7/24/16 Through 7/31/16

7/24/16 Through 7/31/16

Sunday

Our Father find in me the will

To follow You each day

And listen close each morn until

I hear the words You say

Monday

In jars of clay the word abides

The vessel holds no sway

Surpassing power the Lord provides

Afflicted every way.

Perplexed, not driven to despair

Struck down, but not destroyed

Of Christ in us, become aware

And see new life enjoyed

Tuesday

Saints Joahchim and Ann received

Their child, immaculate conceived

The one in all the human race

That we should know as Full of Grace.

This girl who grew so meek and mild

This girl who bore the saving child

The one who counted all as loss

And stood with Him before His cross.

Wednesday

How do I grow within Your call 

But listen and obey,

How do You speak to one so small

What are the words You say?

They come to me in varied ways

At different times throughout the days

So I must be attentive to

The whispers that I hear from You

Not wasting time with petty pleasure

But seeking You, my truest treasure

Burning bush or potter's wheel

A truth they often will reveal

Let me devour all You give

Become my joy, that I may live

Of sinfulness, I now repent

That in Your name I may be sent

Dear mother, take my offering

And make of it a precious thing

Teach me how to reconcile

Remove from me what's base and vile.

Thursday

The old is pointing to the new

The new fulfills the old

Both proclaim the Word to you

And help us to be bold

Friday

Work is but a blessing for

Me to participate

And learn to love the Father more

In what He did create.

Saturday

The Baptist listened and obeyed

The king with wickedness dismayed

Now time has shown the great as small

And truly great who gave their all.

Saturday

If by design or accident

A story's told how time is spent

We leave behind a legacy

For all who follow here to see

A quilt to warm both bed and heart

A written word or work of art

Though colors fade and beauty wanes

But never lost, the love remains

So take some time to make a gift

And so, a loved one's spirits lift

Say not that time is in the way

You haven't time to think that way

7/17/16 Through 7/23/16

7/17/16 Through 7/23/16

Sunday

Martha worked, but Mary kept

A vigil at His feet

But as she cooked, and cleaned, and swept

She missed the love replete

To work, we must attentive be

To make our daily bread

but more than hospitality

Must let our souls be fed

Monday

All around and every day

Are found, His blessings on the way

But often yet I fail to see

His answer right in front of me.

Tuesday

Much like the flower of the field

So fleeting is the life we yield

And since the time we came to birth

Have we helped beautify the earth?

Wednesday

Say not I am too young

Say not I am too old

I've given you a tongue

To man-up and be bold.

Thursday

Remember how you loved Me so.

With all your heart and soul,

Why did you ever let me go

And never then be whole?

You turned away to play the whore

The Fountain at your back

And traded lavish waters for

A cistern with a crack.

Friday

Forgiven much, the Magdalene

Could not forget what she had seen.

Her blessed Lord they crucified

Stood there before her glorified.

Saturday

Make of me a soil deep

And rich beyond compare

Sow in me Your precious wheat

That choice and luscious fare.

7/10/16 Through 7/16/16

7/10/16 Through 7/16/16

Sunday

If we just avoid the sin

No change will happen deep within

Avoiding evil's understood

But better yet is doing good

Deliver him a crushing blow

By loving more the ones you know

For this is how the battle's won,

By virtue, sin is overcome.

Monday

Retreating to the desert find

The only truth and peace of mind

In the quiet solitude

Discover this new attitude

Tuesday

Woe to you who've seen such things

The force of condemnation brings

The weight of sin to pull you down

And in your stubbornness to drown.

You've seen His mighty works yet still

The base desire controls your will

For you His precious Son was sent

And now it's time that you repent.

Wednesday

I am weak, but Thou art strong

Save me from a life of wrong

As the childlike, let me see

All the good You've done for me.

Thursday

The yoke of One so strong yet meek

Most precious burden that I seek

To carry Him throughout the day

In all I do and all I say

Friday

Why should I ask to stay on earth

If trust be truly mine,

Why not receive a second birth

And drink of Heaven's wine?

Friday PM

A steadfast heart create in me

Detached, and truly, one set free

From all the trappings of the day

To spend a while with You and pray.

So many things to sway the heart

So many ways to then depart

From recognizing all that is

He gave for us, this Son of His.

Saturday

Purest mother, virgin kind

In you the poor and helpless find

A guiding hand along the way

To lead them to the light of day.

7/3/16 Through 7/9/16

7/3/16 Through 7/9/16

Sunday

Can people tell by looking here

If faith in Jesus Christ is near;

Can people look, and then discern

A peace and calm they'd like to learn?

Are the marks of love quite clear

To those who worry, fret, and fear;

Can they see that we possess

The love of Christ that we profess?

Monday

Freedom in this blessed land

Was granted by His guiding hand

To shine for all the world to see

The fruitfulness of liberty.

But with this freedom all men should

Be striving for the common good

Or else this land of liberty 

Becomes another poverty.

Tuesday

The unity of God's desire

Communion with His heart afire

Love enough to conquer sin

And foster then, a change within.

Wednesday

This fair young maiden close to Thee

Became a light of purity

Preserving love as clean and fresh

She offered up her mortal flesh

Thursday

Uncanny, how the more we give

Improves in all, the way we live

For when we trust Him to provide

We find He always will abide.

Friday

Repentance turns the wrath away

And lets us see the light of day

The error of our sinful way

That we might learn to love and pray

Friday PM

A little pencil make of me

That Your true servant, I may be

And write with me a little rhyme

Just like Your mother's love sublime.

Saturday

A burning ember cleanses lips

The fire of love refines and strips

Our sinfulness and foolish pride

To clearly see the other side.

The Eucharist, an ember now

To bring about a change somehow

A daily cleansing of the heart

So that His love, we may impart.

6/26/16 Through 7/2/16

6/26/16 Through 7/2/16

Sunday

How worthless what I left behind

The yoke of sinfulness

For there a soul could never find

True peace and happiness.

Monday

All that's good is from Your gift

The things that make my spirits lift

A barren and a salted waste

The things I often long to taste.

Tuesday

Your prophecy will come to me

At times throughout the day

But cloudy eyes must recognize

Then listen, and obey.

Wednesday

The faith was spread by holy men

Like Peter, and St. Paul

The ones who trusted God and when

Were called, they gave their all.

Thursday

Rise and walk the Master said

Forgiven is your sin

Have courage and pick up your bed

By faith in God you win

No blasphemy within His word

For all authority

Is in the voice the cripple heard

That beckoned, "Come to Me".

Friday

A famine of God's word will be

The payment for our apathy

The Word which is our salt and light

Will vanish into darkest night.

But that is how it needn't be

If we repent and be set free

For if we listen and obey

The Lord will give the light of day

And open up to greater still

New life to those who seek His will

For happiness and peace abound

Where following His will is found.

Saturday

Veiled in our humanity

His fire of love we fail to see

Concupiscence now clouds the view

Of that true love that man once knew.

A dim reflection we now see

Of that extreme reality

But in a marriage find a clue

Of what self-giving love can do.

6/19/25 Through 6/25/16

6/19/25 Through 6/25/16

Sunday

Look upon His hands and feet

The piercing in His side

There we find the mercy seat

And precious cleansing tide

Monday

A splinter in your eye annoys

And my corrective word employs

A tone of righteousness that seems

To just ignore my wooden beams

Tuesday

Discard the trappings of the day

And enter through the narrow way

For we can carry nothing there

Not even fancy underwear

Wednesday

His mercy hasn't reached the end

His strength on which the weak depend

But evermore He grants the grace

To meet the trial that we face

Now the fruit of every trial

Is rarely known in that first mile

But clearer seen when down the road

The blessing of that heavy load.

Thursday

The captive taken far away

The land now left in disarray

Abandoning the narrow path

We face the consequence of wrath

The sands of pleasure, wealth, and fame

For those unfaithful ones became

A worthless place to build upon

For all they trusted now is gone.

Friday

Prepare the way by turning back

Recovering what hearts now lack

His love and mercy without end

The sinner cannot comprehend

Saturday

From God the messengers were sent

Each with the message to repent

For easily we've come to see

Our wandering has come to be

Reminded we must always be

Of simple human frailty

And how often through the day

We turn from him and start to stray

In luxury and comfort blessed

The Giver often not confessed

Sometimes a crisis blesses too

For then we see it's all from You.

6/12/16 Through 6/18/16

6/12/16 Through 6/18/16

Sunday

Change the lens that I may see

My sins with greater clarity

Repentance and forgiveness find

And then at last, true peace of mind.

Monday

Revenge, a tool of mighty power

Destruction in the anger's hour

But love of God is stronger still

If I but exercise my will.

Tuesday

Love will overcome the sin

The darkest secrets deep within

If we but open wide the door

And hide our awful guilt no more

Wednesday

No chain can bind the sky above

No bar can hold the bounds of love

For even in the darkest place

The Lord can shine His light of grace.

Thursday

Our Father give us daily bread

For through Your goodness we are fed

Teach us to love and to forgive

That far from evil we might live.

Friday

Looking for the next new pleasure

We forget our truest treasure

Love of God, that holy treasure

Love for all, and without measure

Friday PM

Locked in prison, bound in chain

Despairing of eternal gain

The Devil's secret aspiration

Ends in utter desolation

Many of the saints were bound

But in the light of Christ they found

Forgiveness for the sins confessed

With love and mercy they were blessed.

No sin too great, He loves us all

Forgiving us each time we fall

No storm can shake that inmost calm

When Mercy plies that healing balm

Friday PM

I pray you look and Truth you find

And with it there a peace of mind

Just let the Shepherd guide the sheep

For green the pasture He will keep

A promise made by Christ the King

That safely home His sheep would bring

By giving to a mortal man

The keys to His eternal plan

Not just the learned or the wise

But also ordinary guys

Are called to know the King of Kings

And all the joy salvation brings

This ordinary guy you see

Will leave you with this humble plea

Surrender and become the meek

And there you'll find the One you seek.

Saturday

Inspired by a reading from Bishop Amadeus of Lausanne 1159AD

The wisdom of the Father 

Would cling around her neck

The Power that moved all things

Would rest upon her lap

Reclining in her bosom

The Rest of Holy Souls

She gazes on the Word of God

The angels all extol

She gently presses cheek to cheek

And kisses tiny hands and feet

The eyes of purity and Love,

In gentle gaze, there meet.

Receiving kisses from her Son

And hearing from his lips

The "Mama" cry of everyone

That pain on earth here grips

No telling how the bond of love

Grew deeper every day

No want or danger, grief or lack

Could slow how she'd obey

Most pleasing in the eyes of Him

Who made all that there is

His Mother and her constant hymn

That "All I have is His"

6/5/16 Through 6/11/16

6/5/16 Through 6/11/16

Sunday

This thing called life comes from above

From God of wisdom and of love

Without the light the Savior shed

The empty shell is simply dead

Monday

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Blessed are the peaceful ones

For the Kingdom, they are near it

They shall be His chosen sons

Tuesday

When there's nothing left to give

Give some more that you may live

Then never will the jug run dry

For love endures.  No need to cry.

Wednesday

Mount Carmel saw the fire of love

The fire coming from above

Consuming water, rock, and dust

A fire from God in whom we trust.

False prophets wail aloud in vain

Trusting money, power, and fame

Relying on the mighty Word

Elijah's voice is clearly heard.

Thursday

With his head between his knees

He sought the Lord with labored pleas

To open skies and make it rain

Alleviating people's pain

When God, they finally recognized

They would no longer be chastised

Then on the earth the water flows

Where once was dust the grain now grows

Friday

When suffering He takes away

The things we've often come to say

By lawful right to us belong

But, oh how often, we are wrong.

Our every breath is undeserved

Our consciences have turned and swerved

From knowing Him who gave us all

And answering His quiet call.

For to the Lord we turn in pain

And recognize at once again

That everything we have is His

And all He has he freely gives

Saturday

I'm thankful for the early morn

For as a brand new day is born

I have a chance to start anew

And offer lord, this day to You

???...  Found in notes on my phone

How little here on earth we know

In ignorance and lack we show

That knowledge of our final end

Our simpleness can't comprehend

5/29/16 Through 6/4/16

5/29/16 Through 6/4/16

Sunday

See within this simple bread

The body and the blood He shed

No longer dead, but ever living

Faithful love and true life-giving

Monday

Our precious freedom, know the cost

Remember many lives were lost

To quell the tyrant, free the slave

Those many, what they had, they gave.

Tuesday

To hear the greeting bright and clear

And know for sure the Lord is near

Provides a blessing all its own

Brings peace, and makes a happy home.

Wednesday

How little here on earth we know

In ignorance and lack we show

That knowledge of our final end

Our simpleness can't comprehend

Thursday

To love with all, the christian's call

To bear another's load

To sacrifice and pay the price

To lead them down the road

Friday

Heart of Jesus, pierced for me

Heart of Jesus, set me free

Oh blood and water shed for me

Grace and mercy flow from Thee

From Your pierced and open side

Flows that precious cleansing tide

Wound of death to never close

Lead me to that sweet repose

The trickle from the Temple's side

Becomes a river deep and wide

With teaming life for fish and trees

And waters that will freshen seas

Saturday

Oh Mother, pure and spotless one

The temple for God's only Son

Obtain for me such purity

That God the Father found in thee

Kindle flames within my heart

That grace and love, I may impart

To everyone I meet today

And shine a light upon their way

A light revealing of the sin

That we all carry deep within

A loving light that's only meant

To call the sinner to repent.

5/22/15 Through 5/28/15

5/22/15 Through 5/28/15

Sunday

With Spirit, mind and body one

I gaze again upon the Son

And somehow understand that three

Are One in total unity

Monday

A strength or beauty claimed as mine

Can be an anchor, this I find

That keeps me from the narrow way

To brightest light of endless day

It must be taken then from me

So I, the right proportion be

For passing through the narrow squeeze

With humble heart the Lord to please.

Tuesday

How often now we work for that

Which fades or rusts away

Deceived by things we marvel at

That never hold much sway

Wednesday

The greatest called to serve the least

To tame the awful selfish beast

No longer seeking power and fame

But always trusting in His name.

Thursday

Oh son of David, pity me

For all I want is now to see

That I might know the light of day

And with that light be on my way.

Thursday PM

The minutes few we spend with You

Can brighten darkest night

Those moments too, can help renew

And make my spirits bright.

Thursday PM

Oh Lord I love what You have made

The flowers of every hue and shade

The beauty of a rainbow bright

The stars that sparkle in the night

Especially I like the deep

Where down below your secrets keep

While quietly the eons pass

And slowly wonders You amass

Friday

My heart a temple to be cleansed

Of wickedness, that God, offends

A tree that withers to the root

Because of bearing little fruit

Cleanse the temple, upset table

Depravity and graft disable

Start a new and tender shoot

That bears for You abundant fruit.

Saturday

Tell us what authority

Gives You the right to censure these?

We are the leaders of this place

Your actions bring on us disgrace.

5/15 Through 5/21

5/15 Through 5/21

Sunday

Forgive me Lord of all my sin

And set Your Spirit deep within

Remove the sin of heart unseen

And make of me a vessel clean

Monday

Grant me wisdom, not from here

But wisdom with a vision clear

Wisdom to revere His name

And make me never be the same

Tuesday

How futile our attempts to win

Our climbing to the top

They lead us in the path of sin

And never let us stop

Wednesday

To place myself above the rest

I put His patience to the test

For nothing in the world is mine

Except His saving love divine

From Him, the source, in every case

In every time and every place

All, in truth, that's ever mine

Is just His saving love divine

Thursday

How far it is, to reach that place

Of everlasting love and grace

I want to think myself as good

But fail to love the way I should

In realms of clear unfiltered light

No shades of dark or fear of night

No hint of evil there above

but only pure unbridled love

Surrender all, the only way

To find the path to endless day

Oh make of me a docile slave

And lead me to that land I crave.

Friday

Forever bound upon this earth

The marriage bond can bring new birth

This sign of holy unity

Takes more than two, you must have three

For only with a love divine

Can lovers last and spouses shine

Love enduring, soft and tender

Comes but with, complete surrender

Saturday

See in me a channel there

To lift from darkness and despair

An anchor in the storms of life

A shelter in the times of strife.

The blessing of a fervent prayer

Is calm assurance anywhere

A confidence at any length

We'll not be tested past our strength

5/8/16 Through 5/14/16

5/8/16 Through 5/14/16

Sunday

When on the cross His life was spent

Within the temple veil was rent

His flesh was met with brutal scorn

The curtain of His Father torn

Each wound a window there to view

The love of God for each of you

What pride and sinfulness concealed

Humility and love revealed

Monday

Light of the Spirit light my way

Be as my guide throughout the day

Strengthen, embolden, my heart today

Bless with Your love every word I say.

Tuesday

The time has come to be your own

To sprout and grow, you seeds I've sown

Become what God meant you to be

A fruitful branch upon the tree

Wednesday

The Truth He came here to proclaim

He gave us power in His name

To take Good News to all the land

And let the Savior's love expand

Thursday

Like the child at peaceful rest

We find great comfort at her breast

There we stop to drink our fill

And learn to love the Father's will

Friday

Sandwiched here upon the earth

Between the dark and light,

Repentance now can bring new birth

Complacence, endless night

The damned will be forever bound

In terror and in flame

For never on their lips was found

A blessing for His name

The torment of eternity

In selfish greed and lust

In darkness, nowhere left to flee

And no one there to trust

But while on earth we have the time

Our final home to choose

Eternity in love sublime

Or everything to lose

Are you willing to forsake

The pleasures of the day

Then kneel before the Lord and take

Your rosary up to pray

The glory that awaits this soul

No mortal comprehends

Such light and love forever full

And joy that never ends.

Saturday

Oh let me follow Your command

And bear the greatest fruit

Teach me to love as You demand

To gain my heart's pursuit

5/1/16 Through 5/7/16

5/1/16 Through 5/7/16

Sunday

Grant me dear Mary your gift from above

A heart that is docile and filled with great love.

Growing each day with the cleansing of dross,

Gaining courage to stand at the foot of the cross.

Monday

I've told you this so when it comes

You may not be surprised

For every faithful heart becomes

A heart that's been chastised.

Tuesday

After all this time 

How little that I know

It's really quite a crime

That I refuse to grow.

Wednesday

The time for idols now is gone

By Spirit and the Word be drawn

\Repenting and confessing sin

And welcoming the Lord within.

Thursday

Why stand and stare up in the sky

The Lord has left and told you why

You must remain and wait and pray

Until the Spirit comes your way.

Friday

You know Lord, far more than me,

The gifts to give and set me free

I ask you now for what I need

To make me docile and be freed.

Saturday

Father through your only Son

Let your Holy Spirit come

Fill our hearts with holy praise

As to you our anthem raise

Fill us with that sacred fire

Answer to each heart's desire

Purifying every thought

Reminding of the Word you taught.

4/24/16 Through 4/30/16

4/24/16 Through 4/30/16

Sunday

This new commandment that I give

Will teach you all just how to live

For love will conquer every wrong

And be that resurrection song.

Monday

Indeed great signs accompany 

The one who spreads the word of Me.

He needn't worry what to say

The Spirit guides his every way.

But he must have attentive ears

Responding to the word He hears

Each word thus spoke will find its place

And fill a hungry soul with grace.

Tuesday

It's made for God, the heart of man,

And thus no earthly pleasure can

Give it the rest it always seeks

Or offer it a time of peace.

Tranquility of heart and mind

Is only reached by those who find

His will the key to Heaven's gate

Their will they need to subjugate.

Wednesday

Graft me firmly to the vine

That I might drink His precious wine.

Prune what hinders love's pursuit

So I will bear abundant fruit.

Thursday

Burden not your soul with rules

Be not just religious fools

Be as the gentle peaceful dove

And learn to live the gift of love.

Friday

To love one another, have concern for their soul

To treat them as brother, and make of them whole,

To answer the call of our holy high priest,

By serving them all, both the great and the least.

Saturday

Make me attentive to Your way

To value every word You say,

And guide my every thought this day,

That I might be Your lump of clay.