Wednesday, February 28, 2018

3/11/18 Through 3/17/18

3/11/18 Through 3/17/18

Sunday
A look to kill and one to save
The choice becomes quite clear
His saving look the Father gave
So we could all draw near

So look upon the serpent raised
And see the price of love
This sacrifice forever praised
The one from God above

All other looks will lead to where
The sun will never shine
But gazing on the Savior there
Will lead our hearts to Thine

Monday
This faith of mine so weak at times
I wonder if it's there
For doubt is all around and climbs
Within from everywhere

Your word should be enough to know
It shall be as You said
But within, my doubts still grow
These demons in my head

For every time I've doubted You 
In shame I have returned
There's wisdom in these things you do
Let none of them be spurned

So help me once again to trust
Believing you are good
Your way is always right and just
Though be not understood

Tuesday
I want for more than to be healed
I want to make my spirit yield
To rivers of life-giving grace
That flow from in Your dwelling place

I want refreshment for my soul
To cleanse me and to make me whole
I want to dance and sing Your praise
I want You with me all my days

I want to clearly hear Your voice
And in accord to make my choice
May I within Your word be set
Then learn to trust without regret

Wednesday
The judgement is coming nearer each day
But still we persist in the same old way
Not clothing the naked or feeding the poor
But working to make our future "secure"

No one likes to hear it, no one like to face
The fact that before him, we're all in disgrace
This season of mercy we squander away
Just doing our things in the usual way

But the season will change in the blink of an eye
And then all at once a life will pass by
No more will His mercy be rule of the day
His judgement forever will then hold the sway

Be prudent and wise and repent while there's time
For life may be ended with this simple rhyme
His wish is that none of His sheep would be burned
His arms open wide to embrace your return

Thursday
How quickly Lord we turn away
And follow still our sinful way
Our faith lasts only for awhile
Until the lying words beguile

Please make a steadfast heart in me
His lies that I may plainly see
And turn away to trust in You
In all the loving things You do

Friday
If our Messiah came today
I wonder what we all would say?
Would He be dashing, brave, and bold?
Would He be fitting to our mold?

So easily we criticize
Those ruling, that we now despise
So would we hear His message sent
If He just called us to repent?

If He but showed where we have failed
Would He be loved and unassailed?
Or would we too despise the man
Who didn't fit our masterplan?

Saturday
For no one spoke like Him before
Who left us pierced, yet begging more
No one with such authority
Whose simple touch could set one free

His word exposes sinful hearts
And that is where the healing starts
He calls us to repent and live
Then to His Father freely give

The praise that's due the One above
Who calls us to His endless love
Then find the last becomes the first
And only love can quench our thirst.





Sunday, February 18, 2018

3/4/18 Through 3/10/18

3/4/18 Through 3/10/18

Sunday
Much like the woman at the well
Each one a story that we tell
Of how His water quenched our thirst
When we, at last, with Him conversed

Too long we stayed away in pride
Forsaking comforts at His side
We chose instead our sinful way
And saved, for Him, another day

But then one day to our surprise
He came and opened up our eyes
Revealing all our sin and shame
And healing all the sick and lame

You too, I know, have had the thirst
And many wells you have traversed
In Him are rivers deep and wide
No more you'll thirst when at His side.

Monday
Forgiveness is a special theme
Not some contrived, or worthless scheme
We look beyond the crime to see
A precious soul like you and me

For unity that God desires
We must forgive as love requires
And reconcile with every soul
To make us one, complete, and whole

Tuesday
Not faith enough to grow the seed
In Nazareth, the town of need
No prophet in his native town
Is there accepted with renown.

Wednesday
What god brings peace and freedom here?
What god, to man, will draw so near?
Who's law is just and always right?
Who stands before us in the fight?

None but He who made the skies
Him whose voice can speak no lies
Him who loves without reserve
Him who teaches us to serve

No god like this in other lands
That hears our plea and understands
There's only one who stooped so low
His boundless love to clearly show

So we should come to know the one
Who sacrificed His only Son
The One who died upon the tree
To save a sinner such as me.

Thursday
If I could just but read the signs
That speak so loud of His designs
Repent, I would, of all my sin
And turn my gaze back unto Him

So strip the armour guarding me
And make my eyes to really see
I need so badly all You give
That one day I should truly live

Friday
Return to Him and beg for thee
His patience and His clemency
Return and let your wounds be healed
Return and let Him be your shield

Return and let Him shade the heat
Return and find real food to eat
Return and let Him shepherd thee
Return and truly be set free.

Saturday
I claim not one thing as my own
For all is but a seed You've sown
And watered with abundant grace
To let me run, with You the race

All that's wrong has been my choice
When failing to obey Your voice
And seeking pride instead of Thee
Contrite, and in humility


Sunday, February 11, 2018

2/25/18 - 3/3/18

2/25/18 - 3/3/18

Sunday
Transfigured there before their eyes
Apostles stood in rapt surprise
Such beauty they had never seen
And garments never near so clean

Why would He show His glory now
And with this grace, the three endow?
Except in hope that they might see
In sacrifice is victory.

Monday
You alone oh Lord are just
And You alone, oh Lord I trust
For none like You so freely give
And none so readily forgive

Ashamed of how I act toward You
Ashamed of wickedness I do
I disregard my sovereign King
Pursuing many worthless things

But You know well my weakness Lord
And my desires, have not ignored
Forgiveness now, You ready give
That once again, my soul may live

Tuesday
Lord cleanse me of my foolish pride
Let me at last, for You, decide
To serve my neighbors as I should
And shoulder now with them the wood

Let me accept them where they are
Not seeing them away so far, 
Rejoicing that they've found the road
And helping them to bear the load

Wednesday
The role of prophet, priest, and king
Does not, us salutations bring
But if we truly speak His word
They stop their ears so none is heard

The duty of the one who's sent
Is call the sinner to repent
And leave behind the easy way
To follow every word You say

No comforts offered here and now
But great rewards in heav'n somehow
By joining suff'rings to the cross
All earthly gain becomes but loss

Thursday
The poor man waiting at the door
To gladly come and clean the floor
But even that might raise a brow
So still we turn away somehow

Dehumanizing those in need
We stop our ears to those who plead
And dig a chasm deep and wide
'Tween us, and those on other side

If only we could plainly see
They're not so different than we
We'd see the need to close the gap
And learn to love the other chap

Friday
Why haterd for the only son
Has none but jealousy begun?
His only crime a willing heart
to listen well and play his part

Be glad for all the varied gifts
And how the need for each one shifts
Some lead and clearly show the way
Some follow, and support display

But each one has a special skill
Intended for the Father's will
The way to bear abundant fruit
Is do your job without dispute

For every part must work, you see
If we're to live in harmony
And make the music He has planned
To fill the valleys of this land

Saturday
Such mercy and forgiveness shown
By none, but He upon the throne
We see it and then jealousy
Creeps in against the one set free

We too must turn away from sin
And make our way, again to Him
To find His waiting warm embrace
And live again within His grace.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Miscellaneous

Light of Christ
The light of Christ I see in you
I hope, in me, you see Him too
In all the things I do this day
May Christ be King in all I say

Let my actions clearly speak
Of Christ the Savior that we seek
Help me give Lord without measure
Seeking You my greatest treasure

Blessings
Why so many blessings Lord
Unworthy as I am?
Your life to me, in blood outpoured
As holy spotless lamb

Let me now your servant be
A good and faithful one
Give me loving eyes that see
In every face, Your Son

????
Oh long awaited Jesus
No one could ever know
As babe, you'd come to free us
And let Your graces flow

A spotless lamb in stable born
To humble virgin bride
Then crucified with body torn
And Mary at Your side.


2/18/18 Through 2/24/18

2/18/18 Through 2/24/18

Sunday
He set amid the clouds up high
His bow across a darkened sky
A sign of how His love has been
A sign of rescue from our sin

Believe the Gospel as He said
For Christ has risen from the dead
Repent, but more than turn around
Then hasten to where Love is found

Monday
The simplest of heaven's keys
Is how you treat the least of these
Do you feed that hungry guy,
Or do you turn, and pass him by?

Do you warm the shiv'ring soul
Or try to make the broken whole? 
Do you visit prisons where
So many souls are in despair?

We can't ignore the needs of these
And think, that we, the Lord will please
For how we treat the little one
Is how we treat God's only Son

Tuesday
In need of daily bread this day
I pray You guide the words I say
That not a word returning void
But every evil now destroyed

A humble voice of love give me
That when they look, it's You they see
And spark in them from up above
Now once again the fire of love.

Wednesday
Reluctant servant though I be
Grant wisdom for this heart in me
Discernment for my simple mind
That Your true will I surely find

And once Your will is clear to me
Let me pursue it joyfully
Not turning toward my own desire
But facing boldly holy fire

Thursday
What comfort in this shining light
That guides our way through darkest night
The Rock You gave to be our guide
This Church You called to be Your bride

Friday
Jesus make me turn from sin
And fix my eyes on You
I let the flesh so often win
And turn away from You

I wish to be a steadfast heart
Unwav'ring in the wind
A servant faithful to his part
And not, the one who sinned

But I am weak and often fall
The flesh to satisfy
My sin becomes my shameful shawl
And guilt to multiply

Then turning once again to You
I see Your loving eyes
The healing and forgiveness too
A love that satisfies

Saturday
Love the ones that don't love you
That find the fault in all you do
The ones who criticize your ways
And never utter words of praise

God loves them too, to our surprise
He sees with very different eyes
He sees the depth of every heart
And sees a precious work of art.