4/14/24 Through 4/20/24

 4/14/24 Through 4/20/24

Sunday

How ignorant the ways of sin

We all at times are found within

For whom it is that we ignore

Is He that offers so much more.

So much within the scripture would

Renew us if but understood

But oft His word, by man ignored

And freedom's truth left unexplored.

The prophets long ago foretold

That we would look and then behold

A face so marred and wracked with pain

To lead us to eternal gain.

It's only natural, you see

For man to pain and anguish flee,

But suffering can lead to love

With peace and joy from God above.

Repent of sin, endure the pain.

And so much more you have to gain,

Then learn to love in varied ways

And give to God your duty praise.

The scriptures hold the sacred key

To peace and joy, and setting free

The prisoner who's trapped in sin

For Light and Life are found within.

Ignore no more the sacred guide,

Cast off the chains of sinful pride

And hear anew the Word of God

To guide you on the path you trod.

So, sift and savor all that's true

And let His Word abide in you

For that which sinner just ignores

True happiness and joy restores.

Monday

Angelic glow upon his face

Filled with wisdom, poise, and grace

Not backing down when faced with death

But speaking truth with every breath

The martyr, Stephen made his way

From death to life that very day

Forgiving those, his life would take

To many more disciples make.

Tuesday

What a gift, this Holy Bread!

By this, a multitude is fed

Though broken and divided so

Yet undiminished grace we know

This tiny morsel feeds the soul

With life eternal we extol

An overflowing font of grace

That fear and doubt cannot efface.

Communion with Creator here

A creature yet, one held so dear

The Lord of Lords, the Great I AM

Became our precious Paschal Lamb.

Wednesday

His signs and wonders went with them

When scattered o'er the earth

And they became a budding stem

To bring about new birth

Though persecuted, young and old

Who heard the Gospel news

Repented sin to be enrolled

And Christ, as King to choose.

As sparks amid the stubble spread

No force could ere contain

The word of He who rose from dead

To now forever reign

Within the world, but not of such

His followers remain.

The ones who felt His gentle touch

And live in love's domain.

Thursday

The bread of life, to earth came down

His word was spread from town to town

By those who listen and obey

Who eat His flesh and light the way

His food which gives both life and light

A savored meal and sweet delight

To feed the masses great and small

And evermore His gift recall

This bread will feed the hungry mind

And all who seek will surely find

Their sustenance for every need

When daily on this Bread they feed.

Friday

From Heaven rains this Holy Bread

The morsel sweet by which we're fed

A feast within a desert land

So those in darkness understand

A Sacrifice that's true and real

A Victim slain to make our meal

Alike to manna found of old

This treasure far surpasses gold.

My daily food for many years

My strength and hope to conquer fears

My comfort when I needed rest

My always welcome loving Guest.

Oh, Flesh and Blood of Love Divine,

Come change this selfish heart of mine

May all I do be done in love

And mold my will to Thine above.

Saturday

How shall I make a return to the Lord?

What tribute or gift could I ever afford?

His blessings are many, the trials are few

And trials I learn may be good for me too.

His word is a treasure uncovered for me

A window beyond the earthly I see

A glimpse of the mysteries of heaven above

A door to the wonder of mercy and love.

Teachings are hard and distasteful at times

Trusting, though weak, I ascend through the climbs

And always I find there is truth in his word

Unlike all the voices of earthly I've heard

4/7/24 Through 4/13/24

 4/7/24 Through 4/13/24

Sunday

"My Lord and God," dear Thomas said

Has truly risen from the dead

I've seen and touched His hands and side

No more the truth can be denied.

How blest are they that do not see

But still have faith and trust in Me

My grace to them will overflow

And many more will come to know

So, here today what we believe

It's truly Christ when we receive

In form of simple bread and wine

He comes to us, our Lord Divine.

No longer doubt, but do perceive

He promised He would never leave

But always send His Spirit near

So man would have no need to fear.

The all you need is in the Bread

Be seeing now and richly fed

Come daily feed on Love Divine

And share this blessed faith of mine.

Monday

(To the tune of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence")

Overshadowed by His power

Womb that bears the Son of God

Mary in the greatest hour

Gives His will her humble nod

God becomes a man, incarnate

Shepherds, saints, and angels awed.

A simple word to change all of hist'ry

As it was with fallen man

Creator now created myst'ry

Fathoming, no mortal can

Jesus Christ the Son our Savior

Dividing line of all history.

Tuesday

The call to leave the world behind

Can weigh on every Christian mind

The thing for which we've labored long,

The things we say to us belong

But what is there that any own?

For all they have is gift alone

So we should be a gift as well

To so the Gospel story tell.

Then all that we possess must be

Disposed in ways that honor Thee.

That fill another's need in love

And liken us to Him above.

For that we grab and hold will die

But flowing gifts will multiply

The Giver none could ere out-give

So like the Giver, we should live.

Wednesday

Freed to freely preach the Word

In spite of danger, boldly spurred

To spread the news that He's alive

And stir the faith of all to thrive.

No cross, or grave, or prison cell

Can stop the news of love we tell

That Christ, once crucified now lives

And daily bread for hungry gives

The Light has come to dark dispel

And of our loving Father tell

Yet some prefer the dark to Light

For evil are their works of night.

Don't hide amid the shadows long

But come to Light where you belong

Confess your sin, repent and see

The Light of Life is calling thee.

Thursday

Let not the truth be silent now

Nor to the whims of evil bow

But stand amid their threats of pain

To everlasting honor gain.

The lies repeated o'er and o'er

Remain a lie forevermore

Though evil tries to call it true

It's but another trap for you.

Believe the evidence that's clear.

The martyrs, and their faith sincere.

He lives and reigns who once was dead

Who gave Himself that man be fed.

No lie can bring one peace and joy

Perhaps some pleasure, like a toy

But truth alone will win the day

When all the lies are washed away.

Then shining brightly, like the sun

We'll meet the Father and the Son

The Spirit too will be our guide

And all we need He will provide.

Friday

A harvest worker make of me

A one that loaves and fishes see

And bring them to the Lord to bless

So He might every need address

If men of faith but understood

The little that we have is good

He multiplies to fill the need

If we, but to His call will heed.

A humble Virgin thus became

A woman of unending fame

Because she answered well the call 

And offered God her little ALL.

Apostles too, were whipped to shame

But rather found eternal fame

In bearing wounds the Savior bore

By giving all He's asking for.

Saturday

Choose from among you seven men

With wisdom and the Spirit when

They see the needs that must be filled

And act in ways the Father willed

Lay hands on them to serve as Christ

Who let their wills be sacrificed

To serve in love as Jesus taught

And bring about the justice sought.

3/31/24 Through 4/6/24

 3/31/24 Through 4/6/24

Sunday

He is not here, He has been raised

Forever now His name be praised

He conquered death and rose to life

Forever gone, the sin and strife

Now evil's shown for what it is,

The opposite of all that's His.

The lack of goodness, peace, and love.

No place for such in land above.

But first, before we see that day

We must teach others well the Way

To let His Gospel grow and swell

'Till all the earthly bound we tell.

Monday

Just fifty days before, they fled,

Denied Him as the Teacher said

They lost their nerve and ran away

What change occurred upon this day?

The Spirit came in tongues of fire

Calling them to places higher

Spurring them to bear much fruit

And make His Way their life's pursuit.

Alive He is, and well they knew

The pow'r of hell He overthrew

The fear of death no longer swayed

His call to preach, they all obeyed.

So too, He calls believers now

To spread the Gospel word somehow

And not be cowed by fear or shame

But boldly speak of Jesus' name

His Spirit, filling jars of clay

Can move a mountain in the way

And lead the sinner to repent

That he as well, be also sent.

Receive the fire and find anew

The special gifts He has for you

Then use them to proclaim the word

Until all men on earth have heard.

Tuesday

Go announce the morning news

Apostles first, and then to Jews

And then to every nation round

That life beyond the grave is found.

Forgiveness of our every sin

For those repentant deep within

The chains of sin can fall away

For love is shown to rule the day.

Wednesday

Be known to me in broken bread

By such as this my spirit fed

This gift so fine received today

To lead me on in Heaven's way

Alive You are at every turn

Oh, let the heart within me burn

And recognize that You are real

At every daily sacred meal.

No more unworthily received

But every word of yours believed

A humble servant list'ning well

To every precious word You tell

Obedient at Your command

To every hardship well withstand

With love the motivation used

And never what You ask refused.

Thursday

All that's needed you well know

To in My love and graces grow

The history is there to see

I came, true love, to show to thee

I know your weakness, every one

But through My passiontide, I won

The vict'ry over death and sin

That man could now, new life begin.

My mercy covers every sin

Find peace and joy again within

Get up each time you fall and see

With mercy I will greeteth thee

Your every weakness I have known

But grace is stronger, this I've shown

United with My Father, grow

And grace abundant you will know.

Friday

Returning to their former ways

They hoped to clear the milky haze

But after long and empty hours

They see again the Savior's powers

He meets them on the shore with food

And there another meal ensued

With broken bread to clear the eyes

And prove that after death we rise.

Not once or twice, or even three

He shows Himself alive to be

Alive, and with a task for them

A task to spread the Word to men

Abandon self and spread the Word

'Till everyone on Earth has heard

One name alone by which we're saved

Is Jesus Christ, the Way who paved.

Don't cower to the evil men

But let them see His pow'r again

And boldly speak of what you know

That little ones, in faith, can grow.

Saturday

Each must judge what's right each day

And what or whom we should obey

We can't deny what God has done

Nor that we killed His only Son.

We could repent and find a crown

Or turn away and double down

The choice remains for every day

To turn to God or turn away.

There's fullness in the Son of Man

And living out the Father's plan,

But emptiness and guile await

The fool that wants to turn too late

The time is now, so don't delay

Repent and wash the sins away

Then spread the news both far and wide,

Humility has conquered pride.

3/24/24 Through 3/30/24

 3/24/24 Through 3/30/24

Sunday

From there within the upper room

To on the deadly Cross of gloom

He made no effort to escape,

But set about to minds reshape.

To show no terror changes truth

For aged man, or tender youth

Each suffering in love endured

Unitl, at last, our debt secured.

Monday

With the costly oil anointed

Now for death the Lord appointed

Sweet pefume now fills the air

A traitor though is lurking there.

Tuesday

Betrayed in oh, so many ways

As fast approach the final days

Most unaware of how they sin

Until His eyes will gaze within.

And when His gaze shall meet our eyes

We either love or then despise.

Repent and let His mercy flow,

Or turn and only judgment know.

My Lord, for mercy here I plead

Forgiveness of my sin I need

Though scarlet, You can make as snow

That everlasting life I know.

Wednesday

Surely not I, surely not I

His closest of friends that evening would cry

Twas the end drawing near, and Apostles in fear

Couldn't dream that the Savior would die.

Two eons now past, and the Cross fully cast

A sign of great love unsurpassed

Yet still we betray the great love shown that day

And plead mercy for sins we've amassed.

May never we fear to return and to clear

The slate which we splatter and smear.

By sin we are signed with the fall of mankind

But Jesus still holds us as dear.

Thursday

On the night of that Last Supper

Here no lamb of cloven hooves,

But a man alike no other

Boundless love the Lover proves.

Bending low in humble service

So, foreboding mountain moves.

Now the humble Lamb is offered

Spotless One for sinful man

By His blood the garden watered

Bowing to the Father's plan.

Flesh and blood for daily living

Nourish like no other can.

Friday

Oh, the wickedness we muster

When our pride is undermined

As a band of thieves we cluster

With ungodly wills aligned.

Death to Him exposing evil!

We shall make the rules our way.

As the man and wife primeval

Chose back then, we choose today.

How the fallen need a Savior!

Mercy and forgiveness too.

Turn our vile, corrupt behavior

Into loving only You.

Lamb of God and Perfect Victim

Make my soul your dwelling place

On the Cross You gave the dictum,

Shower mercy, Shower grace.

Lord, change my heart to listen well

Change my will to then obey

Lord, save me from the flames of Hell

Let me follow well Your way.

Saturday

What emptiness, what time surreal!

In truth, He died and here I kneel.

None ere like He had come before

And now there's emptiness once more.

Our dreams of love and hope have died

For Him they scourged and crucified.

A shameful death for One so good,

By men, cannot be understood.

What now? Does evil reign supreme?

Such love that man has never seen

Was given death by sinful men.

What fool would ever love again?

Our every hope, in horror, gone.

To gloom, despair, and sorrow drawn.

If evil truly conquers good,

His life will ne'er be understood.

3/17/24 Through 3/23/24

 3/17/24 Through 3/23/24

Sunday

For this is why the Savior came

To set the hearts of men aflame

To show them one that freely dies

Is one, the faith, that multiplies.

For when we give without reserve

And those less fortunate we serve

We die to self and life obtain

For loss of self is always gain.

Why shy away from trouble now

For every trial builds somehow

Our bridge to life eternal there

In happiness beyond compare.

Monday

One guilty and one innocent

Both saved by grace alone.

A Savior, by the Father sent

Revealing that unknown.

The veil of secrecy that shrouds 

The evil that's within

May make for man, concealing clouds,

Of all their sordid sin.

But when, by grace, the truth is known

The evil slips away

For when their wickedness is known

They'll be the ones to pay.

But if one turns from wicked ways

Repentant and contrite,

The Son whose love and mercy saves

Will lead them to the Light.

Tuesday

Joseph, man of humble service

Be my guide and confidant

Trial may not make me nervous

Be there pain, or be there want.

You endured the trials many

Quiet, calm, and trusting God

As more loving man than any,

Man all men should praise and laud.

Help me imitate Your bearing

List'ning well as You have done

Always patient, always sharing

Father of His precious Son.

Wednesday

To choose the furnace over life

Preferring so the earthly strife

To life eternal without God

They showed the earthly god a fraud.

Their God of truth and honored glory

Writes a new and different story

Cooling there within the flames

Those three steadfast and holy names.

And today we face a culture

Cancelling those whom they oppose

Like the hungry circling vulture

Only death what they expose.

Faithful witnesses are needed

Showing God, the One they heeded

Choosing now the earthly flame

To win an everlasting name.

Thursday

A covenant with Abraham

From many years ago

At last, A Sacrificial Lamb

Whose soul was white as snow.

If Abraham our father be

Then we would too rejoice

For now fulfilled, what promised He

Once by the Father's voice.

A land where milk and honey flow

Was promised for the few

A place where faithful people go

Is opened now for you.

Don't pass it by and lose this chance

To reconcile your soul

The blood and water from the lance

Will heal and make you whole.

Friday

So many blind to how we share

In wickedness and sin

How sins of which we're not aware

Contribute to the din

Refusal to repent shall be

The greatest sin of all

Our willful blindness we shall see

Is that which makes us fall.

Lord, clear our eyes and help us find

Repentance for our sin.

Give us then Your peace of mind

And welcome us within.

Saturday

The Kingdom's here, but not yet there

For fallen man sins everywhere

But Christ has come to sanctify,

To show men how to live and die.

A father teaches young in love

About the wonders up above

Where wills once molded straight and true

Fulfill the promise made to you.

So too, this Kingdom reigns below

To that extent which men will grow

Beyond their selfish will to see

With eyes affixed eternally.

Our job is to a witness be

That those in sin might also see

That Christ has died to sinners show

His Kingdom's also here below.

If we but trust, we too will find

The gift of self brings peace of mind

And when we seek another's good

We act the way that Jesus would.