Stress

That Time of the Year

That Time of the Year Hassled time, hurried time,crafted of jammed schedules,marathon cooking sessions,and shopping trips from hell.Why do I make this seasonharder than it must be?All You ask of me is to live and give thanks:I save all that for one lone day,and pursue busy-ness all the rest.Stop me. Remind me of my...

Ever-Present

Ever-Present I lost my nerve todayand You led me back to it.What would I do without Yourever-present support?Thank You for never,tiring    tiring     tiring of my repetitivepleas and failings.

Perfectly Imperfect

Perfectly Imperfect You who see me at my worstmake me be my best.Struggling with the stress of the season,remind me:happiness has seldom depended on a spotless home,an endless buffet or love given from holiday packages.I know I can't be flawlessI can only be me.Please, I need your reassurance  that I am perfectwith all my...

Scared

Scared I look to You when I am scared.I am scared now.I ask for Your peace to cradle my soulto enfold me within Your warmth,understanding and grace.I ask for Your strength to filterwithin me and to help me spread courageamong those who are also frightened.Answer me and provide me withYour loving and safe...

Day of Endless Failures

Day of Endless Failures I feel as if I have not doneone single thing right today.This day has been one failureafter another:failures at workfailures at homefailures with friends.

Come Fly with Me

Come Fly with Me As we get ready for our trip,there’s so much to prepare,suitcase, passports, tickets, ID.Some consider You their co-pilot, but I know better.I know You’re holding up the plane,smoothing out the turbulence,making all the connections for us.Sit with us in coach, share these ancient packs of...

Family Complete

Family Complete I have already lost a baby.  I have already lost holidays with a little one.  I have lost peanut butter fingerprints in the kitchenand unidentifiable globs

Homework Blues

Homework Blues I have four tests this week I haven't studied for.I've been terrible about going to class altogether.I'm not always the smartest kid,and I approach procrastination like it's my career.As I saunter up to this daunting mountain of classwork,Give me an energy jolt, similar to an Adderall.Help me to focus and absorb this...

Your Ideal

Your Ideal Today I am stressed.Stressed to the pointof losing my way in life.It feels easier to sort out waysto be in my addictionthan to be stuckwithin my head today.Stuck in my headfeeling powerlessover what is happeningin my world.

A Difficult Boss

A Difficult Boss What can I do?Too much is expected of me.Good is never good enough.I cry on the way to work,makeup ruined before I get there.My boss rages, unjustified.When I speak softly,Iím told to be less timid.When I speak up,I'm told I'm too aggressive.

Breakdown

Breakdown The workplace is no place for tears.Yet despite knowing better,I crumbled like sand.Bring me back from the precipice.Help me win back the respectof my coworkers and bosses.Let me use my emotions as strengths,to find solutions and right inequities,so no one else need be crushedby the weight of their feelings.Let me be just in all my business...

What I Can Give

What I Can Give A million eyes follow me-tired eyes, hopeless eyes,searching for answers,for restoration, for miracles.But I am not a miracle worker.I am a Doctor, exhausted by long shiftsand limited energy.

Child Inside Me

Child Inside Me I don't wanna.I don't wanna get out of bed,take a shower,make breakfast.I don't wanna iron my shirt,drive to work,sit in that blasted cubby all day.You understand,I do wish I'd wanna.With Your help, I willmake the most of my day.I won't disappoint me,my...

Raging Heart

Raging Heart I feel my anger overpowering me. I have lost my sense of balancemy sense of controlmy sense of security.Now I stumble my way to You and ask You,lay a calming hand over my raging heart. Give me the wisdom to see my righteous angeras an alert to danger,so that I can respond by...

Too Mad to Pray

Too Angry to Pray Last week, the labyrinth simply wasn't working for me. Not like it usually does. I was simply too angry. A friend had called asking for prayers because of a problem in her extended family that put two children at risk. As I walked the winding path, I prayed. I prayed for the children. I prayed for the adults, but these weren't my best prayers. I was too angry. I strode down the...

One Soft and Certain Voice

One Soft and Certain Voice I feel as though I am at everyone's beck and call.I am surrounded by a chorus of needsand I cannot hear myself anymore.  I cannot hear You.  

Lost and Found

Lost and Found I’ve done it again.I’d lose my own head if it wasn’t attached.Please.It seems like such a little thing.But I could use:Your eyes, to see the unseen,Your attentiveness,so as not to repeat the fault,Your forgiveness, for being so carelesswith the many gifts you give me.Help me recover what...

Caution: Overload

Caution: Overload I am poking my head above the paperworkto cry out: Help! I am drowning!Make no mistake,I know I am blessed to be employed.Sometimes I let it run my life,when that's Your job. I put this in Your hands.Shrink it down to size,so that I might weave itinto the fabric of my life,just one part of...

The Hike

The Hike The world seems endless.The hills rolling on below and around me,the trees tall and unbendingfrom here to the horizon and beyond.I see You.I see the work of Your hands,I hear the sound of Your voice,I feel Your breathsoft and cool on my skin.

Difficult Job

Difficult Job I will not expecta pat on my backfor doing a good job.I will go beyondwhat people are expecting.Every step I takeis an opportunity.When others doubt me,my faith will be my victory.

Awake

Awake I can't sleep at night;I can't bear feeling alone.I don't know what I should do;I feel so uneasy.I have within mea hunger to know You.To know You in my mind,my heart, my spirit, and my life.I will find the way to worship You andgo to the depth of my soul, fully satisfied.  

Road Map

Road Map Today I feel lost,so I turn to You for direction.My heart is a compass.Set me to true north.Lead me where I need to go.Be my guide.Take me with you,for you know the roads.I know the climb will be arduous.But when I get there,oh, the view will be worth it!

Deflated

Deflated I am broken-hearted.My spirit is crushed.My energy depleted.I want to feel whole againto feel hope, not hurt.With Your grace and goodnesschange is near.

Job Over

Job Over We never saw it coming.He opened up his paycheck.Pink slip.Laid off.Shocked, we held each other.Nine months later, savings gone.A house we love, we must leave.Stack of billswe can't pay.I tell myself I can't do this.Falling to my knees, I sob.I need You more than ever;with You, I can face this.

Hat Made of Ham

And a Hat Made of Ham One of the most important characters in my life is my dog, Sheena. She's thirteen, has cataracts, arthritis, and a tumor on her running leg the size of a golf ball, but being part Border Collie, she's still on the job as the canine-keeper of this family – her flock, if you will. Every so often, as I'm walking down the hall, I'll suddenly...

Workplace Hazard

Workplace Hazard I dread the workday. Every day I struggle to keep peace with a difficult coworker. When I work with this personI feel my sense of self-worth diminish.I feel disrespected and unheard. As I go in to work, I feel myself bracing for a blow.Please surround me today with Your perfect peace.

Klutz

Klutz My body is a patchwork of bruises,cuts, scrapes and burns.I have not been a good stewardof the body You gave me.I seem to walk it into walls,and insist it be made of sterner stuffthan flesh and bones.Forgive me.Please move me deftly, like a master puppeteer;steer my two left feet.

Train Wreck

Train Wreck Someone I love is buriedbeneath fear and paralysis.She has forgottenhow gloriously You made her.And I seem to have forgottenthat Your love for herfar exceeds my limited vision. Forgive me for the many yearsI've rushed in to do Your job.My trust in You has beenwavering and impatient.

Once Overwhelmed

Once Overwhelmed What if?What then?Tormenting thoughtsof random fears,torrential rains of worry pummeled my sanctity to a flooded swampof muddy misery.No morewhat ifs,what thens,cascading through myconsciousness, uncontrolled.

Bless This Mess

Bless This Mess If cleanliness is next to godliness,this house is in another zip code.Divine presence, please bless our dirty home,for it has been lived in and loved in.Thank you for every messy inch of it. For the dust lining the...