Shepherd (Psalm 23)


The Lord is my Shepherd… I need nothing more
He is my rock, my guide, my friend whom I adore
He binds the wounded and heals the sick
He is there for his sheep through thin and thick

The Lord is my Shepherd… I need not fear
To You Lord all the flock is very dear
No one more important all loved just the same
He knows all His sheep by name

The Lord is my Shepherd… In whom I find rest
He calls us all to our own spiritual quest
His love is forever, unconditional, and unending
I fall down in awe before The King

The Lord is my Shepherd… He knows his own
The sheep know His voice and tone
The Lord makes sure each one is safe and sound
He will bring them back to safe lush ground

The Lord is my Shepherd… He protects us from danger
Protecting us from any stranger
You separate the sheep from the goats
Guarding us from satan (the crafty wolf in sheep’s coats)

The Lord is my Shepherd… I know He will always provide
Even through the darkest night He is at our side
Delivering me from my biggest foes
When we are overwhelmed and scared He takes the blows

The Lord is my Shepherd… Forgiving and open
Taking in and loving us as we are: ****** and broken
As sheep we are so prone to wander and stray
But whatever we do we cannot get away
  
The Lord is my Shepherd… And I am in good hands
I rest in His wondrous presence; safe from shifting sands
‘Neath His wings I find a peace comparable to none
I bask in the power and warmth of The Son

A new year is upon us, another time around the sun
A year full of faith and fellowship and fun
A year of family and friends and joy and dreams
Laughter and tears, hopes and fears.
Every year there is a cause for hope for things to come and things to change
Some things we do differently, but most just stay the same.
This year is  a year of Hope! A year to believe in miracles and dreams
A time to walk by faith and not by sight; to quest for the unseen.
It is a year of big things happening, changes great and small
The year may not reveal all the answers, but leads us all to hope.
Hope for families, hope for peace, hope for jobs, for freedom and release
If we come together in love and unity
We can make this world a little better and a little brighter than when it first arrived
Come to the water, let it wash over you and take the dive.
The spirit is moving swiftly and roaring like a lion
Stirring our hearts and starting fires in our souls
Breathing the spark of life back into these flickering coals.
Dry bones will come alive and the earth itself shall cry out
And God's people will have no doubt:
He is Risen, He is Alive, we have been set free
And that knowledge alone is Hope enough for me!

Amen!

The storms of life are raging

Closed in upon all sides

Waves of sin pull me under

Waters of sorrow and regret keep me

I am sinking from the weight of my transgressions

Drowning in my guilt and shame



I'm slipping away, the light is quickly fading

Fighting to keep my head above

Succeeding only in making me

More Tired



Then I am lost



Beyond Reach



Beyond Hope



Beyond Saving



Giving up and Giving in

Surrendering to death

And then...




A faint light cuts through the black



A hand that reaches out and catches me

A hand so strong and soft and pulling me back



A hug that pulls me close

A hug so powerful and tender; warming me now



A voice that surrounds me

A voice firm and loving; joy at my return



Tears warm and wet upon my face

Tears of sadness, pain and joy

My Tears. Your Tears. OUR Tears.



"I'm so sorry" I cry

You just hold me tight.



All at once I feel something change



I am washed by the blood that you shed for me

Sinking into Your loving arms; always taking us back

Drowning in the sea of Your mercy and Your grace

Pulled in by Your endless love



Called on this journey to walk with You

There will be storms along the way

And at times I may fail.

But I will do my best to follow you and not be led astray

I will not be afraid for against You, evil will NEVER prevail!

Red is for the blood you shed for me and for your sacred heart
Brown is for the wood of the cross: the bridge from heaven to earth
Purple is for your kingship. In honor of your power and majesty
Gold for the richness of knowing you and a reminder of the value of our souls
Blue for sadness and the water that flowed from your side
White for the veil that was torn, for holiness and purity
Yellow is for the sun bursting forth on Easter morning
Green is for new life and for good pastures

Hear the voice of once calling out: Prepare, prepare!
Turn from your ways and repent. I say: be aware!
Make straight the roads and the mountains make low,
Ready the way, believe in your heart, and know:
I baptize you with water to make the body clean
Follow me and I will show you just what I mean.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire
His birth was proclaimed by an angel choir.
Good as I may be,
Compared to Him I am unworthy.
He has come to set the prisoners free,
He came to save the likes of you and me
He has come to seek and save the lost
And He came to pay the highest cost.
He has come to make the blind see and the lame walk,
He came to call sinners and make the mute talk.
I stand before you today to testify to the Holy One,
I stand before you to proclaim the love of God’s only son.
Awake sleeper and rise from your bed
For the King with no place to lay his head.
Fix your eyes to heaven, set your heart on higher things
Be washed in the river of life and experience what it brings.
There is new life in Him; the old is gone away.
He is life, His word is truth, His light will show the way
I am the voice in the wilderness calling out.
Your waiting will soon be rewarded, have no doubt.
I am the one sent ahead to tend the fields
That when he comes, he may have bountiful yields.
Prepare your hearts and homes to receive
The one who was, and is, and ever will be.
He, of whom the angels sing and shepherds find
He, to whom wise-men bow down and with whom sinners dined.
I am the voice to quicken your hearts and point to the light,
I am the voice of hope and joy against the darkness of the night.

Everything but nothing has changed between us
Very different, but still the same: no more and no less
You are still you friend and I am still me
Sadly in a few short years our paths changed so drastically
Could it be I am sorry to speak, so instead I write words on paper?
Would I be embarrassed to stumble over words so I write them to be safer?
I truly wish I could express all my feelings to you
Should I write and then speak or stumble and act like a fool anew?
I have so many questions in my mind at the moment
Would it be foolish or really wise to try for a poetic enrollment?
So many questions to ask, so little time to ask them
So many it would go to mayhem or even pandemonium
So many raging, fighting thoughts in such a tiny space
Oh me Oh my! Could this spell disaster for the whole human race?
I have so many thoughts popping out of my ears, mouth, nose and eyes
You could take all my thoughts end to end and string them a mile in size
Do I go on pretending that nothing has happened or make some scene
Some days I wake up and feel like my whole life was just a dream
This changes everything, but nothing changes
It’s a difficult ride like traversing mountain ranges
There are highs and lows valleys and peaks
My head and my heart play hide and seek
I want to say something, but I know I can’t
I need to do something, but I’m stuck like a plant
Nothing, but everything is different now
If you only knew just how…

When we hear Jesus say "I give you this day" that's Amore
When I'm having a blast Jesus says "Not so fast" that's Amore
When I just want a drink Jesus says "Stop and think!" that's Amore
When I look up above and trust in Your love (that's Amore) X3

Keep Watch

Keep watch with me for an hour or so
Be vigilant for when I return you do not know
Keep watch through the darkest light
Keep watch and you will surely see the light
Be alert for the hour is quickly drawing near
For those who are prepared there is no cause for fear
Stay awake with me in the garden as I weep
Though it is hard, do not give in to sleep
Be with me as we walk side by side
Be wary when life is good of the sin of pride
Keep your eyes open and fixed on your savior and friend
And in the storms my Guardian Angels I will send
Can you not stay awake for an hour in the day
Are your eyelids so leaden that you drift off in slumber
Be watchful be awake for one day I may call your number
Are you ready when I come again in glory and power
Will you stand strong and tall where evil cowers
Are you open to the Spirit’s guiding
Are you filled with wisdom and understanding
Do you proclaim the good news and do so in the power of my name
Do you live in my love and are you forever changed
Do you seek first to understand then be understood
Do you seek to make peace where there is war
Do you work for the common good
The time is now, what are you waiting for
Open my eyes to see with your love and truth
Open my heart to the joy and faith of the youth
Open my life to your wisdom and plan
Open my soul as only you can

I wish they understood how I see the world
I wish I understood how the world sees me
I wish they knew how hard it is sometimes to smile
I wish I knew why I smile no matter how hard it sometimes is
I wish they could feel the joy and peace so real
I wish I could feel ever full of passion and zeal
I wish they heard the cries of the poor and unspoken
I wish I could give the voiceless and unspoken a way to be heard
I wish they wanted to provide and care for the least
I wish I could provide and care so the least feel wanted
I wish I could do for for the world what I can do for one person
I with the world could do for one person what one person wants to do for it

It's been a long day; I'm stressed and worn
A little frayed around the edges but not quite torn
Someone makes a comment, I hear some bad news too
And my world, perpetually sunny, sees a touch of blue

It's not the end of the world, it's not really a big deal,
It doesn't usually bother me, but that's not what I feel
This will not stay for long, this feeling soon will pass
To dissolve and to disperse on the wind like gas

The light will give these clouds a chase
The negative feelings are soon replaced
Peace, love, and joy will once more embrace
And a smile sweeps widely across my face

As I remember
My great Defender

He is stronger and bigger than my problems big and small
I recline at table in the great feast hall
I come running and He holds me close to His chest
Sometimes I cry and stay there a while I confess

The sun is beautiful and it hardly ever rains,
But peace and healing are found after the pain
And this I also know:
A little rain makes the flowers grow

So here I stand in the sun once again
I give thanks to God and then say: AMEN!

L is for the way He looks at me

O is for overdoing it by myself you see

V is very, very changed maybe

E is trusting Him with everything and God's Got This

LOVE for you and me

There is a place where mercy flows
A place where an eternal garden grows
There is a land of love and truth
Where the lame walk and the old become as youth

You are the River of Life
A stream that flows down from on high
Washed by the love that comes from above
Eternal spring from the father

Come dance in the meadows
Come sing to the wind
Come shout from the mountains
And laugh joyously

Come to the place of forgiveness and grace
Come to the place of healing and rest
Come feel the warmth of a tender embrace
Come to be healed and come to be blessed

You are the River of Life
A stream that flows down from on high
Washed by the love that comes from above
Eternal spring from the father

A hug, a smile, or a simple “hello”

Is all it takes to change someone’s life you know?

Who knows if they were having a terrible day?

And you have given hope in the midst of bleak and gray.

Volunteering can be such a great gift

For both parties involved get a free effective face-lift! (smile)

A humbling experience all-in-all

To see that through struggles they keep standing tall;

And as much as we give, we learn and get so much more

Giving hope, sharing compassion, showing love and helping people soar.

Volunteering helps out those who are in need

By volunteering you give people hope, the tools to succeed.

To see someone suffering, it breaks my heart in two

And tired though when work is done, my strength it does renew.

I see at times the progress of those I call my own

Sometimes small others great; to see how they have grown!

To make a difference in the lives of people everywhere

Every kind act whether great or small shows the world that you care

Go ahead! Dare! To give a hand, or lend an ear,

A shoulder to lean on; have no fear!

If we care for one another how do we express?

By an Act of Random Kindness, but I digress.

Whatever good you do, do it with love and joy in your heart…

For like “Evan Almighty” we are each called to build an A.R.K.



Smile and do something kind for one person today
:)

I come before you open and broken
I come before you to write what is spoken
I come before you in humble humility
I praise you for and through this gifted ability
You are the source from whom all blessings flow
You are the sea in all it's majesty
You are the wind that sets me free
You are the mountains reaching ever higher
You are the spark that started the fire
You are great and glorious
Over sin and death, you rose victorious
I come before you in deep respect
I come before you pleading you to protect
To grant peace and strength and healing
To transform this guilt and hurt we are feeling
I come before you to ask wisdom and understanding
I come to ask your strength when life seems too demanding
You are the healer for our broken heart
Each morning you give us is a fresh start
You are the song that rolls off my tongue
You are the music of life forever being sung
As you pour your love down
In this flood of love, I drown
Fill me with a presence that cannot be contained
Bless me with the courage to share it unrestrained

You are my fortress Lord I run to you
In the shadow of your wings I am renewed
You are my shield Oh God my protector in the fight
In my deepest darkness you are most brilliant light
You are my stronghold I feel safe when you are around
I will trust in you and sing your goodness as the trumpets sound
You are my strong tower firm when I would so soon crumble
You are the safe place when lightning flashes and thunder rumbles
You are my refuge I run to you in times of desperate need
Your sacrifice took my chains so I could be freed
You are my shelter in the storms the wind and the rain
You are comfort when my life seems only pain
You are my sanctuary my place of perfect peace and rest
Help me when I struggle with knowing you know what’s best
You are my strength when I am drained and weak
You are light and hope when life is looking bleak
You are my help when I fall down and healer when I hurt
You aren’t worried about a little dirt
You are my sword my weapon against the powers of the dark
You are perfect and good and the contrast is stark
You are my King you are the ruler and I wish to serve
Give me the strength to do your will and not lose my nerve
You are my One you are my God I yearn to know you more
All this time it was you that I was really looking for
You are my life you are breath fill me with Lord with your spirit
And grant me the peace, silence, and grace to, in the silence, hear it
You are my direction the light unto my path and a lamp before me to guide
You are the way when I am lost you lead me your face from me do not hide
You are my all my everything you God make me whole
Create in me a clean heart Oh God and purify this fallen soul
You are my portion my provision and I am replete
Lost in the desert place you are my soul’s retreat
You are my redeemer my savior my and how could it be
That knowing all you do, you still would die for me
You are my friend my rock and my hope and joy and love
And for that I am grateful eternally as the Lord looks down from above

The earth will fall and the mountains will crumble
The day will come when the sun shines no more
In time all will fail and all will fade
It was always meant to be this way
But the word of the Lord endures forever
The law of the Lord is perfect and true
Bound to Christ we find our chains gone

Songs to the Lord unceasing like perfume to the heavens reaching
The Lord hears the cry of the poor and downtrodden
He comes to their aid
He lifts up the lowly and oppressed
Gives sight to the blind and by his word the dead are raised
Healed from affliction in body and spirit
The devil hears the name of Jesus and runs for fear of it

Shepherd your people Oh God
Lead them and keep them on the right way
Guard them from danger
Bring them back when they stray
We are the flock of your land
We are the work of your hand
We are the wheat in the fields
We are the harvest with great yield
We are the weary the tired and worn
We have caused you much pain and scorn

Come to me with open hands and empty hearts
Come to me and be filled in every part
Come to me humble and broken
Listen closely and receive the words I have spoken
Come to me with awe and wonder
Come to me but do not expect lightning and thunder
Come to me in the stillness and the silence
Come to me and find peace amidst the violence
Come to me with reverence and respect
Come to me and know that I made you perfect
Perfect the way you are and for what you need to do
It was for a greater purpose that I have chosen you

You may not understand but all will be made clear in good time
But that is all for today because we are almost out of time

The Fourth Joyful Mystery:
The Presentation: The Blessed Mother presents the Child Jesus in the Temple

As a good Christian family, Mary and Joseph presented their son Jesus at the temple as was custom to have their son consecrated and to give entrust him into the care of the Lord. We pray Oh Lord help us to present ourselves to you just as Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple. Help us please to do this with a clean body and a clean soul as well as with joy as Mary and Joseph also surely did! Amen

My God I am blind for I look, but do not see
Change my heart Oh God won’t you change me?
I trust in your goodness in your most sacred heart
I pray Lord for wisdom and not simply smarts
I pray for your peace and strength in my day
I pray for the light to guide my steps along the way
I pray for your protection against my foes seen and unseen
I pray for a greater understanding of what my life means
I pray for direction and I ask for your blessing
I pray for peace and for less stressing
I love you Lord for your ways and right and just
Lord I trust you, help me ever more to trust
For the storms of life may rage for a time
But even in the storms you tell me “You are mine”
The sun will shine again and in the sky a rainbow fills
Showing us you love us now and you always will
So in your arms I’ll safely rest
For God is Father and Father knows best

I am a pencil in the hand of a writing God
I am the paint with which he colors the world
I am the voice he uses to sing his song
Praise and thanksgiving in daily living
Prayer to the God of this whole universe
He is the author creator healer
The spirit is moving can you feel her?
Composing a beautiful melody
When we come together it's plain to see
The one who created the heavens and earth
Gave up his life to show us our worth
The same one who made the mountains and seas
Lives in the hearts of you and me
He loves us so much calls us each by name
God first loved us so we might do the same
Build up the Kingdom of God and let his will be done
We are all his adopted children let your lives shine like the sun

"Oh young man, pray what have ye seen?"

"Well sir, I have seen much.
I’ve seen death and life, witnessed trials and strife,
I’ve seen smiles and tears, laughter and faces full of fear,
Some coming some going. Of those dear to me."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye heard?"

"Well sir, I have heard much.
I’ve heard people crying from joy and pain, and those not treated the same,
I’ve heard songs of praise and despair, a million voices everywhere,
And those silent voices calling. That need to be heard."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye touched?"

"Well sir, I have touched so much.
I’ve touched hearts, and changed lives in part,
I’ve felt so many emotions, and wrote about them when I felt the notion,
A pen to paper. And how it just flows."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye smelled?"

"Well sir, there are many things to smell.
I’ve smelled the clean of a spring shower, smelled greed and corrupting power,
I’ve inhaled the smell of the breeze, flowers and things like these,
And memory of mother’s meals. Those childhood days."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye tasted?"

"Well sir, there is much I have tasted.
I’ve tasted bitterness of defeat and death, my wrongs and the regret,
I’ve tasted sweet spring, and the joy of summer. Sing!
The flavors of life. And love among them."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye known?"

"Well sir, I have known some.
I’ve known loss, and love, and family that fits like a glove,
I’ve known hopelessness and grief, forgiveness and belief,
And nobody is perfect. We all have faults."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye learned?"

"Well sir, I continue to learn.
I’ve learned that disaster isn’t tragic, and miracles aren’t magic,
I can smile with my heart and eyes, yet still not learned if I’m a fool or wise,
Success never comes easy. It’s never without trial."


"And oh young man, pray what have ye realized?"

"Well sir, I am constantly in the middle of realizing something else.
That there is one thing that doesn’t change: life is always different it never stays the same,
I realize now that life is so much more and waiting just outside our own front door,
Seek first to love and understand. Then to be loved and understood."


"And oh young man, I have learned too...

As you learn from me, so I from you.

Learn from the world and experience all that you can.

Open your senses and take in all that you can!

For life is a journey, a path, and a road...

Now: do what you can and teach what you have been showed!"

Peace and healing be on you,
Strength and grace be with you too
Both now and forever Amen.
May you walk in the light that guides,
Your hand in his own and your footsteps besides
Both now and forever Amen.
Each day, you awake to greet the morning sun
And count the stars that blanket the heavens when day is done
Both now and forever Amen.
When will you see He is holding you and me?
Both now and forever Amen.
We will never have to fear, for our God is always near
Both now and forever Amen.
He died on a cross, sinless unto death
So we could live free and have life giving breath
Both now and forever Amen.
As long as there is life in me and my Lord is in this place,
I will praise with word and song and ask for His Amazing Grace
Both now and forever Amen.
When things are hard and life seems too much,
I need to call on Jesus and get in touch
Both now and forever Amen.
Sometimes I am led astray and my feet begin to wander
And other times I see glimpses that even angels can only ponder
Both now and forever Amen.
But you love me now, you loved me then
You love me always; both now and forever Amen!

The Third Joyful Mystery:
The Nativity: The ****** Mary gives birth to the Redeemer of the World

Mary is betrothed to Joseph when Caesar orders a census to take place. Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant and he is thinking about quietly divorcing her when he has a dream. In this dream an angel appears to Joseph and tells him that the baby’s name is to be Jesus Emmanuel, meaning God with Us. Joseph, though scared and unsure, like Mary, also chooses to trust God that Mary was not pregnant by another man. Mary and Joseph travel all the way to Bethlehem where Joseph’s family lived. By the time they arrived in the little town, Mary was heavy with child. They could not find a place to stay for Mary to have her baby when finally they found a stable to spend the night at. The baby Jesus was born into poverty and humility. It was smelly and *****, uncomfortable and cold. Jesus was placed in a manger, a trough, where the animals ate and drank. His only guests were the farm animals there, a shepherd boy with his sheep, a poor drummer boy, and three wisemen who came from very far off to pay homage to him. The Christ Child was born into poverty and humility, yet there was also great happiness and peace that cold winter’s night (the first fruits of the church). We pray Thank you God for sending us your Son to be born of the ****** Mary and become a man like us. The Redeemer of the World was born in poverty and humility. Help us to remember that not everything is as it seems. It doesn’t matter how much we give as long as we give all that we can. For this, help us to remember the woman who gave all of what she had which was two copper coins. Savior of the World, help us receive you as the world once received you so long ago. We love you and thank you! Amen

Christ is our cornerstone love is the foundation
The cross; the bridge between the people of every nation
When we work together, when we love each other
One big family with one father and mother
Compassion will seal and wounds begin to heal
In safety and peace we have nothing to fear
We are building your kingdom here
With mercy for all; a place of refreshment and rest
Here in the kingdom we welcome the guest
We'll bring just a little bit of heaven down to Earth
And try to help everyone see the greatness of their worth
In the building of your kingdom all will have a place
In the building of your kingdom we shall see your face
In the building of your kingdom all will be made new
Singing, dancing, and great jubilation for we will be with you
You love us and you call us each by name
You hold us in your hand the Lord the One Who Reigns
We are building your kingdom change us from within
We are building your kingdom may the whole world join in

Send your Spirit to ignite
And let us radiate your light
Let us shine before all men
Even in the Lion's Den
Stoke the passion deep inside
Be courageous; not terrified!
In the storm and in the dark
We will be that single spark
We will start a Holy Fire
Giving hope that will inspire
A nation that is now divided
A people who are short-sighted
We can still change the course
If we could, from our selfishness, divorce
It starts today, it starts with me
It starts right here can't you see?
It takes some time to turn a ship around
But I know where my hope and strength are found
If we come together, a people all as one
We can come out of the storm to see the sun
There is a glimmer of hope in a future dark and dim
When we get past our differences and look at Him

So many countries in the world today

Places and people neglected and needy

Forgotten, mocked, and cast out.

Needing love and care: bring Jesus to them

We want to help. We share in their pain and suffering

Singing songs to the God who saves, provides and protects

Sharing and working together as a new family is made

This is good! Experience the joy it brings

But look too and do not forget!

Those in our own communities

Neglected and needy

Forgotten, mocked, and cast out.

They too need love and care and bring Jesus to them.

What can I do? How can I help?

Help those in my own backyard?

Volunteer an hour or two at a food pantry,

Serve lunch and talk to the people at a soup kitchen.

Bringing love and care: and Jesus to them.

Write letters or make packages to send to soldiers,

Or spend a few hours talking and visiting at a home for the elderly.

Make baskets with socks, blankets, and a jacket

And spend a day in the city handing them out in the winter months.

Bringing love and care: bringing Jesus to them.

Open a door for someone, whose arms are full,

Make dinners or gifts for a family in need at your church:

Bringing love and care and bringing Jesus to them

And to those in my own backyard!


God Bless!

Mary, Queen of the Angels

Blessed Mary, Queen of the Angels
Guard us while we pray and keep us safe from harm
Holy Mary, Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Intercede and let your graces flow through us
Hail Mary, full of grace and peace and light
Shelter us in our storms and guide us through our darkest night
Immaculate Mary, pure of heart and free from sin
Change our hearts and our lives from deep within
Merciful Mary, you showed us the way to your son Jesus
You bore the one who frees us
Sorrowful Mary, your heart was pierced and still you clung to hope
Comfort and hold us when we lose our hope
Mary, Queen of the new Evangelization stand with us
Give us the courage to stand in our faith or fall on Jesus and say "Yes"
Mary our Mother, of gentleness and Love
Help us reach out to all and fix our eyes on things above
Mary most high and queen of the heavenly host
Help us join in adoration the one we love the most

We ask your intercession that you bring this offering of Prayer and Praise to the feet of your son. We pray this and all things in your son Jesus' name. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Traveling along down that long dusty road
Carrying within a heavy load
You journeyed far as Christ in-dwelt
A warmth that would cause ice to melt
You went forth to Bethlehem: house of bread
With no guarantees only Spirit led
From there he came forth to shine the light
That pierces even the blackest of night
Born in a stable not a place to call your own
But that night love itself came home
Shepherds and wisemen and animals send
Honor to the king as on knees they bend
They came from fields both near and far
Following the radiant wandering star
They pay their respects and you hold it in your heart
Could you have known the truth right from the start?
You son would come to redeem and save
But to do so, he would first be in a grave
Was it quiet and still on the first night was all the world at peace
For we received the presence of the one who frees
As a mother you wrapped him in your loving arms
As a mother you tried to keep him safe from harm
As a mother you danced when he laughed and wept when he cried
You held his body in your arms again when he died
As a mother you walked beside him as he went
You trusted his plan even if you didn’t see at the moment
As a mother you were present and you cared
You comforted your son when he was scared
As a mother, show us your son that we too may know
Him and follow him and likewise grow
May our faith be strong and may it never die
May the well run deep and the living waters never be dry
As our mother, we look to you for compassion and healing
As our mother intercede on our behalf as we are kneeling
Be with us always and give us the grace
To look around us and, everywhere, see Jesus’ face
Bless and protect us and forgive us I pray
As we battle to move forward day by day

Lord, it is the deepest desire of my heart to be free from the sin of lust or, if not free, to be able to manage it so that I may better follow you, live for you, and love for you. I also pray that by doing this, I would be more receptive and aware and blessed ever more than you have so abundantly blessed me now. Please help me to be silent and at peace in my heart, mind, and soul so I can be open to your Holy Spirit and write what you speak to give glory to your name ad to build your kingdom here on Earth. Amen

Jesus come to us; we are gathered here this day
We are listening, let us hear what you would say
Quicken our hearts Lord and let your spirit rain down
As praises and singing and dancing fill our cities and towns

Jesus be with us; while we pray as one tonight
Fill us with peace and wisdom, fill us with your light
By the cross and by your grace you have set us free
Take the blindness from our eyes so we can finally see

Jesus consume us; move and have your will
Flood our veins and our souls; ever moving, never still
Saturate the very air until all we breathe is you
Change us from within until we are made new

Amen

He made the sun to shine for you
The grass, green and the sky so blue
He made you the stars to point the way home;
There for you wherever you roam.
He made the wind to dance in your hair
He gave us a love that we could share
He gave you the sea to ebb and flow
He gave you the rain to make life grow
He gave you the trees to heaven reaching
He gave you the wisdom for little ones' teaching
He gave you a heart made of pure gold
He gave you a Spirit strong and bold
He gave you this gift so we could adore
He gave you His life and so much more
He gave you all this from a love so divine
Let us give to him our heart, soul, and mind

How beautiful this sacrifice
Of prayer and love that is our Christ
For we were once bent down in shame
Now we bend to praise your name

Wild weary wanderer come to me rest your heavy head
Tired hungry travelers all come to the table and be fed
When the burden is too heavy and the load too much to bear
Stay with me and know just how much I care

Come give me your doubts and worries and fears
Be assured I will answer and that I am all ears
Listen now, be still and hear the whisper faintest voice
Earnestly I seek you I call your response is a choice

Come Saint come sinner come young and old
The ends of the earth and the four winds are the flock of my fold
Come together in love and unity
Strive for greater peace and harmony

Out of the many we find a place all as one
Together turning from darkness and learning to face the sun
In a beautiful family so many strong
All find a place they can belong

There is a peace and love far beyond compare
To which, when exposed, you cannot help but share
Caught up in the world there is never enough time to do
Because it was not for the purpose of doing that I created you!

I created you for love, with love, in love from the dawn of creation
You see, I created you to be: be with others and with me in right relation

You are my children and I love you more than you can conceive
Enter into the song, join in the feast, receive and come to believe
Sense the love coursing alive and warm through your veins
In the final analysis love has won; only love remains.

You who are lost, you who have found
You who are seeking find your feet on sacred solid ground
Here there is a place of truth and light
Light a blazing beacon in the blackest night
Here is a place of refreshment and rest
Here I take you in my arms and hold you close to my chest

I have written my name upon your heart burned my word into your mind
In the Father Son and Holy Spirit you have been SIGNED

Just relax and try to let go of the ill you feel
Let me in and slowly begin to heal

I have set my SEAL upon your heart I have marked you as my own
From now on you will never be alone

I died to conquer sin and death and so DELIVER
Life in abundance and healing river

So SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED now I SEND
Send you out to be fishers of men

You are mine and I AM YOURS
Always and forever from present day to eternity's shores

I'm longing to see this Jesus the Christ; the one I hear so much about. I'm very excited to meet the man who walked on water, the one who calmed the sea and the same, some say, who lives in you and me. But there seems to be a locked door of sorts to my heart's house and I miss all that's in store. So to Him I give my work, my joy, and suffering and I pray for the peace that He brings. The crowd parts and I see at long last the face of Christ the King. He smiles brightly and hugs me tightly and says "my beloved Child, I love you more than you could know." "I am staying at your house tonight. We shall rejoice and be glad." and I reply "My Lord and my God! I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. Some rooms are cluttered with broken glass and things, windows boarded up and dust. But what I have is yours Lord: the good the bad and the fair. Though it hurts, I want my heart to be a place for you to stay"

Lord I want my heart to be a place you want to stay. I want to be able to say "Welcome Home Lord!" and be sincere and proud of this home that is my body this home that is my soul. There are places that are secret to others, things I am ashamed of, ugliness. Help me remember that you love me. You love all of me. You died for all of me not just parts of me. Thank you Jesus for that amazing gift! At Eucharist and Thanksgiving in communion with each other and connected by perfect love, help me to welcome you more fully into the temple of my body and to welcome you into my physical home. Give us the courage and the confidence to say "We Love you Jesus. Welcome Home!"

Just as we welcome you into our homes, Jesus, we are thankful that you continue to take us back and run out to us. Thankful that you are celebrating and welcoming us back home when we ask forgiveness and attempt, by your grace and strength, to avoid the things, to cut out/off the things that cause us to be tempted and to sin.

Amen

How do I love you? In word, in deed, in thought, in speech? How do I say I love you when the depth and height of Your Love can never be reached?  I say I love you, but sometimes my actions don't match. If I want to truly love and follow you, there is a catch. I must crucify my sin to the Cross of Christ and rise with Him to new abundant life! My Jesus, how much you love me! You took the wages of sin (death) and paid in full so I could live. I can't repay the gift you give, but I can show my gratitude in the way that I live. God, I want to fall in love with you more each day. Make my heart beat for you alone. How do I love you? I love you by loving all I encounter and loving myself, by treating all with dignity and respect Help me see through your eyes of love. Your love is a fire in my heart, a song on my lips and the light in my eyes. I know that you love me, but I ask for the grace to understand ever more deeply and ever more powerfully your endless love for me! How DO you love me Lord? How you DO love me!

The same sun that fills the morning sky
Makes the artist’s paintbrush fly
The same wind that flows softly in the trees
Fills the singer’s lungs and sets the words free
The same water that covers the earth
Can give the people a kind of rebirth
The same earth alive beneath your feet
Gives the poets their steady beat
The same song that’s free and clear
Gives the dancers something so dear
The same life that ebbs and flows
Gives art its thorns and rose
Life is art and for some their art is life
So much beauty and mystery it is always
New and fresh and profound
You see the place we stand is on Holy Ground
We have been blessed with such gifts
We are called to share and use them to lift
Others up who may be searching or hurting
Needing to know they are loved and aren’t alone
Your art may be the only encounter someone has
With faith, with love, with something greater
We ought to be light, to bring light to a world that is dark
To give hope, to show love this is a chance to leave your mark
To make this place a little better than when we first arrived
The world is our canvas paint it with hope and a future
Share your vision, lift your voice
Move your feet and make your choice
Color the world in brighter hues
These are your gifts it’s up to you to use

Holy is Your name, exalted above all
On every ear and heart may the Good News fall.
Glory to you God, Name above all Names
For, your greatness, the earth and angels proclaim.
Every fiber sings to your majesty Lord;
Words of love and truth, from every tongue, are poured.
The rocks cry out in wonder: the very air is alive,
The very ground upon which we walk is sanctified.
We sing out your praises as they saturate the sky,
A sacrifice most pleasing to you: The Most High!

(Jesus) You Are


You are a light in the darkness and hope in despair

You are a friend when it seems no one else cares

You lift me up when I am down, you are strong when I am weak

When I am scared and alone it is you that I seek

It is you that I run to or sometimes just crawl

When it's too much to bear and I can't carry it all

You take it away or give me grace and strength to endure

Nothing will happen today that you and I can't handle together I am assured

I trust you Lord, but I often doubt

Sometimes I wish you wouldn't whisper, you'd shout

My faith, like young legs, are eager but unsteady

You tell me to take a leap of faith and fly, but I'm not sure I'm ready

You are the wind beneath my wings

You lift me up so I can soar

In you I experience what true joy and peace brings

I live like the mountains grounded yet reaching

Like the mighty trees who drop roots to drink deep of life giving springs

Help me thirst mightily for your teachings and the water of life

You are my healer when I'm injured, a sword to help me fight

You go before me as a shield you're angels guard me through the night

Sometimes I can't understand the wisdom of your plan

I am small and I am only one and I don't know that I can

The future is uncertain and I don't know what's in store

But Jesus be my shepherd and I'll want for nothing more

AMEN

To new friends and family made this week:
Warm Fuzzies, crew time, RECORD HEAT!!
Time spent together: laughter, sweat, and tears,
A relationship to grow in future years.
Songs, prayer and fellowship abound,
Hugs, smiles, and joy all around!
The work completed a testament to:
The fact that, with God, all things we can do.
We seek you Lord; hide not from us your face,
And help us Lord to persevere as we each must run the race.
You have blessed us with many gifts indeed
Remind us You are there, in our every need.
Thank you for keeping us safe from harm
And in Your loving embrace please keep us warm!

We love You, thank You, and praise You Jesus Christ.
AMEN!

St. John Neumann and St. Marks ASP 2012

CAUTION: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMMAGERY AND ADULT THEMES

Primal Hunger**

She stands tall and proud in all her femininity,
A stark contrast to the maleness that surrounds her:


They, with swords drawn; the tips glistening...
Poised and ready to strike at any moment.


They, like starved wolves; silently stalking their prey...
Teeth bared straining at restraints, what holds them back?


They, like sharks; that smell blood and fear...
Circling ever closer until the prey gets tired and weak.


They, like snakes and spiders; waiting ever so patiently...
So quietly lurking in the shadows for just the right moment.



Then… They STRIKE!



They are ravenous, ruthless, and all consuming fire!
Eventually, the beasts have had their fill. They leave for now.


They leave nothing behind in their wake...
Except for maybe a memory and a promise.


And she, once tall and proud, is now hunched over and disgraced.
She, like the desert; is now baron and devoid of life and feeling.


Crying out in the black, unforgiving night
No one hears her and no help comes.

No one who understands...

No one to keep her company...

No one except her pain, her haunted memories, and her broken dreams.



no one...

Father into your hands I commend my Spirit
I seek to give my life to you
You, who hold the universe together, holds me in the palm of your hand
In your hands I find warmth and strength
In your hands I know I am safe and secure
Hold me and mold me into the man I'm called to be
Speak to me and keep me and wrap me tight
Bring me close to your chest and keep me safe through the night
Touch my heart oh God and change me from within
Wash over me, purify me and cleanse me from my sin
Help me put my hand in your hand and walk by your side
On passing earthly thing I have far too often relied
You are my walking stick, the light before me, and staff to guide
You are my legs when I am feeble and strength when I am weak
Grab me when I stumble in the dark and reach out for your hand I seek
With arms spread wide you reached across the world to bridge the great divide
With arms outstretched you welcomed me to life with you
And still sometimes I act like I haven't got a clue
Always and forever in your loving arms I remain
Even when I bind myself with all variety of shackles and chains
Use my hands to pour forth your mercy and healing
Grant me a joy and a glow that is all too appealing
Let my hands and feet be extensions of your own
In everything I say and do let your love and light be shown
Bless my hands and let them bless
Move my feet and help me to move
Make wise my mind and let me share wisdom
Fill my heart with love and let me live with all my heart
Grant my soul peace and let me grant peace to all souls
Let your Spirit settle upon me and may I be at rest in your Spirit
Put your word on my lips and let my lips proclaim your word
Set a song in my veins and may I be an instrument for your Glory
You hold me in the palm of your hand, allow me to do the same for others
Father I desire to give my whole life to your hands
Into your hands I commend my spirit

These are the things I love

Running through the meadow in fields of wildflowers
The sun shining bright and gentle spring showers
The sound of waves gently kissing the beach
At night when the stars seem so close to reach
The warm summer stirring my hair
Knowing always my family will be there

These are some things I love

Fresh baked bread and homemade apple pie
A long happy day concluded with a tired sigh
Friends that are forever and love that is pure and true
Spending time with those I love and when I think of you
Being there for those in need and ones that are suffering
To take a bad day make it happy and the joy we bring

These are some things I enjoy

To lie on my back and watch the stars at night
Sunrise and sunset the glorious sight
To know in my heart what my eyes cannot see
Spirit soaring in flight with the eagles so wild and free
A cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day
The blessings it brings when children obey

These are some things I adore

Take a moment now and then
To make a list you can use when
Joy in life seems hard to come along
Sing to yourself a happy song
If you try real hard to don a grin
I think you’ll see changes slowly begin
A little smile is a potent thing you know
Filling all around you with a warm and radiant glow

Daily bread you keep us fed
Manna from on high greater than I
I will surely perish for the food I so cherish
Grain so small yet so full of potential
The body of Christ is most essential
He gives up himself both body and soul
He is the only one who fills my heart’s hole
We consume him to be consumed
In this life we are being groomed
To be with Him in love without end
To praise and live forever all the people said amen
You are the food for the nations
Your words formed all creations
Your word sustains us it’s all we need
Your truth is like water to seed
Your love lifts us up back on our feet
Your love fills us and makes us complete
Your mercy is such that it brings me to my knees
Your glory is higher than the mountains, deeper than the seas
Your Spirit is flowing pouring down like rain
Your blood Lord washes away my guilty stain
Your wisdom surpasses the greatest of men
You are, you were, you always have been
Your light touches all darkness is as day
You walked before us to show us the way
Your plans are perfect your ways are good
But we stray, turn away, don’t do as we should
Still you love us take us back into the fold
You seek us out and shelter us from the cold
How amazing God that through it all
You still welcome us to the great feast hall

Foundation Meditation


When building a new house, the first thing that happens once the plot of land is surveyed and excavated is the planning and lying down of the foundation. The foundation is the base and has to support the weight of the house. It needs to be strong and able to serve its purpose for a long time while taking abuse from the weight of the house and conditions below ground. The foundation could be the difference between a house that is safe and strong for many years and a house that is dangerous to the people living inside.

The foundation of a house is hidden underground. Although it is not noticed or seen, it is an essential part of the house that we appreciate so much. Without a solid or stable foundation to support and anchor it, the house would not be as strong or secure. A building cannot stand (well) without a (firm) foundation. The Bible tells us that: “We are temples of the Lord.” Some of us may remember a song we heard as young children during Vacation Bible School or on sing-along cassettes about two men and their houses which illustrates the necessity for a firm foundation. One built his house among large rocks high on a cliff, while the other built his house on the sand. The house on the sand was destroyed and swept away when the wind and waves got strong, but the house on the rocks could not be reached by the waves and the wind could not move it from its secure place among the rocks.

When we meet people along the road of our lives, we have the chance to share Jesus with them whether through words or deeds or faith. Sharing Jesus may include but is not limited to: giving a lecture, having a discussion, or preaching. No. Sharing Jesus could be a hug, a smile, opening a door, helping someone in any way either big or small, listening, giving your time, or saying a prayer for someone or something. There are so many ways to share Jesus! Every time we do something to share God with everyone we meet, we are building a foundation and potentially creating (or helping to create) another temple of the Lord. Like the foundations used in houses, that while underground and unseen are essential to even begin to build and later to support and secure so the structure stays strong and firm, so too are the times we share Jesus with others we meet in our lives. The thing we did may have built or helped to build a foundation in Christ and they too may do likewise. Just because we may not see the impact we had, or perhaps there is no impact at all, does not mean we have failed. In these times we pray: “God, grant me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, the serenity to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

God has his reasons for what happens even though we may not like, or know, or understand why. For this, and all things in life, pray. Pray. Pray. Never stop praying. Don’t be afraid to ask. Ask often. It is said: “Seek and you will find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened. For anyone who seeks will find, anyone who asks shall receive, and anyone who knocks the door shall be opened.” Listen. Make sure to listen. He will speak, but he will not interrupt. He is patient and will wait for you to stop. Pray for wisdom, guidance, courage, strength, faith, hope, love. Ask Him to open our hearts and see with His eyes. Help us to love like you. Help us to be humble and remind us always; it is not about us, it’s about you. Anything we may have done or accomplished was not us, but you in us. And always Lord: Your Will Be Done. Not our will or what we want, but yours!

Two different churches, two denominations
Two separate cities, a real conglomeration
Coming together to help those in need
First as strangers replaced by fast friends indeed
And we, though many, begin to be one

Throughout work and during play
Dew in morn, crew time at end of day
Working side by side, laughing, crying, sharing,
Praying, growing, changing, and above all: caring
And we, though many, are becoming one

Sharing a meal, the churches; they two
A common bond is shared between me and you
New friends are made as time goes along
Doubting no longer; happy you were wrong
And we, though many, are nearly one

A family we are now: close knit and firm
Through our experiences, much we have learned
A power there is, far great than any;
That makes beautiful the one with the many
And we, who were many, are now as ONE!

Hush now my child dry your little eyes
The one who made you hears your little cries
Hush now my darling be not afraid
For you are safe and in his hands you are laid
Hush now my little one dream your sweet dreams
His angels keep close though they are unseen
Hush now my baby rest your sweet head
For he is awake while you sleep in bed
Sleep now my child so safe and so sound
Can you feel our love and blessings that abound
Wherever you go he is close at hand
Someday my baby I pray you'll understand
One day you'll be grown and we'll be so proud
Every night by your bed on our knees with heads bowed
We prayed for you in every moment that came
For joy, blessings, and that in his arms you'd remain
Close your eyes and take a breath let sweet sleep descend
Let your worries fall away with the day's end

Sacred Heart of Jesus your heart was pierced and broken
We who slumber will finally be awoken
At the end of days when time has run aground
The dead will live and the lost will be found
Sacred Heart of Jesus water and blood freely poured
By your sacrifice our union was restored
For one without sin died to save
From His death it was life that He gave
Sacred Heart of Jesus fill me with your graces
Reveal your presence to me in the secret places
Fill me with your love and kindness
Take the scales from my eyes remove my blindness
Help me turn my heart to your most sacred one
Remind me when I fail that I’m a work in progress not yet done
Sacred Heart of Jesus full of mercy and love
Look with favor on your child as you reign from above
Sacred Heart of Jesus be my hope and peace
That nations lay down their weapons that war and violence may cease
I pray for holiness and wisdom, patience to do your will
To step out in faith into darkness and trust you have me still
Sacred Heart of Jesus pour forth you love like the summer rain
Let the seeds of faith open and flourish and always remain
Sacred Heart of Jesus take hold of my heart
Enter in fully and come to invade every part
So I am no longer me, but you that lives within me
Break the chains that steal me away somehow set me free
Sacred Heart of Jesus take me into your presence here
Overflow with love and drive out all fear
Sacred Heart of Jesus seek me now tonight
Sacred Heart of Jesus live within me and let me radiate your light. Amen

Thank you Lord for the gift of your love, and beauty, your power and your humility especially in the blessed sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist. It is here that you hide both in plain sight and reveal your divinity and humanity in a most profound and personal way. It is here that you meet us and here that you greet us as we fall on our knees to pray. You give us the sun to welcome us at dawn and send angels to guard at the end of the day. There is always something new and timely every time I am before you in this place. And every time I come away with a brand new look at your face. I look forward to the times we have together with such anticipation and afterwards am filled with jubilation! Help me cling to you, help me sing to you. In troubled seasons help me hold fast, and in stressful moments help me to relax. In sadness I ask for peace and the strength to rejoice, when I have a difficult decision help me to discern and make a good choice. We pray to you, we bring all we are to you. Our joys, sorrows, longings, praises and petitions. Give us eyes to see you, ears to hear you, a mind to seek you and a heart to love you. Help us also to see, hear, seek, and love others as you do for all of them and for each of us.

We ask this and all things in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

You are Light, You are Truth, You are perfect and good. So here I come. Here I stand. Humble and broken. I fall down with my face to the ground. You lift me up, take me in, and wrap me in your arms of Amazing Grace. I cry to you, I crawl to you, I fly to you, Jesus help me give my all to you. Who am I that you should know and love me; one so small and weak. If I will be still and listen I hear you speak Body and blood, broken and shared, poured out and spilled: surround me. God of creation use me, work, move and live in and through me. There is love, there is beauty, there is love in the sacrifice, and while unworthy, you gave your life, deemed us worth the price: all so we could live in love and communion with you for all ages. We will dance and sing and shout for joy. The old will pass away and we will be made new. One day, all will be made clear, but sometimes I'd like a little clarity down here! Mary, our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, lead us to your son our Lord. Hail, full of Grace! The Lord is with you! Hear and intercede for us that through you, we may obtain some of this Grace for ourselves. Holy Spirit, bond of friendship and of love, let us be open. Rain down your love and truth upon my life. I hunger.

Life is a journey on a path or a road,

Bearing the weight of our sin's heavy load.

Long days and even longer nights

So many miles and no end in sight.

"Failure" "give up" your sins seem to call

I stumble and collapse from the weight of it all.



The darkness creeps and in and silence is deafening,

Lying there cold and alone fearing God's reckoning

At the bottom of the pit I hear someone say:

"Come, follow me, and I'll show you the way!

I've been here before and I've learned the way out"

He said, "Son, pray with me. It works; do not doubt"



So we sat and we talked, we laughed and we cried

We prayed for a while, I felt better inside.

A feeling swept over; brought me down to my knees

Slowly I felt a soft, quiet breeze.

Strong gentle hands on my shoulders with love

Warming, glowing; like the sun high above.

Resting his hands there another moment he said

"Rejoice! You are alive, no longer dead!

Rise to your feet, go now: be strong,

And remember what you have learned from this day on."



In a flash of white light the man did depart

Remembering his words, I held them close to my heart.

I whispered a "Thank You" and walked along

Singing to myself a happy-like song.

Smooth was the journey, for a time

The peace and ease was so sublime



Yet what should I now come across

But open water too deep and far to cross.

A small boat harbored on the rocky coast:

The thing that I would need the most



Miles at sea; moving slow and lazy

Hours of nothing, the air grows hazy.

Lids are heavy, body is stone

Taken by sleep. It's will against my own.

I awake to see the night purest black

Lightning blinds and thunder crack!

The water roils and the wind loudly screams,

Pinching myself: this is no dream!



The boat pitches madly I am thrown into the ocean,

My screams are drowned and futile are my motions.

My eyes are getting dim, the world fading fast

"Is this it? Is this the end at last?"



Something grabs me strong and steady

Pulling me to safety when things got heady.

The storm raged on all around

They hold me close till I settle down.



"Why do you tremble? Why do you fear?

Take heart! Have faith! I am always here.

All this is mine and under my command

I will keep you safe, but you must also understand:

Sometimes the storms I will call to cease,

And, at times, it is you I will calm and give you peace."



Through the fog, a lighthouse beacon shone bright,

Guiding me to safety out of the darkest night.

The light of love, of hope, and prayer

Although ever present, I'm not always aware:

Of the countless faithful people who have walked the path You trod

And who, everyday help me in MY walk with GOD!