3/14/21 Through 3/20/21

 3/14/21 Through 3/20/21

Sunday

The Sabbaths lost must be retrieved,

No longer children, be deceived,

But listen when the prophet speaks,

And see yourself in his critiques.

When Moses lifted serpent high,

The people looked, but didn't die.

So too, the darkest hour of death, 

When lifted high, our saving breath.

So shine upon the cross your light,

Dispel the shadows of the night.

Prefer the loving light of day

To find the Life, and Truth, and Way.

Monday

It's faith, we need to see the signs.

It's faith, that through the darkness shines.

A trust in love that never ends,

A trust that on His word depends.

The miracles won't change the mind

Of those who choose to be so blind,

That love they fail to recognize

When right before their very eyes.

Tuesday

From the Temple water flows.

The Lord of all, all motives knows.

No need to wait on waters stirred

If we, the Master's voice have heard.

It's time to rise and walk upright,

To watch the demons all take flight

Who wish to keep us trapped in sin,

Who wish to our destruction win.

For water from the temple flows

And brings new life where ere it goes.

It waters trees that yield their fruit,

whose leaves can heal the blind and mute.

The water flowing from the side

Is mercy in a precious tide,

To cure the sick and raise the dead,

And keep His many children fed.

But we must wade within the flow

To all His tender mercies know.

And find within, His love Divine,

The source of life, our treasured Vine.

Wednesday

The babe and mother both have grown

Through time within the womb.

Distinct, but there together sewn,

A two-fold beauty bloom.

Could one forget the other so

All memory is gone,

Despite that many years ago,

Was quenched, the waking dawn?

The breast now longs to comfort give,

But none to suckle here.

The babe denied the chance to live

By selfishness and fear.

Though mothers may sometimes forget,

The Father never does.

His perfect love will this offset,

And right the wrong that was.

Thursday

Your word oh Lord, will guide my way

Not one forgotten, unfulfilled.

My light in darkness everyday,

The Rock upon my life I build.

The fruit of daily coming here

This tree may never know.

Like Promised Land afar off seen,

A glimpse, my Lord, please show.

Friday

Saint Joseph great protector,

So confident and pure,

On earth the great director,

To Christ, our Lord, mature.

The secret of Incarnate Word

Entrusted to your care.

Great honor on the earth deferred

For one so true and rare.

Obedience and trust your way

At every twist and turn.

His will you do without delay

And so, this honor earn.

The foster-father of our Lord,

A patron for all men.

A sacrificial love out-poured

Just like the Great Amen.

We call on you in time of need

In oh so many ways,

Then often you will far exceed,

And so, the soul amaze.

Saturday

No one ever spoke as He

Such power and authority!

With love the ever driving force

To stir within, a great remorse.

No scribe or Pharisee could show

Such love for ones they didn't know.

He touched the heart with every word

For those who listened well and heard.

3/7/21 Through 3/13/21

 3/7/21 Through 3/13/21

Sunday

If you are to prosper,

My word must be your guide.

For it will in you foster

The things to make you wise.

A foolishness to many,

A weakness to the strong,

But wisdom sure and plenty

To prove the fools are wrong.

Your word a trusted favor,

Each one a ray of light.

A morsel we must savor,

Through morning, noon, and night.

More precious than the purest gold,

No honey as so sweet.

Though spoken in the days of old,

A timeless need they meet.

Forever true, forever just,

Refreshing to the soul.

Your perfect law, if all would trust,

Would heal and make us whole.

Monday

The leper, Naaman restored

By Israel's unfailing Lord.

The pagan blest in time of need,

By simply paying rightful heed

To what was spoken in His name,

Unto this Syrian of fame

The Jordan seven times would see

The hopeful trust he placed in Thee.

We too must hearken to the word

That in our time is often heard.

Then we would find a healing too,

If we just listen well to you.

Tuesday

In the furnace fate befalling,

Thereupon His mercy calling.

Faithful in the final hour,

Rescued by His mighty power.

All who look upon the sight,

Marvel at His awesome might.

Cooling those amid the flame,

That call upon His sacred name.

Mercy be the gift He offers,

Treasure from His endless coffers.

We must too, such mercy give,

And learn our debtors to forgive.

Wednesday

No other people ever knew

A law so just as given you.

No law with wisdom such as Mine,

No nation given such a sign.

But you, My chosen ones so dear

Must live in faith and trust, not fear.

To you, I gave my great decree,

That you would learn to live in me.

In full conformance to My will

You'll find a Garden waiting still,

For one who listens, and obeys,

For one who daily kneels and prays.

The Maker, He alone is wise,

To send His Son, in flesh disguised.  

To blaze a path of love for man

That even simple understand.

Thursday

We listen not, and fail to hear

How in our midst, the Lord is near.

The signs are there in everyday

To lead us on the narrow way.

Yet we decide what tickles well

Our fancy and His word expel.

With hardened heart, we turn aback,

To all that's good, and faith attack.

How long until we see the light?

Will it forever be as night?

Or will the Son of Justice rise,

And put an end to wicked lies?

Be gone you demons of the day,

The King of kings is on His way,

And none can stand against His word,

Nor face Him when His anger's stirred.

For love has conquered evil now,

And stripped away the scales somehow,

To let us see the light of day,

And follow on that narrow way.

Friday

Idolatry we fail to see

This hidden trap for one like me.

When that which occupies the mind

Becomes a god of different kind.

A one which draws the mind away

To places where the soul will stray,

And let the creature take the place

Of mercy and His boundless grace.

Saturday

The Pharisee and Publican,

A story well that's known.

A one that's melancholic, and

A one with pride his tone.

I play the part of each at times.

I hate to say, it's true.

I fall into the paradigms

Of praising me, not You.

But deep within, You know me Lord,

No sin could ere conceal

Your love for me has struck a chord,

I beg of Thee to heal.

2/28/21 Through3/6/21

 2/28/21 Through 3/6/21

Sunday

Offered there upon the mountain

Lord of life and mercy's fountain.

If a One like this is for us,

Who on earth could be against us?

Monday

Mercy.  Mercy.  Mercy, Lord.

Your justice, I cannot afford.

So many times I've strayed from You

To do the wicked things I do.

But mercy gives me hope of gain

Instead of everlasting pain.

Mercy is our great reward,

If mercy was by us outpoured.

So let me see not just the sin,

But that which lies much deeper in.

A work of art that You have made,

A one for whom, the price You paid.

Let love be that which moves my soul,

And likeness to Your Son my goal.

So when my day of judgment nears,

Your mercy overwhelms my fears.

Tuesday

The evil one the sword consumes.

For those in darkness, fire looms.

But those willing to obey,

Will white as snow, be made someday.

The orphan and the widow's plea

Must never be ignored by thee.

Make right the wrong, and turn about.

Give praise to God, and be devout.

The upright and the faithful see

That when their praise is offered, He

Will saving hand extend to all.

Who hear and hearken to His call.

Wednesday

So high above, Your ways, oh Lord,

I cannot comprehend.

My love is limited and toward

A carnal, earthly end.

But You transcend the mind of man,

So temporal and so small,

And show us that a true man can

Be risen from the fall.

Regardless of the evil here,

If we obey Your will,

The Kingdom, we will find is near,

And with us ever still.

Thursday

Trust in One who made the skies,

Not wealth or fame, or Satan's lies.

For that eternal land, we strive

Where love and truth, and peace will thrive.

Where roots stretch deep to running stream,

And through the drought, the leaves stay green.

Where poor and humble find their rest,

And faithful souls are richly blest.

The lava waste, no place to be.

That salt and empty earth, you see,

May promise pleasure, wealth, and fame,

But leads to everlasting flame.

Lord, cleanse my heart and probe my mind.

Shine Your light where I am blind.

Drive the selfishness from me,

That one with You, and saints I'd be.

Friday

He expects from you a harvest,

Rightfully His honest due.

Speak the word to those the farthest,

That they know what quickens you.

Be one faithful through the sorrow,

One who listens and obeys.

See His vict'ry on the morrow,

He will answer one who prays.

Though their plan is only evil,

God, in time, will have His way.

In the midst of great upheaval,

Listen well, and then obey.

Be patient for He's in control,

His word shall be achieved.

The faithful one He will console.

Redress for those aggrieved.

Saturday

The fool knows not of what could be

If service were the route for he.

Enamored by the things of flesh

That never will the soul refresh.

Tis grace to overlook the wrong.

Compassion be our fruitful song.

For joy is found when sin repents,

But wickedness, the joy resents.

Forgiveness is that special key

That must become our specialty.

For as we do, for us shall be,

And mercy then, we too shall see.

2/21/21 Through 2/27/21

 2/21/21 Through 2/27/21

Sunday

There within the desert land

Once stood a Garden God had planned,

Where juicy fruits, abundant grew,

And gentle breeze at evening blew.

Till evil came in serpent form

Convincing man to not conform

To the will of his Creator,

Thinking he could be much greater.

But was lost that fateful day

The walk with God in cool of day.

The bountied Garden God had planned

Then became a desert land.

Till one more perfect than the first

Endured the desert's heat and thirst,

Was tempted there for forty days,

But gave not into evil ways.

The Garden once again did grow

When on the cross did Jesus show

The depth of love God has for man,

And how to conquer sin we can.

The key is love, not pride and greed.

Each act of kindness plants a seed

To there in desert lands renew

The Garden that the man once knew.

Monday

This chair I've seen and hold in awe,

For in this holy chair I saw,

The link in this unbroken chain

That will on earth, His church sustain.

A man, it's true, like other men,

But one the world looks to when

The faith is challenged to be firm,

And teach so all the faithful learn.

A one to lead in truth each day

To search for lost, and rescue stray.

A one to challenge status quo,

And lead us to our Lord to know.

Tuesday

Lord in this world of emptiness

Please send Your word to heal and bless.

Bring about your will today

In all I do and all I say

Grant me sorrow for my sin,

Repentance to new life begin,

Forgiveness for those hurting me,

That also they would be set free.

Help me pray, Your will in mind

For there it is that I will find

What satisfies and truly feeds

My soul and answers all my needs.

Wednesday

The Ninevites in sackcloth came

Repenting of their evil fame,

And God our great forgiving Lord,

Repentant grace on them outpoured.

We too must turn, and then obey

If we expect to find our way

To peace and true repentant joy

Then ne'er again our faults employ.

I've seen myself quite clear before

If I, His gentle call ignore.

Before too long I fall to sin

And then a downward slope begin.

But if I humbly lend an ear

Each day in quiet time I hear

A word to guide my steps that day

And place me on a better way.

So listen up and do as told

Then see what blessing will unfold.

No act of love without reward,

You'll find your peace of mind restored.

Thursday

Ask and it will given be.

His promise made to you and me.

Though darkness looms at every turn,

He calls us to our faith return.

Make time to listen and obey

The only plan to know the way,

For humble must the servant be

To see His hand is helping thee.

Within the smallest simple ways

Throughout the ordinary days,

And also where we do not see,

In grander ways He answers thee.

So trust and lose not heart in He

Who made the land, and made the sea.

His wisdom far exceeds your own,

Your job is just to make Him known.

The rest, His hand with mercy guides.

His patient love for all provides.

Remember death is on its way,

And choose the straight and narrow way.

Friday

Repent! Repent! Repent, and see

How short His memory can be.

For if we turn away from sin

Our hope of life beyond will win.

Remembered not, our guilty ways,

But only that we've turned to praise.

And likewise if, to sin, we stray,

All righteous deeds are thrown away.

So steadfast be, and persevere.

We know not if the end is near,

But only that His mercy waits,

For this, our sacred scripture states.

Saturday

For enemies, we love and pray

That they might also, find their way.

And turn from evil ways that harm

To find the Master's love and charm.

The greatest evil ever done

Resulted in salvation won,

Our Christ who loved to bitter end,

Showed the way for sin to mend.

The spiral stopped the day He died,

And when He rose, the eyes were dried.

For Love was shown the Victor clear,

And gone were days of useless fear.

Oh, would that I remember this

When at the edge of the abyss.

No evil force can conquer me

When purest Love has set me free.