6/9/19 Through 6/15/19

6/9/19 Through 6/15/19

Sunday

Lord, send once more, Your Spirit down

That all the lost may now be found.

That those in chains would be set free,

And come to know new life in Thee.

In some way help me be so bold

And speak till every heart enfolds

The love You showed upon the cross

And sees their sin as none but loss.

Monday

Oh Mary, Queen of Angels come,

And comfort now your dying Son.

Gather tepid souls with thee

To see your Son's divinity.

Strengthen me to stand with you

Beneath the cross in all I do,

And share the depth of love I see

In Him who died for one like me. 

Tuesday

Dear Barnabas encourage me

To offer all, that others see.

To not give up on those that fall,

But help each one to hear their call.

Wednesday

The truth contained within the cross.

One beaten, crowned, contains no dross.

A purity and glory there,

That makes the humble stop and stare.

Before this pure and holy One

I fall and cry, "What have I done?"

The pure I've made to look like sin,

And yet pure Love invites me in.

Thursday

Lord, remove the veil, I pray

For me, and all I meet today.

Let us see in clearest light,

How sin has drawn the shades of night.

As from the cross, You tore the veil

To once, for all, the dark assail.

That light would shine in every soul,

And every broken heart be whole.

Friday

The treasure in this earthen jar

Surpasses seen by man thus far.

So all  may know with certainty

That God, is One who powers me.

Afflicted much, but not constrained

Still spreading love, though bound and chained.

Perplexed, but never in despair,

Maltreated, yet with joyful air.

Within the body, death obscene,

But also joyful life is seen.

Confounding persecution's view,

That death in us, brings life to you.

Saturday

Filled with grace I wish to be,

That Truth in all I clearly see.

Undeceived by Satan's ploys

Nor drawn away by all his noise.

A man to recognize the true

And follow well in all I do.

To lead the young along the way

And shepherd them to never stray.

One humble and so fully Thine,

Forsaking base desires of mine,

To stay within Your perfect will

And find my every need fulfilled.

6/2/19 Through 6/8/19

6/2/19 Through 6/8/19

Sunday

Ascended now above the clouds

The bread and wine alone enshrouds

His blood and body present here

To drive away all sin and fear.

His Spirit now empowers those

Who with the love of God He clothes.

And sends them forth to all the land

To preach the word as God has planned.

Receive the gifts and know it's you

The Lord empowers works to do

So be attentive to the word

And act upon the voice you've heard.

Monday

Blest are those who suffer well

Enduring more than words can tell,

Boldly facing evil's glare

Without another worldly care.

Eyes well-focused on the prize

Unwilling to accept their lies

Standing firm on what is true

They place their hope in life anew.

Tuesday

To recognize the end is near

And face its coming without fear

Is joyful for the righteous ones

Who call themselves adopted sons.

For peace will come from living well

And trust in God will always quell

The fear of what is yet unknown

For those who trust in God alone.

Wednesday

The chosen are the ones who hear

And choose to closer yet draw near

Within their soul the truth resounds

Ignoring other useless sounds.

Oh consecrate them all in truth

The aged one, and also youth.

Grant them unity in love

Send the Spirit from above.

Thursday

In mystery He works His plan

To fill the heart of every man

Confounding those divided souls

Who read, but know not, ancient scrolls.

Our unity His one desire

To fill our hearts with holy fire,

Knowing love beyond all telling

Selfishness and fear dispelling.

Friday

He has a work for every word

The ones we've read and ones we've heard.

Revealing truth of how we fail

And how our love, to His, is pale.

Yet somehow still, He calls by name

To change and never be the same.

To simply follow where He leads

And see how love and trust succeeds.

Saturday

With scripture read each passing day

A new beginning comes your way.

His word a guiding light for you

In all you say and all you do.

He touches in so many ways,

And words are not enough to praise.

For all the world could not contain

Nor books His mighty works explain.

His love surpassing all we know

And Spirit prompting us to go

To spread the news that love has won

The vict'ry through God's only Son

5/26/19 Through 6/1/19

5/26/19 Through 6/1/19

Sunday

To you the Advocate will come

With greater depths of love to plumb.

Reminding you of all I've said

And feeding you with daily bread.

These greater depths will challenge you,

But if what lies beyond you knew,

Humility would rule the day

And you would heed the words I say.

But pride insists on casting blame

And tempts you to shout out the name

Of one with whom you closely live

Instead of saying, I forgive.

So let the Spirit flow on ye

That all the world could plainly see 

A follower of Christ is he

Who even loves his enemy.

Monday

The Spirit comes to make it clear

The time to make a choice is here.

To stand with Him, the Crucified,

Or cower with the one who lied.

Tuesday

Within a jail in Philippi

A faithful guard was standing by

Amid the stench of sweat and dung

While songs of praise were being sung.

Two beaten bruised, and bloody men

Were singing songs of praise again

Rejoicing in their suffering,

And glorifying Christ the King.

When deep at night an awful quake

Shook prisoners and guard awake.

And though unfettered none would flee,

The guard dropped down and spoke his plea.

Please tell me how to be like you

And live the life of love you do.

Where suffering and pain is braved.

Let me and all my house be saved.

Wednesday

A worshiper of gods unknown

Declares himself the god alone.

And makes the rules on fancy whim

Instead of those received from Him.

The only one whose knowledge can

Transcend the age since time began,

Is one Creator of all things

Who to the simple, wisdom brings.

Thursday

Some will mourn at pagan's merry

Those who find their ways are scary.

Not a giver, but a taker

Separated from their Maker.

As so oft before we've seen

Opinion doesn't make one clean,

But following the Maker's law,

And giving Him our every flaw.

The weeping ones shall all rejoice

When God rewards their humble choice,

But we must do our best to see

We turn the wicked back to Thee.

Friday

Oh how the world was changed by thee

Who answered, yes, to "Follow Me".

Who welcomed in her virgin womb

The Flame of Love to grow and bloom.

Oh Mother of the Word Divine

Please heed this small request of mine,

And bring me to your tender child

That I no longer be defiled.

Saturday

Our Father, in His name I ask

That You remove my every mask.

And make of me a servant true

Whose greatest love is pleasing You.

Make me so humble, kind and meek

That those who see would also seek

To know the joy of serving You

And seek that joy in all they do.

5/19/19 through 5/25/19

5/19/19 through 5/25/19

Sunday

To love one another's the new command

If ever we wish, in His presence to stand.

For loving's the way a disciple should be,

Just like the Master they nailed to the tree.

The pagans who see, in amazement proclaim

How they love one another seems almost insane.

Yet something about this incredible love

Seems not of the earth, but to come from above.

It tugs at the heart that's now burning within

And urges to turn from a life full of sin.

To live in a world full of mercy and grace

With sin washed away without even a trace.

Then hand will not grasp as if trying to live,

But will open to others and offer to give.

Forgiving of all is the call of the Lord,

And in giving we find that His love is out-poured.

Monday

The Advocate will come to you 

And then it will be clear.

The signs and wonders that I do

Will not at all seem queer.

These works you'll do and many more

Empowered by His love,

If you rely upon His store

Of graces from above.

Tuesday

The peace of full abandonment

Is offered to us all,

For on the cross our Sacrament

Reversed our sinful fall.

Undaunted by the trials they face

The saints push on ahead

Heroically respond to grace

With strength from daily bread.

Wednesday

The only peace is in Your will

Yet Satan's hoard attacks us still

Attempting now to foul the wine

Of life that's flowing from the Vine.

Yet firmly grafted on to Thee

The grace that flows gives light to see

And pruned to bear yet even more

The one whom devil's words ignore.

Thursday

To love is more than just obey

True love attends to all You say

Anticipating every need

And loving what Your word decreed.

For in Your law is love unbound

The way our peace and joy is found

The shining light to guide our way

And point us to the cross each day.

Thursday random thought...

My Lord I want to be a saint

Shower me with mercy,

Shower me with grace.

Make me into all the things that currently I ain't

Friday

Love the way that I love you

Teach the sinner what to do.

Share the love you've come to know,

That through you the flock may grow.

Saturday

My son if you decide to serve

Prepare for an ordeal

You must have courage, strength, and nerve

And not your faith conceal.

Remember who before you went

Was beaten, mocked, and scorned.

Disciples who are also sent,

Will be so too adorned.