Dear Lord,
Thank you for this
beautiful morning
and my eyes opening
to see it
once more.
Every breath
is a gift
even if I am troubled
from time to time
to see it that way,
and all the moments
granted to me
in this life
are precious.
Please help me to realize
the great potential
in this new day
to start completely fresh
if I so choose
and fill today
with so much
thanks
and joy
and love
that I will be happy
to call this day my last
if I am not granted
a tomorrow.
Be with me
every second
and minute
and hour,
Dear Lord,
my finest company.

(156)

Lord,
Grant me the
persistent and evolving
courage
to do right,
to be good,
to spread joy,
to nourish compassion,
and to be
a beacon of love
shining out
for you
and all creation to see
in the faithful hope
that the positive
will always trump
the negative
and that my existence
will prove all the more
worthwhile
by, more often than not,
supporting and sharing
what I am in favor of
rather than
simply fighting against
what I oppose.
I am in favor of you,
Dear Lord,
and your abundant love
for all your children,
and I am determined
to remain positive and open
as you lead me
back to you.
Today,
grant me the wisdom
to view my life
just how you intended me
to view it;
full of hopeful promise
and optimistic love.
For this I pray,
Amen.

(155)

Lord,
Thank you
for the ability
to make with my life
whatever I so choose
and instilling in me
the desire to choose
to follow
you.
Hone in me
a deeper sense
and acceptance
of your plan
for my life,
and may my missteps
as I try to complete that plan
be small ones
so that I may bounce back
to my feet
quickly
and follow you
diligently.
More than anything,
may I choose
to not abuse
this free will
you have given me
but instead to treat it
exactly like
the gift that it is
and celebrate
my inspiring opportunity
to love
and heal
and build up
and bring together
all of you children
through service
and compassionate care.
Make with my life
what you may,
Dear Lord,
and I will follow you
anywhere.

(154)

Lord,
When my life
here one earth
is all said and done,
make the words
that I have spoken
and the acts
that I have taken
resonate and resound
in retrospect
perpetually across
the earth’s horizon
not so much so that
I will be remembered
but so that
those who I leave behind
will continue to clearly see
the glory and praises
I have tried to give
to the God that I love
and may be inclined
to carry on giving
glory and praises
to you
for ages and ages
to come.
I try valiantly now
to abundantly live with
love
and compassion
and gratitude
for all of my blessings,
and I hope that my
beloved brethren
know that I am truly
here for all of them
in your name
and will continue
to do your work
for as long as I shall live.
Grant me perspective today,
Dear Lord,
to know that I can and will
affect others,
and make my affections
that much more potent
in glory to you
and in honor of the life
you have given me
to love
and be loved
in kind.
Amen.

(153)

Lord,
I do not want to spew
any hatred
or judgement
or rejection
on any of my brethren,
so strengthen in me
a lucid heart
that ardently and clearly beats
to love you
and all people
I encounter
always.
We have too much
hate in this world
as it is;
strike from my imperfect bones
any impetuous inclination
to do anyone wrong,
to cause any pain,
to spread any darkness,
and instead
build me up
with the courage
to fight against injustice done
to any of your children
and brilliantly light up
all the places I go
with peace and
deep compassion.
We need much more
love in this world,
Dear Lord.
Please make me
a conduit for just that,
much more love,
and may it flow through me
freely
as I sign of my devotion
to you
and my commitment
to serve
all of your children.

(152)

Lord,
Today I ask you
humbly
to take special care
of those who are
in need
yet do not express
their distress.
So many hurt
in silence;
so whisper softly
to them
that it is alright
to speak up,
and grant them
the courage
to do so.
And for those
who are in need
and who I could help
yet who’s call
I have yet to hear,
be with them now
and guide me to
their side
promptly
so that I may do
what I can to
in service to you
and in the hope
of loving another
as I would love
to be loved
in turn.
Amen.

(151)

Beloved,
No one knows
the moment
when we all will pass
from this world.
Therefore,
let us fully realize
our potential
to make every day
meaningful
by filling each
with as much
love
and service
and joy
as possible.
I believe
that my time is best spent
in the care of
my brethren,
and I intend to spend
as many moments
and breaths
and heartbeats
that I am gifted
in my lifetime
caring
for all that I am worth.
Today,
Dear Lord,
allow me to seize
every opportunity
laid out before me
to love
like there may actually be
no tomorrow,
believing
whole-heartedly
and happily
that that is just
what you would
like me
to do.
Amen.

(150)