7/12/15 through 7/18/15

7/12/15 through 7/18/15

Sunday

The beauty of the earth down deep

So very few have known

Such grandeur there one shouldn't keep

For just his very own

Monday

Not knowing how God's children are

The rulers try to keep

Their numbers from increasing far

And roots from growing deep

For not this world the roots were meant

Such children must increase

The ones who offer this sweet scent

Of service and of peace

Tuesday

If His voice should come to me

Attentive pray that I should be

And willing that I would repent

I offer that I would be sent

Wednesday

Thy word oh Lord and not my own

Has power to light the way

Give me the words to make You known

In all I do and say

Thursday

The first time I received the Lord 

I found uncommon grace

Somehow to me His love out poured

That special time and place.

Friday

Impatient with his lagging pace

I grumbled quietly

Forgetful of the mighty grace

I was about to see

I heard a voice as plain as day

That reprimanded me

"Look at his hands" I heard Him say

"Be blind no more, but see"

How many times this aged man

With ordinary bread

Has lifted up those holy hands

And hungry souls were fed.

"So who are you, self righteous one
Who can't afford this time
To criticize the pace of one
Whose life is fully Mine"


Saturday
The people left in hurried pace
With just unleavened bread
They left that awful slavery place
To be with manna fed.

7/5/15 through 7/11/15

7/5/15 through 7/11/15

Sunday

Embrace the weakness quell the sin

And let the word of God come in

Then in temptation's strongest hour

Discover He provides the power

Monday

It's time to offer God this day

It's time to fast and time to pray

It's time to learn the key to peace

It's time for carelessness to cease

Tuesday

Worthy of trust is Jesus our Lord

Gift of the Father and life giving word

He raises the one who was cast in the pit

To govern the land and rule over it.

Wednesday

Authority was given us

O'er demons filled with greed and lust

The power to live in holiness

The power to cure and teach and bless

Thursday

Now when we humbly serve and greet

Or wash the lowly servant's feet

The gift of love is all around

And this is where true wealth is found.

Friday

When you hear these rhyming words

Don't think our God is split in thirds

The three are bound forever one

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

And the Father sent the Son

To show us how to live as one

To take the lowly place at feast

To learn to love and serve the least.

Saturday

Regression without precedence

The former century brought

Man seeking to redeem by new

Progressive ways of thought

Utopia one cannot find 

By forcing to conform

The will of each and every soul

According to your norm.

The paradise they're looking for 

Comes not from power and might

But from the gift of servant love

In radiance and light.

6/28/15 through 7/4/15

6/28/15 Through 7/4/15

Sunday

Attempts to fill our emptiness

Are made in vain and more distress

We work to fill the hole inside

But find we're never satisfied.

For even if the Lord we try

To touch his garments passing by

It' not enough to meet with him

Our souls were meant to BE in him.

Monday

This day I set before the Lord

My sacrifice of praise

That I may feed upon his word

And love him all my days.

Tuesday

It's time to tame that awful beast

Who makes the flesh cry out

To rid myself of greedy yeast

And cast the glutton out.

I must rely on higher power

To cleanse me of this guile

Unfailing in my weakest hour

With strength to bear the trial

Wednesday

What should I say when I haven't a clue

Of what You are saying or what I should do?

Be patient and listen, take time to relax

The words you are given are much more than scraps

First taste, and then chew, consuming the whole.

Let them give you courage and nourish your soul

My body true bread and my blood is true drink.

You're given the grace to proclaim, and not shrink.

Thursday

Baptized in God's family

I'm called to be all I can be.

To follow him through anything

To share God's love in everything

Friday

My Lord and God did Thomas speak

No longer strong, he joined the weak

The weak who trust their sovereign Lord

The weak who drink his love out poured.

Saturday

This day of independence

From tyranny and strife

Our fathers sought transcendence 

From ordinary life

In freedom for the masses

To worship and believe

This liberty surpasses

What all hoped to achieve.

For freedom places on each soul

A duty to be true

To choose the best thing for the whole

Not just what's best for you.

6/21/15 through 6/27/15

6/21/15 through 6/27/15

Sunday

Your justice and mercy I can't comprehend

Understanding and wisdom are yours without end

The grandeur of God is far beyond reach

The depth of your love through the cross do you teach

Monday

Refusing to condone one sin

St.  Thomas lost his head

This day our courts deliberate 

If men should share one bed.

Tuesday

How can I find the narrow gate

When wide the way of sin?

How can I learn to concentrate

On what will let me in?

Wednesday

Brand New Me

Another day comes to an end

And goals remain unmet

Oh Lord I cannot comprehend

The promises un-kept

If I were jilted half as much

As I have jilted You

I wouldn't have much use for such

Who say, but never do.

Dear God please help me turn around

And follow after Thee

Then let your splendid grace abound

Create a brand new me.

Thursday

The mansions built on shifting sand 

Are everywhere around

For oft we hear the word of God

With little action found.

Friday

If sinful plots the heart invade

What loss for all that God has made!

For once the sin takes hold of thee

The wisdom of the Lord will flee.

Saturday

Do you get discouraged by things in the news?

Do repeated defeats sometimes give you the blues?

Regardless of what the high court has to say

It isn't a marriage when joined in that way.

For years many rulers tried telling the throng

Their actions were right, when they knew they were wrong

Just look throughout history, see what they've become

Then look once again at the love of the Son.

Our job is to trust in the power of love

Believing the words of the one up above

To soften hard hearts by our love we must try

For his power can change in the blink of an eye.

6/14/15 through 6/20/15

6/14/15 through 6/20/15

Sunday

Will our branch like Aaron's flower

To help us stand in judgement's hour,

To greet the master's homeward stride

In hope, with talents multiplied?

Lord let your love make bright my way

Give me the perfect words to say,

And may the daily things I do

Help lead the folks I meet to you

Monday

An eye for an eye will get you no place

The way to advance is with mercy and grace

To love those who love you is not a great feat,

Try loving the mean and the ornery you meet.

Tuesday

A blessing for community

Is ready generosity

With no shade of graft or greed

But swiftly meeting every need.

Our gifts are given to be shared

That any wanting may be spared

And spreading what we have around

Is how, in truth, the bounty's found.

Wednesday

Though all believe in things not seen

Some say that faith's absurd.

But not to those whose eyes have seen

The power of His word.

He speaks to all who take the time

To listen to His voice

To those who offer Him their prime

He helps to make a choice.

Thursday

Our daily prayers contain within

Great words of hope, release from sin

Our father holds in words the key

To sanctify and set us free.

Hail Mary draws the Full of Grace

To meet us any time and place

And when we say the Glory be

We all portray eternity.

Friday

The treasure that these vessels hold

Is worth far more than precious gold

For no amount of gold can buy

The maker of the earth and sky.

Saturday AM

Oh Lord, that I might persevere

To You my heart be always near

And never let my soul astray

By wandering from Your guiding way.

PM

Great beauty in these souls of thine

The different shapes and varied kind

Wherever Lord Your light does shine

The artistry of God we find.

Not a Match, but a Mate

I thank you Jesus for my bride

Of now these many years

A helpmate always at my side

Through joyful times and tears.

The perfect one designed for me

In each and every way

To cure me of delinquency

In things I do and say

Far from a match, she is my mate

The one whose every part

Was joined with me, that we might be

Two of one mind and heart.

6/7/15 through 6/13/15

Sunday

Doubt no longer, but believe

He our sinfulness relieve

In this bread is true compassion

Holy lives He feeds to fashion.

Truly present though not seen

For believers this has been

Bread of heaven giv'n to nourish

Healthy souls to flow'r and flourish.

Monday

Jesus tells us how to be

With attitudes that set us free

They sound to most like much distress,

But truly lead to happiness.

Tuesday

Grant wisdom Lord with each new day

Help me to listen and obey

When challenged help me search and sift

To You my spirit always lift.

Wednesday

The family's where the child is formed,

Where wills are trained and hearts are warmed.

The special place we learn to live,

To love and share, and freely give.

Thursday

The basic building block you see

That makes up our society

The place where love of mom and dad

Brings forth a brand new lass or lad.

The family's where we learn to pray

To offer God our cares each day

To trust in Him for all our needs

And do with kindness, all our deeds.

Friday

A sign of love, the Sacred Heart

Should shine in every home.

His burning love will then impart

To all in there shalom.

Enthrone Him in your heart this day

A place of prominence

and let this lover have His way

To lift your countenance.

Saturday

Immaculate Mary your praises we sing

To your holy Son our petitions please bring

By your faithful yes you brought life to the earth

Trusting always, in a stable gave birth

Our one single boast in the whole human race

The Star of Creation that's filled with His grace.

Sinless and pure as the wind driven snow

You care for your children on earth here below.

Presenting our needs to the Father above

Through Jesus, his son, the pure essence of love.

By your tender guidance teach us to become

The person intended by God for each one.

5/31/15 through 6/6/15

Sunday

Is there a god you've ever known

To call a nation all his own,

To lead from where the slaves are bound

To where the milk and honey's found?

Is there One with love so strong

That on a starry night so long

Came to us in humble form,

A Savior, in a stable born?

Is there One so passionate

To send his holy Advocate

To guide us in our daily walk,

And teach us when we need to talk?

For One so great we must obey

And follow in His holy way

To find for our whole family

True peace and real prosperity.

Monday

No matter what our offering

No deed unnoticed by the King

He cares not for the blood of sheep,

But do we here our brother keep.

Tuesday

Protect me Lord from what I do

Instead of trusting all in You

I fall again and now in shame

Return to where forgiveness came.

Wednesday

Caesar governs here on earth

So rightly we should pay

Our tax to him who governs here

The ruler of this day.

But to the One who reigns on high

Creator of all things

To Him the righteous offers all

And sacrifices brings.

Thursday

A habit is made by an act of the will

Repeating it often when time needs to fill

And character comes from the things that we do

So we find that these actions define who are you.

Friday

The gall of a fish can open the eyes

The light of the Lord can remove a disguise

Blessing the faithful, He leads from despair,

To joy and abundance in His tender care.

Saturday

At last the dedication day

A chapel for the Lord

A fitting place to come and pray

For loving hearts out poured.

No longer just a dream for those

Who Presentation knew

Reality for ones who chose

Their lives there to renew.

5/24/15 through 5/31/15

5/24/15 through 5/31/15

Sunday

When the Holy Spirit came

In flashing tongues of holy flame

Timid ones stood and proclaimed

With love, the power of Jesus' name.

Without the fire of God within

We're far more apt to fall in sin

But with the Spirit's seven fold power

We're clothed to meet temptation's hour.

Monday

Remembering the fallen ones

This day we set aside

To call to mind the sacrifice

Of those who fought and died.

Protecting freedom in our land

So generations hence

Could live in liberty and peace

All bought at their expense.

We must respect their gift to us

By living everyday

As ones who care for others in

The same self-giving way.

Tuesday

The call to simple sacrifice

Will greet us every morn

We must control our appetites

For us to be reborn

Not suffering repeated blows

Or asked to give our all

But giving up what no one knows

Through works considered small.

Wednesday

The island of my ancestors

was once a source of pride

A faithful Catholic people with

The Church to be their guide.

But through the years the thorns have grown

Among that goodly seed

The worldly cares of day to day

The things we say we need.

Somehow their faith has come to be

A loser in the fight

Regardless of majority

A vote can't make it right.

I used to think the first command

Was useless in our day.

Who bows to calves, or carves a god

To worship anyway?

But we have turned our carnal lust

Into that sacred cow

Where to the simply deviant

We now just turn and bow.

The laws of love were given when

He made them man and wife.

Their unity the chosen way

Of bringing forth new life.

Have we not seen throughout the years

That following His plan

Leads to true prosperity

For each and every man?

Oh Lord, remove the blinders

Help us all to see

That following the laws of God

In truth will set us free!

Thursday

The cry that oft we dare not say

Is, "Lord, I want to see"

For in the light He shows the way

That we were meant to be.

Friday

No time to sit and recreate

It's time now to accelerate

Our search to harvest needy souls

Intensifies as we grow old.

Saturday

Wisdom, friend and guiding light

Come and make my pathway bright

Give me courage to endure

Always faithful, true, and sure.

5/16/15 through 5/23/15

5/17/15 through 5/24/15

Sunday

Ascending to Your rightful throne

Disciples watched in awe

Declaring You as King alone

From everything they saw

But Your plan was greater still

Your blessings incomplete

To help us do the Father's will

You sent the Paraclete.

Monday

The grain of wheat must fall and die

And then be found to grow

Then as the stalk is reaching high

The gifts of Spirit flow.

Tuesday AM

Don't shrink away or fail to speak

The word God gives to you.

But raise the weary and the weak

As God says we should do.

Tuesday PM

Again I sit before the Lord

God of glory and grace

My weak and sinful self abhorred

Ashamed to lift my face

When will I ever gain the power

To turn away from sin

In courage, meet temptation's hour

And garner strength within?

A frightful thought to look upon

The scourges and the thorns

And know those sacred stripes were drawn

As products of my scorn

Lord make my greatest love be You

Make me always seek what's true

Help me always realize

That Satan's fool is really wise.

Wednesday

I watch in silence as each surge

Of blood comes from my heart

Transporting life and animating

Each and every part.

I don't know how, I don't know why

My thoughts are not that high

But this I know without a doubt

His love is what it's all about.

Thursday

Firmly bound forever free

Is what I ask dear Lord of Thee

That I might only rest and feed

In verdant pastures where You lead

Friday

The night before the Savior died

By closest friend, three times denied

But on the shore He fed and blessed

For love was there three times expressed.

Saturday

Don't worry how the rest are called

For you just follow me

You are the rock that I installed

The keeper of the key.

5/10/15 through 5-16-15

Sunday

Love is meant for everyone

The Father's gift of precious Son

The Spirit too, He sent for all

Who hearken to the master's call.

Monday

Help me forsake myself I cry

Make me to love enough to die

Let not my search for pleasure win

Teach me to love and turn from sin.

Tuesday

There's more to the story than what we can read

How suddenly, faith in the Lord can now lead

The jailer, a soldier, to turn from his post

Becoming for prisoners, their servant and host.

The power of God is so hard to describe

It will gnaw at our gut and cause us to decide

If we will be creatures all puffed up with pride,

Or yield to the Lord, and let Him be our guide.

Wednesday

For now it is too much to know

All that the Lord has planned.

We feed on milk until we grow

To follow His command.

Thursday

We must replace, apostles say

The one of us who did betray

Then hung in utter desolation

On a tree of condemnation.

One with us throughout the days

Must join with us and teach His ways.

Replacing Judas' deeds at night

Matthias acts in holy light

Friday

Mother Mary be my guide

This day remain here at my side 

Let me see your holy face

And shower down His loving grace.

For I desire to love like thee,

With perfect, kind humility

Trusting that someday I might,

Like you, reflect His wondrous light.

Saturday

A knock says may I please come in

And turn your tendency towards sin,

To One who truly satisfies,

And from the father of those lies.

5/3/15 through 5/9/15

Sunday

Accept it all with joy they say

A gift from God on high,

But I can't find a joyful way

And choose to wonder why.

Why not, the better question posed,

should trouble come to me?

Is it right that I suppose

From trial my life be free?

Monday

Pride is such a subtle vice

It sneaks through any crack

And then it does in us entice

Our prayer life to grow slack.

Tuesday

We're called to persevere in pain

That we might win eternal gain

Then like apostles, and like Paul

Might spread the Word to one and all.

To learn to love I must obey

And follow in the Master's way

Forsaking ease and glory high

To freely choose the cross and die.

Wednesday

"I do believe!", the father said.

Help my unbelief.

Don't turn and leave my son for dead,

I'm crying for relief.

Thursday

The struggle for the earthly gain

Is always proved to be in vain.

For those who strive to get ahead,

Eventually, they turn up dead.

Then what becomes of all their wealth,

Their quest for power and perfect health?

The dreams become for those who sinned

Just dandelions in the wind. 

So tell me what their silver gleaned,

A blessing or a curse?

For they say you've never seen

A U-haul on a hearse.

Friday

To love sounds like a simple rule

That we could all obey

So often though, we play the fool

And self gets in the way.

Staurday

How shall the young be sinless found,

When in this world, and all around,

Temptations vie to hold their sway?

The Word of God they must obey!

4/26/15 through 5/2/15

Sunday

They act as if they know it all

And so refuse to hear the call

Or listen when the still small voice

Beckons, make the holy choice.

Good shepherd tries to lead the way

But they insist to go astray

and find a hungry wolf instead

Of verdant pastures for their bed.

Monday

Why does sleep elude my eyes?

Why does your will seem in disguise?

Why don't I rest and sleep in ease?

Why don't I get down on my knees?

Tuesday

The Master called His sheep by name

And all who followed Love then came

But those who always asked for signs

Refused to follow His designs.

Wednesday

When amidst a great attack

No time to let our hands grow slack

But praise Him still for we behold

By fire He cleanses precious gold.

Make me like Barnabas and Paul

Who gladly suffered for the call

And may I never shy away

From speaking what you'd have me say.

Thursday

How can I think of writing rhyme

When I sit to pass the time

Sipping whiskey for the pain

A tooth has gone awry again.

Friday

A people set apart for You

With holy work for each to do

Like Joseph through our work express

Desire for love and holiness.

Let me listen Lord to Thee

For the Word You speak to me

And act upon your each command

Or lest my house be built on sand.

What a treat to sit with You

Enjoying in this place

The simple quiet solitude

And blessings of Your grace

Saturday

In the name of Jesus pray

And God will grant to you this day

From His font of grace thereof

What's best for you and those you love.

When Mary said let it be done

According to Your will

The Spirit then conceived the Son

Her tabernacle filled.

4/19/15 through 4/25/15

Sunday

The heart that sings the Easter hymn

Is one that walked the road with Him.

The road that leads to Calvary

The road to death upon the tree.

When self is emptied we can see

The joy that love was meant to be.

Then resurrected life we know,

And gifts from Holy Spirit flow.

Monday

Work for the food that satisfies

Not for the latest batch of lies

Not for the flower that fades away

But for the light of endless day.

Tuesday

You gave the martyrs strength to die

While pagans stood and  wondered why

Would one endure such pain and shame

For just the sake of Jesus' name?

But with the martyr's blood that flowed

The greatest power of love You showed

With fortitude their trials endured

Eternal life for them assured.

Wednesday

The bread came down from heaven when

The time had been fulfilled

To do His Father's will and then

With Spirit He infilled

Thursday

Unless the grain falls down and dies

Unless the fool becomes the wise

Unless the proud become the meek

Unless the strong become the weak

No hunger of the soul inside

We'll ever find is satisfied.

No way can famished souls be fed

With just one grain, there is no bread.

Friday

When will the foolish ever know

How will the simple ever grow

If we don't teach by what they see 

Lived out each day by you and me?

Saturday

The Word, my son your daily bread

Make time to ponder in your head

And as you chew on each small part

The Lord will write it on your heart

His words are written for the throng

And never will they steer you wrong

If following our great high priest

You listen well and love the least.

4/12/15 through 4/18/15

Sunday

The darkness leaves when Light arrives

The Light that brings new hope to lives

The Light that prompts the birds to sing

The Light gives life to everything.

Monday

The wind we know not where it comes,

Nor even where it goes.

But if it be the breath of God

The Holy Spirit flows.

Tuesday

Oh Lord I need Your help this day

To lift my daily cross

To find in You the Truth, the Way,

And choose the gold, not dross.

Wednesday

The daily bread that You provide

Is in Your presence at my side

When anytime throughout the day

I take the time to simply pray.

Thursday

Lord grant me faith in you this day

Give me the courage to obey

To place o'er You no earthly thing

And make of You my everything.

Friday

I gaze upon a late night sky

And ponder other worlds so high

So far away from me I know

That mortal man could never go.

\How far I cannot comprehend

I wonder does it ever end?

Such beauty in the sky above

Created by our God of love.

Saturday

Security a mere charade

For not with things is safety made

Through simple plain obedience

The Lord becomes  our great defense.