PRAYING TWICE

Although “He who sings [well] prays twice” is a quote often attributed to St. Augustine, after research it seems to be an anonymous proverb, originally bene cantat bis orat. 

What St. Augustine actually wrote in his commentary on Psalm 74 is translated, “He who sings praises, not only praises, but praises joyfully.” Another spin-off from the original thought is "He who sings Scripture, prays twice." Be that as it may, through the ages Christian believers have joyfully sung their faith and praised and adored God with thoughts and words based on the Scriptures.

I have two hymnbooks available beside me when I read the Scriptures and pray and they are both part of my daily communication with God; one is my lifetime familiar classic Protestant hymnal, and the other is the hymnal we use in our Catholic parish. Both are full of rich praises based on Scripture. I sing and pray from them both.

The beautiful Catholic hymns at first were new to me and are now beloved, such as Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All; Holy God, We Praise Thy Name; Jesus, Remember Me; O Sacrament Most Holy; and On Eagles' Wings. The Catholic hymnal also contains dozens of hymns from my Protestant background such as How Great Thou Art; Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today; Joyful, Joyful We Adore You; O God, Our Help in Ages Past; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling; Come, Thou Almighty King; and Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God.

Seeking to encourage my friend who is in the midst of storms of life involving the suffering of his “earth suit,” his mortal body, I was struck by how many hymns pick up on the theme of Jesus, the Rock, our Refuge and Shelter, and our hiding place. They are based on Scriptures such as Psalm 61:6 and 7, “God only is my rock and salvation, my stronghold...my refuge....” “They drank from the spiritual Rock that accompanied them, and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). “He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty...He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge...” (Psalm 91:1,4).

There is a time to stand courageously and fight the battles of life. But in our human weakness and pain there are also times to hide in a place of safety and quiet and peace protected from the storm. Some of the precious hymns express these rich thoughts: “O safe to the Rock that is higher than I, My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly...So weary...Thine would I be...Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee...How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe, I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe, How often, when trials like sea billows roll, Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.” And from another hymn: “The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time of storm, Secure whatever ill betide...O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land...the raging storms may round us beat...we'll never leave our safe retreat...be Thou our Helper ever near...A shelter in the time of storm.” And “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee....”

It is not cowardly to take shelter under God's wings and let the storm pass by. It is prudent. “Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of life's wild, restless sea” inviting us who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him. “There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God, a place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God, Hold us who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God.”

PILOT ON BOARD

There is another way for a ship to be guided into a harbor besides being pulled by a tugboat. This analogy might be even more relevant to our spiritual lives. Not only to our final journey of life but for guidance in all of life's seasons when we may be sailing through unfamiliar waters.

When navigating the Portland seaport 100 miles inland from the sea, harbor pilots are needed to maneuver large ocean vessels all the way in. These men are specialists on the river channel. By prior arrangement the pilot meets the ocean vessel well beyond the river bar and he is taken on board directly to the pilothouse of the ship. 

From the moment of his arrival, the safety of the vessel is in the hands of this specialist. He has spent his life on this river and knows every sandbar, shallow shoal, and treacherous current. He can guarantee safe passage from the ocean all the way to a safe docking in Portland. He is well respected, highly paid, and much sought after. During busy seasons ships are willing to lie at anchor in the ocean awaiting their turn for this expert.

Yet this highly specialized navigator never touches the wheel of the ship and never issues an order to the engine room. He just stands behind the captain informing him what to do and what orders to issue and what necessary corrections to make in the ship's course. Although he is essential to the safety of the ship, he does not steer the ship. At any point the captain can refuse to follow his orders. The ultimate decision is the captain's, and the consequences of those decisions rest upon his shoulders.

Similarly, the Holy Spirit does not enter our life to take its control out of our hands. He enters at our request as a highly specialized Guide through waters and courses well known to Him but totally new to us. He stands beside us in the control room of our life, our spirit, (Romans 8:9-17) and faithfully, but ever so gently, instructs us in the way we should go. 

The issuing of the commands in our life is left up to us. “Walking in the Spirit” as the Scripture tells us to do (Galatians 5:16 and 25; Romans 8:4) means accepting the Spirit's guidance, His suggestions, and His instructions. He may speak ever so firmly, but He will never violate the free will with which God has endowed us. He doesn't command our life through force. We must invite His guidance. (Psalm 25: 4, 5, 8-15)

Dear Indwelling Holy Spirit, come into the control room of my spirit. Stay with me to guide me through the new and unfamiliar waters of my life so that the breakers will not break me or cause me to fear. I want to be sensitive to Your gentle whispers to keep me on course and malleable to Your instructions as You guide me to safe harbor.

WHEN YOU CAN'T HANG ON

 (For my friend in need and for whomever else it is relevant)

Just before my lung cancer surgery years ago at the University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, my relatives with whom I was staying took me to Fulton, Missouri where we toured the Westminster Memorial Library. Perhaps they thought to divert my mind from the life threatening major surgery I was facing. 

On one level an oversize statue of Winston Churchill took up the entire corner. A small boy about age six and his mother were looking at the statue. Since Churchill was sculpted in a seated position, the child suddenly took a notion to slip under the guard ropes and climb up on the immense stone lap of Churchill.

"Oh! Be careful!" cried his mother. "Don't fall!"

The youngster replied, "If he was real, he'd hold on to me!" Out of the mouth of babes!

Yes, real people care for and hold on to children who find themselves in precarious circumstances. My friend, you are the Lord's child, and you are in a precarious place right now in your illness. I pray that God will be as real to you as He ever was during your active ministry when you were in the full bloom of health. God is not a powerless statue unable to hold on to you. You can't slip from His embrace when you become too weak to hold on to Him.

No matter how well prepared we think we are for crisis times in our lives, when we are in the midst of physical traumas, we feel weak and incredibly helpless. We don't even have the strength to climb onto God's lap let alone hold on to the Him. We want to be strong and brave. We want to be an example of a believer, of a servant of God who has it all together. But in times of physical debilitation we may feel like a limp, deflated balloon.

When I was in the midst of my surgical adventure, I fully intended to pray a lot while lying in my hospital bed. I planned on being a spiritual example, a witness. I memorized Scripture promises in advance to recite and give me courage. But when the time came, my fuzzy, medicated, anesthetized mind couldn't recall any of them. I simply couldn't think deep, spiritual thoughts, or even formulate decent prayers. In fact, I struggled to think any thoughts! I was disappointed in myself. I was back to helpless, infant basics without the ability to care for or control myself. I just had to be quiet and let God hold me close. And that was okay.

Lord, please hold on to my friend in this critical time of his need. Invite him to climb up on Your big lap and snuggle up while You put Your strong arms around him. Let him experience You as “Abba, Father.” Let him just rest in You and cease from struggling to act brave or exemplary. Embrace him to Yourself and release the Holy Spirit within him in His fullness to "blanket” him about in His role as “Comforter.”

“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power” 

(Isaiah 40:29).

FISH JUMPING INTO MY BOAT!

As I roll out of bed to my knees beside my bed in the morning, (not easy anymore in my 90^th year—well, easy enough to get down, but more difficult to get back up again!) my close friends know that I make it a habit to pray: 

“Lord, bring into my life today anyone and everyone whom You want in my life, or whose life You want me to touch and bless for You. Bring all and only what is in Your purpose for me today, and keep away all other things and people that might distract me from doing Your will ‘on earth as it is in Heaven.’” 

 

God always answers prayer. So I conclude that everything and everyone I encounter each day is filtered through God’s ordained plan just as callers are screened by a producer on call-in talk shows. I count on God to be my “Day Planner.” I don't view anything, therefore, as an interruption or disappointment but as God’s appointment for me. That includes anyone who touches my life in person, by snail mail, phone call, e-mail, thought, reminder to pray, knock on my door, through my web site, blog, and any other means that the Holy Spirit may choose to use. I normally have busy days and a tight writing schedule, but I recognize that whatever happens to change that is actually an answer to my prayer. 

I want to answer Jesus' call to be “a fisher of men” and draw people toward the Kingdom of God. But the bottom line is that I dare to ask the Holy Spirit to reverse the normal modes of fishing and cause fish to jump into my boat! Then I wait on tiptoes of anticipation for God’s serendipity surprises.

Impossible? Ridiculous? A foolish prayer? Not really. Some fisher-persons sit in the shade on a river bank dozing while they dangle their fish pole over the water with some likely bait on the hook. Some wade out into the water in rubber hip boots and try their hand at fly fishing, casting their line where they think the fish might be lurking and hungry. In some places they attempt to spear fish one by one as they see them swimming in shallow waters. Still others cast a wide net and attempt to drag in unsuspecting schools of fish. In the process they sometimes pull in unwanted, inedible debris that may be floating around. All the above methods of fishing are good and some fish are caught. All ways of fishing have spiritual analogies. 

Occasionally I've come across a story in the media that at certain places, in certain seasons, and under certain conditions fish actually do jump into a fishing boat—a reverse phenomenon! I’ve viewed it on a sportsmen’s TV show. I boldly pray for that to happen on a daily basis. I ask God to bring to me those whom He will choose to dialog with me on spiritual matters, challenge me to grow in the Lord, correct or encourage me in my spiritual journey, or give me an opportunity to help others mature in Christ, and counsel and pray for them in their struggles. I pray that God will sort them out so that only those with whom He wants me to spend time and prayer will "jump into my boat." I make it a practice to “catch and release”—I pray for God's wisdom to nurture them during our encounters before I release them back into the water of their own circumstances.

It doesn’t matter to me how few or how many people-fish respond. I’m not going to count their number like Saint Peter did after Jesus caused the miraculous catch of fish after His resurrection.

Often God launches these precious encounters through unexpected e-mail messages in my inbox. Someone might have read one of my books or heard a CD or a friend suggested they write me. Or someone has found my blog and begun reading my posts, or discovered me through Facebook. Or someone is ill and reaches out to me in their discouragement. Or a long ago friend has just found me again. Or a person wants to come visit me or invites me to lunch. Or has a problem to unburden and needs counsel, or asks me to pray for them, or wants to share a joy, or simply needs a cyber hug. Often we do a cyber happy-dance together. 

In former years I traveled throughout the world in person to “fish” and minister in conventional ways of witness and teaching. In my advanced years it is thrilling to live in an age of electronic wonders where space and time are almost irrelevant in communication. My books are not only read in print but through electronic means. What an unique opportunity and privilege to touch through cyberspace people across the world, many I've never met, who are on their own varied spiritual journeys! I welcome them to jump into my boat whatever their reason and for however long a season!

LESSONS FROM A SEE-SAW

Life is full of ups and downs. When we are on the low end of a see-saw through illness or trials of various kinds, God has His own way of lifting us up. It may seem like a strange way to us. I share this for the encouragement of some friends who are flying low.

"But He [God] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:9,10)

Isn't it true that we step out of our comfort zone when we feel weak and helpless? We have a feeling that our strength is leaking out. Today I can well imagine that you feel weakness because it seems that your life is spinning out of control. How could this be a good thing? There is something exciting and extraordinary to discover with the apostle Paul in that verse. God allows us to become weak on purpose! It is only because He loves us so much and wants to work through us that He actually may reduce our personal strength.

Apparently, only in my personal weakness can I experience God's strength. When I am strong and able to cope and in control, God's power is less evident in and through me. As my own strength decreases, HIS strength increases in me. It is like a see-saw: When I am UP, His power is DOWN; When I am DOWN--low on my own power--I can experience the LIFT of God's mighty power surge.

Your illness has doubtless left you low on natural and physical power. You don't seem to be firing on all cylinders no matter how hard you try to accelerate in your own strength or with boosters to your immune system. Spiritually, emotionally, mentally, there is no such thing as a "FIVE HOUR ENERGY BOOST" to drink from a little bottle! Far from being bad news, however, your weakness puts you in an ideal position for the Lord to pour His power into you and through you in witness to others who watch your response to your trials.  Paul learned this lesson precisely because God DIDN'T ANSWER his earnest, persistent, pleading prayers! It may not be the Lord's will to take away your present suffering, but to give you an opportunity to internalize God's answer to Paul as your very own: "My grace [God's grace] is sufficient for you."

God didn't use Paul in spite of his weakness, but because of it. With Martin Luther we can affirm, "Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing." I doubt that neither you nor I have enough of our own strength to confide in anyway, right? 

Our best position is to realistically recognize and accept our weakness, lean heavily on His strength, and yes, even "delight in our weakness" as Paul learned to do. Because Paul was naturally strong and able, for him to take joy in weakness was something that he had to learn--as do we. 

"...Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts..." is God's way of doing things. (Zechariah 4:6)

A MATTER OF ASHES

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days of Lent in the church calendar. At Mass this morning we had the opportunity to have a little cross marked on our forehead with ashes. It was a reminder to all that our BODIES are mortal: dust we are, and to dust we shall return, and that Life is fragile and temporary here on Planet Earth.

All of us are terminal. 100% of us will no longer be around in 150 years. No exception. We are on our journey to eternal life either to be with God or to spend forever elsewhere without Him. Some of us may know a little more precisely when we might cross over into the "no more time" dimension of Eternity—at least a guesstimate, if we have a terminal illness or if we are advanced in age. To others that crossover time may come suddenly, unexpectedly, by an accident. Sooner or later we will all leave our mortal bodies behind—but our undying, immortal SOULS will be launched to another Destination. They are incorruptible!

I have had the awesome, solemn privilege (yes, even joy) to accompany many friends to their final Launching Pad by mail, phone, in person, by email or by my published words. Primarily by prayer. Some of them I have never met in person. We know each other in the spirit. We have walked together down that road and I have bid them goodbye. But because they were in friendship with God, their souls are alive and well and retain their identity. Jesus said so in John 11:26. The Church teaches that they are aware and able to pray for us. So we are only temporarily separated and we will meet again. The veil between us may be thin indeed. That makes their sad departure joyful at the same time.

Currently the Lord has bonded me with several dear ones who are probably on their final journey "Home." I am walking with them toward the Light as they make their way through the darkness of their struggles and pain. God is straightening out the crooked ways and making the rough places smooth. To one of them I have just written the words below.

“You have faithfully taught the Word of God, my friend. You have encouraged and comforted others and pointed them toward the moment when their soul launches from this mortal planet to their immortal life. This is the ultimate event we all look forward to as Christian believers. If suffering and pain and weakness should accompany your own departure now, I pray that you will keep your eyes on 'the joy that is set before you' as Jesus our Savior did when He faced the suffering of the Cross. This is what our lives in Christ are all about, isn't that so? Others have gone on ahead, and God has appointed that one day it will be our turn.

After Jesus' resurrection when Peter overheard what He spoke prophetically about John's death, (John 21:19) He used the words '....by what kind of death he should glorify God....' I guess Jesus expects our death to somehow glorify Him, to be a witness to others of our faith, and to honor the Lord during that crowning final moment of our life. So it must be possible, and Jesus will be there never leaving or forsaking us.

When I was praying for you this morning, the words of the hymn below kept coming to my mind. I found a version online with a couple of extra verses that I had never seen before. So I prayed it for you. The analogy by the hymn writer is that at the end of our lives we are HEADING INTO THE SAFE HARBOR, TOWARD SHORE, TOWARD HOME not OUT TO THE UNKNOWN SEA somewhere unfamiliar and scary. That puts a whole different spin on our leaving this earth, doesn't it?

Often a big ship needs a tugboat, very small in comparison but nevertheless a mighty, powerful 'Pilot Boat' to pull it through the crowded harbor and hidden rocks toward its dock. The pilot of the big ship must relinquish control and let the Pilot Boat pull it along. The Pilot Boat has the chart and compass and knows how to navigate safely. No analogy is perfect of course, but think of JESUS AS YOUR PILOT through whatever treacherous seas and fierce waves might lie ahead of you. He is strong enough to pull you through all your physical, mental, and emotional struggles, pain, and fears. He will hold you fast by the line with which you are tethered.

Jesus will take control if you relax and rest in Him. Trust Him and He will guide you safely into the Harbor of Heaven where your Welcome Celebration Party is being planned. The 'great cloud of witnesses' will be on hand to cheer and welcome you. (And for sure, all of your friends and loved ones who know Jesus will soon enough be following you—and then you will be part of the Welcoming Committee for them! It is just a matter of time.) This is what you have been faithfully preaching all your life, my friend. Now you get to experience it firsthand whenever the Lord chooses the right time for you. That will be your ultimate healing!

Although the language is somewhat archaic, the words of this classic hymn are relevant not only to those of us nearing Heaven, but for all of us in any season of life. We need Jesus as our Pilot whether we are young, in prime of life, or advanced in age.”

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

While th’ Apostles’ fragile bark
Struggled with the billows dark,
On the stormy Galilee,
Thou didst walk upon the sea;
And when they beheld Thy form,
Safe they glided through the storm.

Though the sea be smooth and bright,
Sparkling with the stars of night,
And my ship’s path be ablaze
With the light of halcyon days,
Still I know my need of Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

When the darkling heavens frown,
And the wrathful winds come down,
And the fierce waves, tossed on high,
Lash themselves against the sky,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me,
Over life’s tempestuous sea.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will,
When Thou sayest to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
’Twixt me and the Peaceful Rest,
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

Happy Chinese New Year!

All of the best festivity of the Chinese New Year to you on Thursday, February 19, 2015!

It will really be the year 4713  when you wake up that morning! Did you think you slept "a long winter's night" like Rip Van Winkle? The Chinese people have been counting years by the lunar calendar for a long, long time!

The link below may help you enjoy the SPECIAL SONGS by Chinese musicians for the occasion.The most traditional ones are on the first track below. 

On the second track is more popular Chinese music. The other tracks are miscellaneous music groups which just happen to caboose along with the link...(and I don't know how to delete them, Ha!) Perhaps for your amusement, if you like.

https://questing.wordpress.com/

Do you want to know how to greet your friends for CHINESE NEW YEAR?

As below, the pronunciation phonetically in Mandarin is more like:  

"Kong She Fah Ts-eye" 

When you click on the link above, you will find out that the mythical animal prancing around in Chinese New Year parades is NOT a dragon, but a "Nian." Surprise your friends with your new knowledge of trivia!  

Happy Valentine's Day from Leona Choy

A Reminder of God's Gift of Love for YOU (John 3:16)
Nothing can separate YOU from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38) "neither death nor life...nor anything..."
His love for YOU is great (Eph. 2:4) "God, who is rich in mercy..."
"His love surpasses knowledge..." (Eph. 3:19)
(2 Thess. 1:3) "... the love every one of YOU has for each other is increasing."
"...Christ loved us and gave himself up for US..." (Eph. 5:2)
(Heb. 13:5) "God has said, 'Never will I leave YOU; never will I forsake YOU.'
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on US..."

 (1 John 3:1)
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. " 

(1 John 4:7)

Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude 1:21)

(Selections from hymn "I AM HIS AND HE IS MINE")

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine....

Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine....

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast....

While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine....

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light

in gloom decline....

But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine!

SIDELINED

These days I seem to have more than a few friends sitting on the bench behind the fence rather than out on life's playing field. 

Some are sidelined due to illness, surgery, or are going through chemo. Age eventually sidelines many of us. Some are retired voluntarily, some have lost their position to younger people. Some find themselves in assisted living residences away from their accustomed surroundings. Some are sidelined with grief and loss through bereavement or divorce or other broken relationships. Others are out of the work force because of the economy slump.

Why are we so surprised when life seems to go right on without us? Somehow we don't expect the sun to keep shining brightly and days to go on so normally. Secretly we may not want people to manage well without our involvement. How can people walk so capably in our shoes the minute we take them off? Being sidelined is often a blow to our identity. We are not sure who we are anymore if we have spent a lifetime been known solely by our role, our job, or position in life.

Apparently many of us in our advanced years have viewed ourselves as the center of our particular universe, the hub of our family's wheel, the indispensable one at work or church. People have flattered us by reinforcing our essential image. “I don't know how we can ever do without you. No one can take your place.” Famous last words. Did we believe them? 

Most of us need to confess that we think the indispensable mask does look attractive on us. In a sense we thrive on our self-importance. To have our mask removed by being laid aside in some way, retired, or removed from our accustomed position of prominence strips a veneer from us that actually was unbecoming. Surprisingly, the consequences of its removal may be beneficial. There may be collateral benefits from our bench warming.

The Scriptures caution us not to hold an exaggerated or puffed up opinion of ourselves. Puffiness indicates ill health physically as well as spiritually. It's a costly ego trip we can't afford to take. “Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others” (Romans 12:3 TLB).

Having to sit on the sidelines for whatever reason while someone else stars in the game in which we played so well deflates our exaggerated self. God doesn't want to take away our self-esteem, simply to help us see ourselves realistically. Sitting on the bench shows us that we can't be the leading player forever and that everything won't fall apart if we aren't there. If people continue to depend on our performance in any aspect of life, it may stunt their emotional, mental, and surely spiritual growth.

We should look at ourselves as dispensable. The places we occupied so well seem to close up behind us as they are capably filled by others. We are all frail, mortal, and terminal in the sense of not being able to play any role in life permanently. Each of us is God's special instrument or channel, unique and important to the Lord, but not indispensable. He can either work through us or through someone else. That is a hard but valuable lesson to be learned while bench warming.

We may not be sidelined permanently by The Divine Coach. We should concentrate on keeping in good shape spiritually and being available to the Lord. He'll decide our position on His Body Team and call us when He needs us. If not on the field, perhaps among others bench warmers in the dugout.  

Meanwhile, from our position on the bench let's cheer every Body Team member out on the field doing a great job and not be jealous because they are wearing our uniform, helmet, and number.

NOT INDISPENSABLE

Who am I to think that I'm the hub

around which the world turns

and all spokes lead to me?

God is not obliged to work

through my earthen vessel

my created lump of clay

with numbered days and faltering ways.

Without me, Lord, life would go right on

The world would still turn

and You could run the universe.

Without me, Lord, those who lean on my arm

could walk by themselves

and be kept from harm.

Yet I am amazed that You stoop to choose

and sovereignly use

this human trifle that I am

as an instrument to do Your will!

Lord, cause me to understand

my dispensability

my frailty

my mortality

and in humility

still offer You my availability.

****