5/24/15 through 5/31/15

5/24/15 through 5/31/15

Sunday

When the Holy Spirit came

In flashing tongues of holy flame

Timid ones stood and proclaimed

With love, the power of Jesus' name.

Without the fire of God within

We're far more apt to fall in sin

But with the Spirit's seven fold power

We're clothed to meet temptation's hour.

Monday

Remembering the fallen ones

This day we set aside

To call to mind the sacrifice

Of those who fought and died.

Protecting freedom in our land

So generations hence

Could live in liberty and peace

All bought at their expense.

We must respect their gift to us

By living everyday

As ones who care for others in

The same self-giving way.

Tuesday

The call to simple sacrifice

Will greet us every morn

We must control our appetites

For us to be reborn

Not suffering repeated blows

Or asked to give our all

But giving up what no one knows

Through works considered small.

Wednesday

The island of my ancestors

was once a source of pride

A faithful Catholic people with

The Church to be their guide.

But through the years the thorns have grown

Among that goodly seed

The worldly cares of day to day

The things we say we need.

Somehow their faith has come to be

A loser in the fight

Regardless of majority

A vote can't make it right.

I used to think the first command

Was useless in our day.

Who bows to calves, or carves a god

To worship anyway?

But we have turned our carnal lust

Into that sacred cow

Where to the simply deviant

We now just turn and bow.

The laws of love were given when

He made them man and wife.

Their unity the chosen way

Of bringing forth new life.

Have we not seen throughout the years

That following His plan

Leads to true prosperity

For each and every man?

Oh Lord, remove the blinders

Help us all to see

That following the laws of God

In truth will set us free!

Thursday

The cry that oft we dare not say

Is, "Lord, I want to see"

For in the light He shows the way

That we were meant to be.

Friday

No time to sit and recreate

It's time now to accelerate

Our search to harvest needy souls

Intensifies as we grow old.

Saturday

Wisdom, friend and guiding light

Come and make my pathway bright

Give me courage to endure

Always faithful, true, and sure.

5/16/15 through 5/23/15

5/17/15 through 5/24/15

Sunday

Ascending to Your rightful throne

Disciples watched in awe

Declaring You as King alone

From everything they saw

But Your plan was greater still

Your blessings incomplete

To help us do the Father's will

You sent the Paraclete.

Monday

The grain of wheat must fall and die

And then be found to grow

Then as the stalk is reaching high

The gifts of Spirit flow.

Tuesday AM

Don't shrink away or fail to speak

The word God gives to you.

But raise the weary and the weak

As God says we should do.

Tuesday PM

Again I sit before the Lord

God of glory and grace

My weak and sinful self abhorred

Ashamed to lift my face

When will I ever gain the power

To turn away from sin

In courage, meet temptation's hour

And garner strength within?

A frightful thought to look upon

The scourges and the thorns

And know those sacred stripes were drawn

As products of my scorn

Lord make my greatest love be You

Make me always seek what's true

Help me always realize

That Satan's fool is really wise.

Wednesday

I watch in silence as each surge

Of blood comes from my heart

Transporting life and animating

Each and every part.

I don't know how, I don't know why

My thoughts are not that high

But this I know without a doubt

His love is what it's all about.

Thursday

Firmly bound forever free

Is what I ask dear Lord of Thee

That I might only rest and feed

In verdant pastures where You lead

Friday

The night before the Savior died

By closest friend, three times denied

But on the shore He fed and blessed

For love was there three times expressed.

Saturday

Don't worry how the rest are called

For you just follow me

You are the rock that I installed

The keeper of the key.

5/10/15 through 5-16-15

Sunday

Love is meant for everyone

The Father's gift of precious Son

The Spirit too, He sent for all

Who hearken to the master's call.

Monday

Help me forsake myself I cry

Make me to love enough to die

Let not my search for pleasure win

Teach me to love and turn from sin.

Tuesday

There's more to the story than what we can read

How suddenly, faith in the Lord can now lead

The jailer, a soldier, to turn from his post

Becoming for prisoners, their servant and host.

The power of God is so hard to describe

It will gnaw at our gut and cause us to decide

If we will be creatures all puffed up with pride,

Or yield to the Lord, and let Him be our guide.

Wednesday

For now it is too much to know

All that the Lord has planned.

We feed on milk until we grow

To follow His command.

Thursday

We must replace, apostles say

The one of us who did betray

Then hung in utter desolation

On a tree of condemnation.

One with us throughout the days

Must join with us and teach His ways.

Replacing Judas' deeds at night

Matthias acts in holy light

Friday

Mother Mary be my guide

This day remain here at my side 

Let me see your holy face

And shower down His loving grace.

For I desire to love like thee,

With perfect, kind humility

Trusting that someday I might,

Like you, reflect His wondrous light.

Saturday

A knock says may I please come in

And turn your tendency towards sin,

To One who truly satisfies,

And from the father of those lies.

5/3/15 through 5/9/15

Sunday

Accept it all with joy they say

A gift from God on high,

But I can't find a joyful way

And choose to wonder why.

Why not, the better question posed,

should trouble come to me?

Is it right that I suppose

From trial my life be free?

Monday

Pride is such a subtle vice

It sneaks through any crack

And then it does in us entice

Our prayer life to grow slack.

Tuesday

We're called to persevere in pain

That we might win eternal gain

Then like apostles, and like Paul

Might spread the Word to one and all.

To learn to love I must obey

And follow in the Master's way

Forsaking ease and glory high

To freely choose the cross and die.

Wednesday

"I do believe!", the father said.

Help my unbelief.

Don't turn and leave my son for dead,

I'm crying for relief.

Thursday

The struggle for the earthly gain

Is always proved to be in vain.

For those who strive to get ahead,

Eventually, they turn up dead.

Then what becomes of all their wealth,

Their quest for power and perfect health?

The dreams become for those who sinned

Just dandelions in the wind. 

So tell me what their silver gleaned,

A blessing or a curse?

For they say you've never seen

A U-haul on a hearse.

Friday

To love sounds like a simple rule

That we could all obey

So often though, we play the fool

And self gets in the way.

Staurday

How shall the young be sinless found,

When in this world, and all around,

Temptations vie to hold their sway?

The Word of God they must obey!

4/26/15 through 5/2/15

Sunday

They act as if they know it all

And so refuse to hear the call

Or listen when the still small voice

Beckons, make the holy choice.

Good shepherd tries to lead the way

But they insist to go astray

and find a hungry wolf instead

Of verdant pastures for their bed.

Monday

Why does sleep elude my eyes?

Why does your will seem in disguise?

Why don't I rest and sleep in ease?

Why don't I get down on my knees?

Tuesday

The Master called His sheep by name

And all who followed Love then came

But those who always asked for signs

Refused to follow His designs.

Wednesday

When amidst a great attack

No time to let our hands grow slack

But praise Him still for we behold

By fire He cleanses precious gold.

Make me like Barnabas and Paul

Who gladly suffered for the call

And may I never shy away

From speaking what you'd have me say.

Thursday

How can I think of writing rhyme

When I sit to pass the time

Sipping whiskey for the pain

A tooth has gone awry again.

Friday

A people set apart for You

With holy work for each to do

Like Joseph through our work express

Desire for love and holiness.

Let me listen Lord to Thee

For the Word You speak to me

And act upon your each command

Or lest my house be built on sand.

What a treat to sit with You

Enjoying in this place

The simple quiet solitude

And blessings of Your grace

Saturday

In the name of Jesus pray

And God will grant to you this day

From His font of grace thereof

What's best for you and those you love.

When Mary said let it be done

According to Your will

The Spirit then conceived the Son

Her tabernacle filled.