Do not despise being single.
Revel in it.
You must know who you are
BEFORE
you can ever truly know someone else.

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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 96:6 - Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.*

I think of the cliffs of Zion,
the Hoodoos of Bryce,
and the grandeur of
the Grand Canyon.

The splendor and majesty
I've seen on this earth
cannot compare to that
which is before you, O Lord.

I've seen your strength
on display in the power
you used to lift these,
like pillars, from the earth;

and I've seen the beauty
that is in your mind,
forming masterworks
from dust and stone.

the birds will eat
have a place to sleep
water to wash
their feet
yet, i've stood up
one too many nights
contemplating what makes them
any better than
me
i've flown to the highest branch
over every green pasture
counting every flower
that i keep

the grass is withering
and so am i

Dear God
Please help me to have fear
I don't know if it's me and what I've been through
Or if it's me being stubborn and naive
Or if it is because I am fatherless like psalm 145 mentions....
but please help me to have fear
I struggle but I'm alive
I'm alone but I'm loved
I'm a sinner but I pray
So Please help me to have fear

Your love, oh God, is
The foundation of my life,
Bedrock to my soul.

How often
Do you
Search
Yourself?

I have searched you,
And I know you,
And I have yet
To turn away.

What can we give you that isn't already yours? What can we offer that you don't already possess? You don't ask for slaughtered goats or lambs. You don't need them to survive; they are yours anyway. You don't need us to call attention to outward sacrifice, you would rather our sacrifice be quiet and internal. Sacrifice a little of our time and spend it with you. Sacrifice our desires, our bad habits and make good habits. Sacrifice our selfishness and be a little more selfless. But the most pleasing of all sacrifices to you, you say: is a sacrifice of praise. To give thanks and praise and to glorify your Holy Name. You assure us that if we do this, then when we are in need and call upon your name, you will be there for us.

Lord, so often, as humans we focus on what is on the outside but what matters most to you is what is on the inside. We are often so busy and preoccupied with by the world around us that we forget to stop or slow down and we miss what is most important in our lives. Lord help us sacrifice a little of our time to deepen and strengthen our friendship. Help us Lord to step back and open our eyes to what matters most in our lives: friends, family, and faith and to take time to be grateful for them and really cherish what precious short time we have together.

Open our hearts Lord and fill them with the love you had and gave for the whole world so that we might be less selfish and more selfless. In being more selfless there is less of my self and there is more of you. We were all created in God's image and likeness. God is selfless love. The more we are selfless the closer we are to God and the more clearly we reflect the image and likeness of Christ to the world and those in it. We were created to be selfless, but like Jesus we must take the time to be alone, give thanks and praise for all the blessings we have and to eat, drink and rest that we might have Strength for the Journey.

How awesome is your name throughout the earth and your majesty is far beyond  the wonder of the earth and the heavens far above. It is exalted by all creation, even from the mouths of newborns. You have fashioned praise in defense against evil and chaos and render them powerless. I look to the heavens to marvel at your handiwork. The sun, the moon, the stars that you alone, by a word, have set in place. How is it that one as great and awesome as you would notice us, to care, and love us? But in all our frailty and mortality you have created us to be like you, a little lower than the angels. You gave us glory and honor. You have us power and authority to rule over what you have fashioned. You gave us dominion over the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and the beasts of the field. You have given us all of this. How awesome, how great, is your name Oh Lord My God throughout all the earth!

Lord, we exalt and we praise your name through all the earth. How great how marvelous are the works you have made. You have lifted us up from our smallness and weakness to be like you, to be close to you. You have given us power, authority, and dominion over your creation. Help us to be good stewards to take care of and nurture all of creation and all life. We are too prone to turn our thoughts to the evil one and we don't always protect and respect this gift as we ought. Forgive us Lord, look with love and compassion upon your beloved, and lead us back to yourself once more. Amen.