7/9/23 Through 7/15/23

 7/9/23 Through 7/15/23

Sunday

What little ones have come to know

In innocence takes root to grow

And in humility we find

The Father's will and peace of mind

Come you burdened, all who labor

Come and find a peaceful rest

Come and bring a welcome neighbor

All your worries here divest

Monday

A woman on the fringes tries

To follow Him with steadfast eyes

To find a way to touch the hem

And so, her flow of blood to stem

When so she does, and sure enough

The power from that simple touch

Did cure her malady and gain

Her place of everlasting fame

For many read her story now

And seek to find a cure somehow

To maladies of every kind,

Both physical and in the mind

And oft-repeated since that day

For simple souls who humbly pray

The smallest touch from Love Divine

Can cure the aching heart of thine.

Tuesday

Here the harvest rich and new

Awaits a gathering by you

Here are crops that richly grew

But those to harvest them are few

Don't leave the crops to bloom and fade

For that's not why each plant was made

For each could feed a myriad

If we but harvest labor had.

Wednesday

When hunger comes we seek the bread

For then we see by whom we're fed

When all within our power's gone

We turn to where all power's drawn

In times of plenty we forget

That all we have is but our debt

To God alone who gives us all

And to complacency, we fall

So look around and blessings see

The many ways He cares for thee

Then give Him glory, honor too

And know how much He blesses you

Thursday

One day at a time and we'll see in the end

How deftly they're woven and beautifully blend

In the tapestry of the Lord's mighty will

Where trials seemed empty, and colors now fill.

The grace of the moment, the key to it all

The means that by which we answer the call

Our every success that we see in the end

Did only on grace and acceptance depend

Oh, grant me a will that will see and respond

With every success, only strengthen the bond

Let me never succumb to evil desire

But lead me to sing in the heavenly choir.

Friday

Among the wolves, a single sheep

To faithfully her vigil keep

Of prayer unto the God above

Who filled her with self-giving love

The Lily of the Mohawks glowed

And graces from her freely flowed

When after death was clearly shown

The face before, which God had known.

Saturday

His good returned for evil

His blessings for his foes

God's provident retrieval

To free them from their woes

The elders serve the younger

They bow to him in shame

The one to slake their hunger

His brothers will reclaim

Prefiguring a Savior

For all of man to come

Benevolent behavior

Reflective of the Son

Dreamer's dream beholding

With sun and moon, and stars

In truth, his dream unfolding

But healing distant scars.

7/2/23 Through 7/8/23

 7/2/23 Through 7/8/23

Sunday

A cup of water, cold and clear

Could be the means of drawing near

Could be our way to serve the Lord

And could repay a great reward

For none our actions go unseen

And each will serve to prune or preen

A place above or down below

As quality of actions show

So clear, our works will point the way

Despite what some of faith will say

For works reflect what's in the heart

And so, a picture true impart.

Monday

Belief is more than what we see

But how it makes us change

It's how the faith reflects in me

And what I rearrange.

The faith must change my sinful ways

Renew a course of love

Denying self throughout the days

To plot a course above.

Tuesday

No turning back. No turning back.

A way be cleared from the attack

But those who turn to see what's lost

Shall pay a mighty heavy cost.

Away from sin, our gaze must train

For our prosperity to reign.

Secured by Love that reigns on high

Despite the evil drawing nigh

For though He seems to answer not

His promises are not forgot

And when the tempest wind will blow

To calm the sea, to Him we go.

So, cut the ties of sin that draw

And cling unto His holy law

For there we find our source of life

And pathway through whatever strife

Wednesday

The freeborn gets the better share

But slave is not forgotten there

A promise too, bestowed on him

Albeit lesser, somewhat grim.

For only in the pure and free

Is proper worship given Thee

When all is given, all obtained

But some in slavery still chained.

The slave can blessings still receive

But never excellence achieve

Until they shed the chain of sin

And fully welcome Christ within.

Thursday

Our trust is that which sets apart

So trust in God with all your heart

His grace shall come and not be late

So pray, not letting trust abate

As through the Red Sea waters led

As in the desert, daily fed

As on the altar, Isaac laid

So on the cross, our debt He paid

So many times, so many ways

Our God is there throughout our days

To cure the sick and heal the lame

And spark within the Spirit's flame

But we must answer when He calls

As trust of Abraham recalls

With nothing held as in reserve

And so, our Promised Land preserve.

Friday

Just walk away and don't look back

Within His will you'll never lack

His grace provides for all we need

If we His kind instructions heed.

So let Him heal your sickly soul

And make of you, a human whole

For when He occupies the heart

The evil ways of man depart.

Saturday

The skins of love are fresh and new

But skins of law are old, like you

The new will stretch to fit the wine

But old will sever from the vine.

So, recognize the wine that's new

And make afresh the skin that's you

For love will grow the heart within

And needs a fresh and supple skin

In the Presence of the Savior

To the tune of "Of the Father's Love Begotten"

In the presence of the Savior 
Here before the Holy bread 
Hearts are open and available 
Ready for the word that’s said. 
Here more than another setting 
Find HIm ready here at hand 
Evermore and evermore 
 
Come as sinner here before Him
One repentant and contrite
He the Victim slain for sinners
He the Victor in the fight
Never known was such redemption
Never known such shining light
Evermore and evermore
 
Resting here is truly resting 
Where the peace and calm abide
Here adoring Holy Presence
Loving Groom before His Bride
Silence filling every moment
Words in truth, the Truth belied 
Evermore and evermore   

6/25/23 Through 7/1/23

 6/25/23 Through 7/1/23

Sunday

All fear dispelled by perfect love

Our home not here, but up above

For there we see in clearest light

Futility of useless fright.

For One who's numbered every hair

Has promised He will take us where

No moth or worm could e'er destroy

Nor evil sentiments annoy.

Monday

The splinter seen across the way

Is not as bad as people say

But far too often that we see

Before the beam that lies in me.

How clear the sin that's not our own

But blinded eyes have clearly shown

The beam that lies within shall blind

Unless the truth, at last, we find.

Tuesday

The way that few will travel down

Will lead not to a bustling town

But lead unto a quiet way

For those inclined to Him obey

The wide and easy beckons here

The road is broad and way is clear

Come travel where the masses go

With all the wealthy friends you know.

Wednesday

In life, the promise never seen

But from the point of hist'ry glean

Far more than mind could comprehend

And still, His progenies extend.

Great faith He promises shall be

For miracles, the finest key

For naught is done without belief

So trust, at last, He'll bring relief.

The timing never quite our own

But always, in the end, is shown

To be the best and quite sublime

And far above the thoughts of mine

Thursday

Peter and Paul were two men of Good News

Unlikely they be, but ones that You choose

To pass on the Gospel to all of mankind

To offer Your mercy, to loose and to bind.

Each Christian a role in the plan of the King

The Gospel of love, to the masses we bring

By ones or by thousands, we answer the call 

For only by such will we get to them all

The question is what shall we do in this day

To further the cause of expanding the Way

Just look to your neighbor of everyday fare

And find a new way to show that you care.

For one at a time is the most common way

And best is the Gospel expressed here today

When joy is apparent through trial and pain

Disciples anew, and the masses we'll gain.

Friday

A name that's given thee in love

Becomes a sign of such thereof

Declaring who and what you are

Beloved lamb, or shining star.

What's in a name some never know

Or to the deeper meaning go

But in the name, we'll find the key

To who or what, a child shall be

So, wisely choose a name you give

That in such aspect they shall live

To follow on the narrow way

And never turn or fall away.

Saturday

A lack of faith the laugh reveals

A withered body youth conceals

A pagan soldier clearly sees

The cure for every ill disease

Are you a one to recognize,

Or one to simply turn the eyes

Away from that, we see as bread

And fail to see by whom we're fed?

6/18/23 Through 6/24/23

 6/18/23 Through 6/24/23

Sunday

The harvest is rich, but the laborers few.

The question is now, is He calling forth you,

To be a farm worker and gather the grain

Ignoring the trials and passion and pain?

The answer is, Sure!, for He speaks to us all 

And sheep are expected to answer His call.

We can't sit around in the comfort of home

While people are crying or dying alone.

Be friend and companion, be leader and guide

Walk with the poor and the sick at their side

For God of the harvest is calling you now

And giving the gifts to show you just how.

Monday

Mary, help of sinners

Turn to us today

Turn the weak to winners

Teach us how to pray

Mary, font of graces

Pour on us we pray

In our varied places

What we need this day

Mary, poor and humble

Graced with eagle's wings

Help us all who stumble

Heal the wound that stings

Mary, help the outcast

Miscreant, ill-famed

Raise the low and downcast

Those of sin ashamed

Hide within your bosom

Sinners that you see

Be a tender cushion,

Make a place for me.

Tuesday

The love of God extends to all

Both those who stand and those who fall

Our love is called to be like He

For friend or foe, or enemy

Wednesday

The comfort zone we know so well 

For here, we many stories tell

All so familiar, fits so good

Just like a well-made puzzle should.

Discomfort zone not quite the same

Exposing us to taunt and shame

Yet we must answer to this call

To meet at last, the Lord of all

The Oh-zone follows up from there

Where God provides the daily fare

So high above the other zones

For this the one our Savior owns

It's here we simply marvel when

We see our Lord at work again

How He can take our little seed

And then a group of thousands feed

The Ohs of wonder, fear, and awe

Explode at what the docile saw

That when the poor and humble pray

Great things will come if we obey.

Our comfort's not the thing we need

But willingness to not succeed

And know the world's is not the way

But simply, lovingly obey.

Then ohs of wonder joy and fame

Will follow on His Holy Name

For then we peek above the skies

And get a glimpse of Truly Wise.

Thursday

Quite enough to say "Our Father"

That alone will set the stage

Why should God attend or bother

But His children to engage?

That alone conveys the message

God is love and want for good

Prophets those who dimly presage

Christ, the Light, within them stood.

Friday

The treasure stored, a useless lot

But blessings used, not so.

For what have wealthy peasants got

For where they want to go?

Their wealth decayed and rotten in

A few short years below.

With nothing there to help them in

To where they want to go.

Saturday

A messenger to break the news

In varied small degrees

To show the way of life to choose

And how, our God, to please

Repent and turn away from sin

Behold the candle's flame

In doing so, new life begin

Accepting rightful blame.

Foundational to life with Him

Is turning from our sin

And raising up a joyful hymn

When all is clean within.