5/8/22 Through 5/14/22

 5/8/22 Through 5/14/22

Sunday

The sheep that know the Shepherd's voice

Have made the necessary choice

To listen and obey the King

In order to His presence bring.

Wipe out the fear and quell the pride

That keep the children from Your side

Let mercy flow from waiting arms

That look to only save from harms.

Dear Jesus, rescue those adrift

That they may know Your sacred gift

Of bread and wine as flesh and blood

And love may all their senses flood.

That nevermore they turn away

Or from the chosen flock astray,

But call on You for grace Divine

And with Your every will align.

Monday

Listen for the Lord each day

Make time that you, in silence, pray.

Learn to recognize His moves

And how, His will, you want to choose.

For only in His will is known

The fruit of all the seeds He's sown,

And joy that comes when we obey

Instead of choosing our own way.

Tuesday

To recognize the Shepherd's voice

Just make the Word of God your choice

Instead of all that draws away

And sucks your time throughout the day.

The podcast and the radio

The newscast and the favored show,

The magazine or gossip rag

Your time throughout the day will snag.

So in the end you lie exhausted,

Time in drivel ways accosted,

Claiming that you just don't hear

This God, supposedly so near.

If you just put the box away

And played not with your phone today,

And set the news aside to wait,

You'd find the time to ruminate...

To chew upon the food He gives,

And learn, for sure, it's true, He lives.

In silent calm His voice you'll hear,

And to the world beyond you'll peer.

Then rattle toys will seem as naught

If in humility you're taught

To recognize that whisper sound

Where pearl beyond all price is found.

Wednesday

To find the Father, see the Son.

The Two distinct, though Two as One.

Prophetic word the Father gave,

But stubborn men preferred the grave.

They listened not to those He sent,

The people in their sin content

Cared not about the final day

Or consequence of wicked way.

The self-exalted high above

No room allowed, self-giving love.

The Son He sent to demonstrate

That love will conquer evil hate.

And when, at last, His love is seen

The scourge, and thorn, and nail shall peen

The faith of weak and cowardly

So clear, at last, they'll finally see.

It's true, the Son of God was He,

And now His blood has covered me.

Repent I must, to be set free

Of all the chains that bindeth me.

Thursday

No slave exceeds the Master's fame

So you, my friend, must do the same

And serve your brothers one and all

In answer to the Master's call.

If all would serve, what joy we'd know.

When all support the strength will grow

Till bonds unbreakable would bind

And love like God's all men would find.

If love like His we understood

His emptied self upon the wood,

Then Paradise we'd come to know

And every soul, like Him, would grow.

With that our final lasting goal

Our only way to be made whole.

To suffer as our Master did

And never from His calling hid.

He calls on you as well each day

So what, in answer, will you say?

Will you accept His cross for you,

Or do as haughty, prideful do?

Friday

In His house are many mansions

One of them prepared for you

Faith, and hope, and love, the stanchions

That support this dwelling new.

Follow in the way of freedom

Unattached, not weighted down

Totally unhindered we'd come

Love and freedom truly found.

Saturday

Lord, may I answer well the call

In every way, both big and small.

Let love be that which sets apart

And love be that to touch the heart.

For love, in ways unknown to man,

Will spur for change no other can.

And love will draw the self to give,

And change the way the selfish live.

So let me love and serve for You

In all I say, and all I do.

Then change the hearts through me You choose,

And never let me love refuse.