Let everything I do give glory to you
Oh Lord my God
Known by many names, still you stay the same
You are more than we can imagine
Greater than our hearts can fathom
Farther than the east is from the west
Hold us close against your chest
Knew us perfectly even before we were formed
You still our fears in the wild raging storms
Crafted with such purpose love and care
To your beauty there is nothing we can compare
You are holy and righteous and worthy of praise
And how I am blessed let me count the ways
I remember vividly the day that you found me
Woke me from my sleep opened my eyes to see
For a second I saw a glimpse of your glory revealed
And in that moment I knew that you were real
Now it seems that something had been planted
An idea a desire spiritually enchanted
Now, years later, it has sprouted and taken root
And, one day perhaps, it may bear great fruit
It all comes back to there the day my life began
You took me on this walkabout so I could understand
A picture is starting to form but it’s hard to make out
It’s clouded and shrouded in mystery and I start to doubt
But I know you walk before me Mother Mary walks beside
Trusting completely in my spiritual guide
So, in faith, I’ll follow you:
Live in spirit and in truth

Do not let your hearts be troubled
My Children, do not fear.
Rather, have hope and take heart
I will never leave you orphans
Nor will I ever abandon you.
Where there is love, there is life
Where there is life, there is hope
I am love, I offer you eternal life
In me are found your peace and joy and hope
Continue to pray and pray with confidence
I am moved by your cries
As a mother for her newborn baby
And even if a mother forgot her child
I, the Lord Your God, will never forget you.
I created you, made you, carved you
In the palm of my hand
I hold you in my arms, close to my chest
In the shadow of the cross there is peace and rest
Give me your weakness I give you my strength
Give me your sorrow I give you comfort and peace
Give me your darkness I give you my light
Give me your fear I’ll help you be brave
Give me your sadness I’ll help you find joy
Give me your chains I’ll help you get free
Give me your blindness I’ll help you to see
Give me your silence I’ll help you to hear
Give me your heart and I’ll open it wide
Give me your mind I’ll lift it up to Heaven
Give me your soul I’ll show you it’s value
Give me yourself I’ll give you all you need
Take Lord and Receive
All that I have and all that I am
All of it finds its source in you
You give and take away
And by your Grace I still remain
Take my life and take my will
Take it all and then instill
Just your grace and just your love
And that, My God will be enough

Candy canes and Caroling up and down the street
Hearts aglow with everyone we meet
Ringing in the New Year with hopes and dreams held high
Inside we come to sit by the fire to warm up and dry
Snowman snow angels snow that softly falls
Time to remember what is truly important and make those calls
Making the most of the precious moments spent together
And if we have each other there is nothing we can’t weather
Sleep sound in sweet heavenly peace

Hope is a very potent thing
It can cause the blind to see and the mute to sing
It can break chains and tear down walls
It sees the silver-lining and gets up again after every fall
It is a light in darkness when we have lost our way
It never gives up can't be quenched and recharges when we pray
Hope will keep you moving when you can't move any more
Hope is the fire that burns deep down in your core
Hope will spread like wildfire all across the land
Hope will keep a light on and is hard to understand
Hope can keep a man alive when the rest have given in
Hope can take what would be loss and turn it into win
Hope is something beautiful that shines so bright and true
It burns in me hot and steady: now I pass it on to you!

Sometimes what you say is hard to swallow
And there are days when it is all I can do to follow
The way you walk is never easy and rarely pleasant
And sometimes it feels like you’re not present
But through it all I know that you are there
In spite of it all you still love and still care
Lord you have the words of Spirit and Life
You spoke into the darkness and created the light
We will walk by faith; in your promises we believe
And so it is in the Eucharist that we receive
The body and blood of Christ crucified
Through this love and sacrifice, we are truly alive
Consume my heart with love for you
I feel in my heart what I know to be true
By the Sacred mystery this miracle of love
I have your life within me: Heaven’s gift from above
Lord you have the words of life eternally
You became a prisoner so I could be free
I never could repay you for this second chance
You looked at me with more than a passing glance
By your grace I live my life in a way I hope will show
The change in me and how I hope to grow
Where else could we go? To whom else could we look
Where one so great came down and in our form took
So we might see and come to understand
What it means to love and lend a hand
Can we believe in something greater than ourselves
Don the cloak of humility and put pride upon the shelves
Lord you are the way that leads us to the father
You are the shepherd and you are the potter
Lord you are the truth in a world of lies and deception
The banquet is prepared for the wedding reception
Lord you are the life that shines in me today
And though sometimes it’s hard my faith in you will stay

Let me serve you the best that I know how
Every word and every page devoted to you now
How can I best serve you in the world today
Use me as your instrument: this is what I pray
I’m waiting for a tug, a gentle little leaning
Hoping for an answer to give my life some meaning
Then I wonder if I should STOP...
And just listen to the silence
I might feel that quiet breeze
I might hear the spirit whisper
Father let me serve you the only way I can
By being open, listening, and saying yes to your plan
Wherever the road may lead, may it lead me straight to you
Whatever the outcome, may the outcome let me be made new
By your will, through your love, in your grand design
I am yours: your humble servant until the end of time

So often my love is shallow or fake
Unwilling to do what I know it takes
I am too wrapped up in my self-love
Self-interest and self-pity
To see that my vision is itty-bitty
I miss the sunset staring at the ground
Tenser than a spring I'm so tightly wound
In the war between the spirit and flesh
Caught in the middle, I'm a hot mess
So easy to say I love you
But so difficult to really prove
You love me without condition
And you send me out on mission
Jesus; source of love in pure perfection
In your love help me be a reflection
Imperfect as I may be shine through me today
Grant me grace to turn back to you
And the discipline to obey

For freedom is found in following
The law of the Lord is the light of love.
Perfect peace and power passes over
When we watch with awe and wonder
What happens when, in our need, we kneel.
Sorrow and sadness in the savior's shadow
Are arrested in authentic love's atoning act,
Shed for sinners in the ultimate sacrifice.
Body and blood broken and beautiful
We are given the gift of God's great grace.
Recall the wretched reign, be reborn renewed
For Christ has come to call his child.

Christ’s body and blood
Broken and poured for all
How precious was the sacrifice
Of pain and death to give me life
Christ’s body and blood
Wine and wheat transformed by the spirit
Transforming my life from the inside out
Here we have come to partake of the Lamb
That was slain for the sin of man
Christ’s body and blood
Take me over in spirit and flesh
Christ’s body and blood
Satisfy this consuming hunger
Slake this unquenchable thirst
Christ’s body and blood
To be grateful to give thanks
Christ’s body and blood
Eucharist, communion
Christ’s body and blood
To live within my own flesh and blood
Christ’s body and blood
To share with all those I meet
Christ’s body and blood
To live on forever
Christ’s body and blood
Straight from the heart, a gift of pure love
Christ’s body and blood
Believe and receive the very source of life
Blood the essence and pulse of life
Body a temple and a way to live out
Christ’s body and blood
Such great mystery
Christ’s body and blood
Part of my history
Christ’s body and blood
The prime example of love’s transcendent nature
Love conquers all

The world today is searching for the key
The future is held in the hands of the youth
Life is what we make it out to be

All of creation stems from one great tree
This we believe to be our truth
The world today is searching for the key

From the shackles that bind us, we are set free
Through joy and thanksgiving our souls are renewed
Life is what we make it out to be

Live your life with patience, perseverance, and purity
In all that you do, let love be imbued
The world today is searching for the key

Growing together from difference toward unity
Sometimes all we need is a new point of view
Life is what we make it out to be

Here we find a living of the highest quality
And from this point we can conclude:
The world today is searching for the key
Life is what we make it out to be

Following star: God’s great light
Traveling far: Bethlehem night
Bearing gifts full of meaning
Little baby sweetly dreaming
On a journey far from home
Guided by the Spirit as they roam
So much unclear, so much unknown
Young girl and mother scared and alone
Come Lord Jesus from Heaven above
Make the space all aglow in perfect love
The path is long the road is hard
Angels sent in dreams to guard
The light of the world the hope of salvation
Watching with faith and finally joy and elation
Peace on earth let all creation ring
The coming of Him whom angels sing
Christ the King in helpless child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Not even death could keep us apart
Saved in the depths of your merciful heart

Jesus loves the little children. Some of the faith’s greatest warriors both literally and figuratively were children. The shepherd boy David, the great Joan of Arc, Therese of Lisieux, and the three young shepherd children from Fatima to name a few. David was in his late teens when he slew Goliath with a sling and a stone, Joan was 17 when she led an army to several impressive victories. Our Lady Of Fatima appeared to three young shepherd children. The “Little Way” and one of the great Doctors of the Church is St. Teresé and she was 24 when she died. Jesus said blessed are the little children. They are priceless treasures. Do you remember when you were a child? The sense of wonder, joy, love, faith you had? Everything seemed more alive, brighter, happier. Anything was possible and everything was amazing. When we look at life through the eyes of a child we see life with joy and wonder and grace. Beauty and music are everywhere around you if you can believe it to be so. The wind through the trees, the grass beneath your feet, the sun in the sky, the storms, all life sings for sheer joy of being alive. Worries are less, and grace is more, time is endless, excitement for what tomorrow has in store. Jesus loves the little children. The warrior is a child. We are God’s Children and we are called to be like the children. To trust completely in God, to see with the eyes of love and simplicity. Life doesn’t have to be complicated; we often make it so. When we are tired and scared, we can run to the fortress of our Faith and find safety, strength and rest. Our King does not stay safe in his castle, but fights for us, with us, He is always present and close at hand. When we fall he is there to help us up again. He gives us the strength to keep going and sometimes he holds us to him while we shake and cry inside our armor because the warrior is a child. Jesus loves the little children. As the great song says so simply: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” It is crazy to think just how loved we really are. “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for a friend.” And that is exactly what God did for us by sending his one and only child to be killed and to die in the worst manner possible so that we who didn’t/can’t deserve it were given the opportunity to experience this perfect divine love. God our Father loves us in the same perfect divine eternal love that is expressed by the the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus loves the little children. We are His children. Never lose the child inside especially when life is dark and stormy. Jump and dance in the puddles and look with wonder as the sun breaks through and a vibrant rainbow stretches it’s arms across the sky. Life gets a little better when you don’t forget the child. Jesus loves the little children and He loves you and me!

Mary surrendered her heart to do God’s will
She was ever present then and she is with us still
Help me be obedient and follow where you lead
Use me as your instrument to serve those most in need
Kindle the burning passion deep within
And by your grace help me avoid more sin
Help me be humble so I might not fall to pride
Through these gifts may your name be glorified
Bless and perfect them bring them to your son
That, in all things, Your holy will may be done
I try to fight on my own, but I am weak
In all things it is your quiet strength I seek
One way to know Jesus is to know and love you
You are our Holy Mother ever faithful, ever true
Turn your eyes of love on us in your mercy have pity
Heal our world our land, heal our broken family
Soften our hearts shatter our defenses
Open our eyes, bring us back to our senses
Give us the courage to share in your “Yes”
And, in doing so, we walk the talk that we profess

You say you want to be happy
You say you want to live well
You say you want to be satisfied
But you’re not I can tell
If you only had this one thing
More time, more money, more of that
But, when you do, peace it doesn’t bring
No matter what you have
It never seems to be enough
I want you to be happy
I want you to live well
I want you to be satisfied
I want to give you peace
Be content with who I am content with who you are
Be content with what you have and where you are
I am the one who can be your true happiness
I can help you see how much you are blessed
I have you right where you need to be
I have a plan a future that you don’t yet see
You worry about what lies ahead
But you miss what I’ve just said
Be okay to live in today to live right now
Things tend to work out someway somehow
Be content to stay with me
Place your hand in mine
Listen grow and learn to see the sign
Be content to walk with me
As we travel along the way
Be content to rest in me
To be silent and to pray
Lay your burden down place your troubles at my feet
Trust that I am in control I will give you what you need
Be content to sit with me
To speak not, but be still
Be content to cry with me
For I too cried upon the hill
Be content to laugh with me
To dance and sing and run
And celebrate with me when I find the lost one
Be content with me for I am more than enough
I won’t leave you when things get tough
I softly call your name in the middle of the storm
Cry out to me and I will keep you safe and warm.
When you wonder when you doubt
That there is any way out
Cling to me and you will see
The sun slowly begin to appear
You will know and you will grow
There is nothing you need to fear
Be content with me my child
Let me be enough for you

You take me as I am: broken and weak
You bless me and I am made strong and whole
You find me as I am: blindingly I seek
You love me and restore my heart and soul
There is nothing I can give you Lord of everything
No words to speak nor song to sing
You want my life, you want my love
You want me with you high above
You break me and bless me Oh Lord you multiply
Without you I will never be enough no matter how hard I try
I lay this offering at your feet
I lift it up and it is complete
Whatever I give, I receive seven-fold
The feeling of joy and wonder never gets old
Sometimes I must break so I can heal properly
Shaped and changed like a piece of pottery
There can be miracles for those who believe
To those who are open, they will receive
I the Lord God, am your portion, provision
Come to me in your every decision
See for yourself I am not lacking in abundance
My love for you is more than just a passing glance
I bless you my Child forever and a day
I want to bless you in every little way

We fall down at your feet Lord
Humbled in your glorious presence
We fall down in awestruck wonder
When you split the sky with lightning and thunder
Before you we lay down all we have and are
And arise with so much more by far
There are walls built up around us
In our hearts and in our lives
Brothers from sisters husbands from wives
Some to keep in, some to keep out
Some because of fear, others in doubt
But these barricades provide little comfort
No way to leave, communicate, relate
And walls close in on us siphoning life
Lord let the walls crumble let them all fall down
Turn our world and our thinking all the way around
Break down these walls find the cracks in our armor
Leave us vulnerable and needy
Let us build from the rubble bridges instead
Let out minds and hearts in harmony be wed
Joshua marched for 9 days around Jericho’s wall
And on the power and mercy of God Joshua would call
Let us march and pray for 9 months and 9 days
And sing songs to our Lord who is worthy of praise
We trust in you Lord, but in all things, your Will be done
And we give glory to the Father, the Spirit and the Son

Holy Mother blessed mother of my savior Jesus Christ
****** Mary walk beside me for today and all my life
Pure and blameless born without the stain of sin
Help me to be like you Mother cleanse me from within
Full of grace and perfect beauty Queen of Heaven above
Wrap us gently in your arms fill us with your tender love
Hear me Mother as I pray
Help me love you more each day
Mary guide me and pray for me your little child
Help me live like you: so strong and meek and mild
Mother Mary here with me from my birth unto my death
Take me home to be with Jesus when I take my final breath

How glorious this creature you have made
Not one more precious or more fair
Made with love her skin her body and her hair
Through sin and in our fall
We have marred the divine scene our hearts are scarred
Now we look at beauty only on the surface
Fail to see what is just inside
Mind and heart within mortal flesh hide
We look now, but Lord we fail to see
The true value of this stunning beauty
There is more to her than meet the eye
A mystery in an enigma in a sigh
Thank you Lord for this special gift
The flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone
Created specially so we would not be alone
Not a thing not an object but a partner companion
To love and to cherish to have and to hold
To talk and to listen and together grow old
In your love Oh Lord grant me your sight
To look upon women in a more holy light

The Holy Spirit comes to bear witness to our Lord
We are called to testify to light and life and truth
Our words are powerful, but it is our actions that often speak
What do they see when they look at me?
Do they see love, understanding, gentleness, patience?
We may suffer for our faith, but will we remain strong and fast?
For the value of a soul is worth more than all the world
It was for this reason that Christ came down as man
To suffer, be crucified and die.
The value of one soul was worth it all.
Our testimony is our witness to our transformation
From who we were, to where we are, and where we hope to be
People may argue our ideas, but they cannot argue our experiences
In all things show love. Testify to love.
Testify to God for He is love; perfect and eternal.
The reason the world does not know God
Is because it does not know love. True love
Because God Is Love.
Be strong, but be gentle.
Be bold, but be humble.
Be authoritative, but be kind.
Speak with wisdom and with understanding.
Speak with honesty and truth.
Speak life and speak light.
Let your life testify to the good God has done
Let your life reflect Christ’s presence for everyone

The angels bow in reverence to the Lamb upon the throne
Through his suffering and death the love of God was shown
We who walk upon this Earth that we call home
Are never very far from Him wherever we roam
There are no words that I can say
No prayers that I dare to pray
That should ever reach your ears
But you reach out and calm my fears
You hear me, you see me, like only you can
I am waiting, contemplating, trying just to understand
Help me Lord to learn to be still and to discern
Transform my heart so my desire is your Holy Will

Lord, into your presence I come
Singing songs of worship and praise
I come to give glory and share in your story
Of sinners and saints throughout the age
Our lives our stories are as sacred hymn
Precious gifts; music unto him
Shine your face upon us rain down your love
Holy Fire of God fall on us from Heaven above
I sing for you as words pour from my tongue
I dance for you as if you are the only one
I live for you every hour every minute
I try to love for you without limit
I lift up my voice and raise my hands to the sky
Offering up all to the one enthroned on high
To what shall we compare you when nothing comes close
When the greatest eloquence is nothing more than verbose
But in your goodness you have blessed us to express
A vivid if fleeting glance of your glory and grace
A moment of heaven revealed in this place
We come with heads bowed on bended knee
That in our humility we may start to see
The gravity of what you did and what it means
This changes everything turning life upside-down
But he is our rock our anchor our solid ground
Hold fast to Him when life is all sound and fury
Cry out to Him and be not afraid you need not worry
I stand here today to speak as one who understands
Both fear and uncertainty, and still the peace from his plans

Go back to baby steps back to one foot at a time
Live in the moment and you are in your prime
Remember that before we walk we have to crawl
And before we can stand, sometimes we fall
It’s not how often you fell it’s how often you got back up
It’s not the mistakes you’ve made it’s the lessons learned
Baby steps start small and uneasy
But they get there just the same
Before we run we have to walk
Before we fly we have to run
It might look bad now, but one day you’ll be lifted up to soar
Free from what binds you, clips your wings
You were born to be free,
to sing and dance and play
With faith in yourself and our faith in you
You’ll be there soon one day
You’ve been shaken and you’re frightened
You feel the scars it left behind
They don’t define you they remind you
Just how far you have come
Find once more that inner light
The fire inside your heart
Let me remind you how it looked to me
I saw the strength, I saw the hope
I saw the courage and the pain
I saw the love I saw the caring
I saw what life had done and what remained
And I loved it. It was beautiful, it was raw
It was real: this I saw.
It is special just like you
a treasure through and through.
What you see before you is not a fixed thing
It may be part of your story so learn and grow
Please remember we are here and you are not alone
We may not be able to carry your burden
But we can carry you
The line between space and too much space
Is often gray and hard to find
We worry because we care, we care because we love
If we can be faulted for anything it’s loving you too much
Although I don’t know that it’s possible
Before we walk, we have to crawl
Before we stand we sometimes fall
Step by step we’ll see it through together
Because we are your friends forever

When life is out of order and things just don't make sense
When I'm left out in the dark and the cold and I'm in suspense
Everywhere I turn I am closed in by walls on every side
There is nowhere I can run and nowhere I can hide
If life was a car, I'd be careening out of control
If life was a gamble, I'd have one foot in the hole
When my life is chaos and disorder
Of sanity and insanity, I'm hanging on the border
I would be lost if I didn't know who was in command
I would be lost if I didn't recognize the good that He had planned
So, Jesus, take the wheel and turn this car around
Take my feet and place them back on solid ground
I know I should trust you: this has happened before
But doubt creeps in and I hold back, afraid once more
I like feeling like I'm in control even though I'm not
It terrifies me that, for certain things, I have blind spots
I want to channel this love inside, but I go about it all wrong
It leaves me feeling emptier, it never satisfies for long
I won't find the answer where I've been looking until now
I'll only find the answer when I finally allow
You to take control over me entirely
To give you all I am and have and ask you to take over
To fill me with the joy, the passion, the pleasure
Help me live a life in purity and truth
Until the day you say here is the one I made for you
Jesus, command my thoughts, conform my will
Satisfy me daily so I can have my fill
Take me past my blindness so I can more clearly see
How perfect your plan and how great your love for me
When I give up my control and truly surrender
I am freed from the grip of that wily pretender
I call upon your grace and strength as I struggle day by day
To walk with you in faithfulness and let you lead the way

In this day and age we seem not to remember
What it means to be humble kind and tender
There are many sleepers lost in their own dreams
And, if I’m honest, some days the world is lost it seems
Ship at sea: battered sails, no anchor, at the mercy of the wind
We are all in the same boat. All have fallen short, all have sinned
With the chaos and the noise it must have slipped our mind
That most things (including people) respond better when we are kind
Society, the media seem to have turned to what sells
Blurring lines between the heavens and hells
We have taken the easy road but it isn’t always best
Sometimes the narrow high climb is better than the rest
We seem to have lost the ability to communicate
We have lost the knowledge of how to debate
We don’t have to agree, but we do have to listen
Can we begin to get back all that we’ve been missing?
But there is hope; it’s not too late to turn around
To steer the ship so it doesn’t run aground
We didn’t get where we are overnight
It’ll be a while before we set things right
But it can start right here and now
With you and me and here is how:
We must listen, not just hear
Have courage, don’t give in to fear
We must see, not just look
Look inside ourselves and the good book
Bring joy and peace to all whom you meet
And, with a smile, those whom you greet
Stand for those who cannot stand, kneel if you must
Cry out for those who have no voice and trust
In the good you are doing.

If you stand, some will mock you and some may join you- stand still
If you believe, some will question and challenge you- believe still
If you pray, you may not get what you were asking for- pray still
If you live, though you may be threatened or killed- live still
If you cry, some may tell you it’s foolish others may admire you- cry still
If you dance, you may look foolish and silly- dance still
If you sing, you may be praised or criticized- sing joyfully still
If you love, you open yourself up and can be hurt- love still
If you give- and you have so little left to give- give still

For, in the end, it matters not what other people think
All that really matters is what’s inside your heart

Rest easy in the loving arms of the Lord
Healing begins: the merciful heart outpoured
Find peace in the Shepherd and Savior
Lamb of the flock and part of the fold
Honesty is the first step on the long road
Forgiveness the second on Life’s Healing Journey
Take comfort for you have the light of Christ
Be still be quiet be calm
Let your life be a Psalm
When I am near you, my soul finds rest
And out of the darkness I see how much I’m blessed
My burden is easy when I lay it at your feet
And when I look at you my joy is complete

Entrust yourself to Mary give your heart to her
Seek refuge in her peaceful presence
Take comfort in tender loving arms
Entrust your life to her as Christ once gave himself
Take her into your home and care for her
Just as she provides for her children
Entrust it all to Mary give her everything
Totus Tuus- Totally Yours
Trust that she will light the way, she won’t lead you wrong
Trust that in all things she is walking with you
Mother full of grace and love and faith
“Listen to Him and do whatever He tells you”
Open us to hear and listen to what he tells us
Grant us the courage and grace to respond
Guide and strengthen us as we strive to follow
His Will and the road that leads to Heaven
Entrust yourself to her as she leads us to our Lord
Surrender your will so the Divine will shine
And in that perfect Divine Will
You may find your peace and purpose
The Holy Longing you’ve been waiting for
Entrust yourself to Mary
Mary, I trust in You!

My faith is in the Lord where my help comes from
When darkness surrounds me and the enemy is closing in
I cry out to the Lord and I know he will answer
He protects me from danger and wraps me in his tender love
Trust in the Lord and his Goodness
Do not tremble do not fear my Soul
For He who brought you here will see you still whole
Your God is the Lion and the Lamb
Prince of peace, He is the great “I Am”
You are my rock, my refuge, my strong tower
Come Oh Lord and show us your mighty power
You make the strong weak and the brave cower
The enemy like lions are hungry and they roar
But you shut the mouths of lions you are the one true Lord
They are made as kittens so gently do they purr
The change from one so wild and fierce a miracle to be sure
You Oh Lord have delivered me to safety from the Lion’s Den
Praise and Glory and Honor to you until the world’s end

Wake up in the morning get ready for school
Excited because learning is really cool
We have music and reading and arts and crafts
Painting and science are such a blast
Writing our own story is hard but fun
Feel a sense of accomplishment when we are done
We talk about history and current events
We work with money and it makes cents (sense) haha
We get our nails done and makeup and hair
We help each other out and show we care
We play games like cards and bingo
And before we know it, it’s time to go
But don’t be sad, we’ll see you real soon
Tomorrow we’ll hum another happy tune

There is power in the prayer laid before the king
From my joys, fears, hopes, dreams and every little thing
Although I don't feel an answer or hear a word or see a sign
I get a sense that still he hears me and things will work out in time
There is power when we get specific about our needs
There is power when we humble ourselves on our knees
There is power in the stillness and the calm
There is power in the praying of the psalm
There is power in the silence in between moments
There is power that can be found in seeking atonement
Prayer doesn't change God's heart
It changes ours to see his art
Prayers have been answered in more ways than one
And I get the feeling God is far from being done
It's up to me: do I believe and trust his plan and will
Do I become anxious when he seems to stand still
Or do I trust him enough to let it go and he will see it through
Sometimes he may be testing us wanting to see if we'll be true
Is my heart open enough for him to work and move
Once again it is an opportunity for me to prove
My love, and hope and strength are found
In Christ whom mercy and grace abound
Here I struggle to stay awake and keep watch for an hour
There is power in the prayer as I pray for strength and power
We should never have to go through things alone
With prayer and good companions we are never far from home
A place of peace, refreshment and rest
And I have to smile when I remember that God knows what's best
I need to lean on God and ask him in my weakness
For peace and healing that I can't do and so I will seek his
The power in the prayer is simple yet strong
And gets better the longer we walk along
The picture isn't always clear sometimes shrouded in mystery
But every time I pray I get a little more of his-story

The songs we sing and the words we write
Are like a family we hold so tight
History reminds us
Our past does not define us
Not after God has found us
We come to share our stories we come to break bread
We share a meal and a tale or two
A gift for me and a gift for you
Every story is specially unique
Each one touches people for different reasons
They are not bound by race or religion or language or place
Stories help us remember as well
The people and times in our lives
Even after death stories still survive
We pour out our heart we bare our soul
All we have and all we are blessed and broken
Given for all: love freely spoken
The words we write not only for our benefit
The stories told so we might not forget
Your story is dynamic growing and changing

Breathe, just breathe
Rest easy, and drift softly asleep
Heaviness and warmth surround
And I know this is where peace is found
Fill your lungs with the presence
Of the giver of all good things
Once weak and weary slowly dying
Now filled with the spirit of life
Release the tension, the impatience, irritation
Take in the calm, the quiet, the peace
Breathe in the sweet perfumed air
Of a space saturated with prayer
Breathe in and let the healing waters flow
Let the sunlight follow wherever you go
Let your breath chase away the clouds
Of despair and sorrow
And may the sun shine even more brilliantly tomorrow
Breathe in the love that casts out fear
And remember you are welcome here
Let go of the weights that bring you down
Until you fly with your feet on the ground
Breathe in the freedom and laugh with all your heart
For the joy of being truly alive is where it starts
Breathe in, breath in deeply
Begin to refocus and re-center
Begin to let peace re-enter
It hovers close though, at times, unseen
If you pay close attention you might see what I mean
So when things are stressful and getting out of hand
Breathe, just breath and remember who is in command

Grace flows through you Oh Mary our Mother
You are the living channel through which God came to save the world
Take us all into your arms and bathe us in the living water of Christ
Make us a channel of His love and peace
Through which the world comes to know Him
Bless us Mary for we are your children
Watch over us, protect us, pray for us and bless us
Help us not forget to honor you with the respect and care you deserve
Oh Mother of the world and Queen of Heaven
Come to our aid, we implore you
In our prosperity we have forgotten your son
And we are paying the price today
Have mercy on us and intercede on our behalf
In the Eucharist, we are channels of God’s presence
In a physical and spiritual way
Our hearts are a dwelling place for the Most High
We become as Christ-bearers
You bore Christ within yourself for 9 long months
When you were chosen and filled with the Holy Spirit
You said let it be done unto me according to Your will
Help us to say yes to God and his Will and trust that he will see us through
Lend us your grace and strength Holy Mother Of God
That we may reflect and imitate your virtues
Lead us ever into an ever deeper and more intimate relationship
With your son our Lord Jesus Christ
And by your grace obtain the fruits of the promises
Especially in the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary
We ask this and all things through Jesus’ name and through your intercession Mary.
Amen.

Reform me from a life of sin and shame
Conform me until only you remain
Refine me so I more closely reflect you
Redefine me with purity and truth

Oh you are changing yes rearranging
The pieces of my heart
And you are taking and even making
A priceless work of art
But it’s confusing what you are choosing
And I don’t understand
Come and find me and remind me
That it’s all part of your plan
I am waiting still hesitating
The path seems all unclear
The way to go I think I know
I’m having trouble leaving here
Is it fear that grabs my heart
Is it doubt that stills my feet
Is it sin that ties me up
Uncertainty that clouds my eyes
But perfect love drives out fear
And I trust that you are near
In your mercy you gave your life for me
I once was lost in darkness but I finally see
Your love is my life it’s where I can be found
And one day I know, I’ll know joy and peace profound

Your beauty is more than a rainbow
Shines brighter than the stars in the sky
It surrounds you with a tangible glow
More powerful than to see an eagle fly
All the treasure in the world could never match
A brilliance that the sun can’t even catch
All you do and all you are
Is made with love crafted with care
We have our scars and our pain
Broken and ugly still you remain
We are beautiful in your loving eyes
Once we finally see and realize
Everything changes. A new way to see
To know, through it all, I’m still beautifully me

I may be imperfect and I fall into sin
But I learn, get up again, and it’s a win
The outside matters less that what is deep inside
He loves my heart and looks at me with pride
Here is my child my beautiful work of art
Crafted carefully by hand every single part
No being can fathom no mind comprehend
The beauty in creation causing the soul to ascend

This man he is writing, writing in the sand
But the what and the why, I cannot understand
They condemn me and he bends down in the dirt,
Does he even care that I'm going to be hurt?
"Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone"
I look around and not one rock has been thrown
Once more he gets down and starts to write
I can't explain it, but somehow I feel like I'll be alright
One by one they start to leave, their stones left untouched
Stopped by a man whose only response was writing in the dust.
The elders leave first, and slowly, each go home
Until it is He and I standing there all alone.
What could he write that caused them to leave?
Here was a story none could explain and few could believe
He rose, turned to me, and said:
"Where are they who would have you dead?"
"They are left. They are no longer here"
The wind came and whatever he wrote had disappeared
"They do not condemn you. Neither, my child, do I.
Go now and sin no more in the grace of the Most High"
This man has given me a new life, a second chance
The man who looks at me with such a loving glance
I know not what he wrote or why he even cared
But from a stranger's kindness, my life was spared
So here I stand this day, this very moment
To witness to the power of atonement
So let me live as his word commands
And pay the price that true love demands
The wisdom of a stranger's writings in the sand

Lord, first we thank you for the blessings you have showered upon your bride, the church and we ask that you continue to bless, guide, and govern her with love, in love, and through love now and forever. The church is not a building, but a people gathered together as one in your name. We are human, and in our humanity, we have sinned and caused great pain and suffering. We are wounded and scarred and some leave because of the pain it leaves behind. I pray that in the midst of these trials and sufferings that you would give us clean hearts and repentant spirits to do what is right and be honest. Lord it is often difficult to forgive, at least forgive truly. When we find it hard to forgive others, remind us gently that you first forgave us and you did not condemn, but loved. We don’t have to trust them, but we ought to forgive them. I ask for you wisdom and courage for those in authority, our priests and shepherds to be able to speak and act in an open and honest manner as they continue to minister to your church. Help us to love one another and you in a way that more closely resembles love as it was made to be. May we, together as one body begin to move forward and take the first step on Life’s Healing Journey. Amen

Many are the trials that will come to pass
Many are the hearts that are made of glass
The faithful will be tested, shaken to the core
In the coming in the presence of the Lord
Many are the sorrows and challenges ahead
Many will despair, I cling to hope instead
The days are coming when the world will be dark
And in the light of Christ the contrast is so stark
Many are the sufferings we will undergo
We have a chance for our faith and love to show
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
He will come in glory, justice and peace shall ring
Hold fast to your anchor as the storm rages
Soon is the coming of a new golden age
When all will be made new and mysteries revealed
No sickness death or hunger and hearts will be healed
We will see his love perfected in the Holy Trinity
To see this Circle of Life it is as divine poetry
But until that day comes when we finally meet the Son
We must do our best and pray that His will be done
There will be trials but together we will overcome

Empty and open
Beautifully broken
Sweetest surrender
Holy Spirit sender
Lost are found
Last are crowned
Heavenly Bread
Keep us fed
Forever in our heart
There from the start
Aways on our mind
Hand of the divine
Sit in sacred silence
God's holy presence
In humble adoration
From this lowly station
Sing a hymn to him alone
Be blessed and find shalom
Holy Mary mother dear
To our prayer incline your ear
Hold us closely to your chest
In your arms we will find rest
Holy Queen be ever true
As we place our trust in you
To intercede on our behalf
And bring us home to Christ at last
In love and Christian charity
And full of ardent sincerity
Loving God and our neighbor
We seek the face of the creator
Hidden, yet revealed in glory
Called to be part of the story
We come empty and broken
But we leave with love beautifully spoken

Overwhelmed by your beauty
The beauty of the sacrifice
The majesty of love
The mystery of life
I sit here in your presence
I lie here at your feet
Not fear not cold can touch me
I take in the light and heat
Here I am alone with you
Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses
You call me and I respond: Here I am Lord! Speak, your servant is listening
I will go where you send me
I will love how you loved me
I will follow where you lead me
I will see what you show me
While I know that I am yours Lord
I can see how blessed I am
I haven’t always given you the same
And spending more time with you I can afford
I am yours: totally, completely
I want you to be mine: totally, completely
You had something special in mind today
Something to see, something I heard you say
To live with integrity, honesty and truth
To be united in body and soul
In communion with Christ and his body
Moving with one heart and mind
Bring the children, let the children come to me
They are our hope, our future, our legacy
Care for the poor, the sick, the prisoner
For we were all poor, sick, and slaves
To this world and it’s tempting ways
‘Twas by the amazing grace and now in faith
We are rich in His love, healed, and set free
We forget from where we came
Often fail to see how much farther still
Do not be discouraged, rather, take heart
To see the progress you have made
Life has led me here to this day and to this hour
When I give myself totally, completely I will flower

I hold you in my arms and close to my chest
Trust in me that Daddy knows what’s best
When the world is dark and closing in fast
Look to me and see that this darkness will not last
I love you my child more than you can conceive
Miracles will happen if you just believe
I hold you always I am always at you side
I stretched my arms to take you in the day that I died
No matter where you go or what you do
I am here and I will never leave you
I dance with you for joy when life is sun and flowers
I will be your shelter in the pouring rain showers
I take you by the hand and lead you to peace and joy
My love for you, nothing could destroy
In the moments of despair when hope is frail
Cling to me and you shall prevail
It will make sense these trials that you suffer
There is a purpose beyond making you tougher
I am here as you walk the road of life
Here in the joy and wonder as well as the strife
I wish you could know how much I care
How I wish you could be more aware
I want to be your safe haven; shelter in the storm
In the deepest cold come to me and I will keep you warm
I hold you in my hand and I work for your good
But I won’t always take bad away even if I could
If I lead you to it, I will get you through it
Eventually you see how the pieces fit
I cradle you in arms so strong and soft
Love takes flight and hope stays aloft
When the burden you carry is too much to bear
Just turn and see that I am right there
I will send you people who will carry you and give you a lift
To have such true friends is a rare and precious gift
Those who love and cherish you like a treasure
Their worth is a thing that knows no measure
They hold you and comfort encourage and bless
In in your discomfort they too feel distress
Be strong and be bold for in my hands I hold
A precious child so meek and mild
You will never walk alone for wherever you are
I am yours, I love you, and you are my own

It is in dying that we come to life
It is in giving that we receive
It is in surrendering that we are freed
It is in losing ourselves that we are found
It is in silence that we hear
It is in consuming that we are consumed
It is in failing that we succeed
It is in stillness that there is movement
It is in sorrow that we find solace

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

Out on the shores by Galilee
I call you. Come, follow me!
Leave your nets and cast out in the deep
The harvest is ready its time to reap
Fishers of men you shall now be
I call you. Come, follow me!
Living a life of love and service of man
It won’t be easy, but I know you can
There will be sorrow, loss and pain
Days when there is no gain
Do you trust and have faith even when you can’t see?
I call you: come, follow me!
I came to call sinners to find the lost
I came to pay the un-payable cost
I came to heal the sick and set the prisoner free
I call you: come, follow me!
Take up your cross and walk the long dusty road
Come to me: easy is my burden light is the load
I have come to die so the world may live
My very life is the greatest gift I can give
Will you follow even to my death on a tree?
I call you: come, follow me!

The gifts we bring an offering
To place upon the table
You gave us these treasures
See what we have done
Take Lord and Receive
The work of our hands
The fruit of the lands
Break them bless them and multiply
Let all we do Lord glorify
We are your people called by your name
You showed us love and call us to do the same
We come together to pray and to dine
A place for all people to come and recline
Jesus gave thanks broke the bread
Then he blessed it and said:
This is my body the bread that sustains
Then with the wine a similar refrain
This is my blood I pour out my heart
The depth of my love from the very start
I find myself so amazed
How inadequate is all praise
When I catch but a glimpse of your face
I am drowned in a sea of amazing grace
How it is that you would choose someone like me
Like Peter I can only wonder what it is you see
But you are purposeful and though I may not see the end
I will trust and follow where you lead I will go where you send
You are the way you are the life you are the truth
I have seen the light of youth help me lead them home to you

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I want to fall in love with you and then
Fall in love with you all over again
Rewind time to go back and relive
There is nothing that I wouldn’t give
To have the moment we first met
It’s a feeling I’ll never forget
You looked at me and saw right through
All my walls, disguises and masks
The smallest flaw in my suit of armor
Was more than big enough for you
You came and flooded and swept me off my feet
You settled in, put down roots,
My demise was now complete.
Now here I am and still you stay
You are there when I wake up each day
You stole my heart and gave me your own
So never again will I be all alone
Something you say or do and I’m falling in love
Everyday I raise my eyes to Heaven above
And I think: I want to fall in love with you and then
I want to fall in love with you all over again

It's okay, you don't have to pay. It's covered
By (assurance) of Grace

On Judgement of Value

Food for the world on a gold plate
Something so small has so much weight
For who can weigh eternal life
And who can say that life has a price
This world will rate and measure
Criticize and place you at its leisure
But the Lord uses a different system
Jesus took our place as spotless victim
He looks into the heart of hearts
Where the human soul resides
He moves past even the locked parts
To find where the treasure lies
He sees beneath the surface. Hidden,
Lies untapped potential; something more
And from the depths it has risen
Like waves to crash upon the shore
Who can know the mind of God
Or understand God's actions?
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder
How beautiful we must truly be
For God made us in His image
And so dearly loves you and me

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

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

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

How precious are the little feet
That follow in his footsteps
How precious are the tiny hands
That are placed within his own
How precious the shining eyes
That watch with awe and wonder
The mouth that smiles bright
And ears that hear silent thunder
How precious and how lovely
Is the heart of a little child
It is so full of truth and light
A love that is so free and wild
The eyes that pierce the veil of night
How rich and how blessed
Are those children of the King
How pure the voice and spirit sing
How precious are the young
And those that are young at heart
How lucky they are from the start
How great the soul to see his face
How fortunate to see him in every place
How precious and holy and pure
It is to be loved and feel so secure
Let the children come to me
How blessed the life of simplicity

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

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