2/10/19 Through 2/16/19

2/10/19 Through 2/16/19

Sunday
When I see Him face to face
I'll understand my sin.
How far away I strayed from grace,
And sin's effect within.

The weight of these can crush the bone
And lead one to despair.
Forgiveness comes from Christ alone
Who answers every prayer.

Monday
Each day is better than before,
Our God is giving evermore.
New graces everyday received,
Through one immaculate conceived.

The light of day and stars of night
Portend a future ever bright
For those, by grace, who's hearts are stirred,
Who learn to trust His every word!

Tuesday
Is my heart near or far away?
Did I just hear and not obey?
Is my heart where my lips proclaim,
Or mired in a land of shame?

Wednesday
That from within defiles the man
As nothing touched, or eaten can.
When pride controls what we would do
Our hearts grow far away from You.

Those fallen as the Devil's prey
Would doubt the things the Lord will say
And follow their misguided will
To wallow in the Devil's swill.

But love desires only good
And wisdom sees what all men should.
That God made man to live in love,
And dwell in heaven's light above.

Thursday
Flesh of flesh and bone of bone
Made so man was not alone.
Given to the man as wife.
Given for the gift of life.

Though naked with no shame or lust,
The two in purity and trust.
Become one flesh as meant to be,
And thus a child comes to be.

This beauty God has made for man
Within His Trinitary plan.
Reflecting wonders of the love
Among the Godhead, up above.

Friday
With that first sin we chose our shame.
A lying serpent, now we blame.
But what, in truth, has caused the fall
Are pride and hubris, most of all.

The gates were closed and man shut out,
Then sin was raging all about,
But One was promised from above
To show again the ways of love.

He came as one akin to man
According to the Father's plan.
In poverty he grew to be
Our model of humility.

He opened ears, and loosed the tongue
Of deaf and mute He walked among.
Then on the cross He opened wide
The gates once shut by sinful pride.

Saturday
How sad, for all, the Garden lost.
For every sin a frightful cost!
What looks attractive to the eye,
May not be something we should try.

March for Life 2019

March for Life 2019

A crisis at the border looms.

Society at large presumes

Invaders never count for much

Those inconvenient, weak, and such.

So they dispose this human trash

In hope to fix things in a flash.

But when at last they clearly see,

A precious life has ceased to be.

The womb is now the border wall

For all those feared, yet oh so small.

This wall should mean it's safe within,

But that is far from how it's been.

This wall, they say belongs to me

And strips the child of dignity.

No one can govern what is mine,

So put away your protest sign.

For happiness they make a choice

Denying little ones a voice.

Indulgence, never brings such mirth

As when a child comes to birth.

And so we walk again this year,

In hope that those in power hear,

That love is needed in this time

To end, at last, this heinous crime.

A million LEGAL immigrants

This year alone will die.

Much more we need, than signs and chants,

Or just to wonder why.

An active plan that's far beyond

What ere we've done before.

A love to show that morn has dawned,

That hate cannot ignore.

A demonstration everyday

That all are due respect.

Sincerity in all we say,

Not soon, they will forget.

Lord grant this grace that we may see

One day Your will be done.

Then here on earth the cry will be,

Lord let Your kingdom come!

2/3/19 Through 2/8/19

2/3/19 Through 2/8/19

Sunday

Lord of love our task today

Is love according to your way,

To love the evildoer here

And cast away our useless fear.

The end we know, You conquered sin

So we should not let evil win,

But love until the bitter end,

And truth and justice, here defend.

Monday

Proclaim what God has done for you

What mighty works this faith can do,

For those enduring to the end

Our blessed Lord will more than mend.

What glory waits is yet unseen

Where every soul is pure and clean.

Where sin is banished far away,

And evermore is light of day.

Tuesday

If I but touch upon His cloak,

His love will break this heavy yoke.

If I but near myself to Him

He'll clear the eyes and strengthen limb.

Not satisfied to leave it there

He bids us come and know Him where

In ordinary bread and wine

He offers flesh and blood divine.

Though some may scoff and wonder why

We place on this, such value high,

But once you recognize this bread

It's where your very soul is fed.

Wednesday

In love the martyrs shed their blood

Amidst the overwhelming flood

Of suffering and gruesome pain

To win the prize of heaven's gain

He grants the grace to meet the need.

And through the pain He plants a seed

To soften hearts of hardened stone

And let the love of God be known.

You too can win a martyr's crown,

Be clothed in white with flowing gown,

By meeting well temptation's threat

And using every grace you get.

Thursday

Rejection causes bitterness

And sinfulness I must confess.

So shake it off as useless dust,

And look to Him with total trust.

He who was rejected first,

Hung on the cross, and said, "I Thirst",

His love drove out all bitterness,

So hardened hearts might acquiesce.

We too, must love without reserve,

And faithfully, our brothers serve.

So when rejected, let it fall,

That love might be our all in all.

Friday

For sure the oil's running low

That which keeps our lamps aglow

We mustn't wait to fill the flask,

As that should be a daily task.

The Bridegroom comes here unannounced.

Those in dark will be denounced.

Sorrow for the unprepared

That sloth and lethargy ensnared.

Saturday

The sheep must have a shepherd,

A teacher, loving, kind.

Protector from the leopard, 

And teeth of roaring lion.

Overwhelmed by needy ones

Without the time to pray.

That's the way the story runs

For parents everyday.

Yet sometime in the busy day

There'll be a moment's rest

When one can look to heav'n and say

Lord come and be my guest.

The work they do shall be a prayer

An offering of praise

The best that they can offer where

Their loving fills the days.

1/27/19 Through 2/2/19

1/27/19 Through 2/2/19

Sunday

For old enough to understand

We study well what God has planned.

Attractive as the faith might be,

It calls for dread humility.

The order and stability

Of those with faith appeals to me,

But not the thought of the unknown,

Or moving from my comfort zone.

With fear and longing intertwined,

Faith is not for weak, I find.

No room for those who store and save,

The realm of faith is meant for brave.

So if you will, then take the plunge,

And useless fear, from life, expunge.

Then find the grand stability,

That flows from true humility.

Monday

Entering the sanctuary,

Sheep or goat He did not carry.

But His precious blood divine,

He offers as the sacred wine.

Pleading mercy and forgiveness,

Freeing man from all his illness,

Perfect sacrifice was made,

Debt of all our sins was paid.

Tuesday

Stronger than the ties of blood,

Love abounds in lavish flood,

For those who do the Father's will,

And thus, the great command fulfill.

To do His will is such delight,

To watch His hand of love rewrite

The story in a better way,

That leads to light of endless day.

Wednesday

Break the path and clear the thorn.

Rocks be gone, this blessed morn.

Hoe and fertilize the ground,

So that which welcomes can be found.

A deep, and soft, and welcome earth,

Prepared to bring the seed to birth

That it may grow and richly bear

A harvest well beyond compare.

Thursday

The lamp stand is a fitting place

To put the light of truth and grace.

Not hidden, or just kept for one,

But giving light to everyone.

Don't say your gifts don't count for much.

The Beast would have you think as much.

But give, and then be given more,

And then, to greater depths explore.

His love is there to light the path,

And save us from the sinful wrath.

So all must use the gifts He gives

To prove to darkness that He lives!

Friday

To persevere, the word today,

Enduring troubles on the way,

But weakness causes me to sin,

Relying on just strength within.

His grace is key to understand

The wonders that our God has planned.

For grace will simply multiply

When troubles start to amplify.

The tiny seed of grace will grow,

And shelter little birds that know,

In weakness God is glorified,

And saves us from our sin of pride.

Saturday

Light of lights, light up my way,

Dispel the darkness of the day.

Salvation now my eyes have seen,

By prophets, long ago foreseen.

The day is here, the hour is now.

Our God has kept His holy vow.

Though many sorrows yet to come,

All darkness, He will overcome.

1/20/19 Through 1/26/19

1/20/19 Through 1/26/19

Sunday

May this empty jar be filled,

Let me act as God has willed.

Spirit fill my emptiness,

Bring me to Your place of rest.

No longer called "Forgotten One",

But one for whom gold robes are spun,

For King has come to call His bride,

And break the chains of sin from pride.

Monday

A gem within the word today

That teaches how to fast and pray

With perseverance to the end

To thus obtain our dividend.

To draw our strength from God as man

And act within the Father's plan

Accepting troubles day by day

To learn obedience on the way.

Tuesday

The gift of life, the breath of God,

A gift that's high and deep and broad.

So little man does comprehend,

Whenever choosing life to end.

His work of art and masterpiece,

Imbued with soul to never cease.

Now treated just as common trash

By those audacious, bold, and brash.

How can the human heart be changed,

And this vast folly rearranged,

To cherish life at every stage,

And such a tragedy assuage?

The only way, is follow Truth,

And teach it well to old and youth,

That as the next duration dawns,

No more will serve as Evil's pawns.

Wednesday

What's withered in my soul today,

Where I have left sin have its way?

What part of me must be restored

By Mercy's gracious love out poured?

Desiring some recognition

Feeding pride in this position.

Show me how to listen well

To Wisdom, that my heart will swell.

Thursday

Around Him pressed an anxious crowd

To hear the words of Him endowed

With pow'r to heal the blind and lame,

And even raise the dead of Nain.

Unlike the haughty Pharisee,

This one would speak with love, you see.

Rejecting honors of the day

To with His Father, kneel and pray.

No man e're spoke as He would speak

So bold, yet always, mild and meek.

Authority His words possess

And every one will heal or bless.

Let me hang upon that word,

And act in haste on what I've heard.

For that will heal and mend my sin,

Inviting love to dwell within.

Friday

If many more would see the light,

And join us in the ardent fight,

The world would change and be renewed,

And wickedness, be much subdued.

For love has conquered over sin,

And only love can change within,

To bring about the peace we seek,

And give the flesh to words we speak.

Saturday

How has darkness grown this deep?

Why is faith considered cheap?

How can I become a light,

To rend the veils of sin and night?

By answering Your every plea

And thus by growing close to Thee.

By sacrificing foolish pride,

And taking You to be my guide.

Be not afraid to speak the truth,

To educate both old and youth,

For I will save the pure of heart,

If you but do your given part.