6/9/24 Through 6/15/24

 6/9/24 Through 6/15/24

Sunday

Naked and afraid

That day will come for all.

No hiding in the shade,

But plain to see, our fall.

No earthly lame excuses

Appease the fall from grace

But humbleness produces

A way to God embrace.

His love the fine elixir

To save the sinful man

Repentance now the fixer

According to His plan.

The all is there for taking

The only way to lose

Is foolishly forsaking

And failing life to choose.

Monday

Are you persecuted now?

Do you rejoice in this somehow?

Can you see beyond the pain,

And hope in your eternal gain?

Not many see within such light

We cower in the daily fight,

Then choose our comfort here and now

Instead of lasting life somehow.

We see with narrow focused eyes

And fall for cheap and thin disguise.

No lasting joys are here below

And yet we choose but these to know.

Lord, give me eyes to see beyond

To where the light of Christ has dawned

And recognize what's here below

As none but Satan's empty show.

For only in Your ways we find

The treasure that Your Cross has mined,

The resurrection joys of love

You hold for those who choose above.

Tuesday

(Feast of St. Barnabas)

Sons of encouragement many have been

Forsaking their riches, confessing their sin.

Being the helper who gets not the fame

Ardently working proclaiming God's name.

Taking the seat at the back of the class

Quiet and humble with none to surpass

All ready to do whatever needs done,

Proclaiming the glory of God's only Son.

Make me a helper quite ready like him

Who fears not to fail going out on a limb

Trusting in God every step of the way

Whatever may come at the end of the day.

Wednesday

If God is God, get off the fence

And then with lesser gods dispense.

There's One alone whose sacrifice

Was God for man to pay the price.

The price of sin is Truth unknown

But on the Cross True Love was shown.

His word is light and life for man,

The Truth to deepest valley span.

So, why refuse or turn away

From that alone which holds such sway,

To reach for emptiness and straw

When Truth upon the Cross you saw?

The tepid He will vomit out

Who see the Truth and then still doubt

Love crucified should be for thee

The window to the ALL we see.

Thursday

At last a drenching rain shall come

When earth and sky and man succumb

To do His will and ponder well

The stories that each life can tell.

How patient He has been with me

That I not perish in the sea

Of selfishness, and greed, and lust,

But somehow found the way to trust.

A life so easy gone astray

When we abandon time to pray

We sacrifice our time with God

And choose another path to trod.

Lured by pleasure quick and fleeting

Lasting peace and joy defeating

Hooking to the train of evil

Spending time with sinful people.

Yet He calls to every person

In the drought to only worsen,

Come and see how life will flower

When, like rain, My grace I shower.

Friday

That little whispered sound may be

The voice of God that speaks to thee

Discern it as to where it leads

And type of fruit the pathway breeds.

So, don't be fooled by voices high

That promise much, but little buy.

Weed out what leads to go astray

And seek the straight but narrow way.

Saturday

The cloak be cast upon me now

The call to leave behind somehow

My leisures and my labors too

And make my ALL pursuit of You

A ready, "Yes" to every word

No fond request at all deferred

But action to employ Your grace

And make this world a better place.

Disciple who ne'er turns away

Nor falters on the narrow way

But heeds Your every whispered lead

And turns to You for every need.

6/2/24 Through 6/8/24

 6/2/24 Through 6/9/24

Sunday

Do this in memory He said

And so declared the Holy Bread

So too, the cup of wine He shared

Is truly blood as He declared.

No longer what we see in form

But unto Christ the substance born

Matter changed by what He said

Wine to blood and body bread.

Monday

A vineyard planted there are you

To give the Master Vine His due

We owe the all of who we are

To One who's near, but seems afar.

In foolishness and pride we claim

The credit for what we became

We guard the goods that we receive

And not the Master's love perceive.

All given is for common good

And generous receivers should

Return a part of all they get

So its true source they don't forget.

Help me a humble tenant be

And see that all I have's from Thee,

Then freely give from that produced

And get from God another boost.

Tuesday

Grow in knowledge, grow in grace

Grow in wisdom, Love embrace.

Be forewarned for you are fed

That you must grow, or you'll be dead.

His patience is salvation now,

But soon enough all creatures bow

To He who made the Earth and sky

And evermore is drawing nigh.

He sent His Son to show the way

To perfect peace and love obey

The choice is clear, but don't delay

For that we hold shall all decay.

Wednesday

The flame must not be left to die

But fanned and fueled to reach the sky

Dispelling darkness, giving light

Forever shining, ever bright.

Not dimmed by cowardice and fear

But boldly claiming, Christ is near.

The Spirit comes to those who thirst

Thus freeing those by sin coerced.

So be not timid, weak, or shy

And nevermore the Lord deny

But let your love and self-control

Inspire and increase the roll.

Be not ashamed of what you learned

But let men see how Christ has burned

Within your heart to suffer well

And so, the Gospel story tell.

Thursday

Just the two are quite enough

To every sinful act rebuff.

The love of God, and neighbor too

Will make a saintly man of you.

Oh, teach me in such simple ways

To learn to love throughout my days

To give of self in sacrifice

And so, the love of God entice.

To turn away from judgment rash

And tap into Your mercy's cache

To see in others all the good

And love them all as Jesus would.

Take no offense at pointed speech,

But long endurance let me reach

In others let Me clearly see

That Christ is present there for me.

Friday

Came blood and water from His side

That precious ever-flowing tide

I waded where twas ankle-deep,

He beckoned me, "Come further keep."

About my knees, the stream would flow

And bit by bit I came to know

What flowed was Living Water's fine

To bless change and bless this heart of mine.

By now, the water reached my waist

A mighty stream in rushing haste

To spread the love of Christ out-poured

Among the lost and helpless horde.

Beyond that point, no man could tread

For deep, and far, and wide it spread

To water hot and sun-dried land

And bring to life the desert sand.

One Heart began this mighty flow

That all the men on Earth should know

His love is deeper, wider still

And ready thirsty hearts to fill.

Saturday

If all is kept within the heart

The soul He calls shall not depart

We look and see His hand so clear

In all the times we hold so dear.

But all throughout this walk we've made

He daily called and daily bade

To give the all we have to give

And find the greatest way to live.

The heart so pure and undefiled

Who bore the Holy Infant Child

Did such a thing and so became

Immacu;ate of Heart her fame.

5/26/24 Through 6/1/24

 5/26/24 Through 6/1/24

Sunday

What people claim such wonderous things

Alike to what the Father brings?

What people held in slavery's bond

To freedom by such works were spawned?

What others in the desert sands

Received such true and great commands?

Who fed on manna, drank from stone,

But those who know One God alone?

Three persons there yet only One

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

A mystery, but plainly true

To those who take a humble view.

Who else can call such God a friend?

What god, to man, would e'er descend?

So far above, yet close at hand,

No other god such breadth has spanned.

This God alone we must obey

No other shows the truthful way

Of sacrifice to rescue stray

And every sin of pride to slay.

Monday

For all the comforts that are mine

The daily food on which I dine,

The warmth in winter, cool in heat,

This tidy life, with ease replete.

I thank the Lord, but wonder now

If I would give it up somehow

To follow where Your voice may lead

And all You ask to quickly heed?

Would I turn with downcast eyes,

Or would I to the time arise?

I pray for grace and courage too

To always follow close to You.

But I know well for oft I've seen

How hard it is for souls to wean

From comfort to a giving way

When earthly wealth can block the way.

I know my will is not yet there

And pray You free me from the snare

Of riches, honor, wealth, and fame

And show me how, Your prize to claim.

It makes no sense to cleave to straw

When unto gloried life You draw.

So help me leave my foolish ways

And follow You for endless days.

Monday Adoration

In these words I hope you'll find

Not just what's in my heart and mind

But truth eternal plain and clear

And through these words let Christ appear.

The words I have that would suffice

For you as wise and sage advice

That you should do each time you pray 

Are, "Listen well and then obey."

Tuesday

Don't let circumstance define

Your joy of heart or strength of spine

But look to Him who rose on high

And know reward is drawing nigh.

What's suffered here will fade away

When Christ appears that final day

A hundredfold your grief repaid

With blessings all around arryed.

Wednesday

Is my love the truest kind;

Is it the purest I could find;

Does it place the other first,

Or simply seek to slake my thirst?

Does it always place before

The needy and forgotten poor

Selfish interest so disguised

To make it seem they're not despised?

The flower falls and wastes away

And all that's left that final day

Is love that's holy, good, and true

That sacrificed itself for you.

The love that sought for honor here

The final day will be shown clear

Unworthy of a place above

Where only lives the truest love.

.

So, cleanse my heart and clear my mind

That only Christlike love is mine

So I might join the gloried throng

And take a place where I belong.

Thursday

Where sin has taken over me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When judgments rash are made by me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When something takes the place of Thee,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When selfishness comes over me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

In jealousy, that bitter tea,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When pride refuses bend the knee,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

My tendency toward gluttony,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

A brighter day with hope for me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

A day when I, like You shall be,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

Friday

God who is mighty great things has done

To people in darkness, He sent His Son.

The Spirit descended to fill all the Earth

To bring all His people the promised new birth.

Mary, in haste, to the hill country ran

Knowing her cousin was part of the plan

.The baby that leaped in the womb of her kin

Would be a great prophet to wash them from sin.

That visit was made two millennia past

And by her example the mold has been cast

To hurry and share what for you He has done

And bring to the world, the joy of the Son.

Saturday

Maturing to a child be

Should be the goal of souls like me

To see Your glory, love, and grace

And long to feel Your warm embrace.

To thirst for You and You alone

To make with eagerness You known

To work to show my strength, but see

That all I have has come from Thee.

Build in me a holy trust

That knows I'm man, and man is dust.

That You alone are life and light

And You the source of all delight.

5/19/24 Through 5/25/24

 5/19/24 Through 5/25/24

Sunday

Life in the Spirit of Jesus my Lord

A gift that alone the poor can afford

For nothing can purchase this life-giving gift

And only the Spirit brings changes so swift.

Reminding us always what Jesus has said

His own precious body He gave us as bread

His Spirit will come at the time that we need 

With sevenfold gifts upon which we feed.

Wisdom and Knowledge, and Fear of the Lord

Are there and just waiting to thee be out-poured

Fortitude, Counsel, and Piety too

Will bring Understanding and comfort to you.

But know that your spirit is poor and quite weak

And then you'll receive the gifts that you seek

Avoiding the proud, the fat, and the sleek,

He comes to the humble, the poor and the meek.

Monday

Mother Mary always be

A source of comfort unto me

Incubate me in Your womb

Send the grace to make me bloom.

As for nine days prayer ensued

Watchful Mother there imbued

Faith and trust within the men

To whom the Spirit would descend.

Oh, Mother of the infant Church

Help me end this life-long search

Help me find humility

And always answer "Let it be."

Tuesday

No reason e'er I see for war

But what the flesh is grasping for

A greedy, lustful, sinful lot

Dissatisfied with what we've got.

A pride of person holding sway

O'er those more worthy on the way

Disordered love for things below

Instead of gifts that You bestow.

With patience and humility

Forbearance and the will to be

The least of those who walk on Earth

We bring about the second birth.

A birth into a world of peace

Where love and joy at once increase

Where childlike will come to know

That talk of war just has to go,

Wednesday

By failing to do what ought to be done

We distance ourselves from Father and Son

The good left undone, as much as the bad

Will draw us from Christ, and poison a lad.

We see and we hear in quietest ways

Above all the din, amid all the haze.

\He speaks to our heart and shows us a need

A sheep we can save, or lamb we can feed.

But busy we claim, we don't have the time

And what's left undone becomes now the crime.

The hand we reach out, the ear that we lend

Will never our God or our neighbor offend.

Thursday

When all is rotten, dry, and stale

Remember well the blinded scale.

How heavy weighed your gifts received

And to each one you tightly cleaved.

The poor with little on their plate

You gave no thought to need abate,

But yet pursued another toy

And never found the promised joy.

Such fools, like sheep, are herded well

And led by demons straight to Hell.

Their paltry pleasures firmly clenched

Where flames of torment never quenched.

Friday

Without a trace of doubtfulness

Let no mean no, and yes mean yes.

Especially as man and wife

Your yes was made to last for life.

Though many circumstances change

Solutions may seem out of range

But perseverance marks the soul

Who presses on to meet the goal.

Although the price may seem too high,

We find him firmly standing by

His vow to love and sacrifice

What e'er the need, what e're the price.

And she who toils every day

Through drudgery along the way

Fails not in tenderness bestowed

Upon the lot in her abode.

So, in this way the two display

The virtues that will light the way

For young to see and learn to give

And peacefully with others live.

Saturday

Let the children come to me

for childlike you all must be

To enter where the King shall reign

And find at last eternal gain.

So, pray with all your heart and more

To find the place you're looking for

And lead the sinner gone astray

To find his life within the Way.