2/13/22 Through 2/19/22

 2/13/22 Through 2/19/22

Sunday

There's enemies without,

And enemies within.

The battle lines are drawn,

But where do we begin?

Without, the enemy is clear.

Within, not quite as much.

But more the hidden one to fear,

A sly and cunning touch.

Reliance on the strength of men,

The enemy within.

Without, the sins of other men

More obvious have been.

But trusting in the Lord is where

The strength is really found,

And trusting men, like desert bare,

A wasteland all around.

But planted near a stream the one

Who trusts in God alone.

The living water from the Son,

No greater power known.

Unfading in the year of drought,

The leaves remaining green.

With root that broadly stretches out

To that life-giving stream.

Monday

Rejoice in trials on the way

And ask for wisdom every day.

In tested faith we persevere

And so, to Christ, draw ever near.

Not tossed about by every wind

Like those denying how they've sinned

And doubting of the Father's love

To bring repentant souls above.

The man of faith can see the sign

And recognize the Son of Thine

By love unbounded every day

That points us on the righteous way.

Tuesday

Let my desire clearly be

To ever closer draw to Thee,

That no temptation may occur

That would my weakly will deter.

Grant me vision crisp and clear

May your voice draw ever near.

Signs and wonders all around

That lead to You are daily found.

No worries for the trusting soul

That listens to what's on the scroll,

For field and flower proudly wear

His love in robes beyond compare.

No lack in any situation

He controls all of creation.

Trust and see that He provides

When the one loaf He divides

Wednesday

A dim reflection, all I know

For quite a way I have to go

Sin has clouded what I see

Not as a person, but a tree.

Another touch from Thee I need

"I want to see, dear Lord," I plead.

Not walking trees or cloudy way,

But clear the path I walk today.

Give me polished silvered glass

Let my obedience surpass

The times when looking, I ignored

The need for change to come aboard.

My will I offer now to You

To mold and shape as You would do,

That when they look at me they see

A glass reflecting only Thee.

Thursday

So, who do you say that I am?

The question He puts to each man.

Lord, You are the Christ, 

Who so highly priced

Every soul since when time began.

And who do YOU say that I be?

Any more than the crowd do you see?

On your answer depends

Where eternity spends

In flames, or in heaven with Me.

Friday

What profit be so many gains,

If all is lost and ends in pains,

Where rust corrodes and moth destroys

The chattel of so many toys?

For willing sacrifices now

Endure eternally somehow,

And earthly gain will seem as naught

When heaven's gain at last is bought.

But know my friend, that's just a term.

For entry there you cannot earn.

By grace alone you enter in

When God forgives of all your sin.

So work must prove the faith you own

And trust you have in God alone,

To save the sinner and to glean

The grain from chaff and make it clean.

Saturday

In Christ transfigured there we see

Just what the man was meant to be.

Clothed in splendor, robed in white,

Shining in eternal light.

Yet one on earth alone is blest

The Virgin pure who passed the test,

Whose fiat bore for man the way

To once again see light of day.

Her tongue, it was changed history.

Her "Yes" to love is life for me.

How sweet and pure that tender voice.

Unselfish love her humble choice.

Steer me along the path with you

To find the love that's warm and true

To learn it's in the humble way

To meet our Lord, and light of day.