3/14/21 Through 3/20/21

 3/14/21 Through 3/20/21

Sunday

The Sabbaths lost must be retrieved,

No longer children, be deceived,

But listen when the prophet speaks,

And see yourself in his critiques.

When Moses lifted serpent high,

The people looked, but didn't die.

So too, the darkest hour of death, 

When lifted high, our saving breath.

So shine upon the cross your light,

Dispel the shadows of the night.

Prefer the loving light of day

To find the Life, and Truth, and Way.

Monday

It's faith, we need to see the signs.

It's faith, that through the darkness shines.

A trust in love that never ends,

A trust that on His word depends.

The miracles won't change the mind

Of those who choose to be so blind,

That love they fail to recognize

When right before their very eyes.

Tuesday

From the Temple water flows.

The Lord of all, all motives knows.

No need to wait on waters stirred

If we, the Master's voice have heard.

It's time to rise and walk upright,

To watch the demons all take flight

Who wish to keep us trapped in sin,

Who wish to our destruction win.

For water from the temple flows

And brings new life where ere it goes.

It waters trees that yield their fruit,

whose leaves can heal the blind and mute.

The water flowing from the side

Is mercy in a precious tide,

To cure the sick and raise the dead,

And keep His many children fed.

But we must wade within the flow

To all His tender mercies know.

And find within, His love Divine,

The source of life, our treasured Vine.

Wednesday

The babe and mother both have grown

Through time within the womb.

Distinct, but there together sewn,

A two-fold beauty bloom.

Could one forget the other so

All memory is gone,

Despite that many years ago,

Was quenched, the waking dawn?

The breast now longs to comfort give,

But none to suckle here.

The babe denied the chance to live

By selfishness and fear.

Though mothers may sometimes forget,

The Father never does.

His perfect love will this offset,

And right the wrong that was.

Thursday

Your word oh Lord, will guide my way

Not one forgotten, unfulfilled.

My light in darkness everyday,

The Rock upon my life I build.

The fruit of daily coming here

This tree may never know.

Like Promised Land afar off seen,

A glimpse, my Lord, please show.

Friday

Saint Joseph great protector,

So confident and pure,

On earth the great director,

To Christ, our Lord, mature.

The secret of Incarnate Word

Entrusted to your care.

Great honor on the earth deferred

For one so true and rare.

Obedience and trust your way

At every twist and turn.

His will you do without delay

And so, this honor earn.

The foster-father of our Lord,

A patron for all men.

A sacrificial love out-poured

Just like the Great Amen.

We call on you in time of need

In oh so many ways,

Then often you will far exceed,

And so, the soul amaze.

Saturday

No one ever spoke as He

Such power and authority!

With love the ever driving force

To stir within, a great remorse.

No scribe or Pharisee could show

Such love for ones they didn't know.

He touched the heart with every word

For those who listened well and heard.

3/7/21 Through 3/13/21

 3/7/21 Through 3/13/21

Sunday

If you are to prosper,

My word must be your guide.

For it will in you foster

The things to make you wise.

A foolishness to many,

A weakness to the strong,

But wisdom sure and plenty

To prove the fools are wrong.

Your word a trusted favor,

Each one a ray of light.

A morsel we must savor,

Through morning, noon, and night.

More precious than the purest gold,

No honey as so sweet.

Though spoken in the days of old,

A timeless need they meet.

Forever true, forever just,

Refreshing to the soul.

Your perfect law, if all would trust,

Would heal and make us whole.

Monday

The leper, Naaman restored

By Israel's unfailing Lord.

The pagan blest in time of need,

By simply paying rightful heed

To what was spoken in His name,

Unto this Syrian of fame

The Jordan seven times would see

The hopeful trust he placed in Thee.

We too must hearken to the word

That in our time is often heard.

Then we would find a healing too,

If we just listen well to you.

Tuesday

In the furnace fate befalling,

Thereupon His mercy calling.

Faithful in the final hour,

Rescued by His mighty power.

All who look upon the sight,

Marvel at His awesome might.

Cooling those amid the flame,

That call upon His sacred name.

Mercy be the gift He offers,

Treasure from His endless coffers.

We must too, such mercy give,

And learn our debtors to forgive.

Wednesday

No other people ever knew

A law so just as given you.

No law with wisdom such as Mine,

No nation given such a sign.

But you, My chosen ones so dear

Must live in faith and trust, not fear.

To you, I gave my great decree,

That you would learn to live in me.

In full conformance to My will

You'll find a Garden waiting still,

For one who listens, and obeys,

For one who daily kneels and prays.

The Maker, He alone is wise,

To send His Son, in flesh disguised.  

To blaze a path of love for man

That even simple understand.

Thursday

We listen not, and fail to hear

How in our midst, the Lord is near.

The signs are there in everyday

To lead us on the narrow way.

Yet we decide what tickles well

Our fancy and His word expel.

With hardened heart, we turn aback,

To all that's good, and faith attack.

How long until we see the light?

Will it forever be as night?

Or will the Son of Justice rise,

And put an end to wicked lies?

Be gone you demons of the day,

The King of kings is on His way,

And none can stand against His word,

Nor face Him when His anger's stirred.

For love has conquered evil now,

And stripped away the scales somehow,

To let us see the light of day,

And follow on that narrow way.

Friday

Idolatry we fail to see

This hidden trap for one like me.

When that which occupies the mind

Becomes a god of different kind.

A one which draws the mind away

To places where the soul will stray,

And let the creature take the place

Of mercy and His boundless grace.

Saturday

The Pharisee and Publican,

A story well that's known.

A one that's melancholic, and

A one with pride his tone.

I play the part of each at times.

I hate to say, it's true.

I fall into the paradigms

Of praising me, not You.

But deep within, You know me Lord,

No sin could ere conceal

Your love for me has struck a chord,

I beg of Thee to heal.

2/28/21 Through3/6/21

 2/28/21 Through 3/6/21

Sunday

Offered there upon the mountain

Lord of life and mercy's fountain.

If a One like this is for us,

Who on earth could be against us?

Monday

Mercy.  Mercy.  Mercy, Lord.

Your justice, I cannot afford.

So many times I've strayed from You

To do the wicked things I do.

But mercy gives me hope of gain

Instead of everlasting pain.

Mercy is our great reward,

If mercy was by us outpoured.

So let me see not just the sin,

But that which lies much deeper in.

A work of art that You have made,

A one for whom, the price You paid.

Let love be that which moves my soul,

And likeness to Your Son my goal.

So when my day of judgment nears,

Your mercy overwhelms my fears.

Tuesday

The evil one the sword consumes.

For those in darkness, fire looms.

But those willing to obey,

Will white as snow, be made someday.

The orphan and the widow's plea

Must never be ignored by thee.

Make right the wrong, and turn about.

Give praise to God, and be devout.

The upright and the faithful see

That when their praise is offered, He

Will saving hand extend to all.

Who hear and hearken to His call.

Wednesday

So high above, Your ways, oh Lord,

I cannot comprehend.

My love is limited and toward

A carnal, earthly end.

But You transcend the mind of man,

So temporal and so small,

And show us that a true man can

Be risen from the fall.

Regardless of the evil here,

If we obey Your will,

The Kingdom, we will find is near,

And with us ever still.

Thursday

Trust in One who made the skies,

Not wealth or fame, or Satan's lies.

For that eternal land, we strive

Where love and truth, and peace will thrive.

Where roots stretch deep to running stream,

And through the drought, the leaves stay green.

Where poor and humble find their rest,

And faithful souls are richly blest.

The lava waste, no place to be.

That salt and empty earth, you see,

May promise pleasure, wealth, and fame,

But leads to everlasting flame.

Lord, cleanse my heart and probe my mind.

Shine Your light where I am blind.

Drive the selfishness from me,

That one with You, and saints I'd be.

Friday

He expects from you a harvest,

Rightfully His honest due.

Speak the word to those the farthest,

That they know what quickens you.

Be one faithful through the sorrow,

One who listens and obeys.

See His vict'ry on the morrow,

He will answer one who prays.

Though their plan is only evil,

God, in time, will have His way.

In the midst of great upheaval,

Listen well, and then obey.

Be patient for He's in control,

His word shall be achieved.

The faithful one He will console.

Redress for those aggrieved.

Saturday

The fool knows not of what could be

If service were the route for he.

Enamored by the things of flesh

That never will the soul refresh.

Tis grace to overlook the wrong.

Compassion be our fruitful song.

For joy is found when sin repents,

But wickedness, the joy resents.

Forgiveness is that special key

That must become our specialty.

For as we do, for us shall be,

And mercy then, we too shall see.

2/21/21 Through 2/27/21

 2/21/21 Through 2/27/21

Sunday

There within the desert land

Once stood a Garden God had planned,

Where juicy fruits, abundant grew,

And gentle breeze at evening blew.

Till evil came in serpent form

Convincing man to not conform

To the will of his Creator,

Thinking he could be much greater.

But was lost that fateful day

The walk with God in cool of day.

The bountied Garden God had planned

Then became a desert land.

Till one more perfect than the first

Endured the desert's heat and thirst,

Was tempted there for forty days,

But gave not into evil ways.

The Garden once again did grow

When on the cross did Jesus show

The depth of love God has for man,

And how to conquer sin we can.

The key is love, not pride and greed.

Each act of kindness plants a seed

To there in desert lands renew

The Garden that the man once knew.

Monday

This chair I've seen and hold in awe,

For in this holy chair I saw,

The link in this unbroken chain

That will on earth, His church sustain.

A man, it's true, like other men,

But one the world looks to when

The faith is challenged to be firm,

And teach so all the faithful learn.

A one to lead in truth each day

To search for lost, and rescue stray.

A one to challenge status quo,

And lead us to our Lord to know.

Tuesday

Lord in this world of emptiness

Please send Your word to heal and bless.

Bring about your will today

In all I do and all I say

Grant me sorrow for my sin,

Repentance to new life begin,

Forgiveness for those hurting me,

That also they would be set free.

Help me pray, Your will in mind

For there it is that I will find

What satisfies and truly feeds

My soul and answers all my needs.

Wednesday

The Ninevites in sackcloth came

Repenting of their evil fame,

And God our great forgiving Lord,

Repentant grace on them outpoured.

We too must turn, and then obey

If we expect to find our way

To peace and true repentant joy

Then ne'er again our faults employ.

I've seen myself quite clear before

If I, His gentle call ignore.

Before too long I fall to sin

And then a downward slope begin.

But if I humbly lend an ear

Each day in quiet time I hear

A word to guide my steps that day

And place me on a better way.

So listen up and do as told

Then see what blessing will unfold.

No act of love without reward,

You'll find your peace of mind restored.

Thursday

Ask and it will given be.

His promise made to you and me.

Though darkness looms at every turn,

He calls us to our faith return.

Make time to listen and obey

The only plan to know the way,

For humble must the servant be

To see His hand is helping thee.

Within the smallest simple ways

Throughout the ordinary days,

And also where we do not see,

In grander ways He answers thee.

So trust and lose not heart in He

Who made the land, and made the sea.

His wisdom far exceeds your own,

Your job is just to make Him known.

The rest, His hand with mercy guides.

His patient love for all provides.

Remember death is on its way,

And choose the straight and narrow way.

Friday

Repent! Repent! Repent, and see

How short His memory can be.

For if we turn away from sin

Our hope of life beyond will win.

Remembered not, our guilty ways,

But only that we've turned to praise.

And likewise if, to sin, we stray,

All righteous deeds are thrown away.

So steadfast be, and persevere.

We know not if the end is near,

But only that His mercy waits,

For this, our sacred scripture states.

Saturday

For enemies, we love and pray

That they might also, find their way.

And turn from evil ways that harm

To find the Master's love and charm.

The greatest evil ever done

Resulted in salvation won,

Our Christ who loved to bitter end,

Showed the way for sin to mend.

The spiral stopped the day He died,

And when He rose, the eyes were dried.

For Love was shown the Victor clear,

And gone were days of useless fear.

Oh, would that I remember this

When at the edge of the abyss.

No evil force can conquer me

When purest Love has set me free.

2/14/21 Through 2/20/21

 2/14/21 Through 2/20/21

Sunday

The leper touched by Christ our Lord

Was cleansed, renewed, and so restored.

No more cast out, a thing of shame,

But one restored, who spread His fame.

Lord, touch me too, make clean my soul.

Restore the peace that sin has stole.

Unite me with Your flock once more,

From leprosy of sin restore.

Monday

Those always seeking for a sign

Refuse to see His grand design.

They close their eyes to thousands fed,

And fail to see His flesh as bread.

We too are blind so many times

And fail to see our many crimes,

Yet point the finger to and fro,

And never come our sins to know.

Examine well the things you do,

And know what motivates you too.

Is pride and greed the driving force,

Or love of God and man the source?

Tuesday

Lord, still I fail to understand.

My heart and mind You must expand,

That gifts of Spirit come my way

Enlightening my mind today.

Understanding clear and true

Of who I am, and who are You.

Knowledge of Your mighty power,

Strength to trust in darkest hour.

Counsel when I am confused

Courage when I am accused.

Wisdom to be still and pray,

Make fear of Thee my rule today.

Wednesday

Now is an acceptable time

The guilty, those steeped in their crime

Should repent and be saved, be they priest or depraved

As the summit of meekness they climb.

In His mercy to sinners, we see

Great compassion will fall upon thee

While He washes from sin, that the Spirit come in

And make of the slave, to be free.

Be slothful and tarry no more.

For He knocks and awaits at the door.

Turn your back on the sin, and welcome Him in

Learn to praise, and to love, and adore.

Thursday

The Promised Land before us lies

Our crossing Jordan there implies

A boundary where freedom reigns

If truth and righteousness remains.

If daily we would lift the cross

And look upon our sins as loss.

Then like unto His love we'd be

And see that's where we're truly free.

For He that suffered much did rise,

And showed Himself to faithful eyes,

That man would know, love reigns supreme, 

And Promised Land is not a dream.

How much I long to see that land,

But only glimpses have I scanned.

The cross, too often have I shed,

And chosen desert land instead.

Oh, touch my heart and make me strong,

Grant courage when the night is long.

Let me endure what ere may come,

And learn the depths of love to plumb.

Friday

How can my fasting be improved,

All selfishness and guile removed?

By loving those with whom I live,

And learning well to freely give.

Not with selfish ends to gain,

But patiently enduring pain.

Forgetful of myself to find

This fasting of a different kind.

It sounds so easy, but it's not

For rarely is myself forgot.

Especially when pain is near,

To give much more, invokes a fear.

Yet when we face that dreaded foe,

Our God of love we come to know.

And see how true in every time

Is everlasting love sublime.

Saturday

Your call has come to sinful man,

"Come follow Me today."

Leave behind your earthly plan

And find a better way.

The things we give such honor to,

Our wealth, or pride and fame,

Cannot bring peace and love to you,

Or call you by your name.

One only here that offers peace,

Contentment, love, and joy.

A happiness to never cease

That nothing can destroy.

So come repent, and turn around,

Be born anew today.

In Christ alone, true wisdom found,

In Him alone The Way.

Reserve not anything below

Where nothing satisfies

Our only goal is Him to know

Whose light has filled the skies.

2/7/21 Through 2/13/21

 2/7/21 Through 2/13/21

Sunday

Very early in morning, long before dawn,

In silence, the word of the Father will spawn.

Directing the actions we have for the day,

Speaking quite clearly if only we pray.

The woman in bed had to rise to be cured.

Every trial we face be embraced and endured.

For hope is the anchor that strengthens the soul,

Perseverance through trial our duty and goal.

Monday

The heavens and the earth were made

By love so far and wide.

The sun and moon and stars arrayed,

His glory to provide.

So vast the mind can't comprehend

The wonders He has wrought.

Our God without begin or end

The love of man has sought.

For sin has sickened purest love,

And dimmed the eyes of man,

That man is blind to marvels of

His grand, amazing plan.

So scurry to and fro to find

The One who heals the soul.

Forgiving all our sins that bind,

To heal and make us whole.

Tuesday

God's word is nullified by men

When following their rules again

Instead of what the Word has said

Or where the Spirit's will has led.

Wednesday

Defiled by the things within

A lack of love, the source of sin.

Licentiousness and greed have shown

The fruits that all our sins have sown.

Creation's good, all foods are clean.

See here the crux of what I mean.

The ones that choose the way of sin

Have love cast out and evil in.

Thursday

Naked without shame they walked

Amid the Garden as they talked.

The peaceful complementary pair

That God had placed together there.

Yet evil lurked within with lies,

And stole the innocence of eyes.

Then lost, the Garden's peace and rest,

No more this place of calm possessed.

Yet God forgave the sin of man,

And worked for all a greater plan.

That through a virgin pure and rare

He'd demonstrate His loving care.

Her yes, at every single turn,

For man, a saving love would earn.

Redemption through this humble bride,

No favor asked by her denied.

Oh make my heart with yours accord

That God be evermore adored,

And in your garden find my rest

In peace at your abundant breast.

Friday

Ephphatha, be opened wide,

Receive the word of God inside.

Be loosed the tongue made stiff by sin,

Welcome now God's Spirit in.

The Garden gates once sealed by sin

Again will welcome mankind in,

When on the cross the Perfect Lamb

Is offered to the Great I AM.

So open wide the door to Christ

Immortal soul, quite highly-priced.

Your vindication here below,

Is to His holy scriptures know.

Be opened to be filled by One

Who freely gave His only Son,

That once again the Garden be

A place for sinners saved like me.

Saturday

The story of the fall from grace,

Our exile from that perfect place,

Plays out in every single soul

That turns from He that makes us whole.

Remember well when first you turned

How good it looked, but then you learned,

The promised joy was empty then,

But still, you tried that sin again.

So foolish and naive is man

To work against the Father's plan.

For on the Cross is purest love

The greatest proof and signing of

The love of God for man below,

The gift of self, so all would know.

Yet somehow still we fail to see

In giving, man is truly free.

Lord, change my heart, remove the guile.

Teach me to sit with You awhile,

And listen to Your loving word

That heretofore, I haven't heard.

The truth within, before awaits,

But with his lies, the Devil baits,

And mocks me every time I fall

By turning from Your loving call.

No more, I pray, would folly win,

But rather, love would conquer sin,

And eyes be opened well to see

How great the Father's love for me.

2/1/21 Through 2/6/21

 2/1/21 Through 2/6/21

Sunday

Authority before unknown

By this new prophet here was shown.

The evil spirits mark His word,

And leave when ere His voice is heard.

A One like Moses comes to free

Those bound in sin and slavery.

By fire and cloud, those scared before,

Now seeing Jesus, see much more.

The Son of God, the precious Lamb,

A Savior, and the Great I AM.

A One to conquer evil now,

And reconcile man somehow.

Monday

Free me, Lord, from all that binds,

My slavery of many kinds.

Let not me look at former days

Of sin, with eyes of longing gaze.

Take all I have, the useless swill,

And turn it to Thy heart and will.

Draw me toward Your cleansing fire.

Change my every base desire.

Tuesday

Now let Your servant go in peace

Your word has been fulfilled

I've seen the One who must increase,

The One the Father willed.

To expiate the sins of man,

To open Heaven's door.

To execute the Father's plan,

That man should have much more.

Messiah's come as tiny Babe

To turn the world around.

To find the lost, and sinner save,

And loose the one who's bound.

Wednesday

Resisting to the point of blood

With gifts and fruit, my spirit flood

May discipline be practiced well,

That of His likeness all could tell.

May scourges be not spurned for pain,

They lead to everlasting gain.

The peaceful fruit of righteousness

That in the dark enlightens us.

So drooping hands and weakened knees

Be strengthened by such gifts as these.

The Father wants you as His Son,

A meek and humble, chosen one.

Thursday

Saints be praised in heaven above,

They learned the way of truth and love.

And turning from the ways of sin

They found the narrow pathway in.

They look to Him for all their needs,

For it is He that clothes and feeds.

They cure the sick and raise the dead, 

Just as their faithful Master said.

Friday

I knew it wasn't right you see,

To take a life so easily.

To any man, just look upon

As if he's just some useless pawn.

But that's the job I have to do,

Somehow we all must eat, it's true.

Though long without much food I went

Beyond that bloody mission sent.

The little girl and mother who

Conspired in this bloody coup,

Found satisfaction in this deed

That fed their wickedness and greed.

Yet I who cut the prophet's head

At times have wished that I were dead.

I saw that night the gates of Hell,

And sights of which I cannot tell.

That terror every night I see

As if to know, the next is me.

Could it be, his word, "Repent",

For people such as me was meant?

Saturday

No shepherd for the sheep that scatter

Brings to bear the things that matter.

Shepherds must protect their flock,

Teach and train their wand'ring stock.

So many things the sheep must learn,

To humble be, from evil turn.

The Cross is where we all should go

The Shepherd's voice, and call to know.

1/24/21 Through 1/30/21

 1/24/21 Through 1/30/21

Sunday

Leave behind the sordid sin

Let Former ways be gone.

No longer let the vices in,

Or to the base be drawn.

Like Ninevites, repent and turn

Your back on former ways.

Then with obedience, you'll learn

True freedom really pays.

Detached from all the world gives,

In freedom, living now.

Unbound except by love of His

That frees the soul somehow.

Monday

Each one, a story has to tell

Of being rescued back from hell.

Of loosing that which Satan held,

Becoming one by God compelled.

His voice somehow we first must hear,

And have the courage to draw near.

To see that what He says is true,

And how He suffered much for you.

It takes but just a small assesnt

To see that you've been called and sent

To spread the word to those yet blind

And change the course of all mankind.

He speaks in many varied ways

Throughout the course of normal days

And those that know His voice reply,

And then to others testify.

Perhaps today should be the day

The light would shine upon your way,

And bid you, "Come and follow me."

As blind no more, but ones that see.

Tuesday

Don't let the fire fade away,

But feed and fan the flame.

Be one to listen and obey,

And well the word proclaim.

Your gifts received are not just there

To sit upon the shelf,

But used to make the world aware

Of Christ as God Himself.

This family now that you have joined

Will form a tighter bond.

New relatives that you have coined

Will take you far beyond.

Relationships in surface ways

That root not deep within,

To brotherhood that daily prays

To save those lost in sin.

The power, love, and self-control

The Spirit grants to you

Are gifts to help you to enroll

New presbyters, like you.

Wednesday

Both listening and acting

Is what we're called to do.

The seed is sown through hearing,

But often as is true,

The birds will come and pluck away

The word not well received.

Or thorns will choke what's on its way

That newly was conceived.

Our soil must be rich and deep,

And be a place to thrive

If we expect His word to keep,

And through this life survive.

Thursday

In the sanctuary there

The veil was torn in two.

As on the Cross of Calv'ry where

His flesh was torn for you.

Our Great High Priest who entered in

Brought not the blood of beasts,

But precious blood, untouched by sin,

Not like the other priests.

His word be light upon my path,

A lamp unto my feet.

His blood a precious, cleansing bath,

His flesh my food so sweet.

No lamp is made to be obscured,

But shine to light the way.

Let every trial be endured, 

And every word obey.

The measure which you measure out

Will measure back to you.

So give, and see the goodness sprout,

As wise and humble do.

Friday

My goal to be as one of those

Who lasted to the end.

Not seeking just a life of ease,

But to this life transcend.

To look beyond the mustard seed

And see the branches spread

To trust that every single deed

Is how the seed is fed.

May time I spend with You each day

Bear fruit a hundredfold,

And clearly show the narrow way

To people young and old.

Saturday

Faith is trust when seas are high,

When all we see is darkened sky,

To trust our Lord is near and dear

Despite how storms have roused our fear.

This faith I cannot well explain.

To me, that word somewhat arcane.

It seems a knowledge deep within

Where One immense with love has been.

It calls for trust, surrender too,

To Him whose word has fashioned you.

For who knows better what we need

Than Him upon whose flesh we feed.

1/17/21 Through 1/23/21

 1/17/21 Through 1/23/21

Sunday

No word He spoke without effect

For through His soul the Spirit swept.

The voice of God he clearly heard,

And passed along His every word.

The Baptist too would listen well,

And of the true Messiah tell.

Revealed to him from in the womb,

But now attaining fuller bloom.

Our task the same as Sam or John.

To pass His sacred word along.

To wait, and at the ready be,

When Christ Himself would call on me.

Monday

The fasting shows our longing to

Be clean and fit for You

Through discipline we men pursue

A dwelling fit for You.

But flesh is that which knows decay

And constant is the bout

To train it in the proper way,

And weed the rotten out.

Our great High Priest has entered in,

And torn the veil away.

So now, to Him, could man begin

Directly now to pray.

Tuesday

This hope which I possess,

This anchor for my soul,

The name which I confess,

My one and final goal.

No emptiness His promise,

This hope of life anew.

Relying only on this,

No word of His untrue.

So stand your ground, be resolute,

Let nothing change your mind.

Turn not away from this pursuit,

Or peace you will not find.

Wednesday

So many withered hands these days

Cannot be raised in joyful praise.

For jealousy and hatred rules

Those thought so wise, but really fools.

Why look and call the Truth a lie?

Why claim that Love itself must die?

What gain is had when Good is gone,

When all is dark and never dawn?

The withered heart and soul renew

With every joint and muscle too.

Let all I have be joyful praise

As on the Cross of Love, I gaze.

No other ere so kind and true,

No other with such love for you.

Though wicked men may rule the days,

Their dreaded Cross, True Love displays.

Thursday

His perfect holy sacrifice

Before, by man unknown,

Is that which truly paid the price

To bring the wayward home.

No other priestly offering

Could mend the great divide,

And so they kept recurring, 

Until the Sinless died.

And now He intercedes for us

Before the Father's throne.

The Great High Priest that died for us

To bring the wayward home.

So now I say repenting of

My many dreadful sins.

I come to do the will of Love,

Who my salvation wins.

Friday

He summoned twelve to do the job

Of spreading His Good News.

No man of fame, or wealthy snob,

But folk like me and you.

His law be written in the mind,

Engraved upon the heart.

The ones obedient will find

That God will not depart.

Forgiving of our evil ways

This covenant anew,

Will lead us to the latter days

When all we seek is You.

We too are called to spread the word,

Disciples, all to make.

Till every man on earth has heard,

And in new life partake.

Saturday

The ones, you'd think, that knew Him well

Would not attempt, His word to quell.

But much resistance comes from those

Like family, so well, He knows.

You too may find beloved ones,

A place where rank and envy runs.

For those familiar lose respect,

And often will, the word reject.

1/10/21 Through 1/16/21

 1/10/21 Through 1/16/21

Sunday

What more could He, in loving do,

Then send His only Son to you?

One humble, poor, and with disdain

For human pride or earthly gain.

He showed how many ways we could

Obey the Father as we should,

And love our brothers here below

To show, the Father's will, we know.

The wicked too, deserve our love

For that's a telltale signing of

What God has done for sinful man 

And how to live within His plan.

Monday

For generations long of old

In partial ways, the prophets told

Of how Messiah's reign would come,

But now, to us, speaks through His Son.

No more in veiled, fragmented ways,

But clearly in these latter days,

We've seen and heard from His own Son,

The meek, and humble, chosen One.

The Lord of all the universe

Direct to all, will now converse.

The One who on the cross that wins

Salvation from our many sins.

The One that feeds our hungry souls

His flesh and blood, now all controls.

For love has conquered over sin,

Let all creation worship Him.

Tuesday

They taught but lacked authority,

The teachers of that day.

For then the vast majority 

Would do not as they say.

But then He came in truth and love,

A harbinger of fame.

A man without the presence of

An evil to His name.

For none before ere spoke as He,

Our God, in flesh, concealed.

Obedient the spirits be

When Truth Itself revealed.

The demons too, have faith you see,

But any love, they lack.

In Jesus, truth and love are free

And nothing is held back.

Wednesday

A priest like us in every way

Except the stain of sin.

That He might be like those of clay

And their salvation win.

For us He freely bore the cross

To show His boundless love.

Of everything He suffered loss,

To bring us home above.

Thursday

If You wish, You can make me clean.

The power of Your word I've seen.

So harden not your hearts and see

The many gifts He has for thee.

Healing too, He wants to bring,

He wants to hear the lowly sing.

To bring them to a place where they

Will humble be, and daily pray.

The place of rest prepared for thee

Is only for the truly free

That leave behind the chains of sin

And find that they are welcomed in.

Friday

Twas sin that paralyzed the man,

But faith and trust in Jesus can

Restore the use of withered limbs

And give the soul rejoicing hymns.

No obstacle should be so great,

No time of life should be too late,

For one entrapped to be set free

By turning back, and unto Thee.

The wicked look at those as weak

Who simply true repentance seek.

Yet they're the ones who cannot move,

Locked firm within their sinful groove.

Saturday

How rude I've been for many years

Your words of love upon deaf ears

The Christmas season come and gone,

Unopened gifts left frowned upon.

A man like me He came to show

Repentance as the way to go,

But I just see where others fall

And fail to hear, for me, the call.

This year be different than the rest

No packages, unopened, left.

Each gift received, and acted on,

Then closer to my Savior drawn.

Then seeing clear, these faults of mine,

I beg your mercy to incline,

And snatch me from the prideful maze

To turn my heart to humble ways.

1/3/21 Through 1/9/21

 1/3/21 Through 1/9/21

Sunday

Lord, every nation shall adore

Both near and far, Your love implore.

Light has shone, the dark dispelling,

Poor and weak, the Good News telling.

Wicked seek to quell your rise,

Yet dawn has broken on the skies.

Men of wisdom from of old

Come with incense, myrrh, and gold.

Receive a gift from me this day

To follow in Your loving way.

To make as newborn babe anew

My love of brother and of You.

Monday

What pleases Him we do each day,

And so, He listens when we pray.

The world though will never hear,

And so refuses to draw near.

The Spirit that He gives to you 

Will guide you in the things you do.

But that which guides the other way

Is only flesh and worth no pay.

The world with its thin delights

So superficially excites, 

But never finds the peaceful core

And always has them grasping more.

Give of self and love the other.

Trust each one as precious brother.

Acknowledge Jesus as the Christ,

And find your deepest soul enticed.

For those that hear and then obey

He answers every time we pray.

But those refusing truth to hear

Are those of darkness, doom, and fear.

Tuesday

A hunger deep inside of me

A longing to be truly free

On earth, cannot be slaked by things,

But only what our Savior brings.

A love so pure and undefiled

That came to earth as little child,

That calmed the sea of Galilee,

And died upon that rugged tree.

The Bread of Heaven, true is He

His flesh and blood He offers me.

True food and drink to satisfy,

My heart and soul to occupy.

Wednesday

Depart, for I must go to pray.

He told the crowd that special day.

For after feeding them with bread,

Our Lord, to private prayer, was led.

To contemplate His role below

And clearly, Father's will to know.

For flesh could not such wonders do,

But in the Father's will could you.

He promised such, I heard Him say

That greater works we'd do someday.

By unity within His will

Our work be even greater still.

To calm the seas and raise the dead,

Or on one loaf, have all be fed.

For love transcends what flesh can do

And love, the Father has for you.

Thursday

Lord, help me look beyond today,

And hear the words Your scriptures say.

Help me to love those lost in sin,

And let Your reign on earth begin.

For only when I love like You,

 Will honesty and faith accrue

And sinners lost, will then be found,

With songs of praise the common sound.

Friday

The Spirit be our witness now

That God, as man, has come somehow.

Born of a virgin, humbly grown,

Most of His life remains unknown.

But that we plainly see today

Is that which shows His Godly way.

The love He shows for those in need,

The lepers cleansed, and captives freed.

For you, it's written that you know

Eternal life is what you owe

To Him who died for love of you,

And Him who makes the leper new.

Saturday

Eternal life is this I know

It came so many years ago

In flesh and blood upon the earth

A babe of holy Virgin birth.

This truth must grow within the soul

To make the saint and sinner whole.

The Groom will come to meet His bride

And in their love be unified.

True, He is great, and we are small

Yet if we answer well His call

Begotten, each of us shall be,

For life with Him eternally.