Joy in my heart

Gracious God, I feel such joy in my heart this day.
Somehow the sun seems brighter, the air clearer, the colors more alive.
It is as if the shadows that have kept me in the forgotten places of life have been swept away.
I pray that your grace will protect my joy so that I taste and smell it with full attention.
When the mighty feelings begin to wane, I pray that joy’s scent will remain, so that no darkness will ever be so black that I cease to believe in the light.
I ask this for the sake of your love.
Amen.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

TOO BUSY TO STUDY AND PRAY?

Does your schedule keep growing beyond control
Till you're just running around day after day?
And you know you need to, but you just can't see how
To take time to study and pray.

For you take kids to school five days a week
With appointments and deadlines to keep.
Then you have club activities and baseball practices
With barely enough time to sleep.

Most of the time, you feel like you are "running on empty"
Or on "fumes" from the last sermon you heard.
But the God who loves you wants to energize you each day
From the pages of His Holy Word.

And if you'd make time each day to seek Him and pray
He'd grant a peace when you're frazzled and sore.
For He wants you to grow in the midst of your busyness
And to hunger for Him even more.

So if your life is that hectic, you need to shift gears
And make time with Him a priority each day.
Then you'll be so blessed, convinced and refreshed
That you can't afford not to study and pray.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

Blessing for Children

Gracious God, in the vulnerability of a child, we recognize our own fragility.

In their tender innocence, we are reminded that life is meant to be lived with curious and joyful abandon.

Help us, who are no longer children, to retain the freshness of childhood and to be the protectors and mentors of those whose lives are just beginning.

May we see in their eyes the clear window of heaven.

Guide us in the ways to keep all children safe and in your great love, O Lord, hold them in your peaceful embrace so they are not overcome by loneliness, fear, or danger.
We ask this for the sake of your love.
Amen.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

Hope and Pray

My Lord, I hope and pray,
The world be not as it seems.
That not all is deception and hurt,
Meanness and cruelty not the norm.

My Lord, I pray for this,
For each day I lose a little hope,
When I see the dark and angry side
That my fellow man so often shows.

My Lord, I hope and pray,
For a little kindness now and then,
A soft and gentle touch be felt,
To chase away these thoughts.

My Lord, I pray for this,
For I fear that I’ll be one,
Who only sees the dark side?
And not the sunny side of life.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

TOUCH ME LORD

Touch me, Lord, and let me hear-
The hurt in others' voices,
Touch me, Lord, and help me see
To make the better choices.

Touch me, Lord, whisper to me
That I may face tomorrow.
Touch me, Lord, that I might help
Someone in deepest sorrow.

Touch me, Lord, show me the way,
That I may help all others
Touch me, Lord, to do thy will,
And always love my brothers.

Touch me, Lord, let me live
A life that's worth living.
Touch me, Lord, teach me to praise
And let me be forgiving.

Touch me, Lord, let me obey,
Honor You by how I Live.
Touch me, Lord, please make me whole
Let me, please, be quick to give.

Touch me, Lord, please let me feel,
compassion for all mankind,
Touch me, Lord, let me obey.
Never let this slip my mind.

Touch me, Lord, for You are wise,
Let Your wisdom take control
Touch me Lord, and take away,
All my sins and make me whole.

Your servant, Lord, I would be.
Touch me, Lord, let your spirit,
Always be alive in me.

Touch me, Lord, and draw me near,
And cradle me in Your love.
Touch me, Lord, while I am here,
Lead me to my home above.

Touch me, Lord, that I won’t hurt,
The very ones I love most.
Touch me, Lord, with the power-
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

I Pray for Endurance

AlmightyGod, who has given me the wish to do right and helped me to do your service, strengthen me to persevere. 
Give me the endurance to serve you, and perform my duties.
When I am weary in well-doing, remind me that the ways of sin are pathways to destruction. Do not let me, in a moment of weakness, lose all that I have gained.

In the darkness of discouragement, give me the light of your presence. 
Help me to endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
You have said that whoever endures to the end, shall be saved. 
Do not let me fall from your grace.
I ask for Jesus' sake.
Amen.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

Dear Father in Heaven

Dear Father in Heaven, who is the God of all comfort, pour into my heart your peace and strength. The storms of life have over taken me. 
I am beaten down and utterly discouraged.
My soul faints within me. 
My sorrow is greater than I can bear. 
I am too weak for the burden laid upon me. 
I pray to you dear God, send me the comfort of your help.

Please dear God, bring peace to my soul. 
Comfort me as whom a parent comforts, and hold me in your arms of mercy.

Thank you my Lord.

Amen.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

The World is Mine

The World is Mine Today, upon a bus, 
I saw a very beautiful woman.
And wished I were as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs; the world is mine.
I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you've been so kind. It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes; the world is mine.
Later while walking down the street, 
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play, but he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said, "Why don't you join them dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
I forgot, he couldn't hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears; the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow. 
With ears to hear what I'd know. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.
Author Unknown

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

The Will of God

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the Arms of God cannot support you,
Where the Riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the Power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the Army of God cannot protect you,
Where the Hands of God cannot mold you.
The Will of God will never take you,
Where the Love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the Authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the Omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

My Quilt

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles.
An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. 
They were filled with giant holes.
Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. 
Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here
and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of
worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. 
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the
scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.
So filled their lives had been.
My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. 
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. 
I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. 
I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.
I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to
face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air.
I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked
upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image,
the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

Heavenly Father, Grant me Happiness

Dear Heavenly Father, who has filled my heart with this overflowing happiness, help me to know, that all of this goodness has come from you.
You have filled all of your creatures with the joy of life, and made them rejoice in times of blessings. 
Give me grace to share my great joy with those who are not as blessed, and not be selfish with my happiness.
Let me grasp its full enjoyment. 
And, in days of bliss, gather a treasure of memories that will last all of my life.
Happiness is not a constant state. 
When it comes, let me feel that it is your special gift, and thank you for its pleasure.
For Jesus' sake.
Amen.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/