9/15/19 Through 9/21/19

9/15/19 Through 9/21/19

Sunday

The many times that You forgive

Allowing sinners yet to live,

Is baffling to mortal mind,

And part of greater plan entwined.

Only You can judge the heart

And play the Father's loving part.

Forgiveness feeds our journey too

And makes our likeness more to You

Help me not to prideful be

And see in every sinner, me.

A weak and wand'ring foolish son

Whose wand'ring days are finally done.

Monday

Offer prayers for those who lead.

On their behalf, to Jesus plead.

That they would govern in accord

With ways established by our Lord.

As shepherds true who guide the sheep

Who comfort those who mourn and weep.

As guides who lift the little ewes

And teach the young ones how to choose.

Have faith and trust His every word,

Obeying once His voice is heard.

And such a master you will find

So peaceful, prayerful, wise, and kind.

Tuesday

Not everyone who died was raised

Not every healing act was praised.

Some met disdain from Pharisee

For showing that the wise can't see.

But those whose faith was pure and free

Were granted what they asked of Thee.

And even those who knew You not

Were grateful for the gifts they got.

The fear that struck the little town

Was spread to those for miles around.

for when His mighty deeds were done,

They knew they met God's only Son.

Wednesday

Exquisite joy and sorrow sure

Will come to all whose hearts are pure.

One cannot feel the depths of these,

Who from the source of Truth, but flees.

The anesthesia granted by

A foolish pride and daily lie

Will drown the sorrow, dampen joy,

And tepidness of will employ.

Blind to tragedy of sin,

The worldly wounds sink deeper in.

Placating flesh a little while,

Succumbing to the serpent's guile.

Suppressing sorrow, maybe so,

But making hard the truth to know.

The sorrow comes from evil known,

But joy can come from God alone.

Thursday

Wisdom will enter your heart.

The place where conversion will start.

There love will be born, as the selfish is torn,

Revealing there, God's work of art.

The wisdom of following well

Exceeds what mere words ever tell.

They who answer the call, and have given their all,

Will forcefully, evil expel.

What mercy our Maker has shown

For the ways of the wicked we've known.

Before we were drowned, sweet repentance we found,

And darkness was thus overthrown.

Friday

Naked I came and Naked I go

That left behind, a legacy show.

Not piles of riches, or copious hoard,

But family devoted to loving the Lord.

Saturday

Once the call has broken through

The jingle of the coins,

We recognize that only You,

Can satisfy the loins.

The weight of love so hard to lift,

Such burden that it brings.

But those who answer to the gift

Are given heaven's wings.

To make the burden sweet and light,

And taste the gift of love.

To fly up to the highest height,

To endless light above.

I see and hear the truth, I know,

Yet often turn around

To where the flesh and greed will grow,

And worthless coins are found.

Lord call me each and every morn,

Your burden to accept.

That every day I be reborn,

And in Your graces kept.

9/8/19 Through 9/14/19

9/8/19 Through 9/14/19

Sunday

Less than all is nearly none,

A cake that's baked, but never done.

A steak exposed to little heat

yields nothing more than spoiled meat.

If we intend to find our way

We must conform to what You say.

Abandoning what leads astray

And following the Master's way.

A cross to bear along the road,

A share of love on us bestowed.

The only way to carry well

Is other burdens to dispel.

Monday

How many withered hands there are

Among those near and also far,

That tightly clutch and hold so dear

The sin that cripples so severe.

Make Sabbath day this day for rest

The perfect time to be addressed.

Then stretching forth to be released

They find the meaning of the feast.

The leaders of the wicked scold

For fear of losing all their fold

To Him whose ways are far above,

So simple yet so full of love.

Tuesday

Make me rooted deep in Thee,

Firmly grounded, make this tree.

That winds may blow and drought may come

But those attached may not succumb.

The empty ways of man seduce,

But restless discontent produce.

The only way to satisfy

Is if the sin in me shall die.

The Son of God, the only One

This Jesus, on the cross, who won

Will be the saving strength for all 

Who answer to His daily call.

Wednesday

What once was dread, by now am fed.

What change has come about!

Reject the ploy of passing joy

For genuine to sprout.

An ancient scroll, a garden stroll

Will calm a restless mind.

By taking time to hear the rhyme

Communion now we find.

The bell that tolls for naked souls

Is sounded loud each day.

But few can tell, that sacred knell

Is joy to those who pray.

Where peace is found in silent sound

A welcome warm caress

A place for two, just He and you,

Where He will surely bless.

Thursday

Without You all is emptiness

No way to truly, love express.

Each act a payment towards a debt,

Or layaway we wish to get.

But You, a prize most undeserved

Creator came and creature served.

Be ever praised and glorified,

The King who for His subjects died.

The gift, the key to fill the soul,

True love to heal and make us whole,

Is freely give what's undeserved

And find that peace and joy is served.

Friday

A child true, I want to be

One steadfast and secure in Thee.

One with the wooden beams removed

And thus, with sight so much improved.

Overwhelmed with much forgiven

To the blessed Savior driven.

Thankful for His every word

By this humble servant heard.

Saturday

The cross a mystery unknown.

True love in all its horror shown.

One emptied in the form of slave

One whom, His all, for sinners gave.

For many now a stumbling block

But not for those who see the Rock.

A madness for the worldly wise.

True wisdom for the humble eyes.

The serpent raised for all to see,

In death was won the victory.

In emptiness was fullness shown

And foolishness was wisdom known.

9/1/19 Through 9/7/19

9/1/19 Through 9/7/19

Sunday

Lord make of me a humble man,

Who lives according to Your plan.

One disciplined and ready when

I'm tempted toward what honors men.

Make my motivation pure,

To holiness and love secure.

Help me shun that worthless guide

Of haughtiness and boastful pride.

Monday

How quickly love will then abate

And fondness turn to awful hate,

If He exposes that within

Revealing only greed and sin.

A faith must dwell within the soul

To bring to life what's on the scroll.

Great wonders can be worked through those

Who humbly follow where He goes.

No worries for the one who dies

For they will meet Him in the skies

When trumpets blast and angels call

The dead will rise and shed the pall.

Tuesday

His words are truly spoken

With authority and power

Not just a simple token,

Or saying for the hour.

But pow'rs above and those below

Obey at His command.

Such work He does that we would know

The power of His hand.

So stay awake and sober be,

Let darkness never win.

Put trust in Him and you will see,

The vict'ry over sin.

Wednesday

What healing in His gentle voice

The healed, and those around rejoice.

Great love in every word He speaks,

And hope for everyone who seeks.

The voice each day I long to hear

That let's me know, my God is near,

Not far away or high above,

But in each act of selfless love.

The voice that leads to certainty

The voice of pure veracity,

That says if I will ever learn,

From selfishness, I must return.

Thursday

Before we catch we must be caught,

A little way from shore be taught.

Then hearing words to guard and keep,

He bids us, "Put out in the deep".

Though Simon says, "Depart from me."

His truest wish is, "Set me free,

From all the chains of sin that bind

And occupy this erring mind."

Depart from all and follow Me.

Your net no more belongs to sea.

As now for souls of men you'll cast

Until this life on earth has passed.

Friday

How deeply do I know You Lord?

The depths of You are unexplored.

Your presence in all that I see

Is often now obscured to me.

It's only when I stop and think,

I recognize the stunning link

Between what I find aggravating

And what Love sends me purgating.

Patience earned is patience tried

Patient love was crucified.

If to mold me in that shape,

A cross or two I can't escape.

Forgive me Lord for oft I fail

And sit within my self-made jail.

Not seeing You, at me beside,

But blinded by my foolish pride.

Saturday

A sabbath rest He gave to man,

A day according to His plan,

To give refreshment, rest, and peace

To every creature, man and beast.

Not just an hour in the morning,

But a day, our week adorning.

Set aside to faith renew

And come to know Him through and through.

8/25/19 Through 8/31/19

8/25/19 Through 8/31/19

Sunday

A steadfast heart create in me,

And grant the grace that I may see,

That in this ordinary day

Each choice I make will shape this clay.

The will I think I have is naught,

As countless failures now have taught.

Each day begins with change in mind,

But weakness and despair I find.

Lord send Your fire here today,

And melt the dross of sin away.

Give the grief and pain I need

To on the narrow way proceed.

So when that final day arrives

When only steadfast soul survives,

You'll welcome me as one You know,

And cast me not to that below.

Monday

To lead is then to take a place

In need of love and holy grace.

To show the way that all might see,

And still a humble servant be.

Temptation comes to all who lead

To think they not, their teaching need.

To speak, but not to carry out

The word they love to talk about.

Give all who spread this holy word

The gift to see Your way un-blurred,

And grace to practice what they preach,

And stand for others in the breach.

Tuesday

A camel down, a cow to go.

A hippo next or buffalo.

How blind the hypocrite can be,

Unable to the evil see.

When God is gone and man has rule

We follow but a worthless fool.

We cleanse the outside, but within

Remains a cup of filth and sin.

If we would know prosperity

But humble servants we must be

Who look inside and cleanse the wrong

Repenting first to then be strong.

Wednesday

So weak and worthless is my will

That I must exercise it still

At every chance and every way

Throughout the hours of everyday.

Your grace, oh Lord, I turn away

So many times throughout the day.

If I would just accept the gift

Your love would flood the gaping rift.

Lord call me louder every time

I drift away and darkness find.

Help me learn to love like You,

And humble me in all I do.

Thursday

Living the truth in every way

With many small yeses throughout the day

The making of saints is a daily chore,

But no other one worth living for.

The yes of the humble and meek survives.

The yes of a saint, on patience thrives.

If every moment in love we try,

Then come when it may, the day we die.

Friday 

Pursue His wisdom every morn.

His light, each day, in thee be born.

This gift He promised all to give,

To guide us in the way we live.

Grant us oil to last the night.

Renew our strength amid the fight.

Let us not be unprepared, 

As those by evil ways ensnared.

That fateful night the door will close

And sealed will be the fate we chose.

The wise in everlasting glee,

The foolish left in misery.

Saturday

His love reveals what eye can't see,

A measure of the mystery

Of how He works in ways beyond

What yet on mortal mind has dawned.

So work and use the gifts He gives

Prosperity, in faithful lives.

The lazy look on in dismay, 

And gifts they have they cast away.

8/18/19 Through 8/24/19

8/18/19 Through 8/24/19

Sunday

Love, the purifying flame

Jesus Christ, igniting name.

Set Your flame in me ablaze,

And let me offer holy praise.

Incinerate what slows me down,

In this pursuit of holy crown.

Melt my soul, remove the dross.

Count earthly gain as none but loss.

Monday

Perversion today, tomorrow the norm,

Unless we repent, we are prey for the storm.

Falling in with the crowd will a true danger be,

For the blinders they wear will impede what we see.

All that we grasp and think that we need

Are none but the fodder of lewdness and greed.

Repent and turn back on the way of the crowd

Let shouts of God's praises and glory be loud!

Tuesday

Learn to be obedient

That vital one ingredient

And learn to trust His every word

In prayer and humble meekness heard.

He speaks, if we but listen well

His voice, the willing heart can tell.

A prompting of the soul within

Where trust and faithfulness have been.

Wednesday

In kingly and in lowly too

Are jealousy and lust in view.

The humble and the meek will know

His mercy that will overflow.

Who are we to judge what's fair,

When of so little, are aware?

Beyond the eye, the heart must see

The Master's generosity.

Thursday

How foolish one to pay the price

And follow through to sacrifice.

The ways of pagans, He abhorred

And conquered for his Mighty Lord.

The precious life He gives to all

Is given for a higher call.

Let fool refrain from promise made,

And value of the life be weighed.

Friday

Whither you go, my feet will go.

Your people, and your God to know.

I found in you what's true and good

I wish to love Him as I should.

Saturday

The grace of martyrdom is found

And saints who persevere are crowned

When God is sought beyond all things,

And love outweighs what evil brings.

Oh grant me wisdom everyday

To seek and do, what ere You say.

And if someday You call for blood,

Let grace o'retake me like a flood.

But until then, in little ways

Let me be faithful, all my days

And answer every call to me

With, "Yes, as You said, let it be."