11/13/22 Through 11/19/22

 11/13/22 Through 11/19/22

Sunday

Famine and drought, earthquake and plague
The voice of the Lord, infrequent and vague
Times they are coming, behold they are near

Speak with authority having no fear

Though friends will abandon, and family will flee

Fear not, in the middle of troubles is Me.

When brought before powers and kings of the land

The source of your courage and strength is at hand.

Prepare no defense, for worthless it be

When time comes for speaking, the blinded will see

In wisdom and power the word be proclaimed

Let none with the faith in our God be ashamed.

Let nothing they say, and nothing they do

Discourage the will to love that's in you.

For we know Good Friday appeared as a loss

But victory that day, was won on the cross.

Then rising on Sunday, the day of the Lord

Were graces and blessings abundant out-poured

The worst of the worst, no power could claim

O'er Jesus, Our Lord, the Holiest Name!

Monday

The simple words, "I want to see."

Are simply those describing me.

I want to see His work each day

And know He hears me when I pray.

I've seen enough throughout the years

In times of mirth or times of tears

To know without a doubt He cares

And in my every trouble shares.

In beauty of the world around

The Master's hand is always found

If we just simply look and see

How ordered all He made to be.

Each miracle He made to be

A window to his love for thee.

They're all around us every day

If eyes are opened all the way.

So ask He show you clear today

His love to show you clear the way

So eyes be ready, mind be clear

And you will know that Love is near.

Tuesday

The eyes of man are slow to see

The things that clear to God will be

How some abandon faith in storm

And others let it grow lukewarm.

So too, He sees in evil men

A wish that they could start again

A curiosity that grows

And wish to settle what he owes.

To both, His word attacks the soul

And shows they need to be made whole

By trusting all to Him who saves

And freeing all whom sin enslaves.

Wednesday

A vision far beyond the stars

With myriads of avatars

Around the throne of One on high

All singing Holy, Holy nigh.

The words inadequate all seem

To tell about this sacred dream

Yet true it was, and this I know

That here it is, I long to go.

It's strange and scary, that is true,

But such a love I never knew.

The Lamb was slain, yet on the throne

The greatest love one's ever known.

No eye has seen, nor ear has heard

Such sight or sound when with the Word

And so bazaar descriptions seem

Of what I saw within my dream.

Thursday

Just knowing that which makes for peace

Is not enough to make war cease.

The doing is the key to bring

The lost to where His praises sing.

Those suff'ring, yet forgiving those

Through pride and selfishness have chose

To turn from love to lust and greed

And appetites for evil feed.

The Cross is where the victory's won

Through imitation of the Son

By love, the enemy will see

In truth, the Son of God was He.

When crosses lined the Roman street

Twas there the pagan heart did meet

The love that conquers every sin

And then, a turn to love begin.

It seems a loss, that we should die,

But not within the Savior's eye.

In giving all is where we win

The victory over death and sin.

Friday

How sweet the word of God to me

But others, not the way they see.

It sours those of evil ways

Who feed the self throughout their days.

Your word looks out to God and man,

A holy, loving, giving plan.

A sweetness for the ways of light,

But sour to the dark of night.

So too, in me is well-received

When first is planted there the seed,

But when demands are fully known

The stomach then has sour grown.

Let not the fear of loss have rein

The word of God is always gain.

But faith and trust is needed there

To find this love beyond compare.

When sweetness and the sour endured,

Pure love eternal then insured.

For through the Cross's earthly pain

Comes Heaven's sweet eternal gain.

Saturday

The resurrection of the dead

Is truth for all, as Jesus said.

But where we spend eternity

Must be where man is truly free.

For here on earth the stain of sin

Has barred the man from coming in.

But Christ the perfect sacrifice

For all our sin, has paid the price.

If man repents and turns to God

Rejecting now his false facade

The doors to heaven open wide

And man is beckoned, "Come inside."

But if intransigent, he stays

Refusing to amend his ways

Then steeped in evil they will see,

Eternal death would better be.

11/6/22 Through11/12/22

 11/6/22 Through 11/12/22

Sunday

I'm searching for the joy I've seen

In saints who suffer well

My trials have quite a burden been

To all of those I tell.

Surrender seems a sticking point

But otherwise, I say

Corrosion in another joint 

Is just the elder's way.

The seven sons met scourges well

And offered all as none

And still today their stories tell

How they reflect the Son.

Somehow, it's true, I've not obtained

The will to suffer well

Perhaps I never truly gained

The faith of which I sell.

No matter what we have below

A little or a lot

It's hard to give it all to go

Where bones will never rot.

Monday

Woe you who lead the young astray,

Encourage evil on the way

Or hold a grudge, forgiving not

Rejecting good the Master taught

Better be cast amid the sea

With heavy millstone tied to thee

Than lead these little ones astray

Or teach what's wrong as right today

For tender hearts we must train well 

And of the truth and beauty tell

Then counsel to the traps beware

And guide them from the evil fare

Tuesday

When done, the things obliged to do

Is when the work will profit you

If only obligations met

You've done no more than pay your debt.

Wednesday

Mother church of all the earth

It's here the faith was given birth

In public forum, undisturbed

Without enthusiasm curbed

For centuries among the dead

Is where the Holy Mass was said

But now in blessed light of day

Could Christian voices sing and pray.

Intolerant the days before

But now permitted to adore

Our blessed Lord exalted high

Without the fear of lurking spy.

Thursday

From slavery has man been freed

In word or thought or evil deed

A freedom comes involving joy

If we, His holy word employ

The Kingdom's here before our eyes

But evil puts it in disguise.

What's right before us points the way

If we, His holy word obey.

The trick that Satan uses well

Is smoke that clouds from burning hell.

Enticing man to doubt what's good

Ignoring One they nailed to wood.

The law is how the slave is freed

It tempers avarice and greed

It calls to love both God and man

In His divinely ordered plan.

Jesus made us truly free

When nailed upon the rugged tree

He begged forgiveness for our sin

That we could someday enter in.

To Paradise, where love's the rule

No longer tricked, or made the fool

Where One in love and truth shall reign

And all for man is none but gain.

Friday

Be ready for the final day.

In every situation, pray.

Don't be waiting unprepared

With empty heart and running scared

The day will come when none will know

With daily chores all doing so

And how surprised we all shall be

When face of purest love we see

No place to run, no place to hide

Stripped and naked, horrified

Our every sin at once made known

And clearly filth within is shown

For all my avarice and greed,

Impurity of thought and deed,

Pride in all the wealth received,

There's none but mercy left to plead.

Saturday

Persistent. perseverent prayer

Will make the lowly soul aware

How much depends on God alone

And how our faith, in time has grown.

By learning to accept His will 

Or waiting patiently until

We see His hand in that received

And understand what He conceived.

It's often I have thanked Him for

Not giving what I asked Him for

But giving more in ways unseen

Until reflecting on the scene

In looking back, each trial faced

I should have simply just embraced

For in His plan was more for me

Then temporal eyes could ever see.

10/30/22 Through 11/5/22

 10/30/22 Through 11/5/22

Sunday

The all we know, a drop of dew

So far above, Your creatures You.

The universe a grain of sand 

So deftly sifted in Your hand.

Yet mercy be Your greatest gift

As souls in depth of sin You lift.

To see the beauty of Your love

And strive to find their home above.

The sinner knows his need for You

For all the evil things we do

Are just a cry to fill the soul

And make the wretched sinner whole.

But only You can satisfy

And not the selfish things we try

They only leave us empty still

And further from Your holy will.

So, call us down from in the tree

And clearly let us goodness see,

Then find the love that satisfies

Before the wretched sinner dies.

Monday

A brother's keeper I must be

By showing hospitality

And caring for the blind and lame

My selfish greedy ways to tame.

The poor reveal the ones we are

From Jesus separated far,

For He was One with poor and low

And He's the One that we should know.

Tuesday

A saint is what I'd like to be

A one of such integrity

To pass the test and waver not

By giving God the all I've got.

The struggle seems a hill to climb

And what I see with every time

I conquer yet another sin

I see there's battles yet to win.

So far away perfection seems

But even so, within my dreams

I see the splendor waiting there

If just another thing I'd share.

The call for everything is clear

But useless chattel held so dear

Will block the way to Heaven's door

And keep me from obtaining more.

So send Your fire to burn away

Whatever o'er me holds such sway

That cleansed of all the dark of sin

This little light be welcomed in.

And then amid Your blinding light

I'll see the saints in robes of white

All praising 'round Your gloried throne

And know at last, I've made it home.

Wednesday

Appointed once for man to die

And then to judgment in the sky

Each earthly life will have its end,

So why, on earthly things depend?

If judgment weighs our merit then,

Then why give heed to sinful men?

With deeds unseen proclaimed on high,

The truth is known for all who die.

This life is just a door to see

How we prefer eternity.

Absorbed in self, that none we give,

Or bathed in light to fully live.

The final choice we have that day

Forever that is how we'll stay.

As nothing given, nothing gained,

Or giving all, with ALL obtained.

Thursday

In riches and in great success

To pride we tend to acquiesce

We fail to see our blessings clear

And think that we made them appear.

The word of God reflects Thy rays

And creatures here Your anthem raise

Give life to all who look to You

And follow well His word for You.

Friday

There's someone watching what you do

In hope someday to be like you

I pray you're leading to the cross

For other ways are none but loss.

Don't let the gods of earth have rule

Don't be their doting earthly fool.

The cross of Christ is where to go

To peace, and joy, and freedom know.

The wise of worldly ways are shrewd

Consumed with wealth, and fame, and food

But in the Cross is life for those

That good, and truth, and beauty chose.

How sacrifice can bring such good

Not easily is understood

But Purest Love upon the tree,

Was from the bonds of death, set free.

Eternal life is what we seek

And Christ is whom of which we speak,

And wisdom of the world will fail,

But in the end will Christ prevail.

Saturday

Oh, mother of that precious Son

The wise and gracious Holy One

For man, salvation was procured

By many trials you endured.

Obedience, your standard set

With every trial ever met.

By trusting in the angel's word

More clear the voice of God was heard.

The thirty years are hidden well.

The many stories you could tell

Of how you came to understand

Exactly what the Father planned.

At every turn you well-obeyed

And often there with Him you prayed

Your hearts aligned so pure and true

That seeing Him was seeing you.

I'd love to know in great detail

How He began to lift the veil

And give you strength to all endure

While keeping sinless, good, and pure.

10/23/22 Through 10/29/22

 10/23/22 Through 10/29/22

Sunday

Too easy, Lord to see in me

The traits of one such Pharisee

That boasted of his trust in law,

But never through the mire saw,

Or ones who found some "first" to do

Each time they heard a call from You.

A foolish maiden lacking oil,

A one engaged in useless toil

For all of these I clearly see

Are fools sometimes describing me.

But too, I pray, that You will see

When judgment comes, humility.

For all that pride has done for me

Is shown how little I can see.

What blinded fools on earth we are

That could not make a single star,

Breathe life into a body cold,

Or find a way, a thought to mold.

But You have made each work of art

And in each work, free will impart.

This "will", the greatest work of all,

Both given great and given small.

A choice to make a god of me

Or choice to praise Your Deity.

Please do what must be done in me

That wise and humble I should be

So when that fateful day arrives,

My soul, repentant, yet survives.

Monday

Ought naught this child be rendered free

And cured of her infirmity?

Is Sabbath rest more dear to thee?

Then you and I must disagree.

The time is now that all be healed

The love of God to be revealed

A Sabbath rest is good you see

But better, cured infirmity.

Tuesday

A little goes a long long way

Sometimes it's just a word You say

That sparks a thought and starts a chain

That draws unto eternal gain

A flash of light that clearly shows

The path by which salvation goes

Or word of caution in the night 

To draw me to the ways of right

Let grow in me that mustard seed

Providing shelter that I need

That one day I might come to be

The way that You intended me.

Wednesday

All is well when all goes well

According to His plan

When evil comes we must not dwell

Within the realm of man

But see beyond the trial here

To find the narrow gate

And rise unto a higher tier

In hope, as we await.

His coming here gives hope to all

That find the narrow way,

But first we must address the call

And humbly, Him obey.

Thursday

There's war that rages deep within

The war of righteousness and sin

A fight with powers yet unseen

To draw us down, or keep us clean.

The weapons given man to wield

Are more than normal sword and shield

But weapons from the Spirit's store

That arm us for this bitter war.

A war already won by Christ

Who on the cross, so highly priced

As Spotless Lamb, atoned for sin

So men could His salvation win.

Friday

May I build a firm foundation

May all sin be overcome

May it last my full duration

Never it, to pride succumb.

Handed on for generations

Each to come, inspired by love

Faithful born to change the nations

Setting sights on land above.

Noting how they love another

Preaching well without the words

Neighbor loved akin to brother

Peace and harmony begirds.

Saturday

Life is but a simple sojourn

Love to Love our destiny

Satisfied, we yet although yearn

For a land we cannot see

His the will that must be chosen

That the man be truly free

Otherwise, in slavery frozen

Chained in selfish misery

Be the lower, others higher

Every opportunity

Hopefully, by this acquire

Access to humility

Knowing how the heart is haughty

Seeking self at every turn

Humble is the way we ought be

So a higher place to earn.

Miscellaneous stuff from my phone

 A Prayer

Lord I beg You lead my way

At every step throughout the day.

Speak Your whisper in my ear

That I, to You, draw ever near.

It's a Baby

The baby said hello today

You felt it move a tiny way

A little movement deep within

That sent a tingle through your skin.

A little peanut deep inside

A separate life can't be denied.

a loving mom is all it needs,

A womb that's safe and breast that feeds.

Did some go wrong? the people say.

But none went "wrong" to get this way.

God meant that sweet embrace to bring

Forth love and not a sordid fling.

Help

Lord of lords, we have no wine

No fruit upon this aging vine

A tired, weary, grey-haired crew

That only seeks to service You.

A deathbed promise none can keep

With only shepherds and no sheep

Another Prayer

To the presence of God may I bring

A heart full of love for my King

For His mercy extends to my sin without ends

To the Eucharist, now may I cling.

But First

You call and I'm anxious to hear

But first, I must see if I'm clear.

I'm busy today, but I'll make it some way

If You just come a little more near.

"Come spend a little time with me."

You ask, and how I'd love to be,

But soccer's at noon, and I'll see You soon

You know, You're important to me.

"Come follow, for I show the way"

"I'll be right there, just as You say.

I'll do what You ask, right after this task,

I can't let my chance slip away."

Quite busy, but faithful am I

The Lord knows how hard that I try

It's just how it goes, as everyone knows.

No chance that I ever would lie.

So first I should get on my knees

And first I should ask what You please

Let drivel go by as I ponder the sky

And need for the quiet appease.

Adoration

To sit before the Holy Bread

The soul of man is slowly fed

Silence stills the heart and mind

Till peace and joy we seek and find

Miserable this world of ours

Damaged by sin's so many scars

Mine alone would foul the well

Where springs of living water swell.

A cleansing must be undergone

To purify this land we're on

To cleanse the water of this stream

And realize the country's dream.

Narrow Way

Destruction's road is clear and wide

Inviting to the eye

And those who take this road decide

To narrow way pass by

To leave behind the sacrifice

And hope for better days.

Rejecting now the Lord's advice

To follow in His ways.

The narrow way of self-control

And seeing other's need

Is how we reach our final goal

To love like Him indeed

10/16/22 Through 10/22/22

 10/16/22 Through 10/22/22

Sunday

Persistent prayer reminds the soul

That He alone can make us whole

Our every need His grace supplies

And they that trust His will are wise

Monday

When barns are full we tend to be

The blinded fools that cannot see

That every blessing granted me

Was meant to find eternity

The transient blessings here below

Are sent to help the people know

The Lord provides for all we need

If we receive, in love, the seed.

With little, some can see the way

More clearly than the wealthy may

His handiwork was made for love

And we are bless-ed works thereof.

So poverty is blessing too

When clear you see that it's not you

But God who calls for love to reign

That brings about our every gain.

Tuesday

Mercy and forgiveness

We see among the words

Divinely ordered business

To spread among the herds

Harvest rich and plentiful

But laborers are few

Beseech the Master seminal

Send workers there with you

Wednesday

Much given and expected here

But what is needed is not clear

The fog must lift to see the way

While anxiously I wait and pray

A hopeless case I see ahead

Yet still, I try the word to spread

And plod along a weary man

Just doing what I think I can.

Thursday

Much more than one could ever ask

Accomplished as a simple task

By Him who works within the soul

To make the humble sinner whole

More than mind can yet imagine

Worked by God in they that have been

Given eyes of faith that see

His height, and depth of love for thee.

Grounded, rooted, deep in love

Descends the Spirit from above

That mortal man might comprehend

His burning love that has no end.

Friday

So why not see the light of day,

Why turn and look the other way?

You see the clouds and call for rain,

Why not the sin that calls for pain?

More perfect man can always be

Until, at last, of sin set free.

So work for virtue every chance

Don't give the sin a second glance.

Then exercise the gifts you own

And make His love more widely known.

It's in this way you grow the more

And build a lasting holy store.

Saturday

Bear fruit or be cut down He said

And so, upon the cross, he bled.

For all is what it takes to live, 

And all is what He asks you give.

What's hoarded by the selfish tree

Will blind one to the Master's plea,

That every gift that we would share

And that is how we show we care.