4/11/21 Through 4/17/21

 4/11/21 Through 4/17/21

Sunday

Why, oh Lord, so good to me,

Such mercy, grace, and love?

Let sin be ever gone from me

To taste the sweetness of

A Mercy standing ready when

The heart inclines to Thee.

A grace to lead the simple men

Who flounder just like me.

A love without a boundary known

That floods the penitent.

A seed that's always gently sown

to yield a fragrant scent.

Monday

Signs and wonders still befall 

When Christians answer well the call.

In boldness speak the word He gives

Proclaiming Christ our Savior lives.

The Spirit comes in varied ways

To open eyes and clear the haze,

To blow  a wind afresh and new,

And strengthen all the work you do.

Be docile to His prompings then

And when the Spirit speaks again,

Delay not in your answering

And see the wonders God will bring.

Tuesday

As serpent in the desert,

So Lord be lifted high.

That all may see at present

The Lord is drawing nigh.

So plain and yet so complicated

There for all to see

Savior that was long-awaited

Hung upon a tree.

So far above our way is He

The teacher doesn't know,

But even though that case may be,

The simple He will show.

Wednesday

So loved by God, he gave His Son

That man could be as one.

That wicked creatures, frail and small

Could learn to love, and give their all.

In silence where His voice is heard

He speaks His ever-present word,

And gives to those who listen well

The grace to there, within Him dwell.

Thursday

Obey and see the world right,

Obey and lift the dark of night.

Obey and see the Spirit move,

Let Him, all guile, and sin remove.

The waves of love will ever flow

When we, His will, have come to know,

And follow it as best we can

As harmony within His plan.

Friday

The bread received, consumed today

Will be our strength some future day.

Each Eucharist will build the store

Of grace to help us handle more.

The discipline of exercise

May seem a waste to lazy eyes,

But muscle fiber grows each time

We buckle down and make the climb.

Good food affords the needed fuel,

His superfood the crowning jewel,

And exercise the daily drone

To focus eyes on Him alone.

The food and work will build the strength

To follow Him to any length,

And we may find in darkest days

The strength we need from daily ways.

So come, receive, and place Him first.

Drink deep of love and never thirst.

The bread consumed each day shall be

The strength you need to glory see.

Saturday

The waves that rock the boat may be

The things that help us clearly see

That God is in control, not me,

And only He can calm the sea.

We hear His voice to have no fear.

For Him, the shore is always near,

And if we trust, the Lord will lead

Through all the waves and fill our need.

4/4/21 Through 4/10/21

 4/4/21 Through 4/10/21

Sunday

To rise from dead, what does it mean?

No thing as this was ever seen.

The dead are gone to rise no more,

For that's the way it's been before.

But not that blessed Easter morn,

When women rose 'fore dawn to mourn,

And bless with spices on the head

Of One they crucified that's dead.

They found the angels there to tell,

And winding sheet, an empty shell.

A glory filled the empty tomb

Where Love had conquered doom and gloom.

One day we all shall rise like He,

So death where is your victory?

The Easter people clearly see

That Jesus sets the captives free.

Monday

Exalted at the Father's hand

The Spirit comes at His command.

The promised power from above

To live within the laws of love.

The courage for the small to speak. 

Wealth for poor, and strength for weak.

Help for all to understand,

And wisdom for the simple man.

Undeniably, it's true

These gifts he offers now to you.

Be like His Mother on this day,

And say, "Let it be done Your way."

Tuesday

It's true!  It's true!  Our Savior lives!

What joy His risen presence gives.

No more the pow'r of death shall reign.

The Lord has brought eternal gain.

Repent.  Repent, and be baptized.

Receive the Lord as bread disguised.

Confess your sins and be assured,

You're saved by what our Lord endured.

Wednesday

In breaking bread the veil was drawn,

Quite clear we saw Who rose at dawn.

The reason why our hearts did burn,

The One to whom we all must turn.

His words a fire sparked within

That kindled as we walked with Him.

Then every step would feed the blaze

As He explained and cleared the haze.

Our risen Savior, Christ the Lord,

Who on the Cross His life outpoured,

That men would see the pow'r of love,

And turn their hearts to God above.

His life and death a model be

For all of Christianity

To mold us in the image of

His glorious, self-giving love.

Thursday

Open our minds to understand.

Make clear to us what You have planned.

Give us the courage to answer, yes.

Send us Your Spirit to heal and bless.

Why do these questions in you arise?

Open your mind, and open your eyes.

All of the prophets have been fulfilled.

In Jesus the whole of the law distilled.

Children of Abraham, healed and blessed,

Repent and believe to pass the test.

Make of all men disciples of Christ

Pass on to them the Pearl highly priced.

Friday 

On the stone, a fire burning

In a boat, the men returning

Long the night without a yield

Until a one from shore appealed,

Cast the net to starboard side

And see if God does not provide.

A breakfast meal for you awaiting

Joy their hearts anticipating 

Jesus risen once again

Makes us fishers now of men

Bidding us to turn away

And start upon His chosen way. 

How true the pattern holds today,

We meet the risen Lord some way,

But fail to ever rearrange

Priorities and make a change.

We fall back to convenient ways

And back into the cloudy haze. 

But Jesus calls us out from there

To in His work of love to share. 

We too are called to work His field

To speak the truth and bear a yield   

To gather ripened crops within

And turn our nation back from sin. 

Friday Evening

The final three, a gift to me

How different life would be.

Without this love from God above

That plainly now I see.

 

So many thought, I trouble bought

Too old, they all were taught

But now they see this set me free

When truly they were not.

Saturday

Empty tomb there's no denying,

Cripple walking, rules defying.

Warned to keep His name taboo.

Ordered spread it on to you.

Who to follow and obey?

Who's the true uplifting way?

One who died and rose again,

Or wicked, jealous, sinful men?

The same dilema's here today.

They mock and hate the narrow way,

And try to cancel all that's true

By silencing the clearest view.

Boy or girl no longer mean

Objectively, what's plainly seen,

But pick a lie you'd like to live,

And then to all, your gender give.

The choice is ours, today as then,

To follow God or sinful men,

To walk the narrow way with Him,

Or follow every foolish whim

3/28/21 Through 4/3/21

 3/28/21 Through 4/3/21

Sunday

The Lord arrives to shouts of praise, 

With joyful hearts the people raise

An anthem for the King of kings.

Hosanna every child sings.

But oh what changes Jesus knew,

A traitor in his trusted few.

The scattered sheep denying him

In time of need, and fate so grim. 

The cries of praise and honor fade

As plans to kill the Christ are made.

Thirty silver coins the fare,

Of treason to a One so rare. 

The leaders stir the crowd toward blood

Shouts of, ”Crucify Him” flood

The court of Pilate coward lord,

Who right and justice left ignored.

He beat and scourged the innocent,

Attempting to their anger vent

Yet they demanded blood be shed

Their nemesis, at last, be dead.

And so He went to all dismay

The Via Dolorosa way,

To die upon that awful tree

For every sinner just like me.

In agony upon the wood

He spoke not as the others would,

But offered to forgive the wrong 

That all might to the good belong. 

And when He took His final breath

Accepting such a horrid death

The veil was torn so all could see

It’s true, the Son of God was He.  

Monday

A broken jar, a love outpoured. 

The cost of such an act ignored. 

To know and love the King of kings

More wealth and honor, service brings.

The house be filled with fine perfume,

A sweetness found in every room. 

For love’s aroma fills the air

If mercy and goodwill are there. 

Tuesday

One betrays, one denies

Nine others run away.

A Paltry sum of silver buys

The Son of God this day.

I see too often how I've been

Just like His chosen few.

A good game talked, but not one walked,

A coward on the crew.

Repent.  Man up, and do the right

When doing wrong is ease.

Be not afraid to face the fight,

When God alone you please.

Wednesday A

Betrayed in oh so many ways

Blinded by the murky haze

Help me to not a traitor be

When plans don’t line themselves with Thee.

Wednesday B

Dipped in the dish and given me,

How could this man through covers see?

I’ll force His hand to take control,

The time is ripe to reach the goal.

He doesn’t use His power well.

So easy, He could just compel

The  crowd’s to raise Him as their King, 

And power to our people bring.

He wastes His time on poor and lame,

There’s far more He was meant to gain.  

Such power could a victory win

And usher times of freedom in. 

He has no drive to get ahead

He cures the sick and raises dead. 

If He won’t change, My time is done. 

I’ll get my coins and then I’ll run. 

Thursday
Oh my Jesus there before me
washing feet of sinful men
Sinners all have gone before Thee
Sacrificing once again.

Theirs imperfect insufficient
Offered every year again
You the true and spotless victim
You the final Great Amen
 
Friday

First betrayed within a Garden,

Once again betrayed the King.

Here begins the path to pardon

Wickedness and evil's sting.

Struck the Shepherd, scattered sheep,

Denied the King of kings.

The band of evil-doers seek

Corrupt and heinous things.

Saturday

Recall the former days without Him.

Hope a far-off dream and dim.

Then He came, Divine enfleshing,

Every hope and dream refreshing.

Showing selfish greedy leaders

as the worthless bottom feeders.

Steeped in pride with wide phylacteries,

Nothing more than evil factories.

None before ere spoke as He, 

Such power and authority.

A welcoming to sinners all,

A loving and life-changing call.

But evil leaders had their way,

And snuffed this dawning light of day.

The Lamb of God, they scourged and crowned,

 And mocked Him as they gathered round

The Cross of Love, where lifted high

Our Jesus, Son of God would die.

Then placed a guard around the tomb

To guarantee His fateful doom.

And so this day we mourn about

The Light of Love that hate put out.

And wonder, will there ever be, 

Another brave and kind as He?

3/21/21 Through 3/27/21

 3/21/21 Through 3/27/21

Sunday

Perfection comes through suffering

A cleansing through our offering.

A washing from the guilt of sin

When steadfast Spirit dwells within.

The heart of stone be softened well

Become a place for God to dwell.

The grain implanted there within

Must die to let new life begin.

Preserve this life and lose it all,

Or answer to the Master's call.

Join in His suffering and pain

To share His everlasting gain.

Monday

Unrecognized, the sin I own.

To even me, at times unknown.

Ingrained so deep within my soul, 

No longer does the conscience toll.

Until I see upon the sand

The writing from His sacred hand.

Which pulls aside the hiding veil

Revealing just how much I fail.

Let me be one that Mercy finds

Repentant of the many kinds

Of selfishness and greed I know

Then says, "Get up. Forgiven, go."

I wish to sin no more towards He

Who's rescued and forgiven me.

Oh Grace supply my every need,

That to His voice, alone I heed.

Tuesday

When I look upon the cross

And see what price my sin has cost,

I wonder why He cares for me,

And ask more clear, my sin to see.

The poison from the serpent's bite

A cloak of darkness in the night.

No mercy shown the Sinless One,

Who, on the cross, our mercy won.

Once lifted high, the veil was torn,

And three days hence, on Easter morn

The Victor rose in glory then

The King of kings, and Great Amen!

Let me daily turn and see

That love will bring the victory,

And turning from the ways of sin, 

The best way to new life begin.

Wednesday

One God alone to be adored

Those manufactured, be abhorred.

For One can save and set us free,

But others bring iniquity.

The furnace may the faithful face,

But dead and true a better place,

Than living in a lie each day

Where to an evil one we pray.

The sons of Abraham should know

The One above from one below,

But in the lie, they choose to dwell,

And manufacture more of Hell.

Oh let me see with clarity

The Truth, and Way, and Life for me.

Grant courage when the view is bleak,

And give the word that's right to speak.

Thursday

Announced a long, long time ago,

The way the birth of Christ would go.

A Virgin pure and full of grace

Would bring our God to time and space.

The Savior of the world would take

Our form in flesh and journey make

To show how love can conquer death

When practiced to the final breath.

A yes to God we first must show

If we, His sacred Way would know.

Just like the Virgin Full of Grace,

His will for us we must embrace.

So speak to me, both here and now.

Your will be known, to me somehow.

Then with the grace that You supply

Your humble servant will comply.

Friday

For this time, and for this place,

Each one of us was born.

Despite the whisperings that trace

The path of those who mourn.

In my distress, I called the Lord,

He heard and answered me.

The flooded way I cannot ford,

He came and carried me.

Saturday

Behold,the end is drawing near.

The Pharisees in mortal fear

Of losing to the Roman band

Their nation and their sacred land.

They'd rather live subjected to 

Their pagan master than to You.

And so, they plot to kill their own

The One who spoke of love alone.