Food for thought — and the soul - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

And now, here are some food for thought – and the soul – for you and me to ponder on during the Holy Week. The 12 inspirational verses and quotations are part of a bunch called "A Collection of Personal Prayers For Any Time of the Day" (Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray... and He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17) sent to Funfare by Cherie Gil.

"These prayers have been guiding my life," said Cherie. "I hope they will have the same effect on your readers."

Here they are:

God be in my head, and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.
God be in my heart, and in my thinking.
God be at my end, and at my departing.

* * *

Day by day, dear Lord, Let me touch many lives for You.

By Your Spirit, quicken every life by the words I speak, the prayers I breathe, or the life I live... and all for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

* * *

Dear Lord, my I find JOY in the morning

sunshine, Your LOVE in all things around me.

May I find Your PEACE in the quiet of the evening as Your gentle blessings surround me. Amen.

* * *

I am serene
because I know You love me.
Because You love me,
nothing can move me from my peace.
Because You love me, I am as one to whom all good has come.

* * *

My God, You are my anchor on a stormy sea, my serenity on a windy night,
my hope when all else fails.
Your presence surrounds me like a protective shield and when the arrows of my selfishness pierce through, Your loving arms extend themselves to reach out
and grasp my wandering soul. – Mother Angelica

* * *

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred,
let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master; grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. – St. Francis of Assisi

* * *

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You, and desire nothing save only You.
Let me deny myself and love You. Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You. Let me die to myself and live in You. Let me accept whatever happens as from You. Let me banish self and follow You, and ever desire to follow You. – Adapted from a prayer by St. Augustine

* * *

Soul of Christ, sanctify me;
Body of Christ, save me;
Blood of Christ, inebriate me;
Water from the side of Christ, wash me; passion of Christ, strenghten me; O Good Jesus, hear me; within Your wounds,
hide me; never permit me to be separated from you; from the wicked enemy, defend me;
In the hour of death, call me and bid me to come to Thee, That with Your saints I may praise You, For ever and ever. Amen.

* * *

O Lord, grant that I may see the joke of things, The little things that bother now and then.
Lord, grant my sense of humor to be strong, To weep a bit — and yet, to smile again.
God, grant there be a chuckle in each tear, To every trial, Lord, grant a funny half.

* * *

Jesus, my Lord, Come to me,
Comfort me, console me.
Visit the hearts in strange lands yearning for You.
Visit the dying and those who have died without You.
Jesus, my Lord, visit also those who persecute You.
Lord Jesus, You are my light in the darkness. You are my warmth in the cold.
You are my happiness in sorrow.

* * *

Lord, You have searched me out and know me; You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You discern my thoughts from
afar. You trace my journeys
and my resting places and are acquainted with all my ways... I will thank You because I am marvelously made; Your works are wonderful, and I know it well. – Psalm 139

* * *

O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day; if I forget You, please do not forget me. – Sir Jacob Astley