What gift can I give to the one who gives everything? What treasure do I possess that would glorify my king? Not diamonds or emeralds, not rubies or gold.

These “treasures” are not enough to lay before your throne

Should I sing you a love song and flood you with praise to prove that my love for you grows stronger every day? No, you only want one thing - one gift is enough. You simply want all of me to abide with you in love

So I give you my heart, the heart of a servant, Lord. I give you my joyfulness, my brokenness - every thing I am. May I grow to know and love you, and serve the ones you love. Day by day, this I pray: to give you my heart, the heart of a servant

You created me for you, you have called me by name. Your spirit’s alive in me like a constant, burning flame. Your grace overwhelms me, I’m abundantly blessed. For all you have done for me I am giving you my best.

I give you my heart ...

May I be a bearer of your Good News, trusting in the words of life you share. May my heart believe and teach what I’ve received; may my life be lived as a prayer. God, my Lord, my hope - faithful companion -  your love gives me courage when I’m weak. Bless my soul keep me close and I will be your ambassador of peace.

I give  you my heart ...

   I was walking to my hotel room in San Antonio one night and “heard” these words: “What gift can I give to the one who gives everything? What treasure do     I possess that would glorify my king?”

    I rushed back to the hotel room and jotted down the words exactly as I had heard them. Then I was stuck. What DO I give to a God who lavishes me with gifts? What CAN I give that would be an acceptable offering? Over the years, I would ponder this and then it finally came to me. All that God wants is ALL of me - my good, my bad, my heart!

    The further I progressed in my formation to become a deacon, the more I appreciated what God was calling me to do. He was calling me to serve Him and his children with a servant’s heart. So that is what I gave him.

    During the ordination of a deacon, we kneel before the bishop, place our hands on the Book of the Gospels, and listen to the bishop recite these beautiful words: "Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

God, through his Church, was calling me to not only hear the words of Christ, but to LIVE those words. He was calling me to not only spread the Good News, but to BELIEVE all that I would teach. God had entrusted me with much. I was more than willing to give back much - my heart.

    I dedicated this song to my ordination class (“The Great Class of 2007” - Bill, Gene, Steve, Paul, Dick, George, Tom, Scotty, Charlie, Dave, and Brian) and had the honor of singing it to Archbishop Burke at a dinner right before ordination.