6/2/24 Through 6/8/24

 6/2/24 Through 6/9/24

Sunday

Do this in memory He said

And so declared the Holy Bread

So too, the cup of wine He shared

Is truly blood as He declared.

No longer what we see in form

But unto Christ the substance born

Matter changed by what He said

Wine to blood and body bread.

Monday

A vineyard planted there are you

To give the Master Vine His due

We owe the all of who we are

To One who's near, but seems afar.

In foolishness and pride we claim

The credit for what we became

We guard the goods that we receive

And not the Master's love perceive.

All given is for common good

And generous receivers should

Return a part of all they get

So its true source they don't forget.

Help me a humble tenant be

And see that all I have's from Thee,

Then freely give from that produced

And get from God another boost.

Tuesday

Grow in knowledge, grow in grace

Grow in wisdom, Love embrace.

Be forewarned for you are fed

That you must grow, or you'll be dead.

His patience is salvation now,

But soon enough all creatures bow

To He who made the Earth and sky

And evermore is drawing nigh.

He sent His Son to show the way

To perfect peace and love obey

The choice is clear, but don't delay

For that we hold shall all decay.

Wednesday

The flame must not be left to die

But fanned and fueled to reach the sky

Dispelling darkness, giving light

Forever shining, ever bright.

Not dimmed by cowardice and fear

But boldly claiming, Christ is near.

The Spirit comes to those who thirst

Thus freeing those by sin coerced.

So be not timid, weak, or shy

And nevermore the Lord deny

But let your love and self-control

Inspire and increase the roll.

Be not ashamed of what you learned

But let men see how Christ has burned

Within your heart to suffer well

And so, the Gospel story tell.

Thursday

Just the two are quite enough

To every sinful act rebuff.

The love of God, and neighbor too

Will make a saintly man of you.

Oh, teach me in such simple ways

To learn to love throughout my days

To give of self in sacrifice

And so, the love of God entice.

To turn away from judgment rash

And tap into Your mercy's cache

To see in others all the good

And love them all as Jesus would.

Take no offense at pointed speech,

But long endurance let me reach

In others let Me clearly see

That Christ is present there for me.

Friday

Came blood and water from His side

That precious ever-flowing tide

I waded where twas ankle-deep,

He beckoned me, "Come further keep."

About my knees, the stream would flow

And bit by bit I came to know

What flowed was Living Water's fine

To bless change and bless this heart of mine.

By now, the water reached my waist

A mighty stream in rushing haste

To spread the love of Christ out-poured

Among the lost and helpless horde.

Beyond that point, no man could tread

For deep, and far, and wide it spread

To water hot and sun-dried land

And bring to life the desert sand.

One Heart began this mighty flow

That all the men on Earth should know

His love is deeper, wider still

And ready thirsty hearts to fill.

Saturday

If all is kept within the heart

The soul He calls shall not depart

We look and see His hand so clear

In all the times we hold so dear.

But all throughout this walk we've made

He daily called and daily bade

To give the all we have to give

And find the greatest way to live.

The heart so pure and undefiled

Who bore the Holy Infant Child

Did such a thing and so became

Immacu;ate of Heart her fame.

5/26/24 Through 6/1/24

 5/26/24 Through 6/1/24

Sunday

What people claim such wonderous things

Alike to what the Father brings?

What people held in slavery's bond

To freedom by such works were spawned?

What others in the desert sands

Received such true and great commands?

Who fed on manna, drank from stone,

But those who know One God alone?

Three persons there yet only One

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

A mystery, but plainly true

To those who take a humble view.

Who else can call such God a friend?

What god, to man, would e'er descend?

So far above, yet close at hand,

No other god such breadth has spanned.

This God alone we must obey

No other shows the truthful way

Of sacrifice to rescue stray

And every sin of pride to slay.

Monday

For all the comforts that are mine

The daily food on which I dine,

The warmth in winter, cool in heat,

This tidy life, with ease replete.

I thank the Lord, but wonder now

If I would give it up somehow

To follow where Your voice may lead

And all You ask to quickly heed?

Would I turn with downcast eyes,

Or would I to the time arise?

I pray for grace and courage too

To always follow close to You.

But I know well for oft I've seen

How hard it is for souls to wean

From comfort to a giving way

When earthly wealth can block the way.

I know my will is not yet there

And pray You free me from the snare

Of riches, honor, wealth, and fame

And show me how, Your prize to claim.

It makes no sense to cleave to straw

When unto gloried life You draw.

So help me leave my foolish ways

And follow You for endless days.

Monday Adoration

In these words I hope you'll find

Not just what's in my heart and mind

But truth eternal plain and clear

And through these words let Christ appear.

The words I have that would suffice

For you as wise and sage advice

That you should do each time you pray 

Are, "Listen well and then obey."

Tuesday

Don't let circumstance define

Your joy of heart or strength of spine

But look to Him who rose on high

And know reward is drawing nigh.

What's suffered here will fade away

When Christ appears that final day

A hundredfold your grief repaid

With blessings all around arryed.

Wednesday

Is my love the truest kind;

Is it the purest I could find;

Does it place the other first,

Or simply seek to slake my thirst?

Does it always place before

The needy and forgotten poor

Selfish interest so disguised

To make it seem they're not despised?

The flower falls and wastes away

And all that's left that final day

Is love that's holy, good, and true

That sacrificed itself for you.

The love that sought for honor here

The final day will be shown clear

Unworthy of a place above

Where only lives the truest love.

.

So, cleanse my heart and clear my mind

That only Christlike love is mine

So I might join the gloried throng

And take a place where I belong.

Thursday

Where sin has taken over me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When judgments rash are made by me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When something takes the place of Thee,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When selfishness comes over me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

In jealousy, that bitter tea,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

When pride refuses bend the knee,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

My tendency toward gluttony,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

A brighter day with hope for me,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

A day when I, like You shall be,

Oh, Lord, I want to see.

Friday

God who is mighty great things has done

To people in darkness, He sent His Son.

The Spirit descended to fill all the Earth

To bring all His people the promised new birth.

Mary, in haste, to the hill country ran

Knowing her cousin was part of the plan

.The baby that leaped in the womb of her kin

Would be a great prophet to wash them from sin.

That visit was made two millennia past

And by her example the mold has been cast

To hurry and share what for you He has done

And bring to the world, the joy of the Son.

Saturday

Maturing to a child be

Should be the goal of souls like me

To see Your glory, love, and grace

And long to feel Your warm embrace.

To thirst for You and You alone

To make with eagerness You known

To work to show my strength, but see

That all I have has come from Thee.

Build in me a holy trust

That knows I'm man, and man is dust.

That You alone are life and light

And You the source of all delight.

5/19/24 Through 5/25/24

 5/19/24 Through 5/25/24

Sunday

Life in the Spirit of Jesus my Lord

A gift that alone the poor can afford

For nothing can purchase this life-giving gift

And only the Spirit brings changes so swift.

Reminding us always what Jesus has said

His own precious body He gave us as bread

His Spirit will come at the time that we need 

With sevenfold gifts upon which we feed.

Wisdom and Knowledge, and Fear of the Lord

Are there and just waiting to thee be out-poured

Fortitude, Counsel, and Piety too

Will bring Understanding and comfort to you.

But know that your spirit is poor and quite weak

And then you'll receive the gifts that you seek

Avoiding the proud, the fat, and the sleek,

He comes to the humble, the poor and the meek.

Monday

Mother Mary always be

A source of comfort unto me

Incubate me in Your womb

Send the grace to make me bloom.

As for nine days prayer ensued

Watchful Mother there imbued

Faith and trust within the men

To whom the Spirit would descend.

Oh, Mother of the infant Church

Help me end this life-long search

Help me find humility

And always answer "Let it be."

Tuesday

No reason e'er I see for war

But what the flesh is grasping for

A greedy, lustful, sinful lot

Dissatisfied with what we've got.

A pride of person holding sway

O'er those more worthy on the way

Disordered love for things below

Instead of gifts that You bestow.

With patience and humility

Forbearance and the will to be

The least of those who walk on Earth

We bring about the second birth.

A birth into a world of peace

Where love and joy at once increase

Where childlike will come to know

That talk of war just has to go,

Wednesday

By failing to do what ought to be done

We distance ourselves from Father and Son

The good left undone, as much as the bad

Will draw us from Christ, and poison a lad.

We see and we hear in quietest ways

Above all the din, amid all the haze.

\He speaks to our heart and shows us a need

A sheep we can save, or lamb we can feed.

But busy we claim, we don't have the time

And what's left undone becomes now the crime.

The hand we reach out, the ear that we lend

Will never our God or our neighbor offend.

Thursday

When all is rotten, dry, and stale

Remember well the blinded scale.

How heavy weighed your gifts received

And to each one you tightly cleaved.

The poor with little on their plate

You gave no thought to need abate,

But yet pursued another toy

And never found the promised joy.

Such fools, like sheep, are herded well

And led by demons straight to Hell.

Their paltry pleasures firmly clenched

Where flames of torment never quenched.

Friday

Without a trace of doubtfulness

Let no mean no, and yes mean yes.

Especially as man and wife

Your yes was made to last for life.

Though many circumstances change

Solutions may seem out of range

But perseverance marks the soul

Who presses on to meet the goal.

Although the price may seem too high,

We find him firmly standing by

His vow to love and sacrifice

What e'er the need, what e're the price.

And she who toils every day

Through drudgery along the way

Fails not in tenderness bestowed

Upon the lot in her abode.

So, in this way the two display

The virtues that will light the way

For young to see and learn to give

And peacefully with others live.

Saturday

Let the children come to me

for childlike you all must be

To enter where the King shall reign

And find at last eternal gain.

So, pray with all your heart and more

To find the place you're looking for

And lead the sinner gone astray

To find his life within the Way.

5/12/24 Through 5/18/24

 5/12/24 Through 5/18/24

Sunday

What now?  He's risen, that we know.

What shall we do, where shall we go

He said to wait for power here

And then the mission shall be clear.

Few days from now the Spirit moves

And by His witnesses He proves

That Christ as King forever reigns

O'er all the universe contains.

So, look not up at clouds on high

He shall return here by and by.

But not until you spread the word

And all the men on earth have heard.

Today this seems too hard a task

But wait and pray then simply ask.

The Spirit shall abide in you

And guide the steps of all you do.

Monday

To those that love, the Spirit comes

And vibrant life on Earth becomes.

For when we see God's grand design

Our way must change, to there align.

We see the vict'ry in His way

And how He conquered every day

By trusting in the Father's love

And focusing on life above.

He showed in truth that man can be

As one within the Trinity

By giving all we have away

To let the Potter mold the clay.

Our Blessed Mother did each day,

"Let it be done," her words to say.

Complete and totally she gave

And through her gift came Christ to save.

Tuesday

Chosen by the Holy Spirit

One of twelve to lead and steer it

One to teach and well-proclaim

The glory found in Jesus' name.

One who there from the beginning

Witness to His rising winning

Freedom from the chains of sin

And life anew to live with Him.

Hear and answer when He's calling

No excuses, no more stalling.

Listen well and then obey

Then let the Spirit light your way.

Wednesday

Lord, consecrate us in the Truth

The rich or poor, the old or youth.

For lies abound in every sphere

That tempt to gloom, despair and fear.

But truth alone will light our way

If we but humbly act and pray,

And truth the Garden shall restore

With good and beauty evermore.

Thursday

The work of each is, find a way,

To make Him known in every day.

That all might know and seek the King

To peace and joy, and oneness bring.

Success within the world's eyes

Is but a weak and poor disguise

For what the Father has in store

With unity brings so much more.

Our selfish chases here below

Will ne'er such greatness ever know.

For what we do in Him shall last

When what alone, aside is cast.

So when that little bit is gone

That store of straw we trusted on

You've naught that in the end shall last

And into Selfishness, you're cast.

Don't take that broad and foolish way

But seek His will in every day

Then do His will, become as one,

And find the greatest vic'try won.

Friday

Arisen now disciples know

The worst that evil has may flow,

But Christ has conquered o'er the grave

And so, the faithful soul will save.

What e'er that comes, the Spirit guides

And every needed gift supplies.

The docile ones that do His will,

Their great desire He shall fulfill.

I pray I may not cower then

But face the evil firmly when

I'm faced with temporal loss and pain

And look but to eternal gain.

So many times I've failed before

But now I've come to know You more

And though I still be frail and weak,

Your Spirit's love and strength I seek.

Saturday

All the world could not contain

The books that try to Christ explain

So deep, so wide, so ever long

His praise an everlasting song.

Once encountered, understood

We see but Love upon the wood

The foolishness of that we preach

The humble and the wise will reach.

Yet pride refuses all He gives

Denying that again He lives

Though evidence is clear and plain

In ignorance, they still remain.

Be open and receive His word

Then others tell what you have heard

The news is good, there's room for all

Who wish to hearken to Love's call.

5/5/24 Through 5/11/24

 5/5/24 Through 5/11/24

Sunday

Love alone can bring us peace,

Love alone will never cease.

Loving self and neighbor too

Will bring us ever close to You.

Love is patient, love is kind,

Love's the greatest gift we find.

All the rest will pass away

But love eternally will stay.

In each heart and in each land

Love will answer His command.

Love unites and ne'er divides

Love our every need provides.

Love will calm a raging storm,

Love the coldest heart can warm.

Love the key to peace and joy,

Love the wisest wise employ.

Love makes rich, the poorest poor,

Love will life above secure.

Love, the sick and helpless need

Love the starving soul shall feed.

Love, our Teacher crucified

Rose on Easter glorified.

Heaven's where True Love shall reign,

Where none is loss and all is gain.

Monday

Remember He told you the hour shall come

When faith they attack and foe shall become.

Stand firm in the Lord, believe what He said

Take courage from Him who rose from the dead.

He sends you His Spirit to strengthen and gird

Recalling the words from the Savior you heard.

So, be not afraid when you testify well

For Jesus has conquered the powers of Hell.

Their power is but in the temporal time

But after they fall to the depths with the swine.

So, speak and behold that the Spirit will lead

Supplying the words that the hungry will feed.

Your death may be used in a mighty good way

To soften the hearts of the ones who astray.

Whatever the outcome, His offer remains,

Those doing His bidding have Heavenly gains.

Tuesday

Send the Spirit, Lord I pray

Give me strength for every day.

Be my Counselor and guide

Always ready at my side.

Be my comfort, be my will,

Be my animating fill.

Grant me courage, grant me strength,

Be my help to any length.

Let me sing when suffering,

Let my faith a healing bring.

Shake the bars and loose the chains,

Let me see what Heaven gains.

Grant me knowledge of Your ways,

Let my tongue with angels praise.

Wisdom reigns my daily plea,

Let Her not depart from me.

Help me understand what's good,

Help me pray the way I should.

Let me never part from Thee.

That, my greatest fear would be.

Wednesday

He gives to me the all that is

If I but add my all to His

Oh, help me to attachments break

And turn from satisfactions fake.

There's only One who's right and true

No other can compare to You.

All other gods are empty gourds

There's only One, The Lord of Lords.

Thursday

When we see the light our grief becomes joy.

His praises and glory, then we employ.

For darkness so conquered can never destroy

The life everlasting the saints will enjoy.

The body is raised in physical form

Though different it be from its earthly norm.

Perfected in glory, unstained by the sin,

The death and the rising of Christ let us in.

To union with Father, Spirit and Son

To vict'ry upon Mount Calvary won.

Where darkness forever, eternally banned

And life is how Jesus so graciously planned.

Friday

Do not be afraid, but speak of My name

Be confident always, showing no shame.

My word must be taught, proclaimed to them all

He speaks to us now, as spoken to Paul

The worst of the worst are deserving to know

They're loved and invited to Heaven to go.

But first there must be a one willing to go

And love for the poorest of poor to them show.

A calling He has for each in His flock

If we will but listen, and answer His knock.

The key is to act as He prompts you to do

It makes of us saints, so how about you?

Saturday

Ask the Father in My name

For this is part of why I came

To let you see the Father's love

And set your sights on that above.

The Father's will is my will too

We only want what's best for you.

We teach of ways beyond your mind

So happiness, at last you find.

4/28/24 Through 5/4/24

 4/28/24 Through 5/4/24

Sunday

How wicked man can grow to be

When love of Christ is gone from thee

When children taught to seek for gain

In selfishness and other's pain.

Revenge for wrongs the remedy

And nay the chance for clemency

A withered branch of death and sin

Is all we are apart from Him.

But even those so steeped in sin

Can new and loving life begin,

If they be grafted to the Vine

And follow well the will of Thine.

For there is peace and tranquil joy

When Christian teaching we employ.

When self is given up we show

How true the love of Christ we know.

Monday

Great wisdom is to love the Lord

This gift the poorest poor afford

For those who see and understand

Will join this apostolic band.

No man is God, no man is Lord

There's only One to be adored

Yet man can be His dwelling place,

Be filled with mercy, love, and grace.

Become a saint and follow Him

Not ways of evil, dark, and dim.

For one who's docile everyday

Will shelter gold within the clay.

Tuesday

In suffering the gold made pure,

The way is wrought with pain for sure

But over pain, the joy shall reign

And faithful servants, heaven gain.

The Father's will, the surest way

To find the path to trod today

For love will lead to sacrifice

But joy will come from His advice.

Wednesday

Lord, within my life's pursuit

Prune whatever bears no fruit

So, make my will align with Yours

And grant me grace that long endures.

Make this weakly heart of mine

Firmly grafted to Your Vine

Apart from You I wither, fade

Without the Vine, no progress made.

Thursday

It takes a meeting of the minds

For Christ has come for many kinds

The tent must be one wide and deep

With practices that all can keep.

The simple rules our Lord expressed

To love our God and neighbor best

Admit all men of favored will

And yet present a challenge still.

For love requires giving all

And listening for every call

So, when our will is one with His

We'll understand what Heaven is.

Friday

Many have seen, and many have heard

Many have also studied His word

Far fewer have known Him and seen eye to eye,

But those that once did, were ready to die.

We talk a good game, but when push comes to shove

We likely deny Him rejecting His love.

We listen and hear, but don't understand

Our minds He must open to let them expand.

The finite to the Infinite, "Oh Lord, I want to see."

With all I've given you so far, you still not knoweth Me?

The Father, Son, and Spirit, a triune Godhead be.

A unity beyond the mind, but that you see in Me.

Saturday

If you are hated for loving the Lord

Rejoice and be glad, for great the reward

The world doesn't know what they're missing in Him

Preferring the darkness, they live in the dim

A glimmer of light they may see once a while

But often the darkness again will beguile.

The pain of transition may govern the will,

But love and forgiveness we offer them still.

His work alone is the changing of hearts

But Christians must all be fulfilling their parts

Speaking the truth and illuming the night

In hope that someday they will move to the light.

Our Master much suffered, no less we expect

Now clean are the souls with blood He has swept.

Ascended once more to the Father above

He charges disciples to now spread the love.

All knowing that pain will belong to the chore

But seeing beyond to the joy evermore

He calls His disciples to follow His way

Searching always for those who have fallen away.