These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Lent Means Sacrifice

So often we may give some joy,
which fills our days and nights with hope,
but then the risen Lord employs
Sunday sun, restored we cope.

Yet, this year God has stripped us bare.
We couldn't refuse His tireless call.
Each grieving day we sit and stare
at life within four closing walls.

This year for Lent in upbeat bliss
I gave my blog and half the kick
of coffee's caffeine, I would miss,
and peanut butter spread I'd lick,

But err the days were half them o'er,
I'd given up my writing fast
to hearts in essays now implore,
and food and drink did not them last.

When Christ, the Master greatly spoke,
no human heart could say Him, "Nay!"
The virus in upon us broke
to change our hopes, consume each day.

What did we give up for this Lent?
A job, and places free to go,
and Future as a hostage bent
before a warden, waits to know.

This Lent's now gone, and Easter's flown,
but sacrifice remains intact.
Will bygone days be newly-shown,
or will their business we still lack?

How minuscule all Lents before,
now seem to be by our hearts made!
Their goodness famine's lacking store.
Our goodness naught to be displayed.

"Dear Lord, we humbly ask You give,
(for we are sinners in Your Hands,)
great Mercy from the life Christ lived.
Please, save us for Your greatest Plans.

"Deserve we death by vicious plague,
and worse than that in Hell be placed,
I would not waste one word made vague,
but plainly beg You save by Grace!

"Destroy the villain! Send it hence!
Restore our health in joy made new!
Restore in us our God-made sense,
that fellowship we'd have with You!

"You made Creation in six days,
sustained a widow's, prophet's bread.
Each heart repenting, and now obeys,
is kept from ill, that would make us dead.

"Though Sin-sick world, we now remain,
we've Hope, that still You'd save the lost.
Cause broken souls to quite refrain
from fleshly lusts of monstrous cost.

"Abortion's blood runs in the streets,
and strange flesh lusts to call it love.
Please, grant our sin to never meet
Divinest Justice from Above.

"Remold our hearts to love just You,
Redeeming Lord of Calvary's cross.
Please, save my soul and each one, too,
by One, Who smelted Sin's great dross.

"He rose upon the Third Day whole
to seal the Sin-Debt payment done.
My saving was His lifelong goal.
My heart by Him is fully won!

"'My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness'
the lovely words of this great song
bring peace, that gone is ev'ry wrong.

"I rest in the shadow of Your Wings.
Each Lent-gift, that I gave to You
is just a tool to teach me sing
in every challenge, you bring me through.

"And though each Lent-gift of this year
has fallen off as goal uncrossed,
You gave me new ones, broad and clear,
as the son, You love, who's no more lost.

"Please, help us through these unknown days
with Glory for Your Name, again.
Each sacrifice at Your feet we lay
in Jesus Glorious Name, Amen."

by Jay O'Toole
on April 14th, 2020