Sing With All Your Heart

Sundays are so beautiful. They are beautiful because God gave us the example of rest. Rest our minds, our bodies, our spirits and our Souls. He gave us the instruction to MAKE HOLY these days. So many of us attend church with the intention of making the most out of our hourly church time, yet we are faultered by the many distractions of people hustling in and out of church, young ones and older ones whispering and talking, children screaming and laughing, or our own millions of thoughts on our minds that take us away from the one hour God asks to spend with Him.
Yesterday in mass, I was utterly distracted. But I focused on one simple thing to help me focus on prayer and why God was asking me to be in His presence yesterday, and that was the music playing. So many times something so simple as participating in a song or prayer will capture our attention back on why we are there in the first place.
Fr. Keene, a wonderful man and priest who married Chris and I, said in the homily at our wedding mass that, "Christ simply asks us to just show up!" And though so many times we fail to "show up" for Christ daily in prayer or even on Sunday masses, He is ALWAYS there waiting for us to be there, with arms wide open. I have learned this many times as I have failed miserably in showing up for Jesus.
But Yesterday, I did show up. I listened to Him speaking to me through the Gospel, through the music and most of all through the Eucharist. And through this most agonizing time of learning how to be a mother without my girls physically present here on earth and also how to grieve with my husband to be stronger holier people, I heard the Good Lord speaking to me. He consoled my weeping heart. He held my aching and pained body. He wrapped me in a hug with my girls and told me that he loved me. And in turn I asked Him to continue to strengthen my faith. I pleaded with Him to always hold me close and never let Chris and I go. I thanked Him for always "SHOWING UP" and eager to forgive my sins and help me get up again. I thanked Him for my faithful and unbelievable husband. I thanked Him for my two children, who have been true instruments in breaking hearts of stone for so many whom they have never even met; and who He has called to bring so much Love (God IS Love) to this world. And so with all my heart I sang and listened. We must Show up and simply say, "Here I am Lord!" He has so much to tell us.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart

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