Monday Morning Offering: 3/11

Coffee in the Morning by George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

Well, Lent is half over, Lord:
we’re three weeks away from Easter
and I should be at least half prepared
to celebrate your resurrection

    - but I'm not.

I’m not sure I’m even 1/40th ready
for Easter Sunday!

Beginning with Ash Wednesday I was doing really well,
right up until the First Sunday of Lent
and I know, Lord - that was only 4 days…

So, as I offer you what I've done

    - and haven't done - for Lent,

and I pray you'll have some mercy on me…

 

I offer you my lack of self-discipline 

and all the ways I so easily excuse myself:

    - give me greater stamina and determination...

 

I offer you my flimsy promises,

always made with firm intentions

but failing in the follow-through:

    - give me the grace of perseverance, Lord....

I offer you my mistakes, Lord,

hoping you'll forgive me

and accept my renewed pledge

    to pray more often,

    to go without

    and to reach out to the poor...

 

Give me the gift of a new heart, Lord,

    create a new spirit within me...

 

Be with me, Lord,

    before me, behind me, 

    above and below me:

be with me, Lord, 

    and in temptation, be my strength...

When I put off prayer,
    draw me to a quiet place and sit me down
to be with you, to speak with you,
    to get to know you better…

When I’m tempted to indulge
    on what I’ve given up for this Lent,
remind me of the reason:     

    to fill my soul with the food of your word...

When I spend too much on myself
    and consume what's more than my share,
show me how much I have,
    show me, Lord, where I have too much,
     -  more than I need -
and teach me how to be generous
    with those who have little or nothing at all…

I offer the rest of these Lenten days
    and I pray you'll strengthen my will and resolve,
and keep me faithful to growing in you, Lord,

    in your mercy, your grace and your peace...

Amen.

 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!