2/4/24 through 2/10/24

 2/4/24 through 2/10/24

Sunday

With drudgery and pain endured

What hope for better time secured?

The lot of man that's here below

Is but the Cross of Christ to know.

To learn to love when ere it hurts

For love, all suffering converts

To joy when resurrection comes

In palaces instead of slums.

The pleasures sought on Earth below

Are smoke and mirrors, we should know.

For none have ever satisfied

Our cravings found so deep inside.

But love enduring deep within

Will turn our hearts away from sin

With grace provided on the way

To see beyond the present day.

Then suffering is well-embraced

Every trial, with courage faced.

For all has purpose here below,

The Cross of Christ for all to know.

Monday

In dedication of the Temple

Many sacrifices made.

Sacrifices monumental

Great the tribute that was paid.

Tribute for the Holy Presence

Just to be one near the throne

Ark the symbol of His essence

Lord of all and God alone.

Now, far greater gift we're given

From the altar, mystery

Bonds of sin and death are riven

By the Lord of history.

Have you offered just thanksgiving

For the way that you've been fed?

Present here for all the living

As a humble piece of bread.

Tuesday

No earthly house can hold His glories

Learn from all the ancient stories

He whom the heavens can't contain

Shall only with the true remain.

When ritual becomes the rote

His love becomes a thing remote.

He can't be made to image man.

The Father's is the only plan.

Wednesday

Wisdom is a gracious gift

But not by wisdom does He sift

For wisdom is no use at all 

If we ignore His sacred call.

Obedience is that which saves

For wise can also be as slaves

If they ignore enduring good

And fail to act the way they should.

The wisest man became a slave

Who unto carnal power gave

His will, and turned his back on Love

For flesh instead of that above.

I beg for wisdom every day

But more than that, I humbly pray

That God would shape my carnal will

To every word of His fulfill.

For that alone will lead to joy

Obedience I must employ

Or else, become the foolish wise

Who follow Satan's evil lies.

Thursday

"Since this is what you want..."

Six dreaded words to hear

The riches here you flaunt

But fail to Me draw near.

I grant your heart's desire

Though foolish you will find

To seek the Spirit's fire

Is where true wealth is mined.

Temporal is fleeting.

The lasting from on high.

Carnal greed defeating

The one with jealous eye.

Submit and just obey

As simple as it sounds

The surest humble way

To get to Heaven's bounds.

Friday

Hear the voice of God is calling

Day by day in many ways

Turn around no longer falling

For the games the devil plays.

Hear the "Ephatha", be open.

Let the voice of God come in

Bring the full impressive scope in

Turn your back unto the sin.

In obedience, we prosper

In rebellion, suffer long

Be a one to goodness foster,

Follow right and shun the wrong.

Saturday

What golden calf was made by you,

Are you a one to seek the true?

And does the lie ere satisfy

Because it's placed on mountain high?

So many things we make a god

But what we make is shown a fraud.

The One who fills our every need

Is God alone, and God indeed.

So, leave the way of foolish men

And find the joy of Christ again.

Return to Him alone that feeds

Supplying all our spirit needs.