Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 9/19

Bend me, stretch me, pull me, Lord,
    beyond the meager limits I might set...

Bend me, stretch me, pull me, Lord,
    in just the ways I usually resist...
 
Bend me, stretch me, pull me, Lord
    towards that which I'm most likely to avoid...

Bend me, stretch me, pull me, Lord,     

    'til I become the person you call me to be... 

Bend me, stretch me, pull me, Lord,
    'til others' needs are well within my reach...

Bend me, stretch me, pull me, Lord,
    as much as I need bending, stretching, pulling!

With the grace of all your gentle strength,
    Lord, bend me, stretch me, pull me...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 9/18

Today was a gift, Lord 

- a bonus day - a beautifully mild, 

sunny day in September,

perfectly suited to soothe my soul,

already grieving summer's passing,

and to ready me for autumn's beauty

waiting not too far away,

just around the corner...

 

Today was a respite,

not the end of cares and problems,

but a needed, welcome healthy break

from all that weighs upon my shoulders

and deeper and heavier in my soul...

 

Fall's chill will be here soon enough

and the trees' leafy glory will have fallen 

long before my heart lets go

its hold on long, warm days...

 

But tonight, Lord,

I give you thanks for this day's grace

and pray you'll open all my senses

to any gracious respite you might grant me

in the days and weeks and months ahead... 

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

Come Find His Rest

A hauntingly beautiful collaboration between modern hymnwriter Erik Dewar and Dan Forrest, this anthem weaves together a newly written hymn with "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say." Performed by the Beckenhorst Singers, conducted by Craig Courtney, with Dan Forrest, piano and Holly Wiper, vocal solo.

 

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 9/18

 No day passes without your speaking to me, Lord,

   in nature, 

   in my circumstances,

   in my mind,

   

   in my dreams,

    

   in my imagination,

   

   in scripture,

   

   in my heart, 

   

   in song,

   

   in prayer,

   

   in silence,

  

    in every sound I hear...

I wonder when you'll speak to me today...

I wonder what you'll say to me today...

And will I be listening?

And if I'm listening
   - will I hear you?

And if I hear you
   - will I believe?

And if I believe
   - will I respond to what you say?
   - will I do what you will ask?
   - will I go where you path leads?
   - will I change as you might counsel?

No day passes without your speaking to me, Lord,
   so I know you'll speak to me today...

Open my ears, my eyes and my heart, Lord
      - don't let me miss a word! 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 9/17

I was about to thank you, Lord,

    for the gift of this beautiful fall day,

I was going to mention

    it was a gift I didn't deserve

and then I remembered:

    I'm not deserving of any of my blessings,

    I've done nothing to merit them,

    I'm certainly not owed them

    - indeed, I'm the one in debt to you...

Every good thing in my life, Lord,

is a blessing, a grace from you:

    unmerited, freely given,

    from you who owe me nothing

    but to whom I'm in debt 

    up to my ears...

 

Every good thing in my life, Lord:

    this beautiful September day;

    every breath I take;

    my family, my friends

        and all who love and care for me;

    my memories, good and bad alike;

    my imagination and my sense of humor;

    every joy I've ever known and treasured;

    every sadness that has stretched my heart;

    all my talents, skills and abilities,

        intuition, curiosity and sense of wonder;

    and everything I sense and know

        through vision, sight, hearing, taste and touch;

    all this, O Lord, and more, pure gift from you:

        undeserved, unmerited, unearned...

And in return, Lord, I've so little I might offer

    save my gratitude, my humble thank-you,

        my small, empty hands, raised up in prayer...

 

So, thank you, Lord, for this day's gifts 

    and all that fills my heart 

and for your Spirit opening wide my eyes 

    to see how truly blessed I am...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me as I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

How Great Thou Art by Home Free

 

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Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

 

When through the woods 

And forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook and feel the gentle breeze

 

It is well with my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul

When Christ shall come

With shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

 

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 9/17

 

Refresh me when I'm tired, Lord:

   rouse me when I'm drowsy,

   replenish my zest for life,

   sharpen my fading focus,

   rekindle my sense of purpose,

   revive my imagination,

   rejuvenate my soul,

   lift my drooping spirit,

   bring back my sense of humor,

   quicken my get-up-and-go,

   restore my drive to do what's right,

   renew my faith and trust in you...

 

Give me peace with what's now past, Lord

    joy in the day at hand,

        and hope enough to see me through tomorrow...

Refresh, rouse and replenish me,

   sharpen, revive and rekindle me,

rejuvenate, uplift and quicken me,

   restore and renew me, I pray, O Lord!

That's what I need and all I ask,

    be generous, Lord, I pray

        and fill my heart with grace...

 

Amen. 

Refresh Me by Leeland

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You are my shelter from the hurricane
You are my rock, You are my shade
Never changing always the same
God refresh me

 

And when my burdens are breaking me down
And the enemy's cries shake the ground
I hear Your voice pierce the sound
Saying "I am with you."

 

So I lift my hands to You; I lift my heart to You
Refresh me, O God refresh me
And I raise my weakness high, in it You're glorified
Refresh me, O God Refresh me

 

You are my shelter from the hurricane
You are my rock, You are my shade
Never changing, always the same
God refresh me

 

And when my burdens are breaking me down
And the enemy's cries shake the ground
I hear Your voice pierce the sound
Saying "I am with you, Yes I am!"

 

So I lift my hands to You; I raise my heart to You
Refresh me, Oh God refresh me
And I raise my weakness high, in it You're glorified
Refresh me, Oh God Refresh me

 

Let the river run down from your thrown
Let it wash me now and make me whole
Lord, fill my heart, flood my soul
Oh refresh me, Oh God refresh me

 

I loose my hands, Take control
God let your purposes unfold
There's a greater story to be told
Oh refresh me, oh God refresh me

 

So I lift my hands to You; I lift my heart to You
Refresh me, Oh God refresh me
I raise my weakness high, in it You're glorified
Refresh me, Oh God Refresh me

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 9/16

Today's first reading at mass was Saint Paul's familiar hymn to love from 1 Corinthians: 

Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails... 

Perhaps we can use these words to reflect back on the day we just lived...

Am I a lover, Lord?

Help me look back on today, Lord,
    on the people I met and interacted with,
    the circumstances I found myself in,
    what I did,

    what I failed to do, 
    what I shared and what I hid,
    the choices I made

    and the words I spoke...

Was I a lover today, Lord?

When and how
    was I patient today?

When and how
    was I kind?

Was I jealous today?
    was I envious?

Were there times today, Lord,
    when I was haughty and rude?

Did I see to my own interests all day long
    or did I take time out 

        to serve the needs of others?

Was I quick-tempered? 

    grouchy? harsh? angry?

Did I spend time today
    brooding over old hurts, 

        disappointments and resentments?

Did I take any pleasure today
    in things I know to be wrong?

Did I seek out and rejoice 

    in what I know to be 

        true and good and just?

Did I bear my burdens gladly
    or sulk in complaint and self-pity?

Did I strive to be trusting
    and to grow in what I believe in?

Did I make an effort to be hopeful
    - especially when I felt defeated?

Did I face the day's problems
    and make an honest effort 

        to resolve them?

Was I a lover today, Lord?
Did I succeed in being a loving person?
And if I didn't, where did I fail?
    and what do I need to do 

        to grow in love tomorrow? 

Help me remember 

    how much you love me, Lord,
       and how much you love all your people; 

help me to love as you love:
   freely, fully and with forgiveness...

Help me to see 

    where my heart is true and self-giving 

and help me see 

    where I'm selfish 

        and less than loving...

Strengthen the love already in my heart
    and deepen my heart to grow in love that
         bears all things, believes all things,
           hopes all things and endures all things...

Fill my heart 

    with the love that doesn't fail, Lord, 

so that I not fail in loving you 

    and loving those whose paths cross mine each day...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

The Greatest of These

    by Tina English

   

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If I speak with the tongues of men and angels,
but have not love, I am just noise. 
And if I have the gift of prophecy,
and know all knowledge, have all faith,
understand all mysteries, 
or remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing. 

If I give all I have to feed the poor, 
but have not love, 

nothing is gained. 

Love is patient, love is kind, 

Love is patient, love is kind,
love does not brag; and is not arrogant. 
Love is not proud, boastful or rude. 
Love does not seek its own. 

Love rejoices in the truth.

Love rejoices in the truth.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love bears all things, bears all things,
believes all things, believes all things,
Love hopes all things, Love hopes all things,
endures all things. 

These three remain; faith, hope, and love. 
But the greatest of these is love. 
The greatest of these is love.
The greatest of these is love.  

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 9/16

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 9/15

 

I know that many mothers (and fathers) who read my page carry sorrow and sadness in their hearts out of love for their children - I hope and pray they find some solace and comfort in this prayer... 

 

September 15 is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the temple, an old man, Simeon, told Mary:  Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  Tradition holds that seven sorrows pierced Mary's heart in the course of her life with her Son: 1) Simeon's prophecy in the temple (Luke 2:34).   2) the Holy Family's flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13).   3) Joseph and Mary losing the young Jesus for three days  (Luke 2:43).   4) Mary meeting Jesus as he carried his Cross (Luke 23:26).   5) Mary standing at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25).   6) Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in Mary's arms (Matthew 27:58).   7: the burial of Jesus in the tomb (John 19:4).

    Sorrowful Mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Does any heart know sorrow, Lord,   

    more deeply and more keenly,

than a mother's heart aching

   with sorrow for her child?

What they say is true, Lord:

   to give birth is to forever have your heart

      walk around outside your body...    

Just after the joy of your birth, Lord,

   your mother learned, was told,

that her pure heart would be pierced

   by sorrow's bitter arrow... 

 

All mothers, Lord, anticipate 

   what sadness might be theirs

when their child is in pain, 

   in trouble or distress,

     lost, or in harm's way...

 

So tonight we pray for mothers,

   whose souls are pierced with sorrow

for that part of their heart,

   long absent from their womb...

With your Mother right beside you, 

   come with comfort, Lord, and healing;

come with blessing 

   strength and grace; 

come and ease the hearts of mothers 

   heavy burdened in their sorrow;

anoint them with your mercy

   and heal them with your peace... 

   

Mother of Jesus, Lady of sorrows,

   'neath your mantle of compassion

hold these mothers in your arms,

   deep within your heart,

'til they come to know again 

   the promise of the healing joy

your Son has pledged and promised

   to all who walk in faith... 

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

In tonight's song, the composer names Mary's seven sorrows as known in tradition - and adds an extra one (the third)...

 

Mother of Sorrows by Greg Mailloux

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Mother of sorrows, you know our tears;
Comfort us in our need.
Mother of Hope, pray for us,
Now and at the hour of our death.

 
1.Your Son's life was in danger as a new born babe.

But you fled to Egypt. His life was saved.

 
2. Lost in the temple, your Son was hid.
You searched for three days until he was revealed.

 
3. Your spouse Joseph, chosen of God, was chaste, loyal, and true.
His death brought tears and loss to you.

 
4. Your Son was the innocent and spotless Lamb
Guilty and condemned to death at Pilate's hand.

 
5. Via Dolorosa, the sorrowful and saddest way,
Is where you met your Son on that mournful day.

 
6. The pounding of the nails into your Son's feet and hands
Was the sword of sorrow that you'd never planned.

 
7. Jesus died upon the cross as you mourned.
His life of love, by them was scorned.

 
8. His lifeless body was placed in the stone-cold tomb
She laid him there, the child of her womb.

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