5/24/26 Through 5/30/26

 5/24/26 Through 5/30/26

Sunday

Tongues of fire still burn today

Where men of fervent faith will pray

Where men will search for every word

And act on each of which they've heard.

The strength and boldness they project

It's just a single side effect

Of dwelling there within their hearts

The One who every grace imparts.

Not drunk with wine, but holy love

To set their sights on God above

Who died and rose again to save

All sinners from the Earthly grave.

Monday

Mother Mary, guide and teacher

Favored as no other creature

Full of grace, all sin dispelling

Come and grace this humble dwelling

Make of me a servant ready

Always firm and always steady

Listening to hear instruction

Not succumbing to seduction

One whose will aligns to Jesus

Takes His flesh, which daily feeds us

Looks for ways to serve the others

Seeing them as all his brothers

Mary, pure and undefiled

Come and help your little child

Train me how to be attentive

Make but love my pure incentive

Tuesday

What's given up is given back

In many diff'rent ways

Though demons will the man attack,

Steadfast, the victor stays

Economies of grace are known

To those who persevere

Who tend to every seed that's sown

And act on what they hear.

It often seems the lowly and 

The ones who give Him all

Are giants in what God has planned

While here on Earth, so small.

Our proving ground is Earth below

Where plainly He will see

If we have eyes for empty show

Or love the Trinity

Don't worry 'bout what here you lose,

For Heaven has in store

Much more for those who freely choose

The less, to gain the more.

Wednesday

A faith in God was given me

And truth, I then could plainly see

But somehow, too, the whisper came

To make me search for wealth and fame

I wanted all that's good for me

And plight of others failed to see

My freedom used in selfish ways

Creating but a milky haze

But when I started love to learn

And so, the voice of God discern

I learned His gifts must be received

Or easily is man deceived

Beloved wants what's good for man

And God has always got a plan

To work for good, our trials faced

And make us bloom where we are placed

He teaches us through sacrifice

That love is worth a greater price

That glory comes when flesh is dead

And Christ becomes the body's head.

Thursday

I want to see. I want to see.

A cry to God that comes from me

The mind is not astute to see

The glory in Your mystery

I know there's much I need to learn

Your ways, no man could e'er discern

But once You shine the light, I see

A speck for You, but much for me.

So, show me sin I need to cleanse

Confessing well to make amends

And let me see what Your eyes see,

The chosen one I'm meant to be

All happiness is in Your will

So, help me to Your word fulfill

To let You guide my soul with care

And lead me to the finest fare.

Each word a vista new and bold

A vast frontier that we behold.

There's always more we need to see

That's why we need the light from Thee.

Friday

Intensity in love will show

We put our trust in God to know

The way to serve our brother's need

And how the hungry souls to feed

The way we glory in the Lord

Will show the depths of love explored

When trial is faced with joy and grace

We know we're near His saving place

For on the Cross was vict'ry won

The age of love was there begun

No grave could hold such Love, Divine

So, make such Love the goal of thine

Saturday

Why question what you plainly see?

There's proof enough that He is He.

Authority is evident

That from the Father He was sent.

No man has ever done such work

Why look at Him with sneer and smirk?

You see before you God as man

So ask your part within His plan

Do not persist in jealousy

But now embrace humility

For foolish sinners cling to pride

When mercy comes to be your guide

5/17/26 Through 5/23/26

 5/17/26 Through 5/23/26

Sunday

Oh Mary, help me ponder well

And then, with eloquence, to tell

Of what the Spirit shows to me

That others, too, might be set free

He came in humble way to Earth

In manger found of Virgin birth

He grew in quiet, lowly ways

Before beginning public days

His voice astonished all who heard,

Authority was in each word

Those ruling then could not compete

So, death they thought would Him defeat

But Cross and grave could not contain

The stone and guard were set in vain

He rose in glory then to show

The way disciples all must go

A narrow, steep, and rocky way

But one that leads to endless day

He gave us charge to spread the news

So, all the ways of love might choose

Ascended, we are not alone

For now, His Spirit, well is known

Though suffering will come our way

He gives the grace for come what may.

Monday

I want the tongue that speaks of Thee

With knowledge and authority

A tongue that rudders well the ship

To children teach, and saints equip.

The gift of Spirit given men

As hands were laid upon them when

They came believing what they heard

Of Christ who came as Living Word.

He offers peace in troubled times

When even Calvary He climbs

He bids us look beyond the grave

Forgive, and let His mercy save.

Don't fall for lies the devil tells

But wake and see how bad it smells.

When evil whispers all its rot

The stench of death is all it's got.

The Holy Spirit, freshness brings

A view of how in Heaven sings

The choir of saints and angels there

Who praise in ways beyond compare.

Help me to always see that side

Forsaking all my human pride

And trusting in the Cross alone

To lead me to my final home.

Tuesday

I wish to say I did my best

And answered every fond request

But I know well, I turned away

And often chose to go my way

Those times did not go well for me

For there, I saw how selfishly

The Devil molds our Earthly will

To truth and beauty maim or kill

The flesh will look for easy ways

Avoiding light and choosing grays

Where just a little light will do

To make it seem it's good for you

But time exposes evil well

With Light, I now can quickly tell

His lies are but the bait and hook

That always for the foolish look

So, if or when we fall from grace

God always has His special place

Where sin confessed will grace restore

And prove that grace will offer more.

Wednesday

Sing out, oh kingdoms of the Earth

Though here your form was given birth,

Your home lies far above this land

So, follow well True Love's command

Keep watch upon the flock you lead

For savage wolves have come to feed

They search for weakness there among

And will not spare the tender young

Rely upon His faithful word

And act upon instructions heard

The legacy He leaves behind

His Spirit, to the weak remind

Of all He said and all He did

The Father's love He never hid

But showed through suffering and pain

Eternal life, the steadfast gain.

Be not discouraged, but rejoice

And listen well to hear His voice

He calls to give more than receive

So always trust, and so believe.

Thursday

The One who formed the lowly clay

Astonishing, to man would say

"I pray that you be One in Me

As He in Me and I in He.

The Son took flesh to show us love

Then died and rose to God above

He showed us how to heal our pain,

Forgiving, we forgiveness gain

This word, so novel, fresh and new

Hard to believe, and yet it's true

That God would share Himself with man

The creature in Creator's plan

Keep up your courage, persevere

The Spirit's help is always near

So many turn away but hear

What may, when pondered, grow more clear.

The Father works in wiser ways

That penetrate the outer glaze

To prick the conscience deep within

And show the man his depth of sin.

Inviting him to turn to Love

To join the saints with Him above

Repenting of our every sin

Forgiveness and the Light to win

Friday

In threefold times was Christ denied

In bitter shame, he left and cried

The glowing embers told a tale

But nevermore would courage fail

A threefold pledge of love he gave

To Him who conquered o'er the grave

The Spirit's gift would nerve the arm

And give his words a holy charm

No more a coward, now a guide

Once humbled, now bereft of pride

Forgiven and restored by Love

To guide the Church to home above.

Saturday

His timeless voice is tailored so

It gives what each will need to grow

Forever old, forever new

He always has a word for you

"Come follow Me." His word to all

His daily, loving, constant call

For truth no time or age exceeds

And truth in every age, man needs

Your path and mine are different trails,

And each will come with its trevails.

But always in His word we find

The truth we need is there entwined.

Just follow on the path He leads

For in His will, our work succeeds

It may not seem that way sometimes

But good can come from even crimes.

5/10/26 Through 5/16/26

 5/10/26 Through 5/16/26

Sunday

The Spirit comes to be our guide

Not as a means of boastful pride

But one to teach as Jesus taught

And spread the gifts that Jesus bought

He gives the words we need to speak

He strengthens us when we are weak

Emboldening the bashful one

And seeing that His work gets done

Monday

So open your heart and hear what He says

Then kindle that spark and make it a blaze

And make of your home a place of Good News

A harbor of love for pilgrims to choose

The evil will crowd you with noise every day

Too drown out the word that you're hearing Him say

But quiet will counter the evil design

And teach you to Heaven, your ears to incline.

The child will search for immediate gain

But hopefully learn that it breeds lasting pain

Mature will be patient and giving of time

As on to the Heavenly Heights they will climb

The children need leaders who show them the way

Who sacrifice now for the coming new day

Who pleasure forsake, for another's true good

And choose like adults to shoulder the wood.

Tuesday

The Spirit will come and rejoicing will sound

When truth of the Gospel by Pagans is found

When clearly they see what the Father has done

By His sending in flesh the gift of His Son.

The bars and the chains are no match for His pow'rs

He comes to our aid in the darkest of hours

One shaking the Earth as He enters the room

Of hearts that are trapped in the darkness and doom

The Light brings a joy that before never known

But there on the faces of beaten was shown

In such a condition, they raised to His name

A song that His love and His glory acclaim.

Wednesday

Our Lord, not leaving men to fall

Has sent the One on whom we call

His Spirit from the Godhead Three

To open eyes and hearts to see

The world has many gods to praise

But only One to whom we raise

Our heart and voice to so proclaim

The glory of His Sacred Name

For One but died and rose again

As Sacrifice for sinful men

This One has borne our weight of sin

And calls us now to enter in.

Since we, as men, are free to choose

The life He offers, we may lose

Unless we turn from evil ways

And offer One the rightful praise

Thursday

Told to love another clearly

Spirit of our Lord is nearly

There with every grace that's needed

When His voice is closely heeded.

Well the chosen teachers seeded

And for newborn Christians pleaded

That the Spirit come with graces

Filling all the needed places.

Friday

When new life comes, it brings a joy

To pain and suffering destroy

The newness and the purity

Arrives amid obscurity

Yet comes to waken love within

And turn our hearts away from sin

To see our duty here to give

For such a precious one to live

The hardest thing we'll ever do

Is make a sacrifice like You

A total gift of self to win

Our vict'ry over death and sin

You showed the way on Calvary

How real men all were meant to be

As husbands, fathers, men who love

And take their cues from God above

Our chance at glory here below

Is raise a tender child to know

The love of God, and right from wrong

Then write a new and diff'rent song

Saturday

Oh, let Your words be on my lips

So they, my feeble words eclipse

So they might reach one deep within

And lead to turning far from sin

Your blaze of mercy melts away

Dear Father, this, I humbly pray

In Jesus' name, in firm resolve

My sinfulness that You absolve

I pray that too, my life be seen 

A one, within the din, serene

With comfort in Your mercy, Lord

A broken one who's been restored

A one Your Spirit uses well

To of Your grace and glory tell

Obedient in every way

And trusting every word You say/

.

5/3/26 Through 5/9/26

 5/3/26 Through 5/9/26

Sunday

So oft repeated in our day

We stumble and we lose our way

We hear the word, but heed it not

Then lose whate'er we think we've got

Don't get distracted by the good

But focus on the word, we should

For when we listen and obey

It keeps us on the narrow way

He makes a place for man to dwell

But never shall the man compel

He offers man a home above

But only when we learn to love

Monday

Not to us, but to Your Name

Belongs the glory, Lord

No good for man is Earthly fame

Or Earthly riches stored.

For all we have has come from You

And naught we claim our own

Our best is all that we can do

To make Your glory known.

Unworthy as a man may be

Each one a task You give

To help another plainly see

For You, a man must live

The self-reliance of our time

To false assurance leads

For when the final church bells chime

Then all we have are needs

For naked to the world we came

And naked we shall leave

No good for man is Earthly fame

To Jesus, we must cleave

Our glory must be His akin

Obtained by giving all

By opening our ears to Him

And answering His call.

Tuesday

To suffer much, the Christian's call

So, give Him nothing less than all

From early on, our Jesus knew

The worst that evil men would do

Yet, undeterred, He stood His ground

And boldly faced the evil found.

Scorned upon the Cross, He bled

Humiliated, cold, and dead

When evil thought the battle won

The torture and the killing done

He showed the pow'r of love to save

And rose again from in the grave

Now those who follow Him will know

That sufferings will come and go

Whate'er the trials though they find

He offers joy and peace of mind

For only in the Father's will

No matter how they maim or kill

The spirit cannot be controlled

And all will one day be consoled.

Wednesday

One firmly attached to the life-giving Vine

Whose fruit will produce an abundance of wine

Is always relying on strength from above

Renewing the soul with the power of love

The fruits of the Spirit abundantly grow

When graces, to branches, will lavishly flow

Apart from the Vine, they but wither and fade

Dried up, they but fuel for the fire are made

Oh, never let me, interrupt such a flow

But open each channel to flourish and grow

Then prune every branch so it bears the best fruit

As one well aware of my final pursuit.

Thursday

His word was meant for all to hear

All hearts were meant to Him be near

The God of love was meant for man

Since long before the time began

A chosen people all His own

Were first to whom our God was known

They had the law to bring them near

And yet the path remained unclear

It wasn't 'till Messiah came

And love became His claim to fame

That man could see His love extends

To even the remotest ends

Our task is carrying His word

'Till nations everywhere have heard

And Love's dominion grows to find

Its home in hearts of all mankind

Friday

Our friends are called upon in need

And friends are those the Master heed

A wondrous gift to be His friend

And always on His grace depend

Not slaves without Your goal in mind

But friends who to Your mission bind

And work to bear the fruit Divine

From those well grafted on the Vine

The friends are those who learn to love

Accepting graces from above

To bring the Kingdom here below

So sinners may forgiveness know.

Saturday

To know the Father, know the Son

For they are with the Spirit One

The ways of love so strange to man

Since in the Garden, time began

The time when man first turned away

From following the Father's way

Corruption entered perfect joy

And tries now to the man destroy

But Jesus came, redeeming man

According to the Father's plan

Not using pow'r, but using love

And teaching man to look above

To see the world beyond the Earth

And find therein a second birth

To where His love will rule the day

And all will walk the Father's way

Our job is but to spread the news

And help those here to rightly choose

Though some will hear yet go astray

There's some who listen and obey.

The Harvest is Rich

 The Harvest is Rich

The harvest is rich, but the laborers few. (Mt 9:37)

So, ask if the Lord may be calling on you.

The fields are in danger of falling to seed,

Of losing the wheat and sowing the weed.

 

Much labor is needed to harvest the field

Our Lord is expecting a maximum yield.

Don’t be one that meets Him with nothing in hand

To show that you’ve followed His greatest command. (Mt 28:19-20)

 

You say, how can I help, or what can I do?

Well, what is it God has been speaking to you?

The gifts you’ve been given were meant to be used

So, be not a one, that to use them, refused.  (Jn 2:5)

4/26/26 Through 5/2/26

 4/26/26 Through 5/2/26

Sunday

You're Shepherd, Sheep, and the Gate

But why have I learned this so late?

To follow Your voice, and make You my choice

Is how, my desires, I sate.

You're Leader who shows us the way

To sacrifice something each day

A servant to be, and through serving to see

Through all different shades of the gray

The Lamb to atone for our sin

A new way of life to begin

Your shedding of blood, an incredible flood

For sinners, salvation to win.

Our Gate to the heavens above

The land of the purest of love

Where Father we meet, and Spirit we greet

In no other form than a Dove.

And here's how I know that it's true

They're words that were spoken by You

And all that You say, no matter the day

Is straight in a world that's askew.

Monday

In varied ways You speak to me

But many times it's hard to see

Just what You wish for me to do

And how I best can answer You

Is it too much to ask of Thee

To speak with simple clarity;

I know Your ways exceed my own,

But can't a ray of light be shown?

You made me, and You know I'm weak

I try to listen when You speak

A servant I but want to be

But need to know what's asked of me.

Tuesday

Disciples were scattered to spread the Good News

The wicked surpressing whatever they choose

The people believing and seeing the light

While all around them was threat of a fight

The mission was clear to disciples back then

And they were courageous, obedient men

Determined to act on Your every command

Regardless of what they had formerly planned

I need such conviction to follow this way

And trust that the gifts will be coming to stay

Not just for a moment, then leaving me dry

I need all the gifts and the vision to try.

It seems like a selfish and gutless excuse

But I see awaiting, an obvious noose

It's not of the dying that gives me the pause

But failing a worthy and noble good cause

We need one with vision inspired by love

A one with a pipeline directly above

A one to inspire the masses to sign

And join to this odd, but uplifting design.

Wednesday

One set apart to speak of You

One given grace for what we do

For spreading truth throughout the land

Completing all the work You planned

Each one a worker in the field

Expectant of a mighty yield

Determined that all men should hear

And lend a willing, docile ear

A one to serve in varied ways

Regardless of our elder days

For long as well the body breathes

We must be gathering the sheaves

Thursday

If one has a word, he should speak it out loud

And not be a one who gets lost in the crowd

He calls on us all to be heralds of love

And sends us His Spirit for strength from above

A slave, never more than his master, will be

When Master is Servant, so too, it's for thee

We give to the needy without a return

The Master's true message, in quiet, we learn

The works we accomplish are all through His hands

Which make up a lifeline of many such strands

Once firmly affixed to the Master, we grow

To lines that will bring many others in tow.

Friday

A day for workers, set aside

A Saint with men to be allied

A humble, docile, holy man

A key to working out God's plan

A man of pure unselfish love

With ears attuned to God above

A man who acts on what he's heard

With trust in God, the way preferred

No selfish motives here at play

But pure intent to never stray

A hand that's strong and highly skilled

A one that's trained to mold and build

A quiet one we nary hear

But one who's waiting always near

To serve whate'er the Father's will

And so, His role of dad fulfill.

Saturday

The word must spread to every land

And we must follow His command

To make disciples of all men

To see His mighty works again

All ends of Earth must know His name

And know from whom the Savior came

The Father, too, they must embrace

And see Him in the Savior's face.

For both are One, and yet there's more

The Spirit, too, completes the core

A triune God of Three in One

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

His word will often, mind, exceed

But if in faith and love, we plead

For understanding, knowledge, too,

His light will often shine for you

The prideful heart brings darkest night

But littleness of heart brings light

For humble see, where proud are blind

And teachable, the truth will find