9/15/24 Through 9/21/24

 9/15/24 Through 9/21/24

Sunday

How willingly He suffered much

And through our pain, we feel His touch

For each, a cross has been prepared

That through our pain, His Cross be shared.

What good is faith when all is well?

It's tested when we deal with Hell.

Adversity is where we show

Just what of Christ we truly know.

Though many fall amid the pain,

A few will on the cross remain

To suffer there with Christ our Lord

And find abundant grace out-poured.

Be not afraid to follow through

Just act upon each word to you.

He's right beside you on the way,

Your guiding light for come what may.

For where could one ere see such love

Save 'neath the Cross with Him above.

His all He gave for love of you

And all He asks is ALL of you.

Monday

Oh Lord I am not worthy

That Thou should come to me

And though it may be nervy

I ask this good of Thee

A healing for my household

A restoration bring.

For me a fortune of gold

For You a little thing.

Tuesday

In need of every holy gift

The Spirit gives for strength and lift

The building up of all within

And turning from the stains of sin.

The gifts abundant, well-disbursed

Can quench the sinner's inner thirst.

But each must use what's given them

To find within the hidden gem.

He nudges each to have belief

And not let fear become a thief.

The body thrives when parts are well

And uses gifts within that dwell.

So, use and share what's given thee

I pray we all on this agree.

Each has a vital role it's true,

Don't let the lacking piece be you.

Wednesday

Born for a world quite different from this

Born for a world that's not run amiss.

Born for a world of patience and love

Born to be trusting of Him from above.

Born to be giving of all that we own

Born to be nourishing seed that was sown

Born to be grace from the time of our birth

Born to spread love over all of the Earth.

Who but our Maker, knows what is best?

Who but our Maker, so richly has blest?

Who but our Maker, knows all that we need?

Who but our Maker, Himself gives to feed?

So, why do I falter and why do I fail?

Why is my nature so fallen and frail?

So, why is the way of this world so wrong?

Why can't we find where the pieces belong?

The will must be free for love to be true

And only the best He wanted for you.

So, freedom He gives us, to love or reject

And all that you have is from what you select.

It's not from our Maker this wrong that we see,

But sins of the people like you and like me.

But this too can change if we only repent

And start acting in ways that our Maker had meant.

He's loving and kind and forgiving of man

If we just turn around in the time of our span

But oh, what a fire of torments await

If pride we let rule 'till the time is too late.

Thursday

By grace alone, I am what I am

A sinner forgiven by way of the Lamb

The tears that I shed are in sorrow of sin,

How I pray for a change to begin from within.

The way of my part is a faltering road

The weight of my sin is a tiresome load.

No more to be spiraling deeper in debt

I pray by Confession, forgiveness I'll get.

The haughty, self-righteous, in pride, never know

The gracious forgiveness the Father will show

To those who are humble, confessing their wrong

Who sing with the joy of repentance their song.

When much is forgiven, the greater the joy

With love overflowing to prideful annoy.

But just look and see  how with love all is done

And gaze on the Cross at the love of the Son.

Friday

Our Christ was raised, you can't dismiss

For everything is changed by this

This life is now the proving ground

Where life is lost or life is found.

Though some deny what Christ has proved

And many souls remain unmoved,

Come see the evidence so true

And know He died and rose for you.

Without this fact all life is nil

So we must search His holy will

Conforming all we do to love

To find our home with Him above.

For resurrection is the key

That changes life for you and me

Eternal life begins at death

Let Christ be praised with every breath.

Saturday

(To the tune of "Take Up Your Cross")

Be worthy of the call received

By other loves be not deceived

But bear the cross that you may be

A one that brings to unity

So, grow in your maturity

Equipping ones to work for Me

And build the body that we need

To sow abundantly the seed,

He came to call the sinner home

And not to leave them all alone

But call them to the banquet feast

The greatest sinners and the least

In mercy found, not sacrifice

Is love more potent to suffice

For all have sinned and mercy need

So come and with the sinner feed.

9/8/24 Through 9/14/24

 9/8/24 Through 9/14/24

Sunday

Alone and empty in the world

No sound of seas or wind that swirled

No voice to share my heart's desire

No chance of singing in the choir

But then You came and touched my ears

No sound in them for many years

Until Your cry, "Be opened" heard

And now each morn a precious word.

A tongue, at last, that now can sing

The praise of such a mighty King

And share my heart with other men

Then offer praise to God again.

Monday

A little goes a long, long way

A grain of sand will foul the clay

The sour grapes will ruin wine

And so will sin this soul of mine.

A jealous heart, a greedy glance

The prideful nature's rigid stance

The yeast of scribe and Pharisee

Is still around as you can see.

Remove the leaven that infects

Replace with love the soul perfects.

Humility will raise the dough

And clear the way of love will show.

Tuesday

Lord, what's the call You have on me,

What healing there remains to be?

I want to serve and do what's right

But find that I have not the might.

Impatience plagues my every day

I gripe and grumble on the way

I want what ere I want, and now.

Entitled, think myself somehow.

I need to meet Your patient gaze

And let Your love remove the haze

So I may clearly see in Thee

The virtue lacking much in me.

I must begin to others see

Their needs have more import than me.

Or when my time as first has passed

I'll find I'm in the line as last.

Wednesday

Woe to you when all speak well

For this can be a sign of Hell

The prophets false found such acclaims

But none can now recall their names.

The humble poor who bear their cross

When faced with hardship, grief, and loss

Thought helpless, wretched, here on Earth

Will find their joy in second birth.

But woe to those in comfort now

Who poor and helpless disavow

For you shall be the weeping ones

When poor and sick He claims as sons.

Thursday

Oh, how knowledge inflates us with pride

When love is lost as our guide.

We think that we know, but have nothing to show,

Except mystery further supplied.

It's the finger of God we should see

In the scale of this great mystery.

No man could ever avail, of such beauty in every detail,

To Him we must bendeth the knee.

Friday

The speck I see quite clear in thee

But nay the plank that lies in me.

So many sins in others seen

By one who still remains unclean.

The blind of pride is drawn, you see

And unrepentant, blind will be.

But humble raise the shade to light

To pull the plank and see what's right.

Saturday

Let this sign be lifted high

Let Him be seen by passers-by

The One who came to save the lost

No evil plan could love exhaust.

Just contemplate what there you see

And know He suffered all for thee

His patient love is waiting still

For all to seek His holy will.

No hint of selfishness or pride

But every evil there belied

The perfect love of God for man

Restores that lost when time began.

The cross that reaches high and low

The love of God for man to know

Both far and wide the arms extend

The rift of God and man to mend

9/1/24 Through 9/7/24

 9/1/24 Through 9/7/24

Sunday

Your law, oh Lord, is truth and light

Your wisdom guards the darkest night

What nation here could ever know

How deep and wide Your rivers flow.

You lead Your people Israel

On heaven's path away from hell

You call us ever closer still

To perfect love within Your will.

That once obedient we find

Contentment and true peace of mind

As doers of the law You give

That we, with You, may always live.

Monday

The message is simple, no trickery found

But Jesus so humble and thornily crowned,

Beaten and bloodied for wrong that we've done

Then nailed to a cross was the Holiest One.

But Jesus is risen.  Oh yes, it is true

His passion was offered to save such as you.

To bring us the freedom and healing of love

And show us the care of His Father above.

Don't seek to destroy what is meant for your good.

Forsake all your pride and shoulder the wood.

The cross is salvation that pierces the night,

Our path to the land that's eternally bright.

His law brings prosperity, wisdom, and health.

Each word like a rushing fountain of wealth.

The gifts of His Spirit are life to the low

Far exceeding the wealth that is passing below.

Tuesday

For lo, we have the mind of Christ

A treasure rich, and highly-priced.

Where waters of the Spirit flow

The mind of God the people know.

But what a shame where all is dry

For we but hear the people cry

In search of One to slake their thirst,

Yet only by the wrong coerced.

In Sacraments the Spirit gives

The light that nourishes what lives.

But left in darkness who can thrive?

To only greater depths they dive.

Baptize these little ones and see

His Spirit works within to free

And writes upon each heart within

His laws to keep them safe from sin.

So, don't delay, let waters flow

For every child deserves to know

Their Savior, Lord, and King of kings

Who only their contentment brings.

Wednesday

Deserted places clear the mind

And this is where His will we find.

Not wand'ring in the desert waste

But seeking Him to come with haste.

For when His word is spoken clear

The quiet heart will surely hear

And though His will be not our own,

What must be done is clearly known.

So cower not in busy's shroud

But leave the large rambunctious crowd

To hear His voice in quiet still

Then act upon His perfect will.

Thursday

Deep in the water you'll finally see

The wisdom of man is quite foolish to me.

For all is my own, but I offer to thee

The all that you need to be totally free.

The cares of the world and the trials of the day

May seem quite a burden you carry this way

But do as I say and a blessing you'll see

I give all you need to be totally free.

You cling to what's temporal and passing away

Although it does naught to help show you the way

My word is a beacon, a light to your path

Repent and be free of the burden of wrath.

My love is abundant in all that I do

I offer my life to creation renew

Come see that My mercy is waiting for thee,

\Repent and give all to be totally free.

Friday

No room in the old for expanding of new

The stretching that comes from the freshness of dew.

The heart must be pliable, ready to grow

If one is expecting our Savior to know.

So, freshen the wineskin, prepare for the must

The growth will be coming in knowledge and trust.

Some teaching is hard and requires belief

But wine fully aged gives a sip of relief.

Saturday

According to the Master's plan

A Sabbath rest is good for man.

When all was made He called it good

So, honor Him with rest we should.

When all was good He rested well

But love's destroyer came from Hell

With pride to foul the Garden's spring,

To death as man's destruction bring.

The beauty lost was man's demise

But our Creator, far more wise;

Another's coming as He said

To crush the evil serpent's head.

One pure and spotless, undefiled

Full of grace and Godly styled

His Sabbath rest He took within

The Virgin's womb that's free from sin.

It's clear this One is Lord of all

One here to remedy man's fall

Our Sabbath Lord from far above

Who rules with sacrificial love.

8/25/24 Through 8/31/24

 8/25/24 Through 8/31/24

Sunday

Lord, to whom shall we go?

No other with life that we know.

Your teaching is hard, and our senses are jarred,

But to You our allegiance we owe.

We've seen enough by this time

To know it's a new paradigm.

And the message You told, goes beyond all the old

Presenting new heights we must climb.

Monday

Woe to the ones who are lacking in love

Who turn not their hearts to the gifts from above

\Who seeking forever the wealth of below

True joy and true happiness never will know.

For ones who with eyes of their faith plainly see

There is glory beyond, and that love is the key.

Each sacrifice offered, each pain that's endured,

Will strengthen the bond to the Rock that they're moored.

The sheep hears the voice of the Shepherd that calls,

The goat just ignores and eventually falls.

Blinded by avarice, money, and fame

The goat ignores goodness, the worthless to claim.

Don't dance with the fools in their revelry raised

But come to the pasture where docile are grazed.

Enduring each trial for love of the Lord,

And purchasing graces no wealth can afford.

Tuesday

Woe to the blinded who will not to see.

The ones who are selfish and prideful, like me.

So easy to see there's a gnat in my drink

While swallowing camels of pride now, I think.

De tail' is what matters in all that I do

But oft overlooking what's crucial to You.

I focus on dust while the stains still abound

The splinter removed, but the plank never found.

The outside may shine, but the inside You see

Is a much different picture, repulsive to Thee.

I beg for Your mercy and ask that someday

My will be conformed to whatever You say.

Then clear as a crystal on bright sunny days

The inside and out will reflect all Your rays.

No more be I blinded or deaf to Your word

Obedient always to all that I've heard.

Wednesday

Here I am on every morn

Inviting love to be the norm.

But oft you simply turn away

And look unto a selfish way.

It's not enough to look the part,

My love must be within your heart.

So, turn to Me and never sway

Then learn to love throughout the day.

Thursday

When we see through eyes of hist'ry

Clearer see what was a myst'ry.

Oft it seems that evil sinning

Is the side that's always winning.

But when seen through eyes eternal

Far more's seen than what's external.

All will come to death as wanting

Some for glory, some for haunting.

Truth and goodness lead to glory,

Lies and evil, diff'rent story.

After death comes life forever,

Good to glory... evil never.

Lies may bring a pleasure now

But full of emptiness somehow.

They promise much, deliver nil

But fools persist, believing still.

Be wise and listen for what's true

The God of LOVE created you

For glory in eternal light

And not to languish in the night..

Friday

Here the simple fool the wise

Tearing down their thin disguise

No eloquence of human mind

Can top what pure and simple find.

The Cross of Christ they cling to now

And through this foolishness somehow

Confound the wisdom of the day

And enter through the narrow way.

The wisdom of the world is blind

And never will their riches find

But stumbling blocks that hide the door

And ne'er the peace they're looking for.

Then lo, at last, that final day

When wealth and fame shall melt away

They're left with nakedness and shame

And shocked to find they lose the game.

For when the door is shut and barred

With mighty angels standing guard

The fool is seen to be the wise

For naught the earthly treasure buys.

Our choices, firmly made by then

With no more chance to try again.

The cries of bitterness and pain

Forever in that soul remain.

Don't wait another day to turn

And risk potential lasting burn

His mercy waits for truly wise

But foolish pride persists and dies.

Saturday

Oh, so many talents given

But from good and wholesome riven.

Used for pleasure, graft, and sin

Instead of growing life within.

Where are good and faithful servants

With the kind of strict observance

That will use Your graces well

And cause Your purse of grace to swell?

Let me bury not Your treasure.

Use it to its fullest measure.

Multiplying all received

That Your approval be achieved.

8/18/24 Through 8/24/24

 8/18/24 Through 8/24/24

Sunday

True flesh is given for this meal

True blood we drink to live and heal.

No sign or symbol in this act

But flesh and blood in truth and fact.

What's seen is but a thin disguise

Beyond the bread and wine there lies

The blood and body of our Lord

In every time and age outpoured.

A gift of presence, always there

Substantial to the ones aware, 

But often felt by those who seek

And enter in for just a peek.

No words express the way I feel

When basking in His presence real.

It's not some manufactured bliss

But Christ Himself, and true is this!

Monday

We all have that to which we cling

And that's the "all" that we must bring

To place upon the altar for

An offering that offers more.

For freedom sheds the heavy chains

That keep us from eternal gains.

When all is focused on our Lord

He gives what none could e'er afford.

Tuesday

What have we gotten that's all of our own,

And what have we learned that wasn't made known?

All our accomplishments, all that we've done,

Was given as gift from Father and Son.

The Spirit that animates all that we do,

Not even this was created by you.

Every fiber of flesh, every hair on your head,

Without His anointing, is lifeless and dead.

The sights that we see and the sounds that we hear

Are a gift from the One who is always so near.

Understanding and reason, our thoughts from within,

Are gifts we receive to choose good and not sin.

The all that we have and can claim as our own

Are the choices we make and the seeds we have sown.

This freedom too, is a gift from above

The choice to be selfish, or others to love.

Whatever our choices, the end rushes near

We meet it with gratitude, praises, or fear.

The haughty will find at the end of their days

An emptiness clouded in darkness and haze.

But those who acknowledge the King of all kings

Will witness the bounteous harvest He brings.

The humble will see every blessing increase

And love overflowing that never will cease.

Wednesday

When shepherds work to fleece their sheep

Along the road to Hell, they creep.

They're set within their leading place

To be a source of love and grace.

But leaders bent on self-enriching

From that trusted role are switching

To a path of self-destruction

From their role of love instruction.

Thursday

Oh. sprinkle me with water clean

That so my sins be never seen.

My soul be made afresh and new

One totally absorbed in You.

No more a selfish stony heart

But one of flesh which You impart.

A spirit willing to obey

The every word to me You say.

Not to spurn Your invitation,

But to join Your celebration.

Dressed in garments You provide

Your every word to be my guide.

Friday

The simpleness of giving all

In answer to His loving call

Is quite profound for those who do

And something good for me and you.

Amid the din of daily strife

The driest bones can come to life

With flesh and joints, and heart renewed

If with the Spirit so imbued.

.

And such will be an army strong

A holy everlasting throng

To praise and glorify the name

Of Him from whom all blessings came.

Saturday

Come and I will show you truth

The things I learned as just a youth.

Apostles told me of the Lamb

The awesome, fearful, Great I AM.

Three persons clear, yet only One,

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

A God of love for sinful men

Forgiving time and time again.

The cross, His greatest sign of love

He chose to offer proof thereof.

And bread and wine He turns to be

His flesh and blood for life of thee.

He's present here and now today

In this most sacred, holy way.

So, come and see, be quiet... still

And He, your heart, with love shall fill.