My Manna in the Desert

My manna in the desert is a word or two that rhyme.

Each given in the morning as I give his due of time.

A sacrifice of sleeping, for the Lord’s eternal rest.

By giving him the morning, I am giving him the best.

The listening is crucial to the words I pen each day.

It’s how I know His Sacred voice and what I should obey.

It comes in conversation as I open up His word,

And comes again tomorrow if I act on what I’ve heard.

But if I turn a deafened ear when e’re He speaks to me

Before too long the claim will be, He never speaks to me.

Obedience will clear the way and open up the door

To hear His voice in many ways and hear it more and more.

The days of yesteryear are gone when twilight made us still.

When all was calm and quiet with our thoughts alone until

The dawn would come afresh and new beginning once again

The time to wake and so begin our work with other men.

But in that time when all was still the mind could turn to God

And listen for His voice to hear His loving gentle prod.

Amid the busyness today His voice is rarely heard.

It’s hard to do His will if we can’t recognize a word.

It takes a bit of work these days to set aside the time

To gather in our thoughts a bit and Heavenward to climb.

He speaks in many varied ways throughout our everyday.

In quiet best, He speaks to those who listen and obey.

His voice is one that calls to stretch and leave our comfort zone.

To feed the poor, to tend the sick, and visit those alone.

To discipline our earthly flesh, serve idols nevermore.

To offer Him our very best, and see His love outpour.

There’s none without the ears or heart to hear his voice each day

If they but take the time to sit, in quiet, and to pray.

But don’t expect a word to hear without intent to do

For if you choose to not obey, why should He speak to you?

3/9/25 Through 3/15/25

 3/9/25 Through 3/15/25

Sunday

First fruits we owe to God alone

Yet Satan says, make bread from stone.

His promise, power, wealth, and fame

Delivers poverty and shame.

The test of God was on the Cross

Christ suffered there a total loss.

The loss to gain the glory found

When lo, that third day came around.

The lies all wither, wilt, and fade

When sunlight overtakes the shade.

In giving all we gain the more

And find love's everlasting store.

Monday

To love our neighbor bends the soul

In such a way to make us whole.

Our Lord in flesh and blood we find

Within the poor, the sick, the blind.

Tuesday

No phrase, no verse, no single word

That not some human heart has stirred.

His word is known as truth and light

Illuminating darkest night.

As rain and snow will moisten earth

Each word of His has vital worth.

A simple seed of God's that's sown

And turns to flesh a heart of stone.

From all distress He rescues man

In ways no human power can.

So, look to Him and beam with joy

No evil force can love destroy.

He teaches well how we should pray

And call upon Him every day.

If we would seek and do His will

He constantly our hearts would fill.

With daily bread His love provides

His presence here on Earth abides,

In Eucharistic glory shown

As God of all and God alone.

Forgiving all as we forgive

He shows all people how to live

And leads us on the narrow way

To conquer evil, come what may.

Wednesday

A heart contrite and humble Lord

Is one where grace is richly poured.

For when the heart with pride is filled,

No room for love, and grace is spilled.

The emptiness of who we are

Reveals our ugly sinful scar,

But sinfulness Your grace reforms

The cold of heart, repentance warms.

There's hope for all who turn to You

With sorrow and acclaim, You're due.

Contrite and humble, nay You spurn,

Forgiveness, peace, and love they learn.

Thursday

Turn to Him in mortal danger

Be not then as one a stranger.

Let Him hear your daily pleading

Make us see our daily needing.

Father knowing well our lacking

Evil comes, the weak attacking.

Give what Your children need the most

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Friday

The plain and simple truth is this

A fact of life we must not miss,

Repentance and forgiveness shine

Far brighter than this pride of mine.

All work I do for accolades

Like color in the sunshine fades,

But when I loosen captive ties

All colors flash before my eyes.

Forgiveness brings an end to strife

And paves the way to peaceful life

Repentance turns away from sin

And welcomes Jesus Christ within.

Our Lord desires that all be saved

Including those quite ill-behaved.

If they but turn and welcome love,

He welcomes them to home above.

But those who toe the line must see

If they should turn away from Thee

Their many works will count for naught,

Eternal life cannot be bought.

The gift of all is offered men

But we reject it often when

We choose our will instead of His

And turn away from all that is.

Divine it is to so forgive

So saint and sinner too can live,

For mercy is what all men need

And Mercy, mercy, Lord I plead!

Saturday

Surely blessed are they who follow Your law

Who see in their neighbor the good that You saw.

Creating each soul a reflection of You

The white and the black, the Gentile and Jew.

Each one is a gem and a great work of art

With life everlasting, He made from the start.

If the Maker of all is viewing us so,

Astray we are bound if we differently go.

His law that is given gives life when obeyed

To Him we must hearken and not be afraid.

To love every neighbor, the good and the bad,

Best teaching on Earth that a man ever had.

For love is the answer to all of the law

So simple, but none of the wisdom we saw.

We've tried it our way and created this mess

But love is the way that we heal and we bless.

A Thought from Adoration 2/14/25

A Thought from Adoration 2/14/25

I come to Him to see today

His will for me and to obey

But this is where the problem is

I want my will and don't want His.

How proud and shameful to admit

Continued failure to submit

To One so gracious, warm, and kind,

The maker of all humankind.

A fool am I but wish to learn

To trust in Him and so to turn

So one day I could truly say

Just speak dear Lord, and I'll obey.

 

3/2/25 Through 3/8/25

 3/2/25 Through 3/8/25

Sunday

The voice of men and fruit of trees

Both telling signs are such as these.

Revealing health or sordid sin

By showing what lies deep within.

The husk revealed by shaken sieve

So that within, by what we give.

Where fruit abundantly is grown,

A priceless heart of gold is shown.

Oh help me Lord to learn Your ways

And follow them throughout my days,

So when the final day is near

It comes in peace and without fear.

Monday

The look of love will make demands

And often call for changing plans.

For love can see what holds us back

And shine the light on what we lack.

Don't walk away disheartened when

He shows you're just like sinful men,

But make the change you need to live

And all that hinders freely give.

For all we give is more repaid

When every word of His obeyed

So give Him all you have to give

And find the way to truly live.

Tuesday

Let me come not empty-handed

Giving all as you commanded

None that's offered goes unnoticed

Even deeds in lands remotest.

Man can offer none comparing

To our sinfulness Him bearing.

And all we give is multiplied

By Him who on the Cross once died.

Everlasting life He offers

Opening the endless coffers

Yet He calls for man to give

The all he has for so to live.

Let me hold to nothing fleeting

So the evil plies defeating

Earthly bonds now gladly leaving

Hundredfold and more receiving.

Wednesday

So, once again the path begins

The path to cleanse us from our sins.

The path through forty days we tread

Our wicked sinfulness to shed.

Our flesh to discipline and train

A freedom from our sin to gain

A time to humble haughty hearts

And find the grace that love imparts.

This time we dread but sorely need,

A time on more than food to feed.

Confessing sin, receiving grace,

A time to feel the Lord's embrace.

It's time to set the noise aside,

In silence simply there abide,

To let Him speak within your soul,

And make His will your simple goal.

His Son beloved met with pain

With our salvation meant to gain

Our Lenten offerings we make

To one day life in Him partake.

Thursday

The choice of life or death to make

In every way we choose

The way of life and love to take

Or life itself to lose.

The ways of love involve some pain

And pleasure oft misleads.

But love is where we find the gain,

And pleasure empty deeds.

A cross for every soul to bear

A way of life to lead

We cast upon Him every care

That we might so succeed.

He knows quite well what hinders all,

The hunger, heat, and chill.

But shows if we but heed the call

New life He will instill.

Friday

What good to fast and not be changed,

From Love itself be left estranged?

No sacrifice in this way made

Could e'er expect to Him persuade.

Your works are none but empty show

They lead not on the path to go.

Your fasting's but a wicked claw

None such as this can favor draw.

The fasting that our Lord desires

A gift of self, such fast requires.

A bereaking bonds, a setting free

Is what the fast was meant to be.

So, share your bread, your clothing too

You'll find His healing touching you

The light will dawn, your heart made new,

You'll find the Lord has answered you.

Saturday

Bless God for those He welcomes in

Are those who know their depth of sin

And those who in the midday sun

Can see how far from God they've run.

For even in their desert place

The Lord dispenses ample grace

His love is always acting first

To feed the hunger, slake the thirst.

The ruined home His love restores

By healing wounds of foolish wars

The breach repaired along the way

When sinners learn to Him obey.

Thoughts on Planned Parenthood

 

Thoughts on Planned Parenthood

The all that they sell is but death and regret

The child it's mother will never forget

Quick fix to a problem they say it will be

They care not for people but only their fee 

 

Hardened by years of misguided reviews

The truth they refuse to show on the news

They profit from porn and the sexual trade

In filth and the depths of the sewer they wade. 

 

No clumping of cells but a child they destroy

So life free of burden the mom can enjoy

Or so is the story they give out each day

The scared and the lonely they're hoping to sway. 

 

When killing for fee is the work of your trade

Unsurprising it is that the truth you evade

Once sunk in the mire it's hard to get out

The lies of the serpent destroy the devout 

 

But lo it's no matter how long one is lost

His fountain of mercy can cover the cost

Repentance the key to begin life anew

Our Father's been waiting and looking for you

 

With finest of robes and a ring of pure gold

The Father will welcome you back in the fold

So turn from the life where you deal in the dead

                                      The serpent be gone by you crushing his head. 

2/23/25 Through 3/1/25

 2/23/25 Through 3/1/25

Sunday

By David's mercy shown to Saul

He answered well the Father's call.

The call to see beyond the day

And follow into Virtue's way.

The way that men had trod thus far

Would always trade a scar for scar,

But David saw that mercy could

Replace the evil with the good.

Man that first our God created

Dignity of man berated

\Choosing far below his station

Bringing curses on creation.

Greed and selfishness exulted,

Truth and goodness left insulted.

An eye for eye and tooth for tooth

As close as man could come to truth.

Adam first of flesh then spirit

Earthly men, all loss, would fear it.

Yet Christ would call to love not hate

And so, the lasting feud abate.

He called to go the extra mile, 

To greet with love your every trial.

Though flesh be weak and greatly faulted

Mercy lets it be exalted.

Monday

The all that man has ever known

Is but a drop in ocean shown.

No height or breadth or length conceived

Is but a single thread that's weaved

In tapestry that shrouds the mind

Confounding wits of all mankind

Humble often see more clearly

Poor and weak who live austerly.

They can see the ancient story

Leading men of God to glory.

Not because of erudition

But of simple faith admission.

Evil thrives on wicked lies

But oh, how simple truth belies

"If you can" the question begging

There a lack of faith is begging.

"If you can" the answer given

Then the meager faith forgiven.

If we wish to see the glory

We must know and trust the story.

Jesus came in love to save us

On the Cross His love He gave us.

Though He rose from in the grave

The humble sinner so to save.

Tuesday

In the furnace of affliction

In the fire of Love Divine

Here I make a bold prediction

Crushed the grapes of finest wine.

Wait for Him in patient service,

Be not one to turn away.

Trust in Him and be not nervous,

Let His voice direct your way

Take in stride your great misfortune,

Focus on the prize ahead.

There for you a larger portion

At the rising of the dead.

Fear the Lord, your heart enlightened,

Hope for lasting joy beyond.

Faithful must not e'er be frightened,

Darkness flees when morn is dawned.

Wednesday

Oh, Wisdom be my constant guide

A mentor always at my side

A one admonishing my wrong

And leading back where I belong.

Oh, let me seek her every day

Her every word to me obey.

For there within are blessings found

Instruction always good and sound.

She trials, fear, and trembling brings

To test our trust in God or things.

But then what treasure she bestows

To each who on her pathway goes.

Thursday

Only fools will take for granted

Their salvation from the flames.

We must grow the seed that's planted,

Not be playing foolish games.

Great His mercy, that is truthful

But forgetting is no good

Be no fool because you're youthful

Judgment, keep in mind you should.

Put not off your faith conversion

Suddenly the end is here

Cut off every dark diversion

Better with one eye or ear.

Wealth deceitful, honor fleeting,

Both as smoke that final day

Time of mercy then completing

Only Judgment then to pay.

Friday

A hand of marriage, life of love

A precious gift from God above

Two souls committed to their word

Both joined together by a third.

The third the source of love and grace

The binding force through time and space

Creator in whose image made

The marriage bond to never fade.

Two faithful friends that love combined

The joys of faithful love have mined

New life from two becoming one.

The Father's love is ne'er outdone

Saturday

So many gifts He gives at hand

That man might see and understand

What love God has for all He's made

And deeper in His word would wade.

Mankind He places at the peak

With eyes and ears to further seek

In many ways the path He shows

But often wayward man doth goes.

Inventive heart and searching mind

To man was given that he find

The way to lasting peace and love,

His final home with God above.

So, be not fools who search for gold,

He offers more than hands can hold.

Surrender all you have and see

The glory held in store for thee.

2/16/25 Through 2/22/25

 2/16/25 Through 2/22/25

Sunday

To hope and trust in God alone

The way of wise, it has been shown.

The lava waste of trust in things

No good, but only failure brings.

Don't plant within the desert bare

But find the Stream that's cool and fair

Then plant your hope beside the Stream

And reap the fruit you most esteem.

Say not, there is no hope for men

For Christ has died and rose again

Most pitied souls would Christians be

Had not He died and rose for thee.

Those suffering on earth today

Will find in Him the perfect way

To peace and joy in life beyond

Where endless love and light have dawned.

But woe to those now fat and sleek

The earthly pleasures that you seek

Will fade away as morning dew

And empty waste be left for you.

Monday

When first was taken human life

Twas not a thought of afterlife.

The consequences so ignored

Once jealousy had jumped aboard.

This gift eternal given man

Since that first day when time began

But short the sight of jealous heart

That from the law of God departs.

No sin is remedy for sin

It just invites more evil in

And sets us wandering dismayed

The cure we sought was empty aid.

No good can come from evil deeds

Such action only evil breeds.

But love and mercy break the chain

If men just use their given brain.

Tuesday

Within the claws of death, we see

What then is far too late to be

Our word of life, our saving grace

Our rescue from that flooded place.

The storms will come we surely know

The angry winds of death shall blow

Yet for some others, not for me

Until the rising tide, I see.

Too late by then to turn and pray

For useless are the words I say

Once cast the die, it won't be changed,

Forever from the Lord estranged.

As such for you it needn't be

By turning now your eyes could see

Forgiveness in our Lord is found

Our path to always higher ground.

Wednesday

The waters had risen to cover the Earth

Preparing the land for a time of new birth.

Just a few in the Ark adrift for some days

With nothing but water and clouds in their gaze.

Three times was a bird sent to look for dry ground

At first, there was nothing but water she found.

The next found a leaf that was plucked from a tree,

The third nay returned and was finally free.

Through water reborn for new life on the Earth

With a bow in the sky as a sign of our worth.

No more would the waters of wrath overflow

But love for His people the Father would show.

The Ark for our Savior, a Virgin so fair

One humble with beauty no evil could snare.

She brought forth her Son in meager confines

With manger as bed, for just one of the signs.

The child grew strong both in wisdom and grace

A life with the poor He would gladly embrace.

Through waters of spittle, brought sight to the blind

Through washing of feet, was His mission defined.

A flood would return from on Calvary's hill

As water and blood flowed to emptiness fill.

The Fountain of Life was there hung on a tree.

One leaf is enough for the message to see.

Thursday

You are the Christ, I clearly saw

His works surprise and clearly awe.

Such power in the words He spoke

The lame would walk, and dead awoke.

But when He spoke of suffering

And all the hardships life would bring

I couldn't fathom what He meant

Nor why on such He was intent.

He reprimanded foolish eyes

Who failed to see through Love's disguise

For on the Cross God's only Son

For all mankind, the vict'ry won.

Now in the light of Easter morn

I see how on the Cross was borne

The sins of all that clouded days

And now on Perfect Love, I gaze.

When suffering will come to me

So too, His grace will present be

To help me see my cross as gain

And suffer well whatever pain.

Friday

Our speech confused by sinful men

Who understood each other when

They chose to build a tower high

And so the Lord of all deny.

It's never good to shun what's true

For truth alone is good for you

And Truth says we must follow well

To shun the lasting pains of Hell.

A cross for every shoulder made

So, pick it up, be not afraid

To show you follow well the King

And blessing on your family bring.

What pleasure seen with lustful eyes

On Judgment Day a pittance buys?

For if from Him we've turned away

What horrors on that final day!

What profit, pleasure, prize, or gain

Compares to what those true attain?

That day will only sadness bring

To those who now deny the King

Saturday

The Chair of Saint Peter, the Seat of the Church

Is where we find Truth for which we all search.

No book left behind and no writing at all

But grace and His Spirit to answer His call.

Her guidance assured by the Spirit of Love

She faithfully leads to our homeland above.

The True Path to Freedom She maps for all men

As if Jesus in flesh were on Earth here again.

Through Body and Blood we receive at the Mass

Her wisdom will guide through the earthly morass.

Authority given, for ages revered

The one institution that evil has feared.

The Body of Christ is still present today

Her teachings all men on the Earth should obey.

The question remains who we say is our Lord,

One answer determines eternal reward