Desire of heart
Petition to share
Appealing to Spirit
Of prayer to prepare
Clean off the deck
Thought from the mind
In my offering
Just emptiness, find
Encounter of Presence
Of true binding be
In clarities view
Just You and me
For found in this void
One gift to bestow
Soul of rejoicing
Of Your love to know
Fast from hurting words
Let our words be kind
Fasting from our sadness
Let gratitude us, find
Fasting from our anger
Filled with patience, cope
Fast from pessimism
And be filled with hope
Fasting from our worries
Trust in God fully
Fast from our complaints
Contemplate simplicity
Fasting from our pressures
And be filled with prayer
Fast from bitterness
Our heart be joyful here
Fast from selfishness
Compassionate to see
Fasting from our grudges
Reconciled, be
Fasting from our words
Listening now hear
Let us find the silence
The Word of God to share
(based upon words from Pope Francis)
We do not hear
Yet we’re aware
The Spirit guides
And always here
We do not taste
Yet hunger for
Our soul to fill
Love You out-pour
We do not know
Yet trust in Thee
Your great plans
You have for me
We do not see
Yet our hope be
The way unto
Eternity
Ashes, ashes
Our body
Acknowledge our
Mortality
Depressing now
This thought can be
Let Word instill
A turn to see
God sent his son
To rescue me
In human skin
Divinity
He gave his life
So willingly
Upon a cross
Sacrificially
And from the grave
Miraculously
He conquered death
So gloriously
He offers now
This gift for free
To live with Him
Eternally
Important our choices
A thought to extend
One of great value
Is choosing our friends
In shaping our view
Of character mold
One of dependence
Of values behold
Advice of receiving
Of sharing the way
A friend of the choosing
My Jesus today
I hope that some day
As friends often do
That I’ll grow to be
To look just like You
Incense is lit
Of fragrance surround
Smoke of the rising
The Spirit abounds
A sprinkling of water
Touching the skin
A blessing beyond
Forgiveness of sin
To nurture the soul
Body and mind
Song of the stirring
And Word of divine
A building so grand
A sparkling of gold
Is filled with Your grace
Of Presence, behold
A taste for the palette
Of wine and of bread
Of body and blood
Let our longing be fed
A celebration
Of our soul to see
To fill all our senses
With such beauty
Words of my Grandmother
Wisdom to bestow
Step by step in life
There comes a time to go
Off to kindergarten
Out of her arms to grow
Take a step of courage
There comes a time to go
College now before me
She’s proud of me, I know
Take a step of knowledge
There comes a time to go
Joy of my wedding day
Love is all aglow
A step of commitment
There comes a time to go
When her time had come
Our tears overflowed
Remember all our steps
The most important know
Journey of a lifetime
Of our Lord to know
With a step of faith
It came her time to go
On words of the scriptures
To contemplate
Joy of rejoicing
Of Your love so great
Doubting or discouraged
Ignite our hope to claim
For He will not quench
A smoldering flame
He is always there
In times of deepest need
For He will not break
A tender and bruised reed
He does not condemn us
Our soul He does adore
With a simple blessing
To go and sin no more
Oh, the power
Oh, the light
Oh, the shining
Radiance bright
Oh, the simple
Humble might
Presence here
Within our sight
Oh, the mercy
From our plight
Oh, the grace
Of cleansing white
Oh, the wisdom
Heavens’ height
Gift to share
Of Your insight
Oh, the binding
Souls delight
Of the love
Embrace so tight
Today I missed the sunrise
Had something quick to do
A gift that passed me by
A beauty pink and blue
A lesson here to learn
Lead my heart to say
Let me appreciate
Each moment here this day
And for all my loved ones
Let me show I care
For when tomorrow comes
That they might not be here
When I see the lonely
A gift of time to share
With a heart of compassion
And an open ear
Source of inspiration
All throughout the day
Nurturing the soul
Taking time to pray
DarylMadden 