8/30/26 Through 9/5/26

 8/30/26 Through 9/5/26

Sunday

A living sacrifice of praise

To You in humble form we raise

A mind transformed to see Your will

Yet one in deepest conflict still

Does flesh or Spirit rule the day?

Does true discernment lead the way?

When love for one offends the more

Then all but one are shown the door

The choice is hard despite the way

So, help me choose the light of day

And help the one who's turned away

To heal the wounds without delay.

Monday

The devil likes to tickle ears

To play with words and play on fears

He puffs us up to pull us down

And offers but a withered crown

But fancy words appearing wise

Are just a veiled and thin disguise

The Word of life is sacrifice

Not always soft, or sweet, and nice.

He wants the all we have to give

The everything on which we live

So He alone can be our King

And peace to faithful people bring

The home, a place not well-received

For thoughts therein are ill-conceived

They look for magic shows to win

But fail to turn away from sin

Far more than magic, what we need

Is faith the size of mustard seed

To move the mountain sin has formed

And face eternal life reformed.

Tuesday

So, do I have the mind of Christ?

A mind for others sacrificed?

Or does the world still dwell within,

Attached unto a life of sin?

In some ways, yes; in some ways, no;

For still I have some way to go

The saints were clean and fully in

Rejecting any form of sin.

But as I look, I clearly see

In many ways, that isn't me.

Enticements of the world remain

And still I fall for temporal gain.

A little pleasure here and there

Can soon become a daily snare

To feed the flesh its base desire

Not mindful of the holy fire.

A flaming sword the angel wields

And every way, the weapon shields

The Garden from the slightest sin

For nothing such can enter in.

It severs, burns, and purifies

All that unworthy of the prize

For, yea, before we enter in

We must detach from every sin

He cuts and burns the dross away

Before we pass the narrow way

It comes to all, no sin survives

Nor to the Land of Love arrives

Oh, help me Lord, that here below

I have the sense to just say, no

To sinful pleasures of the day

And learn the sacrificial way

Then cleansed the easy way, I'll find

Akin to Christ, becomes the mind

Then Heaven's way to me would clear

And death would come without much fear.

Wednesday

One who plants, and one who waters

Are not One who makes things grow

He who calls us sons and daughters

Paints the field of faith below.

Only such a One can save us

Others but to serve His will

Freedom, all on Earth, He gave us

Brothers meant to love, not kill

We must grow beyond the infant

More than milk must feed the soul

Looking not to feed the instant

But to benefit the whole.

Unity means no division

All forgiving every wrong

All as one, the Godly vision

Patient love our daily song

Take the word to furthest reaches

Everyone must hear the call

Of the One who feeds and teaches

Prompting men to give their all.

Thursday

So, leave it all to follow Him

It seems like such a foolish whim

But seems the thing that I must do

To find the lasting life anew

So many things that hold my sway

I bow to them throughout the day

To find a little pleasure there

Instead of turning to my prayer

He is The Way, The Truth, The Life

But seemingly a way of strife

The good must give to better gain

No triumph comes without much pain

To want my neighbor's every good

Means I must shoulder well the wood

And follow Christ in every way

To meet my goal the final day

Friday

No judgment passed before the time

For judgment then will fit the crime

The One alone who sees the heart

Is One alone to grace impart

When Perfect Love compares to me

So many faults I then can see

Perfection is the standard there

And none on Earth, to that, compare

Salvation comes as gift to all

For all are children of the fall

We all have sinned and so have earned

Far less than Perfect Love returned

Saturday

Revealed to just the simple ones

The way to be His chosen sons

To serve each one as Christ the Lord

Receiving so, a great reward.

The hungry, homeless, naked one

Is Jesus Christ, God's only Son

Each helpless soul in dire straits

The hand of one to help awaits

By serving them, it's Christ we feed

For He's the one we help in need

In every living soul we find

The loving source of all mankind

Give eyes to see beyond the screen

And through the mire, treasure glean

For in the poor, the Light remains

By serving them, the servant gains