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I praise You, I love You so Lord!
You are faithful and true.
You have unconditional love for us always.
I feel so special to be one of your chosen ones!
I praise the Lord who keeps us close to Him, so we are not engulfed by the waters around us.
We are not torn apart by the worries of the world because of Your love.
You mercy is there in times of trouble - Our Rescuer. Our Protector, Our Help.
You do not sleep, but are always there. Your forgiveness and mercies are new each morning!
How good You are to us!
I give you praise! I call to You and You are there.
You infuse Your strength in me each day so as not to grow weary.
Help me to be ready to share Your love each day with someone to lighten their load.
Help me to put off my selfish ways.
I praise You, I bow in love to you! My hope stays in You.
I wait on You and look so forward to those last days and seeing You face-to-face!
My friend! In You I trust - You are my Rock, my strength.
I love You and praise Your name!
-Stephanie Bayse
A Psalm
Noise! Noise! Noise!
We are constantly barraged with swirling noise around us!
We are caught in a world that distracts us from what is important
A noisy world that shields us from You.
Do not hide Yourself from us!
We need to see You working
We must feel Your mighty hands at work in our lives
and hear Your voice calling out to us!
We want You to be louder than the noise of this world
and we long to feel Your presence.
O Lord, we ask You to open the eyes of our hearts
We have so many choices and decisions
We need Your guidance so we can see Your way
So often we can’t hear You for the noise that surrounds us!
Have patience with us, O God!
Be patient as we try to discern Your call
Help us to filter out Your voice in this world
Speak to us, touch us, guide us in Your ways
Provide clarity and affirmation so we may choose You
God, be our shield and our guide
Shield us from the arrows of the evil one
Keep us in your fold, under your wing
Protect us from the world that we inhabit
While we reach out to those lost from You
Hear our prayers, our cries, our songs!
Hear our songs of praise and adoration.
Listen to our words of thanks and love.
Bring us close to You as we worship.
Lead our souls to Your quiet and still places
Bring us into Your arms forever and ever.
Amen!
-Brandon Cooper
Faith at Forty-One
God, my God, my grandmother’s God,
You have blessed me beyond the skies.
You have uprooted me, unmoored me.
You have dashed my dreams into the dust.
You let my eyes pour tears—
enough to water the earth,
enough to fill the lakes,
enough to flow like rivers.
And You have let me see
Your own dreams dashed,
Your tears poured out—
for an earth ignoring skies,
for dust ignoring Spirit.
And as I floundered, uprooted and unmoored,
in the currents of Your tears,
You showed Yourself to be the One
who held me up,
who breathed in me,
so I was more than dust and dreams . . .
And now, content as dust, and dreamless,
I watch my roots grow deep in You—
a tree of righteousness growing up
from dust and tears,
from breath and broken heart,
reaching upward to Your sky,
hoping to make Your dreams come true.
February 9, 2007
St. Columba
O Lord when we are attacked,
many cry out for vengeance.
Let us always remember that you control all things.
Let us only ask for justice
no matter who is at fault.
Let us always remember that we also need correction.
May we always be mindful of our brothers
and not be focused on greed.
Let us always remember that others have less.
Help us to always watch our hearts
that we remember our place in creation.
Let us always remember that You alone may judge.
Remind us that greed is not always for things,
some in this world really need relationships.
Let us always remember that You are our family.
O Lord, whatever we need
for physical, mental or spiritual health,
Let us always remember that You are the source of all.
-Marty Leavell
Broken smile
Battered heart
Shattered spirit
Lonely, tired, hurt.
I wear neglect and abuse as my garment.
Oh God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Why do You turn Your face from me?
I’m starving for Your attention.
Turn Your eyes my way!
Fill me! I’m so empty now.
Used and spent, I have nothing left.
Break through this darkness
I’m ready to smile again!
Heal my heart,
Renew my spirit,
Return to me my joy!
Though You turn from me
I will still hope in You.
You are YHWH
You are Alpha and Omega,
The Beginning and End.
- RJV
Psalm of Complacency
Lord, I kind of love you.
Lord, I kind of want to live for you,
and I am here because maybe,
just maybe,
something will happen
to wake me up again.
Lord, I kind of want to pray,
but Lord, I kind of don’t because
just maybe,
I’ll have to admit what you already know.
Lord, I might have to do what you want,
Lord, I might have to be who you want.
Lord, I’ll admit that sometimes
it’s easier to simply yell my problems to you
as I drive down the road
than it is to do something about them.
Lord, I’ll admit
that I kind of like to worry or
at least that’s what I probably like
because I do it an awful lot.
Lord, I kind of want to lean on you,
but Lord, I kind of don’t
because I may not like your solution.
Lord, I kind of want to take a stand
but Lord, it’s easier to just get along.
Lord, I am trying to make things easy
but not make them hard,
and Lord, that’s why I’m writing you
a psalm of complacency...
because I kind of wanted to.
-Abby Kattentidt
November 9, 2008
O Lord of heaven and earth,
Lord of earth and skies
Lord of my morning and Lord of my night
You sustain me all the day long.
When the sun comes up,
I arise and call you blessed.
When the stars shine,
I collapse against my bed and breathe a final word of blessing.
From before the dawn until long past dusk,
My hands are about your business.
My limbs grow weary,
My spirit faints within me,
My mind spins out of control.
But in your infinite wisdom,
You made the night and the Sabbath.
You have blessed me with rest and peace.
In the chaos of the noontime,
Let me not forget your hand of mercy;
In the busyness of twilight,
Let me not forget the joy of my Lord,
For you, O Lord, are Lord of the Sabbath;
In you is perfect rest.
-Lisa Lockhart
22 Nov 2008
Under Woods
For the oh-so-alive and life-sheltering trees, I praise You, God.
May their roots be mine, grounded in the humility of earth.
For the green, green, life-exploding leaves, I praise You, God.
May the shade and beauty of my life comfort others.
For the rough, strong, never straight but crooked trunks, I praise You, God.
May their strength be mine, weathering storms, not seeking straight lines.
For the out-shooting, light-seeking branches, I praise You, God.
May I like them reach up to Your glory and out to the world.
For the woods, the underwood, and all that is over the woods, I thank You, God.
May I be who You made me to be and no one else.
-Sheila Underwood Vamplin
Written at Iona House, St. Columba Retreat Center
In the Spring of Two Thousand and Two
In the Great Big Scheme of Things
I’m no more useful than a speck of dust on an ant.
Tiny and with little significance,
it’s astonishing to just be here.
However,
God in His magnificence comes
with gigantic love and care
to sweetly affirm my place in His Universe
while answering
my tiny dust prayer.
Dust Affirmed.
-Susan Owings
June 4, 2008
Jim Perdue’s Psalm
I gave my life to you Lord, at the tender age of twelve,
But I let the bright lights of Satan’s attractions blind me during my teen years
And I drifted away from you, Lord.
As I entered college, a war began
so I joined the Army to do whatever I could -
for by now I felt I was a man.
The war was terrible - especially for me, a kid.
But I soon matured in battle as every kid did.
You don’t see killing all around you, or a buddy die in your arms without growing up fast.
And you wonder if this breathe will be your last.
Being promoted to platoon Sgt. of men in just a few weeks,
it was apparent that kind words were never used to give commands.
I became very proficient and articulate in the art of vulgarity and profanity - overnight.
I used this vile mouth, yelling at my men, pushing them always onward
Making them feel invincible, even though at times we were outnumbered
A COUPLE OF TIMES as much as 60 to 1 -- yet we conquered!
I’ll never know why I made it through three long, long years of these battles unscathed!
‘Cause all these years I left you out Lord - even though many times I was afraid
My mouth had to be dirty in order to get my troops to move!
Oh, God!
Please understand, God, the troops would not move if I ordered them to action with a clean tongue.
All the time I knew You were there, but I never felt I could call on you.
My language was so deplorable, so vile, so sinful.
How could I call upon you, Oh, Lord?
My mouth was too dirty to talk to you, Oh, God.
Forgive me, Oh God. Please God, take me back,
back like it was when I was twelve and had a clean mouth and clean heart.
Amen.
-Jim Perdue
Why, O God, does the suffering continue?
Why do you let my enemies rise up and win?
Why do those that love you continue to suffer day-after-day,
Struggling to feed their family?
News of more job loss and downsizing,
When will it stop?!
Have you no mercy for the people who love you?
Give me clarity, O God, to your ways.
Even in suffering, we praise you Lord!
Day-after-day, you slowly reveal your ways.
Your wisdom knows no end!
How great is Your wisdom!
Even in suffering, all is well in You!
You are our comforter,
You are our deliverer,
Draw us near to you, Lord
And reveal your glory in our suffering!
-Eddy Chester
November 19, 2008
Lord, you made the sun and stars and the moon, too.
The world looks wonderful because you made it.
You make the happiness in the world. You shine on the world.
Lord, you are the wonderful king of the world. I love you, Lord.
Lord, when we get to heaven we will run to you and give you the biggest hug ever.
Lord, I will keep your covenant where ever you want me to.
You are the biggest and the best king in the world.
I pray to you every day and you are the real God.
You are the sunshine and you make me happy.
Lord, you are my rainbow. You keep your promises.
You know how I feel every minute of the day.
-Marian Barber
Age: 7, First Grade
My Lord, My God - My Lament & Praise
Part I
Did I forsake you, O Lord? All my life, it seems, and into my my last years
I keep crying out to you day and night, but I feel you do not hear me.
My soul is full of troubles, even as I draw near to the grave, I have no strength.
Please remember me, O Lord, and do no cast off my soul. Don’t hide your face from me.
So often, even from my youth, I have longed for the grave because of my worthlessness.
Why, Why, O Lord, could I not walk in Godliness?
For you know, O Lord, that I believe with all my heart and soul in you.
Did the devil, from my youth, keep me away?
I do not want to be denied looking upon your face and knowing your righteousness,
But I am afraid, dear God - I am not what I seem to the world.
Lord, you know me, please take me soon for I cannot continue to live in the depths of my despair.
I can no longer live with disappointing you, Lord, my family and friends. Have mercy on my soul.
A New Day
Part 2
Now, O Lord - let me sing a new song! You are the rock of my salvation.
Let me come before you with praise and thanksging
and know always that your spirit is within me, and may others see you in me.
Change my heart and thoughts and deeds to reflect what you want them to be
and hold my hand for I cannot walk alone. Thank you for loving me.
Though it seems the work of man is long and tedious,
Still, I will praise you.
Though it seems that I am needed in so many places simultaneously,
Still, I will praise you.
Though it seems that my body is unwilling to continue,
Still, I will praise you.
Though it seems the world will overcome at any time,
Still, I will praise you.
Though it seems all my friends have forsaken and forgotten,
Still, I will praise you.
When the world is done and I am at home with you,
Still, I will praise you.
-Marty Leavell
November 30, 2008
When I am my shepherd, I want everything, especially things I don’t need,
And I am never satisfied.
When I am my shepherd, I look frantically for the greenest pastures for myself,
But never find what I need most.
Even if I were to find the very greenest pasture, beside the still waters, I still couldn’t lie down and sleep
because my anxious thoughts would drown out the sound of soothing streams.
When I try to be my shepherd, I take the “Path of Least Resistance”, for my sake,
So far, it has never lead me to Righteousness.
And when I walk alone, unguided through the Valley of the Shadow of Death,
I am afraid. I am Very Afraid!
By myself as shepherd, using all my best resources to guide me,
There is no comfort and I’ve tried many self comforting methods, such as:
Food; especially chocolate
Friends; all who failed me (bless their hearts)
Family; they’ve all disappointed me and with my high expectations, how could they not?
Finances; I can never make, save, or spend enough money to feel comforted.
23rd Psalm Perversion:
“When I am My Shepherd”
June 21, 2008
-Susan Owings
“Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn!”
Holy God, I will awaken the dawn.
I will wake up in the darkness, in the wee hours of the morning,
before the sun has even thought about rising in my part of the world,
and because of my gratitude and joy that only you can create in me I will wake up the morning.
So – wake up, morning! Bless this day with your light, warmth, and healing.
Say, “Good day!” to the night, and send it back to wherever it takes its darkness.
I love you, Holy God. I praise your holy name,
and I thank you for sending forth your light into sin’s darkness – into my darkness.
Thank you for shining your light on me and in me.
-Janet Whitworth
Oh, my King, where do you hide? Is it in the highest mountain that I cannot climb?
Oh, my Lord, where do you hide? Is it in the deepest heaven’s that I cannot reach?
Oh, my God, where do you hide? Is it in my heart but I cannot see?
I search in the cold black darkness...keep me from the pit that has been dug for me,
let me not stumble into the death that awaits me!
In my sins and transgressions you have hidden my tears.
I began to see the light told of so many years ago, “I am the way and the truth and the life”.
I have nothing to give...my money, my wit, my failing words...with empty hands, oh Christ, I come, I come.
Your light fills the cold darkness, your hand covers the pit.
Your love upon the cross; my sins and transgressions are covered.
Your ressurrection; that I may have life eternal.
Your are the Christ who found me; your love...I see, I see.
-BNB
You Are All I Need
You are each breath I take
Every next step I make.
You’re the joy on my face
The giver of amazing grace.
You’re the gentle wind in my sail
Your comforting promises never fail
You are my calm when storm clouds blow
You’re the yes, when reason says no.
You’re my strength when I am worn
And my wisdom when I’m torn
When danger threatens and fear creeps in
I know You’re there to protect, defend.
The healer of my broken heart
Offering hope for another fresh start
You fill my soul with immeasurable peace
Freedom from guilt, full release.
My life is Yours; You paid the price
A holy, sinless sacrifice
You gave Your life, Your love, Your all
My gift seems paltry, worthless and small
In trembling hands I bring my heart
And humbly lay it at Your throne.
You smile and say, “Fear not, my child,
I know you well; You are my own”.
How can I not give you praise? How can I hold back my voice?
Reflecting your glory must fill my days
I’ve no regrets; I’ve made my choice
I’ve no regrets; I’ve made my choice.
-Janie Calloway
May 1, 2007
Prayers/Psalms
#1
I know I should pray tonight, but I don’t know what to say. I should have
asked for prayers in class; I didn’t. The pain was too close to the surface; it still is. I can’t pray, God. I don’t want to be here; I don’t want to be anywhere. I don’t want to exist. I’m not feeling your unconditional love; I just can’t feel it!
Sounds like some major self-pity, doesn’t it? Maybe it is. I’m tired of trying: I’m tired of struggling; I’m tired of having joy and peace for a moment, knowing the darkness will return. It always does.
Yes, Lord, I know you are with me in the darkness, but I can praise you better when you surround me with your light. I praise you now, Lord, even though I can’t even sense your brightness. You are here with me now – right? I praise you from the middle of my heavy, dark cloud. Will you please blow that cloud away? Will you please consider just blowing me away, too?
I’m sorry, Lord. I want to be your daughter, but sometimes I just can’t be the full of faith woman you want me to be. Thank you for listening. Good night, Lord. I love you.
#2
Almighty God, You are my Shepherd, you are my Leader, you are my Comforter.
Knowing that gives me courage to keep going, when I want to stop, when I don’t want to keep trying, when I want to give up the struggle. Lamb of God, I come to you.
Shepherd of the fold, I come running, running, running
#3
Sometimes I feel like a book with no title, like some of my chapters are missing, like my life started off on the wrong page, or in the middle, or at the end of the wrong page. My sentences don’t begin with capital letters and most of the time they end in the middle with a question mark. I have no clear sense of direction, and when I do get a glimpse, my map goes all blurry, and I don’t understand the legend.
Lord, please carry me over the rough spots that so frighten and discourage me, and don’t set me down again until I am strong and the ground is safe. When I feel even a moment of peace, a hint of wholeness, let me not grasp it as if I might lose it and never get back. I thank you, Father, for that moment, and I trust that you will keep me safe through the dark hours. Then, when the scary times come back, please remind me of these moments of wholeness and peace which lifted the burden for a time.
#4
Thank you for giving me a rock, a firm place to stand, especially when I feel so insecure in my body and mind and heart, and my legs are shaky. Thank you for taking the shakiness out of the ground on which I stand. Thank you for standing me in your grace. Catch my smile, Lord, as I lift my face toward you.
Please warm me with your smile throughout this day, and direct me to someone who needs the blessing of a smile.
#5
Good morning, Holy God! Thank you for the hope I have in Jesus. Thank you for the knowing that you are with me now and that you will continue to be with me throughout the hours ahead. You are with me when I feel strong; you are giving me strength. You are with me when I feel weak; you are still giving me strength. When I feel down and desolate; you lift me up. Please help me just get out of your way, today, Lord. I praise you; you make my heart sing.
-Janet Whitworth
Oh, God, Why have you abandoned us?
I look around your world and I see so much suffering.
So many people hungry, dying, hurting, displaced, homeless, scared, sick, and abused.
Where are you, Lord?
Do you see the suffering?
Do you care about us at all?
How long will we live in dispair?
You spoke the world into existence.
I know that with a whisper, with a thougth, you could deliver us from this pain.
Turn your eyes to us, O God.
Your creation cries out to you.
Please deliver us from evil.
-Anonymous
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