8/6/23 Through 8/12/23

 8/6/23 Through 8/12/23

Sunday

Majesty upon the mountain

Glory shown as none before

There we see all grace's Fountain

One to worship and adore

There between the calls to suffer

Christ in all His glory shown

Weakly hearts to fill and buffer

From the trials yet unknown

Give us Lord, a view to glory

There amidst the evil throes

Make of us a useful story

That our progeny well-knows.

Monday

Feed me Father, here today

As once again I come to pray

Your manna falls for me each morn

A blessing like the newly born.

A feast to satisfy desire

A spark to start a blazing fire

A morsel tender, soft, and sweet

A sword to soundly sin defeat

Teach me how to spread this food

Teach me how to act when cued

Teach me how to ponder well

And how to of this manna tell

It's come to me as undeserved

So help me tell the underserved

Show me how to feed them well

And of Your many glories tell.

Food abundant You've provided

From the One Loaf here divided

To the altar every morn

The hungry come to be reborn.

Tuesday

The blind that lead the blind shall fall

Not those who answer well the call

For what corrupts is deep within

And blinds them to their selfish sin

So when the truth is thus concealed

With many sins left unrevealed

Forgiveness can't be offered those

Who sin and death have freely chose

Wednesday

The gravity of sin is known

For on the Cross was clearly shown

The suffering of sin made real

And what it took, the wounds to heal

No thing as just a "little sin"

For every one estranges Him

Each leads us farther from the Light

And further in to darkest night.

Until, at last, the light succumbs

And sin, our way of life becomes

Then all that's left is grim despair

And all we see is evil there

But hope remains before our death

Before we take our final breath

To turn and ask that He forgive

So we, eternally might live

For God is gracious, kind, and good

He conquered sin upon the wood

But ne'er will He oppose our choice

So lift a humble contrite voice.

Thursday

The ever-old is ever-new

And followed by so very few

To die to self, the very old

But few will ever be so bold

A little gift has often been

For stingy givers, we have been

But gift of all is rarely seen

And meager harvest mostly seen

Friday

What god is there before our God

For all but Him are but a fraud

Not one has loved his people so

To such great lengths as God to show

The plagues of Egypt, parted sea

The desert manna there for thee

With cloud by day and fire by night

His chosen people there unite

His Son not spared for love of man

The Cross and Grave the Father's plan

But resurrection, too prepared

To show how much, for man, He cared.

So why delay?  Repent and see

He waits with open arms for thee

He wishes not that one astray

He's clearly shown us well the way

Saturday

How little faith we see today

The trust we need seems far away

But help is always close at hand

For those who follow His command

Command to take the mustard seed

And let it grow for times of need

To move the mountains in our way

And usher in a brighter day

For One alone is God for all 

His voice a clear and clarion call

His word the lamp to light our way

And keep before us through the day

7/30/23 Through 8/5/23

 7/30/23 Through 8/5/23

Sunday

Wisdom far exceeds great wealth,

Even fame and finest health.

Wisdom unreceived is void,

Moniker of life destroyed.

All be given, all obtained

Not a single thing remained.

Rich or poor you have it all,

Price to answer well His call.

Monday

So easily we're led astray

So easily we lose our way

Without our leader close at hand

We stray from what our Lord has planned.

The perseverance that we need

Must all temptation far exceed

For only when our faith is strong

Can we endure the trials long.

Tuesday

I pitch the meeting tent each morn

And pray the Cloud would come adorn

That in my weakness I might hear

The Voice of Love as loud and clear

The Guiding Light to lead the way

And govern me throughout the day

I beg for strength to follow well

So I may of His glories tell.

Wednesday

True value is what all pursue

But recognized by all too few

Enamored with the sparkle seen

So many choose the true obscene

The radiance of all that's true

Must shine to all who come to you

That they may see the pearl you own

Through faith in God and God alone

Light that's shared is undiminished

Still our task remains unfinished

Share the word, to you made known

So others too, this pearl can own.

Thursday

The storeroom holds both new and old

The shameful and the precious gold

But in the end, will fire try

And all but gold, in fire die.

Friday

When faith is lacking all seems lost.

Amid the wind, the waves are tossed

The key to weather well the storm

Is grow not ever, one lukewarm.

His wonder shines in every day

If we but look beyond the fray

To see His ordered will made known

And all His wondrous glory shown.

The learning of the sages show

How seed will sprout and fully grow

But none can see where life is found

Except the One and Great Renowned.

So swallow pride and know that He

Who lovingly created thee

Has placed that longing deep within

To turn from falsehood, dark, and sin.

To see the Truth in light of day

Then follow on His narrow way

To where the heart will find its home

And wander not, or blindly roam.

Saturday

Without the will to say what's true

A gruesome fate befalls to you

To some, it looks like evil wins

But each will pay for all their sins

The consequence of sin is real

And then the pleasure's lost appeal

So we must choose the Truth alone

And let our faith in God be known

A prophet killed is not the end

For God, His only Son did send

To conquer sin, the Cross and grave

And so, repentant sinners save

But woe to they that shun the Cross

For them is greater yet the loss

Eternal life in evil throes

Is where the hardened sinner goes

When self is king all love is gone

And all is darkness, never dawn

The damned, in justice, shall receive

The life of self to which they cleave.

Miscellaneous notes on my phone

 Adoration

Jesus in this Holy Bread

Let my soul again be fed

How quickly here time passes by 

for love alone's the reason why.

Harvest Time

At harvest time we see the fruits

Of all our good or ill pursuits

The threshing floor will yield the grain

Or yield eternally the pain.

\

By this simple piece of bread

All who come are richly fed

All who come and rest a while

All who come to reconcile.

Do I, in Thee, believe at last?

Is all my sin now in the past?

The Lord is risen, it is true

A wretched soul is made anew.

A Gift

A Gift

 No measure of holiness that which you read

Just a blessing of simple that's humbly received

Not in wind or in thunder, in fire or hail

But with gentlest breeze He lifts up the veil.

To glimpse of the home that waits up above

Where nothing exists, but goodness and love.

A line at a time he reveals to the hand

Sometimes in a way that is pleasant and grand.

The key is to listen and wait on His word

Then act right away on the message you heard.

Delay, and the blessing will soon fall away

And you'll wonder again, "Now what did He say?"

In quiet and stillness His word will abound

If tuned to His channel your gifts will be found

But use them you must, or they'll just slip away

And darkness unchecked will be ruling the day

No need for our world to be lacking the Light

If sinners confess with a heart that's contrite

And use all the gifts that He gives to us all

No matter how great, and no matter how small

Our world is in crisis, but what can I do?

Try listening well what He's asking of you.

He'll speak if you listen, and act on His word

Telling others the secret that now you have heard.

7/23/23 Through 7/29/23

 7/23/23 Through 7/29/23

Sunday

Praying right, or praying wrong,

To which of these do I belong?

Too often I would choose to form

The Former to my sordid norm.

But that is not what's meant to be.

A patient Former wants to see

If weed will turn to wheat one day

Or go to fire that final day.

My weeds within be purged away

That none be left that final day

That harvest rich I would provide

And so, in heaven, there reside.

Monday

What sign could ever change a mind

Or cause one to believe?

Some way the faithless always find

Unto their doubt to cleave.

A gift from God alone it is

To see with faithful eyes

To see within the heart of His

A love that never dies.

Humility it takes to see

That He is God alone

If man would only humble be,

His eyesight he would hone.

But always asking more to prove

What's right before their eyes

The faithless only ever prove

That truth they will despise.

Don't be like them and throw away

Your chance for perfect love

But humbly with the faithful say,

"My Lord and God above!"

Tuesday

The earthen vessels carry gold

A mighty wonder to behold

His message trusted to the weak

To bring to all the lost who seek.

The place of honor here below

Means nothing in the place we go.

For all are separate works of art

With special gifts that each impart.

Wednesday

"What is it?" they cried at the drying of dew

The flakes on the ground He has given you

The food of the angels, now given to man

If daily they gather according to plan.

The people provided in heavenly ways,

But still in the darkness of slavery haze

Unable to see beyond earthly desire

He leads them by cloud and a pillar of fire

The ones that are trusting, and follow His way

Are met with delights at the break of the day.

But for those of the grumbling, dissatisfied kind

There's only the manna as all they can find.

Whatever God gives suffices for man

The patient and docile who follow His plan

Will find their delights in the Providence way

While the stubborn and grumbling languish each day.

So gather the manna with me every morn

And find that each day a new chapter is born

As Providence gives all we need and desire

Drawing us in, ever closer and higher.

Thursday

Cloud and fire were ready seen 

Yet many still remained unclean

Holding on to Evil's claim

Although it made them blind and lame.

Paralyzed by sin concealed

Although restored when sin revealed

forgiveness granted then to those

That His forgiveness freely chose.

For true it was, that He possessed

Forgiveness for the sin confessed

And what he truly offered men

Was chance to now begin again.

Friday

The ground so rocky, hard and dry

I wonder why, to plant we try.

Then looking inwardly I see

The hard and rocky ground in me.

Oh, break the clay and rock remove

Then water well to thus improve

That when the seed is cast my way

I should receive and then obey.

Let not the thorn be given root

To spoil then, my one pursuit

But help me grow and bear the yield

Expected from my humble field.

Saturday

On me, the Precious Blood has flowed

On me, His precious gift bestowed

The Blood of sacrifice He gives

And all my sordid sin forgives.

My sacrifice may not be blood

But with your Holy Spirit flood

My soul with love like Yours to grow

And holiness to others show.

By giving all I have to give

So others learn just how to live

And find the joy of knowing You,

The One so perfect, good, and true.

7/16/23 Through7/22/23

 7/16/23 Through7/22/23

Sunday

So many barren fields today

A dry and rocky earth

Their fruitless lives are on display

Devoid of any worth

Parading through the streets in Pride

Convinced that they can say,

"I alone will now decide

Just who I am today."

So sad to see the little ones

So easily astrayed

When truth the foolish parent shuns

With only self obeyed

But there in all depravity

They revel on their way

Embracing all insanity

By making shades of gray

Oh Lord of all, come shine Your light

Illumine in the soul

Dispel the darkness of the night

And make the sinner whole.

Monday

A cross that lay upon the ground

Is where the deadly sloth is found

But where the cross is shouldered well

Is there are miracles we tell

The Master said "Pick up your cross,

And count your earthly gain as loss."

But suffer well and you will see

What blessing so is offered thee

A man in total self-control

Is always watching, on patrol

For ways of evil creeping in

To lead him on a way of sin

In suffering is love made pure

For those who patiently endure

Who bear their cross in quiet love

With sites affixed on that above.

Tuesday

We're saved in most unlikely ways

And God deserves the mighty praise

For when the eye can see no hope

The Lord provides a way to cope

A babe that's found among the reeds

Eventually, his people feeds.

The child sold as slave to end

Is one on whom they all depend

And here today, the pride of queers

So, evil wins, it thus appears

But somehow in these evil days

A humble one our God will raise

Then swallowed in the mighty sea

The evil hoard will surely be.

And dancing on the shore will be

The faithful ones who follow Thee

Wednesday

Not happy with just how I speak?

Something more profound you seek?

For you I've chosen rhyming words,

For Juan Diego, singing birds

I speak to all in different ways

To cut the fog and milky haze

Don't question what I choose to say,

But listen well and then obey.

I speak in ways you need to hear

To draw you every day more near 

So you must listen well to Me

And do all that I ask of thee.

I know your weaknesses quite well.

A list far longer I could tell,

But what I choose for you to do

Is rhyme the words I give to you.

However simple, bland, or plain

Now faithful to this task remain

For what I do you may not see

But you must trust and follow Me.

My ways far higher than your own

And on the earth, not clearly known

But in this tapestry I weave

Far more than man could ere perceive

Thursday

All you who labor, trust in His care

Whatever the burden, He'll help you to bear

Yoke of the slavery to sin be destroyed

A yoke that is easy from Christ be enjoyed.

Friday

Lord of the Sabbath, and Lord of the Earth

Your presence among us will bring us new birth

The eyes that were darkened, now see in the light

The Son is among us, No longer in night.

The grain of the field, today freely eat

For this is the day, Your Savior you meet

The Lord of the Sabbath and Lord of us all

Is searching for men to answer His call

Men of good reason who see through the haze

With no greater love to govern their days

Unburdened of sin by the grace of His word

Sharing with others Good News they have heard.

Saturday

The empty tomb before her stood

But yet had not she understood

That all He said had come to be

The captive now has been set free.

The tears of sorrow turn to glee

Our Christ has conquered death you see

All sin destroyed, and life made new

Now go and tell My chosen few.