A Universal Cheer/ 'Church'

 I have to admit, after a photo someone posted on FB 

because they saw this masterpiece doubled over a lake,

(not blocked off by buildings, trees and a sink full of greasy dishes)

I was bowled over momentarily with a green wave of envy...

 then immediately 'smacked' with rebuke 

by the remembrance of those sick, suffering and sorrowing!

p.s. why was there still a sink full of dishes at 9:00? 

because we lingered longer at supper

laughing over a freshly bathed, blonde-curled, pink, little 'piggy/aka grandson'

prancing about the house...

The wonder of creation is a universal cheer

A daily celebration midst mankind’s laughter and tear

God’s handiwork transfixes us; where sod and sky and sea

Makes worshipers of all who marvel at the poetry

Of dusk on water, bloom’s first color, heaven’s dark and light

Of moon on misty, musky summer’s mellow middle-night

Of season over season’s unequivocal allure

That helps make far more bearable the cares we must endure

Beneath a canopy where we glimpse Majesty of He

Who sets at large His Best (no charge) if we have eyes to see

So, in time’s quiet quick of it, let's pause a bit, full-awed

Amidst love’s fighting thick of it, by the artwork of God

© Janet Martin

Believing Without Answers...

My sister-in-law Karen would appreciate prayers.

A week ago she fell and is suffering much pain and some complications due to that fall.

She is battling some discouragement after a winter of health-struggles!

 (it feels like it just never ends for them!!!)

Especially this last year! (click this link Dave and Karen  

and follow posts to last June for a glimpse of prayer-requests,

after my brother Dave fell from a roof )

Dave has never fully recovered from that fall but is learning to work with a new 'normal'.

 But they believe in the power of prayer and are so thankful for prayers that have carried them through rough times so would dearly appreciate them once more!

Please pray for healing of body and spirit!

Thank-you.

 A hymn of kind Assurance   

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Isa.41:10

The good that we would choose would not be wrapped in pain and fears

It would not test our trust or make us wonder ‘why’ though tears

"The purpose we are called to’ we do not always applaud

Where we are oft unable to explain the will of God

For God, whose thoughts are higher than mortal can comprehend

Whose ways are far above the way we think His ways should bend

Sees far more than the moment-dots we struggle to connect

As all things work together for the good of His elect

He knows the woes we suffer are not pleasing to endure

But oh, He goes before us and makes every step secure

He levels mountains, breaks bronzed gates and cuts through iron bars

While testing we who follow with the bite of battle-scars

So we may know that He is Lord and His love never fails

…so we may find the hidden riches surrender unveils

…so we may learn to simply trust His love misunderstood

Believing without answers that He works for our good

© Janet Martin

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Rom.8:28

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa.55:9

“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. 3I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.…

Isa.45:2-3

For Warriors in an Unforgotten World...

You Devil!!!...

You major in the art of heart-destruction; sly and vile

Evil master-pretender you ‘befriend’ as you beguile

Unholy and deceitful, you entice the likes of man

Your goal, to snare the souls of any-everyone you can

You are the enemy of Hope; you thrive on futile ploys

And decorate death’s filthy lucre with life’s loud, proud noise

Your aim and game, distraction, where the poison of your kiss

Tastes sweet at first and makes your curse feel like nothing’s amiss

You do not care; you flatter, dare, and hate is your grand boast

You slip a dagger into every weakness left exposed

For without the armour of God, none can withstand your wiles

And what seems harmless at first bite, corrupts us and defiles

You stalk your prey and lure us with the pith of painted dust

Instead of love you substitute idolatry and lust

For you are driven by your utter enmity with God

You know he knows your numbered days; you know you are a fraud

The evil-doer is your hero; you debilitate

Until thought is the worshiper of what we ought to hate

And those who do not stand on guard soon will not recognize

The danger of a downward spiral we ought to despise

You never sleep and in the dark you make your greatest plays

A marksman without mercy; you twist truth into a maze

You laugh at the confusion that Ignorance commandeers

And turn the fear of God into a fear of people’s jeers

Your pathway to destruction is so subtle in its dip

If we do not pay close attention our feet will slip

The Author of salvation is a kind and faithful friend

His cross, stained with redemption’s seal saves from hell’s endless end

You Lord!!! 

Your love is mankind’s comfort; it befits us for each task

A Father rich in mercy, You forgive if we but ask

Therefore, where before we abhorred accountability

You, who bore our chastisement pardons us and sets us free

Then the ‘freedom’ we thought we had exposes satan’s vice

'Obedience to God is better than vain sacrifice'

Your peace that passes understanding; few, few seem to find

For first we must leave the Deceiver’s carnival behind

…and trust the Words of You who never leads any astray

Who never veers from promises no matter what ‘they’ say

The Way, The Truth, The Life; ah, who on earth can offer this?

Or usher us, at that last breath from Hell’s awful abyss

You, both Giver and Taker; Maker of  all we proclaim

Even the demons tremble at the mention of Your name

Your power, glory, Resurrection no one can exceed

Or fault You, Father of Compassion in hope’s time of need

Ah, You, whose healing hem we grasp; who can instruct or Charge

You hold the frailest prayer-ling fast and universe at large

Sight blinds, but faith binds true believers to Your promises

For someday 'every knee will bow and every tongue confess’

You grant to Your followers, courage in the face of fear

The Unknown sets no stepping-stone beyond Your eye or ear

Your Word is steadfast in a world that offers no sure Thing

And helps all who believe endure life’s pain and suffering

You do not leave us Comfortless; Your Spirit none can see

Yet You help us through all You grant to test humility

And prove authority and Deity and perfect love

When we are weak then You are strong; Your grace always enough

Oh Lord, pray we hunger and thirst after Your righteousness

Lest, we are cursed by this world’s wealth acquired through greediness

And should the Tempter try to lead us where Want will betray

Be Thou our kind Deliverer from evil, Lord we pray

Amen

© Janet Martin

We Are So Glad For Dads...

Happy Father's Day!

We are so glad for dads who teach lads how to hit a ball

Who kindly sit a bit and listen to some childish wish

Who pause in spite of work because they love more than its call

Who sit on docks or riverbanks to thank the Lord…and fish

We are so glad for dads who try so hard to do their best

To guide, correct, provide, protect; an unrelenting Must

A man who realizes the significance of steps

How little feet that follow need somebody they can trust

We are so glad for dads who take the time to laugh and tease

And listen to small chatter of matters tall and dream-wild

And dads who bounce their baby boys and girls upon their knees

Because they know how swift the ease of moments steals the child  

We are so glad for dads who get down on their knees and pray

And ask their Father for direction in a world gone mad

Lest, God forbid, they are the feet that leads a child astray

We are so glad for men who make us proud to call them Dad

© Janet Martin

 

A letter from a father to his sons...

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
    pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have,^[b] get understanding.
⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

Prov.4   

continued here

and here

and here