8/30/26 Through 9/5/26

 8/30/26 Through 9/5/26

Sunday

A living sacrifice of praise

To You in humble form we raise

A mind transformed to see Your will

Yet one in deepest conflict still

Does flesh or Spirit rule the day?

Does true discernment lead the way?

When love for one offends the more

Then all but one are shown the door

The choice is hard despite the way

So, help me choose the light of day

And help the one who's turned away

To heal the wounds without delay.

Monday

The devil likes to tickle ears

To play with words and play on fears

He puffs us up to pull us down

And offers but a withered crown

But fancy words appearing wise

Are just a veiled and thin disguise

The Word of life is sacrifice

Not always soft, or sweet, and nice.

He wants the all we have to give

The everything on which we live

So He alone can be our King

And peace to faithful people bring

The home, a place not well-received

For thoughts therein are ill-conceived

They look for magic shows to win

But fail to turn away from sin

Far more than magic, what we need

Is faith the size of mustard seed

To move the mountain sin has formed

And face eternal life reformed.

Tuesday

So, do I have the mind of Christ?

A mind for others sacrificed?

Or does the world still dwell within,

Attached unto a life of sin?

In some ways, yes; in some ways, no;

For still I have some way to go

The saints were clean and fully in

Rejecting any form of sin.

But as I look, I clearly see

In many ways, that isn't me.

Enticements of the world remain

And still I fall for temporal gain.

A little pleasure here and there

Can soon become a daily snare

To feed the flesh its base desire

Not mindful of the holy fire.

A flaming sword the angel wields

And every way, the weapon shields

The Garden from the slightest sin

For nothing such can enter in.

It severs, burns, and purifies

All that unworthy of the prize

For, yea, before we enter in

We must detach from every sin

He cuts and burns the dross away

Before we pass the narrow way

It comes to all, no sin survives

Nor to the Land of Love arrives

Oh, help me Lord, that here below

I have the sense to just say, no

To sinful pleasures of the day

And learn the sacrificial way

Then cleansed the easy way, I'll find

Akin to Christ, becomes the mind

Then Heaven's way to me would clear

And death would come without much fear.

Wednesday

One who plants, and one who waters

Are not One who makes things grow

He who calls us sons and daughters

Paints the field of faith below.

Only such a One can save us

Others but to serve His will

Freedom, all on Earth, He gave us

Brothers meant to love, not kill

We must grow beyond the infant

More than milk must feed the soul

Looking not to feed the instant

But to benefit the whole.

Unity means no division

All forgiving every wrong

All as one, the Godly vision

Patient love our daily song

Take the word to furthest reaches

Everyone must hear the call

Of the One who feeds and teaches

Prompting men to give their all.

Thursday

So, leave it all to follow Him

It seems like such a foolish whim

But seems the thing that I must do

To find the lasting life anew

So many things that hold my sway

I bow to them throughout the day

To find a little pleasure there

Instead of turning to my prayer

He is The Way, The Truth, The Life

But seemingly a way of strife

The good must give to better gain

No triumph comes without much pain

To want my neighbor's every good

Means I must shoulder well the wood

And follow Christ in every way

To meet my goal the final day

Friday

No judgment passed before the time

For judgment then will fit the crime

The One alone who sees the heart

Is One alone to grace impart

When Perfect Love compares to me

So many faults I then can see

Perfection is the standard there

And none on Earth, to that, compare

Salvation comes as gift to all

For all are children of the fall

We all have sinned and so have earned

Far less than Perfect Love returned

Saturday

Revealed to just the simple ones

The way to be His chosen sons

To serve each one as Christ the Lord

Receiving so, a great reward.

The hungry, homeless, naked one

Is Jesus Christ, God's only Son

Each helpless soul in dire straits

The hand of one to help awaits

By serving them, it's Christ we feed

For He's the one we help in need

In every living soul we find

The loving source of all mankind

Give eyes to see beyond the screen

And through the mire, treasure glean

For in the poor, the Light remains

By serving them, the servant gains

8/23/26 Through 8/29/26

 8/23/26 Through 8/29/26

Sunday

In deepest sleep, from Adam's side

A rib was formed into his bride

So, blood and water from Christ's side,

The seed from which the Church arrived

The gift of self to form the bonds

The love to which the bride responds

No greater gift when we believe

By giving self, so we receive

How deep beyond the mind of man

The details of the Father's plan

No man could ever know the scope

Or more than in the darkness grope

So, say ye now, what you believe

So Kingdom Keys you may receive

All debt on Earth is in your hand

Make giving all, your one command

Monday

Your friends, oh Lord, all make it known

The splendor all Your works have shown

We draw the disbelieving in

And call them to repent from sin

Not loving when we treat the lie

As truth and let the wayward die

In sin, estranged from Love Divine

To dwell amidst the evil swine

The sinner needs to know the truth

They should have learned as just a youth

What God has said is truth indeed

And that is what we all must heed

His truth is like a precious stone

With each a beauty all its own

A masterpiece of art displayed

When just the way of truth obeyed

Tuesday

Strain the gnat, the camel swallow

Blinded guides the blinded follow

In the pit they both are falling

None can see or hear their calling

All of great import be seeing

From the lesser tasks be fleeing

Cleanse the inside, clear the sin

Make it truly clean within

Tithes of mint and rue all flowing

Yet inside the evil growing

Judgment, Mercy, Heaven, Hell

Weighty things of which we tell

Turn around and clean the inside

Stand erect and face the wind side

Be a man and choose the truth

Be example for the youth

Wednesday

A hypocrite so many times

The perpetrator of the crimes

Not wise enough to see my guilt

On shifting sand, a dwelling built

Facade of righteousness outside

But filth upon the other side

It's not but empty show inside

A store of only foolish pride

Humility the antidote

To counteract this prideful bloat

A placing others high above

And serving all with faithful love

Thursday

A steady job we all must do

Not failing in our task from you

For when at last You come to reap

We must be seen as not asleep

We must be found one hard at work

Not as the ones who duties shirk.

For on that day is just reward

Some fortunes lost, and some restored

Friday

Unsearchable the depths of God

The core of Truth, within no fraud

So far beyond the mind of man

To question Him, no mortal can

The wise He shows to be the fool

The humble chosen all to rule

The wisdom in the Father's way

Confounds the wisest of the day

Be ready now at anytime

To hear the final church bell chime

The wise, with love, their lamps will show

Within, a deep and warming glow

The fool, surprised, is unprepared

And love within, cannot be shared

So, cultivate while time remains

To so avoid eternal pains

Saturday

For simple truth, he lost his head

Precursor of the Lord was dead

The immorality was clear

But sinful ears refused to hear

With every word he stood between

Morality, and king and queen

Her wickedness in thirst of blood

Came forth amid an evil flood

A man of truth and purity

The likes of which we rarely see

Was silenced for a righteous deed

The sinful leaders failed to heed

8/16/26 Through 8/22/26

 8/16/26 Through 8/22/26

Sunday

Perception is granted to those who believe

That so, in humility, they can receive

They see what they are in the light of His love

The small and the broken who look to above

Great faith is the answer, persistence and hope

He'll give what we need and then help us to cope

Don't ever lose heart, even so when you fail

Take heart in the Sacrament you may avail

When sin is confessed we admit what we've done

We've fallen away from the teachings of One

Who taught to forgive and to sacrifice much

For here we receive the great healing of such

We all have some pagan that needs to be healed

Stop keeping it secret; it must be revealed

For mercy must work in the light of the day,

And secrecy is but the evil one's way.

Monday

Our grief can show what's lacking here

As we attempt to God draw near

We value things before the Lord

And lose what none can e'er afford

It takes the all we have to live

And all is what He asks to give

But when we give, we quickly learn

We get His ever great return

He will not be outdone by man

His generosity shall span

From age to age and sea to sea

For all He has, He gives to thee

Though many things a man may try

His love alone will satisfy

So, look no further, all you need

Is simply all His words to heed.

Tuesday

Because you are so self-assured

The blessing source you have obscured

You see yourself as someone great

But fail to see your shameful fate

Sophistication comes to naught

And all the strength your riches bought

Is useless on the day you die

And then for mercy, mercy, cry

For then is mercy far too late

If all through life you hesitate

To give what's due to God above

And learn the ways to show His love

A steward all are meant to be

And Earthly wealth, no guarantee

That you will find the narrow way

When comes to you that final day.

Repent and use your riches now

The hardened earth to break and plow

Then let the seed take root and grow

So, fruitful harvest you may know.

Wednesday

When pasturing self instead of the sheep

No glory awaits, and the selfish shall weep

The workers for harvest all come and have gone

And jealousy in the self-righteous shall dawn

But look through the eyes of the Shepherd and see

His love is a gift that's abundant and free

The shepherds must always be caring as well

Or shepherds will find that they're headed to Hell.

Thursday

A wedding feast prepared for man

Repairing all within His plan

Though many called, so few receive

For most invited, don't believe.

Our simple trust is all it takes

For out of sinners yet He makes

An honored guest, invited in,

If we but turn away from sin.

But if His call is heeded not

For them, a great surprise He's got

With grinding teeth, and wailing cries

The unrepentant sinner dies.

Friday

That bones once dead may come alive

For this, oh Lord, Your people strive

Their flesh and sinew gone away

For many souls have gone astray

The task appears beyond our scale

Your word alone could such prevail

A prophecy is needed here

To make the flesh and soul appear

By You alone can this be done

By You alone the vict'ry won

When Spirit shows with clarity

That God alone can set us free

A clattering upon Your word

A rattling such, before not heard

A rising up to life anew

At just a simple word from You

These dry and brittle bones can live

If You just show us how to give

And carry well our cross each day

By trailing You along the way.

Saturday

The humble exalted, the haughty cast down

Awaiting the humble, a glorious crown

Our Queen was so humble, accepting His will 

No one was so loving, before then, or still.

Our Queen is exalted in Heaven above

None other than God ever showed us such love

His handmaid, His servant, His temple on Earth

The humblest Virgin who brought Him to birth

All blessing and honor comes not here below

The lowly are granted, to Heaven they go

But haughty are found in a humbling abode

There reaping the harvest of all that they sowed.

8/9/26 Through 8/15/26

 8/9/26 Through 8/15/26

Sunday

Once called from our safety and into the storm

We see His chosen way is never the norm

But those who will listen and quickly obey

Will tremble when seeing what He calls the way

Where we look for safety, catastrophe looms

But hear and obey, and the desert now blooms

The wind and the fire, the storm and the sea

All draw us to safety by knowing of Thee

I tremble to think what You ask me to do

There's always a challenge in following You

You call me beyond where my safety is sure

You call for my love to be holy and pure

Relying on naught for my safety but You

I summon all courage by moving to You

I reach for Your hand as I call in distress

Please save me, oh Lord, and my weakness address

Monday

The seed of life at first must die

Must give of self and firmly try

To be as Jesus on the Cross

And see all Earthly gain as loss

What lies beyond is hidden now

But eyes of faith can see somehow

The treasure hidden in the field

And every Earthly treasure yield

Who dies for love, produces fruit

The faithful, humble, resolute

They see the pearl that lies beyond

Where never-ending light has dawned

Tuesday

Their angels in Heaven, the Father behold

Become like a child, disciples are told

For unto the child is granted to see

The kingdom of riches prepared there for thee

Those trusting and yearning for all He will say

Then letting Him guide us throughout every day

No fear when His answers are always so true

And welcome each morning, far more than the dew.

The Father's instructions are honey to me.

So good, and so wholesome, a savory tea.

He knows how to teach us, though sometimes it's hard

Just trust that He always, your good will regard.

Wednesday

The sign of faith, the Cross of life

The place where suffering is rife

It marks the ones who hear His voice

And make all righteousness their choice

For chosen ones who suffer well

And of the Gospel message, tell

Shall nary lack for all they need

As hungry hearts they work to feed

No mercy shown to wicked men

Who always turn to sin again

Instead of leaving sin behind

To all the promised blessings find

They see not with a trusting eye

And all the claims of Christ deny

They seek for power, wealth, and fame

And heed not to His Sacred Name

Thursday

The shaping of mercy, the forming of love

Is shown in the story of Master above

Forgiving of all, but His justice remains

We must do the same in the land where He reigns

No room for a grudge to be held or repaid

For action like that has been strictly forbade

Forgive without seeking an equal return

If justice you want, it's you who shall burn

So much He's forgiven, we too, should allow

That those who offend us, to mercy would bow

So, look to the story and see where you fit

Much better for all when our faults, we admit.

Friday

For love we were made, for love we endure

No love is a love if love is not pure.

Purity means we're devoted to one

Not looking around for misguided fun

But hardness of heart makes fidelity wane

Then nothing but grief the unfaithful will gain

The goal is for goodness to reign in the heart

That two, once they're joined, would never depart.

Saturday

So many riches in the Word

So many gifts in what we've heard

Our Mother pondered well indeed

And bore much fruit from every seed

No other in that sinless state

One pure and clean, the perfect slate

For God to write His love for man

Anew on one since time began

Through her all grace and glory flow

Through her, it's Perfect Love we know.

She shares in God's redemption plan

As only one who's perfect can

She brings more gold and precious stone

Than all the saints have ever known

A constant fervent, "Here am I"

Your servant waiting to comply

Oh, hear your children on this day

And help us follow in your way

Where all would do the Father's will

And you with every grace would fill.

8/2/26 Through 8/8/26

 8/2/26 Through 8/8/26

Sunday

The food of the angels, the holiest bread

The action by which the hungry are fed

Is trust in His Providence, trust in His care

Then trust when you give with nothing to spare.

He multiplies all that we offer in love

By praising and thanking His Father above

There's no need to worry, no cause for concern

When trust in the love of the Father, we learn

Monday

His voice that beckons, "Come to Me."

Grants all we need to be set free

To turn and walk away from sin

And let a life of faith begin

Too often, though, we sink and call

Now, save me, Lord, again I fall

I let my gaze be turned away

And failed again to Thee obey

You reach and draw me close to You

In spite of what I fail to do

You calm the wind and still the sea

Forgiving sins I bring to Thee

So, change me, Lord, and let me be

A one devoted unto Thee

A one the truth will recognize

And never seek to compromise

Tuesday

Get out of the boat.  Come to Me

Mind not the wind, mind not the sea

Tossed by the waves churning about

Fear, frustration, panic, and doubt.

Wednesday

Restored within His favor now

A furrow deep and rich we plow

So gently watered with His word

To growth and harvest seed is spurred.

No bounds to mercy He will spread

So, even Pagans shall be fed

When faith is shown, they too can be

A branch upon the family tree

Great things Your simple word can do

Beyond the mind, not touching few.

The night is darkest 'fore the dawn

Let love in every heart now spawn

Let need for human law subside

And hearts be governed not by pride

Then every heart be turned to You

And love be shown our tried and true.

Thursday

You've seen, you've heard, you know what is

All glory now you know is His

Without a doubt, He comes to you

Expecting that, His will, you do

We've seen and heard, we know what's true

It's time that now we give His due

He wants us like unto His Son

The One with love for everyone

Much sacrifice is needed now

For furrows deep and rich to plow

But manifold return to you

Who listen and who also do

A bright cloud comes in darkest night

A show of unsurpassing light

That drives the doubt and fear away

And sets us on the narrow way

Of this we may not speak until

We find ourselves within His will

One listening attentively

To everything He asks of me

For when His will becomes my own

Successful is the seed that's sown

And fruit will overflow to all

That many more might hear the call

Friday

What profit has the world to give?

For here we shall not always live

All passes here from age to age

Like turning of another page

No lasting wealth can here be found

For all who live, end in the ground

Their wealth another grabs to learn

Possessions cannot meet the yearn

The Cross, He says, will meet that yearn

And answer all the heart's concern

For love alone remains at last

When all the wealth of Earth has passed

So, give your life on earth below

To more and more the Savior know

The riches, wealth, and honor find

Within the heart of One so kind

Through suffering, He leads to peace

In hope of life to never cease

Amid the sorrows, one can see

What life and love were meant to be.

Saturday

How long until we give Him all?

How long before we see our fall

And turn to give Him everything

To so, about, His Kingdom bring?

The place to look is deep within

And recognize our selfish sin

We seek our glory, not His own

And find ourselves the foolish shown

If we exalt the King of kings

To joy, and peace, and love he brings

But pride, and greed, and lust mislead

Unrest and discontent to feed

So, turn from all these evil ways

And make anew your rest of days

Feed no longer on the swill,

Let love become your daily fill

7/26/26 Through 8/1/26

 7/26/26 Through 8/1/26

Sunday

One wise enough to understand

But fool enough to do what's banned

The story every sinner faced

Of how they lost what God had graced

So many gifts we throw away

And let our hearts be led astray

We lose the pearl of greater price

By giving in to earthly vice

A conscience, every man receives

But then the evil one deceives

He whispers lies to make us doubt

For wickedness within to sprout

The treasure's hidden in the field

Unable there to harvest yield

While buried under clod and stone

To passersby, the gift unknown

Yet one who finds it hurries well

To all his other treasures sell

For this alone can man fulfill,

The doing of the Father's will.

The wisdom is to know and do

The task that God has given you

Not letting base desire sway

Or wearing blinders of the day

Such wisdom God has offered you

So, let Him guide the things you do

He knows what makes the spirit glad

It's freedom you have always had

It must be used in righteous ways

If not, we turn to evil's slaves

So, use what's rightly yours to win

The vict'ry over foolish sin

Monday

The leaven works to raise the bread

So more and more can all be fed

When hidden long and far away

Soon, all the rest will go astray

It must be used and mixed within

To raise the heart that's trapped in sin

To call it to a higher plain

Where peace and joy it hopes to gain.

Then leaven, all the rest become

As deeper into God they plumb

In little time, can all be moved

And Christ as King for all be proved

Tuesday

Weed and wheat together are grown

By diff'rent sources, each was sown

At harvest, weeds shall fire meet

While wheat, the Source of Life, shall greet.

That day comes every day for some

The holy, yes, but evil come

Unto the point of no return.

A horrid lesson then to learn.

Their chosen path finds no relief

Their liar king is but a thief

Don't be a fool and fail to turn

Or you, like them, forever burn.

Wednesday

Love is the answer to all of our ills

In quiet and calm, our coffers He fills

In trusting our care to His every desire

His wisdom and grace, the humble acquire

It's good to be bold when faith comes in play

But quiet and calm when love rules the day

They both have their place in God's mighty plan

So, believe and then act as best as you can.

Thursday

At potter's wheel, a lesson learned

Whene'er the clay, a failure turned

The clay not lost but molded new

A metaphor of life with You.

You mold and shape, but then we fall

Succumbing to the whisper call

That we can shape the way we live

And not the Potter, homage give.

He molds again if we repent

But once into the fire sent

The heat will prove what's good to keep

But shards are sent to wail and weep

The teacher sees in old and new

They both are pointing straight to You.

A Father's love at every turn

And Son whose heart with love does burn.

Friday

A saint is what I want to be

A prophet, speaking all from Thee

A one of courage, standing firm

A man of faith throughout my term.

Not just a man of many words

Not flitting to and fro, like birds

But one who's rooted deep in prayer

With understanding rich and rare

Discerning every word You speak

Determined but Your will to seek

A man of total trust in You

Who does whate'er You ask to do

Saturday

In fair or foul, I speak the truth

For I was chosen in my youth

To be a herald for the King

And to repentance, men to bring.

But truth to power often fails

When wicked power often veils

The truth in favor of the might

And sinks in ever darker night.

Humility, it takes to learn

But pride alone is their concern

So, deeper into sin they fall

As they refuse to hear the call.

It needn't be, forgiveness waits

A welcome into Heaven's gates

For all who turn and then obey

The voice that leads to Heavens' way.

Why wait?  You know the words are true

It's death that holds its grip on you.

What's here and now will never last

And on that day, your fate is cast.

So, turn and see the light ahead

Let pride and evil thoughts be shed.

True Power and True Might are good 

Just look upon the sacred wood.