3/12/23 Through 3/18/23

 3/12/23 Through 3/18/23

Sunday
Even sin, He turns for good
The way a sinful people would
If they but saw in clearer light
A way to make their wrongs a right.

But mercy touches deep within

Exposing there the depth of sin

Awakening a holy shame

So we might choose to love reclaim

Humility inspired there

A thirst to living water share

A freedom from the chains of sin

When Christ our King is welcomed in

Monday

So hard to see what's deep inside

The dark abyss of sinful pride

It clouds the mind, obscures the way

And leads to spiritual decay

Then why do I persist in pride

And set the higher way aside?

Concupiscence, this bane of mine

That draws my will away from Thine

Cleanse and purify me, Lord

Armor me with shield and sword

Make of me a soldier true

That puts my trust alone in You.

Tuesday

Have mercy Lord for all my sins

For mercy's where new life begins

Grant me a share of mercy then

That mercy I may show again

Make me a sacrifice of praise

Deliver me from evil ways

Let fire cleanse a selfish heart

And mercy, debtors, I impart

From slavery of mine, set free

That, "yes" my answer always be

To grace, you offer in the time

To always closer up to climb

In haste, so often there I fail

That blessed grace, to me avail

And only see when ere I fall

I failed to answer well the call.

So mercy is my constant cry

And never Lord will You deny

The humble heart that turns from sin

To welcome truth and love within.

Wednesday

What nation has so great a law?

Nay, who has seen what this one saw?

Through waters parted safe and sound

While there the soldiers all were drowned

While in the desert, richly fed

As daily came from heaven, bread

And water in the desert land

From barren rock on burning sand

Their God provided on their way

For all their need in every day

And gave that law from mountain high

So none would ere His love deny

Thursday

How bold to think that I could stray

And not His word to sure obey

The way of right and truth He knows

And on the Cross, that way He shows

This nation set apart in love

So richly blest by God above

Was given gifts to show the way

But in their pride has gone astray

The way to save both me and you

Is how to save the nation too

If we but turn to God above

And face our cross, as Christ in love.

The root of love is sacrifice

And on the Cross, He paid the price

To show how humble love can win

And triumph over death and sin

Friday

Sin, that dreaded slavery

That traps the folks like you and me

Is nothing more than selfish lust

That plagues the weakly man of dust

Love of God and neighbor too

Is what was planned for me and you

A way of perfect bliss to know

But yet another way we go.

Repent and learn what God has known

And on the Cross was plainly shown

That perfect peace and joy will come

By loving God, and everyone.

Saturday

Oh Lord is there yet hope for me,

Who blinded by my guilt can't see

Until I've strayed and lost the track

And humbly must come crawling back?

Each time I think I'm doing well

You show me just how far I fell

But if I turn away from sin

Your grace again is found within.

3/5/23 Through 3/11/23

 3/5/23 Through 3/11/23

Sunday

Walking to the mount of Tabor

Three alone with Him that day

Christ invites them there to savor

Just a taste of Heaven's way.

Hear the voice then fall and tremble

Fearing for so many sins

Yet a hope we soon resemble

Who for us redemption wins.

Monday

Lord help me measure well today

Just what to keep or give away

Let my measure's bounty be

In your time returned to me

Don't give up on me I pray

Show me grace again today

Grace to turn from sin to you

Grace to love in all I do.

Tuesday

Lord make my motives good and pure

That love in me would long endure

Bestill the pride that tempts my soul

To make the earthly gain my goal

Too often good is done for pride

Acknowledgment and envy plied

To place the "me" above the rest

And all the blessings so divest.

Lord, let me see the body whole

And so accept my little role

Rejoicing in another's good

As how each humble member should.

For parts more elegant than mine

Are all attached to one true Vine

And loved beyond what they deserve

So help me simply humbly serve.

Wednesday

Somehow let my service be

A pleasing offering to Thee

A sweet aroma rising high

The outcast poor, to dignify.

A place of honor here below

Not likely that I'll ever know

But let the Cross my anchor be

And light beyond then clearly see

Each path, unto the Cross shall lead

For there the sacrificial seed

Of love is sown to mend the heart

And all the grace of God impart.

Thursday

Lazarus, a myth they say

Then go about their merry way

And pay no heed to those in pain

And only seek the more to gain

The "more" they seek is none but straw

And this, the pittied rich man saw

Too late to turn and make amends

And so is how his story ends

But none alive are yet that far

And mercy meets them where they are

To welcome back a wayward stray

And give them life in endless day.

Though Mercy will not force a hand

We choose the life or choose the damned

The poor are those the latter choose

And all they thought they had they lose.

Friday

A vineyard granted for our good 

But we must act the way we should

Returning all the Master's due

And proving us a grateful crew

For he that hoards what lands produce

Will never taste the greater juice

The wine poured out as blood for all

Who answer well the Master's call

Saturday

A wayward son, a faithful one

Yet both their Father grieve

For love desired but not acquired

When "things" are those we cleave

The love He seeks, in stillness speaks

With folly clear beheld

Repentant one the truer son

Than one who love witheld

2/26/23 Through 3/4/23

 2/26/23 Through 3/4/23

Sunday

Temptation comes in many ways

Be watchful through these forty days

For garden trickery remains

Though emptiness alone contains

In nakedness, a fullness known

With hearts for God and God alone

But sin brought selfishness and lust

Destroying love and Godly trust

But Christ now shows what man can be

As naked there upon the tree

In stark submission to God's will

He offers man salvation still.

No shame at all in One so pure

Whose love is steadfast, strong, and sure.

As the Father once intended,

Now the Son in love has mended.

Monday

Commands are many in the law

But in the Teacher, two I saw

To love the Lord with all I have

And be to poor, a healing salve.

The rest contained within these two

And judgment comes from what we do.

Do we the needy ones restore,

Or simply poor and sick ignore?

Within the faces ready seen

The Master dwells if we but glean

And understand it's Him we serve

Then give the poor what they deserve.

Tuesday

Lord, send the rain and send the snow

That deep within, Your word would grow

So I would learn to be like you

And learn to love the things You do.

That giving all, Your all might gain

And join the angels' loud refrain

Of Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!

Your precious blood has been out-poured.

And such as I have been redeemed

When far away from God I seemed

Then let your snow and rain return

And make me always closer turn.

Wednesday

Something far greater than Solomon here

Preaching like Jonah's resounds in the ear

Calling for change and repentance in love

Calling for turning of hearts to above.

Turning away from the greed and the lust

Turning to gentle and generous trust

Turning from envy and all that defiles

Then turning to One whose giving beguiles.

Heartfelt repentance is warranted now

Trusting forgiveness be granted somehow

Not as the Pharisee, proud and unchanged

But sinner whose sins, for mercy exchanged.

Thursday

So, ask and receive, seek and find

Enter into the Master's mind

See that His way is best for you

Humbly then trust in all you do.

Friday

Turn from wickedness and sin

Let the life of love begin

Waste not all the good you do

By acting as the pagans do.

No thing as just a little sin

For all are turning back from Him

And evil in its many forms

A life of peace and love deforms.

Saturday

Make of me a docile soul

To Thee I give complete control

My sinful ways I wish to lose

And always now Your pathway choose.

No enemies be known to me

That I, with loving eyes don't see

And offer prayers for their concern

To loving ways of God to learn.

Forgiving readily each day

Completely, in a loving way

Forbearing in a humble form

To make the grace of love the norm.

2/19/23 Through 2/25/23

 2/19/23 Through 2/25/23

Sunday

Like Him, our destiny is love

To thus enjoy the land above

For in that land, no sin exists

And only love up there persists

So learn to sacrifice each day

And take the chains of sin away

That giving as the Father gives

We might be welcomed where He lives.

Monday

Wisdom comes from One who reigns

And goes to where the Wise One deigns

For all is known to Him alone

Foundation of His glorious throne

So, who can understand her ways

Or penetrate her knowing gaze?

A fool, she shows the wise of earth

While humble given second birth

Her generosity extends

To poor and humble she befriends

For when they call she showers down

The humble, knowing, wisdom crown

She gives to those who freely call

The strong and brave, or weak and small

The gift is given those who ask

To guide them in their every task.

Tuesday

If you come to serve the Lord

Prepare for great ordeal

For often here your sole reward

Is far from the ideal

Anger is the first response

When ways are shown as wrong

For wickedness, secure ensconced

Will status quo prolong

Not everyone will share your joy

Nor view your change a good

Exposing sin will much annoy

Who act not as they should

So stand your ground, be firm and true

Give not the way to sin

Be loving when they challenge you

In hope their heart to win

Wednesday

In ashes end our evil ways

Bring lasting change these forty days

To humble soul and contrite heart

Your everlasting grace impart

Grace to sacrifice our way

Grace to hear You and obey

Grace to turn our wills toward You

Grace to love in all we do

Bless our land with holy leaders

Straight and strong as giant cedars

Give this people love for Jesus

One alone who truly frees us.

Thursday

Much in profit, little gained

When all of earth has been obtained

For all on earth shall pass away

And all is naught that final day

Pursue the light that never ends

For flesh, to only evil tends

But crucify that way instead

And find within, the spirit fed

For life and death we choose each day

A prosperous, or cursing way

So choose the former and you'll see

Eternal life was meant for thee.

Friday

Is the fasting I do very pleasing to you?

Am I growing in love every day?

Have I learned how to pray an acceptable way?

Is there love in the alms that I pay?

Growing closer to You in the things that I do

Is the goal of this daily endeavor

A stripping away, to my selfishness slay

And learn how to love in forever.

Saturday

How do we treat the day of the Lord,

As one to be rested and fully restored,

Or as one to be following whims of our own

And never the love of our God to make known?

The day of the Sabbath was made for the man

To peer into heaven as far as he can

To see how important that knowing Him is

And joy of the turning of ours into His

In the giving of all, the all we obtain

The things of the earth we now see as vain

But only this vision will come with the cost

Of counting our gains as paradise lost

So set the Sabbath day aside

To rest, and there with Him abide

That so, you'll find yourself renewed

And closer to the Spirit wooed.