4/12/26 Through 4/18/26

 4/12/26 Through 4/18/26

Sunday

It's hard to believe all that Jesus has done

The vict'ry o'er sin, on the Cross that He won.

The rising again from a cold, lonely tomb

Like flowers in Spring that will open to bloom.

His mercy to Thomas, His mercy to me

Is far more than I ever thought there could be.

Devotion to teaching and prayer, we must heed

For this is the source of the joy that we need.

A little we suffer in various ways

But all in the hope of our Heavenly days

As gold in the furnace is tested by fire,

By trial, a beauty unknown we acquire.

Monday

Born of the Spirit, beyond of the known

With signs and with wonders, the people are shown

That Jesus is Lord and He comes from above

To show us the truth about mercy and love.

So little we know, but of what we can see

The Spirit illumines what's hidden from thee

Unless we are born in a spiritual way

We'll never be more that the old lump of clay.

The breath of the Spirit gives life to the soul

One taking the broken and making them whole.

His word will direct us as guide on the road

With all of His gifts on the humble bestowed

He "callifies" simple to speak in the name

Of Jesus, our Savior, from Heaven who came

To show us the Father, whose love never ends

On whom all existing, forever depends

Tuesday

Lord, Heavenly things are all foreign to me

I don't have such eyes that enable to see

I need, for my blindness, a wave of Your hand

A clearing of doubts in Your every command.

You know of my weakness, You know how I fail

You know that I'm worried, distracted, and frail

I hear of Your teaching, attractive and good

But see that it's leading You straight to the wood.

I want what You're teaching, but not with a cross

Most surely, there's Heaven without such a loss?

So, you are a teacher, but never have heard

That love is demanding, is truly absurd.

All love must require a giving away

Of all that we have to salvage the day

So, piercing the darkness with light, we will find

That gold, in the fires of love, is refined.

Once lifted, you'll see who I AM, and believe

In giving of all, is the way we receive.

Your faith is a pipeline for graces and love

And giving increases the flow from above.

Wednesday

Those teaching the word are both humble and true

Those fully in love and devoted to You

Those touched by the Spirit, enflamed with Your love

Ones here now on Earth, but destined above

His Son was but given for man to believe

Abundance of mercy and grace to receive

Not sent to condemn, but to heal and to save

To conquer o'er death, and rise from the grave.

The ones who believe will all come to the light

By turning from drear, and the dark of the night.

For truth is in light, where we all clearly see

That Jesus is God and He's setting us free.

The word is so true, and it must be proclaimed

So believers are bold and never ashamed.

They speak every word that the angel commands

And heed not the threats of the evil demands

Help me be a one who's so bold and so brave

One giving the body, when soul, it will save.

One speaking the truth on whatever the day

Regardless of warnings, the evil convey.

Thursday

Just who should we obey?

The man of Earthly way?

Or One above who deals in love

And not what wicked say?

The choice is clear to all,

But still so many fall.

The Earthly way is wide, they say.

But deadly after all.

What Christ has shown is good

And, follow it, we should

But in the light, we see in fright

The horror of the wood.

His sacrifice has shown

The way to glory own

Embrace the Cross, but not for loss,

To make His rising known.

For so, the Spirit comes

And man on Earth becomes

A wealthy one who's just begun

The depths of God, to plumb

No limit to the love

Of Him who reigns above

Our little loss, joined with the Cross

His recompense thereof.

Friday

A river winds through desert sand

Eleven follow His command

The signs and wonders show the way

But those in power still say, nay

A threat to power they perceive

And so, the lash, the men receive

But this they treasure as a sign

They've come to know the Man Divine

As Jesus did with five and two

He made a feast for me and you

His body here, in form of bread

He gives so we are richly fed.

Saturday

Let nothing hinder, Lord, I pray

From teaching Your exalted way

The way of sacrifice You chose

To conquer all our sinful foes

For love of Man, You chose to die

Each heart contains your reason why

A sinful and perverted soul

Who needs Your love to be made whole

The word must spread throughout the land

And we must follow Your command

To make disciples of all men

And shine Your light to them again

The seas are stormy, tossed, and gray

But quick, You make Your servant's way

If we would hear and answer well

All fear and worry You dispel.

4/5/2026 Through 4/11/2026

 4/5/2026 Through 4/11/2026

Sunday

This change applies to everything

To Him, our praise and glory bring

No more a fear of death is found

For prisoners have been unbound

The empty tomb, the guard dispersed

In glory now, the One they cursed

What can they do? What can they say

Upon this Resurrection Day?

No threats to make, no torments now

Can make a one, to evil bow

For if we trust His pow'r to save

No pow'r can hold us in the grave.

Good news, it is, so why resist?

Don't be a one such glory missed

Repent and find forgiveness won

Upon the Cross be Christ the Son.

Monday

The truth cannot be bought or sold

Yet men have tried from ages old

For just as in the Garden then

The devil tricks the foolish men.

"You'll be like gods," his whisper said

"No fruit like that could make you dead.

He hoards the good so none can be

As strong and powerful as He."

What fools they were who took the bait

And found themselves outside the gate

Among the lying, walking dead

Until the blood of Christ was shed.

Eternally, since time began

The creature tries to be The Man

To make the rules, but none can win

When, first of all, they start with sin.

There's only One who's always true

And that's not me, and that's not you

Don't fall for selfish, wicked lies

The truth is Jesus Christ did rise!

Tuesday

Now that we know, what must we do?

We want to be bold and faithful, like you

He lives, and we've seen Him, so hear and obey

He leads us and guides us and shows us the way

Repent and be baptized, the Spirit will come

Then far greater depth in the heart you will plumb

He'll make you a witness to truth of His love

And grant you all graces from Heaven above.

No trial you face is a burden too great

To sacrifice now for the One you await.

For death has a hold on the world no more

And glory awaits from the Heavenly store.

Wednesday

Made known within the broken Bread

All things that Jesus did and said.

A light revealed all hidden things

And showed to us the King of kings.

Our hearts, with love, would burn within

As we repented of our sin

He opened all the scriptures where

They prophesied of One so fair.

Quite clear He made for us to see

In Broken Bread, Divinity

His very presence here as Bread

The Sacrifice, on which we're fed.

Thursday

Come now and touch me, Lord, I pray

Give me the word I need today

So many times amid the haze

I turn to You to guide my ways.

I need assurance You are there

To keep me from the devil's snare

Your presence here in simple Bread

Is how in daily life, I'm fed.

I need Your life and light within

To keep me always far from sin

As You who conquered death well know

I've got a long, long way to go.

I need Your daily touch each morn

The day to bless, and so adorn

Your wounds to place before my eyes

Reminding me where vict'ry lies.

Friday

Peter spoke the truth to power

Not before such men to cower

Spirit led with gift of preaching

Peter to the teachers, teaching

Christ you crucified is risen

Deathly hold on life now riven

Signs and wonders to His glory

Just one piece of His new story

You, the builders, Him rejected

He, the Cornerstone, perfected

Him you crucified is living

And His Spirit, power, giving

All of Israel should hear it

None should have the need to fear it

For He forgives and heals all sin

So all may now, salvation, win.

If they, but evil, now would spurn

And then, to Jesus, all now turn

The Light would shine and show the way

Where peace and joy and love will stay.

Saturday

A faithful proclamation

Of Jesus Christ, our Lord

Can change a sinful nation

Without the use of sword.

Exposing to the masses

What those of us have seen

All riches it surpasses

Forgiving, making clean

All sin and death defeated

The stone now rolled away

Our King in glory seated

Our Light for endless day

Messengers are all of us

Commissioned by the King

Witnesses to witness thus

The truth, to all, to bring.

3/29/26 Through 4/4/26

 3/29/26 Through 4/4/26

Sunday

How can one comment on what He has done,

The gift of the Father, and gift of the Son?

His Passion and death has brought life to us all

So, now we must listen and answer His call.

His call is for sacrifice, showing our love

To follow our Leader who came from above

To love at the cost of all things on the Earth

And find in our dying, the path to rebirth.

The buffets and spitting, the crowning with thorn,

The scourging, the mocking, contempt, and the scorn

All that He suffered, with patience endured

To unworthy sinners, the blessings inured

No words can express what our Savior has done

Our Jesus, for sinners, forgiveness has won.

The Cross of Salvation, a symbol of shame

For humble to ponder, and sinner to claim.

Not only for dying, the Savior had come

But into the depths of the heart He will plumb

Replacing our stone with the flesh that He gave

The lost to be found and the sinner to save.

Monday

Extravagant love, what more can I say?

The way that she emptied her jar on that day.

Giving the best that she had, and it all,

She humbly and graciously answered His call.

Undaunted by nothing that's left in her store

To serve the Lord Jesus was offering more

The wealth of the world is a pitiful thing

Compared to the choice of the Heavenly King

The poor can be rich when they give all away

It doesn't cost much just to hear and obey

You purchase a treasure of infinite store

For love as we may, He will always love more.

Don't fall for the trappings of earthly desire

They lead to the prospect of eternal fire

The treasure that never will rot or decay

Requires you give all the others away.

Tuesday

He took the morsel, ran away

Then set about to God betray

He sells the Lord for silver coins

And so, therewith, the darkness joins.

His favored one was just as bad

For where was all the zeal he had

When boasting, he would die for Christ

But found himself, by fear, enticed?

Betrayal runs in every man

But overcoming it, we can

Rely on grace and love to win

Then find forgiveness of our sin

Wednesday

Betrayal comes in many ways

In thought of self, in lustful gaze

In turning from His loving eyes

To don a poor and weak disguise

He sees and knows what's in the heart

Yet still He takes the servant's part

To wash the feet of sinful men

And show them how to act again.

Lord, cover me in love, I pray

That I may never turn away

But always trust until the end

And always, on Your love, depend.

Thursday

On the night before He suffered

With His special chosen men

Christ, before they sat and suppered

Washed their feet in service then

Giving sign as how the leader

Must, to all, a servant be

By His sacrifice, our feeder

Flesh and Blood eternally

Such a humble sign and symbol

But far more than bread and wine

What we see is but a thimble

In the ocean of the Vine

Yet, among the twelve, was evil

Seeking to the Man destroy

Who for paltry price retrieval

With the wicked would employ

When He told of His betrayal

Many voiced their will to die

But gave poor and sad portrayal

When the mob was drawing nigh

In our day the Church remembers

Ages since have come and gone

Though but few are glowing embers

Still, the Truth is carried on

Christ became our King of Glory

Sacrificed, for man to save

Living on, the ancient story

How, for man, His life He gave.

On the altar in our churches

Daily, we recall that night

Humble one that seeks and searches

Finds within the Bread, the Light

Such a mystery, so compelling,

Simple yet complex and true.

Through the many years retelling

All that Christ has done for you.

Friday

Your Passion, Lord, my saving grace

One that eclipses time and space

Event which eons bring to bear

On sacred altars everywhere

The Perfect Lamb once sacrificed

Became salvation, highly priced

Each stroke of lash and painful thorn

With patience and with love were borne

How speechless here I stand today

With naught but gratitude to pay

For how you love and how You serve

But rarely get what You deserve

My everything belongs to You

For all I have is what You're due

Oh, saving pow'r of Love Divine

Come dwell within and make me shine.

Saturday

What emptiness we felt that day

When Christ, our Lord, they took away

His body buried in the grave

The One we hoped would sinners save

Such cruelty not seen before

To every means of pain explore

But through it all His love was shown

'Till there, at last, as Son was known

His lifeless body, cold and dead

With every drop of blood now shed

And where was I when needed most

But with my shrinking self, engrossed!

In time of need, went running scared

While Love Alone was sin declared

To greatest Love I've ever known

Abandonment and slight were shown

How can I live with such remorse?

I wish I chose a better course

And stayed with Him until the end

As one on whom He could depend

As sleep evades my weary eyes

No tears are left, just empty cries.

What will become of one like me

Who loved, and yet abandoned Thee?

3/22/26 Through 3/28/26

 3/22/26 Through 3/28/26

Sunday

If only You had been here, Lord

Dear Lazarus would be restored

But hereupon the fourth day hence

The stench will offer You offence.

Fear not, for Lazarus shall rise

Just wait and watch with open eyes

So, take the stone away to find

Your brother, and to him unbind

This body, four days cold and dead

Must now, by you, be warmed and fed

You see, there's no denying now

Both life and death, before Me bow.

What must one see; What must they learn;

To black and white, and truth discern?

Yet some, for every sign I give

Want nevermore that I should live.

Come lose your pride, you'll not regret

You'll also lose your sinful debt

And find in Me the love you seek

The rest for weary, strength for weak.

Monday

Both innocent and guilty spared

For in His mercy, both He cared

So much that He would take the pain

For them to have eternal gain

But all have sinned and none deserve

The kind of blessing I observe

That He prepares for all who turn

And ways of love attempt to learn

He looks for contrite, humble hearts

From such a one, He ne'er departs

But comforts in the midst of woe

And always will His mercy show

No sins that we would want proclaimed

No man would care to be so blamed

But Jesus bore our weight of sin

To welcome contrite sinners in.

Tuesday

One recollected, let me see

The glory of Divinity

The prize upon the last exam

In Mercy's love, the Great I AM

I try and think I'm doing well

But then You show how pride can swell

And show how truly small I am

And how I need the Paschal Lamb

Don't let me die in such a way

As when we meet, You turn away

And say, You never knew me, Lord

For such a fate, none can afford.

But show me now and help me change

Priorities to rearrange

In such a way to place You first

With Living Water, slaking thirst.

Wednesday

A yes to Your will is my ultimate goal

A heart of obedience guiding my soul

One humble and docile to Your every word

One acting at once on directions I've heard

Attentive to promptings, You place in my mind

One searching for nuggets of grace he may find

One seeing Your beauty in all he will meet

And learning that love is both bitter and sweet

To love is my priv'lege, to hear and obey

A pathway that's new and exciting each day

A handsome mosaic, composed by Your hand

Is what we will find in Your every command

So happy I'll be, when Your will is my own

No greater contentment forever was known

To be one united, in love with my King

The greatest of joys ever known it shall bring.

Thursday

How clearly You have made it be

That You are God for all to see

Yet, somehow, still we find a way

To disbelieve, and turn away

You search for wayward souls like me

And offer signs persistently

To show how faithful You can be

And just how foolish man can be

I want the faith of Abraham

To trust the Mighty Great I AM

To follow, though I cannot see

Just where Your will is taking me

Don't let the weariness of age

My will to follow You assuage

But let me always find the zeal

To always answer Your appeal.

A brand new book I start today

A chapter where I choose your way

And turn to face the light at last

And leave the darkness of the past.

Friday

Is this how you treat a one from above

Who brings to you justice, mercy, and love?

Which work that I've shown you is worthy of stones?

My Father is God, and all things He owns.

The works are a sign that I'm sent from the Throne

The works are not something I do on My own

The Father has sent Me, and Son that I AM

Will be for the people, their Passover Lamb.

Though now not the time, it will be soon enough

When back-up is shown, you will see it's no bluff

I AM in the Father, and He is in Me

The truth will be known when I'm raised on the Tree.

Then, as on the serpent, they gazed and were healed

The Son of the Father, will there, be revealed

In naked humility, beaten and slain

Forgiveness to win, and eternity gain.

But now as the blinders remain o'er the eyes

I speak with the signs and remain in disguise

One day, you shall see just how wrong you have been

And hopefully, then, you will turn from your sin

Do not wait forever, it's urgent, you see

Begin now at once, and start following Me

Persisting in sin, to the gallows will lead

And there, is no help, though the wicked may plead.

Saturday

So many signs, but none to sway

The Scribes and Pharisees that day

One, four days dead, to life, was raised

But yet, His Name would not be praised

They could not see how He could be

Our model for eternity

They only saw their power fade

And how, of them, but fools He made

No diff'rent now as then before

We seek to save an earthly store

And sacrifice what lies beyond

For shiny bling, of which we're fond

He came to make us all as one

United in the Father's Son

With love, the sacrificial tool

To make of us, a sacred jewel

But will we listen and obey

By making time each day to pray,

And searching for His word to hear

To let it draw us ever near?

You have the signs as they did then,

Are you the wise or foolish men?

Is earthly fare your choice today,

Or will you follow in His way?

3/15/26 Through 3/21/26

 3/15/26 Through 3/22/26

Sunday

If blind from birth, I cannot see

Until the light is given me.

The stain of sin, once washed away

So clear I see the light of day

But those with eyes both working well

What's plain in sight, they cannot tell

They see the wonders and the signs

But fail to see His great designs

They fail because of blinders worn

Because of sin and prideful scorn

The eyes of God see not as man

But only as our Author can

He sees the heart that lies within

If it is pure, or steeped in sin

He knows when flesh will block the way

And teaches humble, stop and pray.

For when we seek the way from Him

He steadies heart, and strengthens limb

To carry out His word each day

And help the blind to find their way

Monday

I think of things both old and new

So, when I do, I think of You

For all Your hands have made I praise

And on Your beauty, fix my gaze

You rescue me from falling down

A smile bring, and not a frown

My mourning moves to dancing when

Your mercy saves repentant men

I've seen enough to know by now

That faith is what You use somehow

To make anew the old and gray

And send them dancing on their way

But I believe with yet no sign

That all is in your great design

Somehow, You work all things for good

So, have but faith and trust we should.

Tuesday

From the Temple, flowing water

Give the clay unto the Potter

Let Him mold a worthy vessel

While with pride and sin we wrestle

Wade the waters gently flowing

Let His love be ever growing

Enter deeper every morning

Give the sinner ample warning

Sickness breeds a constant worry

When the water stirs, I scurry

But another beats me to it

Then I think, why should I do it?

Grown accustomed to my sinning

Gone was e'er the thought of winning

But when the Healer touched my soul

I once again was made one whole.

Wednesday

The Father's will was so aligned

That all He did was so defined

Complete submission to His will

To thus, the Father's plan, fulfill

For Jesus showed what man should do

Becoming one like me and you

Alike in kind, but not in sin

He came to our salvation win

To show the Father's way is true

And always one that's best for you

No matter what it seems today,

It proves the best on Judgment Day.

Thursday

Great patron of the common man

Great worker in the Father's plan

Obtain for me such open ears

That I may act in spite of fears

That I may listen much like you

And always be prepared to do

Whate'er He asks, Whate'er it takes

And disregard my little aches

May I be always ready, Lord

To bend my will in Your accord

To sacrifice in any way

And always, what is right, obey

Providing all my family needs

And planting always many seeds

So faith might grow on every stem

And be a rock protecting them

With Joseph as my steady guide

To help me tame my foolish pride

May I be always firm and true

A one who's always pleasing You

Friday

With torture and revilement

To die for man, was Jesus sent.

The sinless to the sinner save

And rise above the earthly grave

To show all men what love can do

To bring salvation near to you

To touch the heart and move the will

Then truth and beauty, there instill

But man must choose the humble way

And bear all wrong until the day

When Christ returns to take them home

Then through the wheat His fork will comb.

That day a firie be kindled high

By those who fail to turn and cry

For mercy from our God most high

Before they breathe their last and die.

Saturday

Far better than vengeance, conversion I seek

Faith for the faithless, and strength for the weak

Now let the prey turn into the teacher

Be sword and shield for the scriptural preacher

Never before has such speaking been heard

Such wisdom and truth, and authorative word

Just listen, you'll be astounded to hear

He reads in your heart, and He knows every fear

Deftly, this Surgeon will cut to the core

Removing infection and healing the sore

He knows what we think, and before we can do

He foils the plans we were given by you

Come take now some time, just to hear how He speaks

Somehow in His love, it's the conscience He piques.

Never before have we seen or we heard

A man with such power and truth in His word