9/14/25 Through 9/20/25

 9/14/25 Through 9/20/25

Sunday

The Cross alone, my sole reward

For there was love, in blood outpoured

I pray that I could someday, too,

Be one to learn to love like You.

My little sufferings reveal

How far I am, from that ideal

My thoughts return to self, I fear

How weak I must to Thee appear.

The Cross of triumph ever reigns

And truth and love are what remains

Oh, help me in some way to see

To share Your Cross is best for me.

Monday

(Can be sung to the tune of Stabat Mater)

In my suffering so small

Let His grace on me befall

Let me see beyond this veil

In the pain, acute and screaming

Far more than my strength it seeming

Let my trust in You not fail

Mother always present, caring

To the one to Christ wayfaring

Let your touch my soul renew

Pushed beyond my seeming limit

Help me to this battle, win it.

With His strength, my soul imbue.

Send His angels to defend me

To encourage and befriend me

Holy host of strength and song

Let His mighty one come guard me

As a precious child, regard me

In this suffering so long.

With my weakness clearly showing

And His grace on me bestowing

Bring me to a higher plain

One not worthy, but receiving

More than earthly mind conceiving

From my dreaded earthly pain.

Tuesday

We all shall hear the call, Arise.

And meet the gaze of purest eyes

Then in that grace we'll clearly see

How we shall spend eternity.

Our every deed and action known

All seeds of love and hatred sown

Shall be revealed on Judgment Day

Oh, mercy, mercy, Lord, I pray

Great fear attends in every heart

For all have sinned and should depart.

Repentant souls, He grants reprieve

But these do more than just believe.

They turn their ears to Him each day

And vow to listen and obey

They turn away from evil deed

And from the Master, mercy, plead.

The proud retain their evil way

And vow they won't be made obey.

No care they have for others' need

Their egos, only shall they feed.

The Cross they mock as foolish swill

Refusing to surrender will

The path is wide that leads this way

"I will not serve," is all they say.

The Cross is but the narrow way

For life and love to find each day

Oh, help me choose this daily good

And cleave unto the rugged wood.

I need purgation, yes, it's true.

So, do whatever You must do

To cleanse my soul and mold this clay

To climb along the narrow way.

Wednesday

The finding of fault is quite easy to do 

But those searching for truth are really quite few

We say that we're looking and hoping to find.

In truth, we have nay an intention to mind.

It's all just for show, and to keep us in pow'r

So, greetings, obsequious commoners show'r.

Don't get in the way of our cute little game,

We'll have you in exile or dying in shame.

But truth shines a light on the darkness of sin

Revealing the filth and corruption within.

All darkness will flee in the presence of light

Then soon we will see only Jesus is right.

Thursday

Once captivated by Christ's love

Our mind is tuned to things above

The things of Earth are seen as straw

The frozen chill begins to thaw.

The heart is turned to love and tears

Repentance for the sins of years

Then all we have to Him belongs

We learn to praise with angel throngs.

With all poured out and none held back

We walk the straight and narrow track

That leads to where the angels sing

And Love receives the ALL we bring.

It's fitting One who gives us all

Should have us answer such a call

By doing so, we simply show

There's nothing more, if Him we know.

Friday

But you, man of God, be attentive to Me

Pursue what is best and you'll truly be free

Fruits of the Spirit will inhabit your soul

Love, joy, and peace being ever your goal.

Don't turn in despair when the trial arrives

In hardship and pain is where character thrives.

But humbly embracing the cross that is sent

Your will, to the Master's, is lovingly bent.

Saturday

Your seed is generously sown

So that the word of God be known

But well, the word must be received

And all You say must be believed.

Some, nay, the word receive and change

Their hearts too hard to rearrange

It's carried off without a root,

No chance of ever bearing fruit.

The rocky ground that some may be

Has little depth to shelter seed.

It sprouts, but simply wilts away

Amid the scorching heat of day.

And even when the soil's fine,

The thorns can choke this word of Thine.

When sin's allowed to grow with seed

We hear the word, but fail to heed.

To be the rich and fruitful ground

No willful sin must there be found

No hindrance there along the way

But simply listen and obey.

8/27/25

 8/27/25

Lord, what You did for love of man

Does time and all dimensions span

No word of praise or act from me

Is adequate to honor Thee.

In beauty, all creation sings

Your praise in all its varied things

A painted sky or quiet stream,

A raging sea or wind extreme.

The heavens pass the mind of man

Each star a world within Your plan

Each speck of dust contains there too,

A complex world that's praising You.

So, why would man be left to choose

To honor Thee, or life to lose?

For love, the greatest gift from Thee

Is only love when love is free.

9/7/25 Through 9/13/25

 9/7/25 Through 9/13/25

Sunday

This corruptible body burdens the soul

Preventing the Spirit from making us whole

Possessions are trappings that hinder the mind

Blinding, so never perfection we find.

Renounce all that hinders and toss it aside

Chains of our sinfulness, weakness, and pride

All that can bind us and cause us to cleave,

All our possessions, but Christ, we must leave.

These are the things that will lead us astray

To darkness, and out of the light of the day.

Then searching in darkness, in fear of the Light

We lose understanding and wisdom at night.

But lightened of burdens and soaring above

'Tis then that we see the true blessings of love.

No longer a slave, but a brother in Christ

The worthless ignored, by the lasting, enticed.

Monday

Oh, little town, the House of Bread

The place from which mankind is fed

From you, there came the Bread so fine

Our Sacred Meal and Sacred wine.

The Virgin birth from Full of Grace

In this quite humble holy place

To rule the world with peace and love

And show the way to home above.

The King of kings born lowly there

To save a world in bleak despair

The docile Virgin thus became

A one of everlasting fame

Her "Yes" the key to bringing in

Our Savior from the depths of sin

The One who on the Cross would give

The Sacrifice through which we live.

Tuesday

All chosen by God in some special way

With some as the gold and some as the clay.

We all have a task for carrying on

The word of the Father and breaking of dawn.

So, how is He calling, and what have you heard?

Are you one attentive, or standing unstirred?

It's action that plants our foundation on rock,

But sand for the ones who don't answer the knock.

Wednesday

We seek the things that lie above

The pure and holy things of love

For there where Christ is reigning now

We hope to live in peace somehow.

With Christ, all passion, lust, and greed

Are cast aside with lightning speed

No place for pride and evil ways

Where Truth shall reign for endless days.

For one to enter such a place

He must respond when offered grace

And put aside what flesh desires

To seize upon His cleansing fires.

The self anew in every way

More knowledge granted every day

Of God, all knowing, ever true

And source of endless life for you.

Thursday

Give to all who ask of you

Treat enemies as friends

Bless the ones who curse you, too.

On this, your life depends

Give to those who can't repay

And turn the other cheek

Let the Potter mold the clay

And then find what you seek.

More than what you measure out

Is given in return

This is how you learn about

The place for which you yearn.

Friday

Oh, Mary, take away from me

All sin and all depravity

Give me humility and grace

To follow Christ in time and space

Your holy name has been for me

A refuge in calamity

Protecting me in times of fear

And bringing me to Jesus near

Not one as close to Him as you

The guide for everything you do

The devil hates your holy name

Our only one of sinless fame.

The grace to sinners you bestow

Will help a humble one to know

To look within before without

And pull the giant beam thereout.

Saturday

True wealth is not in what we own

But what we see as need

For when at last the truth is known

Our wealth is what we heed

For where He leads, we only need

The Father's loving care

If we but His commandments heed

His wealth with us will share

8/31/25 Through 9/6/25

 8/31/25 Through 9/6/25

Sunday

The lowly one He raises high

To what no Earthly wealth can buy

For those who choose the lowest place

He fills with mercy, love, and grace.

The Lord and maker of us all

Became our model for the call

By choosing such a shameful way

To show the end of sin's decay.

The humble shall the glory gain

In spite of all their earthly pain

For pride is false, but humble true

Let glory then awaiteth you.

Monday

The confident, on God rely

The proud upon themselves.

That final day no wealth can buy

The good upon the shelves.

It comes as gift from He who made

The Earth, the sea and sky

Who all throughout our life has bade

That we just simplify.

Not much we need to reach this goal

But trust in Him alone

He speaks to every single soul

To make His will be known.

Just ask and then obey the word

Don't falter on the way

For life will come from what you've heard

And peace for every day.

Tuesday

The darkness is lurking and waiting around

But fear not the dark, for the light has been found.

The Light of the World has been given to men

To lead them through darkness, and back home again.

The demons will try every trick in the book

But always to Christ on the Cross we must look.

We see on the Cross all that love can demand

But also our strength to obey His command.

When love to perfection has sacrificed all

We, too, should be willing to answer the call.

Although darkness may seem for a while to win

Love always will conquer the darkness of sin.

What is good for the goose, the gander must know

Love always will show us the path we must go.

Affliction will come just as sure as the night

But patience and love always win in the fight.

The One with authority speaks for us then

To save all the weary and battle-worn men.

The cross of affliction when worthily worn

Leads always to light on a bright Easter morn.

Wednesday

It's hope He gives to all below

That someday every truth they know

For now, they see through foggy haze

But glimpse at times Your shining rays.

The days of garden strolls are gone

Since when the shades of sin were drawn

Yet Christ revealed what man can be

When on the Cross, He died for me.

The pow'r of love He showed to man

With every touch from healing hand

But more, He wanted all to see

His depth of love upon the Tree.

We seek the pow'r but not the pain

Yet both we need for lasting gain

For love means giving self away

To lead another on the Way

When such a way, we learn to live

The pain becomes a joy to give

Then glory greets where love will reign

And sin becomes eternal pain

So far, it seems, away from me

And Hope is why I trust in Thee

I hope You cleanse my wretched soul

And somehow make this sinner whole.

Thursday

From whence I heard that in the womb

A child grew and soon would bloom

My prayer has been that God would bless

With every gift to life address

The wisdom, knowledge, grace, and care

To seek His will and then to dare

To follow on the path He leads

And make His word a gift that feeds

That you may grow and bear good fruit

By making love your sole pursuit

Enduring every trial with joy

To so all sinfulness destroy

The deep is calling you this day

To put aside the selfish way

To trust His word at every turn

And of His providence to learn

No more of fishing in the lake

But now, a greater step to take

To give to others gifts, He gave

And seek immortal souls to save.

Friday

Make of me a wineskin new

A willing one to stretch with You

Expand my heart and then prepare

A humble, fitting place to share

The time to fast will soon be here

And then the eyes will see quite clear

The Groom is gone, so now we pray

And hasten toward that final day.

Saturday

One reconciled to God in Christ

Each one a soul so highly priced.

That reconciled, we may appear

Within the courts, without much fear.

This saving work, but He could do

For righteous souls are far and few.

But even those at times have strayed

And He, the price for those has paid.

The Lord of all in time and space

Both sabbath rest and rule efface

So, recognize your Lord and see

There's quite a lot to learn from He

8/24/25 Through 8/30/25

 8/24/25 Through 8/30/25

Sunday

We must not close the narrow way

By choosing what we will each day

His will expands the narrow path

And offers shelter from His wrath.

His will alone will draw us near

And cancel out the dreaded fear

But weakly souls who choose their way

Will have an awful bill to pay.

When locked, the door, no more come in

The rest are left to live in sin

The hope for love and life is gone

The final curtain thus is drawn.

Monday

Where does one find a good and holy friend;

A one on whom he always can depend;

A one to speak the truth in love each day:

And always be a guide along the way;

Not blinded by the devil's empty show;

Or judged a hypocrite by those who know;

But one in confidence to lead the way;

By teaching us to hear and then obey?

Tuesday

With weakness and humility

Our every action so should be

To meet the needs of every man

And guide them to the Father's plan.

Not leaders who distort the word

But live the Gospel they have heard

Who follow in the Master's way

And carry gold in pots of clay

Not shining out, and rotten in

Not steeped within the depths of sin

For such as these will meet with woe

And never shall the treasure know.

Wednesday

No matter how we look without,

Our Father sees within.

We may be shining, clean, and stout

Yet filled with putrid sin.

Don't let the lure of honor be

A trap to pull you in.

With clarity, just look and see

The state of that within.

Does that within match that without?

Is honesty your king?

Are you, in truth, a one devout,

Or just the shiny bling?

Have you received the word of God

And not just words of men,

Or do you act with wink and nod

To slyly sin again?

The Father knows you through and through

He sees beyond the veil

The total is His view of you

Disguise, to no avail.

Thursday

My work is a mission that never is done

Revealing the glories of Father and Son

With Spirit to guide and give light on the way

To teach all our young ones to hear and obey.

It's no special talent, just time it demands

Be quiet and listen to all He commands

He speaks to us all, and throughout every day,

But few are attentive to all He will say.

We make up excuses to build our own mold

Then, gaining but trifles, we lose all the gold.

The eyes must be open so clearly we see

If it's worthy of time and worthy of thee.

It's joy when our children are faithful and true

When found to be working at following You.

No joy that a father could possibly see

Is greater than children who followeth Thee.

Friday

The Baptist spoke the truth in love

To focus men on things above.

One Spirit-filled from in his youth

He did not shrink from speaking truth.

The marriage bond a sacred tie

That does not end until we die.

No sword can sever what is true

For truth is planted deep in you.

Have courage then to toe the line

And stay attached unto the Vine.

Seek not the fleeting pleasure here

But strive for that beyond this sphere.

Saturday

You give, and yet You more demand

The task You give is to expand

To grow the Kingdom here below

That more and more may come to know

The Master's joy is work for men

It multiplies the loving when

We use the talent He bestows

By making sure the Kingdom grows.

8/17/25 Through 8/23/25

 8/10/25 Through 8/16/25

Sunday

Ignite, oh Lord, a blaze within

To separate me from my sin

A blaze to cause division here

To drive out sin, and drive out fear

Undaunted, let me e'er proclaim

The wonders of Your gloried name

Give courage so I don't look back

But firmly stay upon Your track.

What hinders, let me cast away

And persevere along the way

Eyes fixed upon the finish line

And always on the will of Thine.

Not tossed in muddy pit to die

Or fixed upon the cross am I 

Though I profess His Holy Name,

My fight, as yet, has been quite tame.

Give courage when the fire comes

And imminent, my death becomes

To let Your fire clear the dross

And save me from eternal loss.

Monday

Even though I want it not,

I want the will my Father's got.

For this, I know is best for me

And this alone will set me free.

In foolishness throughout the day

I plan my work and maybe pray

I ask for what I think I need

To make my foolish plans succeed.

I think I know what's good for me

But rarely do I stop to see

How well my will with Thee aligns

And what my action here defines.

Am I one truly sold on Thee?

Does what I do set captives free?

Or do I simply act for show

And really, not, my Savior know?

His ways intrigue and stretch the mind

To see the things to which I'm blind.

The goodness of the Father's plan

And His great love for every man.

The thought of freedom scares me so 

For choices made that I well know

Have led me far from Truth and Light

And what I've seen as wrong is right.

Lord, let me go not sad away

Whene'er You speak throughout the day

But listen well and then conform

My will to Thine to be reborn.

Tuesday

Weak and weary though I be

Your word was spoken clear to me.

Commanding me to fight and win

My battles over selfish sin.

Your hand, You promise there to be

A presence always guiding me

The force defeating awesome odds,

The only God among all gods.

What man cannot begin to see

Is but a trifle deed for Thee.

A camel through the needle's eye

No god but Thee could even try.

The lowly needn't fear the ways

The Master comes to clear the haze

His hand will guide their every move

And His protection soundly prove.

Wednesday

If we are unwilling to answer the call

For lack of a leader, the country may fall

To rule o'er a town or a city is fine,

But ruling a family in justice is thine.

Always teaching the young to hear and obey

One training them always to make time to pray

The first of the places of learning is here

The home needs a leader who challenges fear.

Fear of the things that his kingship will cost;

Fear of the fruit and the sweetness that's lost;

Fear of the sacrifice reigning requires;

Fear of the loss of his earthly desires.

But leaders must see in a far diff'rent way,

Their planning is made for a far distant day.

A day when the temporal has all passed by,

A day when there's nothing that money can buy.

It's then that the fruit of your labor is seen

It's then that the judgment of all will convene.

The hay and the stubble will perish in flame

But leaders in love forever have fame.

Eternity rules over time, it is clear

The ending of time is for all drawing near.

If turning is early, or turning is late

Our turning is what is the sealing of fate.

The hours of work are no consequence then.

Forever, that day, is the fate of all men.

So, look to that day with each choice that you make

How foolish it is, even one chance to take.

Thursday

What a fool is the one not caring for God

Who comes to the table but comes as a fraud.

The warnings not heeded that Hell is for real

No man, from the Judge, His mercy can steal.

His mercy is given quite freely, but still

We must turn around and follow His will.

The fool thinks a bargain can pay for his way,

Far better, the ones who just hear and obey.

Friday

Wherever you go, I shall go

The God of gods, I too shall know

I've seen the truth and now must be

A one who follows after thee. 

No more to dwell in pagan lands

But one to follow His commands

I leave behind my former ways

And follow you to brighter days

The greatest thing He asks of men

Is love of God, and love again

For all the people He has made

And nevermore to love evade.

Saturday

Redeemer of the lonely one

Provider for our need

You are alone the Father's son

The voice that we must heed

So many say but fail to do

What's right and good for all

They preach the word to all of you

But fail to heed the call

The greatest ones are not who teach

But those who do His will

Be not the one to proudly preach

But humbly orders fill