Hail Mary; most holy Queen of Heaven
Overshadowed by love's pure expression
Crowned with glory like the shining sun
Great mother of Jesus; the Most High one
Clothed in robes made from a sea of stars
You held the hands that bore the scars
Queen of the Angels and of the Saints
What Stellar beauty Our Lady paints

Have mercy on me in your goodness and grace
Wash me of my guilt and from my sin erase
I know of my misdeeds for they are a shadow
Wherever I walk they are sure to follow
It is you that I rejected, you that I denied
It was for my sin that you were crucified
I am guilty and your judgement is right
Never was there a time I was blameless in your sight
Still, you impart wisdom and the need for sincerity
A humble spirit and a heart of great integrity
Sprinkle me with your healing waters Lord
Wash me in the flow of your precious blood
Drown me in the waves of your mercy
Cleanse me in your life-giving flood
That I may be pure, that I may be as holy as I ought
That I may be whiter than snow by a lot
Open my ears Lord to hear your voice
And, out of my suffering, I will rejoice

Have mercy on me in your goodness and grace
Look not on my sin, and from my guilt erase
Create in me a clean heart Oh Lord
Renew within me a stout spirit
Cast me not from your presence Lord
Nor from me withdraw your Holy Spirit
But restore the joy of my salvation
That I would witness to the nations
The saving power of God and His mighty love
that they too may repent and join in Heaven above
Rescue me Oh God from sin and death
That I may sing of your saving power
My lips will proclaim with every breath
Every second, every moment, every hour
You do not desire outward sign of sacrifice
That alone does not fulfill the price
You require a right attitude, a humble and contrite heart
That is how the changes can finally start

Bring your kingdom here that all peoples my come
And find a place of peace, healing, and reconciliation

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

Where persistence and passion unite
When done in the presence of God's Light
You will bring to the table what some call Grit
With confidence you can say to life: "Bring It"
You have just become an Overcomer
Moving in the grace of God's own drummer

Our prayers, like clouds, hover in the air
Filling the room with fragrance so fair
In the presence of the most High God
Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses
And a sea of saints and angels
We dare to sit before the King
And, to his feet, our petitions bring
A day in the halls and courts of Heaven
Are better than a thousand years apart
And even a few minutes changes the day
If I can stop, give thanks, and pray
Lord, I want to give you all control
I want to let you lead me to green pasture
But I am so weak and fragile
I am comfortable with my vice and sin
It is by your grace alone that sets me free
To realize all you have called me to be
Make me mindful of your great love
And your awesome affection

Look child, for the day is drawing near
And, if you are silent, you might even hear
The angels bending low upon the earth
Proclaiming now a little baby's birth
Born to one so pure and blessed
His head laid gently upon her chest
Under watchful eye of Godly man
Wordlessly, he takes his wife's hand
This Holy Family exemplifies the love
Between Father, Son, and Spirit above
Hush little one, let sweet sleep descend
And, to the angels, your soul I commend
See the light that shineth down
Upon this sleepy little town
Unto us a savior is born, a helpless little babe
But, someday soon, the people, he will save
Listen and learn from this simple story
Be ready when He comes in all his glory
To unite His children to himself at last
Old is made new and suffering is past
Watch the light, keep it safe and let it shine
That to all who see you, it may be a sign

For what can I give the Lord
Who has given me everything?
How can I ever make a return for
The blessings He bestows on me?
The day you paid my debt in full
Unworthy and ungracious as I was,
Beneath pride, and nature, sinful,
You pierced me with undying love.

You breathed and I came alive.
And when you died to give me life,
You breathed out once again.
Let every breath I take praise you
Let my spirit sing, my lips speak truth,
Everything I do, I do it for you.
My work, my play, my rise, my sleep
In joy, in fear, when I laugh, when I weep
When I follow and when I lead
When I tend to someone's need
In little ways and in big ways
On good days and truly awful days.
When I live with Jesus on my mind
I see that, through it all, He is kind.
So, at the end of it all, at His feet, I will fall
And I will say to Jesus my Lord and Kind
I have given you my all in everything

My God I am not worthy
That you should die so I go free
I once was blind, but now I see
And let it be done unto me
I cannot see what lies ahead
You could pick anyone else instead
Among all you picked me out
You broke through fear and doubt
So let it be done unto me
My Lord did not come in awe and wonder
The land didn't shake, the skies didn't thunder
You came to earth in humblest stead
Son of God with a manger for your bed
Lord, let it be done unto me
Where you send me, I will go
Led by the Spirit as it blows
In this uncertainty there's one thing I know
From my life's beginning to its close
Let your will be done unto me

You have called me to yourself
You have named me precious child
You have made me in your likeness
In your mercy, you reconciled
You have shown us the way to the father
Taught us to follow God's own son
And, as we live in your Holy Spirit,
We are given the power of three in one
So, I pray, unto me, let it be done

Today, Lord, I come here to sit and be near you. I come to stay with you, remain here with you. Be with me as I sit here in silence and gaze lovingly, longingly, upon your face at once hidden and revealed. Amen

With Great Power...

As humans we have so much potential
We are frail, sinful, and can harm our fellow man
I beg you Lord to remember that we can also do so much good
Especially when we come together under a common cause
We have such great capacity and power to do good or evil
With great power comes great responsibility
Help us please to act accordingly
Help us to use our great power wisely and for the good of others
I pray for an open and honest communication
And for productive positive debate and conversation
We bicker and argue and fight
Over who is wrong and who is right
Who is better, who is worse, who is for
Who is against; the rest, we ignore
It is an art that few remember
And fewer still can do with success
In a culture challenged in many respects
Society says we must die or conform
The old ways are gone and this is the norm

... Comes Great Responsibility

But I say we challenge our culture
We must die to ourselves and be transformed
Cling to our anchor to weather the storm
We must stand upon the firm foundation
Of our fellowship and our shared faith
And bear well the slings and arrows of life
With the armor of hope and the countenance of Grace
We have been given great power:
It is our responsibility, our duty, to share it and spread it
We were not given a spirit of timidity and fear
We were given a spirit of love and boldness and courage
Each must do their part in their way where they are and how they can
To live out the Gospel in word and deed and to show love to their fellow man
The stakes have never been higher
When not just lives, but souls, are on the line
We have the power to truly inspire
And help others to glimpse the wholly divine
For, one day, we may look upon the face of God
And walk through the streets where angels have trod

There are demons and evil spirits
Lurking in the shadows of our minds and hearts
Some small forgotten corner is where it starts
It only takes a single little crack
For the evil to take root and attack
It eats away slowly, carefully biding its time
And, until it is too late, you think you are fine
It starts small: softening the edges
Bit by bit shifting and driving wedges
It is a poison sweeping through
A silent, deadly killer it is true
But worst of all it affects the greater whole
It takes a soul as pure and white as snow
And works to turn it black as coal
There is no cure for this disease
It is part of our Human Condition
But with careful care and treatment
This cancer can go into remission
There is a way that we can fight
Tools and medicine to battle the blight
The Rosary: blazing cord of burning truth
Evil screams and flees in proof
Prayer and praise our armor and shield
To protect us on the battlefield
Calling down Great Heaven's Might
Saints and Angels put foes to flight
Holy men and women we have known
Show us always; we do not fight alone
Commanding the evil in the name of the Lord
We Rebuke Renounce and Cast Out
And, by the Mercy and Grace of God's own Son,
May goodness and peace be restored

I believe in love everlasting
I believe in love that never dies
And I believe love is what I see
In your eyes

I believe in love stronger than death
I believe love is an eternal spark
I believe it is of God's very breath
And love will lead you through the dark

I believe love can take our breath away
I believe that it's more than enough
I believe it hurts, but it's worth it anyway
I believe in a little thing called love

I believe someone so loved me
He came for me, oh He bled for me
The way He loved so perfectly
It's what I long for so desperately

I believe in love that is not bound
To the ways of the world in which we live
I believe, in love, we'll find common ground
When we learn to take and learn to give

I believe that love is a great mystery
That we may never fully understand
But I believe, in time, we'll come to see
As we take this journey hand in hand

For I believe in love everlasting
I believe in love that never dies
And I believe that love is what I see
When e'er I look into your eyes

Come and follow me if you do believe
Trust that all you need you will receive
Come away with me to the secret place
Where hope takes flight and fears erase
Land of eternal light, of rest, and peace
And every day love and wonder increase

Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man
I am small and weak, but you say that I can
I am not worthy so why do you insist
Why keep waiting? What have I missed?
But you can't stop, you won't stop. Fine. You win!

Do away with me, make my will your own
Take me away from all I've ever known
Fill me up with only you
Consume me through and through
If all I am is who you are, that's where I wanna be
So, I'll go when you say "Come. Away with me"

You are the model I strive for
You are the one whom I adore
The one for whose company I long
You are the one I lift up in song
You are father and my brother
A friendship unlike any other
But you are God above all things
Lifted high on angels' wings
Still, you call me one of your own
And want me with you in your home

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 that I remember: you are my everything

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

This time Lord I'm gonna trust you
This time Lord I'm gonna get it right
This time Lord I'm gonna change
This time Lord I'll walk in the light
But this time I falter, this time I fail
I take my eyes off you, and start to flail
You reach out and pull me in tight
You never grow weary of forgiving me
It is I who grow tired of asking to be
I know I'm unworthy, but I am ever grateful
Because without your grace I'm incapable
Of doing any good apart from You

This time Lord I'm gonna spend with you
This time Lord everything will be alright
This time Lord, you're changing me
This time Lord I'm awash in your light
And this time Lord I wait, and I wonder
As waves of mercy pull me under
You reach out to me and pull me close
You never grow weary of showing your love for me
It never gets old; this sensation of being free
You call me worthy, and so I will rejoice
Because by your grace I am given a choice
Of never having to be apart from You

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.

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

Children look around you and tell me what you see
With eyes that find divinity in every mystery
I see war and hunger, I see poverty and pain
I see millions whose lives are forever changed
I see so many nations lost and confused
I see people demoralized and abused
I see wrong and right, black and white
I see people battling a never-ending fight
But the children adopt a different world view
Where there is no division between me and you
We laugh and play and dance and sing
And, from our hearts, joy and freedom ring
We work together to help another
Because it is the right thing to do
And when we are kind, we tend to find
That doing good feels good too
I wish that, as adults, we were blessed
With the gifts to pass this great test
That we would have the open hearts of the young
And the knowledge that age has begun
I also pray for greater wisdom to better decide
And openness to the Holy Spirit as my guide

How great is our God who made heaven and earth
How awesome our God who knew us from birth
How mighty our God who can make mountains low
How wise our God who taught the wind how to blow
How kind our God who hung the sun in the sky
How loving our God who hung, bled and died
How merciful our God who did so to save
How deep God's love that He rose from the grave
How rich our God in kindness and love
How worthy our God who sits in heaven above
Yet our God is neither distant nor very far
He lives within you, right where you are
And another He sends to guide and inspire
To manifest love and set ablaze a holy fire
Let his hands be yours and your feet to use
Your mouth His instrument to tell of good news
Let all you have and do be done to glorify
The presence of Him who lives in you and I

Rest Assured I will hold you through the night
I will be with you when you, again, see the light
I am here and I have never left your side
In the ups and downs of this rollercoaster ride
I am your strength, and I am your great shield
I am your warrior: I will not falter, I cannot yield
When life is fraught with danger, cling to me
I will be your anchor in the great raging sea
Be at peace for, in the valley, I walk before you
For I am God of the hills and of the valleys too
I never promised you a life that was free from pain
But I am near you now and forever I will remain
Rest Assured now you are safe and secure
By my grace and my love, you will endure
These hands were pierced for love's sake
Your pain and sorrow make my heart break
My hands are reaching out to pull you in
Breathe deeply and let the healing begin
Just trust and believe and, in faith, obey
And whatever happens things will be okay
I have come so that you might have life
Not just survive, but that you might thrive
So, rest assured and please don't fret
Because I love you, I'm here.
Don't ever forget

Standing in the blazing light of your love
Streaming down from the Heavens high above
It casts a great shadow long behind
And, in the light of your glory, I will find
The warm rays penetrate the skin
And from without and from within
They are bringing me to life again
I can believe things will be alright
As I stand in the fire and the light

Kneeling at the foot of the Most Holy Cross
For thought and speech I am at a loss
As I tremble and shudder and quake
I know there must be some mistake
I am overpowered by the magnitude
Overwhelmed with remorse and gratitude
From the base flows a river of water and blood
Overcome by the waters of mercy and love
I emerge from the depths in garments white
Bathed in a new more radiant light
As I hide in the shadow of the Cross of Christ
I see I stand inside the fullness of light realized

"Faith is the realization of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen" - Hebrews 11:1

"Faith is a bluebird, we see from far. It's for real as sure as the first evening star. You can't touch it, or buy it, or wrap it up tight, but it's there just same, making things turn out right." - Rufus the Cat (Rescuers)

There will be trials in life: dark places and times
You'll go through deep valleys and hard climbs
Days when you can see no tangible end
Is danger or salvation around the next bend?
In these moments we must rely on faith alone
Faith in God in the very midst of the unknown
Wholly trusting that we will not be led to ruin
That God knows exactly what he's doin'
If the Spirit of God is leading us in this way
We ought to trust in the Lord and, in faith, obey
In hope, we believe that there will come a day
When the sun comes, and the clouds roll away
Conform my heart and my will to yours Lord
That our hearts may beat with one accord
Help me to live a life that is pleasing unto you
The one God: holy, and righteous, and true

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

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

Lord, as we prepare for the coming celebrations by cleaning, tidying up, and getting organized for company, family and friends, and parties of all kinds, I pray that you would make us mindful of the need to do the same thing in our hearts, our minds, and our lives. We need to prepare ourselves to be ready to welcome you into our humble houses and we wait with eager anticipation for you to be born again in us.

As we give and receive gifts this year, turn our minds to the gifts that you received and their meaning and, more importantly, to rejoice and be glad for all the gifts that you give us in return.

As we celebrate and gather together in our warm houses with good food and nice clothes, let us take a moment to remember those who are left out in the cold, those who do not have such luxuries and move our hearts to be grateful and show them some love and mercy.

And, when Christmas is over, ordinary life is moving forward once more and we forget the promises we made, remind us that Christmas is about Emmanuel. Christmas reminds us that God is with us. Not just for one day a year, not for a month or a season, but every day and every night. God is with us in the morning and the evening, in our waking and our sleeping. God is present. The communion (the Eucharist) is His gift to us. It is his very essence. He feeds us and sustains us as we walk this way of faith.

God, sometimes we need a little gift. Sometimes our spirits need a little lift. In these moments Lord, help us reach out to you with open hands and give up our burdens and receive your abundant gifts you desire to give us. And Lord, may we never be envious or desirous of someone else's gifts. You bless us all as we need. Your gifts are perfect Lord. Grant us the grace to be satisfied with You, satisfied with what we have been given, satisfied enough on earth and grant that we, may one day be, supremely satisfied within the halls of Heaven. Amen

As I cradle you in my arms and hold you to my chest
As I gaze upon your tender face, I know that I am blest
Oh Little Child, Oh Precious Babe
For on this night one is born who will save
My soul rejoices, but my heart is heavy
As I sense the coming anguish already
But you cradle my chin and lift my face
And I am wrapped in Heaven's Embrace
You look into my eyes and all I feel is peace
And in that moment, time itself would cease
For God himself has looked at me with love
And to have that alone is more than enough

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!

Go out to the world's edge
In faith, step out, on the ledge
Bring the gospel to every nation
Bring it to people of every station
Blessed those who are called least
Chosen to join in the great feast
Be careful not to take for granted
The bounty that God has planted
The weak will confound the strong
The stranger finds a place to belong
Come, join the flock, enter the fold
Find refuge from the storm and cold
Try hard to enter by the narrow gate
For many will fail to appreciate
The Mercy of God and the depth of his Grace
For those who are most often forgotten

Dawn is breaking o'er the earth
This is a season of great rebirth
All of life sings to glorify creation
Every rock, tree, and creature, every nation
Come! Awake from your great slumber
Open your eyes to a new kind of wonder
Lift your head and rise from your bed
Give thanks to the Son who keeps us fed
A new page, a new chapter, a new story to tell
It is an end, yes, but a beginning as well
Morning has come; a new day is here
Its loving rays driving off the fog of fear
Those in darkness have seen a great light
The faith of the blind restores their sight
Look! See how the Lord, with a smile, beams?
Blesses us and gives to us sweet dreams?
I sing for joy and sometimes, for joy, I weep
When I recall the promise that you keep
How you poured your love into my soul
And made a diamond from this lump of coal
And I remember, Lord, in my brokenness
In my pain and shame and great distress
You love me still, wearing no disguises
And even on the days of gray
Dawn is breaking and the sun still rises!

Oh, Most Loving Heart upon which I gaze
Illumine my soul and set my own heart ablaze
I sing to you though no words could surmise
Your beauty undimmed by the new sunrise

Oh, Most Loving Heart of Christ the King
Be pleased to receive what I have to bring
Bathe me in your most blessed glow
So that I can reflect your radiance where'er I go

Oh, Most Loving Heart with grace beyond measure
Neither Heaven or Earth holds greater treasure
Endless mercy and gift of surest peace
Life will pass away, but your love will never cease

Oh, Most Loving Heart pierced upon the cross
I weep with you as the world felt the loss
My spirit weeps for joy as you live again
And flows over as the ink from the pen

Oh, Most Loving Heart as I sit enraptured
As a fish in your cast net, I am captured
But here I feel I am more fully me
As I swim along in the current sea

Oh, Most Loving Heart be one with mine
To you, my head and heart shall incline
At your feet I will sit and, still more, recline
Before the presence of the most divine

Lord, open my blinded eyes to see
The healing you have worked in me
I was an outcast sight unseen
And now I stand in filthy rags made clean
I did not deserve this and still I received
The healing from that which I grieved
You treated me in both body and spirit
Gave me the truth and ears to hear it
You are a cure for all that ails us
Worship and prayer greatly avail us
I go forth with new life and great hope
Because of the words that you spoke:
"Go now, by your faith you have been saved
My mercy and love, your sins I forgave"
Forgive me when I don't appreciate
The gifts that have been feely given
Forgive me when I say thanks and then
Go back to the way I was livin'
Divine healer; God's own Son
All glory be to the Holy One!

You know my thoughts before I speak
You have the answers that I seek
You know my wants and all my needs
And so, my God, hear me please.
I cannot see your plan or reason,
But in my smallness, I keep believing
You can and do use everything
So, I place at your feet my humble offering.
In your kindness, hear me Lord
In your mercy, answer my prayer.
Nothing is impossible for you
Miracles happen before my eyes
And still, your will be done Lord,
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give me, every day, your word and your life.
Take not your spirit from me.
Sustain me in body, mind, and soul
That I may love you with all that I am.
Help me be forgiving and loving,
Help me to strive toward
The love and forgiveness I first was shown.
You know me and love me completely
Oh, perfect love in one Holy Trinity.
Through Your Mother; Channel of Grace
Who knows best what needs we face
I place this prayer in her Holy Hands
To distribute Grace as your will commands.
Now, I resolve to surrender to your will
To do what I ought and simply be still.

Amen

I want you to know three things:
And understand in your heart what it means

I Love You
I Did This For You
I Want Your Life

The depth of my love for you there is no fathom
So much greater than anything you could imagine
Nothing can stop the love that I have for you
Nothing can make me stop longing for you
It was for this love that I bled and died
It was for you I laughed and prayed and cried
So great was this love that the Father would sacrifice
His only son, pure and blameless without sin
So that the reconciliation can once more begin
Just to be with you, one day, in paradise.
I'd do it all over again if that's what it took
Just to add one more name to Heaven's book.
And He loves you with a love just as strong
With a special part in salvation's song
I have given you, my life. I want your life to be mine
And I will fulfill in you a promise and purpose divine
It's not safe and it's not easy nor is it grand
And you won't always see what I have planned
But put your trust in me and be blown away
You can't just sit there in your lawn chair
Get up and go somewhere, now, today!
Allow me to move you and use you
Let the light radiate and penetrate through
Let me lead you to a life you could only dream
Give me your life and I'll show you what I mean

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

Oh Lord My God, that I would disappear
That I could hide inside your heart
And be content to rest in your presence.
That I could be still and silent
That I could melt in the heat of your love.
You are hidden in the bread and wine
Yet present all the same
And still, you revealed your heart
To those who humbly came.
May I imitate your life
As I try to reflect this love
And share your heart with others.
Increase Lord until we are
Of one mind, one heart, one soul
Until the two parts fade away
And the day I am finally whole.
Let me lay my head upon your breast
Where your heart speaks to me
And where I find perfect peace and rest.
Lord, that where you are, I may also be.

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

Jesus is the rhythm that keeps my heart in time
Jesus sends the Spirit who inspires with his rhyme
Jesus is the harmony that makes my life complete
Jesus is my meter in whom I find the perfect beat
Jesus is my center, source of the living word
Jesus is the anchor to which I am secured
The Spirit finds the notes to make the perfect chord
Jesus composed the symphony in which my life is scored
Jesus is the purpose, the passion, the fire
And with the music's cadence my soul is taken higher
Let it rise up to the Heavens, full clear and strong
To be in holy communion right where it belongs

Sometimes days are hard and long
Where, somehow, everything goes wrong
And you manage to just make it through
Don't forget to whisper a "Thank You"

Some days are sunny and bright
And everything is just going right
When it seems like it is too good to be true
Don't fret and just whisper a "Thank You"

Sometimes it happens that you have a good day
That could've easily gone a very different way
How or why it all worked, you don't have a clue
Just raise your hands and whisper a "Thank You"

Sometimes just a "Thank You" is all that you can say
Sometimes just a "Thank You" is all you have to pray
Sometimes just a "Thank You" can brighten someone's day
Sometimes just a "Thank You" makes everything okay

Lord, there are days when I should've been impatient, frustrated, tired and more and I wasn't. Maybe I prayed for strength and peace, patience, endurance and your blessings and I received them. Thank You! There are also days when I didn't pray for your blessings and ask for your help, but you knew and provided for me anyway. You shielded me from these negative emotions and protected me. You strengthened me and provided for me to do what must be done. All I can think to do Lord is whisper a "Thank You". Lord, you are good all the time, and all the time, you are good. Help me to be mindful and thankful to you all of my days for you are there and you make all things good. As long as you are present Lord, we never have to truly worry. Thank You! Amen

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

Who am I, but one?
Who am I from anyone?
I am small and weak
I can't do everything
So tell me: why should I try?
One can't change the world
And I am only one.

Who am I, but one?
Not just one, but some one.
I can walk and speak
And I can do something
So tell me: why not try?
I can change someone's life
And I am some one.

Who am I, but one?
I am someone
Who can do something
For someone else.
I can't do everything for everyone
But I can do something for someone
So I will not refuse to do
What I can do for one
And what I wish to do for all

Who am I, but one?
I am one,
But I am not the only one.
We can do great things
When we work together
When we are one

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 that 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 the love of the Lord
One the hour He is rightly adored

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.

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

Here I stand: a solid stone, alone
Waiting for the day
When someone will see something
And then I will finally be something
Chosen out of a thousand others like
Then, without warning, the first strike
Chipping away bit by bit
Slowly, carefully, painfully working at it
Lines are chiseled, edges softened, pieces fly
It hurts and I can't see, even though I try
Time crawls on and little progress is made
And hope, like colors, seem to fade
But, by and by, a change occurs
The hand that brushes me is yours
And for the first time I feel alive
I feel free and unrestrained
The treasure which the stone contained
And so today, before you, I stand
Out of stone, made by human hands
Made a masterpiece, a work of art
Transformed into the human heart
To be alive! To beat and pulse and feel
Take heart as you wait for the big reveal

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!

See this Holy Family
Bound by grace and love
Rooted by faith and peace
Mirror of the Trinity
Expressed in human entity
Stuff of legends and of dreams
But to trust and to obey
To pack up and come away
Spending years in fear and flight
On the run and taking flight
Full of grace and every blessing true
No stranger to hardship and sorrow too
To know this Holy Family
Is to know from whence you came
To know this Holy Family
Is to know your truest name
You are part of this great family
Set apart as a daughter or son
You are part of this great family
With room enough for everyone
It can give you purpose
It can help you find meaning
It can be a place you belong
We were not made to be alone
It is here that love makes a home
Together, we are family strong

Hold me in your heart of hearts
Wrap me in your sweet embrace
To the place that I regard
My hideaway, my secret place
Won't you hold me
Hold me close to your chest
Sweet peace enfold me
While I lay down to rest
Take me further than before
Draw me deeper into you
There is nothing I want more
Than to be wrapped up in you

I know you are here with me
In this time and in this place
In this moment, in this space
Be with me now as I seek you always
Be with me always as we speak now
Tender heart so full of pure love
I sing praise to Him who is above

Uniting our prayers with Heaven's Holy Queen
Who, as a mother, understands most keen
Our joys and sorrows and fears beside
And walks with us a spiritual guide
Just as Jesus came to us through his mother
So, through her, we come to Him

Come Oh God, come and be with us
Be with us and hear us as we pray
Come Christ Holy Spirit, settle in our hearts
Burn, burn within us, melt the icy parts
Like fire in our veins, stream of living water
Fan the flame and let love burn hotter
Come Lord Jesus, born to save us all
Gather us in, your beloved children
Open the eyes of our hearts to your call
Come, oh come, for God is with us here
Come, oh come, for He is with us now
Emmanuel is His name
Prince of Peace, King of Glory