection
40 hours to ask and intercede
And come to Him with every need

Jesus Lord, you sing your song over me
In your holy loving arms, you enfold me
In your presence, you surround me
And when I was lost, you found me
You breathed into me your very spirit
Call my name and I come to life when I hear it
Jesus, I come alive when I see you
I come alive when I feel you are near
I come alive when I am doing your will
I come alive today and I cannot be still
I was dead in my sin and your grace brought me back
You saved me when I was living under a heart attack
Now, my heart beats for you with love alone
And the light within is finally made known
When I think of you, when I talk about you
My face lights up like a Christmas Tree
I become electrified; I begin to come alive
Jesus, bring me back to life out of the grave I'm in
I come back to you; please cleanse me from my sin
I come to life when I worship and adore
It's a feeling that's too hard to ignore
For, if I leave it, it boils and bubbles
And I soon find myself with many troubles
But if I obey and try to stay the course
I feel I am protected by a supernatural force
I come alive in the one who gave me life
I can have life eternal because he paid the price
I'm alive because He lives in me
I'm alive because He set me free
I'm alive because He loved me
I Come to Life
I'm ALIVE!

Your light shines far brighter than the sun
You are a beacon of hope where it seems there is none
Your light is beautiful, shining from the inside out
To gaze upon it only a moment dispels my doubt
Your light may be one, your light may be small
But there may be someone to whom your one light is all
Seek out the light in the darkness of the night
Step into the circle where happiness can be found
Love, and warmth, and peace are all around
Help others to find their special inner glow
Surround yourself with other lights to make it grow
Things may look bleak, the outlook may be grim
But sing color to the gray, sing aloud a hymn
And you will find, in due time, hope start to swell
One day, you'll be able to say, "With my soul, it is well"
Light a candle and set it out for one and all to see
A candle in memory, solidarity, peace and harmony
For all mankind, be a shining illustration
Of love and compassion in any situation
Your light is desperately needed in the world
An open hand when so many fists are curled
We are a light not to be hidden, but be seen
And we believe in the beauty of our dreams

Another year older, another year wiser
Another chance to be better
New Year is here so let's all cheer
Working to keep all we hold so dear
We hope to see each other face to face
And person to person
We hope that family and friends stay
Healthy and safe
We banish worry, doubt and fear
They have no place, no hold here
We hold joy, and love and peace in our heart
Tearing down walls that keep us apart
May this year bring you many great days
To see the world anew in wonderful ways
Look again with the eyes of a child
Full of wonder both free and wild
May peace fill your world and your home
And love go with you wherever you roam
Friends as your anchor in the raging storm
Family a lighthouse to bring you safe to shore
Blessings to you and yours in the New Year!

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

I am more than the sum of my past mistakes
I am someone who may bend, but will not break
I am special, I am strong, I am brave, I am loved
I am fierce, I am smart, I am beautiful, and rich in love
I am stronger than I know, braver than I believe
Inside my soul, the heart of a warrior beats
I am happy, I am alive, I am built to survive
I will not simply live; I will grow, and I will thrive
I am blessed with His faith, and filled with His power
With love and support, I come through the darkest hour
I am not alone in this fight, I do not walk this path alone
With boldness and courage, I enter the unknown
I choose to count my blessings in the morning
And I give thanks to the good God at night
Bad times do not last, but joy comes in the morning
Sadness and pain will never put out this light
Make every moment count for time is so precious
I ask, Lord, for nothing else, but that you might bless us
Worry not about tomorrow, but have faith in what will be
Let go of the chains that bind you, and be set free
Above all, don't lose hope; God still has a plan
Don't lose sight of the goal even when you don't understand
Faith is daring to go beyond what the eye can see
Believing beyond what the soul can comprehend
Loving and trusting beyond what the heart can fathom
Keep hoping, keep praying, keep going with knowing
That this too shall pass

Lord, you are the Living Well
You pour out the water of eternal life
You refresh my thirsty soul and cleanse me.
Upon the river's fertile banks
I stand and drink so long and deep.
You are a drop to drink in a sea of sand
And I know you hold me in your hand.
If I live for the Lord, then I truly live
I am not just living, but living well
I am not just surviving, I will thrive
Like a tree planted by the water
I will put down thick strong roots
And I will bear much good fruits
Planted firmly in the rich good ground
I lift my limbs to heaven-bound
For, His grace, has come to stand in my place
And in His mercy, I have been set free
I was lost and I was sick
Now, I am found and made well.
You who are the Living Well
Father, help me also, to live well

Praise God for his goodness
Praise Him for his steadfast love
Praise Him all you creatures
Praise Him Angels up above
Shout for joy from the rooftops
Proclaim it on the mountaintops
For, soon, the time draws very near
The day when we will meet Him here
Patience is rewarded as grace so great abounds
Wait no longer for the Heavenly trumpets sound
And herald the King of Glory so humbly veiled
Sweet peace of God the fragrance inhaled

You turned my whole world around
You turned my life upside down
The day you came into my life
You shattered my defenses
You broke down these walls
When you came and rescued me
I was on the inside looking out
Now I'm on the outside looking in
Looking at a brand-new day begin
You shook me like an earthquake
Crashed over me like a tidal wave
When you called me from the grave
Now I'm living in a whole new place
A land of mercy with sweet days of grace
Since you wrote your name on my heart
Since you put a song on my lips
Burned your words into my mind
And opened my eyes to see the loving kind
You turn loss into gain
You give strength in pain
You change death into life
And give us peace in the strife
For you, darkness is light
The blind have sight
In giving we receive
In obeying we are free
You turned the world upside down
And you turned my life around
The day you came into our lives

Soaring through the air
Dipping, diving, flying high
Let’s go fly a kite

Angel of God given to my special care
Help me feel that you are truly there
For, though unseen, you linger nearby
Day and night, you remain at my side
To guard and protect me from any harm
To warn of trouble and sound the alarm
You bless my life and guide my feet
You lead me to the Lord in every heartbeat
Help me be mindful of this great grace
And be with me as I seek His Holy Face
I'll keep you in my thoughts always,
Oh, Holy Angel of Christ's Light Divine
And I pray, keep me ever in thine

You are the cornerstone, the living rock upon which I build my foundation of faith, the spiritual house for the spirit of the Lord to indwell.

There is a way to the Father.
There is a way through the Son.
Open my eyes to see you,
Open my heart to the truth.
He will prepare a place we can stay.
To stay close to His heart is to live forever.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God, have faith also in me."
"I will take you to myself that where I am you may also be."

God Works when we are doing His Work
He opens doors and windows
When we are not so sure, He will provide
For He is good, and he Adores us
Let us worship and Adore Him Christ our King
He never seems to mind proving us wrong
Or testing our trust by making us wait
But His blessings are perfect, they are never late
Just today, for me, God pulled through
And made this writing possible for you
So, trust in the Lord and give Him praise
Sing to Him a new song for all of your days
Do the work of God with Joy in your heart
Be passionate about His work that you do
Be faithful and He will be more faithful
Be good and He will help you be your best
Be rich in His love and abundantly blessed
Be reconciled and begin to truly heal
Know what you're in for when you seal the deal
But God only opens doors: we have to take action
I am pulled in by some divine attraction
Like a Jesus Christ Moth to a Holy Flame
I am drawn to the light; even compelled
Some might believe I was even enspelled
But if there is nothing else to be gained
I ask that you take this one grain:
That God Work when we are doing His Work

Make me poor so I can be filled with your richness
Make me hungry so that only you can satisfy
Make me simple so I can be more mindful of you
Make me low so that I can be uplifted in your grace
Make me humble so that I may serve in your example
Make me lonely so I can more perfectly feel your love
Make me mute so I can listen when you would speak
Make me broken so that I can be shared
Make me nothing so I remember you are my everything

I am a pencil in the hand of a writing God
I am a mouthpiece through which he can speak
I am an instrument to make sweet melody to the King
I am his hands and feet, but he is my everything
I am his love given for all his precious people
I am the paint he uses to color his easel
He is the potter, and I am his clay
Shaping, molding, forming me each day
He is the shepherd, and I am his lamb
I trust in him and in his perfect plan
He is the author, and I am His story
He is my strength and in him I glory
He is the Lord of my life and my death
For he is the one who gives me this breath
I love you Lord for you are so great
Yet, you reveal yourself in a way we can relate
In loaf of bread and cup of wine
Wrapped in the great mystery of love so Divine
Come down from Heaven to take on flesh
To teach and walk and pray and heal
In the desert place you are something fresh
And in a world so fake you are something real

Sometimes I ask God "Where do you want me to go?" Sometimes he doesn't seem to answer, sometimes he shows me clear and SOMETIMES He puts up detours and roadblocks and construction so that I end up where he wants me to go. It is never quick or efficient and it rarely makes sense. It's also often not what I WANT, but it's always what I truly NEED. It also requires patience and love because the road is long and can be quite frustrating. In the midst, I can be aggravated, but in the end, I'm amazed!

In the Beginning was the Word
The Word was with God and the Word was God
And the Word became flesh and blood and dwelt among us
The Word of God is Jesus Emmanuel "God With Us"
The Living Word handed down to us through the Bible
Why, after more than 2000 years it still speaks and moves
And in many ways, continues to apply to the world today
Your Law and Your Love, Oh Lord, are written on my heart
Your Word is life itself: you speak, and I come alive
With one Word you spoke creation into existence
All proclaim with Honor and Praise
Him who made the Earth and Sky
And gave the sun to grace our days
To thee we bring this offering, to thee we glorify

Word of God please come to me
That I may listen and receive
Word of God please speak through me
So that others may know and believe
Word of God please move and inspire
Enkindle in me a Holy Desire
To seek what is pure, holy, righteous and true
And that, like the moon is to the sun,
Apart from which no light will come:
The light that I reflect only points to you

Lord, look with love upon your Creation
By your Spirit, may we live in right Relation.
Gather your flock from every tribe and Nation
Fan the flame of faith in this young Generation.
Holy are you and worthy of Veneration!
Open our hearts to grant some Revelation
While we wait for you with joyful Expectation.
Be swept up by a brand-new Sensation
Elevating each one above their Station.
Be bold to stand for truth without Hesitation
Trusting in God for proper Preparation
And even in suffering we may find Elation.
Grant us your strength to combat Temptation
And avoid that which causes Separation.
Falling on our knees in humble Adoration
Our feet are found on faith's firm Foundation.
In purest love's perfect sacrifice of Salvation
Innocent blood became the way of Expiation
May we recognize, acknowledge, and Awaken
To the weight of this most blessed Invitation.
With the saints and angels in Celebration
Always and forever, Christ our Inspiration!

Oh Lord, I am relaxed so deep
I find myself almost falling asleep
Almost in a trance so heavy and profound
At the same time, I'm almost off the ground
Lighter than a feather on the air
Just a little longer and I'll be there
In your loving arms, I'll find my rest
Safe and secure, close to your chest
Lord, sing softly in my ear
Cast off anxiety and fear
That I may come to you again
And truly mean it when I say amen

There is something about a garden
Something so real and so divine
A secret place, a silent sanctuary
It is a feeling that is difficult to define

There is something about a garden
That leads my heart to prayer
A place of safety to where I run
And where I find hope in despair

There is something about a garden
And being surrounded by creation
Singing songs of praise to God
The Creator and Author of Salvation

There is something about a garden
That feels like mercy's ocean
And, like a crashing wave upon the shore,
I'm swept away with great devotion

There is something about a garden
That fills me with such great delight
Filled with awe and greatest wonder
On the wings of dawn my soul takes flight

There is something about a garden
That I can almost see the hand of God
The foretaste of Heaven on the Earth
We walk where the angels have trod

Do not grow weary or tired when praying. Find strength and persevere in your prayers and petitions with good faith and they will be granted according to the perfect will of God. When you are feeling weak, lean on others and seek their support and encouragement. Look to the Lord for he is our strength and our help. There are several examples in the Bible concerning the need for persistent and perpetual prayer. Abraham having to keep his arms upraised in prayer for his people to have favor with God and win a battle. It went on so long that he had a few others hold his arms up when he grew tired. Luke's Gospel also demonstrates the efficacy of persistency in prayer when a judge grants a woman's request simply because she kept asking, and, in the story of Saint Augustine, he was a prodigal son; a rich ******* and toying with the devil (the occult). His mother prayer for him to return to his faith daily for forty years! It finally worked. It is encouraging to hear that, with faithful consistency, prayers are heard and can be answered even if it takes a really long time. Praying "always, without ceasing" sounds like a pretty tall order. It is, but it's easier than it sounds. Often, we think about talking to God and maybe listening occasionally, saying the wrote prayers we memorized as kids and that would be hard, but our lives can be a prayer: our working, our resting, our playing, our singing, our everything. Everything can be a prayer to God if it is "offered up" to Him.

Lord, let our lives be lifted up as a prayer to you. In the most heroic act, to the most mundane task, let us offer it up to you. Like the song says: "Everything I do, I do it for You". Help us live and speak, and think and breathe in your truth and, by your grace, when people look at us, they really see your face. Help us pray without ceasing and ask for our faith increasing. I see that, sometimes, the waiting isn't you hesitating but teaching us virtue and faithfulness' value. Amen

Lord, I see you
I see you standing there
I see you watching, waiting
Longing just to love me
Wanting to make me whole again
I see the question, the sadness
I see the love and the tenderness
I see the warmth, I sense the depth
And what I see catches my breath
I see you in shadow and in light
I behold the resurrected Christ
I see the hands that bear the scars
That paid the debt that was ours
There is nothing so powerful
As love so pure, perfect and true
For, not even death could stop God
From being together with you

O seat of wisdom from on high
O spring of life that ne'er runneth dry
O root of Jesse flower once more
O key of David strike a divine chord
O king of the nations forever reign
O Lord whose anthems echo o'er the plain
O with us is God He is Emmanuel
O soon and very soon, all will be well

Let the sea and all its creatures praise the Lord
The skies filled with birds sing their song of praise
Let the rivers and streams clap their hands
The hills come alive with the sound of music
Let the song of the Lord be heard in distant lands
Shout with joy all you people here below
On cymbals, and strings, and trumpets blow
Make music for Him who gave us breath
Sing a new song to the victor o'er death
The Lord has done great things for us
Our eyes have seen His wondrous deeds
He remembers us and He loves us
His face has shone down upon us
He is faithful and just, righteous and true
The designer of the universe also created you
Sing with your voices, sing with your mind
Sing with your body, sing out all mankind
Sing from your soul, sing from your heart
Sing so every fiber of your being's taking part
Find a brand-new way to sing His praise
Let it permeate your nights and your days
Go out and create!

We are made to Create, Recreate, Procreate. We ourselves were created and creation, by definition, is life giving. We were made for LIFE. A song may take on a life of its own in our hearts and in our lives. A painting, a picture, a story, can seem to come alive, and bring other things to life. It is what drives us, pushes us, challenges us. It is what makes us special, and beautiful, and unique and it is why, when we come together, seemingly miraculous things can happen. Each of us has gifts, talents, graces, different than another person. We create (and are creative) in many different forms and areas.

My challenge is this: find out in what ways you are creative or can be creative and come up with something positive, something new, something that you can give life to and, in turn, something that gives you life. Find (at least) one place to be creative and do it. Make it happen. Celebrate LIFE and see the life and joy it can bring to those around you. Perhaps it will inspire someone else to create. Work with people who are/think/see differently. We were never meant to create in a vacuum. It takes at least two to make LIFE.

May God bless and keep you and your loved ones safe and close this year. May your days be filled with Joy and your nights be full of His Peace!

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

On your own strength, do not rely
But rest secure in the Lord's supply
On our own we are frail and weak
The future is grim, the prospect bleak
Trust in the Lord and all his ways
And you will know peace in your days
Many will try to enter and many will fail
Some of them will beg, but to no avail
Standing on the outside and looking in
At strangers and friends and their own kin
They will say "We were with you, among us you walked
And we all listened when you talked
Let us in Lord, you know who we are"
And He will reply "Depart from me so far
I do not know from where you come
I do not know you from any one
It is not enough to drop my name"
Where do your intentions rest
A personal intimate relationship is best
And here, at last, is the sobering truth
A thing we don't often like to admit
We are not as strong as we think
But in our weakness, God can make much of it

For your love, we can do nothing to propitiate
By your love, our sins, you died to expiate

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.

Gather round gather one and all
To see this Jesus "Lord of great and small"
See him wear his crimson crown
See how the mighty have fallen down!
Like drops of blood upon his brow
Where, oh wise one, is your God now?
Look upon the nails that hold him fast
As it is written, it shall come to pass
He who raised people from the grave
He, himself, he cannot save

My lance pierced his bleeding heart
And then the veil was torn apart
The earth trembled, the Heavens shook
Jesus of Nazareth condemned as a crook
Jesus, teacher and carpenter's son
Proclaiming himself the chosen one

Now washed in the flow of water and blood
My eyes are open to the depths of love
Perhaps he is who he claims to be
I was a prisoner who has been set free
I gave him death and he gave me life
Jesus, please remember me when,
In power and glory, you return again
I am unworthy, but you made me new
I gladly give my life in service of you

Coffee

Rise and rub your eyes
Get your engines started now
Morning cup of Joe

Cookies

Cookies are so sweet
Made of dough they are rising
Cookies: Yum! Yum! Yum!

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 me 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

Won't you meet me by the tree of life
Won't you join me under its leafy boughs
Won't you sit with me in its pleasant shade
For the creatures of the earth, it does provide
Shade and shelter, food, and more beside

Won't you be with me at the cross of Christ
Won't you gaze upon his bloodstained brow
Won't you feel the weight of what love paid
It was for your sake that He bled and died
So he could welcome you with arms open wide

Won't you meet me where Heaven meets Earth
Won't you join me where they become one
Won't you come with me to the higher plane
And join me in entering the most holy place
If you look closely, you may even see His face

Won't you see with me how much you're worth
Won't you find with me all that love has done
Won't you have faith in what you can't explain
Of deep peace, true joy, and amazing grace
A sense of a strong and tender, warm embrace

So, if you'll follow, I'd like to take you
To a place beyond your wildest dreams
We all have doubts and questions too
Just be open to God's golden gleams

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

Lift your voices, sing His praises
See the smile upon His face
People, listen to the sound
Can you feel it in the air
The Spirit is moving there
As we bring His kingdom down
Rocks cry out and mountains tremble
As we exalt Him in His temple
Prepare a place, prepare Him room
Look upon your beloved groom
Behold the Lamb, perfect sacrifice
Whose blood was shed to pay the price
See the God who took on flesh
To lead us out of sin and death
Touch his feet and nail scarred hands
And, slowly, you start to understand
The cost that love sometimes demands
A tender kiss on thorn pierced brow
The weight begins to sink in now
To endure it I can't imagine how
From His heart poured out for us
His mercy and grace wash over us
Bringing life to ashes and dust

When the world is against me and my backs against the wall
When I get tripped up, and I slip, stumble and fall
It's okay, it's alright I'll be fine; I'm pressing on!

I keep my head up high; I keep my heart beating strong
If I face the sun and lean into the wind, I can't go wrong
With one foot in front of the other; I'm pressing on!

Don't give up the fight; stand up for what's right
We're going to work it out, we're going to talk it out
We are walking together; together, we are pressing on!

We learn what we are capable of when the going gets tough
We find out how and what it means to deeply and truly love
Turning hatred off; compassion we're pressing on!

Reach out your hand for the hand of another
Lend a hand to all your sisters and brothers
Heart to heart and hand to hand; we are pressing on!

My God you said "I'm never givin' up on you"
And you show us time after time after time
I'd leave the ninety-nine to find you
I've laid down my life just to save you
You turn away and you slam the door
Your sin may be great, but my love is more
No matter what you do
I'm never givin' up on you
I don't care how long it takes
For you to see how my heart aches
I made you for a purpose and reason
Despite what you might be believin'
No one else can take your place
To feel the warmth of my embrace
In your weakness I'll be your strength
In your darkness I'll shine the light
When you're scared, I'll be your courage
When you can't go on, I'll carry you
Forever and for always
I'm never givin' up on you

I see your love and how it is portrayed
In a declaration so boldly proclaimed
In my heart I feel that these words are true
You say: "I'm never givin' up on you"
In my own life, I too, have felt this call
For those I love; a family, one and all
For these I will fight, lift up and defend
For these I would travel the world's end
I'm never givin' up no matter the cost
Because faith is strong, and hope isn't lost
Life is precious, life is sweet
Life is sacred, life is neat
It is filled with difficult decisions
But one I make with clearest vision
As long as I have breath and life
I'm never givin' up on you

Lord, thank you for never giving up on me; for never giving up on us. Every now and then I catch just a glimpse of the depth and breadth of your love for me and I'm amazed. It also occurs to me that sometimes we reflect this truth in the way we love each other.

I saw this powerful truth reflected just today in my work. That all of this is possible, my job exists and the people I love and serve are alive today because one person looked with love and said: "I'm never givin' up on you!"

Lord, please help us all to realize how beautiful and wonderful life is and what miracles can happen when we say and live out the love you first had for us. Amen!

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

The word Commit was on my heart tonight. Sunday's Gospel is about prudence and commitment. It sure is a pointed and timely reminder in my life right now as I struggle with God's vocation for my life. In many ways, the commitment is what scares me, I think. The seeming finality and quite real finality of it. There is no maybe, no half-way, no lukewarm. It is yes or no, all or nothing, hot or cold. Starting something is easy enough, but the test is seeing it through to completion and being prepared to do so.

I pray for me and for all of you that we may be strengthened in our commitments, that we may be committed and strengthened in our commitment to Christ, and I pray for peace and clarity of vision in all of life's decisions. God committed his very life for all of us, may we have the grace and courage to do the same for others. Amen

Walk with me and I'll walk with you
In storm and shine and through it all
I'll be there to catch you when you fall
Together is where we are
Together forever though near or far
Call out to me and I'll be at your side
I'll travel the world so far and wide
Think of me and I'll think of you
Reach out and feel my hand in yours
There is no greater love so strong
So pure and true and so long
Just look up, breathe in, and smile
The same stars stretch across the miles
Standing under the same moon and sky
Reflecting the light from within your eyes
The waves match the beat of your heart
As my own heart pounds in my chest
We breathe in the cool night air
Riding the breeze, I'm already there
Can you feel me, can you hear me?
So far away, as close as a breath
Loud as the tempest, soft as a whisper
No matter what happens
No matter where we are
We are as one, you and I
Even without touching
Never Far

We are seeking signs and wonders
We want to be moved by miracles
Believing only in what we can see
To be awed and amazed
To be dazzled by displays
We came for the show
But we set our sights too low
The real change is just below the surface
Where we find a higher calling and purpose
It cuts through the sound and the fury
To peace, silence, and without worry
It's the quiet whisper of the wind
It's the understanding between friends
It's the hope when you're up against the wall
It's the peace that covers it all
As a seed beneath the soil,
So much growth and change unseen:
A God who works in subtle ways
Can ever surprise us for all days

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

The hopes of our hearts are lifted to heaven
Sent up with a wing and a prayer
If it seems like the action of a last desperate plea
It is because it is
Sometimes it is the tears that you weep bitterly
It is raw, it is real, it is a soul that is laid bare
"God, are you there? Do you even care?"
And, sometimes, a wing and a prayer is enough
It is the darkest moment before the dawn, in glory, breaks
And sometimes unexpected are the forms His answer takes
On a wing and a prayer, miracles can occur
And the lines between heaven and earth blur
No proof is necessary for those who believe
But to see you must be open and able to receive
Our prayers are lifted up by angels and placed at His feet
It's a system of delivery that simply can't be beat
And we are lifted up, wrapped up in their wings
Borne to be in the presence of the King of Kings
We are cradled and enfolded, we are ever safe
As they sing over us sweet, amazing grace
So, call upon the Lord with bold confidence
Trusting in the power of divine providence
And the power of a wing and a prayer

Lord, help me find the way
To speak what I need to say
To show by word and by deed
To live out loud what I believe
To those around me this day

Lord, lead me to the truth
The path that leads to you
Though I may stumble and fall
I rise again and answer the call
May my journey help others too

Lord, teach me to live my life
In a way pleasing to your sight
In all, let my love be shown
So that your name may be known
To those in darkness and in light

Turn it on, turn it up, let's start tonight
Spirit grow, let it flow, we are light
So let us shine and let us stand
We representin' Son of God and Son of Man
How you gonna shine for the world to see
Are you gonna let that light go free?
We are radiating, illuminating
We love in a world so used to hating
We were made to spread love like fire
Testify and by your life you'll inspire
A turnaround a turning back
Of hearts astray once again on track
So the question is this, the question remains
How can I shine in my own special way
Add a little color to a world painted gray
How can my light, however flawed,
Reflect the most perfect light of God?
Take you little light and offer it up
As a sacrifice of love and praise
He will bless the gift and multiply
Do what you can and let God amaze
At every occasion, choose, to use the gifts you're given
They were made to be shared not meant to be hidden