Mary Sullivan

Jesus was walking along the sea of Galilee,

When He saw two brothers, casting a net in the sea.

Andrew was the name, of one of the brothers,

And Simon, now called Peter, was the name of the other.

 

Jesus called to the two, while walking by the sea;

I will make you fishers of men, come after me.

At once they left their nets.  They didn’t hesitate,

Or worry it would make them, for a meeting late.

 

Jesus kept on walking by that Galilean sea.

He saw brothers James and John, sons of Zebedee.

They were in a boat, mending their torn nets.

He called to them.  They didn’t stop to complain or fret.

Seeking to follow Jesus, out of the boat they went.

In following the Lord, they seemed quite intent.

 

Dear Jesus, may we follow like these fishermen devout.

May we drop what we are doing, when to us You call out.

May we hear Your voice above the din and rattling clatter.

May we have ears to listen and quickly drop what doesn’t matter.

 

May we drop what keeps us from You, and from Your holy will.

This may not be easy, but a long trudge uphill.

Yet through You we can do all things.  For You are omniscient.

If we can rest in Your will, Your grace will be sufficient.

In our weakness You are strong.  In Your will we are protected.

And it is by our weakness that Your power is perfected.

 

We pray for grace on loved ones now immersed in so much strife.

They dropped nets that they were mending, to follow a disordered life.

Call to them now dear Jesus, as to the sons of Zebedee.

Grant them all the grace they need to seek and follow Thee.

 

Help them now to follow truth, discard all selfishness,

Transform them all from slaves of sin, to slaves of righteousness.

May they grow in holiness.  With sin, may they grow bored.

May all seek Your holy will, our Maker and our Lord.

 

(Based on Mark 1:14-20)

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

(Saint Augustine)

 

Dear Lord, there’s so much pressure

So much to do, we fear,

Our busyness can leave us stressed,

As holidays draw near.

 

Help us through the madness,

Of Fridays they call black.

May rest in You defend us from,

the enemy’s attack.

 

May we focus more on You

Not what is coming next.

Help us simplify our days.

In You, may we find rest.

 

May we put aside the angst,

the things we need to do.

May we take the time we need

To simply rest in You.

 

May we ponder Your perfect will,

In these upcoming days.

Man sees, not as You see.

Your ways are not our ways.

 

Help us, dearest Father,

To at last truly see,

Our restless hearts will have no peace

Until they rest in Thee.

 

Grant this grace, sweet Jesus,

This grace from above

To all our sons and daughters.

To all of those we love.

 

“And the peace of God

Which surpasses all understanding

Will keep Your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Phil. 4:6-7)

 

Father we have grown so anxious.

We have so many dreaded fears.

As we wonder what is happening,

What will be brought, in coming years?

 

Help us, Father, rich in mercy,

To put all anxiety aside.

May our fears transform to prayers.

May frantic fears subside.

 

Give us hearts of deep thanksgiving,

Make our hearts like unto Thine.

May Your peace pervade our living.

May hope today, in our hearts shine.

 

May we be bright lights for You,

With dispositions, kind and pleasant.

Stop us from thinking far ahead.

Help us just live this moment present.

 

Father, hear our cries to heaven,

As to You we kneel in prayer.

Humbled by this cross we carry.

We offer You our every care.

 

Touch our loved ones with Your mercy.

May temptations at last cease.

Grant them wisdom to see clearly.

Bless us all, Father, with Your peace.

 

It’s good to have a thankful heart,

out of the gate, and from the start.

If we could cultivate an attitude of gratitude,

If we could do ourselves this favor,

to be thankful, never waver,

Thanking God for each new day,

Thanking God for finding something kind to say

Come what may,

Would we live eternal bliss if not a moment would we miss,

to thank God for what He’s given us.

 

So many little gifts through life,

A hand of comfort during strife,

That smile when we were feeling down,

It came and swept away our frown.

If we could skip the ingrate trap,

Thank God for water from the tap,

clean air to breathe, a sun that shines,

If we could put away our whines.

 

If we could but be thankful now,

See not the shattered dreams and broken pieces,

See not the tears and wrinkled creases,

But see all things as on the mend,

And His love that never ceases.

 

If we were thankful for the prayers—not just the answered ones that please,

But for the unanswered ones, which keep us ever on our knees,

And close to Him who calms our souls and stills the stormy seas.

If thankful wishes we could send,

Until we reached our final end,

If we were thankful for each sorrow we had borne,

For each day we’d struggled to feel not forlorn

If we could be thankful not just for the win,

But for the chance to lift, carry this cross with Him.

 

If we could thank God for each mile,

Would that please God, would He smile?

Thanking God for this day.

Thanking God, we have “God’s ways”

Thanking Him upon Whom all life depends.

Thanking God for ever-faithful friends,

Like you, who on this day,

Will join with us to pray.

This Thanksgiving, it’s true, we may be in pain.

And that’s something we need not deny or feign.

From loved ones, we may be estranged or apart.

Yet Lord, we give to You, our thankful hearts.

 

Thank You, Lord, for Your gift of love.

Thank You, Lord, for grace from above.

Thank You, Father, for feeling our pain,

For seeing us through the storms and the rain.

 

For Your quiet, and steadfast, small and still voice.

For the birth of Jesus, in Whom we rejoice.

For shielding us from, falls into despair,

For hearing our cries, for answering our prayers.

 

Thank You Jesus, for what You have done.

For our salvation, which, through Your cross, was won.

Thank you for Your love, and for Your care.

For the Holy Sacraments; and finding You there.

 

Thank You, Holy Spirit.  We are not alone.

You beckon us towards our final home.

Thank you, Blessed Mother, you care like no other.

You are our Queen, and our loving Mother.

 

Thank you, dear saints, who with a pure love,

Pray for us with fervor, from heaven above.

Father in heaven, this war will be won.

For You guide our feet in the path of Your Son.

 

May we ever give thanks, with hearts pure and true.

We thank You for life, pray for each loved one too.

Lord, bless them with hearts, pure, thankful and new.

Lord, bless them with hearts, which seek only You.