9/13/20 Through 9/19120

 9/13/20 Through 9/19120

Sunday
So much relies on how you love
Forgiving as our God above

Releasing anger, wrath, and pain,

With peace and harmony to gain.

You've seen what Christ has done for you,

So also must, you brothers do.

To love enough to suffer well

And seeds of discontent dispel.

For only when the heart is clean

Is love in all its fullness seen.

Then, Christlike, every man become

With sin and self, thus overcome.

Monday

The greatest sign of love, the cross.

The greatest gift of love, His loss.

A sign confounding to the wise,

Yet understood by children's eyes.

When contemplated, simple see

The essence of reality.

The erudite, for all he knows,

Cannot convey the love it shows.

A sign for masses 'round the globe

A light that in each heart will probe

To depths unknown by mortal man

Since 'fore the day when time began.

That horrid cross, that sign of sin,

That blessed cross, our ticket in,

Where charity holds greatest sway,

Where love and mercy rule the day.

Tuesday

For lack of love the mother cries

For callous hearts, tears flood their eyes.

The mother sees what love is lost,

How terrible, what sin has cost.

Her tears can soften hardened ground,

And help repentance then be found.

Forgiveness for our ways of sin,

And mercy where revenge had been.

A turning from the self within

Exposing the results of sin.

Bearing yet another thorn

Mending that which evil's torn.

Let your tears upon me flow

Let your depth of love, me know.

Make my heart with yours accord

Make your Son my King, and Lord.

Wednesday

Love divine, all loves excelling

Far above our earthly minds.

Hesitance and fear dispelling

Close to Thee, a cord that binds.

Selflessness and pure compassion

Signs of Your unfailing love.

Drained of life, a face that's ashen,

Emptied here yet filled above.

Grant this frail and weakly sinner

Grace to take that final stride.

Let me join that bountied dinner,

There with You my trusted guide.

Lead me onward into glory

Face to face with purest light

Be the hero of my story,

Put an end to darkest night.

Thursday

Father, by great love forgiven

Tears to flow as heart will mend.

From my life, be evil driven,

From corruption, me defend.

Like the woman with the ointment,

Costly gifts may I provide.

Sin my greatest disappointment,

Each a worthless folly tried.

Only love can fill the empty,

Only love can satisfy.

Love forgives, and now defends thee,

Grace dispensed to fortify.

What a God, so kind and giving,

What a gift, to know His Son!

Praise Him for my sins forgiving,

Praise Him for His vict'ry won!

Friday

What is the point, unless we rise?

Was Christ our King a man of lies?

No point in all His suffering,

If not to endless life to bring.

If evidence is needed see

The many witnesses of He

That saw the One they crucified,

And even probed His hands and side.

Saturday

For once a seed, a seed I sow,

That many here on earth would know

The King and Master Sower there

Whose love is far beyond compare.

A harvest rich I pray He grant

From every single seed I plant.

None scorched for lack of deeper root,

Each one a seed that bears much fruit.

None plucked up by the birds of prey,

Or choked by thorns along the way,

But each in soft and fertile ground,

From each a bountied harvest found.

9/6/20 Through 9/12/20

 9/6/20 Through 9/12/20

Sunday
When sin destroys the unity
When love is cast aside.
It hurts the whole community
And sinner there beside.

Just hoping it will go away
Will not a healing bring.
A brother's duty is to say
"That's not a loving thing.

Perhaps the sinner turn around

Abandoning their ways,

Then unity again be found

Throughout eternal days.

Monday

Tolerance of sin destroys

What harmony the Church enjoys.

No place among the men of God

For those that simply wink and nod.

Called out, exposed, and plainly seen,

The only way to keep her clean.

Make each batch of dough anew.

Unleavened bread the food for you.

Shine the light of truth each day,

Reject the pride that tries to sway.

The mind to think that you're alright,

When headed toward the dark of night.

He heals when freely we confess,

Repent, and then our sins address.

For all have let their eyes go blind

To sin, they find their eyes inclined.

Tuesday

The beauty of the womb in bloom,

The fullness of a new life soon,

The breasts prepared to feed the young,

The praises of our God be sung.

Alone conceived as full of grace

Alone a fitting dwelling place.

That God, as man, would come to earth,

And share with man a humble birth.

How blest to love the Father so,

And intimate the Father know.

But more to bear the infant Son

As truly with the Godhead one.

Most beautiful, your praise we sing

For you, to man, all graces bring.

For you, the Dawn, will ever be,

And you, to all, a mother be.

Wednesday

Jesus speaks of many woes

Of tides that turn for all of those

Both rich and poor, for fat and thin,

For those who grieve, and those who grin.

As every day the world turns

The simple but observant learns,

The selfish ways will lead to strife,

But ways of love will lead to life.

Thursday

The judgments made from far away

Can often lead the mind astray.

What's evil in the eyes from there

May truly be an act of care.

I ponder in my mind the ways

He worked throughout my darkest days.

How things I saw as right back then

Would lead unto the fall of men.

Twas love that taught my eyes to see

And shone the light of truth for me.

A love for one unworthy though

He brought His only Son to know.

So love the ones that hurt you now.

That love you offer, heals somehow.

And one that's currently astray

Might turn around and find the way.

Friday

My vision Lord, impaired may be,

But closer may I draw to Thee.

Your face become my fruitful guide

Humility, devoid of pride.

How easily I fall away. 

A simple fruit led man astray.

Before I know it, down I fall.

Then humbly back, attempt to crawl.

Saturday

Good fruit be known from where I've grown.

Good seed produced from what was sown.

But every seed must bear Him fruit,

Or useless ones He will uproot.

No good to hear and not obey

For such as these are washed away,

But those that act on faith are sound,

For they are built on solid ground.

8/30/20 Through 9/5/20

 8/30/20 Through 9/5/20

Sunday

Totally devoted in everything we do

Word of God promoted, by those in love with You.

In suffering and sorrow, His holy will fulfilled,

For rising on the morrow, to love pure and distilled.

 

The way of love averted, by those of earthly mind.

Passion thus deserted, and way of love declined.

Be not as Satan minded, as all bound to the earth.

Be not the sinner blinded, but one who knows his worth.

 

A call beyond all knowing, to every sinful man.

Grace the Lord bestowing, to live within His plan.

The beauty of the body, was made for eyes of love.

For not displaying shoddy, but respecting all thereof.

 

Monday

Rebuke the demons of this day

Which heart and mind attempt to sway.

That love of money, wealth, and greed,

The beast insatiable we feed.

 

The eyes of lust that search each day

For beauty as polluted prey.

The air of pride that makes us king,

And thinks us lord of everything.

 

The gluttony and sloth that blind

To suffering and want we find,

Or anger that can rule the day

When simple things don’t go our way.

 

Cast out those demons one and all,

Protect me from a fatal fall.

Make love the spirit of each day,

And make me one with You I pray.

 

Tuesday

One thing alone worth knowing well

The thing of which the Gospels tell.

That God Himself became a man

To rescue, and reveal His plan.

 

That man would see in God alone

The life He gave ’fore sin was known.

Such beauty and such power there

Where love alone’s the daily fare.

 

 

Don’t miss a thing He has for you,

But love your God, and neighbor too.

Then where the humble, meek, and true

Are found is life, alive and new.

 

Wednesday

What is it that you’re looking for,

Just good advice, or maybe more.

Some way to nourish well and feed,

Or just some way to meet a need?

 

His word provides the needed food,

But far too many souls are wooed

By junk that cannot satisfy,

And fail to ever, scripture try.

 

A feast awaits the humble man

Who hears and acts upon His plan.

Each day anew the table’s spread

With rich and juicy foods we’re fed.

 

But lust indulged will starve the soul.

No man on milk can be made whole.

But solid food will nourish well,

And nagging hunger pangs expel.

 

Thursday

Now “Duc in altum!” is the call

To every Christian, great or small.

In shallow waters hear the word,

But in the deep let faith be stirred.

 

Be not afraid to do His will,

His love is everlasting still.

In every situation here

He calls the sinner to draw near.

 

To see their role as fisherman,

And follow in the Master’s plan.

To spread the word and gather men

Then put out in the deep again.

 

Friday

Fasting well restores the soul

And helps to make the sinner whole.

Reminding man that man is dust,

That man, in God, must place his trust.

 

For all is gift bestowed in love,

And all a blessing from above.

The fasting helps us realize

Just how we look to perfect eyes.

 

The need is great to be like Him,

And overcome our sordid sin.

The hunger helps reveal our need,

And eyes of truthfulness to feed.

 

Saturday

What willingly would I endure?

Would I be reckoned with the poor?

Would I be slandered, mocked, and shamed,

To be a faithful Christian named?

 

The answer I don’t know for sure.

Could I, the vital grace, secure?

In courage acting thereupon,

And thus, to greater love be drawn?

 

I pray the answer’s yes, my Lord.

For nothing less could I afford.

My heart would break to see denied,

The One, for me, they crucified.

8/23/20 Through 8/29/20

 8/23/20 Through 8/29/20

Sunday

A point at which the water sheds

A point of great divide.

A point where love and goodness spreads 

Or selfishness abides. 

The liar, Lord, or lunatic 

Divides the chaff and wheat. 

Each soul must make that crucial pick, 

To love or face the heat. 

“You are the Christ”, as Simon said. 

No other One but You. 

The question now is where we head, 

And what we choose to do. 

Monday 

The Church, our guide along the way 

To shine the light of truth each day 

To lead His flock here safely home, 

And through His many mysteries comb. 

Authority He gave to her 

And special powers did confer 

To consecrate the bread and wine 

And change to flesh of One divine. 

To bind and loose upon the earth 

To offer sinners here new birth 

To grace confer upon the flock, 

And ways of holiness unlock. 

Tuesday 

Hypocrites and blinded guides 

Use not what the Lord provides. 

Clear instructions how to live 

And what, to God, we’re called to give. 

A life of love His great command 

To God and neighbor, as He planned 

Not rules for cumin, mint, and rue 

But yes to love in all you do. 

Wednesday 

Reveal in me what needs to change 

Misguided righteousness exchange 

For true repentance, and a share 

Of life eternal with You there. 

May all my work be focused on 

The robes eternal that we don. 

When life upon the earth will close 

And all our sin, You will expose. 

Retire not, a zeal for Thee, 

But set my sights eternally, 

And make my days forever Yours 

Unmoved by all the temporal lures. 

Thursday 

Look beyond this world today 

To light eternal in its day. 

That day, facades will all be gone, 

And all unto the light be drawn. 

That day reveals the tried and true 

The one whose trust was placed in You 

Who served with vigor, come what may, 

Despite his master gone away. 

Sharing daily what was grown 

From seed before, so deftly sown. 

To feed the household with such fare 

As if the Master, always there. 

Such love reflects the Master’s care 

And shows the servant worth his share 

For each is called to serve this way, 

And share the word received today. 

Friday 

This aging process is a gift. 

A way for heart and mind to lift 

To throne of mercy, throne of grace 

To everlasting dwelling place. 

The oil gathered here below 

Will light our way and clearly show 

That mercy’s time is here and now 

We must repent, and change somehow. 

The hour though unknown to all 

Will come to great, and come to small. 

So each must have the oil when 

And not be looking for it then. 

The time for mercy’s while we breathe. 

Have faith and trust, in Him, believe. 

For judgment comes when unannounced, 

And empty flasks will be denounced. 

Confess, repent, and turn around. 

For there is oil freely found. 

There’s not a moment here to waste, 

For all, with judgment, will be faced.

Saturday

The foolish often shame the wise,

Expose their folly and their lies.

The weak He chooses strong to shame

Confounding those of lofty name.

Truth will come from those despised

Like John, at Jordan, who baptized,

Or simple folks who answer well,

And shy not from the truth to tell.

8/16/20 Through 8/22/20

8/16/20 Through 8/22/20

Sunday

Exalted even dogs will be

To dine upon the scraps from Thee

For all are drawn to perfect love

With Him who dwells in light above.

Far more than scraps prepared for thee

If you would wait here patiently

Accepting all that loving holds

Enduring well what ere unfolds.

Monday

Son of God, the One begotten

One who gave us life forgotten.

Just how this nation turns away

Leaves God and man both in dismay.

So carefully I cared for you,

Like mother sheep for little ewe.

But greed alone now understood

As you forget the common good

In our lust for empty pleasure

We abandon truest treasure.

Freedom that the Lord provides us

Lost because so much divides us.

Lord, change the hearts of sinful men,

That we might prosper once again.

Then turn our eyes to Godly ways

That we might offer fitting praise.

In all our days throughout this land

Let God be sought in all we've planned.

That all who died for freedom's gain

Would not have died for all in vain.

Tuesday

The only way to train the will

Is answer yes, and ever still

Be ready there to answer grace,

And one more challenge to embrace.

A way of life, surrender be

A way to bring eternity

To here and now, to font of grace,

And deeply drink of every trace.

But oh, so often I have turned

And all Your many graces spurned.

To act as how the pagans do,

And turned my back away from You.

Another's fault so clear I see,

And think how good, that it's not me.

Self-righteousness will only blind,

And make the true path hard to find.

So humble me, dear Lord, I pray

That I would find Your narrow way.

To walk it closely every day

And never from your graces stray.

Wednesday

Not just a daily wage received

But more than mind has ere conceived.

That Shepherd would become a Lamb,

To save the sheep instead of damn.

He calls each to the vineyard now

To pick or plant, to prune or plow.

Be not dismayed by what you see 

Such reckless generosity.

For this Good Shepherd calls the stray

And bids them work, to get their pay.

Then each receives a just reward

Of love abundantly outpoured.

Thursday

For love beyond all knowing,

Is wedded to His flock.

Where weeds and wheat are growing,

But few will hear the knock.

Burdened by the many cares

That occupy our time,

The chosen ones, His many heirs

Refuse His gift sublime.

So choose the ones who recognize

With hearts made new of flesh,

The King of kings before their eyes

With teaching new and fresh.

Be gone, the haughty ones that see

Their works of every day,

Surpassing all eternity

In some misguided way.

Experience the here and now,

Be clothed in robes of white.

Before the throne of grace, we bow,

And wonder at His might. 

Such beauty as I've never known

Descending here to man.

Forsaking such a lofty throne,

To show the poor His plan.

To change our hearts with love unseen

Before in history.

To wash each one and make us clean,

To join the mystery.

Friday

It's plain, and now not hard to see

The greatest rules He gave to thee.

To love the Lord, and neighbor too,

Is simply what He asks of you.

If this we did consistently,

No more the bones, so dry would be.

The air would fill with clatter sound,

And back to life, the bones be found.

For love will heal, and grow in you

New ligaments, and flesh anew.

Then Spirit breathe upon the slain,

And bring them back to life again.

Saturday

The teacher has but just a glimpse

Of majesty above.

He tries to share, but merely limps

To share the gift of love.

So far beyond what mind conceives

The glory of the King.

He tries to share what he receives,

But dim reflections bring.

Someday we'll see things as they are,

In splendor thus arrayed.

And all will see both near and far

The wonders He has made.

A simple blink to cleanse the eye,

And help us clearly see

His glory simply passing by,

Is quite enough for me.