6/13/21 Through 6/19/21

 6/13/21 Through 6/19/21

Sunday 

Plant Your seed Lord deep within.

Keep my heart and soul from sin.

Help me bear much fruit for Thee,

A meek and pliant, docile, tree.

May I give both shade and rest

To every traveler and guest.

That all may know it was your seed

Which made this lowly one succeed.

One day I'll stand alone on trial,

With no excuse or thin denial

To cover what in truth I've been,

A man that's far too close to sin.

But You can trim the boastful bough

And make it one of love somehow,

Despite its sin and ill pursuit,

That, in the end, would bear much fruit.

Monday

An eye for eye, or tooth for tooth,

No longer rules the day.

For Jesus showed the way, in truth,

To listen and obey.

To hear the Father calling now

Responding every time,

To yield and let His love allow

To break the paradigm.

To all the world, to be absurd,

A fool in many ways.

The least of all to be preferred, 

But joyful all our days.

The Spirit comes as peace and fire,

As wind and morning dew.

To quench a thirst and set afire

A love in me and you.

So yield when ere the chance arrives

To love a little more.

The Paraclete will change the lives

Of those who will explore.

Tuesday

I stand in awe of how You love,

And ask the same of me.

So far the way of God above,

What mortal eye can see.

A love for all, those bad and good

Despite their sinful way.

A love to imitate we should

For enemies each day.

Wednesday

Forgetting of the self is hard,

No matter what I do.

My time with You is often scarred

With thoughts of me, not You.

Myself so much, I like to see

In always rosy light,

But then it is, it comes to me,

I cower in the fight.

The peace and joy surrounding You

Comes not the least from me,

But when my gaze is long and true,

It's You alone I see.

I wish to get, and not to give,

To find the easy way,

And look beyond the ones who live

In poverty each day.

My eyes be cleared, dear Lord, I pray, 

And ears be opened wide,

To see my chance to love each day,

And do away with pride.

But whence it comes, I'll never know.

For then I'll only see

It's God alone who makes things grow,

And nothing comes from me.

Thursday

He came, the Father, to reveal,

The deaf and blind to also heal.

That all might see what God had planned

And listen well to understand.

His kingdom here on earth can be

Akin to our eternity.

Where love supreme, eternal, reigns,

Or one of everlasting pains.

If we would trust the Father's love

Our world would be as that above,

But if we think we better know,

The world we get is one below.

So feed upon His daily bread

The flesh and blood by which we're fed.

Forgive and find the peace beyond

Alas, as heav'n on earth has dawned.

Friday

No treasure but the Lord alone,

Conflicted by the things I own.

What end will all the chattel be,

To glory Him, or glory me?

If the former, carry on,

But if the latter, then be gone.

All the stores accomplish naught

If hoarding things is what is sought.

The talent loaned must be repaid

With interest by the things it made.

A buried coin will bring no gain,

But only poverty and shame.

Saturday

In my weakness strength appears.

In the quiet humble ears

Hear the voice of One who saves,

And raises dead from lonely graves.

The thorn that points to all I need

Is given to my pride impede,

And show that grace has ample clout

To conquer every fear or doubt.

The birds without a barn or store

Have all they need and plenty more.

The flowers in their bright array

Are finely dressed for every day.

So rest assured, the Father knows

Of all you need, in all your woes.

With grace you more than just survive,

With grace, you flourish, bloom, and thrive.

6/6/21 Through 6/12/21

 6/6/21 Through 6/12/21

Sunday

Each day I feed upon the bread.

His body and his blood, it's said.

So many fail to see it's true,

And call it just remembering You.

But I know well that's not the case.

I take each morn this gift of grace

To change this sinful heart of mine,

And turn it into one like Thine.

No simple bit of bread, I know

Could make the soul to melt and glow,

With faithful trust and love so pure,

To forge a bond with You secure.

Monday

Beatitudes encouraging

To live a counter way.

By faithful living them you're waging

Peace for each new day.

Far easier to say than do,

And follow down a road

That travelled every wind that blew

by passing every load.

A struggle's good, this word asserts.

Reward will come to those

Who suffer many kinds of hurts,

But always love have chose.

Tuesday

A city set atop a hill,

The one who seeks the Father's will.

A lamp placed high to light the way,

The one to listen, and obey.

No turning back from whence you came

When you profess the Savior's name.

So feed the flame, and flavor well

The works of God, of which you tell.

The dark will fight to overcome,

But love will not be overrun.

The cross will shine as bright as day,

And guide the faithful on their way.

So pray to God for courage men,

Turn not to darkness once again.

Lift high the lamp and show the way,

And flavor well the words you say.

Wednesday

Your laws, Oh Lord, are just and true.

I pray they govern all I do.

The fool alone will go astray,

And try to blaze another way.

Within your law we dwell secure,

With heart and mind remaining pure,

But in the selfish ways beguiled

The stray will find himself defiled.

To know Your law we must obey,

Our following illumes the way,

And opens always deeper still

New vistas of Your holy will.

Thursday

Forgiveness is the answer now

To reconcile the world somehow.

No peace can come with grudges firm,

But in forgiveness all will learn.

To look upon the cross and see

What Jesus Christ has done for we

Who call upon His name each day,

And let His love show us the way.

Friday

Oh holy lance that pierced His side,

The point of which did then divide

The walls of love and mercy wide,

Inviting all to come inside.

As blood and water freely flowed,

His depth of love and mercy showed.

No torment He would not endure

To peace and love, for man secure.

In truth, the Son of God, was He,

Whose heart was pierced to rescue me.

Whose blood and water covers men

Who fail, but turn to Him again.

Such love the pen cannot describe: 

The hands, the feet, the open side.

Where stripes of healing love abound,

With thorns of mercy, Love is crowned.

Enthrone in me a heart as Thine,

And make my will with Yours align.

Pierce me through and mingle there

My heart with Thine of love so fair.

Saturday

Oh heart of Mary, pure as gold,

Virgin blest that we behold

All the prophesies you heard

And pondered in your heart occurred.

Docile, trusting, you became

Virgin of most blessed fame.

Pierced by seven swords of sorrow,

Always trusting on the morrow.

Filled with grace from your beginning

Never cross, or ever sinning.

No more than on His word depend,

One faithful to the bitter end.

5/30/21 Through 6/5/21

 5/30/21 Through 6/5/21

Sunday

Triune God beyond all-knowing,

Everloving, ever-growing,

Words fall short of Thee describing,

Love unmeasured, Thee prescribing.

When before was ever known,

A god with people all his own,

Who speaks to them in varied ways,

And guides their steps throughout the days?

No other like our God above

Displays such wisdom, truth, and love.

So listen well, and then obey,

And walk amid the light of day.

Monday

What joy the Visitation brings,

The heart of younger Mary sings,

"My soul proclaims Your greatness Lord,"

Upon Your servant, grace outpoured.

Two miracles within the womb,

Each heart must now prepare them room.

One as herald, One as King.

They both a docile spirit bring.

That searches for the Father's will,

And strives to every word fulfill.

Those holy women point the way,

And bid us follow all you say.

Though far above what mind conceives

Grant blessings for one who believes,

And trusts that when the Spirit leads,

No matter where, He also feeds

Tuesday

Lord, You who open eyes to see

Remove what scales have blinded me.

Dispel the darkness I have made,

Forgive my role in evil played.

Your word disarms the treacherous

And opens eyes for most of us

To see how far we've strayed from good,

And help us walk the way we should.

So speak to me in varied ways

That I may hear throughout my days,

Your voice that says, "Come follow Me."

With open eyes that clearly see.

Wednesday

Oh Lord, how foolish I have been

To seek my joy through ways of sin.

To think I know what's best for me,

Refusing to, Your pathway see.

Your way involves some pain at times,

Caused mostly by my sinful crimes.

But lead me closer yet to Thee,

And clearer to Your pathway see.

The martyrdom we face each day

Becomes our light and guiding way

To find, at last, the restful place

Of peace and love that's filled with grace.

Don't think that life is empty waste.

Each burden, and each trial faced

He uses here to heal the blind,

And help them to, the pathway find.

Embrace the trial, look beyond,

And see what joy the cross has spawned.

Your crosses too, will lead to joy,

If you, His way of love, employ.

Thursday

The marriage bed a sacred place,

A cherished point of love's embrace.

Not one of greed and selfish lust,

But place of prayer and Godly trust.

The love that's shared is meant to bond,

And take them to a place beyond

The physical embrace of love,

And closer to their God above.

Friday

Twas He who scourged me, this I know,

That mercy, to me, He would show.

That eyes be opened there and then

To never doubt His love again.

I know beyond a single doubt,

What He prescribes will all work out,

And somehow in the end I'll see,

If even now, I blinded be.

Saturday

The angel said to freely give

That those less fortunate may live.

Almsgiving tied with righteousness,

What all believers should possess.

Far better here to give away,

Than growing stores for rainy day.

For all, at last, will face the end

Where none on riches can depend.

But love and charity will store.

They last for time and evermore,

And bring a joy both now and then,

For sure to God, and also men.

5/23/21 Through 5/29/21

 5/23/21 Through 5/29/21

Sunday

In the ancient days of old

Your fire made disciples bold.

You gave them tongues that all would hear, 

And know the God of love was near.

"New wine they've had", the people said.

This talk of rising from the dead.

But as they listened, hearts were changed

Priorities were rearranged.

Three thousand on that blessed day

Would come to follow on the way

Of Jesus Christ, the saving Lord

Whose Spirit now has been outpoured.

This day as well we need that gift

To warm the heart and spirits lift,

To grant us courage from above,

To speak in wisdom, truth, and love.

Renew, oh Lord, the cloudy mind.

Let all souls, repentance find.

That in the light of this new day,

We all would follow in Your way.

Monday

Eve anew in Mother Mary

Virgin pure and undefiled

Brought to us a Saving Victim

In her tender little child.

"Yes", she answered at each bidding

From the day that she conceived.

Any selfish thought forbidding,

Offering all she received.

At the cross, her heart was sharing

All the torments of her Son.

From the cross our Lord declaring

She our mother, we her son.

Look for tender mercies from her.

Feed upon her loving breast.

Find in her your needed succor,

Guide upon your earthly quest.

Tuesday

Come not here as empty-handed

With no offering to show.

Bring your sacrifice expanded,

So your depth of love I know.

For all you have, I've given you,

This gift of life as well.

So hold not back in what you do,

And of My favors tell.

Not one who's given all to Me 

Has ever known regret.

For each and every time they see,

The more they give, they get.

Outdone in generosity

I never once have been.

So bring your every gift to me,

And turn away from sin.

Wednesday

Eternity cannot make known

The wonders of our God.

A drop amid the ocean depth,

Or grain on beaches broad.

How silly seem the worries here,

When He is in control.

At times He seems so far away,

When there within our soul.

He speaks to man in clearest word

That plainly now we see,

But when it came at first we were

Perplexed by mystery.

So trust is that we're called to give

In every time and place.

No matter what may come our way,

His holy will embrace.

And you will find the cup you drink

Akin to that of His

And then, at last, will come to know

The only God that is.

Thursday

So much, dear Lord, I want to see.

Creation's wonders dark to me.

Though eyes be open, darkness reigns,

And on my soul, be sinful stains.

But you, dear Lord, please pity me,

And shine Your light that I may see

The stumbling blocks along the way,

And follow every word You say.

Friday

Look and see if fruit is there.

Examine branches, find them bare.

Drive away the dead revealed

Who fail, providing not a yield.

The Master looks for fruit in all.

For sure the great. No less, the small.

But finding none, the Master grieves, 

And curses those with only leaves.

So be the tree producing much

With loving words, and works of such.

No matter what the season be,

Become a lush, well-fruited tree.

Obey in all the things you do,

But search for ways of loving too.

Turn not away from this pursuit,

The cross-shaped tree, has always fruit.

Saturday

In search of wisdom every day,

I wake each morn to read and pray.

To mine from scripture, more than gold,

And pearls of wisdom to behold.

There each morn, I find a gem,

An endless, great supply of them.

A word to meet my need each day,

And spur my heart to further pray.

To contemplate His many words,

Or glory in the song of birds.

So many ways to sing His praise,

And let Him set my heart ablaze.

Grant my King, and great Defender,

Show all men Your light and splendor.

Scales remove that cloud the vision,

Walls remove that cause division.

Let me bear a Light for Nations,

Steadfast still, despite vexations.

Laboring to help the Artist

Gather in abundant harvest.

5/16/12 Through 5/22/21

 Sunday

Let another take his place

Be filled with zeal and holy grace

The one that chose to fall away

Has gone along destruction's way.

How sad the loss of even one,

Rejecting all that God has done.

When pride consumes the will of man

We see just where the fall began.

"I will not serve." the damned all chose.

Save me from being one of those,

And let the love of Jesus show

The way for me to always go.

Monday

Holy Spirit be my guide,

Remain forever at my side.

May I always trust in You,

And let You make my heart anew.

Banish all my fear and shame,

Lord make me bold to speak Your name.

Set a fire in those who hear,

Then help them all to persevere.

Before His death, He claimed to win

His earthly battle over sin.

And scattered sheep we all would be,

Who from the enemy would flee.

But He that battled to the end

The promised Spirit He would send.

To make us all afresh and new

And heralds of the good and true.

Tuesday

Now I leave with calm assurance

Knowing that I've done my best.

Teaching you with all endurance

How to pass the final test.

Around the house at work or play,

In public, or within the home

There Jesus Christ was shown the Way,

No matter where we chose to roam.

So take what you received and go

Bring forth in life anew

That progeny of ours would know

A clear and perfect view.

Of Christ in everything you do

The reason we are here,

The excellence they see in you 

Will prove that God is near.

Wednesday

One in spirit, mind and body,

No more those, so rich and haughty.

One in love, with Him united,

To the Father's house invited.

We must claim our fond ambition

Following our intuition.

Listening and then obeying,

Daily to our Father praying.

Trusting Him through trial united,

Still we travel on excited

That beyond remains unsighted,

In the Father's love delighted.

Thursday

The resurrection of the dead,

The hope on which our zeal is fed,

Is that which fuels the fire of love,

And sets our eyes on God above.

For only if the life beyond

In truth and love will correspond

To how He prayed, that we be one,

Can mortal souls on earth be won.

So short the sight of sinful man

The problem since the world began.

But love can lift the veil for these,

And show them how the Lord to please.

Friday

Do you love Me?  Lambs be fed.

Do you love Me?  Tend My sheep.

Follow where your Master led,

In His path your footsteps keep.

Time will come when you are made

A witness in the cross's shade.

But follow Me and you will see

The glory of that loving tree.

No promise here, a life of ease,

This call upon the will

The keeper of the Kingdom keys,

They too will want to kill.

But love has conquered sin and death

My presence here can prove.

So love until your dying breath,

And every sin remove.

.Saturday

All your concern is follow Me,

And through the trials, you will see

That those who persevere will know

I lead you in the way to go.

A guide for every step you take

Or sacrifice, for love, you make.

For there you'll find the peace I give

If this is how you choose to live.

Fear not the grief that comes each day,

I've conquered sin in every way.

A resurrection you will see,

If you but choose to follow Me.