2/15/26 Through 2/21/26

 2/15/26 Through 2/21/26

Sunday

The way is clear and simply shown

But we must make the way our own

For if we choose another way

We turn from God and go astray.

It's not sublime or hard to find

It's not alone, in darkness mined

It's there in light of day to see

And well within the reach of thee.

Free will He gives to every man,

To good or ill, stretch out your hand.

Receive what e'er you choose and know

By this, you choose where you will go.

Monday

The wisdom He grants is to follow His will

To see in our trials, a lesson distill.

Persistance perfecting, and filling the gaps,

By giving the measure, the humble one lacks.

With faith you must come, never doubting His hand

Not wavering once from His every command

For doubts are like waves that are tossed in the sea,

Unstable when not always trusting in Thee.

So, see with His eyes what is fleeting below

And know that the way of the flower we go.

The lasting is all that we have when above

And lasting alone is the blessing of love.

Tuesday

Persevering in temptation

The blessed hear His voice

The wise ones in the nation

To love, will make their choice.

The carnal ways of living

Enticed by base desire

But all that's good and giving

Will lift you from the mire.

Each perfect gift is from above

From in the Father's store

A gift of true, unchanging love

To draw you in the more.

Have you not seen, have you not heard

In all His work proclaimed

The Lord, your God, the Father's Word,

The Son of God so named?

Wednesday

The ashes are a potent sign

Of how we need the grace of Thine

To turn from sin and back to God

To thus avoid His righteous rod.

Our lives have strayed in many ways

In busyness of present days

At first, we lose the time to pray

Then, soon enough, we lose our way

The gods we fashion of our own

From seeds of sinfulness we've sown

By seeking pleasure, thrills, and more

While God of all, we just ignore.

The ashes given here today

Are stark reminders we must pray

Repenting of our sinful ways

So we can see the joyful days.

His Passion was the Father's plan

To reach the hardened hearts of man

He showed that sacrifice is love

And that, our path to home above.

He showers grace on willing men

Who turns the face to God again

And gives them strength to long endure

Each sacrifice, to evil cure.

So, live the ashes here and now

Let grace be strength to love somehow

Then find this year on Easter morn

The risen Christ within you born.

Thursday

Clearly, He speaks and says what He means

Hope is our anchor, whatever it seems

His will alone is the way to be free

All others return us to captivity.

In sacrifice, we find our way

The gift of self, to God obey

The cross will lead to life anew

So, take the resurrection view

He speaks the truth in every word

So, we must act on what we've heard

No profit has the world to give

So, give of self, and learn to live

Friday

Our fasting must engage the heart

And cause us to, from sin depart

It must begin a change within

That turns our will from sordid sin

It must be such that humbles man

To so align within God's plan

If it produce but selfish pride

It has no value deep inside

The fast must draw us close to Him

It's not just there to make us slim

It's there to change the heart's desire

And kindle Holy Spirit fire.

A fire that burns the dross away

And changes how we live each day

It makes us see the other's need

And recognize the voice to heed.

So, Lord, I pray this time I change

And set my sights to longer range

To see where all my weakness leads

And choose the path where Jesus feeds.

My Shepherd knows what's best for me

And what will open eyes to see

The beauty and the love He gives

If one, within the Gospel, lives.

Saturday

A sinner called and chosen here

A one to whom the Lord draws near

May be repugnant here to some

But one He wants to make a son.

He made us all for good, not ill

But all have come to shun His will

For some, rejection shows quite well

While others hide how they rebel

What matters here is not the sin

But if we welcome Jesus in

For all have sinned and none are clean

In Him, no sin remains unseen.