10/10/21 Through 10/16/21

 10/10/21 Through 10/16/21

Sunday

Give wisdom for the ALL to give.

Let ALL be how we choose to live,

For ALL is what Your love demands,

And ALL is more than just commands.

Another thing, it's time to see

Is what He always asks of me.

Yet somehow in His holy will

He blesses evermore me still.

Perhaps that's why you promise all

To grant them wisdom when they call.

For wisdom grants the light to see

The call of love You place on me.

To see You gaze at me with love,

And call me forth to life above,

To see that what I grasp is straw,

And stand before my God in awe.

Monday

In wisdom is the Father's word

Repentance when His voice is heard.

The call to hear and then obey,

And follow in the Master's way.

He asks not what He would not do,

He suffered and He died for you.

Then rose to show death cannot bind

The peace and joy in love we find.

For wisdom pulls the veil away

And shows in clearest light of day

We must repent and learn to love

To find our home with God above.

Tuesday

Amazing will be when at last He has come,

All our foolishness shown, to every last one.

How we traded His glory for creatures He made,

And let pride be for us a darkening shade.

Concerned every day for the matters of show,

We miss the great things that He wants us to know.

Humility seems so distasteful you see,

But that be the lesson the Lord has for me.

Wednesday

Woe to me who think I'm holy

Just because I want to be.

Is it true, I love Him wholly,

Or is love for only me?

Look and see with eyes unjaded.

How can I be more like He,

When in pride I have paraded

Just for glory given me?

Cleanse me, Lord, by sins forgiven.

Reconcile this wayward soul.

Let me be one grace is given.

Make, at last, this sinner whole.

Thursday

Righteous when in fact a sinner,

Leader where one should not go.

Danger to the young beginner

Following one just for show.

Lead me to a faith redeeming,

Void of selfish pride and greed.

Though forgotten, lowly, seeming,

One with precious sprouting seed.

Prophets for the newer ages

As before, despised and seen

One the evil soul outrages,

One intolerant and mean.

Be the victor for the weaker.

Give them courage, steel their nerve.

Call to You the humble seeker,

Give reward to all who serve.

Friday

Valued more than many sparrows,

Gifted with a love divine.

Rocky field He plows and harrows,

Till the soil's soft and fine.

Saturday

Holy Spirit, come to me,

In time of desperate need.

Grant me eyes that mysteries see,

And will, to promptings heed.

Let faith my staunch companion be

In every time and place.

That others come to plainly see

Response by me to grace.

10/3/21 Through 10/9/21

 10/3/21 Through 10/9/21

Sunday

Man and woman joined as one.

Through the act, new life begun.

Total giving of their seed

Flames of love to always feed.

From the core, the rib removed

By the woman, man improved.

Two as one forever bound

Total giving love is found.

Monday

How often I have turned away

From duty that is mine.

Direct me Lord, and show the way

For me to go this time.

So full of what I want to do

Without a thought for God

I miss His blatant, glaring cue,

And try to run abroad.

Sometime within the belly of 

A whale would change my mind,

And maybe teach me how to love,

Or how true peace to find.

To listen and obey the key

To peace and pure delight,

For in His will the love we see

That brings the morning light.

Tuesday

Repent and turn away from sin

Is still the battle cry.

For years we've let it grow within,

But now, to cleanse, we try.

If true, a change of heart we've had,

The change will cause some pain.

But pain, if we persist, will add

To heaven, then obtain.

So at the Master's feet recline

Absorbing every word,

Then try to make your will align

With all that you have heard.

Wednesday

In conversation every day

I hear You speak and point the way,

Yet still a path of mine desire

That leads unto unholy fire.

I must be made afresh and new

And make my heart as one with You.

Oh Father in the highest height

Come help me in this daily fight.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,

Shall be the way for everyone,

And when the final day arrives,

Reward for how we lived our lives.

Oh mercy much, I plead for me,

And all who did me harm, I free.

I dread the loss of life with Thee,

And pray Your glory I may see.

Thursday

What profit in His service be,

The proud will ask the weak.

For we control the gold, you see,

While you still pray and seek.

But God has promised peace for those

Who trust upon His name,

With poverty and vicious woes,

For those of wealth and fame.

Without a branch, without a root

The fire leaves us all

Alone and naked, shamed and mute

Once great, now poor and small.

Then those that fear the Lord shall see

The sun of justice rise,

With healing rays, and voices praise

The Lord of earth and skies.

Friday

Cast out the demons plaguing me

Then fill me with reality,

For otherwise the lie returns,

And seven more my spirit earns.

Each void will beckon to be filled

The trampled earth be plowed and tilled

So seed can sprout and then will spread,

And bring new life to what was dead.

I need Your presence always near

To cast away the doubt and fear.

Assuring if I just return,

A greater depth of love I'll learn.

Saturday

Is the sickle ready now

To harvest from this stalk somehow,

Or shall this one be bundled with

The weed sent to the fire forthwith?

One steadfast in so many ways,

But one anemic, many days,

Who turns away for worthless things,

And loses what allegiance brings.

But You are One of mercy Lord

For blood and water, You outpoured

To make this more than just a dream,

And wash me in that precious stream. 

9/26/21 Through 10/2/21

 9/26/21 Through 10/2/21

Sunday

See what jealousy can do,

It draws the reason far from you,

And leads to where the sins abound,

Where love and trust are never found.

The good in all is good for all,

And all must answer well the call.

For when the call is acted on

Is grace to all, bestowed upon.

Monday

Hope for better days to come,

See what pride and lust have done.

Gaining all we lost the best,

In the Lord is found our rest.

Greatest in His eyes will know

Service is the way to go.

In the least, the great is found.

In the weak, the strong and sound.

All be gained, but all is lost

Soul of man the heavy cost.

When all within the world gained,

Slavery is all obtained.

Tuesday

Lord send Your fire from above.

Fill our hearts with peace and love.

Make of me a life anew,

Let all in me, reflect of You.

Let me suffer well for Thee

That stony hearts observe and see,

How true it is, as often seems,

The undeserving Love redeems.

Wednesday

Unseen in realms of earthly light,

Still rages the angelic fight

For souls to serve or turn away,

To heed the call, or go astray.

Yet man is blessed with such as these

Who show the simple man the keys

Of serving Him, beyond all fame

And trembling at His Holy Name.

For only in His presence there

Is peace and joy beyond compare.

And trusting Him in all we do

Will always be what's best for you.

Thursday

The mother lode is here at hand

If we obey His each command.

A nugget in His every word

For those who act on what is heard.

See how every word is true

Let it sink down deep in you.

Ponder well each morsel there,

Then in love, the beauty share.

Endless are the ways He speaks

All revealed to one who seeks.

One who practices will see

Transformative the word will be.

Ageless, timeless words of love

Given from our Lord above.

Ever old, but ever new

Always with a word for you.

Correction when it's needed most

Our guidance from the Holy Ghost.

To steer the ship and stay the course,

To love, our never-ending source.

Adoration 9/9/21

Here I sit with You today

Afraid to take the time away

From mundane chores that pass the time,

But fail to break the paradigm.

So, why prefer such boring things

To sitting with the King of kings,

And there absorb His loving gaze

In bread made flesh to prize and praise?

I rest within Your presence Lord.

To pass You by I can't afford.

The time I'm face to face with You

I always find is overdue.

Yet every moment cherished there

For none on earth can quite compare,

Where time is stopped a moment while,

My heart and soul Your love beguile.

Friday

How true the prophet's words today

This people fails to God obey

So many blessings squandered here

Upon a people insincere.

To heed the call and Him obey,

Instead we bend the truth our way.

But truth we find will not comply,

And all we have is just a lie.

I hope and pray it's not too late

To alter course and change our fate.

To bring about a change within,

And turn from all ths sordid sin.

War rages on in every soul

And evil takes a mighty toll,

But those that humbly turn to love

Will find at last their home above.

Saturday

Become like one of these and see

The value of humility.

For they appear a trifling sort,

But truth be known, of great import.

Their angels guard throughout the day

And guide them on the Master's way,

But pride will lead the soul astray

Creating quite a bill to pay.

So listen for the angel's voice

Make true and beautiful your choice,

And you will find the humble way

Your path to everlasting day

9/19/21 Through 9/25/21

 9/19/21 Through 9/25/21

Sunday

He tried to tell them on the road

Of how the crown would get bestowed,

But eyes were blinded then by pride,

The truth of love to shrewdly hide.

The great must take the place of least

And humble well the inner beast

To see what lies beyond the grave,

And how He treats the humble slave.

Exalted to the highest height

The lowly who refused to fight,

Except with forces deep within

To conquer over death and sin.

Monday

From the exile now returning,

Trust in providence now learning,

As the Lord has moved the leaders

Through the prayer of faithful pleaders.

Blood of martyrs change the mind

Of even the most heinous kind,

And when the word to love is clear

It's no surprise, great things are near.

So carry on and stay the course,

Your love becomes a driving force,

And even though your flesh be torn,

Eternal life in you is born.

Tuesday

What does it mean to follow You,

To use the gifts in all I do?

I need Your light to see the way, 

And spur me to each word obey.

To follow means to leave behind

What used to occupy the mind

And see in ever clearer light

The words upon my soul You write.

Those to heal and those to bless,

Those of sin I must confess

Words that guide my path to You,

And words instructing what to do.

Wednesday

Ashamed of how we've turned away

Each one determining his way,

And thinking we can make what's true

Instead of listening to You.

Yet patient love You still display

And grant relief along the way.

Lord help me vow again to be

A faithful spouse, in love with Thee.

Thursday

Seek to see Him not for thrill,

But seek to know His holy will,

And follow well on every road.

You'll see, it's He that bears the load.

As Pio saw for fifty years,

The ever-present cause for tears.

How Jesus, on the cross was torn,

And how the age of love was born.

Let not be lost a single stripe.

The time for love is fully ripe.

So seize the moment, pluck the fruit,

Make love of God your main pursuit.

A sacrifice for everyday

A joining in His cross some way.

Will build a temple gilt with gold

For saint and sinner to behold.

Friday

Once we know He is the Christ,

The pearl becomes so highly-priced.

For He that made the sea and skies

Is He that stands before our eyes.

Saturday

What are you afraid to ask?

What word of His does pride unmask?

What false assurance must you keep?

What corner that you dread to sweep?

He claims to be the strength we need.

We see the food, but fail to feed.

The cross exposed His all to man,

For all is in the Father's plan.

So why hold back what holds you back?

Just offer all, and none you'll lack.

Come see beyond the cross and grave,

And meet the One with pow'r to save.

Encircling fire, His love aflame

For all who bless His Holy Name.

He wipes away our every tear,

And puts an end to useless fear.

9/12/21 Through 9/18/21

 9/12/21 Through 9/18/21

Sunday

The question still remains today. 

Who do You say I am?

Don't simply try to get away,

Or bypass this exam.

The answer sets the very tone

For how to live each day.

If He is God, and God alone,

His word we must obey.

Oh happy fault that Christ should come,

Redeeming all from sin.

To show the depth that Christ would plumb

That we might enter in.

But still today, the question plied,

Just who this man could be.

The saints alone on Him relied,

That's good enough for me.

Monday

What kind of faith do I possess,

A faith enough to heal and bless?

Or faith that only shows its face

When needy of some special grace?

A faith at every twist and turn

Will help the steadfast ones discern

He works all for the good He chose,

So pray you may be one of those.

Tuesday

Such love I cannot comprehend

One patient till the bitter end.

Not shrinking from the stripe or thorn

Our Savior did the cross adorn.

That we might lift Him high to see

The love He has for each of thee,

And join our burdens there to His

For sacrifice is what love is.

Wednesday

Heart of Jesus, Heart of Fire,

Listen to my heart's desire.

Come enflame my heart as Thine,

Make my love a love Divine.

Pierce me as Your Mother's heart

Many times Your grace impart

That my station never leave,

But my heart, to Your heart cleave.

Let me welcome with my hands

Every word of Your commands

Press Your Sacred Heart to mine

Making it a heart as Thine.

That beneath the cross I stay

Pondering the Truth, the Way.

Life Divine, love excelling,

Of Your sacrifice all telling.

Thursday

How foolish when I turn away

And choose to follow my own way.

No satisfaction I would find,

But more of darkness for the mind.

And in repentance I have seen

Forgiveness and the gap between

My ways of selfish righteousness

And humble, gentle loveliness.

Let tears of love then flood my eyes

And strip away my false disguise.

Then there in true humility

Forgiveness for my sins I see.

A fragrant love is then outpoured.

The total gift of Christ our Lord.

With none held back, He showed how love

Would lead us to our home above.

Friday

A simple life of simple means,

A life of love with strict routines,

To turn the heart to Him each day

Will lead us safely on our way.

Saturday

Avoid the rocks, avoid the thorns.

Explicitly the Sower warns

How these can hamper goodly seed

Depriving it of basic need.

The need of soil to embrace,

Receive it well, and foster grace.

To blanket and protect the seed

From bird, and rock, and thorny weed.

So, well prepare your place to grow,

That nourishment the seed would know,

And roots extend to firm and deep,

Quite far beyond the surface cheap.

Then firmly rooted, richly fed

Each seed would yield a loaf of bread,

And persevere through all ordeal

With patient love and holy zeal.

9/5/21 Through 9/11/21

 9/5/21 Through 9/11/21

Sunday 

Our faith arrives by what we hear

Through faith, we find our Lord is near,

And that of which we've come to know

Our life will soon begin to show.

Without the ear attuned to hear

The speech is never very clear.

Impeded by our failings when

Instead of God, we follow men.

So listen well to know the way,

Then you will speak as clear as day,

And others find His word in you 

Through all you say, and all you do.

Monday

Each one a labor given thee,

A way of love to come to Me.

Let each complete the work assigned 

And in the Father's presence find

The withered heart and hand restored

With grace abundantly out-poured

A Sabbath rest is good for man,

But Sabbath in the Father's plan

Is not a time for evil deeds,

But understanding well our needs.

To follow as the Lord commands,

And let Him heal our withered hands.

Tuesday

Principalities and Powers

From our God in flesh now cower.

For in His holy body shone

The humble love of God alone.

Obedience has conquered sin,

Faults forgiven, cleansed within.

Nailed upon the awful tree, 

All the evil plaguing me.

Now in turn, I must obey,

Learn to sacrifice and pray,

Seek the love that conquered death,

Praising till my dying breath.

Wednesday

From ancient times this day foretold,

Barren wife at last consoled.

The purest virgin of our race,

Dawn of mercy, dawn of grace.

Thursday

This day a gift from God above

My duty now to add the love.

To find the lowly, poor, and weak,

And give to them the love they seek.

To measure out without reserve,

To be a humble one, to serve,

To lend a hand to those in need,

And by example, sow a seed.

Friday

I see quite well the splinter there,

The speck of dirt, or misplaced hair.

Yet blinded I so often seem,

And fail to see the wooden beam.

You're at my side throughout the day,

Yet frequently I tend to stray

This beam that often blocks my view

Is pride unchecked that quickly grew.

Forgive my many failings Lord,

Be You alone, my great reward.

This beam I wish to quickly shed,

And be a humble man instead.

Saturday

Lord help me act upon Your word,

Your every call that I have heard,

And so a strong foundation build

For house of love, with wisdom filled.

So much to me, You have to say,

But busyness can fill my day.

Distractions draw my eyes from You

Alacrity, I then eschew.

Lord help me see beyond the haze.

Your Spirit set my heart ablaze.

That every word, I act upon,

And light within, be like the dawn.

8/29/21 Through 9/4/21

 8/29/21 Through 9/4/21

The world wants to know what's wrong,

But bothers not to think too long.

They act to change the broad array

Without reforming their own way.

To save the lives, the guns must change,

But then again, it seems quite strange.

The weakest and most needy one

Is cast aside fore life begun.

They look to see another's ill

Without a thought to their own will.

They say they have the right to choose

Without a thought to what they lose.

So, how to fix our world today,

Remains the same as every day.

Those blinded by their pride, you see

Are those that need to change, not me.

Monday

Just how would I have looked upon

This man I once knew well,

Would I have given time to spawn

The words that He would tell.

Or would I rush upon the man

Intending to do harm,

Would faith in Him that just began

Be cause for such alarm?

Today as well we still project

Upon the holy ones

The sins to which we all object,

But teach to all our sons.

Lord let me not a wound inflict,

But simply pass me by,

Then in my heart of hearts convict,

Contrition then supply.

Tuesday

In love, He came not to condemn,

But change the hearts of sinful men.

The Father's love to man reveal,

And sickness of our sin to heal.

I see, and so believe it's true,

But find myself so far from You.

Yet still, You knock and enter in

Each time I turn away from sin.

If I could just describe Your love,

The patience and the kindness of

The One so far, and One so near,

I'd find the end of doubt and fear.

Wednesday

A healing both complete and fast

A memory for years to last,

Of how God loves and cares for me

That often I would fail to see.

How fickled, I at times can be,

Impatient with impiety,

Forgetting all that He has done,

And acting as He's given none.

When none was spared by Him for me

The shroud proclaims His victory

The Gospel in each stripe and thorn

His sacred countenance adorn.

Thursday

Put out into the deep, He said,

And let your ways, by Me be led.

I'll teach you how to fish again,

But this time for the souls of men.

Friday

He brings new wine to all who live,

And teaches them to freely give.

To let their hearts and souls expand

To see what from the start He planned.

But fresh must be the way we live,

And many times we must forgive,

For fresh expands and always grows,

But old will lose the wine it knows.

So make each day, a day anew,

And let His Spirit grow in you.

Abandon that which holds you back,

Let Him provide what ere you lack.

Saturday

Lord of the Sabbath, determine for me,

Where is the right, and what is the key,

How to discern when to rest is to be,

Or when action would far more appropriate be.

Truest devotion, a heart full of love,

God in our flesh, come down from above,

To show to the feeble, the way of the Lord,

And see in all things, how His love is out-poured.

8/22/21 Through 8/28/21

 8/22/21 Through 8/28/21

Sunday

Submission to His holy will,
The way to find our honest fill

Of love and peace and joy sublime,

As to the throne of grace we climb.

So proud of having gone "my way"

The haughty find, at last, someday

That only in His will is found

A love that will the heart astound.

No way of man could ever find

such harmony to still the mind,

And rest in perfect love received

From One our very life conceived.

So cringe not at that word today.

Submission, be your chosen way.

For only when our choice is free

Will perfect love and joy we see.

Monday

Too often still we look for ways

To skirt around His will.

To look at things amid a haze

And not the truth distill.

He makes it clear to every man

The way in life to go.

Yet still, we search for how we can

Unto the Lord say no.

A hypocrite in every sense

Who follows law for show

Devoid of simple common sense,

Refusing Him to know.

Today again the choice remains

To follow good or ill

I pray to have the simple brains

To follow in His will.

Tuesday

How blest we are that know the Lord,

His favor on each one outpoured.

To learn to pray at tender age

And with the holy ones engage.

The poor are those without a guide,

That only know their selfish side.

Who never taste how sweet is love,

And all that comes from God above.

Reach out Oh Lord and touch the soul,

Let every sinner be made whole.

And show to those so far away

That Yours is but the only way.

One far above was then made low

So every soul on earth would know

The love of God for sinful men

And have the chance to start again.

Receive oh Lord, all things I own

My treasure is in You alone.

My privilege is to bear my cross

And count all earthly gain as loss.

So little here on earth, we know

But loving Him will make us grow

And open vistas far and wide

Of wonders on the other side.

Wednesday

Woe because the beauty's gone,

A thin veneer is all that's on

A core that's rotten as can be,

But through the veil, the wise will see.

In truth is where the beauty's found

It comes from in, and not around.

When that within the heart of thee

With God, finds perfect harmony.

So in the fight, both work and pray,

Then always take the humble way.

For pride is what corrupts within

And multiplies our every sin.

But truth reveals a beauty there

With which the pride cannot compare.

A radiance from deep within

That shines when we abandon sin.

Thursday

I pray that I be ready then

Not acting as the sinful men,

But diligent in all I do,

And leading other souls to You.

So much I lack, but You can fill

The failings of my human will

To make me patient, good, and kind,

And help this feeble soul to find,

Your every word my pure delight

That keeps me ready through the night.

Awake to find on Your return

What only faithful servants earn.

Friday

A holiness is my desire

Closer still, and always higher.

The wise are well-prepared for when

The Bridegroom will return again.

With preparation every day

We face the trial, come what may,

Then wait with patience for the time,

And try to cleanse our sinful grime.

Saturday

"Well done, My good and faithful one."

The words we long to hear

Your faith and trust in Me has won

The life that you revere.

It's not your work, and not your wit,

But trust in Me alone.

And willingness that you commit

The all of what you own.

Not burying the talents that

Were given just for you,

But give to see what love begat,

And give to Love His due

8/15/21 Through 8/21/21

 8/15/21 Through 8/21/21

Sunday

So, What does the Assumption mean,

Except that who was dimly seen

Has now been glorified as Queen,

Most perfect one to intervene?

The sinless all throughout her time

To highest height would Virgin climb.

Obedient in all her ways

A faithful one through all her days.

Monday

So many times I fall away

And fail to hear, much less obey.

The Lord above is Lord of all,

And wise men hearken to His call.

But foolish I so often be,

And fail to hear Him calling me.

A rich young man will just grow old

By saving that which should be sold.

But one that follows Jesus finds

A peace and joy of many kinds.

For with the Lord, all loss is gain,

And giving all, we all obtain.

Tuesday

Lord make of me a servant true,

A humble helper close to You.

Attune my ear to hear your voice,

And make Your will my every choice.

So far away I seem from You

The faithful ones seem far too few.

The enemy a frightful hoard,

There's need for peace to be restored.

The soldiers in Your army be

The lowly ones that trust in Thee,

The helpless poor and very weak

Who make Your will the will they seek.

Though far away, I yearn for You,

Yet still I often turn from You

Oh change this sickly heart of mine,

And make my will to Yours incline.

For there, despite the trials here,

My comfort is to know You're near,

And that Your power far outweighs

Whatever comes from sinful ways.

Wednesday

Refuse the call and then you'll see

How poor the leadership can be.

Be selfish in the way you live,

And wonder why no one will give.

The Buckthorn rules for in the day

We sought for one to lead the way,

The olive, fig, and vine we knew

Would not accept the crown from You.

You live within a barren waste

For none would of My cup, partake

They find excuses one and all

For why they cannot heed the call.

The gifts are given each to share,

And always with enough to spare,

But generosity will be

Our only hope or guarantee.

Thursday

Rejected by His chosen ones

He searches for adoptive sons

The search goes out to all who hear

To come and feast with One so dear.

But clothe yourself in love before

You knock upon the banquet door.

For love alone must be our dress,

The Master's son would have no less.

Friday

To love, by far, the great command.

To love, is what the Lord demands.

For love has given all we own,

And love can never be outgrown.

A total gift of self is love

No greater gift than His above.

A perfect Lamb of sacrifice

Who leads us to His paradise.

Saturday

The simple in a way profound,

The wise and learned ones astound

For they can see with clarity

The graces of austerity.

So hard the lures of earth to shed,

The false bravado of the dead,

Who look to only earthly gain,

And cower from a hint of pain.

They know not of what loving means,

And see not how the loving leans

To give of self when ere they can,

To help their needy fellow man.

So listen what they say to you,

But follow not the way they do.

The great among you all must serve,

And all will get what they deserve.

8/8/21 Through 8/14/21

 8/8/21 Through 8/14/21

Sunday

"Get up and eat," The Lord commands,

Lest journey be too long

To find the promised, fruited lands

Where each of us belongs.

The Bread of Life, His flesh He gives

To be our sacred meal

That satisfies the one who lives,

And blessed things reveals.

Monday

For your own good, He gives the law.

This simple fact the prophets saw.

Just think of all His hands have made,

And how our debt of love He paid.

The ocean depth or mountain height,

The brightest day, or darkest night,

Have all been made by just a word,

And none by chance has just occurred.

So too are you with purpose made.

For you, a ransom dear was paid.

That you might know His love for man

And learn to love the Master's plan.

So come to Him in humble ways

And seek His will throughout your days.

You'll not be disappointed there

If you entrust to Him your care.

Tuesday

A planted seed, a risk we take

That someday it would grow.

No longer food, a bet we make

That others come to know.

It's only in our sowing much

That harvest great will be.

In giving of ourself, as such,

A bounty we will see.

The stingy holds the planting back,

Each single seed to eat.

But harvest yields a wanting sack

Without much golden wheat.

By sowing much the yield is more,

And many souls are fed.

You'll always have enough in store,

And many loves of bread.

So giving with abounding cheer

Your love might overflow,

And all who of your kindness hear

Might come, the Lord, to know.

Wednesday

My help in every time of need,

My constant Sower and the Seed.

Your word through many prophets glared,

But none to Moses ere compared.

Who spoke to you as face to face,

And radiance became the grace

That proved Your presence there with him,

And brightened times appearing dim.

The Promised Land he saw and yet

Across to there would never get,

But where eternally he sleeps

An eye upon the land He keeps.

Thursday

What wonders wrought by mighty hands!

What wisdom in His shrewd commands!

By trusting in His every word

The voice of God's more clearly heard.

Obedience will show the way,

Docility will then display

How true His every word shall be,

And steadfast hearts will truly see.

Forgiveness leads to lasting peace

Where prisoners can find release,

But lacking that, we waste away

When vengence only rules the day.

Friday

The marriage bond, unbroken be

That all might look, and plainly see

Reflecting in the lives of those

A love from God that freely flows.

The hardness of the heart can be

The source of broken home debris.

But that's not what the Father planned

When giving them His first command.

To multiply and fill the earth,

To join as one and bring to birth

Unselfish love and total gift

Instead of greedy ones adrift.

If in the Father's way we walk,

And let Him govern how we talk,

We'll find a tongue that's well-controlled,

And find our injuries consoled.

Forgiveness turns the ship around

To where a faithful love is found,

And in that mirror we can see

What married life is meant to be.

Saturday

A cheerful giver I should be

Not grudging talents given me,

But sharing from a loving heart,

And doing well my little part.

Let anger no companion be

And greediness within me flee.

That patient love might rule the day,

With calm demeanor, come what may.

8/1/21 Through 8/7/21

 Sunday

"Modified Pagan" the way that we live.

All is too much, but something we give.

Enough to seem noble, kindly, and good,

But not nearly as much as we know that we should.

Steeped in the trappings of comfort and ease,

But rarely are found to be on our knees.

Fooled by deception of earthly allure,

Clinging to that which is only manure.

The way of the pagan must not be our way,

We're called to a brighter, more beautiful day.

Where self is denied for the good of the soul,

And likeness to Christ is our eminent goal.

So shake off the old, and be clothed with the new,

And model His ways in all that you do.

Be filled with the Spirit of goodness and love.

The Cross is our way to our home up above.

Monday

Too much, the weight of sinful men

Who feed and yet are starved again.

They never satisfied will be

If in the manna fail to see.

His loving care, how He provides

The manna and the quail besides.

The water from the rock that flowed,

And blessings on each soul bestowed.

A gratitude is what we need

To daily on His manna feed,

And find a favored flavor there

That satisfies our every care.

Be grateful now and you will see

How manifold your blessings be,

And how He cares for faithful sheep,

Providing while they restful sleep.

Tuesday

In faith a merely juvenile,

A leper for a little while,

To learn to listen, and obey,

And follow well the Maker's way.

He speaks to humble, poor, and meek

Who come to Him and purely seek

His daily food for every day,

To do His will in every way.

Wednesday

How have I failed like Israel

To of His mighty wonders tell,

To slay the giants facing me

By placing firmly, trust in Thee?

Such great offense to know His care,

and cower 'fore the wicked there.

Yet still it happens to this day,

We act at times in this same way.

We choose to simply not engage,

And let the evil tyrants wage

A war on all that's true and good

Instead of fighting as we should.

Thursday

The leader's way is never sure,

for ways of man are never pure.

The worldly way of self creeps in

And draws us toward a life of sin.

A barren place of sand and stone

Where many are as all alone.

Till last upon the door they knock,

And water flows from in the rock

The way of man can never see

The wisdom in divinity,

Except when mulling over past,

We see a mighty work at last.

So lead in docile, humble ways

And seek His will throughout the days.

He leads us to the cross, it's true.

But through the cross, makes life anew.

Friday

On Tabor's height His glory shone.

With prophets there did speak.

And then, at once, He's all alone

Upon the mountain peak.

They heard the voice, "This is My Son."

Yet didn't understand.

That suffering would come to One,

Accord the Father's plan.

Through death alone, the glory comes,

The victory over sin.

The total gift of self becomes

The way to finally win.

Saturday

Oh, faith be drilled to deep within

To far below this outer skin.

Till all within has been made clean,

And only Christ in me be seen.

Allow the mustard seed to grow

And let Your love within me flow,

That mountains move when ere I say,

"Be gone," to demons of the day

7/25/21 Through 7/31/21

 7/25/21 Through 7/31/21

Sunday

Inadequate as I may be,

It seems the Lord has chosen me

In some way to fulfill His plan,

As so He has with every man.

There's not enough to go around,

But if a willing soul is found,

Your work will multiply the way

He did the bread and fish that day.

An hour here or minute there,

May not appear as much to share,

But if we seize the time and act

It will supply what others lacked.

So listen well and hear the call

He makes to you and makes to all.

Your time on earth is not your own,

Your duty is to make Him known.

So offer what you can today

To feed the hungry on the way.

You, a simple loaf of bread,

Can be the one that many fed.

Monday

By forfeiture, the battle's won,

And perseverance makes a son.

For either side the same is true,

Now give some thought to which are you?

Have you surrendered soul to sin,

To some delight or pleasure win,

A passing comfort, bliss, or thrill

That never seems your heart to fill?

If so, you are your father's son

That bows to a created one.

That only knows a lie to tell,

The King of Lies, condemned to hell.

But if you turn the other way

Surrendering your will each day

To love incarnate come as man,

The heart will fill as in His plan.

And so, adopted son you'll be

Akin to One upon the tree.

Whose full surrender won the war

With peace and joy forevermore.

For who knows best to fill our hearts, 

But One who made our many parts?

Complete surrender to His will,

The way for sure our hearts to fill.

Tuesday

A meeting face to face with You,

A walk amid the morning dew,

A freshness in each moment there,

A quiet peace in times so rare.

But rare they needn't be you see,

For I am always here for thee.

I call to you throughout the day

Inviting you to come My way.

That which draws your gaze from Me

Cannot give life or set you free.

Diablo's lying wedge divides,

My law to light unending guides.

The wheat and weeds together grow,

But end much differently you know.

The weeds as ashes on the field,

The other, bread of life to yield.

Wednesday

Aglow with love each face will be

Of those who spend their time with Me.

Receiving all I have to give,

And learning how My faithful live.

A narrow path I lead them on

A darkened path before the dawn,

But when the morning sun shall rise,

A treasure there before their eyes.

One worthy of all that they own,

Such beauty there before unknown.

Let all be sold to purchase Thee,

My light and life forever be.

Thursday

Tired and weary, I fall at Your feet

Humbled again, I admit my defeat.

All is from You and naught is from me.

How plain it should be for readers to see.

Friday

Too much for those, He knew too well.

How could such humble root excel?

A prophet's honor, Him denied.

By lack of faith, His hands were tied.

Sins of comfort they embraced.

Too proud to have the truth be faced.

Among their local paths He trod,

The Son of Man, the Son of God.

Today as well, His presence missed,

And that before our eyes dismissed

As too well-known to be a sign,

There's One among us, One Divine.

Saturday

Saint Ignatius, help of mine,

To His will my heart incline.

Discerning well, the Shepherd's voice,

And making Him my every choice.

A simple way, but oh so hard,

My base attachments to discard,

To live for what He brings today,

And savor well that sweet bouquet.