My Heart is heavy

Gracious God, my heart is heavy with my own failures. 
I try to excuse them and explain to myself why they occurred, because I want to be free from the feeling that I am unworthy and incapable of being all that I can be. But I find it easier to accept your forgiveness than to forgive myself. 
When I try to forgive myself, it seems I only remember and re-play my failures in my mind, and a sense of hopelessness floods over me. 
Help me to know that my past actions are a part of my growing humanity and that even when I fail to live up to what is your will for me, every single moment can be lived anew. 
Remind me that refusing to forgive myself only keeps me from experiencing that newness. 
 Assure me of the truth that by casting “my sins into the depth of the sea” (Micah 7:19b), you have freed me to discard them myself and live the next moment as if it were my first—for indeed it is. 
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/

One Minute to Pray

Please take a moment to relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. 
Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer.
If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc, we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends, who pray together, stay together.
"Dear Lord, I thank you for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.  
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
Let me continue to see sin through Your eyes and acknowledge it as evil.
And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth of my wrongdoing, and receive forgiveness.
And when t his world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray.
It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others.
I pray for those who don't believe.  
But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that You change people and You change things for good reasons.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and ever y one of my family members and friends and their families. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than You. 
 Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name,
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/

Prayer on Pentecost

When was the last time that we heard the wind of your Spiritroar through this place?
When was the last time your fire lit up this room?
When was the last time we took you at your word and met together in expectation
of your Spirit filling this place and these lives with your Glory and Power?Lord, you challenge us with Pentecost.
Do we believe that this was a once in eternity experience never to be repeated?That the Holy Spirit was poured out on your followers for a single purpose and ended His work at that instant?If so, then maybe that is why the Church seems so powerless in this age
helpless when faced with the needs both spiritual and physical that we see in the world.
Lord, as we meet together and celebrate once again the memory of that first Pentecost may it be for us as it was then a moment of empowerment an awareness of your Glory in this dark world a life changing experience.
We light a candle and enjoy the flickering light the fragrance and warmth it creates.
But without the spark that ignites there will be no flame Without the wax
the source of power the wick will not burn Without the flame there will be no fragrance no warmth, no light.
And so with us, Lord You are the catalyst that ignites us and the fuel that sustains us You fill us with your fragrance as you enter our lives.
You empower us to carry your flame in our hearts To be the fragrance, warmth
and light of your love in this dark world.
Glorious Trinity Make your presence known in this place through our worship our prayer the reading of your Word Father, Son, Holy Spirit within whose unity lies all that is you perfect love justice, peace and power As we gather here today
your body, your church throughout this world fill our outstretched hearts with your spirit encircle us with your love Make yourself known to us in new ways exciting ways challenging ways Empower us Inspire us Glorious Trinity

Spirit of life
ALL: Fill our emptiness with your fullness

Spirit of power
ALL: Stir our hearts afresh

Spirit of loveALL: Touch us, and through us, our neighbor

Spirit of Creativity
ALL: Enable and empower the gifts you have given

Spirit of EternityALL: Draw us ever deeper into your Kingdom

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/

A 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/

You call us

You call us to service to be your eyes and ears
hands and voice in this your world
To open our eyes not only to the beauty and love which you create but the injustice hate and suffering that mankind generates
To open our ears not only to the chattering of this coming week
but the searching fears and questioning of all whom we shall meet
To open our hands not only to those we choose our lives to share
but in welcome love and fellowship to all who you draw near
To open our mouths not only to speak platitudes and simple words
But the truths you lay upon our hearts
Your Word for this your world
You call us to service to be your eyes and ears
hands and voice in this your world.

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/

Mustard Seed

Can we really move mountains
with a mustard seed of faith?It seems rather a difficult task.
Could we maybe start with a molehill
and work our way up gradually?
But that’s not the way it works, is it, Lord?
So often you challenge us with the mountain
when we feel so unprepared
unequipped for the task.
It’s then that we have to put self aside
and fear and pride and cling tightly to your hand.
It is only then that we really feel
the warmth of your touch
the certainty of your love
the power of your presence.
It is only then
that our faith begins to grow
and we begin to see
our real potential.
Thank your, Heavenly Father
for mountains
and mustard seeds.

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/

Prayer on Repentance

Heavenly Father,
all the fancy words in the world expressed in eloquent prose
decorated with emotion spoken with conviction cannot compete with a heartfelt
"sorry" when all other words fail.
There are times when we are all too aware of our limitations
conscious of sin and the distance it creates between us..
Sometimes "sorry" is all the heart can bear to say aloud.
It is only You, My Lord, who can read and understand the language of our hearts
Only you who can translate our "sorry" into the prayer we would have prayed if we had the words within us.
Then you forgive and having forgiven surround us in an embrace of love
drawing us close to your heart as it was always meant to be.
Thank you, Heavenly Father that you listen to hearts as well as voices
Thank you.
Your forgiveness is total no notebook, tape recorder, or post-it notes to remind you of that moment when You take our confession
offered with hands outstretched and gently like the loving heavenly Father that you are put it to one side to be forgotten No grudges, no itching for judgement
No resentment or ill-will .

Not like us who find it easy to say sorry but so hard to forgive
absolutely Forgive us, Father that we are often more willing to accept forgiveness
than to forgive More willing to accept your love
than to share it with those who have hurt us.
Teach us to forgive As you forgive.
Love has its source in you Heavenly God Flows from you like an ocean into a world as unyielding as any shoreline cliff
And like the ocean which batters erodes and wears away even the hardest stone your love persists finds cracks and inlets in hardened hearts
flows inside and works a miracle. Who would think that water was more powerful than granite love mightier than the hardest heart
Thank you, Heavenly God for the power of your love.

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/