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.