11/12/23 Through 11/18/23

 11/12/23 Through 11/18/23

Sunday

A fool it is that wisdom spurns,

Who sees her well, but never learns.

She comes at once to those who seek,

Be they strong or be they weak.

In discipline, she makes her home

And not where the unruly roam.

For those who seek her every morn

She'll daily with a crown adorn.

But such a crown cannot be shared

With those who come as unprepared.

So, waste not all the time you own,

But work to wisdom make your own.

She comes at once to those who call,

Even when, from grace, we fall.

For all, to grace, can be restored

Except when final grace ignored.

Monday

Scandal and shame will undoubtedly come,

And into the depths of depravity plumb.

But woe to the ones who lead others astray,

Rather stone round their neck, in the sea be their way.

Tuesday

Doing as creation ordered 

Well within the lands He bordered

Is no more than our daily due

To He who made both me and you.

All that is by love created

Daily is by evil, baited

To believe His love is greedy

When in truth, He cares for needy.

All is gift of self-effacing

All for creature, Love's embracing

Service in His great designing

To His holy will aligning.

Service brings the life's fulfillment

Gift of self, the life's instillment

Making slave akin to Master

Bringing happiness much faster.

Oh, what happy slav'ry offers

From the Master's endless coffers

Here the lowly one's oblation

Blesses him and so the nation

Nothing more than what's our duty

Brings the lowly peace and beauty

So, embrace your lowly calling

Down before your Master falling.

Wednesday

Desire Wisdom's sound instruction

Make with it a sound deduction

Every turn, in prudence, guide thee

Never in the darkness hide thee.

But you who let the greed take hold

And plunder poor for wealth of gold

How swift and terrible that day

When you are called to all repay.

The poor in mercy, find reprieve

But punishment the rich receive

If they refuse to follow still

The wisdom of His holy will.

Thursday

All wisdom is the mind of God

Although, to man, at times, seems odd

In every way it proves the best

Preparing man to pass his test.

If man would seek her every day

What light would shine along his way!

What peace attend his troubled times,

And height to which the wise one climbs.

No barrier she cannot break

No stronghold, not she overtake

Unhampered by all evil claims,

Her light exposes Satan's games.

She dwells beyond the stars of night

Within the unsurpassing light,

But comes at once to those who plea,

The humble ones who wish to see.

Believe this gift was meant for you

Twas meant for every man, it's true.

But where man's pride is ready seen,

But foolishness is all they glean.

Friday

By nature foolish, ignorant

Not recognizing heaven-sent.

The wise are fools who cannot see

His Majesty in front of me.

Created things cannot supply

What's needed, man to edify

The heart's content, lies far beyond

The earthly things of which we're fond.

But fools continue on their way

Of gathering what's here today

And gone as swift as it arrived

So never found are satisfied.

Who dwells beyond is He who slakes

And in the heart, true love awakes.

The Maker, Giver, Lord of all

Has placed on each a special call.

And those who hear and answer well

Of peace and joy and wonders tell

For when we see beyond the veil

All else we see is oh, so pale.

Saturday

In darkest times you've always come

To those who pray persistently

Not just to give a meager crumb

But helping them consistently.

The sea You part for captives freed

The mind enlightened on the road

You germinate the ancient seed

And shoulder burden's heavy load

Your wisdom guides the simple one

Let not be said, a prayer not heard

In subtle ways is change begun

By daily keeping in your word.

11/5/23 Through 11/11/23

 11/5/23 Through 11/11/23

Sunday

Far easier to criticize

Than offer help without the whys.

Don't be like Pharisees in pride

Who never lift, but always chide.

True, man is none but simple dust,

But simple dust that's called to trust

In all the goodness of our king

And others to this Goodness bring.

It's love that touches deep within

And helps us recognize our sin,

That changes hearts and prods the will

To always more the soil till.

We need a soft and supple earth

So seed can have a second birth

To bear a harvest many-fold

And then, at last, true love behold.

Monday

Oh Lord, unsearchable Your ways

Throughout all time, and in our days

Allowing man to be depraved

That in the process some be saved.

Give eyes to see what fools are men

Who turn to war for vict'ry when

In truth, the battle lies within

As each man struggles hard with sin.

In You alone is vict'ry won

The vict'ry of Your Precious Son

Who chose to be with poor and lame

To win the vict'ry for Your name.

So too, should each be found like them

A humble, docile, shining, gem

Who puts away the base desire

To find Your Holy Spirit's fire.

Tuesday

( Can be sung to the tune of "Love Divine All Loves Excelling)

Why would one refuse the banquet?

Why ignore the Master's call?

Here the ones with hunger pangs get

Far more than they can recall.

Food for life and for the journey

Daily there our share of Bread

Nothing meager offered sternly,

Rich abundance we are fed.

Come receive this daily blessing

Come partake of Love Divine.

Here the Healer all addressing

In the sacred Bread and Wine

Nevermore let fear assail thee

Courage be your daily guide

Evermore may peace avail thee

Evermore may love abide.

Wednesday

Our all is all we have to give

Our all we give that all might live.

By giving all we look the same

As One who from the Father came.

As One in humble stable born

As One to on the Cross adorn

Our earth with Precious Blood outpoured

As one forevermore adored.

This all is daunting here below

But if we want true peace to know

We place our trust in God alone

And follow well the path He's shown.

Thursday

From the Temple flows the water

Jesus Christ, the Church has bought her

Now His spirit dwells within

To free the man from death and sin

Keep the temple clean and holy

Make a place for all the lowly

Drive the greedy liars away

Then worship God the proper way.

Friday

A strong initiative we need,

But not a one that's based on greed.

Initiative is needed where,

Of Christ, the mass is unaware.

The world is full of clever ways

To cheat another, and betrays

The confidence of fellow man

Enriching those who scheme and plan.

Such spunk the good must also show

To let the pagan people know

How fleeting earthly wealth shall be

And how to find true Heaven's key.

All received the Great Commission.

All in some way share the mission.

Make disciples of all men

Repeat the story o'er again.

The Gospel never stale will grow,

And more that people come to know,

So more shall people clearly see

How worthless earthly wealth shall be.

Saturday

One faithful in the little ways

Is faithful then throughout their days.

The little things prepare the soul

For greater things that bless the whole.

The little crosses that we bear,

To that of Christ, cannot compare.

But those who love in smaller ways,

The Lord prepares for greater days.

10/29/23 Through 11/4/23

 10/29/23 Through 11/4/23

Sunday

Two simple laws that say it all 

They work for great and work for small

They work at night and work in day

In what you do and what you say.

Because God loves, we must love too

We must reflect what He would do

For Heaven holds no base desire

The place for that's eternal fire.

Monday

Unable to erectly stand

We need His strong and healing hand

To touch our bent and weary frame

To heal the sick, the blind, and lame.

Tuesday

Hope is why we plant the seed

The hope to grow and spread and feed

Though not in hand we still press on

For hope is what we're counting on.

The hope that one day all might see

The banquet there prepared by Thee

The hope repentance rules the day

And not continued sin's decay.

A hope for better times ahead

A hope for time beyond the dead

Where truth and peace and joy shall reign

And man, his former splendor gain.

Wednesday

Somewhere far beyond the mind

The saints in all their glory find

The land where milk and honey flows

Whereto the poor in spirit goes

Where those who mourn shall be consoled

And saints receive far more than gold.

For great the love on man bestowed

To see the land where glory glowed

From all eternity before

And on into forevermore.

Glory, wisdom, thanks, and blessing

Loving God, each soul caressing.

Thursday

I wish I had such love to give

As Jesus did for man to live

A care for others more than me

To far beyond the temporal see.

Paul understood and recognized

The greatest gift most highly prized

Is when we give the self away

To rescue lost and save the stray.

Today we've turned it upside down

The self-indulgent life we crown

As that to model and obey

But where it leads, I dare not say.

Friday

Oh, when they see, I pray they turn

For every man will one day learn

That God is God and they are not

And God is ALL, not what they've got.

Saturday

Far easier to criticize

Than offer help without the whys.

Don't be like Pharisees in pride

Who never help, but always chide.

True, man is none but simple dust.

But simple dust that's called to trust

In all the goodness of our King

And others to this goodness bring.

It's love that touches deep within

And helps us recognize our sin

That changes hearts and prods the will

To always more the soil till.

We need a soft and supple earth

So seed can have a second birth

To bear a harvest many-fold

And then at last, True Love behold.

10/22/23 Through 10/28/23

 10/22/23 Through 10/28/23

Sunday

First, we must see just how wretched we are

Whether lowliest servant or powerful czar.

Every talent was given by One who made all

So now the receivers must answer the call.

There is nothing of ours we could boast or acclaim

None worthy of boasting but His Holy Name.

So blest by our talents, the gifts we must share

And show to the masses there's none who compare.

Return what is due for all you've received

And share with the ones who have not yet believed.

He tasks us to be as His hands and His feet

Bringing lost to the Lord till our job is complete.

Monday

Now trust in God and not in things

For faith is what salvation brings.

What's cherished here on earth will fade

Where God is One in light arrayed.

No use those riches here below

For there above they bring us woe. 

The currency in land above

Is that of faith and hope and love.

And even here below we find

Great riches bring no peace of mind

There's always more we must obtain

Or greater store we wish to gain.

But faith in One who made it all

Will gratitude in man recall.

And trust in Providence will gain

A place where God alone shall reign.

Tuesday

Grace overflows where sin abounds

Among the faithful, trumpet sounds

A call to listen and obey,

To follow well the Master's way.

To be prepared what ere the time

To fight the foe, or mountain climb.

In steadfast love to ready be

what ere the time He comes for thee.

Blest are those who well-prepare

And grow not weary in despair

For if He tarries, know that He

Prepares a waiting feast for thee.

Wednesday

I want to be a slave that's true

A slave devoted unto You

A slave that works while You're away

A slave to listen and obey.

So strong the voice of self within

That draws me to the path of sin, 

But slow me down to hear and pray,

Give grace to act on what You say.

Make sacrifice my daily bread

That so my soul be richly fed,

And make me listen unto You

In all I say and all I do.

Thursday

A great divide is what I need

To fan the flame and blaze to feed

To reach a level closer still

Wherein His way becomes my will.

A slave to sin I still remain

And cause myself unneeded pain

When if my will, to His would bend

Then all my brokenness would mend.

So simple as is stated here.

Just act upon the word you hear

So build your house on rock to stand,

Or else you'll be on sinking sand.

But courage you must learn to know

Or else the sin will stronger grow.

Let love be that which drives the will

Then sacrifice, to have your fill.

What joy will then be yours to know

If where He leads you always go!

Then turn your back on selfish sin

To on the path of love begin.

Friday

A prison found within the soul

A self that blocks from being whole

Our tendency to do the sin

Than rather let His graces in.

A wretched sinner, every man

But still our God provides a plan

For man to live in endless day

If he repent, and then obey.

His grace is there, but needs you too.

A will to change the things you do.

Your every need He will supply

If you but to the self would die.

Saturday

Apostles all except for one

Were crucial to what had begun.

They preached the Word in fair or foul

Where faith was strong, or evil prowl.

Foundation stones securely laid

With blood, the blest apostles paid.

No threat could shake the love they knew

They suffered much for me and you.

To spread the word both far and wide

And one day stand with Him beside.

The task for you and me the same

If we desire the saintly fame.