2/13/22 Through 2/19/22

 2/13/22 Through 2/19/22

Sunday

There's enemies without,

And enemies within.

The battle lines are drawn,

But where do we begin?

Without, the enemy is clear.

Within, not quite as much.

But more the hidden one to fear,

A sly and cunning touch.

Reliance on the strength of men,

The enemy within.

Without, the sins of other men

More obvious have been.

But trusting in the Lord is where

The strength is really found,

And trusting men, like desert bare,

A wasteland all around.

But planted near a stream the one

Who trusts in God alone.

The living water from the Son,

No greater power known.

Unfading in the year of drought,

The leaves remaining green.

With root that broadly stretches out

To that life-giving stream.

Monday

Rejoice in trials on the way

And ask for wisdom every day.

In tested faith we persevere

And so, to Christ, draw ever near.

Not tossed about by every wind

Like those denying how they've sinned

And doubting of the Father's love

To bring repentant souls above.

The man of faith can see the sign

And recognize the Son of Thine

By love unbounded every day

That points us on the righteous way.

Tuesday

Let my desire clearly be

To ever closer draw to Thee,

That no temptation may occur

That would my weakly will deter.

Grant me vision crisp and clear

May your voice draw ever near.

Signs and wonders all around

That lead to You are daily found.

No worries for the trusting soul

That listens to what's on the scroll,

For field and flower proudly wear

His love in robes beyond compare.

No lack in any situation

He controls all of creation.

Trust and see that He provides

When the one loaf He divides

Wednesday

A dim reflection, all I know

For quite a way I have to go

Sin has clouded what I see

Not as a person, but a tree.

Another touch from Thee I need

"I want to see, dear Lord," I plead.

Not walking trees or cloudy way,

But clear the path I walk today.

Give me polished silvered glass

Let my obedience surpass

The times when looking, I ignored

The need for change to come aboard.

My will I offer now to You

To mold and shape as You would do,

That when they look at me they see

A glass reflecting only Thee.

Thursday

So, who do you say that I am?

The question He puts to each man.

Lord, You are the Christ, 

Who so highly priced

Every soul since when time began.

And who do YOU say that I be?

Any more than the crowd do you see?

On your answer depends

Where eternity spends

In flames, or in heaven with Me.

Friday

What profit be so many gains,

If all is lost and ends in pains,

Where rust corrodes and moth destroys

The chattel of so many toys?

For willing sacrifices now

Endure eternally somehow,

And earthly gain will seem as naught

When heaven's gain at last is bought.

But know my friend, that's just a term.

For entry there you cannot earn.

By grace alone you enter in

When God forgives of all your sin.

So work must prove the faith you own

And trust you have in God alone,

To save the sinner and to glean

The grain from chaff and make it clean.

Saturday

In Christ transfigured there we see

Just what the man was meant to be.

Clothed in splendor, robed in white,

Shining in eternal light.

Yet one on earth alone is blest

The Virgin pure who passed the test,

Whose fiat bore for man the way

To once again see light of day.

Her tongue, it was changed history.

Her "Yes" to love is life for me.

How sweet and pure that tender voice.

Unselfish love her humble choice.

Steer me along the path with you

To find the love that's warm and true

To learn it's in the humble way

To meet our Lord, and light of day.

2/6/22 Through 2/12/22

 2/6/22 Through 2/12/22

Sunday

Each life receives a sacred call

To give not some, but give Him all.

In varied ways does each receive,

And find the graces to believe.

Some little nudges on the way,

Some met by angels in the day.

A burning bush that's not consumed,

Or flower in a wasteland bloomed.

But sure a call will come to each

To suffer long, or work, or teach.

What matters most, is you respond

And find His life in you has spawned.

We often cannot see the way

He works through boring everyday

Encounters with the ones you meet,

Or even in your worst defeat.

So raise your head and stay the course

With love of God, your driving force.

It shows in how you love the least

And find your love of God increased.

Monday

Touch the tassel and be well

Let me of Thy power tell.

Grant a needed healing where

Your servant lies in deep despair.

Tuesday

The edifice is just a key

To how the people worship Me.

If all is done to blow their horn,

To Me it comes as prideful scorn.

The worship that My people need

Will grow from tiny humble seed

That roots within a willing heart,

Not base desire set apart.

Both may build a place that's grand,

But one will fall, and one will stand.

Where lips and heart are both in tune,

A fitting dwelling place is hewn.

So pray with lips, but guard the heart

That two may never drift apart,

And let the edifice make clear,

What's seen outside is found in here.  "💖"

Wednesday

Wisdom says that what defiles

Comes not from out, but from within.

How we face our daily trials

Leads to light, or leads to sin.

Wealthy are the ones with wisdom,

Those who know what's good and true.

In their hearts a blessed rhythm

From the base, to holy drew.

Wisdom's key is faithful action.

Listen well, and then obey.

Turn from all the vain distraction.

Act within the Master's way.

Fools will let their pride beguile them,

Think their riches well-deserved.

Silver, gold, and gems defile them,

They that from the righteous swerved.

Thursday

A disappointing tale it is 

For one with wisdom such as his.

From perfect love to turn away

And falter in that foolish way.

The castle crumbles when in pride

The One True God we set aside,

In favor of a worthless lie

That leads a foolish heart awry.

A tragic tale of gifts unused

Of sinful lust and grace refused,

But oft repeated to this day

Just in some slightly different way.

I pray for courage, strength, and might

To not be swayed by sin's delight,

But see in truth the void that's there

Of lies that lead one to despair.

Like Eleazar, may I be

When old, with eyes that clearly see

The folly in the evil way,

And choose to die instead of sway.

Friday

Virgin in the niche above me

Show me how your Son does love me.

Let me see the pain endured

That life eternal be secured.

If I knew that love so burning

With my will from evil turning,

All my days would point to He

Who suffered greatly on the Tree.

Ears attentive, listen closely.

Let the humble peasant host Me.

Follow as I point the way

And lead you to the light of day.

Come and bathe in waters flowing.

Faces all around are glowing.

Hearts made whole, candles lighted,

Lame now walk, and blind are sighted.

Here a mystery far surpassing

All the decades slowly passing.

Touch the mountain's polished stone,

And give your heart to God alone.

Saturday

With great compassion for the crowd

And only seven loaves endowed

He satisfied the hungry hearts,

Then moved to preach in other parts.

Never ever disappointed,

Every day, by Him anointed.

Always something there to chew,

Always something fresh and new.

A day within Your temple there

More than a thousand anywhere.

The threshold of that holy place

Is overflowing peace and grace.

1/30/22 Through 2/5/22

 1/30/22 Through 2/5/22

Sunday

Patiently I wait to hear

The voice that always draws me near.

Encouraging to hold the line,

And not be swayed by "friends" of mine.

He calls the meek and humble kind

That in obedience will find

There's freedom in the way He shows,

And none the way the wicked goes.

Monday

Insanity is when we choose

A pleasure now, to later lose,

When Satan whispers in the ear

And we believe the lies we hear.

No need to bridle passions now,

The law is just to disallow

The pleasures that our hearts desire,

And shall not lead to endless fire.

A burning comes from either way.

Far better that, when we obey.

For passions in unending flame

Of self-importance blind and maim,

But flames of love will purify

And change the heart to multiply

What we receive in favor of

Our choice to seek the Father's love.

Tuesday

So much within Your word today,

So much to savor all the day.

How great Your love for every child,

The little ones and those defiled.

Hope You give to suffering souls.

A word or touch from You consoles.

Our burdens You will gladly bear,

That all might be of love aware.

Wednesday

So, what does "ready" really mean?

Could I, that day, be standing seen,

Or fallen prostrate there before

The Holy One whom we adore?

Well, "ready" means I've done my best,

Prepared His way, and passed the test,

Repented of my many sins

And found the place where love begins.

Where love has conquered base desire

And will to suffer, I acquire.

So far away I am today

Oh, change my heart, dear Lord I pray.

Show me the joy in all I do

When trying to get close to You,

And all my emptiness please fill,

Then mold me to Your holy will.

So on that day I'll stand and cheer

As you, my Lord, are drawing near,

Confident that You have won

And come for Your adopted son.

Thursday

Shake the dust and move along

Don't dwell on those who think you wrong.

The seed you scatter may take root,

And someday also bear some fruit.

For God it is that makes things grow,

And how or when is His to know.

Ours is just to do God's will,

To be His hands, or be His quill.

Don't let pride be your inflation

Harbor not annoyed vexation.

Shake it off, be on your way,

Another waits for what you say.

1/14 Adoration

Jesus, in the silence bless me,

Eucharistic love caress me.

Still the spirit, calm the mind.

Lead me to contentment find.

Satisfied by only Thee

Come and dwell down deep in me.

Turn me from my base desire

Make my heart, to You aspire.

Take my meager offering,

My little bit of suffering,

The inconvenience in my day,

And turn it round to fit Your way.

Your way to share the cross with me.

A tiny splinter saved to be

The little bit that I can bear

And turn into an offering prayer.

Make of me a servant true,

One who offers all to You,

Holds not back from Love Divine.

When all is Yours, then ALL is mine.

Friday

How wicked now we've come to see,

Unbridled in brutality

Will stop at nothing everyday

To live their vicious, sinful way.

A life to them a lowly thing,

Worth no more than useless bling.

They rule by fear and savage might

Attempting to their wrong make right.

But truth and justice, we know win

The final battle over sin.

The cross has triumphed o'er the grave,

Repentant sinners, all to save.

Saturday

For all the wisdom, wives, and gold

A foolish king do we behold,

Who let his heart be swayed by sin

And welcomed pagan worship in.

The shepherd having gone astray

Cannot discern the proper way

To lead the sheep to pasture green,

Or turn away from that unclean.

Be wiser than that king today

And choose the humble, simple way.

Be led by Him whose love is true,

And follow where He's calling you.

For wisdom's value falls away

If we don't follow on the way

And choose a road of selfish lust,

Instead of that, of love and trust.

1/23/22 Through 1/29/22

 1/23/22 Through 1/29/22

Sunday

In the pages of the scripture

Many words of wisdom there.

Here we find a painted picture,

That of which are few aware.

One of care and loving kindness,

One that's faithful, ever true.

One who never will abandon

Even when, are faithful few.

Here the light of light shines brightly

Right before your very eyes.

If you're open, even slightly,

Faith will lift the dim disguise.

Come and find life-giving water,

All of you who understand.

You the clay and He the potter,

Fashioned as the potter planned.

Monday

Soon will fall the house divided,

Evil with itself collided.

Truth cannot be manufactured,

Lies will lead to families fractured.

Although we all would like our way,

The truth alone should have its say.

And guide us firmly by the hand

To lead us to the Promised Land.

As the whisper in the Garden,

Tender hearts of love did harden,

Every lie another measure

Lessening the love we treasure.

Tuesday

There amidst the light I saw

That closer still, that I must draw.

How wrong I'd been to shun the way,

And now, the Lord, I must obey.

And more, I must prepare to show

The lost the way for them to go.

Such love is worth all that I own,

Such love to me, that day was shown.

So now it's up to me to share

And give of self to all I dare.

Though many shun the words I say

It's up to me to show the way.

I too, was blind and needed guides

To show me what the scripture hides.

Though plain in view, I could not see

How much that Jesus cares for me.

To you as well, His care extends,

But some, on you, as well depends.

He seeks a, "Yes Lord, I believe."

So life eternal, you receive.

Wednesday

His teachings are for none but good.

The hearer, to embrace them should.

And following that fruit may come

With joy to all, and not just some.

To all that listen and obey

Employing in their everyday

The spoken word they hear from You

In all they think, and say, and do.

But oft time still it passes by

Is plucked away by birds that fly

Or scorched because of lack of root,

Or choked by thorn, not bearing fruit.

So stir the fire and stoke the flame

Proclaim to all the Savior's name.

The gifts you have were meant to share,

So scatter seed now everywhere.

Thursday

Blessings contemplated

So many now received

Boundless love flows unabated,

Through the fabric interweaved.

Promised line of blessing

For chosen peoples' race

Now in Jesus coalescing

Every drop of needed grace.

Lighted lamp not hidden

Let shine for all to see.

Foolish pride is here forbidden,

Welcome here, humility.

Jesus' place of resting

Here deep within the soul

Always more of me requesting

Till at last, you have the whole.

In giving we receive

As odd as it may seem

But only those who see believe,

Truth is more than just a dream.

Friday

In private may all be explained

Why strength and courage be now drained?

When strongest one would hope to be,

A weakling one is shown by Thee.

The weak ones can at last, be strong

If willing here to suffer long

In their weakness God makes grow

Branches swaying to and fro.

The emptiness, our God can fill,

But not the prideful bragging will.

One has room for God to dwell,

Others, all but self expel.

Saturday

The wind and sea, they must obey

Yet man's allowed to choose his way.

Allowed to choose the right or wrong,

To be the weak, or be the strong.

The highest creature gets to choose,

Yet far more have they got to lose.

For love, the greatest gift to thee

Is only love, if love is free.

So many choices everyday

That we must make along the way

Some good to better, bad to worse,

That lead to blessing, or to curse.

His way the way that's always true,

The way that's always best for you.

Not that it's easy, fast, or clear,

But always drawing ever near.

The cross was too, a choice He made

As He, the Father, well obeyed.

Without this model from above,

No man would know the gift of love.

But resurrected from the strife

Man sees the way to this new life.

Far more than just a pleasant dream,

A life where love will reign supreme.

1/16/22 Through1/22/22

 1/16/22 Through1/22/22

Sunday

Espoused on earth is but a sign

Of something more, something divine.

Those gifted in so many ways

With two as one throughout their days.

Undoubtedly will wine run low

Then two as one must quickly go

To One who multiplies the wine

And blesses two with love divine.

Abundant is His vintage store,

And two must always search for more.

Released will be a flood for two

By doing what He says to do.

Monday

Just obey and all is well,

But how do average laymen tell

When much of truth obscured by sin

Can block the ears from hearing Him?

They fast and pray, for these are tools

For understanding Godly rules.

They open ears and clear the mind

That faithful souls, the truth will find.

The more you follow, more you see

And truth becomes more clear for thee.

When sin is mixed with righteous deeds, 

Sin conceals and then misleads.

Tuesday

Nourished well, the faith must be

By many meals that help us see

The vision of the land beyond

Instead of that for which we've pawned.

We've given up a life of grace,

And evening walks in garden space

To have our way of selfish greed

By looking past our brother's need.

But with the Spirit, life can change

Priorities be rearranged,

Disciples fed in every need

To nourish well their tiny seed.

So parents give your children love

That they may see the land above,

Be caught within the Spirit's hold,

And work to see the world is told.

For in the Spirit, life is new

And many gifts are offered you 

To show the world what life can be,

And how the Spirit helpeth thee.

Wednesday

Without a righteous check, behold

The evil forces brash and bold

Will brandish weapons all about

Inciting fear in those devout.

But just one soul that trusts in God

Exposes evil as a fraud,

And puts to flight the army there

If righteous souls engage in prayer.

Thursday

A jealous heart cannot receive,

But only to the worthless cleave.

The humble on the other hand,

Can always have their love expand.

All credit goes to God alone

For every blessing that we own.

The willing heart can thus receive,

What jealousy cannot achieve.

For Saul and Pharisee alike,

The goal was to the rival strike.

Destroy the competition then

Reclaim the prominence again.

But humble in each case prevail

Where jealousy and hatred fail.

Those honored for eternity

Are clothed in pure humility.

Friday

Summoned by His Majesty

Is every creature meant tot be.

For each a purpose in His mind

That true fulfillment, each would find.

They recognize at early age

The wisdom of discerning sage,

And choose to follow on the road,

By answering the grace bestowed.

By motives pure and undefiled

The enemy is thus beguiled.

Filled with awe and devastated,

By a love so underrated.

Some will answer, some rebel,

But in the end, the wise will tell

Of how the good has conquered sin

And to the heavens entered in.

Saturday

Why this Gospel short and sweet,

Or tale of Israel's defeat?

Where the wisdom in disguise,

Hidden from these simple eyes?

Perhaps a window here to see

How foolish those in pow'r can be,

Or just how those too close are blind

And fail, the simple truth, to find?

When far from God a man can be

For sure, his own worst enemy,

Consumed in many selfish ploys

His very flesh, he then destroys.

Is here the wisdom for this day,

We act like them a lot today;

We bring about a coming doom,

Destroying life within the womb.

Saturday