2/21/21 Through 2/27/21

 2/21/21 Through 2/27/21

Sunday

There within the desert land

Once stood a Garden God had planned,

Where juicy fruits, abundant grew,

And gentle breeze at evening blew.

Till evil came in serpent form

Convincing man to not conform

To the will of his Creator,

Thinking he could be much greater.

But was lost that fateful day

The walk with God in cool of day.

The bountied Garden God had planned

Then became a desert land.

Till one more perfect than the first

Endured the desert's heat and thirst,

Was tempted there for forty days,

But gave not into evil ways.

The Garden once again did grow

When on the cross did Jesus show

The depth of love God has for man,

And how to conquer sin we can.

The key is love, not pride and greed.

Each act of kindness plants a seed

To there in desert lands renew

The Garden that the man once knew.

Monday

This chair I've seen and hold in awe,

For in this holy chair I saw,

The link in this unbroken chain

That will on earth, His church sustain.

A man, it's true, like other men,

But one the world looks to when

The faith is challenged to be firm,

And teach so all the faithful learn.

A one to lead in truth each day

To search for lost, and rescue stray.

A one to challenge status quo,

And lead us to our Lord to know.

Tuesday

Lord in this world of emptiness

Please send Your word to heal and bless.

Bring about your will today

In all I do and all I say

Grant me sorrow for my sin,

Repentance to new life begin,

Forgiveness for those hurting me,

That also they would be set free.

Help me pray, Your will in mind

For there it is that I will find

What satisfies and truly feeds

My soul and answers all my needs.

Wednesday

The Ninevites in sackcloth came

Repenting of their evil fame,

And God our great forgiving Lord,

Repentant grace on them outpoured.

We too must turn, and then obey

If we expect to find our way

To peace and true repentant joy

Then ne'er again our faults employ.

I've seen myself quite clear before

If I, His gentle call ignore.

Before too long I fall to sin

And then a downward slope begin.

But if I humbly lend an ear

Each day in quiet time I hear

A word to guide my steps that day

And place me on a better way.

So listen up and do as told

Then see what blessing will unfold.

No act of love without reward,

You'll find your peace of mind restored.

Thursday

Ask and it will given be.

His promise made to you and me.

Though darkness looms at every turn,

He calls us to our faith return.

Make time to listen and obey

The only plan to know the way,

For humble must the servant be

To see His hand is helping thee.

Within the smallest simple ways

Throughout the ordinary days,

And also where we do not see,

In grander ways He answers thee.

So trust and lose not heart in He

Who made the land, and made the sea.

His wisdom far exceeds your own,

Your job is just to make Him known.

The rest, His hand with mercy guides.

His patient love for all provides.

Remember death is on its way,

And choose the straight and narrow way.

Friday

Repent! Repent! Repent, and see

How short His memory can be.

For if we turn away from sin

Our hope of life beyond will win.

Remembered not, our guilty ways,

But only that we've turned to praise.

And likewise if, to sin, we stray,

All righteous deeds are thrown away.

So steadfast be, and persevere.

We know not if the end is near,

But only that His mercy waits,

For this, our sacred scripture states.

Saturday

For enemies, we love and pray

That they might also, find their way.

And turn from evil ways that harm

To find the Master's love and charm.

The greatest evil ever done

Resulted in salvation won,

Our Christ who loved to bitter end,

Showed the way for sin to mend.

The spiral stopped the day He died,

And when He rose, the eyes were dried.

For Love was shown the Victor clear,

And gone were days of useless fear.

Oh, would that I remember this

When at the edge of the abyss.

No evil force can conquer me

When purest Love has set me free.