1/11/26 Through 1/17/26

 1/11/26 Through 1/17/26

Sunday

A voice that thunders from above

The Spirit lighting as a dove,

He came to show repentance is

The way of life anew of His.

A daily change within the heart

To cling to Him and not depart

To seek His grace in all we do

And make His voice our guiding cue.

That sign once placed upon the soul

Bespeaks of grace to make us whole

But grace must be accepted or 

We lose the battle and the war.

But long as breath is still around

A full repentance may be found

Don't wait until it's far too late

And wake to find they've locked the gate.

Monday

Amid an ordinary day

The call was made to come His way

To turn from barrenness to Him

Repenting of our ways of sin.

He wants to have us fish for men

To recognize just how and when

To speak His word and share the news

That Christ has come, the King of Jews.

For faithfulness alone brings joy

And all the schemes that men employ

Apart from Him to find their way

Will only lead the more astray.

So, follow Him in all you do

And spread the news to others, too.

For all are called to bear much fruit

While on our Heavenly pursuit.

Tuesday

Amid the plain, He saw the hills

Among the One who saves, who kills.

The Healer of a diff'rent kind

Within their midst, the people find.

A One with grand authority

Unlike the ones that oft we see.

The evil spirits flee away

If just a simple word You say.

The prayer of humble heart is heard

So many times has this occurred

We've come to see it as the norm

When Christ within the heart is born.

Wednesday

He calls to all, but few will hear

For only wise will tune the ear

And wise alone will listen well

Then of the Father's glories tell.

Don't be the fool who passes by

A time to chat with God Most High.

To do His will is my delight

For so, the fires of love ignite.

Our happiness is Him alone

So, when we stray, on ways our own

We fall for glittered, shiny bling

That only grief and heartache bring.

Your word, oh Lord, and that alone

Must be our Rock and Cornerstone

Our guiding light when all is dim

Our steady aid to shore and shim.

You heal the sick and raise the dead

As all the Gospel stories said

So, why don't all believe and hear?

Because they've turned a deafened ear.

To do Your will requires a shift

No more allowing life to drift

But focusing on where You lead

And how to best, Your teaching heed.

Thursday

Because of Your mercy, redeem us, oh Lord

Our army's disgraced and defeated by sword.

We're plundered at will by this pagan regime

We need One forgiving to heal and redeem.

We're mocked and maligned in the news of the day

They say only weaklings need take time to pray.

They laugh, and they laugh at our pleas made to You

While knowing our flesh is opposing of You.

Our souls may be bent, and our bodies are bowed,

But somewhere within, there's a seed that You sowed.

Though none are deserving, redeem all the fold

That someday the light of Your love we behold.

Friday

You want us Lord, to rule our own

To show that in Your light, we've grown.

From those controlled by flesh alone,

To those great self-control have shown.

But, yea, we choose another way

To be like pagans of the day

With king to rule and fight for them

And make a slave of all the men.

So few can find the will inside

To let You be their loving guide

To turn away from temporal things

And see what joy the Father brings.

It's He who knows our every need

And He who wants us to succeed

His self-control and discipline

Will freedom for the humble win.

Saturday

The righteous ones remain uncalled

For they, at Him, remain appalled

By eating in the sinner's lair

And showing public sinners care.

A tax collector chosen here 

A one of whom the people fear.

No love for such a traitor kind

Could anyone among them find.

But Christ could see what lies within,

Profound repentance for his sin.

So, love and mercy made him new

And so, for you, would Jesus do.

No magic here, but love alone

Great mercy for the sinner shown

But only those with humble heart 

Who wish to make another start.

So, frequently, we must repent

And course-correct to where we're sent

For always in His love is where

We find that grace and mercy rare.

The call is there in every day

To follow Him, or go our way

Will you the tax collector be, 

Or just another Pharisee?

1/4/26 Through 1/10/26

 1/4/26 Through 1/10/26

Sunday

Epiphany is when we see

A wonder, always there

Exposed by such a simple key

Though many unaware

A kindly act, a simple word

A quiet look of love

A way in which the Spirit stirred

To turn the mind above.

If once we see, no more can be

Excuses for our sin

When meeting Thee, we bend the knee

And life anew begin.

Monday

The Spirit of God is One readily seen.

When right is upheld, it's especially keen

You see in the fruit and the goodness it brings

It honors dear Jesus as King of all kings.

He teaches us all of the teachings of Christ

And why, on the Cross, was the Lamb sacrificed.

To sanctify man as a child of the King

Forgiving our sins and removing the sting.

Beloved, don't trust every spirit you see

For only the true are possessing the key.

The ones who acknowledge dear Jesus as Christ

And not those by earthly possessions, enticed.

Tuesday

In Him our hunger satisfied

The One who on the Cross has died

The loaves and fish may last a while

But earthly food will just beguile.

We need the food from up above

The sating food of selfless love

The Bread of Life that came to Earth

To offer man a second birth.

The manna in the desert showed

We must be in a trusting mode

Relying on His daily care

To taste delights of Heaven's fare.

The manna, simple hunger, cured

But nay a one that long endured.

For lasting satisfaction, see

The One who died and rose for thee.

Wednesday

I wish to be as John would say,

One confident on Judgment Day

By love, perfected in His sight,

Without a trace of sinners' fright.

It seems a lofty, far-off goal

But only love can make us whole

For love thinks not of selfish gain,

And willingly will suffer pain.

When e'er another one's in need

The one who loves will always heed

And offer what he has to heal,

Be that a coat, or bed, or meal.

Or maybe just a list'ning ear

To comfort one and dry a tear.

A kindly word to spirits raise

Or hand to hold when down the days.

Thursday

Today, this Scripture, at last, is fulfilled

By one who acts as the Father has willed

The blind now can see, the captive now free

The poor given hope for what's coming to be.

Each day, can that Scripture be true once again

If we are but docile, obedient men.

The timing is such that the fool passes by,

But wise clearly see that the Kingdom is nigh.

He comes in the Bread and the Wine every morn

At Mass, they are changed, and the Savior is born.

Yet very few see in the Wine and the Bread

The Son of the Father, by whom we are fed.

Come see and be challenged, accept and believe

It's truly His Flesh and His Blood we receive.

Not merely a symbol, or faith-building sign,

But Christ here among us, the Father's design.

Friday

Undying faith I have in Thee

For only You can set me free

It's only You can cleanse my soul

And You alone that I extol.

Though much I want to break these chains,

My wretched state of sin remains.

But You alone can make me clean

With just a touch for me to glean.

My every weakness, Lord, You know

And these are where I need to grow

I want to look beyond the now

And focus down the road somehow.

Lord, let me see beyond the grave

And so, this woeful sinner, save.

For that beyond, so far exceeds

What I perceive as earthly needs.

I need a change that's deep within

To shed proclivity to sin.

To change my very heart's desire

And walk amid Your cleansing fire.

A word from You, and so it is

My leprosy is much like his

Your cleansing word for one in need

Can make this wretched sinner freed.

Saturday

Increase, oh Lord, in me each day

Let not Your servant go astray

Make me one humble, docile, true

A one with all devoted You

I care not for what lies below

For You alone I hope to know

I marvel at Your every deed

And daily on Your flesh I feed

Within the form of bread and wine

You bid that faithful all would dine

Upon Your flesh that's truly food

And find their hearts, with grace imbued

This simple gift You grant each day

Would change the world if men would pray

And come receive Your flesh indeed

To daily on Your graces feed.

12/28/25 Through 1/3/26

 12/28/25 Through 1/3/26

Sunday

Feast of the Holy Family

(Can be sung to the tune of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence")

Holy families change the world

They embrace the Cross of Christ

Giving love at every moment

Much is daily sacrificed

Teaching how to love our neighbor

Deeper into love enticed

Focused on the Holy Family

Listening as Joseph did

For the Holy Spirit's guidance

Ready for what e'er He bid

Trusting Providence to guide him

When the end to him was hid

Holy mothers model Mary

Saying yes to all He asks

Docile hearts to offer daily

Loving best in all her tasks

Pure reflection of His glory

In the light of love she basques

Children learn to love each other

Working for the good of all

Placing needs of others forward

Even as they only crawl

Training to be good and holy

Ready to receive their call.

Monday

Darkness is none but the absence of light

There's nothing to fear, for it can't win the fight

All that is needed for light to prevail

Is simply a lifting of darkness's veil

His light filled the Temple that glorious day

In quite an exceptional, yet humble way

The prophet foretold of the Light that would be

Revealing the Father and setting hearts free

All nations would see what the darkness concealed

For Light would have vic'try with Jesus revealed

But not without pain and a sword through the heart

Much grace would be given in love from the start

Tuesday

Through prayer and fasting, wisdom comes

The aged recognized the Son

She spoke of Him to all about

For faith she had without a doubt.

He's not for just the aged ones

Who, past their prime, the timing runs

But young and virile need to know

Enticements of the world must go.

Wednesday

The end is near, the day is done

But is the final vict'ry won?

We cannot say if still we live

For there is yet more "All" to give.

He wants not part, or most, or some

He wants the "All" from everyone.

For "All" He gave in love to be

United for eternity.

But unity cannot be found

Without our turning "All" around

And facing Love in humble praise

With "All" exposed to healing rays.

Already, "All" is clearly known

But if our pride of will is shown,

In arrogance, to call it good

Then we reject the Holy Wood.

The Cross, on which, was freedom won

With blood of God's most perfect Son

For freedom comes when we repent,

But gnashing teeth where pride is sent.

So, "All" is what it takes for love

And life eternally above.

Hold nothing back in selfish sin, 

But give your "All" to freedom win.

Thursday

The blessing of God received in the Son

The word passed through prophets, at first was begun.

But now in this age, the Son has arrived

To cure and make well all the sick and deprived

May God, in His mercy, have pity and bless

Our sins, we must all, in repentance confess.

His face shines upon us with mercy and grace

To usher us into His Heavenly place.

No longer as slaves, but as sons of the King

With robe, and with shoes, and a royal son's ring.

The message made known on a cold, starry night

With Jesus, the Heavens and Earth would unite.

The Mother, she kept all these things in her heart.

Never wanting that she and her Son be apart.

Once promised a sword would be running her through.

That love would mean suffering, somehow, she knew.

Friday

The Baptist, forsaking the comforts of men,

Would preach to the masses, and then preach again

To leaders and elders who questioned his word

And failed to repent, as they clearly had heard.

His voice was quite powerful, calling for change

Although his attire and diet were strange

Repent, and be humbled, for soon there will be

A One who is greater and stronger than me.

He walks here among you, Messiah and Lord

As sent by the Father with blessings outpoured.

Make straight His path, and prepare ye the way

The Master is coming and will not delay.

His message remains in effect still today

Repentance is needed for finding our way

All sin be renounced, and His glory proclaimed,

Or choose to be lost, and forever ashamed.

Forgiveness He offers while we can still breathe

The sword of His righteousness, humble can sheathe.

His mercy is offered if pride we forsake

And then of His glory, and honor partake.

Saturday

How wonderful, His Holy Name

The Man of everlasting fame

The One who made the Earth and sky

And came upon the Cross to die.

For blood alone can purify,

And blood is used to sanctify

What's set aside for holy use

The grip of sin on man, to loose.

We look upon the Cross of Christ

And see how sin is highly priced

For in our sin we've turned away

From what they've brought our Savior's way.

His Sacred Name, so oft abused.

In empty ways, by foolish used

Each sin, another painful wound

Until at last, our Savior swooned.

Come look upon the Cross and see

How much He suffered there for thee

And as the Temple veil was torn

Let Christ again, in you, be born.

Then speak His name in Holy ways

In all of your remaining days

And lead the other blind to see

How good the Savior was to thee.

12/21/25 Through 12/27/25

 12/21/25 Through 12/27/25

Sunday

Open the gates and let the Lord in

Open the gates and abandon your sin.

Abandon your fear of His power and might

For He comes to reveal His radiant light.

Don't weary the Lord with your feigning of love

But humble yourself when addressed from above.

For who can ascend to His mountain on high

But Him who was sent by the Father to die?

Both mother and father have learned to obey

Their yes to His will is just paving the way.

And one in the wilderness, hearing the call

Taught of repentance, and giving of all.

The King will arrive at the fullness of days

The thoughts of the wise and the learned to raze.

He chooses the humble and docile of heart

Who listen and act on His word from the start.

Monday

(Can be sung to the tune of "Creator of the Stars at Night")

This job for only Perfect Love

The Father gave His Son above

And sent Him as a babe below

That His great love all men would know.

The child of every innocence

Comes humbly to mankind's defence.

In stable born, on manger bed,

His soft and precious little head.

Our Savior born amid the night

Our cherished source of life and light

The angels in their joy proclaim

His everlasting Holy Name

Come feel the warmth of love He brings

Come hear what angel choir sings

The King arrives this humble way

To lift the poor and clearly say:

His love extends to all mankind

So, come and in the manger find

Messiah, Savior, Mighty King

This tiny babe of whom we sing.

Tuesday

In silence, Zechariah waits

No potion malady abates

But silence gives one time to think

And silence helps the ego shrink

In silence, we can hear Him speak

In silence, shall the interest pique

For more and more of what He wills

And how the restless heart He stills.

By listening, we hear His word

That, when among the noise, is blurred

But silence brings to clarity

What, in the noise, we cannot see.

In solitude yet not alone

In silence where His word is known

It comes in many varied ways

And grows when more, the silent, prays

The silence gives us space to roam

While keeping Jesus as our home.

He shows the many ways he leads

And how he satisfies our needs

In silence, focus drifts away

If flesh is strong enough that day,

But if the spirit wants to win,

We turn the focus back to Him

Then, when the mind is firm and true

We still have much to learn from You

Your words are not a conjured thing, 

But whisperings of Christ the King.

They come when only humbly sought

Or when we need correcting swat.

How e'er they come, we must obey

Or soon enough, we'll lose our way.

Wednesday

A hymn of thankfulness and praise

To Jesus Christ, our King, we raise.

To Earth, He comes to people free

All sinners from eternity.

Our God, as man, in flesh appears

As promised, now for many years

But do we ever really see

The wonders of this mystery?

It's hard to understand this gift

And heavenward, our thoughts to lift

We're so concerned with life below,

His greatest gift we seldom know.

We think of Him in time of need

But often fail His word to heed.

Spare tire faith is common here

But not much more throughout the year.

Lord, help me change this paradigm

By meeting You in morning time

And seeking what You ask of me 

Then giving all to be set free.

Thursday

Unto us a Son is given

Bounds of Earth and Heaven riven

As a helpless infant coming

Sin and darkness overcoming.

As the light of morn is breaking

Longing hearts for ages aching

Come to see the Savior born

Upon that early, frosty morn

Long awaited, unexpected

By the ruling class rejected

Pagan kings and shepherds see

The Root of Jesse, David's Key

God Himself becomes a creature

While an infant, yet a teacher

Humble, yet a King Divine

Born to clear these sins of mine.

Friday

No match for him in fair debate

They quickly turn to vicious hate

And stone the one who prays for them

Revealing quite a precious gem

As on the Cross our Savior did,

With Stephen, too, was never hid

The Father's love for every man

With sins forgiven as His plan

Such love confounds the wicked heart

And so, an inward change may start

With admiration for their nerve

And hearing of a call to serve.

The word He gives at such a time

May seem a foolish word to swine

But one may hear what God intends

And so, begin to make amends.

He works on sinners many ways

So when, at last, the sinner prays

He hears the call within that word

And ponders well what he has heard.

His love extends to all mankind

His will is that someday we find

A word to turn our hearts to love

So we can live with Him above.

Saturday

Beloved by Christ beneath the Cross

Unmoved by threat of death or loss

One so united with the Word

He followed as the Spirit stirred.

From call received beside the sea

To what he wrote for folk like me,

His faith and trust, it never waned

And Christ as King, his life proclaimed.

Three years, he witnessed mighty deeds

And planting of so many seeds

With parables that helped reveal

The Word made flesh to whom we kneel.

He saw upon the mountain high

The brilliant rays of God most high

He heard God's voice proclaim Him Son,

His much beloved Chosen One.

He followed to the bitter end

And on his witness, we depend

To hear His words from on the Tree

And even what the guard could see;

He truly was the Son of God

A Holy, Precious, One unflawed

A Lamb of Sacrifice for all

Who answer to His loving call.

He left that tearful, somber day

The Virgin in his care to stay.

The Son of God, whom thousands fed

Lay in the tomb, stone cold and dead.

But three days hence in early morn

New wonder, hope, and joy were born

When in the empty tomb, he peered

And slowly, Master's teaching cleared.

That He would rise and conquer death

The Spirit sent, from in His breath,

Would teach them all they need to know

And lead them on the way to go.

So, you and I, like him, believe

We, too, the Spirit, shall receive

If we just listen and obey

We, too, will find the narrow way