When eating light and heaving weights, my Waistline barely balks! Does the Lord ignore my efforts? All my Push-ups, squats and walks? Did my sweat… All mean squat? Might it Spot some fellow struggler? God,
May all the love with which I lift raise weight from someone’sshoulders
Where love is lifted… regifted it will be!
Does God look over me heart-tugged, or Shrug and overlook me? After Painting prayerfully for months, my Masterpiece went up in flames! Was it not… All for Naught? Or was it Framed in heaven above? Lord,
Use every drop of love with which I brushed to brighten some grey souls
Where love is traced… erased it cannot be!
In my sickness, which those persons sporting Lab coats sadly worsened, I am Wond’ring if, in darkness drear, God Hears my cries; my cursin’? Could my reeling… Spread some healing? Lord,
With love I trade this suff’ring for the grace You’ll bring to others
If laced with love… these aches won’t wasted be!
I farmed my darndest; scrimped and scrounged But debts compounded all the more I’m tempted to give up and cry that Life’s a fruitless chore! Is this living… Or mere dying?
I recall that, “labor in the Lordisnot in vain”; so on, I’ll go (1)
Where love is sown… it’s grown a hundredfold!
Lord, thresh new grains of hope from out the wheat of offered pain
To plant in those You hold and claim Your own
***
(1) “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”-1 Corinthians 15:58
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” -Hebrews 6:10
“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” -Romans 12:1
Let there be PEACE on the earth And let it begin with Yours Truly For Peace ever springs From the dreams which I dare When the Prince cares to cherish and rule me
Let there be JOY on the earth And let it begin with me now My angst is corrupted By a faith, fresh-erupted As I let Zion shine on my brow
Let there be MERCY on earth And let it disperse from me first Since I’ve been forgiven I have seventy-fold striven, to Pay it forward, for that Reign to rehearse
Let there be FIRE on the earth And let me be kindling consumed God’s Love is a spark; Every quark it has scorched By the torch of that Arsonist untombed
***
(inspired by the song, LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH, by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
Lord let me let You LOVE me I give You my permission Allow me to return Your Gaze To love You is my mission Erase my bleakish hope-erosion With sunny praise
Lord let me let You CHANGE me I send You my surrender Convert this heart of stone to flesh (1) Of coldness to combustion Combine Your Heart afire with mine Entwine and mesh
Lord, let me let You USE me Of me, take full possession My eyes and mouth, my feet and hands My glances, thoughts and words Now wield as lances to defeat The serpent’s plans
Lord, let me let You QUENCH me My soul is parched and wearied (2) Your Living Water, gush nonstop (3) To sop those seeds You’ve buried Within that secret plot, we’ll tend Your Kingdom crop
For all the folks who drive too fast, too slow, or without care Father, Love Them Through Me! Without repair… With prayer… Without limit…
One second! AND for each who lets me merge last-minute
For every rude or cold cashier, or waitress slowly serving Father, Love Them Through Me! Without deserving… With grace… With a smile…
Oh wait! AND for each who goes the extra mile
For every neighbor who just won’t keep up or mow their yard Father, Love Them Through Me! Without regard… With patience… Without sass…
Oh yes! AND for the one who cuts my grass- unasked
For every child who whines or screams; whose piled-up clothes beg folding Father, Love Them Through Me! Without scolding… With firmness… Without remorse…
One minute! AND for the teen who likes to skiphis chores
For workmates who don’t ‘ppreciate and often leave me thankless Father, Love Them Through Me! Without crankiness… With patience… With coffee Venti…
Oh yeah! AND for each one whose gratitude is plenty
For friends who don’t return my texts or multiple voicemailing Father, Love Them Through Me! Without failing… With promptness… With contancy…
There’s more! AND for each friend who calls to check on me
For every fellow who ignores or mocks me without cause Father, love them through me! Without pause… With mercy… Without a scoff…
Oh yes! AND for each one I’m tempted to blow off
For everyone who interrupts or daydreams while I’m speaking Father, Love Them Through Me! Without freaking… With focus… Without tension…
Forgot to mention! AND for each one who listens with attention
**********
Inspired by “Litany for Priests and Seminarians” written by the Sisters of Life (sistersoflife.org)
Faith, fam’ly, friends – And work! I’m content Brought home the bacon – Paid bills, paid the rent Sweated all day! – Four walls, brush and paint Was asked to stay late – But miss dinner? I ain’t!
Through all of life’s stresses
I know that God blesses
As we work with the angels
‘n strive with the saints!
Zonked after work – I’m totally spent Honey-do list? – Will make a small dent Fun with the kids – Playing tag ’round the spruce Nods interrupt – Our reading of Seuss
Tried wife in chess
She won! must confess
We will rest with the angels
‘n rise with the saints!
Sleeping is spotty – Kids coughing and fluing Rooster is crowing – We best start the doing Young ones are rustling – There’s diapers ‘n crying Mama is hustling – Eggs, bacon a’ frying
To God I am grateful
For grace by the plateful
We will serve them like angels
‘n raise up young saints!
Morning is trying – Undribbling kids chins Food-flinging, whining – Shrill quibbling, kicked shins Phone-ringing! Searching – For boots in the bin Late-to-work! Lurching – To kiss all my kin
Throughout this whole day
For family I’ll pray
I will call on Archangels
‘n beg prayers of great Saints!
The day is laborious – My sprained wrist uproarious Boss yelling complaints – I’ve spilled pricey paints Applied the wrong stain – Morale? Down the drain Your peace, Lord, restore – My sore heart unpain
Please take all my messes
Each thought that oppresses
Transgressions so selfish
And painful distresses
Great Artist,retouch my rough bungled-up brushwork
Transform it to beautiful artwork…
That rouses amazing and hope-raising heartwork!
Lord send us Your angels
‘n make us Your saints!
*****
God works all things to the good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28)
He has made everything beautiful in its time (Eccl. 3:11 ESV)
O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Is. 64:8)
When-I feel so rejected I share in Your plight “The Son of Man came to His own… And even His own did not care to receive Him” (Jn. 1:11) Receive my own care day and night
To Thirst With You
Is
to Console You
When-I feel tired and parched With You may I ache “I thirst” (Jn. 19:28) for you; “Give me to drink” (Jn. 4:7) “They gave me dour gall; sour wine for my thirst” (Psalm 69:21) Your thirst, with my love, may I slake
To Think of You
Is
to Console You
When-I feel so insulted With You may I pray “Reproaches have broken my heart… I looked for just one to console me, but… found none” (Ps. 69:20) Find me! I’ll console You today
To CryWith You and
To Die With You
Is
to Console You
When-I feel like I’m dying With You may I cry “God, why’ve You abandoned me now?” (Ps. 22; Mk. 15:34) “Into Your hands, Father, I pour my spirit” O Christ, pour Your SPIRIT…
Your LOVE…
Your LIFE from Your side!
*****
“…one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” (Jn. 19:34)
“…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)
Dear Holy Spirit make me holy, not despite but through My weaknesses, temptations, and mistakes I sadly rue Come Holy Spirit, sanctify me, not despite but through My circumstances, which the devil tempts me to eschew
Dear Holy Spirit make me Christlike, not despite but through The people that intrude, are rude or crude, in rotten mood Come Holy Spirit purify me, not despite but through The aches and pains, the devil’s snares… from which my cross, You hew
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk. 14:27
I wrote this poem on retreat in 2021, inspired by Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s “First Principal and Foundation” and St. Richard of Chichester’s famous prayer
Grant me O Lord, this grace for my soul,
as I strive toward, life’s target and goal:
to know Christ more clearly, His thoughts words and deeds,
to love Him more dearly, His care my soul needs,
to follow Him more nearly, through service and prayer,
Want to see the Father? Look at Christ His Son
Want to hear the Father? Hear His Precious One
Want to taste the Father’s care?
Schedule daily time for prayer
Soak in scripture, silent there
Sin and stress you’ll shun
Want to touch the Father? Touch the Risen Lord
Want to hug the Father? It’s not an award
Rather it’s a gift that’s free
Savior’s arms stretched out for thee
His embrace you’ll never flee
Joy will be restored
Want to trust the Father? Heart with fear enticed?
Doubt and painful worry? Put your trust in Christ
Each time Satan give his cue
Says you’re worthless, stupid too
Pray, “Jesus I trust in You!”… He’ll
Crush the devil’s heist
Want to know the Father? Get to know His Word
Ask the Holy Spirit – Soon you’ll be assured
As He forms your mind and heart
Lies ’bout God will soon depart
Father-love He will impart
Holy Longing stirred
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 