That's Just Love Sneaking Up On You

Like any other day
I set out for my morning walk with the pups

The sky was still mostly grey
With an ever-so-slight
Hint of a new day breaking

Across the street
To the path
Up the street and around the corner

I thought I was alone
And lo and behold
There You were

Your calming light
Peaking over the mountain
Dancing on the treetops

Again You've blessed me



Today I Pray

Lord, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day.

May I never be too busy
Or too consumed to remember
That You are walking beside me

Having Faith

Today I Pray...

...that I remember, and remind others
to turn to You in times of hardship

...that I remember to trust in your plan

...that I respect the boundaries
of my role in helping others with decisions
that are theirs

...that I have faith
in the fact that if You bring us to it
You'll bring us through it


Thank You for the blessings of this day.
...for the love of my family
...for the warmth of my home
...for giving my life purpose

Thank You for this day.

In Every Moment

We all have our moments...

...the split second
when our world
somehow changes

Sometimes it changes
for the better

Sometimes
for the worse

But we all have those moments

The moment...

...when we first let our voice be heard
...or learn to ride a bike

...when we say, "I do"
...or hear our newborn baby's cry

The moment...

...when we are laughed at
...or fall off that bike

...when our heart stops because
the phone rings in the middle of the night

...or we realize
that somehow we cheated disaster

The moments...

...when we stand tall
...our eyes welled up
with tears of joy and pride

...or fall to our knees
...and weep in sorrow

Good or bad,
In every moment...

I know You are there

You are the one
who lifts me up
yet keeps me grounded

You are the one
who reminds me to breathe
and helps me get back on my feet

You are the one
who is there
....in every moment


Photo from Google images


Today I Pray...

...for Your grace

Help me to see
the blessings
that surround me

And find comfort
in Your presence

Help me
to make and see
the very best

...of every moment


"Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice." Isaiah 41:10

It Pours

They say that 'when it rains, it pours'
And we know it to be true

Good news or bad
It always seems
to come like a storm

Through a storm of good news
we splash in the puddles
sing in the rain
and find ourselves chasing rainbows

A storm of good news
is delight
It's bliss
It's easy

Through storms of hard times
How our attitude changes

We retreat when we can
And when we have to face the storm
We put our heads down
And run like crazy
To dodge the rain

Oh to learn
to weather any storm
with our heads turned
towards the heavens

To let the waters wash over us
Bathe us with His grace

And ask not
for the skies to stop
But to learn
how to smile through the rain



Today I Pray...

...that I might see the beauty
in the storm clouds

...that I learn to turn my gaze to the heavens
instead of trying to dodge the rain

...for faith in Your plan
and perseverance to see it through

Please stay...
....and dance with me in the rain

It Doesn't Matter

Some say that prayer
doesn't matter

It's a useless waste of time

That no one
hears your cries
and most certainly
no one answers

Some say it doesn't matter

I say
Perhaps they're right...

It doesn't matter...
...what color your skin
...or the color of your hair

It doesn't matter if...
...you're young or old
...weak or strong
...woman or man
...rich or poor
...Gentile or Jew

Prayer is about faith.

It's about believing
in something bigger than you

It's about asking
for God's guiding hand
Upon your shoulder

It's about opening your eyes
and ears
and trusting in His plan

It's about realizing
...even in the darkest hours
That you are exactly where
you are meant to be

And in those hours
It's about
finding light
...and purpose
...and His unfailing love




Today I Pray...

...for the believers

that you continue
to find comfort
in His love

...for the doubters

that you take a moment
to consider the possibilities
that are born of faith

...for the non-believers

that you consider that perhaps
there is an alternate truth to your words
...It doesn't matter

"Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive." Matthew 21:21-22

So Am I

"I'm happy!" she said

in her sweet little voice.

"So am I!" sang a chorus of friends.

And they laughed and played

and skipped around the yard.

"I'm hungry," he said

as he rubbed his grumbling belly.

"Me too!" roared his friends

who followed him into the kitchen.

"I'm scared," she cried
as lightening illuminated the sky

"So am I," shrieked her friends

and they huddled together

away from the storm.

She cried out in the dark,

"I'm stressed."

"I'm nervous."

"I'm anxious."

"So am I," echoed back in a breeze.

And a chorus of friends

who understood

Held her up while she learned to breathe

That day she finally caught her breath

She heard the words

He'd been speaking all along

The wisdom of ages

Simple abundance

Grace

"My child, you are never alone."

Today I Pray...

...with a grateful heart

Thank you for showing me

that no matter what I am feeling

I am never alone in my emotions

Hold me steady as I find courage

to share more

Help me to trust that in sharing

I will heal

And maybe help others

who are bearing similar burdens

Help me to see the many ways

that I can learn from others

I also say a special prayer

for courage

for anyone

who is feeling lonely

or scared, or anxious

...open your heart,

trust...

and know you're not alone.

"Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you." Genesis 28:15

Unspoken

A thousand words left unspoken
Sometime
The silence hurts

Try though we may
To say what's on our minds
Sometimes
Silence
Hangs between us like
A thick curtain

In those moments
Void of your reassuring
Voice

I admit I fill the gaps
With worries

What did I do?
Why are you upset?
Don't I make you happy?

But then I try to
Remind myself
What I've learned
Over the years

To trust
What I know
Over the feeling
of silence

And remember
that even I
Like to be alone
With my thoughts
Sometimes

So I hold my breath
Giving you
More air to
Breathe

And I wait
For the cue
To exhale

Sometimes it's
Your booming laughter

Or a hug
held a moment longer

Or your head
upon my shoulder

Or a moment of vulnerability
when you share
the thoughts that had
stolen your words

But the beautiful thing
Is that you
Never fail me



Today I Pray...

...that your worries are few

...that you always know He is with you
no matter what thoughts weigh on your mind

...that we continue to respect each other's need to breathe

...and find ways to share the weight of each other's load

...that you know you can trust in me, like I trust in you


"Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

A New Day

Rise and stretch
Breathe deep

Let the glory of the day
Wash over me

Help me, Lord, to be
the person
that You want me to be

Let Your pure and guiding light
Radiate from within

Pure goodness
Pure truth
Pure love

Help me to know
When and what to question
When and what to trust

Keep your steadying hand
Upon my shoulder

Hold the mirror up for me
Help me to see and appreciate my strengths
And humbly acknowledge my weaknesses

Give me the strength and grace
To stay true to myself
and most importantly

...To You



Today I Pray...

...for a positive attitude to carry me

...for grace and humility

...and for a deepened awareness of
Your unfailing presence in my life

Be My Guide

Following carefully
As you light each step

We've come so far
But I suddenly feel
Very afraid

Like I'm standing in darkness
And the path has disappeared
Leaving scattered stepping stones
In a swirling stream

I know You are with me
But I can't hear you
Over the rushing waters

I don't know
Where we're going
Nor do I know my way back
From where we came

Please don't let go
of my hand

Forever be
my Guide



Today I Pray...

...for open ears to hear You

...for Your light on the Path

...for inner peace that comes
from putting my trust in You

"Behold the rainbow! Then bless its Maker, for majestic indeed is its splendor." Sirach, 43: 11

Jubilation!

Through my open window
I hear birds singing
a triumphant song

...The storm has passed! Alleluia!

Undaunted by the grey clouds
Forming in the distance
The birds twirl and dance
Against the blue skies

A joyful celebration of the here and now!



Today I Pray...

...for faith to move mountains
and free my mind of worry

...help me learn to trust

...so that like the birds
I sing a song to celebrate the moment

Enjoy the Silence

I asked and
You answered

A gentle quiet has settled
in my mind
Like the hush that
Overcomes an audience
When the house lights dim

For this moment
I enjoy the silence
and wait
in quiet anticipation

Watching
...Listening carefully
...for the Conductor's cue



Today I Pray...

...for patience as I wait
...for open ears to hear
...for confidence
...to know what note to play

Quiet Inspiration

Today I find myself...surrounded by silence.

All I can hear is the gentle purr of the computer

Yet outside my window...
...there must be a symphony playing.
...the birds are dancing
...the trees are swaying to the beat
...even the grass is keeping rhythm.

I often pray that I will hear Your message to me...
...and know the path that you want me to take.

Yet this morning I am reminded that
even when we can't hear...
...there is still a symphony playing
...and we must join in the dance.

"But I believe I shall enjoy the Lord's goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!" Psalms 27:13-14

Optimism

Today I Pray...

...for the energy that comes from a positive attitude.

When others see the glass as half empty...

...Help me to see it as half full.

When others say "That's can't be done."

...Give me the confidence to say, "I believe it can..."

When other's give up...

...Give me the fortitude to stay and make it so.

Help me too,

...to remember the feeling of going it alone.

Help me to remember...

...to support, encourage, and assist where I can.

...to give others the boost they need

to move in the direction of their dreams.

Nothing is impossible with You.

It is in believing and trusting this...

...that I find comfort, joy and peace.

Out of the Fog

Today I Pray...

...please take my hand and guide me

i've been walking in the fog

not darkness, not light

blindly fumbling

trusting

believing

sure that you are with me

yet worried that i can't find the path

guide me

walk with me

stay with me as i find my way

out of the fog

No Worries

Today I Pray...

...for no worries.

What good comes from burdening our hearts and minds with worry?
...Worry that only serves to distract me from all the positive things in my life.
...Worry that doesn't make me stronger, but instead cripples me.

Help me today to turn my concerns over to you...

...to remember to celebrate the joys in my life
....to stay focused on doing what I'm meant to do
...and enjoy the quiet peace that comes from knowing that Your plan for me is perfect
....and there is simply no need or place for worry.

Let it shine.

The Journey

A breath of air
A single step
A joyful laugh
A tear

A hug, a kiss
"Be careful. Don't be late."

Cars whizzing
Strangers passing
New friends and old
Home sweet home

Shiny and new,
Job, city, love, home, family
Climbing the ladder
Walking the path

Sometimes by myself
Yet never alone

A breath of air
A single step
The journey begins and ends with You.



Today I pray for awareness. That I see and appreciate all the good that You present to me every day. That I embrace the journey with the passion that it deserves. That I stay focused on the infinite possibilities that exist because of You.

Guide & Protect

Today I pray...

...for strength to walk on the path where you are guiding me.

...for the calm that comes from knowng that You will never give me more than I can handle.

...for Your protection over my family.

...let them feel Your unconditional love wash over them and fill their hearts with abundant joy.

...for confidence to move in the direction of my dreams -- knowing that you are with me every step of the way.

and You did.

i asked You to light a path for me and You did.

the rain pounded on the roof like hands beating on a steel drum.
steady. certain. rain.

when i realized that You are the one and only rainmaker -- the rain stopped, and the sun shone bright -- and i knew You were still there.

i will never forget today and Your message like a gentle breeze across my face.

i asked You to light a path for me and You did.

thank You for answering my prayers.

simplicity

Today I pray quite simply....

...Let me let You.

Let it Shine

Today I pray...

...that the wave of anxiousness passes.

...that I remember to hand my worries over to You.

...that I breathe in the goodness that surrounds me .

...that Your presence in my life shines through and warms the soul of a friend in need.