3/2/25 Through 3/8/25

 3/2/25 Through 3/8/25

Sunday

The voice of men and fruit of trees

Both telling signs are such as these.

Revealing health or sordid sin

By showing what lies deep within.

The husk revealed by shaken sieve

So that within, by what we give.

Where fruit abundantly is grown,

A priceless heart of gold is shown.

Oh help me Lord to learn Your ways

And follow them throughout my days,

So when the final day is near

It comes in peace and without fear.

Monday

The look of love will make demands

And often call for changing plans.

For love can see what holds us back

And shine the light on what we lack.

Don't walk away disheartened when

He shows you're just like sinful men,

But make the change you need to live

And all that hinders freely give.

For all we give is more repaid

When every word of His obeyed

So give Him all you have to give

And find the way to truly live.

Tuesday

Let me come not empty-handed

Giving all as you commanded

None that's offered goes unnoticed

Even deeds in lands remotest.

Man can offer none comparing

To our sinfulness Him bearing.

And all we give is multiplied

By Him who on the Cross once died.

Everlasting life He offers

Opening the endless coffers

Yet He calls for man to give

The all he has for so to live.

Let me hold to nothing fleeting

So the evil plies defeating

Earthly bonds now gladly leaving

Hundredfold and more receiving.

Wednesday

So, once again the path begins

The path to cleanse us from our sins.

The path through forty days we tread

Our wicked sinfulness to shed.

Our flesh to discipline and train

A freedom from our sin to gain

A time to humble haughty hearts

And find the grace that love imparts.

This time we dread but sorely need,

A time on more than food to feed.

Confessing sin, receiving grace,

A time to feel the Lord's embrace.

It's time to set the noise aside,

In silence simply there abide,

To let Him speak within your soul,

And make His will your simple goal.

His Son beloved met with pain

With our salvation meant to gain

Our Lenten offerings we make

To one day life in Him partake.

Thursday

The choice of life or death to make

In every way we choose

The way of life and love to take

Or life itself to lose.

The ways of love involve some pain

And pleasure oft misleads.

But love is where we find the gain,

And pleasure empty deeds.

A cross for every soul to bear

A way of life to lead

We cast upon Him every care

That we might so succeed.

He knows quite well what hinders all,

The hunger, heat, and chill.

But shows if we but heed the call

New life He will instill.

Friday

What good to fast and not be changed,

From Love itself be left estranged?

No sacrifice in this way made

Could e'er expect to Him persuade.

Your works are none but empty show

They lead not on the path to go.

Your fasting's but a wicked claw

None such as this can favor draw.

The fasting that our Lord desires

A gift of self, such fast requires.

A bereaking bonds, a setting free

Is what the fast was meant to be.

So, share your bread, your clothing too

You'll find His healing touching you

The light will dawn, your heart made new,

You'll find the Lord has answered you.

Saturday

Bless God for those He welcomes in

Are those who know their depth of sin

And those who in the midday sun

Can see how far from God they've run.

For even in their desert place

The Lord dispenses ample grace

His love is always acting first

To feed the hunger, slake the thirst.

The ruined home His love restores

By healing wounds of foolish wars

The breach repaired along the way

When sinners learn to Him obey.