Fifth Meditation
(Fourth Meditation)

"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect… Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. " (1)


Fragrant Offering

A fragrant offering she lifts
In little tasks that fill her days;
To make the best use of His gifts,
She offers them up as she prays:

"I lift these tasks which lay ahead
As offerings, Lord, to Your love.
Not by my strength -- may grace instead,
Provide the means drawn from above.

All that I am and have I yield
To Your purpose, for You alone.
May Your intentions be revealed,
That I may hold them as my own.

I thank You, Lord, for each success --
All praise be to Your holy Name!
In failures, I beg Your kindness,
To shield me from my guilt and shame."

Like fragrant blooms grown from small seeds,
His works of love bloom with her deeds.

May the Lord always accept our little offerings and support them with an abundance of His grace, that our little efforts may become works of His love.