Measured by the Intentions of One's Heart

Privilege should be based on what you earn,

Not your lifestyle, whether good or bad.

Not just one day,

Not just one minute,

Because one day and one minute might be very bad.

Conduct overall is what matters,

What your heart is inclined towards.

If your heart is inclined towards evil,

Why should you have privilege?

If your heart is inclined towards good,

Then you should have privilege.

Not based on what you look like,

But the good of a person,

From day to day.

If people knew privilege was based on character,

We would be better.

We would have a society

Built on the intentions of your heart,

And your overall conduct.

Yes, we are all going to slip up,

But not on moment by moment

On the person’s overall conduct in society.

Not writing these words because I like to say them,

But because the first step is not the last.

We need to work for a society

Where all people have equal rights,

Where none are treated better for appearances,

And we are trained to look deeper.

If we get too entitled,

We can become a monster ourselves,

And the monster we try to get out of other people

Can rise in us, too. 

Amen

Straight A's for the Soul

Not only on Sunday, but every day,

Aim for Christ consciousness in every way.

Like a student seeks a straight A record,

Put truth into practice in deed and word.

At work or play, at school or home,

In little things let His grace be shown.

Always being honest, though hard to do,

Not as a burden, but a path for you.

To make better decisions and reach His grace,.

Amen

When We Slip, Bring Us Back

Oh Jesus, we who have turned our hearts toward You,

Keep us from slipping back into our old ways.

Teach us to notice when we begin to drift,

And bring us quickly home again.

Christ our Savior, You know our hearts,

You see what is true, and You see what is weak.

Let our way be the way of Christ our King,

For we cannot live this life without Your daily help.

When we backslide, keep us from excuses and hiding.

Teach us to return as David returned,

With humility, with responsibility,

With a sweet and honest contrition.

Lord, You have the medicine to heal our sin,

And to restore our loving devotion to You.

Renew us by Your mercy and grace.

Amen

Repair The World

Dear Jesus,

You made this world in perfection,

By love and joy.

Sin has messed it up,

And what is broken needs repair.

Repair the world by kindness,

By respect,

By true and everlasting compassion.

Work through all who call themselves Christians

To repair the world

In faith, hope, and love.

Make us pure and true

By acts of kindness and compassion.

Repair the world little by little.

Let every act of kindness repair the world each day.

When we act in your way, Jesus,

We fix what is broken.

Make us pure, true, and kind in every way.

Teach all people to become more like Christ,

True, compassionate, gentle, humble, and kind.

Amen

A Prayer To Repair The World

The world as we see it is messy,

And many in it think it is clean,

But when you see the problem,

Both spiritual and physical all around you,

You realize what is true.

The world, though created by the love of the Father,

And the wisdom of Jesus,

Is truly special

Yet we messed it up through our sin.

Let us repair the world through good deeds,

Let us be true to Christ,

Let us repair the world by choosing life,

By choosing love, light, and everlasting compassion,

By choosing what is true, and pure.

So that Christ may work through us,

His chosen people to repair the world,

Not with violence, though,

Because violence does not repair it,

It makes it worse.

Amen

The First Gate: True Contrition

Lord Jesus,

Without true contrition,

We cannot walk with you.

Whether we think ourselves strong,

Or whether we know we are weak,

We cannot pass the first gate

Without repentance.

Give us hearts that want to change.

Give us the desire to be made new.

Teach us to see the truth:

That only you can change the heart.

And while we still have time,

However much time remains,

Help us to take the next step,

One step at a time,

One gate at a time.

Make us willing to make things right.

Make us ready to restore what we can.

Make us eager for restitution,

Not to earn your love,

But because we have received it.

Lead us through every gate,

Until our lives reflect your life,

And our hearts rest in your heart.

In your mercy,

And by your grace,

Amen

Jesus, True Son And Teacher

God our Father is true,

The only one we should trust.

Let Jesus, His true Son, be our teacher.

Take the Word, Jesus, into our hearts,

For our hearts are the temple

Of the living God.

True and pure,

Wise and holy is our God.

His name is compassion,

His word is truth,

His light forever.

So choose light and love

While you still can,

For we do not know tomorrow

Or what tomorrow will bring.

Choose with all your heart

The path of love and light,

That our hearts may be joined to Christ,

His teachings, and God our Father.

Let our hearts be true and pure,

Full of kindness and compassion.

Without devotion,

Without kindness, compassion,

The path to heaven is not available.

Amen.