11/29/26 Through 12/5/26

 11/29/26 Through 12/5/26

Sunday

Lord God, we need Your awesome might

To make for us a holy sight

A sight to shake the sense of man

And make him heed Your holy plan

We need the shock of holy fear

To recognize that You are near

To know that death will come to all

And turn, at last, before we fall

We need the witness strong and clear

Of saints who know that You are near

That stand by, ready every day

To follow You along the Way

Along the way to give their lives

As holy husbands, holy wives

Who sacrifice in selfless ways

To sanctify the everydays.

To climb the hill of Calvary

As once You did to set us free

Who watch and wait in holy fear

For they can see that You are near.

Monday

Hear and obey!  Hear and obey!

Words that the Gospel often will say

Sounding so simple, much harder to do

Each day, many times, the choice faces you

Think back to the first time you turned from His voice

Rejecting the holy by making your choice

It wasn't so hard, but your flesh overruled

Too often we see how the flesh can be fooled

The proud and the haughty, the wise of the Earth

Expanding their knowledge, reducing their worth

Discounting the word of the Maker of all,

Position themselves for a terrible fall.

Each door that you open reveals seven more

Yet still you refuse to acknowledge the score

You're lost in a dream where you're greater than all

But greatest in you is the height of your fall

The simple yet wise, quite early have seen

From beauty, and wonder, and order we glean

A Maker far higher than mind of the man

A Maker with love and salvation His plan

He gives all we need if we humbly obey

He speaks to us all throughout every day

The humble will listen, but proud will reject

The Word with the power to heal and perfect

Tuesday

One day I'll see and then be shamed

Oh, ye of little faith be named

I see with only earthly eyes

And not beyond the world's disguise

I want to do the Father's will

But find it always leads uphill

With three steps forward, two steps back

And always something else I lack

Frustration and the anger grow

A not-so-holy side they show

A leader needs a group to lead

A Shepherd needs His sheep to feed

I need the Manna seen in love

The stuff with wisdom from above

That forms to meet the taste of those

Who duty and agreement chose

Unlike the ones demanding meat

The Lord in all I wish to greet

With grateful heart and docile will

In trust that only You can fill

Forgive my pessimistic side

And help me tame my sinful pride

In gratitude You let me know

That trust alone is how we grow

Wednesday

A feast He prepares for the faithful that day

Of rich juicy food and the wine to allay

Each fear of the evil that death could once bring

Each web that was woven, destruction to bring

With bread sent from Heaven for healing the lame

The wine of compassion in His Holy Name

He multiplies all that we offer to Him

Creating from noise, a most beautiful hymn.

I see but the mountain and not so the way

Embarrassed by blindness I see every day

Whenever I cry, and my selfishness wins

A class in humility thereon begins

I pray that in earnest my foolishness ends

But that on my faith and my trust now depends

If I could just walk by my faith, not my sight

I'd be set on my way to winning the fight

Thursday

The word of the Father is all that I need

For to hear and obey is how to succeed

Love wants what's best for the child of His heart

So, listen, obey, and never depart

It may never be what you ever desired

And not what you planned when at last you retired.

But all that you need for the washing within

The healing of wounds and the cleansing of sin

For none but the perfect will enter His room

All attached to the selfish is nothing but doom

The gate is so narrow, and wide is the sin

The baggage of sin will never fit in.

His word will but lead you to leave it behind

Unhindered, a freedom to love you will find

Then maybe, just maybe, you'll see why we say

You'll always do best if you hear and obey.

Friday

So many blind who cannot see

Including those who look like me

He questions what is on the mind

And they respond, "Lord, I am blind."

I want to see, and know You care

I want far more to be aware

Of how to love and live like You

And how to do the things You do

To be so humble, true, and wise

To see through every veiled disguise

To hear so clear the Father's way

To listen well and then obey

Saturday

This is the way. Come walk in it now

Be help to the Master at harvest, somehow

The harvest is rich, but the laborers few

That thought that you have is His calling on you

He wants you to help in the word to be spread

To feed all His sheep when they need to be fed

All needed He gives in the time and the place

The knowledge and strength, the prudence and grace.

Be not one discouraged by all that you see

Remember I conquered through death on a tree

No matter how bleak it appears in the night

The dark will but vanish when faced with the light

11/22/26 Through 11/28/26

 11/22/26 Through 11/28/26

Sunday

Why, oh why, this fight within?

This fight with flesh, and fight with sin

I know who wins at last, and yet

The world and flesh, my will can get.

I want to be conformed to Christ

But still, that seems so highly priced

My pride and honor hold the sway

And then I choose a lesser way

Deny yourself and bear the cross

Enduring every human loss

To gain the prize He offers man

And find that mercy's in the plan

For all need mercy every day

Correcting us along the way

For all have fallen many times

But to the Cross, the Savior climbs

We need His love to be transformed

The body, cold, to be re-warmed

From death, to life, be raised again

But then, as One with God, the men.

Monday

Your heart that burns with love for me

Dear Jesus, let me ever see

Your word that thunders like a flood

Within a single drop of blood

No mind can understand it now

A song that's old, but new somehow

That only pure and clean can learn

While others in the fire burn

You ask for all we have to give

So we may in Your presence live

Though small it be, it meets the need

To many in their hunger feed.

Tuesday

The harvest time approaches near

The judgment of the Lord we fear

For He who sees with truthful eyes

Looks far beneath our thin disguise

His knowledge more complete and true

Than even what you know of you

Our subtle motives hidden well

That even to ourselves we sell

We try to check the box and be

A one acceptable to Thee

But You can see what needs to go

Before to Heaven we may go

Give courage to the ones like me

Who doubt their own veracity

And must confess their frequent sin

But put their trust in You to win.

Wednesday

Great the works of God on high

Though the evil drawing nigh

Death may come, but persevere

He may use your death to steer

Many others in the wrong

To join the joyful, loving throng

Not by what you plan to say,

By what He gives you on that day

He's in control, though not it seems

For evil only evil schemes

But in the plan of Love Divine

He saves those clinging to the Vine

Thursday

Judgment Day will come for man

The day we see the Father's plan

With clarity in light revealed

What heretofore had been concealed

Great power in the mighty sea

Escaping bounds once set by Thee

The Sun, and Moon, and stars proclaim

The majesty of Jesus' name

That day so terrible, sublime

Woe to those of guilty crime

Woe to all when faced by Him

For every single little sin.

We think we know and understand

But none conceived a One so grand

Our greatest words cannot explain

The grandeur in His Holy Name

Friday

The vision of our brother John

A scary thought to ponder on

To be repaid for all we've done

To crucify God's only Son

In judgment sit the martyrs now

Who sacrificed their all somehow

By trusting God and God alone

Who sits upon the highest Throne

The Earth and Sky attempt to flee

But none escapes the gaze of Thee

For all is known, and all is read

Upon the day when all are dead

Then souls immortal made for man

Are judged unto the Father's plan

If clemency was not received,

The Dark Abyss for those deceived

I try, but still I fail each day

For only He can light the way

And change me into one who's good

Who conquered evil on the wood

I trust and pray my weakness now

Be turned to strength and love somehow

Then New Jerusalem I see

As Bride bedecked in gems for Thee

Saturday

To stand before the Son of Man

No mortal creature ever can

Without the grace from God above

Infused into a heart of love

His gaze reveals the slightest sin

Of wanton selfishness within

That buckles knees before the Throne

To make a plea for mercy known

His Mother, only, tread that way

For she would listen and obey

She pondered every word to know

Exactly where and how to go

Her heart so docile, clean, and pure

Her every step was made secure

From that first day when Love was known

Her humble following was shown

At every turn, she trusted Him

When times were bright, or times were grim

Her steadfast love prevailed in all

She answered well His every call

So, if we hope to one day stand

We, too, should ponder well His plan

To see where we can foster love

And be more like our God above

11/15/26 Through 11/21/26

 11/15/26 Through 11/21/26

Sunday

What is there I can show?

How many more that know

Of Jesus Christ and why He came

Have I done all to share His name?

His talents, have I used,

Or lazily abused?

In looking back, I see I lack

And rightly stand accused

Some better, many worse

But herein lies the curse

We're called our very best to do

And worry not what others do.

It takes a risk we lose

For others may not choose

But we at least must share the word

'Till everyone on Earth has heard.

Monday

To see is such a special gift

The true and beautiful to sift

The place where every action leads

The hidden wounds and deepest needs

So little does the mortal see

The greatest works of art for Thee

But far beyond what eye can view

Are purposes designed by You

For some see what the light reveals

And some see what the dark conceals

But You see all in every way

Revealing truth on Judgment Day

We all are blind in many ways

Just groping 'round throughout our days

But wise who recognize they're blind

Are only those who truth will find.

Tuesday

The victor sits beside the Throne

A one with God and God alone

One faithful, true, and undisturbed

With every passion rightly curbed

A one who speaks the word aloud

Undaunted by a hostile crowd

A one who searches sinners out

To clear away distrust and doubt

When just one hears, repenting well

We see the likes of Heaven swell

For others see what God has done

And then unto the Savior run.

No room for jealousy and pride

When speaking of the other side

For there but love alone shall reign

And there our every need we gain

Wednesday

Come up and I will show you some

Of what there is about to come.

A glory never known by man

A story, nay, a human can

Where only Earthly things they know

Imagine from the Earth below.

A throne such likes as never seen

Of purest emerald, clear and green

Aglow around Him sitting there

With golden crown on silver hair

'Mid flash of lightning, thunder peals

The breaking open of the seals

Both night and day, the loud refrain.

Of Holy, Holy, is Thy name!

Who was, who is, and who shall come,

The mighty, ever-living One

All creatures bow before the throne

For He is God, and God alone

From only there in Heaven on high

Can mortal man, with mortal eye

Conceive such majesty and grace

For nay on Earth is such a place

And worthy is the Lamb once slain

Forever in our hearts to reign 

Thursday

Jesus wept for none had known

The plan for life 'till it was shown

Upon the Cross, upon the hill 

Where Love fulfilled the Father's will

For none was worthy, none ideal

Not one could break a single seal

Until the Lamb once slain appeared

And to the Father's will adhered

His plan unique for every soul

Not one can play another's role

The Lamb has broken every seal

To man, the plan of God reveal

The Father's love so deep and wide

It conquers every hint of pride

Such love, He wills for all to know

That's what He sent His Son to show

No need to wonder anymore

There's one alone we should adore

And One who loves us so to bear

Our cross, and every burden share

Friday

No Earthly riches bring content

But to what's passing, man is bent

We see not far beyond the now

And often miss the train somehow

He wants us pure and clean to know

The way of love we're meant to go

Our Lord provides for every need

And useless is our lust and greed

A false security wealth brings

A trust in but the passing things

When all we need is offered free

By simply moving close to Thee

I want this Psalm to be my own

That none but Thee is ever known

So precious or so sweet to me

As every word received from Thee

My Rock, my Joy, my standard high

Forever unto You I cry

To cleanse my sin and wash away

My every foolish sinful way

Saturday

Two goods are given man to see

Both temporal and eternity

In death we leave behind the one

To find a new one has begun

Then fear and trembling come our way

Especially on Judgment Day

For then all secrets stand revealed

With no more ways to be concealed

All mercy, mercy, then we cry

For on Your Love we must rely

For some, Your mercy purifies

But not the one that Love defies

The choice we make down here below

The world to love, or Jesus know

Far more awaits where time is gone

For those His love rely upon

11/8/26 Through 11/14/26

11/8/26 Through 11/14/26

Sunday

In Him alone we  find our peace

A calm and safety ne'er to cease

Resplendent and unfading love

That draws the heart and soul above

Who waits for Wisdom shall not fail

All other loves besides her pale

All prudence in perfection there

For she releases every care

What gift to know this love sublime

To thirst and ever more to find

With lighted lamps to rule the day

The prudent shall prepare the way

It's not enough to know what's true

It must be guide for all we do

To ready make the soul for You

And be among the chosen few.

Monday

The Temple is a sacred place

Where dwells the Holy Spirit's grace

You are the Temple for the Lord

Where grace was meant to be outpoured

To flow through you to water well 

The arid sands where sinners dwell

To bring the word of life to those

In peril due to what they chose

Be watered by the flow from Him

To wash away the years of sin

And give the fruit for man to eat

To make the cycle then complete.

Tuesday

No praise is due for work well done

It is what's due from servant sons

Our place within this world well known

Is but a servant we are shown

But who and how we serve is key

The One supreme we serve is Thee

Such honor comes from serving Thee

Who made us all, and made us free.

Be dignified in every way

Give none an evil word to say

But let them find you stout, secure

With all your ways both clean and pure.

Wednesday

With gratitude for all He's done

We magnify God's only Son

Unselfish love the gift He gave

To foolish, lost, and sinners save

Mankind was lost to sin that day

Our parents chose the evil way

And disregarded Love's command

To be like gods amid the land

But that just caused a void between

True God and man, as all have seen

We're all unclean with our disease

And Perfect Love we cannot please

But in His love beyond the sky

He sent His only Son to die

To wash away the sins of man

And offer all salvation's plan

The grateful turn and change their way

But many cleansed still turn away

They choose the way of pleasure now

And forfeit Perfect Love somehow.

Thursday

One useless now declared a gem

When he became as one of them

No more the motivation slack

For love was there when he came back

A slave once, now a brother more

With love of Christ his central core

Companion in the work of love

Devoted to our God above

You owe me much, now even more

Returning him could square the score

But only if your will is so

To help my work of love to grow

As lightning flashes 'cross the sky

God's kingdom now is drawing nigh

A gift as this could give to you 

An ever greater Godly view

Friday

As so it was in Noah's day

The Ark still thought a fool's display

We never think the time is now

And so, we miss the boat somehow.

For all the time is short below

The time or day will no one know

We must be ready any time

To hear the final church bell chime

For death will come to all one day

With no more time to turn or pray

We must be pointed to the sky

Or fear the day upon we die

The second chance is here below

It's time for judgment when we go

So, plead for mercy while there's time

Then, on your way to Heaven climb.

Saturday

Will faith be found when Jesus comes?

Then knowledge of the faith becomes

For then you see in clearest light

What were but shadows in the night

Whate'er you do down here below

Your true position it will show

How you believe and how you pray

Will faith or lack in you display

Are you persistent in your prayer,

Or one who's subject to despair?

True faith is trust all He allows

Was meant to greater love arouse

Don't turn away when all is bleak

It's often then we hear Him speak

He purifies the base below

To see what love the Cross did show

Such love was meant and made for man

But sin's attempt to thwart the plan

Was met with Love so pure and clean

No grave could hold, as it was seen.

Don't ever stop believing Love

It's how you'll find your home above

Persistent prayer to God alone

Will bring the sinner safely home

11/1/26 Through 11/7/26

 11/1/26 Through 11/7/26

A multitude from far and wide

Have come to be those at His side

Who worship ever 'fore the throne

The God of all, and God alone

Blessing, glory, power, might

Wisdom, honor, in His sight

Clad in robes of gleaming white

Bowing to the Lord of Light

Here those longing see Your face

Here the poor are filled with grace

What love bestowed on us that day

When Christ shall claim us, come what may

Blessed be those mourning now

Blessed be the poor somehow

Blessed be those merciful

Hungry, too, whose plates are full

Monday

The dead in Christ shall rise

And all be given eyes

To see what now, by faith, we know

But first, through fire, we must go

A flaming sword protects the way

To separate what cannot stay

To purify all that remains

And sanctify what soul contains

Our place prepared with Cross in mind

That through our Lord, salvation find

For sacrifice is love indeed

And life on Earth is just a seed

A seed to die and be made new

Returning all we have to You

So, help us give all held in store

And so, receive You ever more

Tuesday

Unlike the One who gave it all

So often still I trip and fall

I give the all I think I can

Yet still it fails to please the Man

My thought of all is not as He

My thought of all sees only me

And not the wider total view

Encompassing the likes of you

I want to make the house be filled

And do whate'er the Father willed

But often times I make excuse

And tie my own convicting noose

I never really find the all

Or feel I've really met the call

There's always something I've held back

And always something yet I lack

Wednesday

The all I have is naught I need

Possessions only ego feed

The currency in Heav'n above

Is only that of perfect love

My joy's complete when yours is full

To give way to the sacred pull

I pray my life is not in vain

Or lest I suffer lasting pain

I've never known just what is all

But tried at times to heed the call

Though always at the end of day

I've acted in some selfish way

I need His mercy, cleansing fire

To burn away my base desire

For pride reveals the weakness where

To perfect Love I can't compare

To grumble and complain, I do

Instead of cheerful, giving you

I need to learn to love much more

Before He counts the final score

Thursday

Supreme to know dear Jesus Christ

No other gift so highly priced

The many comforts we enjoy

Are but as straw, a useless ploy

For none compares with Him, I know

To nothing else my favors go

No joy competes with Christ alone

The Joy to reach down to the bone

The shepherd searching for His sheep

His will is every one to keep

And, oh, what joy there is each time

One lost is found, to higher climb

Friday

The wicked servant saw the light

The coming judgment bore him fright

He made the plans to save his skin

But failed to welcome Jesus in

Instead, his evil doubled down

To make him friends around the town

He squandered so his Master's store

To make the evil love him more

We, too, should see what lies ahead

Not here and now, but when we're dead

There's life beyond this world we know

And we should ponder where we'll go

That place of light and endless day

With all revealed we do or say

Or darkened shadows, ever dim

Where we are far away from Him

Our choice is made down here below

To light or darkness, ever know

Prepare your way by doing good

And treating others as we should

Saturday

The all I own is not for long

For here is not where I belong

What good is wealth that passes on,

What's here today, tomorrow gone?

I need a wealth that ever grows

A wealth the world cannot dispose

A wealth that spans eternity

And always seeks to make one free

A wealth when shared that multiplies

That always lives and never dies

That seeks another's truest good

And always does what Jesus would

That wealth is love for every man

For love, all times and ages span

And love will never fade away

But always flourish every day

10/25/26 Through 10/31/26

 10/25/26 Through 10/31/26

Sunday

The love of God is number one

The kind of love seen in the Son

The Father's will alone He seeks

And acts whene'er a word He speaks

To neighbor, too, must love extend

In ways quite real and not pretend

We seek their good as if our own

And so we make our Savior known

Those simple words can sum the law

And so correct our every flaw

To listen and His word obey

Will keep us on the narrow way

Monday

One bound and chained for eighteen years

With all her crippled cries and tears

Set free by touch of healing hand

And by the word of His command

Yet those afraid of power loss

Who sought for Him, the brutal Cross

Show no compassion, mercy, grace.

Contempt alone for Love they face

Remove from me, Lord, crippling sin

And cleanse what lies so deep within

That I may stand erect to see

The good that You intend for me.

Tuesday

One work alone on Earth is true

One work devoted unto You

The work of love in every case

Transcends the thoughts of time and space

The man and wife become as one

Reflecting Father and the Son

Concerned so for the other's good

They place themselves upon the wood

Their sacrifices show their love

Reflections of our God above

With branches spreading far and wide

That reach unto the other side

They shelter others when in need

And with abundant fruit they feed

Their shade gives rest from Summer's heat

And others, in them, Jesus meet.

Tuesday #2

The true and beautiful prevail

For truth and wisdom shall not fail

Outnumbered and restrained by love

They lead the way to life above

For Heaven then needs Heaven now

And all must learn to love somehow

For Hell on Earth means lasting pain

Where naught but evil shall we gain

Be mustard seeds of steady growth

The good and evil, love them both

Do good to those who harm you now

And show them they can love somehow

As leaven raises all the dough,

A process sure, but often slow

It makes a loaf to nourish well 

And saves the wise from lasting Hell.

Wednesday

Each called and chosen in some way

To share and teach within our day

Anointed with the Spirit's gifts

To higher heights, the other lifts.

The ordinary all could see

No different than you or me

But graced by God to spread the word

'Till all on Earth have clearly heard

You, too, receive that grace each day

To teach another on their way

And change a heart that they might learn

That from the evil they must turn.

Ask Him to help you recognize

A one in need with faithful eyes

And share the word in such a way

To help them hear You every day

Then not just hear, but act as well

And then begin to others tell

The world will change if one by one

We follow with the Father's Son

Thursday

Put on his armor, so to find

The way to win, and Satan bind

He can't survive in truth and love

So clothe yourself like one above

The present darkness here below

Is caused by evil, that we know

Therefore, wear what God provides

And shine the light where evil hides

When faced, it seems that evil wins

But then our Lord but simply grins

What looks as total grim defeat

Becomes the saving work complete

When cold and dead, for three days gone

The Light appeared as Easter dawned

And now we know that love shall win

To conquer every sordid sin

Friday

My children, what I seek for you

Is love may grow in each to do

The work that still remains to find

Perfection now of every kind

Perception, knowledge, righteousness,

Discernment, and true blamelessness

That you may see the value there

And work to always gain such fare

As Jesus saw the Sabbath day

A time to put the sin away

A time to set the captive free

And share with hungry that we see

Then as your love and mercy grows

A man looks on and surely knows

It's Christ you follow every day

And love you grow in every way

Saturday

The lowest one who made it in

More purging needed for my sin

The lowest one exalted so

In ways the proud will never know

Acknowledging my lowliness

My standing out in holiness

As one in need of cleansing much

Not ever one deserving such

Yet when we simply turn from sin

With sorrow for the dark within

How brilliantly He lights the way

For those who once were gone astray

He says, My friend, now come up here

Be not a one so low in fear

For there's rejoicing up above

When just one sinner turns in love