5/5/24 Through 5/11/24

 5/5/24 Through 5/11/24

Sunday

Love alone can bring us peace,

Love alone will never cease.

Loving self and neighbor too

Will bring us ever close to You.

Love is patient, love is kind,

Love's the greatest gift we find.

All the rest will pass away

But love eternally will stay.

In each heart and in each land

Love will answer His command.

Love unites and ne'er divides

Love our every need provides.

Love will calm a raging storm,

Love the coldest heart can warm.

Love the key to peace and joy,

Love the wisest wise employ.

Love makes rich, the poorest poor,

Love will life above secure.

Love, the sick and helpless need

Love the starving soul shall feed.

Love, our Teacher crucified

Rose on Easter glorified.

Heaven's where True Love shall reign,

Where none is loss and all is gain.

Monday

Remember He told you the hour shall come

When faith they attack and foe shall become.

Stand firm in the Lord, believe what He said

Take courage from Him who rose from the dead.

He sends you His Spirit to strengthen and gird

Recalling the words from the Savior you heard.

So, be not afraid when you testify well

For Jesus has conquered the powers of Hell.

Their power is but in the temporal time

But after they fall to the depths with the swine.

So, speak and behold that the Spirit will lead

Supplying the words that the hungry will feed.

Your death may be used in a mighty good way

To soften the hearts of the ones who astray.

Whatever the outcome, His offer remains,

Those doing His bidding have Heavenly gains.

Tuesday

Send the Spirit, Lord I pray

Give me strength for every day.

Be my Counselor and guide

Always ready at my side.

Be my comfort, be my will,

Be my animating fill.

Grant me courage, grant me strength,

Be my help to any length.

Let me sing when suffering,

Let my faith a healing bring.

Shake the bars and loose the chains,

Let me see what Heaven gains.

Grant me knowledge of Your ways,

Let my tongue with angels praise.

Wisdom reigns my daily plea,

Let Her not depart from me.

Help me understand what's good,

Help me pray the way I should.

Let me never part from Thee.

That, my greatest fear would be.

Wednesday

He gives to me the all that is

If I but add my all to His

Oh, help me to attachments break

And turn from satisfactions fake.

There's only One who's right and true

No other can compare to You.

All other gods are empty gourds

There's only One, The Lord of Lords.

Thursday

When we see the light our grief becomes joy.

His praises and glory, then we employ.

For darkness so conquered can never destroy

The life everlasting the saints will enjoy.

The body is raised in physical form

Though different it be from its earthly norm.

Perfected in glory, unstained by the sin,

The death and the rising of Christ let us in.

To union with Father, Spirit and Son

To vict'ry upon Mount Calvary won.

Where darkness forever, eternally banned

And life is how Jesus so graciously planned.

Friday

Do not be afraid, but speak of My name

Be confident always, showing no shame.

My word must be taught, proclaimed to them all

He speaks to us now, as spoken to Paul

The worst of the worst are deserving to know

They're loved and invited to Heaven to go.

But first there must be a one willing to go

And love for the poorest of poor to them show.

A calling He has for each in His flock

If we will but listen, and answer His knock.

The key is to act as He prompts you to do

It makes of us saints, so how about you?

Saturday

Ask the Father in My name

For this is part of why I came

To let you see the Father's love

And set your sights on that above.

The Father's will is my will too

We only want what's best for you.

We teach of ways beyond your mind

So happiness, at last you find.

4/28/24 Through 5/4/24

 4/28/24 Through 5/4/24

Sunday

How wicked man can grow to be

When love of Christ is gone from thee

When children taught to seek for gain

In selfishness and other's pain.

Revenge for wrongs the remedy

And nay the chance for clemency

A withered branch of death and sin

Is all we are apart from Him.

But even those so steeped in sin

Can new and loving life begin,

If they be grafted to the Vine

And follow well the will of Thine.

For there is peace and tranquil joy

When Christian teaching we employ.

When self is given up we show

How true the love of Christ we know.

Monday

Great wisdom is to love the Lord

This gift the poorest poor afford

For those who see and understand

Will join this apostolic band.

No man is God, no man is Lord

There's only One to be adored

Yet man can be His dwelling place,

Be filled with mercy, love, and grace.

Become a saint and follow Him

Not ways of evil, dark, and dim.

For one who's docile everyday

Will shelter gold within the clay.

Tuesday

In suffering the gold made pure,

The way is wrought with pain for sure

But over pain, the joy shall reign

And faithful servants, heaven gain.

The Father's will, the surest way

To find the path to trod today

For love will lead to sacrifice

But joy will come from His advice.

Wednesday

Lord, within my life's pursuit

Prune whatever bears no fruit

So, make my will align with Yours

And grant me grace that long endures.

Make this weakly heart of mine

Firmly grafted to Your Vine

Apart from You I wither, fade

Without the Vine, no progress made.

Thursday

It takes a meeting of the minds

For Christ has come for many kinds

The tent must be one wide and deep

With practices that all can keep.

The simple rules our Lord expressed

To love our God and neighbor best

Admit all men of favored will

And yet present a challenge still.

For love requires giving all

And listening for every call

So, when our will is one with His

We'll understand what Heaven is.

Friday

Many have seen, and many have heard

Many have also studied His word

Far fewer have known Him and seen eye to eye,

But those that once did, were ready to die.

We talk a good game, but when push comes to shove

We likely deny Him rejecting His love.

We listen and hear, but don't understand

Our minds He must open to let them expand.

The finite to the Infinite, "Oh Lord, I want to see."

With all I've given you so far, you still not knoweth Me?

The Father, Son, and Spirit, a triune Godhead be.

A unity beyond the mind, but that you see in Me.

Saturday

If you are hated for loving the Lord

Rejoice and be glad, for great the reward

The world doesn't know what they're missing in Him

Preferring the darkness, they live in the dim

A glimmer of light they may see once a while

But often the darkness again will beguile.

The pain of transition may govern the will,

But love and forgiveness we offer them still.

His work alone is the changing of hearts

But Christians must all be fulfilling their parts

Speaking the truth and illuming the night

In hope that someday they will move to the light.

Our Master much suffered, no less we expect

Now clean are the souls with blood He has swept.

Ascended once more to the Father above

He charges disciples to now spread the love.

All knowing that pain will belong to the chore

But seeing beyond to the joy evermore

He calls His disciples to follow His way

Searching always for those who have fallen away.

4/21/24 Through 4/27/24

 4/21/24 Through 4/27/24

Sunday

Good Shepherd save Your little ones

Your feeble daughters, sinful sons

Astray we go each time we sin

A foolish lot Your flock has been

Yet still, You cherish every soul

Desiring to make us whole

Your very precious life You give

So simple wayward sheep might live

Such love as this we've never seen

Enduring cross and passion keen

To save a lost and helpless lamb.

In truth, You are the Great I AM!

Monday

Astonished that He came to save

Both mighty and the humble knave

Distinctions made by earthly men

By Christ, the cart upset again.

The Gentile too, He calls to learn

And by the Spirit to discern

His call to turn away from sin

And be with Christ one welcomed in.

His gifts were meant for all mankind

The Jew and Gentile here will find

Their sins forgiven, spirits blest

When Christ our King, as Lord confessed.

Tuesday

Your voice I know, the always good

Directing as I always should

Attune my ears to bend Your way

And follow well what ere You say.

So many times Your blessings seen

But oh, how lazy I have been

The easy way I've often trod

And shunned the path of Mighty God

What foolishness I now can see

To ever turn away from Thee

In even ways that seem so small

For happiness is giving all.

A humble sheep within the flock

Who answers every time You knock

Then acts at once to do Your will

And let You well, my coffers fill.

Wednesday

Set aside a special way

Each with a task to do each day

A word will come to open ears

And bless the docile one who hears.

The Voice may take some time to hear

In quietness to Him draw near

Allow Him room within your heart

Then on your sacred journey start.

Each day afresh and new He speaks

A little more of you He seeks

Until the all you have is His

And there you'll find the all that is.

Thursday

On this feast, my patron's day

For zeal and wisdom here I pray

To spread the word per His command

And join the apostolic band

Within my world so small and tame

I wish to kindle there a flame

To warm the hearts of all I meet

That they might too the Savior greet.

Friday

A place prepared for only me

A place for all eternity

His love so far above my reach

But daily He will coach and teach.

He'll show me how the little ways

Of faith and trust should fill my days

And let me see no kindness turned

Within His plan is ever spurned.

As prophets spoke so long ago

And those who search the scripture know

The things that once appear mundane

A wealth of riches may contain.

When resurrection light is shown

All good and bad will then be known

And then in clearest light I'll see

What purest Love prepared for me.

Saturday

The Word arrives in varied ways

He speaks to us throughout our days

We must attune our ears to hear

And then we'll find Him very near.

The wicked stop their ears and say

There is no use for man to pray

The truth upsets their status quo

And change they have no wish to know.

But if we listen well we see

The Spirit's ever close to thee

The Father and the Son abide

Where humble love replaces pride.

Don't turn away from truth and good

But let His word become your food

Your eyes will then begin to see

How much, in truth, He cares for thee.

4/14/24 Through 4/20/24

 4/14/24 Through 4/20/24

Sunday

How ignorant the ways of sin

We all at times are found within

For whom it is that we ignore

Is He that offers so much more.

So much within the scripture would

Renew us if but understood

But oft His word, by man ignored

And freedom's truth left unexplored.

The prophets long ago foretold

That we would look and then behold

A face so marred and wracked with pain

To lead us to eternal gain.

It's only natural, you see

For man to pain and anguish flee,

But suffering can lead to love

With peace and joy from God above.

Repent of sin, endure the pain.

And so much more you have to gain,

Then learn to love in varied ways

And give to God your duty praise.

The scriptures hold the sacred key

To peace and joy, and setting free

The prisoner who's trapped in sin

For Light and Life are found within.

Ignore no more the sacred guide,

Cast off the chains of sinful pride

And hear anew the Word of God

To guide you on the path you trod.

So, sift and savor all that's true

And let His Word abide in you

For that which sinner just ignores

True happiness and joy restores.

Monday

Angelic glow upon his face

Filled with wisdom, poise, and grace

Not backing down when faced with death

But speaking truth with every breath

The martyr, Stephen made his way

From death to life that very day

Forgiving those, his life would take

To many more disciples make.

Tuesday

What a gift, this Holy Bread!

By this, a multitude is fed

Though broken and divided so

Yet undiminished grace we know

This tiny morsel feeds the soul

With life eternal we extol

An overflowing font of grace

That fear and doubt cannot efface.

Communion with Creator here

A creature yet, one held so dear

The Lord of Lords, the Great I AM

Became our precious Paschal Lamb.

Wednesday

His signs and wonders went with them

When scattered o'er the earth

And they became a budding stem

To bring about new birth

Though persecuted, young and old

Who heard the Gospel news

Repented sin to be enrolled

And Christ, as King to choose.

As sparks amid the stubble spread

No force could ere contain

The word of He who rose from dead

To now forever reign

Within the world, but not of such

His followers remain.

The ones who felt His gentle touch

And live in love's domain.

Thursday

The bread of life, to earth came down

His word was spread from town to town

By those who listen and obey

Who eat His flesh and light the way

His food which gives both life and light

A savored meal and sweet delight

To feed the masses great and small

And evermore His gift recall

This bread will feed the hungry mind

And all who seek will surely find

Their sustenance for every need

When daily on this Bread they feed.

Friday

From Heaven rains this Holy Bread

The morsel sweet by which we're fed

A feast within a desert land

So those in darkness understand

A Sacrifice that's true and real

A Victim slain to make our meal

Alike to manna found of old

This treasure far surpasses gold.

My daily food for many years

My strength and hope to conquer fears

My comfort when I needed rest

My always welcome loving Guest.

Oh, Flesh and Blood of Love Divine,

Come change this selfish heart of mine

May all I do be done in love

And mold my will to Thine above.

Saturday

How shall I make a return to the Lord?

What tribute or gift could I ever afford?

His blessings are many, the trials are few

And trials I learn may be good for me too.

His word is a treasure uncovered for me

A window beyond the earthly I see

A glimpse of the mysteries of heaven above

A door to the wonder of mercy and love.

Teachings are hard and distasteful at times

Trusting, though weak, I ascend through the climbs

And always I find there is truth in his word

Unlike all the voices of earthly I've heard

4/7/24 Through 4/13/24

 4/7/24 Through 4/13/24

Sunday

"My Lord and God," dear Thomas said

Has truly risen from the dead

I've seen and touched His hands and side

No more the truth can be denied.

How blest are they that do not see

But still have faith and trust in Me

My grace to them will overflow

And many more will come to know

So, here today what we believe

It's truly Christ when we receive

In form of simple bread and wine

He comes to us, our Lord Divine.

No longer doubt, but do perceive

He promised He would never leave

But always send His Spirit near

So man would have no need to fear.

The all you need is in the Bread

Be seeing now and richly fed

Come daily feed on Love Divine

And share this blessed faith of mine.

Monday

(To the tune of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence")

Overshadowed by His power

Womb that bears the Son of God

Mary in the greatest hour

Gives His will her humble nod

God becomes a man, incarnate

Shepherds, saints, and angels awed.

A simple word to change all of hist'ry

As it was with fallen man

Creator now created myst'ry

Fathoming, no mortal can

Jesus Christ the Son our Savior

Dividing line of all history.

Tuesday

The call to leave the world behind

Can weigh on every Christian mind

The thing for which we've labored long,

The things we say to us belong

But what is there that any own?

For all they have is gift alone

So we should be a gift as well

To so the Gospel story tell.

Then all that we possess must be

Disposed in ways that honor Thee.

That fill another's need in love

And liken us to Him above.

For that we grab and hold will die

But flowing gifts will multiply

The Giver none could ere out-give

So like the Giver, we should live.

Wednesday

Freed to freely preach the Word

In spite of danger, boldly spurred

To spread the news that He's alive

And stir the faith of all to thrive.

No cross, or grave, or prison cell

Can stop the news of love we tell

That Christ, once crucified now lives

And daily bread for hungry gives

The Light has come to dark dispel

And of our loving Father tell

Yet some prefer the dark to Light

For evil are their works of night.

Don't hide amid the shadows long

But come to Light where you belong

Confess your sin, repent and see

The Light of Life is calling thee.

Thursday

Let not the truth be silent now

Nor to the whims of evil bow

But stand amid their threats of pain

To everlasting honor gain.

The lies repeated o'er and o'er

Remain a lie forevermore

Though evil tries to call it true

It's but another trap for you.

Believe the evidence that's clear.

The martyrs, and their faith sincere.

He lives and reigns who once was dead

Who gave Himself that man be fed.

No lie can bring one peace and joy

Perhaps some pleasure, like a toy

But truth alone will win the day

When all the lies are washed away.

Then shining brightly, like the sun

We'll meet the Father and the Son

The Spirit too will be our guide

And all we need He will provide.

Friday

A harvest worker make of me

A one that loaves and fishes see

And bring them to the Lord to bless

So He might every need address

If men of faith but understood

The little that we have is good

He multiplies to fill the need

If we, but to His call will heed.

A humble Virgin thus became

A woman of unending fame

Because she answered well the call 

And offered God her little ALL.

Apostles too, were whipped to shame

But rather found eternal fame

In bearing wounds the Savior bore

By giving all He's asking for.

Saturday

Choose from among you seven men

With wisdom and the Spirit when

They see the needs that must be filled

And act in ways the Father willed

Lay hands on them to serve as Christ

Who let their wills be sacrificed

To serve in love as Jesus taught

And bring about the justice sought.

3/31/24 Through 4/6/24

 3/31/24 Through 4/6/24

Sunday

He is not here, He has been raised

Forever now His name be praised

He conquered death and rose to life

Forever gone, the sin and strife

Now evil's shown for what it is,

The opposite of all that's His.

The lack of goodness, peace, and love.

No place for such in land above.

But first, before we see that day

We must teach others well the Way

To let His Gospel grow and swell

'Till all the earthly bound we tell.

Monday

Just fifty days before, they fled,

Denied Him as the Teacher said

They lost their nerve and ran away

What change occurred upon this day?

The Spirit came in tongues of fire

Calling them to places higher

Spurring them to bear much fruit

And make His Way their life's pursuit.

Alive He is, and well they knew

The pow'r of hell He overthrew

The fear of death no longer swayed

His call to preach, they all obeyed.

So too, He calls believers now

To spread the Gospel word somehow

And not be cowed by fear or shame

But boldly speak of Jesus' name

His Spirit, filling jars of clay

Can move a mountain in the way

And lead the sinner to repent

That he as well, be also sent.

Receive the fire and find anew

The special gifts He has for you

Then use them to proclaim the word

Until all men on earth have heard.

Tuesday

Go announce the morning news

Apostles first, and then to Jews

And then to every nation round

That life beyond the grave is found.

Forgiveness of our every sin

For those repentant deep within

The chains of sin can fall away

For love is shown to rule the day.

Wednesday

Be known to me in broken bread

By such as this my spirit fed

This gift so fine received today

To lead me on in Heaven's way

Alive You are at every turn

Oh, let the heart within me burn

And recognize that You are real

At every daily sacred meal.

No more unworthily received

But every word of yours believed

A humble servant list'ning well

To every precious word You tell

Obedient at Your command

To every hardship well withstand

With love the motivation used

And never what You ask refused.

Thursday

All that's needed you well know

To in My love and graces grow

The history is there to see

I came, true love, to show to thee

I know your weakness, every one

But through My passiontide, I won

The vict'ry over death and sin

That man could now, new life begin.

My mercy covers every sin

Find peace and joy again within

Get up each time you fall and see

With mercy I will greeteth thee

Your every weakness I have known

But grace is stronger, this I've shown

United with My Father, grow

And grace abundant you will know.

Friday

Returning to their former ways

They hoped to clear the milky haze

But after long and empty hours

They see again the Savior's powers

He meets them on the shore with food

And there another meal ensued

With broken bread to clear the eyes

And prove that after death we rise.

Not once or twice, or even three

He shows Himself alive to be

Alive, and with a task for them

A task to spread the Word to men

Abandon self and spread the Word

'Till everyone on Earth has heard

One name alone by which we're saved

Is Jesus Christ, the Way who paved.

Don't cower to the evil men

But let them see His pow'r again

And boldly speak of what you know

That little ones, in faith, can grow.

Saturday

Each must judge what's right each day

And what or whom we should obey

We can't deny what God has done

Nor that we killed His only Son.

We could repent and find a crown

Or turn away and double down

The choice remains for every day

To turn to God or turn away.

There's fullness in the Son of Man

And living out the Father's plan,

But emptiness and guile await

The fool that wants to turn too late

The time is now, so don't delay

Repent and wash the sins away

Then spread the news both far and wide,

Humility has conquered pride.