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.

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

10/18/26 Through 10/24/26

 10/18/26 Through 10/24/26

Sunday

Lord, giving what belongs to Thee

Means giving every part of me

My life, my death, and in between

All seen and what remains unseen

I need to trust Your love is good

And act the way I know I should

Refusing little pleasures when

They make me turn from You again

The emptiness they never fill 

But pull me from the Father's will

Then scorn and laughter come my way

From those who led me on astray

What body needs should body get

But let us never once forget

Who made it all and so deserves

Our all be given; no reserves.

Monday

Have riches taken hold in me?

Are riches taking over me?

What point in all we have or do

Except to be as one with You

What's temporary does no good

To see as such, believers should

And readily begin to share

The all we have of temporal fare

Good stewards all are meant to be

To share with generosity

The goods with which He blesses now

So all may have enough somehow

Tuesday

Blest are those ready when Jesus arrives

In want or in plenty, whichever, he thrives

The ones who are listening, ready to act

Never their fervor is loosened or slacked

Christ came as the Savior for all of mankind

So, peace in the Cross, opponents would find

Peace through forgiveness, confessing of sin

Repentance and love, and welcoming in

Uniting all men with the sign of the Cross

In want or in plenty, in gain or in loss

Be ready whenever He knocks at the door

The faithful receive all He has in the store

Wednesday

Be one prepared in every day

To live His word in every way

To follow in the steps He trod

And listen for the voice of God

He speaks in many varied ways

Sometimes it's clear or in a haze

So, we must always look to see

The word He sends to set us free

It calls to greater letting go

So greater we might come to know

The grace and riches offered still 

To those who do the Father's will

How blest they'll be when Christ returns

And then the stubborn sinner burns

The time for change has come and gone

Division lines now firmly drawn

No turning back upon that day

Forever set, our future way

A one forever far from Love

Or one in perfect bliss above

Thursday

My best is so paltry, but all that I own

My sacrifice, loving the Godhead alone

The Father, so loving, so giving and kind

The all of creation conceived in His mind

The Son, who would sacrifice all for His will

The Cross and the beating, astounding me still

A lack of respect for the love of our Lord

In place of the Cross every mercy outpoured

The Spirit who leads to the way up above

Is sent by the Son through His great act of love

To strengthen and prosper and ever remind

That all we must give, so that all we may find

Division He brings between light and the dark

A contrast so clear and astoundingly stark

When love is at work, every selfishness pales

In weakest of light, every darkness but fails.

Friday

So intricate, detailed and fine

And yet so simple, thoughts of mine

What is a thought but love from God

To draw us on the way we trod?

We know not how, or why, or when

Our Lord began His thought for men

But when He did, twas love that ruled

When He allowed that they be fooled

And given will that they might choose

Eternal life, or life to lose

Forever in the Maker's care

Or left alone in selfish fare

We are so small, yet great indeed

The product of the Father's seed

His thought alone and we are here

A life with Him should have no fear

For he is love and love alone

The source of love since love was known

A total gift of self He gives

And all creation, through Him lives

The sky, the wind, the sun, and moon

Are quite enough to make me swoon

But every grain of sand He knows

And through His love all blessing flows

So, recognize Him here or there

Then recognize Him everywhere

You have not made a grain of sand

But He has all for blessing planned.

Saturday

Every part in trial faces

Need for God and special graces

All not given there to any

So anointed are the many

Each a sacred, holy unction

Given to improve our function

See the good and how they matter

Not to charm or simply flatter

But a body so in union

Full, complete, and in communion

That in Her the Savior seeing

All might come to be believing.

More Notes from My Phone

 

My Children You're Loved

My children, you’re loved, and I hope that you know
That Heaven is where I am trying to go
My duty as parent, is show you the way
So, all are together on that final day
 
The practice of faith, indispensable key
Our pipeline to God and to setting us free
An hour a week is the key to success
It works well with more, but not so with less
 
He waits for us patiently, ready to speak
If only His Counsel and Wisdom we seek
No scheduling needed. He’s always at hand
Just waiting with vistas of love to expand
 
The quiet and peace of His presence are here
And all that is missing is you to be near
You'll find it uplifting and calming, I say
The highlight for sure of your busiest day
 
So, make an appointment you never shall break
If only the time with our Lord you will take
I promise you’ll hear in the depths of your heart
”I love you, and never My love will depart”

Don't Turn Back

Oh Lord, our returning to vomit we do

Instead of our placing of trusting in you 

We look to the temporal to quiet the heart 

When all that it does is eternal depart

 The source of our longing, our looking for love

Is only contented by you from above 

No pleasure can slake it. No drug can remove.

But only dig deeper the sinfulness groove

For you are the filling of all that we lack 

Repentant, you always are welcoming back 

The great absolution we get from above 

Comes from the Sacrament given in love 

Grace Enough

Grace enough I give to you

But it’s you, must choose to do

Grace ignored for want of pride

Grace employed by one who died

 

Died to self for greater gain

Bearing with the temporal pain 

Choosing as the Savior did

Not to keep the mysteries hid

Oh What a Blessing

Oh what a blessing to be with my Lord

With graces and blessings abundant outpoured 

Away from the bustle of everyday life 

An hour with Jesus, to fend off the strife

 

The weight of your presence upon me I feel 

The weight of a presence that’s true and that’s real. 

I sing of your mercies and bask in your love.

I find here on earth a taste of above