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298 · Feb 2018
Birds
showyoulove Feb 2018
The bird takes flight on the wings of the morn
Uplifted; into the sky they are borne
The air is filled by their joyous song
And the earth stirs to sing along
There is nothing so great as a bird in flight
The spirit soars as hope alights
Flying free upon the vast sea of blue
To feel the wind flow past, to be renewed
I am one with the sun, the sky and breeze
Moving effortlessly through the trees
There is a kind of lightness in the soul
In these times, I am made whole
Written by: Dallas and A.B.
298 · Dec 2024
Golden Chain Of Love
showyoulove Dec 2024
There is a golden chain of love
That ties us all together
It unites us in one spirit and heart
Joined as sister and brother
Across the land, the sky, and sea
There is a chain by which we're bound
The world's most wondrous mystery
Is this love so deep and so frofound
Do to others what you would
Want to have done to you
This was the old law and fair
Now we take this command to new heights
When we love one another
As we have first been loved:
With a total, radical, sacrificial
Eternal, unconditional, unwavering
LOVE
Make peace, not war. Make love, not hate.
Be kind, not callus. Be genuine, not fake.
This love that binds us breaks the chains
We wrap ourselves in of sin and shame
Though our differences seem great
They really become quite small
When we stop and think and wonder
At the love God has for us all
So, live your lives in this tapestry of gold
And reject not a proffered hand to hold
For we are all a link in this great chain of love
Connected to each other and God up above
295 · Feb 7
Giving Thanks
showyoulove Feb 7
We remember those around us
That make us feel special and loved
We celebrate the many blessings
Showered on us from up above
We give thanks for the food we share
We gather together 'round the table
With laughter and hugs we show we care
And pray for those who are not able
294 · Nov 2024
Proper Distance
showyoulove Nov 2024
Sometimes I wanna be so close
That I could reach out and touch you
Sometimes I feel so certain
That I really haven't got a clue
I get so close that the image is distorted
I forget to see you in the light of Glory
I need to practice proper distance
Remembering that who you are
Is what makes me what I am
You are my brother, you are my best friend
Beloved and cherished 'till the very end
But you are Prince of Peace, King of Kings
The Son of Man, Great I AM, you are God
Sometimes I feel so very far away
This distance feels too great
You have bridged the gap to bring me back
Back in your arms and close to your heart
And I am near to you once again
In the silence of my soul, you call me
Open my ears Lord, that I might hear
And with the eyes of faith, I can see
That I can obey without great fear
You gave me your heart now here is my soul
Though storms may come I will not be shaken
For the Lord My God is my firm foundation

May I never be so familiar as to forget where you stand and before whom I sit. May I never be so comfortable as to forget to give you the respect and reverence you so rightly deserve. May I never be so foolish as to think I truly know you, for who can truly comprehend the mind of God? My Lord and My God have mercy on me and forever bless my soul! Amen
294 · Nov 2024
God Hugs
showyoulove Nov 2024
God right now I could use a hug
And a fresh hot cup of coffee in a mug
Won't you wrap me snugly in your wings
And call to mind such heavenly things
The road is hard the road is tough
I'm losing my mind, my patience and other stuff
Lord, hold me close to your chest
And there, let me stay and rest
A God hug is just what I need
Though it is with reluctance I concede
Sometimes, I'm not as strong as I think
And I need your love to pull me back from the brink
Sometimes a God hug is all it takes
And Lord what a difference it makes!
Let me be with you in silence and peace
That as I decrease you might increase
Let me learn from you and lean on you
Where I can find a love so pure and true
And when I struggle to bear my cross
Remind me that not everything is loss
By your gifts, you strengthen me
To become who I was made to be
When I lift others up, you lift me up as well
And my burden is easier, I can tell
So, help me serve and do your will
To sow the seeds of faith and so instill
A firm foundation of faith to follow
But with love, so my words are not hollow
And so, once more, with a kiss and embrace
I am comforted and strengthened by His grace

God, some days I could really use a hug from you. Maybe today is one of those days. I run into your waiting loving arms ad there I rest, I cry, I need someone to listen or tell me it's going to be okay. Help me take a few moments out of my crazy day to get a hug from you and continue moving forward. By your Holy Spirit, reveal to me something that I could do to be a God hug for someone else. Help me count my blessings and use the charisms (gifts) you gave me to do your will for others as we, in turn, find ours lifted as well. Amen
294 · Jun 2015
Jesus You Came
showyoulove Jun 2015
Jesus you came to set the captives free
To do that you were hung from a tree
Laid to rest you’d be back in three
All the earth, all of life sings joyfully
Their hearts all filled with glee
And humbly we bow down before thee
Your words written for man to read
So we might know and follow your lead
293 · Dec 2024
Maybe
showyoulove Dec 2024
Maybe it's the sun, but maybe you're the one of whom I'm dreaming
Maybe it's not real, but this is how I feel: my soul you're redeeming
Maybe it's just sound, but maybe I have found a love that's unending
Maybe it's the air, but maybe you are there I'm constantly depending
Maybe it's war, but maybe it's worth living for
It's time to take a stand
Maybe I'm kneeling, and maybe you're healing
With a touch of your hand
I come bowed and broken, hearing words so softly spoken
Teach my heart and heal my soul
For sin exacts a heavy toll
But a deal was made, the debt was paid
As water and blood flowed free
Now at long last, no longer slave to my past
What do you see in me?
Given a second chance, at Blessed romance
I know not why or how
But maybe it's enough just to live in your love
For it's all that I have now
293 · Oct 2017
Divine Peace (Silence)
showyoulove Oct 2017
Peace be in your life peace be in your soul
Peace when God is making diamonds out of coal
Peace be in your heart and peace be in your mind
To stop and take stock then peace is what I find

Be content with what I have and who I am
Be content to need The Good Shepherd as a lamb
Be content with God and the good he has in store
Be content with God and want for nothing more

Take heart now for I am here even in the darkest day
Take heart now for I am a single breath away
Take heart now for I conquered death and came to save
Take heart now for it was you that my life I gave

Have faith: trust beyond your sight and believe
Have faith: that in the Eucharist you more fully receive
Have faith: and lean on me when you're not strong
Have faith: and lift your voice to join in the song

Be still and know that I am God: one who cares
Be still and know that I listen and answer prayers
Be still and know that loving you gives me such delight
Be still and know that, in the end, it will be alright
292 · Dec 2024
One
showyoulove Dec 2024
One
We are one heart, one body, one mind, one soul
Your goodness and mercy, as one, we extol
You are found in me as I am found in You
And all my dreams are becoming true
My flaws are perfected in your divinity
Truest expression of love Oh Blessed Trinity
Let your will and mine be of one accord
That I would live in harmony, not discord
Help us be as one. One faith community
And, in all things, help us sow peace and unity
We are one body in Christ, and we do not stand alone
For His love is made manifest, His Life is made known
292 · Feb 2019
The Power of A Moment
showyoulove Feb 2019
There is power in a moment. A moment of weakness a moment on your knees. A moment of silence a moment of ease. A moment can feel so long and pass by in the blink of an eye. Between life and death there is but a moment. How did I use the moments I was given? So much can be said, conveyed, felt in a moment of silence between friends and so often we want to fill these moments with noise because the silence is deafening. There are defining moments and moments that take our breath away. All these moments and many others make up our lives. Just sit still and be quiet for a moment and you begin to realize everything you’ve been missing. We are so distracted and we distract ourselves so we don’t have to listen to the uncomfortable truth and the tough love. We become oblivious to what is in front of our eyes. And what is in front of our eyes right now is Jesus. He leads us so he should always be in front of our eyes. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us while we were unworthy to free us and be with us one day. It was over in a moment. Let us take a moment now to stop and listen and feel the power of that moment. The moment that God said “I Love You. See how much I love you!”.
292 · Nov 2017
War for the Heart
showyoulove Nov 2017
There is a battle raging as we sit right now
An interior war with forces unseen
Heaven and Hell fight for control somehow
And by the blood of the Lamb I am redeemed
In this war for the heart of man
I am to fight, but I grow weary and I don’t think I can
But my commander believes and he gives me his strength
To press on and move forward to great lengths
He loves me and he has a plan a vision that I don’t see
That the war will be won and I will be free
In the war for the heart there is no greater goal
Than the very direction and life of my soul
The battlefield is everywhere and bodies lie all around
There is crying and mourning but it is without sound
I look out and see all the damage it has done
And on a fateful Friday the commander sent his only son
To turn the tide of this Holy war
A sacrifice so overwhelming it could not be ignored
When darkness seems so close
And I’m so heavy I cannot stand
A ray of light comes shining through
And he reaches out to take my hand
He bids me to get up and rise once more
I am given peace and rest and life is restored
I am not alone in this battle but surrounded by
A host of saints and angels and comrades sound the battle cry
I do not fight this war alone
But with strength beyond mere flesh and bone
Arm myself with the truth of Christ the rosary a shield
Wrapped in love and holy prayer I march onto the field
My mother watches over me leading me home
I cling to her for help I can’t do it on my own
Michael and the angels lead the charge and fight with holy fire
Endlessly they fight every day and through each night
And still by the commander’s hand they they never tire
In the battle for the heart we all must do our part
To live a life of purity and grace
And one day enter in to a perfect peaceful place
Still every morning the battle begins anew
In the war for the heart my hope and trust is in You
Written during Adoration at the Great Lakes Catholic Men’s Conference at NIU last Saturday
291 · Dec 2024
Life, Light, Love
showyoulove Dec 2024
Lord, help me to be silent
So that I can hear the music of life
Lord, open the eyes of my heart
So that I can see the beauty of your light
Lord, help me to order all of my days
To live with, in, and for a more perfect love

Amen

Help me this moment Lord to just BE
Present to You and help me RECEIVE

"Eye See You", says the Lord
When I look at Him
291 · Feb 9
The Angels Sing Glory
showyoulove Feb 9
Glory to God in the Highest
Glory to Him the Angels sing
Glory to God in the Highest
Glory to the newborn King

Let Heaven and Earth adore
Let every tongue confess
The moment you've waited for:
The Prince of Peace at rest

Open your home, open your heart
Come find Him where He lay
In the place where it all starts
Rejoice! Salvation has come today

The day of the Lord is upon us
The moment has drawn nigh
See how much He loves on us
Sing Glory to our God most high

Glory to God in the Highest
Glory to Him the Angels sing
Glory to God in the Highest
Glory to the newborn King
288 · Sep 2018
Guardians
showyoulove Sep 2018
Wrapped in a cloud of light and love
Surrounded in strength both soft and strong
The quiet whispers of peace be with you
Take heart and be not afraid, I am with you
Your Guardian Angel to care and protect
Calming your fears and drying your eyes
Waking you early to watch the sunrise
Beside you always and never out of reach
Sometimes they shield and other times teach
Your Guardian Angel specially hand select
Your shelter in the storm a blanket soft and warm
Your strength to carry on when hope seems gone
Your refuge and strong tower, help in darkest hour
The hug that says it all when words cannot suffice
The sheer joy that suffuses you when the day is so nice
More than simply angels are the many in our lives
Who are guardians that we don’t always realize
Some for a moment and some who may stay
Those who may watch, and love, and pray
Sometimes in the background, behind the scenes
Working for your good even though unseen
For our Guardians up in heaven and those we meet on Earth
Nothing comes close to how much they are worth
So we recognize our Guardians and say a special prayer
That they be blessed and lifted up in the Father’s loving care
We may be a Guardian for someone else in need
And with faith and grace, we too, can plant a seed
288 · Dec 2018
Be The One
showyoulove Dec 2018
I am tired Lord and my thoughts drift
Incomplete and jumping one to another
I am safe and warm in your presence here
I feel my body relaxed and drifting to sleep
I will sit with eyes closed and breath deep
And pray that you would help still my mind
My heart my mind my soul find their rest
And in your abundant love I am so blessed
Let me be the one to quench your thirst
For love and souls until you burst
Let me be the one to care for you and dry your tears
Let me be your hands and feet, eyes and ears
Let me rejoice in my weakness and glory in my suffering
That I would lean on you for every single thing
Unite my heart to yours and bring me deeper still
I pour out myself so that you can enter in and fill
The missing piece the hurt deep inside
With love so deep and arms so wide
If it is your will then by your grace allow me to lead
Your children your sheep your people in need
To bring you the love and souls you so desire
With the help of the Holy Spirit to truly inspire
In Mary’s hand I place my own
To walk with her; faith is grown
The quickest way to the heart of the Son
Is through the heart of his mother
Their hearts are connected in more ways than one
The bond they share is like no other
Let me be the one for Jesus with you
And serve Him who is holy and true
288 · Dec 2024
Coming Home
showyoulove Dec 2024
I'm coming home to a place that I once knew
I'm coming back to something that was true
I stopped running away when I got so tired
I turned around: it was all that love required
You were waiting for me with arms wide open
You paid it no heed how I had been broken
I never knew you could love me just as I am
I never realized how much I was like a lamb
I never thought you ever really cared
I never felt you near when I was scared
I ran away and slammed the door
I shut you out and wanted nothing more
I felt abandoned, betrayed, cold and alone
But the last thing I wanted was to come back home
You still want me: the world's biggest fool
You picked me, a tiny fish in a great big pool
You chose me from the very beginning
You look at me and can't stop grinning
I find myself standing at a crossroads
Left or right follow where the wind blows
Looking down dusty road and faded track
One step, two step: I'm on my way back
I'm headed back home again this day
How will it be and what will the people say
Lord, what I need is a brand-new start
For family is home and home is in the heart
287 · Feb 2019
Open Hearts and Open Hands
showyoulove Feb 2019
Open hearts and open hands
Help us do what love demands
To give of self to serve and uplift
True love is the most precious gift
To lay down one’s very life
To make the ultimate sacrifice
We must have open hearts and open hands
There is peace and comfort where love reclines
And it lives in a house big enough for all mankind
With open hands we both give and receive
And together marvelous things they can achieve
From Jesus side both blood and water flow
To unite once more heaven above and earth below
The nails that pierced his hands and feet
Now the act of love was complete
We pray Lord Jesus let our hearts be open wide
That upon your grace and strength we always rely
Let our hands be opened not closed in anger
And in the storms of life your love is our anchor
When we live with open hearts and open hands
We will not seek first to judge, but to understand
Though, at times, we may wander and go astray
We are never too lost to be found if we pray
Open us Lord to see in others what you see in me
With open hearts and open hands we are setting prisoners free
Giving food to the hungry money to the poor
Never turning someone away from the door
Clothing the naked and visiting the ill
We pray most of all Lord, help us do your will
These are all important but help us not forget
What matters first and matters most I bet
In all we do to pray and act with open hearts and open hands
285 · Dec 2018
Consecration and Knighthood
showyoulove Dec 2018
Our Marian Consecration today intimately parallels the actions of Knights before their queen in years past. Knights would come before their queen, kneel, swear their fealty, and solemnly dedicate themselves to be in the queen’s service and do her will. In our consecration today we are essentially doing the exact same thing. Our Queen is Mary, we pledge our loyalty to her and her cause (which is her Son’s Will, for love and for souls), and solemnly dedicate ourselves to her service and being obedient to what she tells us.

Knights were often called to go and fight for queen and country. We are also called to stand and fight for there is a war that rages a great spiritual battle. We fight not with hatred and anger and bitterness and intolerance, but with love, truth, peace, hope, and joy. We do not fight to steal, **** and destroy, we fight to give, to save, and to defend.

When we bend our knees, we humble ourselves. It is an action that leaves us vulnerable and open. It opens doors, opportunities and a whole world of experiences beyond our wildest dreams.

St. Maximillian Kolbe was right in creating the Militia Immaculata. The order of the Knights of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are like the knights of the past. It is also interesting to note that they specifically consecrated themselves before the Queen and that through the Queen they gave themselves in service to the King.

As Knights we are also called to be courageous and chivalrous. To be kind, gentle, and to honor and respect all especially the women, the children, and those in need. To be a knight was to live a life of service, charity, obedience imitating the life of Christ and his values and teachings. We are knights: go forth now under the Queen’s blessing and favor.
showyoulove Nov 2024
Why must they take my Lord from me?
Why, oh why, can they not see
What it is they have really done?
They have killed God's only son.
I know he came to suffer and die
But I hold him in my arms, and I cry:
"Abba, my father, why must this be true
For Jesus, he was my son too.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Father, my father, if only they knew"
Let these tears that fall be as sweet perfume
As I lay our son in a borrowed tomb
Father, my father, cleanse them from their sin
Father, I beg you, don't let Satan win.
In my heart I knew this day would come,
But part of me, to this fact, was numb.
I am pierced by sorrow so deep and wide
Your cousin and I alone stand at your side.
My heart is broken on the altar of love
As my tears mix with the rain from above.
In an instant, I would trade my life for his.
I would die so that he might live.
But may it be done according to Your Will
You were my God, and you are still
My faith remains steadfast even in this darkest night
I believe that we will once again see your Holy Light

Amen
283 · Nov 2024
Balancing Act
showyoulove Nov 2024
Life is like a great big balancing act
When we can't find our center, things are out of whack
Too many irons in the fire and too much on our plate
Its chaos truly, but if anyone asks, things are great!
Life is playing a tug-of-war, and I seem to be the rope
To finally step off this wild ride there seems but little hope
My priorities are a mess, and my life is out of order
And I can't call for help, 'cause I just put in my last quarter
The world is spinning sideways, my life is upside down
I don't know which way is up; my head keeps spinning round
I know I've lost the rhythm, help me find the perfect beat
And when I find that groove again, I'll put it on repeat
If I looked the world over there is one thing I would miss
That would put color in a life that is currently so colorless
Something not of this world; some celestial force
To some, it is quite alien, but it's Jesus Christ of course!
With Jesus at my center I feel, at last, made whole
And now I can truly say that this is the story of a soul
That once was lost and in chains
But has been found and set free
Through the suffering and the pains
My Lord and Savior died for me
As all things come from Him, He is the center of all things
And so, from Him, to all my life, joy and peace He brings
He is there when life's demands I'm juggling
He is there when it's clear I'm struggling
But when I focus and don't look to do too much
Then, I find sometimes I can have the perfect touch
So, Jesus be my center; my rock, my cornerstone
You are the best balancing beam I have ever known!
282 · Jan 2019
Who Is My Star?
showyoulove Jan 2019
Thank you for the epiphany Lord for the three wisemen who were seeking the truth followed the star that led them to your truth and changed their lives to listen to the truth. Who is my star? Who or what is the light that I follow that leads me to you Lord? Adoration can be a sort of epiphany a revealing of you as God and we can find insight and revelations through prayer and experience. Sometimes Lord I am the wisemen seeking the truth searching for you and other times I am the scribes and Pharisees who are comfortable and seek to destroy or stop the truth because it threatens the way of life I am accustomed to. Sometimes I travel in lands that are green and lush and still other times I am following the star across a barren desert. In these times, my spiritual life is dry and desolate. I am weary and begin to wander. Sometimes I get lost or turned around and need to ask for directions. I take solace in this long hard journey, because I believe that at the end of the journey I will find something so incredible and joyful and full of life. I will find you.
278 · Dec 2024
Drawn
showyoulove Dec 2024
Drawn to the ocean drawn to the sea
Your love is a river that is flowing free
From the well of love you draw living water
In partaking, we become sons and daughters
You have drawn me from the depths of earth
Holding me in your hands from before birth
You opened your merciful loving heart
Broke me open so healing could start
Arms spread wide on that cross, on that hill
Show me you loved me, and you always will
Draw me closer than I've ever been before
Draw me deeper in love each time I adore
Draw me nearer to you every minute, every day
Your hand upon my shoulder whenever I pray
Take me beyond what I have ever done
That, in fullness of time, we may live as one
Lord, come to bless, make holy, and sanctify
The gifts and the graces you bestow on I
Help me shine your light to a world in need
Make holy every thought, word, and deed
Draw us together in faith, hope, and love
And join with the angels in Heaven above
To glorify your name in every place and time
Draw me to you that I might be ever thine
277 · Dec 2024
Love Lost...
showyoulove Dec 2024
Lord, I lost my way, and I lost my ground
I lost the innocence I once had found
I lost my faith, and I lost my hope
Losing my grip at the end of this rope
I buried the treasure, I misplaced the map
Broke my compass, and now I'm at a gap
Can't see the sun, the stars have gone dark
Wherever it is I am, I'm way off the mark
So, I fall on my knees and say "God, if you please
If you're there and you care here's a flare
Hear this prayer I shout to the air:
Help!!! I'm so lost and so lost without you
I know that you love me with a love that is so true
You who are shepherd, the lion, the lamb
You who are prince of peace and Great I Am
Please bring me from darkness into the light
To where I can rest safe through the night"
275 · Nov 2018
All Souls
showyoulove Nov 2018
Lord God we pray for all souls on this day, especially those whom we have lost recently. Have mercy on their souls and bring them into the fullness of Your glory to be with You forever in Heaven. We pray for our souls that those lost or in the dark may find their light once more. We are all sinners and have turned away from You and Your love. Have mercy on our souls. For all the unborn for all those who never saw the light of day, take special care of those precious souls in your presence Lord. We pray that, by Your gracious will, we may all be reunited with the ones that have gone before us that one day we may all glorify You in Heaven forever.
showyoulove Nov 2024
There is nothing greater than a mother's love
I'll move mountains, move heaven and earth
To comfort you and lift you up
To be there for you night and day
And if you are lost it will help you find your way
There is nothing fiercer than a mother's love
They'd do anything to keep their little one safe
They dry your tears and calm your fears
They hold you tight and make things alright
They share your joy and suffering
And they softly sing while you sleep
A song of love, asking the angels to watch and keep you safe
Till the light breaks forth in the eastern sky
To bathe the whole world in its soft yellow dye
There is nothing stronger than a mother's love
They are there when you need to sit in silence
Leave the door open and they will be with you
They know just what to say, they know your every need
They nurture and care and raise you up from the smallest seed
Until one day you bloom and grow beautiful strong and tall
You bring joy to their hearts every time you call
They love to listen, they give sage advice
A little of our time is their only price
There is nothing greater than a mother's love
There is nothing sweeter or more fine
There is nothing better than a mother's hug
And, somehow, they seem to have God's direct line
There is nothing greater than a mother's love
And none so great or perfect as our Heavenly Mother
She is the ladder between heaven and earth
For God became man through divine birth
How great was her love for her son
How great is her love for all of us
And nothing is greater that our mother's love

Lord, thank you for mothers. Our earthly mothers and our mother in heaven. They are such a blessing. You knew that as lost children, we would need a mother to care for us, to lead us and teach us. Thank you for our mothers, Lord. Help us to respect, cherish and honor them always and may we be a blessing to our mothers even as they have blessed us. We pray for those who are still with us and those who have gone before us to pray and intercede on our behalf. Mothers have a special place in your heart Oh Lord. Keep us close to yours. Amen
273 · Dec 2024
The Best Defense
showyoulove Dec 2024
Our best defense against the devil and his tricks
Is to quickly procure and utilize a spiritual fix
To don an aura of humility relying on God's grace
And ardent love for Him will put the devil in his place
The war is raging inside our souls
Love and passion stir the coals
We fight against enemies unseen, but quite real
Eternally fighting for another soul to steal
Defend us in our weakness, rid us of all vanity
Lift us up as we struggle in our humanity
The flesh is weak, and the mind may doubt
But the spirit is willing, and the heart is stout
Come to our aid against the sea of foes
And hold us firm while the mighty wind blows
Rely on God and others to find the strength within
To hold fast against temptation and fall not into sin
Sometimes we may falter and sometimes we will fail
But fear not: in the end, Good will always prevail
Sometimes we must fail, and our failings teach
Us to lean on Him and to learn how to reach up
We have been blessed with great love and passion
Help us channel this energy in a healthy fashion
If you feel pinned and you're up against the wall
Just summon up a hearty spiritual battle call
And cry out: "Who can be compared to our God?
For He is my vision to see through the glamour of sin's facade"
272 · Feb 2019
Choices
showyoulove Feb 2019
So many choices, options, decisions
Bombarded barraged created divisions
The possibilities are endless; a veritable buffet
This is the world in which we live today
We choose how we act, how we feel and what we wear
We choose what we say and how much we want to care
God gave us free-will he gave us a choice
He gave us our minds and he gave us a voice
Tricked into the sin of jealousy and pride
Realizing the mistake and trying to hide
Like Lucifer we too fell from Grace
And sin entered in to the whole human race
But God in his mercy would not be outdone
For in the fullness of time he would send his one and only son
To suffer and die and rise from the grave
Not to judge or condemn but that we might be saved
He gave himself freely; his body and blood
The ultimate expression of his divine love
Our hearts are broken and we seek things to fill
But no matter what we try nothing fits the bill
His body as bread he joins his heart to ours
His blood the wine sweeter than flowers
United on a physical and fundamental plane
So intimate and so profound you can never be the same
We have a choice: we can be believe and accept
Or we can deny, and doubt and be circumspect
But we have a choice and it can’t be coerced
What will satisfy this longing this deep thirst
And when all is said and done at the end of the age
It’s your turn in the spotlight it’s your time on the stage
Our choices carry a surprising amount of weight
Did you choose to love, did you forgive instead of hate
Did you follow in His footsteps and help others on the road
Did you ease someone’s burden, help them carry the load
Many times you have to make choices that are hard
None come through not bruised or cut or scarred
Though the way is hard and the journey ever long
We are not alone and together we are made strong
In the world of a million choices there is one that I will make
Find something that will mark me like a stamp or seal
I choose to live a life of love that’s real
and not just some cheap fake
271 · Feb 5
Presentation
showyoulove Feb 5
Today, Catholics celebrate the Presentation of Mary (by her parents to the church). In the days of old, the church was the primary medium of education and, in some cases, parents would dedicate their first born to the church as a sort of tithe giving back to God in gratitude for the first fruits of their blessings.

When we are young our parents took us and presented us to the church, and we are placed in the care of wise men and women to be taught and brought up in the life and the way and the truth. This is in hopes that we would grow in wisdom and age and favor before both God and man. When we are a little older, we can choose to present ourselves before the Lord and confess by our lips and our actions that we believe and serve. We take ownership of our faith. It is not simply our parents' faith anymore.

The presentation is an offering, a sacrifice, a return in gratitude of blessings. Let us, then, come daily before the Lord Our God and present ourselves to Him, to thank Him, to offer Him all our joys and sorrows, blessings, temptations, work and play. Let us begin by presenting Him with our day.

What would happen if WE would rededicate our hearts, our days, and our lives to Christ our Lord? Doing it can't make things any worse than they are by not doing it. So why not give it a shot?
Written November 21, 2019
271 · Feb 2018
Doubt
showyoulove Feb 2018
Everyday I'm told to live in a way that gives you glory
Everyday I'm called to walk and tell the world your story
But I just don't know if i can really do this
So I just won't go, afraid that I'll miss
They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step of faith
It'll take a miracle because the first step is the hardest to take
And I just can't see where it is you're taking me
So I'll stay right here out of comfort and fear
They say you can walk on water if you just believe
Or move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed
But I just don't think I'm strong enough
For the wind is strong and the waves are rough
I try to follow you and walk in your truth and light
Yet I try to avoid doing wrong and strive to do what is right
But I fall so readily and start to sink in shifting sands
So I cry out. Place my feet upon the rock, help me to dry land
269 · Dec 2024
Prayer for God's Will
showyoulove Dec 2024
Lord, help me be open so that I can receive Your Will
Help me be silent so that I can hear Your Will
Grant me courage Lord so that I can do Your Will.
Amen
269 · Oct 2024
Writings in the Sand
showyoulove Oct 2024
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
268 · Aug 2018
Mother Mary
showyoulove Aug 2018
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
268 · Nov 2024
True Conversion
showyoulove Nov 2024
What this world so desperately needs is a true conversion
We need a divine healer and, sometimes, a divine surgeon
Right now, so many believe the world revolves around them
And anyone who argues differently, we quickly condemn
For all who miss the bigger picture, there is only one solution
What we need right now is to renew a Copernican Revolution
The idea that we are not the center of the universe
It must seem so backwards, it must seem so reversed
The earth revolves around the sun
And we revolve around God's only Son
For He is the glue that binds it all together
He is the anchor in stormy weather
What the world needs is a change of heart
But the change in me is where it needs to start
With Jesus at my center, I've got a radioactive core
And then there is the glow which is pretty hard to ignore
But not just once, I need it now and every day
I have this true conversion when I humble myself and pray:
I need your love, I need your mercy and grace
I need your presence to fill my every space
I need you Lord, more than breath, more than life
I need you because, without you, I am but dust in the wind
You still loved me even when, against you, I knowingly sinned
Death and separation should be my eternal reward
But in your sacrifice, you paid the price I could not afford
So now I live, not I, but Christ that lives within me
And by the blood of the Spotless Lamb, I have been set free
You are in my heart and in the depths of my soul
So Jesus, you are driving; help me give you all control

Lord Jesus, creator of all the universe, thank you for making it the way you did. The earth and the planets revolve around the sun just as our lives are in balance when we revolve around your Son. So many people in the world today put other things in the center of their lives and put themselves at the center of their universe. As Christians and Humans, we can do this too. Forgive us for our shortsightedness and open our eyes to see the bigger picture. Show us, Lord, that our lives make more sense are more in balance, when we put you in the middle. All things came from you in the first place. You were the beginning; you were the first cause. Help us refocus our priorities Lord and have this true conversion we need. And let us lovingly witness to others this change in word and prayer and deed. We ask this and all things with confidence to Jesus; the Son who is the Center in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
showyoulove Dec 2024
Sometimes we are walking down the road
Chatting and discussing the news of late
Minding ourselves when we meet a fellow
Who is traveling in the same direction
Clearly a visitor, he's so awfully out of date
But we walk and talk and bring Him up to speed
He talks to us in words both sacred and profane
Words that harken to our spirits' unity
And speak to our hearts individually
Our hearts burn deep within us
Like an age old song or ancient melody
Something foreign, but pleasantly familiar
What it is, I can't quite recall
Finally, we arrive at our destination
The sun is low and the day is growing old
Our companion makes to keep travelling
"Where are you going? It's late.
Please stay and join us at table".
During the meal He takes the bread
Blesses it and says a prayer
Our eyes are opened, but He isn't there
"That man had to have been our Jesus!
As He spoke, were not our hearts burning?
And when He sat at table, were not our souls yearning?
We clung to His words like dying men
And the awakening when He said Amen!"
But we had been blind to his presence before us
He was there while we were thinking "poor us"
Looking right at Him, still we could not see
Our friend who died upon the hill of Calvary
Open the eyes of our hearts and may we be of one accord
To recognize that, on the road, we were walking with the Lord
From Luke 24: 13-32
267 · Dec 2024
Profoundest Peace
showyoulove Dec 2024
Lord, how I wish I was comfortable enough and at ease enough to fall asleep wrapped in your loving arms. Help me offer up this sleeplessness and place it at your feet. The only light I have are some candles' soft and tender glow. They dance and sway when the spirit blows. Sing a sweet lullaby over me that I may dream such happy dreams. Grant, Oh Lord, that I may live until the morning light. Keep me safe through many a perilous plight. By your right hand you deliver me from my foes and out of danger. You protect me, Oh God, from the snare of the stranger. You lead me by still waters where the grass is lush and green, I am never left wanting and times are never lean. Help me find rest in the shadow of your wings. Help me find the joy that only knowing you brings. By your grace, let me experience this gift of profoundest peace and, in your mercy, grant me sleep's sweetest release!
Amen
266 · Aug 2018
Flame of Love
showyoulove Aug 2018
Restore our hearts renew our minds
Turn our thoughts from evil things
Melt and shape us till we see
The reflection of truth and purity
Let our hearts burn with the flame of love
Setting fire to everything they touch
Until the whole world is burning
For healing water we are yearning
It will burn so bright the devil will be blind
For the source is of a special kind
It is from the Immaculate Heart of Mary herself
Gathering strength from the sweetest devotion
In words brought to action not just motion
Flame of Love burn through what is excess
Through pride and greed, lust and shame
Until you are all that still remains
Help me be faithful to the prayer
And committed to the cause
I am loved and you are there
In my faults and in my flaws
Flame of Love illuminate my life
That I may radiate and be a beacon
To point the way for others like me:
Lost and searching, found and free
265 · Nov 2018
The Same
showyoulove Nov 2018
The same blood that flows in you
Flows in me too
The same song that stirs and shifts
Stirs my soul and bears gifts
The same melody that rises like perfume
Permeates the air in every room
The same sweet notes that ring out so clear
Have power to move me even to tears
The same heart that beats so steady
Keeps time with mine already
The same eyes, the same ears and nose
The more I think, the similarity grows
We are different, unique but so much the same
And, over time, it becomes quite plain
265 · Dec 2018
Action
showyoulove Dec 2018
Draw me close to You Lord and never let me go
Arms outstretched on the cross to love me so
Open my eyes Lord to see the beauty around
Place my feet upon the rock and on holy ground
Open my ears to hear the voice of the one who saves
For love of you the dead will rise from their graves
Put a joy in my heart that can’t be contained
A fire, a passion that can’t be dimmed
Your word lights my way through the dark place
And everything is brighter in the light of Jesus’ face
With peace flowing like a river
From the throne of the giver of life
You have shown us the way to the father
You know us and call us by name
You see us as we are and you love us the same
And when the day comes for this life here to end
Lord protect us and let sweet sleep descend
Grant us the peace and the comfort
Wrap us once more in your gentle loving arms
Bring us home to be with you in the fullness of your glory
To be in your presence a saint among the saints of history
264 · Nov 2024
Newly Minted Life
showyoulove Nov 2024
Sometimes bitter, still fresh and bright
These are the traits of newly minted life
This is life in Christ Jesus our Lord
This is precious myrrh outpoured
The fragrance of our earthly lives
The incense of our prayers as they rise
Chew the fresh mint's leaves of green
And experience just what I truly mean
We were not promised an easy road
Full of sun and nary a cloud to be found
There may be persecution or disbelief
And days and nights of such great grief
There will be hard times and bitterness
But life is so, so much more than this
It is full of promise and full of hope
Full of awe and wonder and beauty
It is joy in sorrow and peace to help cope
I feel its protection is our sacred duty
Each one a note of clearest purest tone
Some cut short before they were grown
Unable to add their song to the symphony
Voices echoing out into God's own infinity
Truly, life can be bitter, but it can be sweet
If we can humble ourselves
If we can wash each other's feet
Inspired by the eating of a mint leaf on a dessert at JC's Mexican Restaurant in Bartlett, IL
263 · Jan 2018
Silence
showyoulove Jan 2018
My child just be silent, just be still
Just because I can, doesn’t mean I will.
Sometimes silence speaks volumes when words can fall flat.
Written 1-24-18 at St. Peter's Catholic Church. I was actually disappointed at first with this, but the more I look at it, the more I like it.
showyoulove Nov 2024
When persistence and passion unite
When done in the presence of God's Light
You will bring to the table what some call Grit
With confidence you can say to life: "Bring It"
You have just become an Overcomer
Moving in the grace of God's own drummer
260 · Dec 2024
Listen To Your Heart
showyoulove Dec 2024
Listen to the Lord in the silence of your heart
Be still and know that He is God and King
The Author Creator Sustainer of Everything
Be filled with His presence in every breath you take
Know that He is with you in every choice you make
To know Him is to love Him to love Him is to see the light
To listen to Him is to hear the words of everlasting life
May the peace of the Lord shine upon your face
And may you walk forever in the light of His grace

Amen
259 · Dec 2018
Will You Stand?
showyoulove Dec 2018
Stand up for Jesus can you hear Him call your name
Stand before the one who took on your sin and shame
Stand up for the truth that sets men free
Stand for the one who laid down His life for you and me
Stand for life and justice let your actions show the way
Stand and deliver the message of love without delay
Stand up though you may be small or weak
Stand up in faith and be bold when you speak
Stand with courage for your God is at your side
Stand and be a witness let your heart decide
You are the future and in you I see hope
Hope that lingers even at the end of a rope
Sometimes all you need to start a great fire
Is a spark a passion a burning desire
I see that spark in you it’s time to get ready
Take careful aim and hold it steady
It’s what this world needs now more than ever
This is great don’t hesitate it’s now or never
Stand firm upon the rock of your faith foundation
Join us in the song of the beauty of creation
Stand up for something much bigger than yourself
Put bitterness jealousy and pride upon the shelf
Rise up oh Children and take this whole world by storm
For Jesus loves the children and he will be true to form
You were made for greatness but it’s up to you to choose
Will you be as sweet melody God’s instrument to use
258 · Jun 2018
Heart of Love
showyoulove Jun 2018
Gaze into the heart of love
Pierce the veil of the inner chamber
To find a treasure more precious
Than all the riches of the earth
Sacrifice and pain are there
As are pure joy and blessed life
In the heart of love is loss and gain

A heart of love does not leave because you tell it
It carries you when you can’t go on
Gives you strength when you are weak
And helps you find the path you seek
It reaches out to catch you
It gives comfort and warmth in the cold dark place
And sometimes it stays near, but gives you space

The heart of love is selfless seeking the other’s good
It does not take, nor ask more than it should
It requires no reward, but a happy heart is riches outpoured

How I wish that I could help you; make you whole again
But even if I could make it better, what then?
I wish I could give you comfort; tell you it’s alright
But it’s not right now and you are stuck in the night
I wish I could give you hope; that all will be well soon
But I don’t know when life will be back in tune
There are many things I don’t know lots that I can’t do
If you let me I might help, but that is up to you
There are some things I can do promises I can make:
That I will be here however long it takes
I can offer you my shoulder I can offer you my ears
I can offer you my hand, and a hug to calm your fears
I can offer you my patience and offer you my time
I can offer you my friendship and all that is mine
I would offer you the world the very sun if I could
I’d go to any length to hear and know you were good
Forgive me if I come on a little strong
It’s just that I get anxious when I hear something is wrong
I internalize, I empathize, and yes I slightly obsess
It’s a blessing and a burden though I must confess
I would not have it another way it is a part of me
It is my heart of love a part of my identity
And so it is and here we are: the most unlikely of friends
And may the parts we play in each other’s lives...
Never find their end!
256 · Dec 2018
Reason to Believe
showyoulove Dec 2018
So you say you’re gonna need a reason
A reason if you’re gonna believe
You’ve got a long list and it’s not easin’
Lies and let downs, how you’ve been deceived
You say it’s a nice story, but how can it all be truth
You heard the words and read the tales
But now you want to see the proof
What good is this faith if logic has failed
Have you felt a hunger you could never satisfy
Have you ever felt had a chill in the middle of July
Did you ever wonder if life had purpose and meaning
Or pass by someone why was positively beaming
It’s a chance to be part of something greater
It’s a family you can turn to when things are looking grim
A place to love and be loved in plenty and in trim
Look at the beauty all around fill your lungs with air
If there is even the slightest chance that my life was not in vain
Then I will take all the hardships and bear all the pain
To believe that life is meaningless would make me lose all hope
And when troubles come and sorrows fall I couldn’t ever cope
It is pretty radical and some might call me crazy
But love is irrational though it makes you do crazy things
And yet when you feel it you know and your heart just sings
And if it all turns out to be just as you say You haven’t lost anything there was no point anyway
But if it just so happens that there is more
I’d want to see you there on that distant shore
So take a leap and hold on tight you’re in for a wild ride
I know it’s crazy but sometimes I get a peek on the other side
Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
255 · Dec 2018
Quiet Contemplation
showyoulove Dec 2018
Today I sit and look at you in heart-pondering prayer
Watching and waiting in stillness I am then made aware
That this is Advent and I am waiting for your birth
And when you come there will be peace on earth
I am here before you in quiet contemplation
And here before me is the soul’s Salvation
Help me love and know you deeper than before
And live the life that you have called me for

Amen
254 · Nov 2024
My Soul Is Stirred
showyoulove Nov 2024
Come back to me with all your heart
Don't let fear keep us apart
Turn from your sin and cling to the Lord
Be wholly changed by this Love outpoured
The world is screaming for our attention
While He patiently waits for our affection
In this dry and barren land
Our hearts learn to understand
How to walk with the Lord and hear His voice
And, back in His arms, we will rejoice
For in the desert there is suffering and pain
And we cry out for a single drop of rain
But there is a focus and a silence
With a beauty all its own
And in the midst of hatred and violence
We know we are never alone
You have moved my heart in ways I can't contain
The words are filled with healing and pain
You have pierced me Oh Lord with your unfailing love
And I am powerless to resist this precious holy flood
Your music stirs my soul to sing to you
King of my life and all that is good and true
In these forty days help me focus now
Help me hear you in the silence somehow
In this time of trial and testing
Be at peace my soul for, in God's merciful heart, you are resting
We walk in the light with darkness around us
We are free because God's grace has found us
Today, right now, my soul has been stirred
For we live not by bread, but by God's word
254 · Oct 2018
Right to the Heart of God
showyoulove Oct 2018
It is by love and mercy that we get right to the heart of God. By grace and faith we are saved. His is a gift freely given, but we must accept the gift. We must see with the eyes of a child for Children are right in the heart of God. Let the children come to me, whoever accepts these children accepts me and whoever rejects my children rejects me and the one who sent me. Jesus doesn’t mean only kids. He also means us the adopted sons and daughters of Christ. Whoever accepts my children accepts me and whoever rejects my children rejects me and the one who sent me. St. Faustina whose feast day it is (Oct. 5) got right to the heart of God and helped reveal to us His Merciful Heart and the depths of His Mercy and Love. Many people seem to have left the heart of God, lets try to get back right to the heart of God. Our prayers reach Our Father’s ears and go right to the heart of God. Jesus, we trust in you, help us trust in you all the more. Lead us home to be with you and guide us as we strive to go right to your heart.

Your love is an arrow shot straight to my heart
And against all odds it found its mark
Like a bullseye was painted right on my chest
The wall cracked and the Spirit did the rest
The walls fell down like when Joshua blew his horn
And somehow from dust and ashes I was reborn

Now I’m all aquiver like a bow drawn taut and tight
I see what I’m aiming for as I look down the sight
Arrows of love are nocked and ready
Center myself my hand is steady
Take a breath and feel the tension go
It will reach its target somehow I know
Your hand will guide it as it flies through the air
showyoulove Dec 2018
I come before you Lord humble and broken a sinner for all my days and still you call me  your precious child. You call me to live for you, love for you, worship and adore you. In all my faults and failures you have never loved me more and paid a price that I could never afford. Saved by faith and your grace I cannot earn it, I don’t deserve it I am the worst of the worst. But while I live I try to give because you Lord loved me first.
showyoulove Nov 2024
Up on the mountain he took them: Peter John and James
And before their very eyes, their Jesus was changed
His clothes became the most dazzling white
A cloud came in and they fell down in utter fright
The true weight of God's Glory came upon them that day
As Jesus went up to the mountain to pray
The disciples were given a special peek
Something to give them strength when they were weak
It was hope, it was light, and it was profound peace
In praying, that which we receive down on our knees
We are transformed with Christ; made new and clean
And while we may never have this very scene
We can have a similar experience and feel the glory
We can, today, share in this great Gospel story
We can adore and, like candles, burn in his presence
A gift for the greatest and least, for kings and for peasants

Lord, some days we can't see you because of the shadow, and sometimes we are blinded because you are so close to us. Most of us have been blessed to have Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind and felt the weight of your glory. The pure power of the energy and love in that moment is like a nuclear reactor. We become radioactive and sometimes even positively glow from the experience. Though it may be forgotten at times, it is still in us. In our darkest moments, help us call to mind this sunshine and cast away the doubt and fear. In your goodness, you have given us this hope of resurrection that we are longing for on Easter Sunday while we wander through the desert of trial and temptation for these forty days to obtain the true conversion and transformation. Thank you, Lord, for Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind that bring us into the light of your presence and the weight of your glory! Amen.
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