1/9/22 Through 1/15/22

 1/9/22 Through 1/15/22

Sunday 

Out of mercy, Christ appeared

For sin and shame, the people feared.

But lo, the love that flowed from Him

Would light the dark, and brighten dim.

The smold'ring wick shall not be quenched.

The evil seen as well-entrenched,

By truth and love, shall conquered be,

And blinded eyes shall clearly see.

The waters that He cleansed shall be

The waters of rebirth for me.

Where damning sin is washed away,

And tears of joy shall rule the day.

What Mercy God has shown to men,

That pure the soul can be again.

Repenting of our evil stays,

The retribution for our ways.

Sunday 12/19/21

In silence, will His voice be heard.

In pondering His holy word.

By spending time in quiet still

We come to understand His will.

No substitute for knowing well 

The Shepherd's voice, of which I tell

His guiding light will shine for thee,

And pierce the dark, so you can see.

Despite the busyness each day

That comes from work, and school, and play.

Now having done it all I say,

There's no excuse to not to pray.

What one does with time shall be,

The key to all eternity.

For time's the gift we have to use

To heaven gain, or heaven lose.

So use it wisely every day

Advancing in the Father's way.

A moment here, a moment there,

But Make the time for daily prayer!

Then, if you listen well you'll find

A glimpse into the Father's mind,

To see the beauty present there, 

And see how precious every prayer.

Monday

As He walked along the sea,

He passed by others, and by me.

Inviting us to leave behind

Our work, for work of different kind.

To fish for men, our new employ

And paradigms of old destroy.

A Kingdom different than before

Where God in flesh, we can adore.

The Son of God has come to earth.

By Virgin mother, given birth.

Am I to turn His call away, 

Persisting in my sinful way?

Or shall I follow Him with zeal

Proclaiming that our God is real,

Repenting of my life of sin

To let the Holy Spirit in?

That call is here for you today.

Continue in your same old way,

Or let true love embrace your soul,

And find yourself, at last, made whole.

Tuesday

Remember Lord Your servant here,

Alone in prayer, I long to hear

Your voice to quiet, calm, and still

The wand'ring mind and shaky will.

Each day I wait to hear You say

Behold, I've cleared for the way.

For left to fend upon my own,

The way that's right would not be known.

So once again, I beg and plead

Come help Your servant in his need.

Be guard, protector, King and guide,

And always present at my side.

Wednesday

Yes, called by God is everyone,

For made by God is everyone.

But ready not are ears to hear

And most will flee Him out of fear.

Attached so well to paltry things,

To meagerly, the foolish clings

When there before him heaps of gold

In all the stories scripture told.

So learn to love the way He speaks,

And how in many ways He peeks

Into the heart with piercing glance

In love to help the faith advance.

The embers warm to spark and glow

The more we search, and try to grow.

Then kindled soon a flame will be

In docile, with humility.

Thursday

From bad to worse, the story goes

If we ignore the holy woes.

The word is there to light our way,

So we must listen and obey.

The Lord of lords and King of kings

No toy that just amusement brings,

But truly God who made us all 

And One to whom our will must fall

So cast your trinket gods away

And listen for the Lord to say,

The path is here, turn left or right

And winners be in every fight.

Friday

The faith of four, the life of one

Encounter with the Holy One.

Sins forgiven, now arise

What blasphemy, the thought of wise.

But who in truth was wise that day?

Twas those that tore the roof away,

And brought to Jesus, one enslaved.

One who, one touch by Jesus saved.

Saturday

The sinners come, the prideful stay

When Christ convicts, attention pay.

For those who recognize their sin

And so repent, will enter in.

But those who cling to sin they know

Will languish in the filth they sow

Instead of turning from their wrong

To hear the resurrection song.