virtue

All our life is sown with tiny thorns that produce in our hearts a thousand
involuntary moments of hatred, envy, fear, impatience, a thousand little
fleeting disappointments, a thousand slight worries, a thousand disturbances
that momentarily alter our peace of soul. For example, a word escapes that
should not have been spoken. Or someone says something that offends us. A child
inconveniences you. A bore stops you. You don't like the weather. Your work is
not going according to plan. A piece of furniture is broken. A dress is
torn.

I know that these are not occasions for practicing very heroic virtue. But
they would definitely be enough to acquire it if we really wished to.

~ St. Claude la Columbiere (1641-82), a Jesuit preacher

song of my heart #2

Tell me I'm forgiven and loved
'Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On how God is love and we can be clean
But my joy has been on holiday
And my peace has almost passed away
Tell me I'm forgiven and free

O I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation
But I bought the lie I still have work to do
Now I'm working nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in you

O whisper to me now that it's for real
'Cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal
Dirty deeds have done me in
O but that can't stop the faithful friend
Giving mercy once again as you heal
Here it is I'm feeling it

O he died, he died to rectify my hopeless situation
And his blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand
Empty pockets, open hands
O there is no condemnation for me

Child, you're forgiven and loved
Child, you're forgiven and loved
Child, you're forgiven
And child, you are loved
Child, you're forgiven and loved

~Jimmy Needham, Not Without Love

song of my heart #1

Savior, please take my hand
I work so hard, I live so fast
This life begins, and then it ends
And I do the best that I can,
but I don't know how long I'll last

I try to be so tough
But I'm just not strong enough
I can't do this alone,
God I need you to hold on to me
I try to be good enough
But I'm nothing without your love
Savior, please keep saving me

Savior, please help me stand
I fall so hard, I fade so fast
Will you begin right where I end
And be the God of all I am
because you're all I have

Hallelujah
Everything you are to me
Is everything I'll ever need
And I am learning to believe
That I don't have to prove a thing
'Cause you're the one who's saving me

~Josh Wilson, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup