5/12/19 Through 5/18/19

5/12/19 Through 5/18/19

Sunday

The sheep who recognize My voice

Have come to me and made their choice,

Have come to follow in the way

That leads to that eternal day.

No more distracted by the din

Of selfishness and sordid sin

But focused on the heav’nly light

That draws to ever higher height.

To love beyond what mortals know,

To love where saints and angels go,

To love as from the Spotless Lamb,

To love but from the great I AM.

Monday

One gate through which the sheep will pass

One way to find our peace at last

To follow well the Shepherd’s voice

And make His way our loving choice.

Tuesday

So many traitors in the ranks

So few who offer praise and thanks

It falls to few to change the many

Gifted by His graces plenty.

Be Matthias for the masses

See much clearer through the glasses

Faith provides to see what’s needed

Thus, you see, the ground is seeded.

Wednesday

Set apart to work for Him

Who came into the world.

Light in darkness, strengthened limb

Peace and love unfurled.

Spirit led, proclaimed to all

The chosen and the Jew

So listen well and hear the call

He places now to you.

Thursday

Unworthy though I be

To loosen sandal’s thong

The One who washes me

Is He who does no wrong.

His ever-present grace

Will strengthen weakened knees

In every time and place

He answers faithful pleas.

The good He wishes He must do

In works across this land

Through docile hearts in me and you

The way His Father planned.

So make of me each single day

A soul to listen and to pray

A soul to hear your every call

And one to give my very all.

Friday

Begotten through the pain of death

New life can thus begin

The Spirit from Your holy breath

No more a life of sin.

The Truth revealed for all to see

Love conquers over sin

The Way is but for us to be

The ones with life within.

Saturday

Have I been here for all this time,

And yet not understood?

The Father in this simple rhyme

To recognize, you should.

For He and I are two, but one

Distinct and not the same.

Yet bound as Father and as Son

By Love’s most holy flame.

5/5/19 Through 5/11/19

5/5/19 Through 5/11/19

Sunday

As Peter must have wondered what

Was next in line for him.

Which door would open, which would shut,

Would life be bright or grim?

For three long years surprised each time

The Master taught of how

The stairs to heaven we must climb,

And lowly we must bow.

But now He died and rose again

To conquer over sin.

Still offering forgiveness when 

We turned our backs on Him.

Now calling us to love Him more

Than ere we've understood.

To follow Him like ne'er before,

As with His grace we should.

Monday

The face of an angel shines with a glow

Illumined by truth like few of us know.

Not because it is hidden or so hard to find,

But because of our weakness and failure to mind.

The Lord grants His grace to all who believe.

The lowly and humble are ones who receive.

Our hubris and pride are the shields that we use

To block out the light and the truth to refuse.

If we would but love as the Father has asked

The folly of sin would be quickly unmasked.

And then, like the saints, in our faces would show

The wonders of God with a heavenly glow.

Tuesday

What sign is sufficient to satisfy,

What work can convince the critic's eye?

Such blindness of heart is far worse you see,

Than any such physical malady.

The One who has cured both the blind and the lame,

Has come in His loving Father's name.

But they want a king who with iron shall rule,

Not One who is humble, or played for a fool.

But who is the fool when you look at the scene,

Of thieves on the hill and the Man in between?

The healer and giver of sight to the blind

Has offered Himself, so the strays He could find.

Yet many refuse to believe in our Lord

In spite of His grace, or the love He out poured.

The fool is the one who refuses this love

And chooses the dark o'er the light from above.

Wednesday

The signs and wonders went with those

Whom Christ, the Lord, Messiah, chose

To spread Good News to all the earth

And bring the dying souls new birth.

If signs and wonders aren't for me,

Perhaps I need humility

To see the way He calls each day

And answer well instead of say...

Insert whatever song you sing,

Or lame excuse to God, you bring

For not obeying what you know,

The just, and proper way to go.

Convenience often what we use

To disobedience excuse.

Refusing then to share the cross

And holding on to sinful dross.

It's not the perfect that He uses

But the humble that He chooses

One who trusts what he has heard

And acts upon the Master's word.

Thursday

The bread that from the heavens came

Is known by none but Jesus' name

A bread that truly satisfies

And faithful souls it sanctifies.

If in the bread that we receive

His blood and body we perceive

No condemnation shall it bring,

But harmony in everything.

Such peace before was never known

A harvest from the seed once sown.

True nourishment from heaven's food

A soul with now, His grace imbued.

Friday

Eat His flesh and drink His blood

To live and never die.

Allow His precious gift to flood

The barren and the dry.

Saturday

Grant this day that I should find

Some way to make You known.

To open eyes of those so blind

And skills of love to hone.

For only in Your presence Lord

Can words of life be found.

Your word a sharpened two-edged sword,

And cord that has me bound.

Though far Your words beyond my ken

I trust they all are true.

And follow in them even when

The crowd will but eschew.

For Yours are words of lasting life

That everyone should know

To lead us throughout any strife

And not to others go.

4/28/19 Through 5/4/19

4/28/19 Through 5/4/19

Sunday

Mercy, mercy, mercy, Lord

Oh sacred wounds of Thee adored.

All doubt be gone for death is done

We've seen the vict'ry of the Son.

His wounded hands and feet and side

The proof that on the cross He died.

But now alive in majesty

The life of love he offers me.

Forgiveness of our every sin

His cross and resurrection win,

But we must do as He commands

And spread the word to all the lands.

Monday

With water from the Savior's side

Baptized and cleansed of sinful pride

Reborn in love and purity

To see what God had meant to be.

Enabled by His flaming love

To set our hearts on things above,

To let the Spirit guide the will

And learn to love Him greater still.

Tuesday

If in the worldly realm you say

These words of His will hold no sway

How can you learn of heaven's way

If earthly rules will not obey?

For all is gift from God above

Who wills that all partakers of

His benefits would recognize

A need to share their precious prize.

Abundantly He gives to all

Who hearken to His loving call

And He expects that they will share

The blessings of the Father's care.

Wednesday

The gift of work was made for me

A gift of His divine decree.

By sin the garden's treasure lost,

And daily labor now the cost.

But oh, how generous is He

His will was not that man should be

Forever lost with no way back,

He gives us work that none should lack.

A way to find our daily bread

And keep a growing family fed.

A way to play an active role

In mending of our broken soul.

Thursday

Obedience is owed to He

You hung upon that awful tree

He suffered, died, and rose again

To change the hearts of sinful men.

Now death we know cannot destroy

Our faithfulness and heartfelt joy

And you could also feel this way

If you would heed the words we say.

That all should know His love is willed

And those who do are Spirit-filled.

The word must spread across the land

That Christ is risen as He planned.

Friday

I ask for understanding Lord

To find the road the saints explored

To trust enough to peace attain

In spite of great or little gain.

To grasp not for the things of earth

But strive for that of lasting worth.

To give and not begrudge the cost

To love enough to save the lost.

I ask for what Your will desires

A humble heart and cleansing fires

To sanctify my every deed

And make of me a fruitful seed.

Saturday

Even many priests have come 

And followers of Christ become.

This verse shows well how love has changed

And hardened hearts are rearranged

When Christ is brought in loving ways

To stony hearts of any days.

Now'days we see an armor chink

If pro-aborts just stop and think

Of that forever lost because

Of what their action really does.

But love can start a tidal wave

And precious souls begin to save.

Our zeal like that from days of old

Must warm those hearts both lost and cold

And ever vigilant in love 

Turn hardened hearts to thoughts of love.

Where Christ can enter deep within

And turn away the lost from sin.

4/21/19 Through 4/27/19

4/21/19 Through 4/27/19

Sunday

This day the day of fetters broken,

Joyous Alleluias spoken.

Dead arisen!  Night as day.

Alleluia songs we pray.

Sin has dealt its deadly blow

Now the people all should know

Christ who conquered death and sin

Beckons all to follow Him.

Rise above the dark of  night. 

Enter realms of clearer light.

See the troubled waters stilled,

Now the Father's plan fulfilled.

In His stripes the seed was sown

Of a love before unknown.

Dreaded cross now sacred sign

Of His saving love divine.

Monday

Why in meekness come to me,

Oh God of power and majesty?

Why allow this sin to be

That hangs its God upon a tree?

Your ways to mine are far above

But You know well the ways of love.

Power persuades a tiny few

But love persuades a multitude.

Power lasts a little while

But love is never out of style.

When death arrives the power's gone,

But after death the love lives on.

No power here or high above

Is strong as that of selfless love

But love must be our chosen way

Or it, like power, wilts and fades.

Power tempts with golden chains

But in the end gives worthless gains

In freedom love demands a choice,

And those who choose it will rejoice.

Tuesday

Let the little trickle flow

Give the tree its time to grow

Waters from the sanctuary

Bring new life to those who tarry.

Loving waters flow from Thee

Freshening the salty sea

Watering the trees around

So healing leaves and fruit are found.

Wednesday

In simple bread they recognized

Who till that time had been disguised,

And taught them well along the road

As all the while His graces flowed.

A fire kindled in their hearts

As scripture knowledge He imparts

Within a bright and burning flame

As Christ expounds upon His name.

Thursday

Oh what must I do to be saved?

What mountain or trial must be braved?

For true to the ear is the word that I hear,

No longer by sin am enslaved.

By faith in the one Holy Name

No life will be ever the same

Like the crippled who walk, or the mute who can talk,

This faith really changes the game.

For the truth is He suffered and died,

Scourged, beaten and mocked, crucified,

But now risen is He, who will set captives free,

And the shamed are those who have lied.

My Jesus the King of all kings

What joy in Your presence it brings

All fear is cast out, and I just want to shout,

Out the love of which my heart sings.

Friday

When I've failed and my spirits are down,

And my face has a gloomy old frown,

None can raise it above, like the look of His love,

From my King under His thorny crown.

Saturday

How much we've seen but don't believe.

We must proclaim what we receive.

He gives in great abundance so

His fame around the world will go.

Do not be silenced by the crowd

But let His word, in you, be loud

Go heal the sick, the blind, the lame.

But do it all in Jesus' name.

Let the Spirit work in you

Let Him be praised in all you do.

Each gift He grants as need arises,

Some may be complete surprises.

Willingness is all He needs

He uses us for planting seeds

Others water, but we know,

It's God Himself who makes things grow.