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!

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

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I didn’t know what I was looking for

Searching the Earth for to fill my need

Sloth and envy and pride, jealousy lust and greed

Money, popularity, status, possessions; the life I lead

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I didn’t find what I was looking for

Looking for love in all the wrong places

Never one to stay for long in any case

Living life at a breakneck pace

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I couldn’t find what I was looking for

Leaving me hungrier; wholly unsatisfied

Nothing helped. There wasn’t one thing I hadn’t tried

So elusive it was: true happiness and joy I was denied

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

But I wouldn’t find what I was looking for

The world had nothing left for me; I gave up hope

And at the bottom of a very steep and slippery *****

Nowhere left to run and ready to die.

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I never found what I was looking for…

Down to me came a rope. Taking that rope my life changed forever that day

The light in my dark, show me the right way

What happened I couldn’t really say.

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I might have found what I’ve been looking for

I still fall and lose my way. God knows I’m not perfect

It’s a long hard road, but God believes I’m worth it

And I know you have a plan for me. Still not sure where I fit

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I think I found what I’ve been looking for

Life giving water, sustaining bread, and solid ground

Love, joy, and peace. New life I see all around

What I’ve always been looking for, I’ve finally found

All my life I’ve been searching for something more

Something missing; an emptiness down in my core

And I (Finally) found what I’m looking for!**


Thank You Jesus!

AMEN

If I were a chocolate bar, life with you would be so sweet
Being around you, I feel like quite a treat
Gotta love Hershey's: the kisses and hugs
And on Valentine's Day combine with Doves
Like Reeses or S'mores, we compliment one another
Flowers, wine, and chocolate for a significant other
If I were a chocolate bar, life could be Grand
Although on a hot day, I'd melt a little faster than planned....
As a chocolate bar I'd be broken and shared
Spreading gooey goodness to everyone there
Maybe being a chocolate bar isn't quite for me...
... But it's fun to imagine just how it might be!

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

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

I know. I was there. I am here.
You are never alone. Turn to me and I will be your comfort and your peace. One day I will dry your eyes and the joy will never cease. I know you feel pain right now so deep and so profound. Caught in the undertow of sorrow and feeling like you’ve drowned. I know. I was there. I am here. I have never let you go. You have never left my sight. Trust in me and everything will turn out all right. I know it seems like the end right now but you don’t know the plot. Please believe me when I say that, the end, it is not. I was there nailed on the cross and I felt all: the pain the sadness the loss. I took it all so you that you could understand and place your hand in my hand. I have danced. I have laughed and I have wept. I understand how it feels to lose someone you love. But I also know they look down from above. No more hurt and no more hunger no more older no more younger. No more sickness no more death. Only joy and praise with every single breath. I know sometimes you wonder about the meaning of it all. And sometimes you question whom and when I call. I know it seems impossible now, but you must remember and move on. Remember that nothing is impossible with me. I know. I was there. I am here. On the days when it gets too hard, lean on me and I will help you up. I will give you the strength you need as you eat this bread and drink this cup. I know. I was there. I am here. Let this be a gentle reminder not to take life for granted but to live each moment out. Live each day as if today was your last day; make every second count. I know. I was there. I am here but do not live in fear. I am with you now and always even through the end of the age. The world and it’s things are fleeting and will eventually pass away, but the word of the Lord is eternal and His love is here to stay. I know. I was there. I am here. I love you. Be at peace.

Jesus he's my savior
He lived near Galilee
I know about his ministry
And of his great love for me

He sought out his disciples
They followed him blindly
He loved the poor and healed the sickly
And he helped the blind to see

I know that he's my savior
He died to set me free
Each day I love him more, his disciple I will be
As I walk the path of righteousness and spirituality

Big or small thick or thin
No matter the place you live in
Black, white, brown, red
I know every hair on your head
I know you, I know your name
And when you hurt I feel your pain
Do not listen or pay heed when the world calls you freak
Because, in you, there is something special and unique
And because I love you as you are
If it seems you don't fit in, can't find a place where you belong
When the world says they're right and all you are is wrong
There are people of compassion who look beneath the skin
To find the light that burns inside, the beauty that's within
And remember I love you as you are
Sometimes the world can be cold and cruel
They might mock your belief and call you a fool
Being different can make people uncomfortable
They'll try to define you and give you a label
But you already have a label more important than the rest
You are called my child and it is you that I will bless
And I love you just as you are
Be yourself, be honest, be gentle and kind
And, throughout your life you will come to find:
You don't need to change who you are to make me love you
For I love you as you are
Always

Imagine! We see God's image in creation
He created us in His own image and likeness
I see in my mind a dim and glorious image
Beautifully, I behold this wondrous visage:
In tongues of fire the Spirit descends
And with boldness, our faith, we defend.
Preach the Gospel by your words and living
And with great gladness and joy always giving
Of yourselves in service to your fellow man,
And using your gifts as best as you can.
We are called, we are equipped, and sent out
By the Spirit of God whom we shall not doubt.
My weary bones are filled with new life
My blood is hot and almost burns
I am electrified as the Spirit comes alive
My flesh cries out, my soul how it yearns!
If you are what you should be
You'll set the whole world ablaze.
May the love of God spread like wildfire
And may the nations forever praise.
What an image: imagine!

"Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist; and the Eucharist, in turn, confirms our way of thinking". -- St. Irenaeus

Who can know the mind of God
Or plumb the depths of his wisdom?
What song can rise to Heaven's height
Or word can aptly describe Him?
Such mysteries plague the mind of man
No simple solution for this searching soul
It slips away like water through the hand
And loathe are we to relinquish control
We look upon the Eucharist with grateful thanksgiving
And offer graciously our petition and praise
For the purest act of love: life-giving
This source of food and drink in the form of bread and wine
Transcends and crosses through both mortal and divine
In this life-giving and purely creative force
I find my own creative imagination's source

I need someone to lean on and to trust
I need someone who will love me no matter what
I need someone who will find the hidden beauty
Someone who helps out of love and not simply duty
I need someone to defend me when I am under attack
Someone who is in my corner and who always has my back
I need someone to see the real me and still not leave
I need someone who will also give back not only receive
I need someone who is gentle and yet strong
I need someone at my side as we walk along
I need someone who will listen to me when I need a friend
Someone who is faithful and true to the very end
I need someone who will treat me the way that I deserve
I need someone who is willing to surrender and serve
I need someone I can turn to in any situation
Someone who will share in both sadness and elation
I need someone who understands what makes me what I am
I need someone who will be with me to hold me and take my hand
I need someone can tell when something isn’t right
Someone who will watch over me both by day and by night
I need someone who will tell me that things will be okay
I need someone who isn’t afraid to kneel down and pray
Someone to forgive me and help me forgive myself
Someone who makes me feel like there is no one else
I need someone who knows I am special and unique
I need someone who will be my light when life is bleak
I need someone to care to act with loving kindness
Who will open my eyes to see and remove my blindness
I need someone so rare there might be only one
And I pray it’s not too late before the search is done

I Need You

Jesus I need you more than ever before
I have no idea what the future has in store
I rely on you to be my refuge and my strength
It is through you that I can go to such lengths
Jesus I need you more than ever
To be my anchor in the stormy weather
You have put me in this position for a reason
And I hope that my response has been pleasing
I lean on you more heavily now that I ever would
And you have shown me that this is quite good
Jesus I need you more each day and each week
You are the light of my life when the day is bleak
Jesus I love you more deeply than when I first began
And I can’t help but wonder if this was all part of your plan
To show me how much I really need you
Oh how I want it all so much to be true
To show me that I can rely on you to take care
Of all my life and my needs and mend the tear
Jesus I need you I know you listen and take heed
Jesus I need you to water the seed
How you must be smiling in Heaven to see me finally understand
That all of this was your doing, to see the working of your hand
I’m still learning and I’ve got quite the road ahead
This time I think I’ll let you lead instead
Jesus I need you more than I can express
For all my eloquence is fruitless I confess
Jesus I need your love be with me now
Open my heart to more completely allow
Your grace and peace in my inmost being
In binding myself to you it is freeing
Jesus I need you to come take over my life
To be the Lord of my great joy and deep strife
Jesus I need you I can’t do this alone
And Jesus sometimes it scares me to the bone
But I need you and it’s getting to hard to ignore
So don’t come knockin’ ‘cause here is the key to my heart’s door
Jesus I need you, I come here today
To be with you, to thank you and pray
Jesus I need you and I know things will be alright
Keep me safe and close to you this night
Look with love upon this child and let your light shine
I am yours forever and you are forever mine

Amen

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

In Praise

In gratitude and thanksgiving we give you praise
Wisdom and blessings on the one who prays
We honor you the Most High God
We dance and sing you give you laud
We celebrate what we have received
Your life your very presence in us we believed
In the Eucharist our thanksgiving
Font of life and hope for the living
Your justice and mercy we extol
And in your loving arms you will console
Those who mourn and the pushed aside
Their cries are heard and their pleas are not denied
Your Love is boundless and Your grace abounds
As I get closer my heart now pounds
It beats so strong with life and vigor
You are radioactive and my heart gets even bigger
I love to love and i try to love like you
And your Love is the strongest glue
In gratitude for all the blessings and gifts
I come back to you with a song on my lips
There is a fire in my heart that will not die or dim
Because it was put there by none other than Him
Take Lord, all that we have to give
Multiply it and show us how to truly live
To serve not only our neighbor but even our foes
Treating all with care and respect for we are like the rose
Beautiful and sweet but be warned
If not handled right we may feel the thorns
We thank you God for the earth and all you have made
And still you know every hair on our head and every grass blade
And for your creation: a masterpiece and work of art
That we should love you with all our mind and soul and heart

Your insecurities have a hold on you

You've been rotten. You know it's true.

Whispers in your ear, voices in your head

Tell you always: you're doomed, you're dead

Cheating on that test, lying to your best friend

What were you thinking when you pushed send?

Too dumb, too fat, a face only a mother could love

You'll never be good enough to ever rise above

Invisible hands are choking, spirit chains will bind

When the light is fading fast, remember it's only in your mind

The past is gone, you can't go back and try once more

Now to remember not dwell and to look forward

Learn and grow

Your insecurities have no real control

They have no power

In God's love and mercy you are showered

Pray and give them all to the cross

Goodness and joy take the place of what is lost

For He knows your heart and He knows your worth

A beautiful working creation fashioned by God before birth

So never forget how beautiful, special, and loved you are

And shine brightly for the world. You are a STAR!

Your insecurities have a hold on you

You've been rotten. You know it's true.

Whispers in your ear, voices in your head

Tell you always: you're doomed, you're dead

Cheating on that test, lying to your best friend

What were you thinking when you pushed send?

Too dumb, too fat, a face only a mother could love

You'll never be good enough to ever rise above

Invisible hands are choking, spirit chains will bind

When the light is fading fast, remember it's only in your mind

The past is gone, you can't go back and try once more

Now to remember not dwell and to look forward

Learn and grow

Your insecurities have no real control

They have no power

In God's love and mercy you are showered

Pray and give them all to the cross

Goodness and joy take the place of what is lost

For He knows your heart and He knows your worth

A beautiful working creation fashioned by God before birth

So never forget how beautiful, special, and loved you are

And shine brightly for the world. You are a STAR!



Lord God, we stumble and fall so often and are prone to sin. Many times, we become discouraged and listen to the voices in our hearts and heads that mock us, tell us we are no good and feed us negativity. We acknowledge that we fail. Please remind us that you always have and always will love and forgive us no matter what. We are your precious treasure and worth more than anything in the world in your eyes. Help us not to listen or give in to our many insecurities, and help us instead to rest in the security and knowledge that we do not have to live in the past, that the future is in your hands, and to live fully for you today. Remind us Lord that you have made us just the way we are, beautiful, special, and loved by the creator and ruler of everything! Thank you! Amen.

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

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

In the arms of the angels you will be safe and warm
In the arms of the angels there is shelter from the storm
In the arms of the angels you will fly far away from here
In the arms of the angels there will be nothing to fear
In the arms of the angels you will dance across the stars
And find a place of healing and rest and no more nasty scars

Help me Lord to see your face
When I am in the desert place

I am safe and warm
I find shelter from the storm

I know I'm alive and free
Because you are with me

So in life or death I know
There is a place I can go:

Down on my knees
There is a longing, a strength and peace

Your love is the anchor to which I hold
When the sea of life is stormy and the wind blows rough and cold

You are my fortress, and my rock, my refuge, my strong tower
You are with me always, now and in my final hour

You are a lighthouse beacon to light my way and guide me home
It reaches me wherever I hide, wherever I roam

In the fullness of time, you will find what you seek
You will, at last, stand atop that great high peak
There will come a day when all doubt is wiped away
The pieces all fall into place and the picture becomes clear
You know, with great certainty, that this is meant to be
But now is not that moment. The time is not yet now
So, we must patiently wait and abide in the Lord
Until he says: now, the moment you've been waiting for!
In the fullness of time, we shall see our King
One day we shall know him and know him well
We will have the fullness of time to praise and sing
To ask who and what and why and how
But it's not today, it's not quite now
And so, this time, we must depend
On the prayers of holy women and men
And ask for their intercession on our behalf
Take comfort: all is revealed in the fullness of time
All sight becomes clear in the fullness of time

Into the desert you call me
Down in the valley below
Into a place I can can finally see
Just how much I will grow
You take me into the wild
To be tempted and challenged and tried
But I am your precious child
And to free me you hung bled and died

Into the desert I go now
Led by the Spirit within
Every morning I wake and bow
And pray for the strength not to sin
You send your angels to watch and guard
You feed my body and soul
Though the road is long and the journey hard
I know I will reach my goal

Into the desert for forty long days
To fast and pray and learn
To trust you and follow your ways
And find a gift I cannot earn
You satisfy my hungry heart
You give me strength for the miles
You are creating a beautiful work of art
And you paint me with beautiful smiles

Into the desert I learn quiet and still
Into a place of simple surrender
Free of distractions I’m seeking your will
I count on my great defender
I move past the hurt dare to look deeper
Beyond the surface into the space
In the depths of my soul I find a keeper
Full of love and mercy, compassion and grace

Into the desert to walk with my Lord
I ask for his patience his wisdom his love
He paid the price I could never afford
And I smile as He keeps watch from above
On this journey of faith you help me realize
My blindness when I see through your eyes

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

Can’t seem to find the forest for the trees
Blind to what is right in front of me
Lying on a bed of leaves and life
Looking to the heavens with stoic sentinels
We sway with the changes a beautiful complex dance
Soaring high above the earth we are at once aware
Of being beyond our oneness there is unity togetherness
And yet we remain connected grounded
Each to another a patchwork quilt letting our light radiate
Letting the light penetrate and play and dance
Chasing, racing shadows tireless and inexhaustible
We are shadow and light broken and made whole
Embracing, facing our monsters rather than fleeing
Here we find the unbearable lightness of being
Have you ever heard the wolves’ chorus?
Haunting, melancholy, beautiful, and pure
Eerie and scary, but it holds some allure
Have you tasted all the colors and seen every flavor
Have you felt for something you could not possibly explain?
Tossed about like the ocean swells
A roiling turbulent sea violence chaos and confusion
Clear as through a looking glass a mirrored reflection
So too do I reflect and ponder trying hard
To dive deep below the depths with mystery cold and darkness
Looking for precious treasure long forgotten down below
Thunder crashes lightning flashes
Fire dancing across the sky
A resounding drum beat, throbbing, pulsing, and pounding
The lifeblood: heartbeat sounding
Dance to the beat of a different drum
Unique nonconforming to what the world declares this truth
Thinking feeling asking oneself not as lemmings following blind
Without questioning imminent death
We must judge, we must quest, we must seek, and we must answer
For ourselves that which is right, which is good, which is true.
To be open and free, but stay true to thyself to keep our identity
Sacrificing to help others without sacrificing our own integrity
That which makes us human, what makes us whole
The fires of hell burn hot and heavy
Earthly life is the crucible to help us be ready
Life and death both worlds apart and intimately close;
It is the perfect dichotomy. We are fire. The choice is ours.
Do we create or do we destroy?
What fire are we? What is it like?
The bonfire speaks of life’s truths:
Burning bright and hot and just as quickly passing, fading
As a shooting star streaks across the darkness
We may give warmth, light, and life
Or we may take life and consume all that is around us
So consumed we are with the world today we miss the magic of the moment
And so sometimes the smoke is thick and burns our eyes and we are blind
To that which is truly the most precious in our short lives?
Friends, family, and faith
For these three are relatively constant in time of constant flux
And help to give some meaning to the why of you and I

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

What a powerful thing it is
Both killing and destroying, renewing, refreshing
Always changing always growing
Never pausing once

To slow down...

To STOP,


And take inventory of all that is around it
The beauty, the mystery, and with it, cold harsh reality
War, poverty, sickness, death
Love, Peace, Joy, Happiness

How incredible it is indeed
To be so capable of so much

Yet still cannot fathom
How Little it truly does know

All my life, it’s always been all about love. The gifts and strengths that I have been given, the way I live my life, my passion, my work, my connection to the Most Holy Eucharist, and even my struggles. For me, everything comes back to love. I’ve never been a fighter, I always want peace and love and it pains me to see others in pain. I love to live and I live to love. It seems fitting when I look at the temptations I am most assaulted by, appropriate even. Love is our greatest weapon and strength and that same love leaves us open and vulnerable. But vulnerable is not the same as weak. We were designed to love each other and manifest that love as new life. We were created to be the image and likeness of the creator who is the embodiment of perfect eternal love to reflect it back to each other and in doing so reflect the same to Him.

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

What would drive me to make a journey so far
What would give me patience through obstacles
What would give me such joy to finally arrive
And to be where you are one more time
I think it must be love

It is love that gives me the strength to go on
It is love that propels me when the road is long
It is the stars to guide me when the sun is gone
It is the joy that arises with the first rays of dawn

Isn't it crazy that I need you like water or air
That I would expire without you always being there
It is medicine to which none can compare
If it is all I have, still, I will not despair

It is love that goes beyond all measure
It is pure love which is the source of highest pleasure
It is the Father's love the most precious treasure
It is the soul's embrace the sweetest gesture

There is no distance too great or too small
That I wouldn't go to answer your call
There is no path that I wouldn't take
And no way that I could ever forsake
A friend in a time of trouble or need
It's written in my core, it's part of my creed

It's love that is so incredibly amazing
It's love that sets my heart a-blazing
It's love that puts my mind at ease
It's only love's sacrifice that truly frees

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

You call me to step out on the ledge
"I will catch you, I'll make good on my pledge"
And Lord I trust you, but I'm filled with fear
'Cause I can't see you even though I know you're near
Come to the edge and be not unbelieving, but believe
So, slowly I approach the edge of the unknown
You push me and, into the air, I find myself thrown
Expecting to fall, expecting to die
Surprised to find that, instead, I fly!
It takes faith to walk upon the waters of the ocean
It takes faith to learn that kind of deep devotion
It takes faith to trust when the senses fail
And faith that, through it all, life and love prevail
It takes faith when we step across that line
That He will lift us up and all will be fine
It takes faith, it takes patience, it takes love
But we will rise up on wings like eagles and learn to fly above

Lord, you call us to the edge and ask us to jump. We can't always see you. Help us to trust and have faith that you are always there and will never let us down. Fear often holds us back from reaching our full potential and some fear is healthy. It helps keep us safe and out of danger, but sometimes we need a little push. You know just what we need Lord and when. Push us just a little, help us have that faith, and trust (and just a little bit of pixie dust?), take that leap of faith and learn to fly! we ask this and all things in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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

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

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

I Will Provide

When you're lost and alone and all on your own
I will provide
When it looks like too much and you feel out of touch
I will provide
When it's cold and dark and you've missed the mark
I will provide
When you're blind and can't see just reach out to me
I will provide
If the walls close in and you're stretched too thin
I will provide
If the words won't come and you can't find the sun
I will provide

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

I'm sorry for living like Jekyll and Hyde
One life at church and another outside
I'm sorry for not loving and trusting you like I should
I'm sorry for the times when I've caused pain and not good
I'm sorry for when I choose wrong over right
I'm sorry when I choose darkness over light
I'm sorry Lord for the things I've done
I'm sorry Lord that I hurt your son

Jesus is calling you so soft and sweet
Quiet as a whisper wanting to meet
Listen, can you hear him knocking
He is waiting just outside the door
Open your heart what are you waiting for
Jesus is thirsting, He is thirsting for you
Longing for a chance to make you new
He is thirsting for love of souls
He is dying for a chance to hold
His children in His arms one more time
The beauty from the pain was a sign
He made life from the ashes a new beginning
Paying the ultimate price our Salvation winning
Jesus is calling rest in his heart of love
Filled with holy longing from above
Jesus is calling you will you answer the call
Will you turn from your way and abandon it all
Will you give what you have to the poor and sick
And with joy and a smile do it
Take up your cross and follow me
The life, the way, the truth shall set you free
Jesus is calling you to come to the holy of holies
Enter into the mystery into the true presence
See with eyes of faith and beyond your sense
Feel the peace so heavy and deep
Experience that sweet release
Breathe in, breathe out, fill your lungs with the spirit
In the stillness and the quiet you can finally hear it
Hear Jesus Calling
Lord into you I’m falling
Falling for you
Jesus Calling

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

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

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

Amen

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, I trust in your Divine Providence. Allow me to be open enough to allow you to work and move in and through me.

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, I trust in your Divine Will in my life. Help me to follow and walk with you especially when I cannot feel you near or see the path before me.

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, I trust in your Divine Joy. Guard me to remain ever joyful and kindle in me to look at life with childlike faith and joy.

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, I trust in your Divine Peace. In a world with chaos and commotion at every side, remind me of the peace I find when I focus on you.

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, I trust in your Divine Mercy and Grace. I don't deserve it and can't earn it, but you give it anyway. Help me thank you by doing the same for others.

Jesus, I trust in you! Jesus, I love you! Jesus, I adore you! I need not fear because Jesus you are FOR me.

Jesus, I trust in YOU!

AMEN

Jesus as you hung with arms outstretched

Even as you were rejected time and time again

Somehow you loved us so much that you would give your life

Unconditional unsurpassed love would win

Sin couldn’t hold you, death had lost its power


Over and over you showed us love

Nailed on a cross between two thieves


Three days later you came back

Hell could not hold you; Heaven rejoiced

Everyone could not believe so easily


Carrying that cross to Calgary I can’t imagine

Ridiculed, beaten, ripped and torn

Our sins you took upon yourself

So that we might have new life; so that we might be:

S**AVED

Can you feel him passing by?
Can you feel his presence near?
Can you hear the rustle of his garments
As the quiet wind is stirred?

It is Jesus just as he is passing by

Does the world watch in silent wonder
As the mountains quake with thunder?
The storms and waters bellow and roar
Upon the old familiar Galilee's shore

Hush now for Jesus is passing by

Little ones laugh for sheer delight
And dance upon little feet so light
Come and listen; now gather round
There is room for all the lost and found

Listen to Jesus as He is passing by

As we seek Him and as we long
In our great weakness, He is strong
He finds us where we are
And calls us deeper far
Than we have ever been before
It only takes one open door

Invite Him in as Jesus is passing by

Just to see Jesus just as He is passing by
Lives are changed and grown men cry
All the Saints in Heaven with one voice
Say "Jesus is passing by! Rejoice!"

So let us too, in our daily living,
Love more perfectly, be more forgiving
Could the light of Jesus shine in me
So others might say what they see:

"Is that Jesus just as He is passing by?"

(Jesus) You Are


You are a light in the darkness and hope in despair

You are a friend when it seems no one else cares

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

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

It is you that I run to or sometimes just crawl

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

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

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

I trust you Lord, but I often doubt

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

My faith, like young legs, are eager but unsteady

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

You are the wind beneath my wings

You lift me up so I can soar

In you I experience what true joy and peace brings

I live like the mountains grounded yet reaching

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

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

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

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

Sometimes I can't understand the wisdom of your plan

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

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

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

AMEN

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

Jesus- has got to be the foundation to get others to Heaven
Others- a lot easier when Jesus is the foundation
Yourself- to love others as yourself you have to love yourself
= JOY

Joyfully sing a song of praise
Our hearts, our hands, our voices raise
Join with Angels high above
Giving thanks to the one who loves

Dance a dance both free and fun
Celebrate God's only son
Who lived to die and died to give
A way that we might truly live

Clap your hands and dance along
Join me in a Joyful Song
We bow our heads we lift our hearts
And on our knees the healing starts

All praise to Him the King of Kings
Creation alive as your name rings
Lord of Lords and Prince of Peace
The song we sing will never cease

From mountain to valley, river to sea
If I pause it is clear and plain to see
You sing a joyful song to celebrate
The goodness of life that you create

You dance with us across the sky
And lead us in a happy sigh
You are with us day and night
May we walk in your radiant light

Joyfully sing a song of praise
Our hearts, our hands, our voices raise
Clap your hands and dance along
Join us in the Joyful Song!

AMEN!

The poor have the good news proclaimed for them. We rejoice for the good news is upon us. The word of God is with us and in us and among us. God, help us recognize your presence, to slow down and stop being BUSY (Buried Under Satan's Yoke). Hurry is incompatible with love, and it is the great enemy of the spiritual life. Too busy to do the right thing and too busy to do what we need and ought to do. Love is time consuming!

Jesus is about slow and taking time. Why else would he offer us ETERNITY?

I ask you to hear me when I speak. Not only to listen, but to understand. My child, you are always so eager and ready to tell me what you want- and this is good; I love to hear from you and I will always listen to you. Sometimes you ask for something and I give it to you. Sometimes I make you wait or I don't give you what you wanted. You become upset or angry at me for not giving you what you want. You want me to speak to you in a loud or clear way. You must understand child that I love you too much to interrupt. I often speak in stillness and quiet. Do you know what I want? I want you to be patient: to listen. I want you to be open. I want you to trust me. I want you to just be present. I want YOU. To hear me speak all I want is for you to be quiet, open, and present in this time and this place, in the Here and Now. That is where I am. I am not a God of the past: as on Easter morning outside the tomb. Mary Magdalene was looking for me in the past, but I wasn't there. I am alive. I am not a God of the future either: do not look for me in your tomorrows. You don't know if that tomorrow will come for you. Tomorrow might be too late. I am a God of the present, a God of life, a Gift given to you each today. Be still and know that I am God. Remember Child, I love you. Just be Present to me and I will present myself to you!

Forever Yours,
God =)

Just be with Me in the silence
Be present to Me here and now
Be at peace with Me in My plan
Be in love with Me and all that I am
Be content with Me and that I give you
Be honest with Me and be true
I am here always by your side in every step
I am here in your very next breath
I am here when the light is no more
I am here when you spread your wings and soar
I am here to calm the wind and sea
I am here just be with Me
I am here down every dusty road
I am here to share the heavy load
I am here when you need a friend
I am here from the beginning to the end
Be filled with Me and never thirst
Be best in Me when you are at your worst
Be found in Me when you have lost your way
Believe in Me that I hear and answer when you pray
Be alive in Me and my love for my child
Be gentle like Me so meek and mild
I have come to set you free
I am here just be with Me
I am here when you make your way back home
I am here so you are never all alone
I am here with glory and power
I am here to guide you through the darkest hour
I am here with mercy and grace
I am here right now in this place
Belong to Me and find peace and rest
Trust Me that I know what is best
I love you and you will never be forsaken
I have set the sun to rise and greet you when you awaken
I have marked you as my own from before time began
I know you intimately well and hold you in my hand
I wrote my name upon your heart
You are mine from the very start
I burned my word into your mind
So with that you are sealed and signed
I put my song into your soul
Words of wisdom and love that we extol
I have called you by name and sent you share
Spread the good news to people everywhere
I am here to open your eyes to see
I am here just be with Me

Some days you got to get out of your head
Stuck in the mire of a muddy mind
And just do it
Whatever it is, just do it
Don't overthink or overanalyze
Don't allow your fear to paralyze
Everybody has a different way
A path a journey they must take
If you can dream it, you can do it
There's really nothing to it
In yourself you must believe
That you are able to achieve
You can make your dreams come true
If you have the will to see it through
But remember you're not alone
You don't have to do this all on your own
No one has all the answers
We've all got a piece of the puzzle
Together we fit and find the bigger picture
Don't fret about what happened yesterday
Don't worry about what will happen tomorrow
Live in what is happening right now
Be present and be closer to who you're meant to be
Just do it...
What will happen?
You'll see

Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
I make my home with you closer to your heart
Because I wanna be right where you are
I'll live every moment with love and devotion
I'll pour out my soul bursting with emotion
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
I could spend eternity just sitting at your feet
The smile on your face makes my joy complete
My days are filled with longing
My nights are filled with dreams
I am searching for a belonging
But it's not as easy as it seems
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
No tongue could confess, nor song express
The greatness you possess
No heavenly choir could e're inspire
And better stoke a holy desire
Than to see your face and know such grace
Such a kindness feels out of place
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true
To spend one day in paradise
Would be worth all the heartache and pain
If not a day, just an hour'd be nice
Or even one second, I wouldn't complain
Just to be with you, just to be with you
Just to be with you would make all my dreams come true