10/4/26 Through 10/10/26

 10/4/26 Through 10/10/26

Sunday

Accounting is a horrid thing

To think of what to Him I bring 

For all He's done and what I do

There shall be no escaping You

One day we'll answer every deed

And then for mercy, mercy plead

For then we'll see in perfect light

How we divide, and You unite.

The love of self will overtake

And of the saint, a sinner make

If we allow our passions rule

We make ourselves, for fire, fuel.

The vineyard planted must produce

Or we, this life, to naught reduce

We're meant to be a fruitful vine

Producing choice, delicious wine

Don't live for just this day alone

Far greater things you shall be shown

If you just do your duty here

And know the final day is near.

Monday

The mountain height, the depth of sea

Are not enough of You for me.

The gems in hidden earth below

If all of them I come to know

The sky above, and stars beyond

The moon, and where the morning dawned

The heavens in their vast array

Which I explore in endless day

Are none of them enough for me

For all I want is only Thee.

For only Thee can satisfy,

And only Thee can answer why.

Why such beauty everywhere?

Why the gems and flowers fair?

Why the sun and moon and stars?

Why a love as such is ours?

No one knows the reason why

Except the God of gods on high

And all I want is One so good

Who came and died upon the wood

All comprehension flees the mind

And nay a reason I can find

That God should love a person so

That to such lengths of love He'd go

It all eludes this mind so small

That when we from His graces fall

His mercy waits at every turn

Forgiving us who never learn.

So, no created thing I know

Can get me where I want to go

For only when I'm one with You

Will I be satisfied, it's true.

Tuesday

When burdens are many, then come to be filled

When soil is hardened, then come to be tilled

Turn over the soil and break up the clods

Now harrow the field and remove other gods

The cares of the day can distract from the good

When busied with much, we don't hear what we should.

The voice of the Lord should be pondered each day

To lead us and guide us along of the way.

He calls us to share in this work of His love

And so, to secure us a place up above.

But first we must listen, digesting His word

Before, with the masses, we share what we've heard.

Be patient and listen, there's always a gem

And we must be always, attentive to them.

Before we can share with the world what we know

To His feet, the teacher, as student must go.

Wednesday

We know how to pray, but rarely we do

It calls for a grace, and humility, too

Relying on God for all we receive

Trusting and waiting for all who believe.

Not looking on any as lower than thee

All kindness is serving One greater than thee

The lowliest place we assume with a cheer

And serve as if Jesus, quite truly, was here.

To service the King is our greatest reward

A service beyond what the poor could afford

But Jesus, He shows us throughout every day

He's there in each beggar we pass on the way

He gives what we need to one generous be.

He opens our eyes, so it's Jesus we see.

The service is sweeter than honey we find

When open our eyes, we refuse to be blind.

Thursday

Persistent in my prayer to You

I ask one thing that You should do

Anoint me in the Spirit pow'r

Prepare me for the final hour

I need You every time of day

I need just how and what to say

I need to be a witness when

I speak with other sinful men

I need to curb my sinful pride

And ask that You be at my side

Throughout the day whene'er may come

A time to witness to Your Son.

Within these times I clearly show

If only self, or Christ I know

If I could change one heart each day

I'd light a much more perfect way.

Friday

Who died and rose on high to save

His flesh and blood, to eat, He gave

He broke the curse from long ago

So man, the Lord of all, may know

Our death from sin, as fact, was known

But now, forgiveness, well was shown

For sinless sacrifice was made

And all the price for sin was paid

Well-known was yea, the empty tomb

And gone was now the dark and gloom.

For light re-entered Earth that day

And Light would know not Earth's decay.

Repentant sinners in the fold

The unrepentant, in the cold

For only through the Gate we come

It's meant for all, but not for some

The choice is clear: believe or die

Yet proud refuse to even try.

They can't admit the wrong they've done

Or how they crucified God's Son.

Saturday

Only a fool seeks not to grow

Deeper in love, deeper to show

Jesus, we see what You did on the Cross

Sacrifice all, so to gain in the loss

So too, this day, freeing from sin

Sacrifice made, freedom to win

Only when giving the best that we own

Freedom for humble and docile is known

Virgin most holy, Virgin most true

Help of sinners following you

Teach us to listen and quickly obey

Teach us to follow the self-giving way

Sacrifice made, holy and pure

Sacrifice made, life to secure

None are as you in the Heavens above

So fit for the King and perfect in love

9/27/26 Through 10/03/26

 9/27/26 Through 10/03/26

Sunday

The way each man can Heaven win

Is turn away from every sin

So many times a selfish whim

Can have us turn our backs on Him

Or pride can have us look away

When truth confronts our evil way

We must respond whene'er we learn

Our way is wrong, and we must turn

The prostitutes and sinners, too

Are getting there ahead of you 

For only humble will obey

When truth and love have come their way

The truth without the love will die

And love without the truth is lie

We need them both to live as one

And follow well God's Perfect Son

Monday

How stupid I must seem to God

A foolish, haughty, little fraud

Enamored by the passing bling

And shunning every suffering

For disciplines, the haughty need

To pride reject and humble feed

Our one companion they should be

To draw us into life with Thee

My flesh be mortified, I pray

That I might meet that final day

With confidence, and hope in love

To spend eternity above

For there we constantly will see

That far above, and great are Thee

Then humbled by Love's burning flame

We ceaselessly shall praise Your Name

Tuesday

Beneath the tree of figs, a man

To figure in the Father's plan

A man of single heart and mind

A man to the Messiah find

So, too, we find our King and Lord

When unto Him the heart is poured.

In humble adoration gained

Without a word, his love explained.

It permeates the heart and soul

Supplying all to make us whole

It satisfies the longing heart

And breaks the evil plans apart

His messengers, to man, reveal

The world unseen, but yet quite real

The battle for the soul of man

That started back when time began

If we but trust, His angels guard

And every evil thought discard

They guide us on the path of love

Ascending to the heights above

Wednesday

So, why do I come; and why do I read?

But only to find the One that I need

Here in the Word are His many commands

Have I come close to His many demands?

The service of lips doesn't get very far

By action, we show who truly we are

Does this make a change in my actions each day;

Or simply "appear" that I do what You say?

I beg You to make me one firm with the plow

Seeing Your grandeur, and changing somehow

Fully devoted to love every day

Pondering well, so I hear and obey.

Only then do I feast on the Heavenly Bread

When I have conformed to all You have said

When action and word are one and the same

Only then am I fit to carry Your name.

Thursday

Each word of Yours upon the tongue

Each melody of song that's sung

Can shape the world in varied ways

And cut right through the milky haze.

You work to resonate within

And bring to light the deepest sin

For only in the light we see

How great our need has been for Thee

The sick abound at every turn

From You alone, the people learn

How love can heal the open wound

And make the will, with Yours attuned

Your presence, Lord, is what we seek

To cheer the poor, and strengthen weak

Have pity, Lord, and hear the prayer

So life with You we someday share

Friday

So many times throughout my days

Your angel, Lord, has marked the ways

And borne me up o'er stoney road

By shouldering my heavy load

He speaks Your word I need to hear

Somehow allaying all my fear

Those little gems throughout the day

To keep me on the narrow way

Protecting me from perils when

I find myself with sinful men

Illuminating that within

And calling to confess my sin

I see his hand throughout my years

In times of joy, and times of tears

One guarding, guiding, every move

To save my soul and sorrow soothe

Your angel, Lord, my guiding light

Companion through the darkest night

Whose wings shall cover me from ill

And lead me to the Father's will

So generous You are to me

To grant me sight that I may see

The realm of angels, now unseen

But yet their presence, daily glean

Saturday

How fortunate to see today

What prophets sought along the way

To hear His voice so loud and clear

And to the heart of God draw near

Things hidden for so long a time

But now revealed to help us climb

To heights of love before unknown

But now, by Jesus, clearly shown

As lightning falling from the sky

The end of evil drawing nigh

When Perfect Love is sacrificed

And man to such a love enticed

Let shine, oh Lord, Your face on men

And draw us back to You again

That we may as Your children be

A light for all the world to see

9/20/26 Through 9/26/26

 9/20/26 Through 9/26/26

Sunday

For long and many labored hours

In finite terms, what should be ours

Is more than tardy do receive

But infinite, we don't perceive

When infinite the daily wage

Our difference won't move the gauge

For all receive far more than due

And none have worked as hard as You

No Earthly good is ever owned

By any more than one alone

The more the all have claim to each

The less, for mine, a one can reach

Not so with gifts from God above

He has no limits for His love

For each of us shall all receive

And not a one with less perceive

Then even as we give away

The more and more we find each day

An inexhaustible supply

When Earthly ways we crucify

Monday

One weighed and found wanting, the story of man

Apostles and prophets, according to plan

Yes, all are found wanting, for none here receive

The height that each man was meant to achieve

Our sin is the obstacle holding us down

The source of all sadness and source of our frown

We reach for the fruit just to make it our own

And find the corruption our hearts have made known

Our selfishness seen in the words that we say

And also revealed in the way that we pray

They focus on self, while ignoring the King

So, surely there's none but division they bring

Somehow, it's in love we must speak every day

To conquer the self and to follow the Way

To draw forth the sinner, repentance to show

That peace in this world the sinner may know

Tuesday

The word of the day is to hear and obey

There's nothing so precious to God

So, come to me near so that clearly I hear

And know of the way I must trod

Be guide on the way, so that never I stray

Observing Your law to the tee

Your every command is just where I will stand

Your light on the pathway for me.

The truth I will choose so that never I lose

Salvation, right judgment, and peace

No foolishness lead to dysfunction and greed

My love for another not cease

My heart like a thing in the hand of the King

It flows any way He desires

The way of a man will not follow His plan

If listen he does to the liars.

Wednesday

Your word, oh Lord, will light the way

You guide me safely all the day

Remove the lies that tempt me to 

Reject a single word from You

From evil ways steer clear my feet

Your every word to me be sweet

Discernment comes with light from You

To guide me in whate'er I do.

I want no more than just my share.

Let truth alone become my fare

So poverty can't sway the mind

Nor riches, pride, within me bind

For You alone my soul desires

Your every word rekindles fires

Inflaming love before unknown

In every way, Your glory shown

Thursday

So much we seek is worth but naught

So little truly new

But every word that Jesus taught

Could spark a change in you

The haughty cannot see beyond

The here and now each day

But on the humble man has dawned

A bright and joyful ray

A light to see beyond the grave

To what was meant for man

No need for one to scrimp and save

What rots within our plan

Your mind so far above our own

Where things are truly new

The all on Earth that man could own

Cannot compare to You

So, change this heart to seek but You

And prosper every day

Yes, change my short and crooked view

To see the dawning ray.

Friday

The key is know what time it is

The time to make our life be His

The time to put our pride away

And focus on our final day

The time to recognize the King

To good and righteousness to cling

A time to all the bling destroy

And time to holy prayer employ

When once the King is recognized

Whate'er distracts must be despised

Our thoughts of how the world should be

Must fall in line with those of Thee.

Saturday

Afraid to question Him, they shied

To fit Him to their mold, they tried

Unwilling to believe the word

That from the mouth of Truth they heard

Too often, I refuse to ask 

Afraid of what might be the task

A coward, fearing of the pain

I must endure to find the gain

No Easter without Friday first

No comfort dares to slake the thirst

For that we have alone above

For truth and goodness, beauty, love.

With courage, we must face the day

And for His saving grace, but pray

United to the Cross we find

The peace of that eternal kind.

9/13/26 Through 9/19/26

 9/13/26 Through 9/19/26

Sunday

The debt I owe I cannot count

So, yes, I seek the Mercy Fount

Beyond the reckoning of man

The many times I've strayed His plan

Great mercy yet He offers me

And then He turns to set me free

But still I fail to mercy grant

When some offense is rare and scant.

I must reform and see the light

Or find myself cast in the night

Where never sins are washed away

And never shines the light of day

To turn the other cheek is hard

But if we fail the gate is barred

No entry without mercy shown

For all offenses we have known

Monday

Beneath the Cross all men are seen

The world within that sacred scene

The Crucified, upon the Tree

Around, the folks like you and me

A woman seven demons held

Another on a cross rebelled.

The mockers, reveling in pain

A thief who sought to Heaven gain

A one who only came at night

But, on the cross, had seen the Light

Apostles, all but one who fled

While on the Cross, their teacher bled

A merchant, wealthy in much gold

Would, on the Cross, True Love behold

The one whose lance had pierced Him through

Had now become believer, too

His Mother's arms received her child

All scourged and lifeless, so defiled

Within the tomb, was laid alone

And sealed behind a heavy stone

To look upon the Cross today

We see the horror of that day

But also see salvation, too

For Love was thinking then of you.

Tuesday

Mother, knower of all pain

You have much for me to gain

You who stood beneath the Cross

Suffered every human loss

Patiently enduring death

Even to the final breath

Saw each wound, a gift of love

Hanging on the Cross above

There His naked body shamed

From the Cross, our Mother named

Martyrdom of Love Divine

Sharing every moment thine

No one else, the story knew

Fullest knowledge, only you

Full surrender to the will 

Of the Father, ever still

Make me feel as you have felt

Make my soul to glow and melt

Let me share your grief, Divine

Make my soul as unto thine

Sacrifice you came to see

Was the sign of love for thee

Help me too, to see that sign

Make of me a son of thine

One surrendered every day

One to follow in His way

One to love enough to give

All to prosper, all to live

Wednesday

Some never to be satisfied

The people of this day

Too much of foolish human pride

To clearly find the way

No good the gifts, when love not there

It falters, and it dies

The cupboard might as well be bare

When fully blind the eyes

For love can see another's need

And use their gift to serve

As so, the Master's voice they heed

and give as love deserves.

Thursday

Forgiven much, so we much love

In harmony with those above

A single sin lets darkness in

And turns our gaze away from Him

The source of beauty, peace, and grace

We find within His Holy Face

To gaze upon a One so pure

Will every ill and sickness cure

Our sin but shields from Holy Light

And welcomes in the dark of night

Behind the shield, we shrink in size

And fail to meet His piercing eyes

The eyes of Truth we can't deny

But if our sin we keep, we fry

It's best to drop the shield and say

Forgive, forgive, oh Lord I pray

Repentant souls, He can't resist

Anointed feet, she gently kissed

A multitude of sins, He cleared

The humble soul, to Him endeared

But if we think that none is wrong

Continuing our selfish song

The shield gets larger every day

And drives the Holy Light away

The Light may hurt for quite a while

As He removes the bitter guile

But if in love we persevere

He saves from punishment severe

So, come to Him without the pride

Confessing all the guilt inside

And see how good such love can be

When God alone is God for thee.

Friday

Without the resurrection scene,

Our hope in Christ cannot be seen.

For why rely on that beyond? 

If Christ is dead, we've all been conned

Without an afterlife, we find

No benefits of being kind

No use in loving man at all

No truth in stories of the fall

For pleasure only, then we feed

And use each other in our need

No value left in being good

Or acting as we know we should

The empty tomb, the reason why

With all the heart and mind we try

To follow in His loving way

And never ever go astray.

Saturday

One form sown, another reaped

Deep within the soil steeped

One form dies and change begins

Left behind, the Earthly sins

Fruitful harvest then received

What before was not conceived

Likeness unto Light alone

What before was never known

Thirty, sixty, hundredfold

Harvest righteous, now behold

When the soil rich and deep 

Great the harvest we shall reap

9/6/26 Through 9/12/26

 9/6/26 Through 9/12/26

Sunday

But love is the answer to every command

Love is the world that the Father had planned

It leads to all happiness, mercy, and grace

Creating a holy and comforting place

Monday

Much more than just a withered hand

We stand within a withered land

A land with truth no longer known

A land where lust and greed are sown

A narcissistic world afoul

A world with Satan on the prowl

One swayed by selfishness and greed

No longer truth, but lies to breed

So few can see the light beyond

So few, of truth and peace, are fond

In vogue, the wish to godly be 

When only but a creature, thee.

When shown the way, disgust revealed

No longer wickedness concealed

They seek but to the truth destroy  

And every selfish sin employ.

We must stretch out our withered hand

And do as though the Father planned

To have and hold the treasure there

Of selfless love beyond compare

He calls us not to silent be

But all to serve, and so be free

To give of self to gain the more

And follow Christ forevermore.

Tuesday

Oh Mary our Mother, conceived without sin

Please pray to your Son that the poor may come in

Each one with a mission, as you, to the King

The humble, all glory and honor, we bring.

All tainted by sin and unfit for the Lord

However, by grace of one sinless, afford

The passage to Heaven as won by your Son

Oh, Holy and Spotless, Magnificent One.

Oh, shower the graces obedience won

You stood by the Cross to the death of your Son

Receiving the body when all was complete

With wounds of the nails in His hands and His feet.

His body was laid in a long linen shroud

Some dignity there in His death was allowed

Then quietly walking away, it was heard

"Not long will I be, in the earth here, interred".

Wednesday

The time is running out for all

To hear and answer well His call

The time for virtue now is here

Let how we act be loud and clear

The wealth we have will not survive

No Earthly honor there arrive

The food of kings a pittance there

Where all shall feast on Godly fare

The wealth that day shall be reversed

And every selfishness we nursed

Will put us near the end of line

And far away from His design

Thursday

Love the sinner, but not the sin

Here, the way the sinner to win

Pray for the ones who do you wrong

Let love be made your daily song

Withhold no good to change a heart

Let what you say, God's grace impart

No Earthly good a soul can weigh

One price alone for man can pay

His perfect sacrifice has won

Forgiveness now for everyone

But reconciled can never be

The ones who turn their back on Thee

Most loving God, and humble Lord

Such love as Yours was ne'er outpoured

As when You died upon the Tree

To save a sinner such as me.

So too, may I soon learn to love

And set my sights so far above

The fleeting sights of here below

The everlasting Light to know

Friday

If I could only clearly see

The sin that lurks around in me

And how it leads to deep despair

Then more and more, I'd choose to share

But all that seems so clear to me

Are specks I see in folks like thee

So blinded by the plank I own

In me, the sin remains unknown

Perfection seems a distant shore

For me who's always seeking more

But, as to sacrifice, I learn

The more and more, to love, I turn

Then as I turn to love I see

More clear the plank that blinded me

And when it's gone I must admit

It seems I've been a hypocrite.

Saturday

The Virgin pure and undefiled

Conceived within a tender Child

The fruit of love and holiness

Exalting high her lowliness

What Eve rejected, she embraced

Obedient, and highly placed

The covetous was naked found

And lowly one, as Queen, was crowned.

Like gods, the fruit of Eve would make

Our sins, the Fruit of Mary take

A hunger never filled by Eve

In Mary, Bread of Life, conceived.

The serpent came to greedy eye

But angel came to death defy

Said Eve, "I will not serve," reply

Said Mary, "Every word comply."

The King, the perfect Queen had found

Where sin had all its tendrils wound

A One obedient and good

Would bear the One to bear the Wood.