Amazing Grace

Recently our Sunday morning messages have been on salvation!

The more I try to plumb the depths of God's amazing love and grace

that purchased the gift of salvation to pay the sinner's debt

 for all who repent and believe and thus receive it,

the more I marvel at how impossible it is

to fully comprehend amazing grace! 

or how impossible it is to believe without repenting

or repent without believing!

Heb.4:16

 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2 Cor. 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, 

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

There's Not A Friend Like The Lowly Jesus

You could confound us with the crumbs that fall 'neath The King's chair

But you invite us to sit at Your table, saved by grace

No judgement from the mercy seat that Calvary laid bare

As all who repent and believe become Your dwelling place

You could condemn us but instead You, sinless, became sin

So that through You we might become 'the righteousness of God' 

Not by works lest we boast; salvation, none can earn or win

It is a gift, a gift that leaves believers/receivers humbly awed 

Then, who is qualified to cast judgment's first stone, pray tell

For there is no one righteous, no, not one, we, debtors all

To grace, the grace that saves us from eternity in hell

When truly, truly on Your Name above all names, we call   

You know our hearts, you hear our prayers, You know that we are dust

The recompense that we deserved You bore, once and for all 

You are good, holy, merciful, compassionate and just

Your everlasting love abides as kingdoms rise and fall 

Once, I was a prodigal child squandering love and life 

Once You left the ninety and nine in the fold, to find me

Amazing grace, agape I gaze where redemption runs rife

You reconciled your rebel child and set my doomed soul free 

The crumbs that fall from Your table, would be too good for me

But you invite me to sit down, beloved and justified

By Your amazing grace; I, once condemned have been set free

And clothed in robes of righteousness that only You provide

Janet Martin

Amazing Grace 

Rom.5:6-11

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,

 Christ died for the ungodly. 

 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, 

though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood,

how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, 

how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Ephemeral and Eternal or The Briefness Of It All

May is flying by in a flurry of hellos and farewells

and smiles and tears...

and much to do!! 

How soon the little boy and girl sheds childhood's innocence ...

...where every hour bursts with blooms that fade like flower-storms 

The dust we till, hustles a loom that never quite conforms

To want-and-wishing's wistful whims; 

How gray-gold-greenly moments spill and meld to Nevermore

Today's gush of gossamer twill so briefly held before 

Ephemeral and eternal, are deftly intertwined

Tangible to intangible as echoes strew behind 

Life's dues of give and take weave so much more than meets the eye

Love's hues sparkle and ache and grin and groan with my-oh-my 

How soon the little boy and girl sheds childhood's innocence 

How surely choices lilt and swirl, unfurling Consequence 

Ephemeral and eternal, Time's subtle shuttle hums

As both brutal and beautiful to Bygone's cast succumbs

As morn, moment by moment weds with yester-scapes of death 

As God's unfailing purpose threads through every gifted breath

...where every hour bursts with blooms that fade like flower-storms 

The dust we till, hustles a loom that never quite conforms

To want-and-wishing's wistful whims; while moments spill and meld

Weaving with wisps that flare and dim, a lifetime briefly held 

Ephemeral and eternal, where no two days the same

Tune flurries of hello-farewell no one can curb or tame

Leaving so much to ponder with each season rise and fall 

As smiles and tears grow fonder with the Briefness of it all

Janet Martin

The Other Side of Hug-and-Kiss...

There is only one way to remain grounded in Things Above; in the unseen...

by seeking faithfully to be found faithful!

Remembering the reward for faithfulness is veiled on earth...

1 Corinthians 4:2

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

James 1:25

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom,

 and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—

he will be blessed in what he does.

Matthew 25:21

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! 

You have been faithful with a few things;

 I will put you in charge of many things. 

Enter into the joy of your master!’

Faithfulness is like our 'marriage vow' to God,

forsaking all others, as long as we live,

 in the matter of fidelity and allegiance to Him

with love second to none

because we have resolved All For Christ!

Just as in earthly marriage as time goes by 

and human nature rears its unlovely head,

 we don't always 'feel' the passion

and excitement as in the beginning, 

but pray it is replaced with

a deeper, matured awareness that faithfulness

must/will weather the highs and lows that are bound to be,

'Well done, Thou good and faithful servant' 

is no small fete to win.

It requires daily surrender to our Heavenly Father,

our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

and to the Holy Spirit who indwells the believer.

Faithfulness forgives and accepts forgiveness.

Faithfulness is a firm and humble obedience,

a penitent repentance when we stumble/sin,

a modest presentation of Self,

so we may give God the glory

for making possible the boast

of our salvation. 

***

Today we are attending the wedding of my niece

and we will witness the vows they make;

'till death do us part'

We will hear them speak before God

the words that bind two into one;

Matthew 19:6
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 

Therefore what God has joined together, 

let man not separate.”

A wedding day is a day of joy and celebration and grave solemnity

as vows made on earth are sealed in heaven.

It is no laughing matter, This

The other side of hug-and-kiss

Of being true no matter what

When tempted to undo love's knot

Love's vows are not of fickle font

But transcend every wish and want

Because these words, 'till death doth part'

Are etched forever on God's heart

When hug and kiss is interspersed

With human foible's selfish worst

Startled, we start to humbly learn

Faithfulness grants no quick return

...but refines rose-coloured romance

With love, that would not stand a chance

Without steadfast commitment to

He who made us 'no longer two'

'A three-strand cord is hard to break'

'Love bears all things' love's highest stake

With God 'all things' are possible

Without, love is soon miserable

For self times two is not enough

To satisfy the ways of love

How harsh is disillusioned bliss;

The other side of hug-and-kiss

But oh, how lovely in return

Is love that is willing to learn

And learn again, the meaning of

A patient, kind and faithful love

For tis no laughing matter; this

The other/weathered side of hug-and-kiss

But is, when all is done and told

Life's greatest beauty to behold

...as the covenant of 'I do'

Remembers, one cannot be two

When faithfulness seeks no excuse

To sever what no man can loose

© Janet Martin

For those who are seeking truth

and maybe reasons to re-resolve to remain faithful

first and foremost to God, some helpful links below

 Dr. Joseph Webb on the truth about I Do, based on God's Word!

Why talk about divorce and remarriage in the Church Part 1, 

Can the blood of Jesus cover over my past divorce so I can remarry? Part 2

Whose servant is your pastor? Part 3

Pastors: please watch your doctrine on divorce and remarriage Part 4

Teach the truth on divorce and remarriage Part 5

Divorce and remarriage: what's your church teaching? Part 6

If I repented from having had a divorce, can the blood of Jesus cover me so I can remarry? Part 7

Are all second marriages after divorce adultery? Part 8

Can divorced and remarried couples In the Church serve God too? Part 9

Can divorced and remarried couples in the Church be believers too? Part 10

Can Christian divorced and remarried couples love Jesus too? Part 11

What repentance is and the mess of divorce and remarriage In the Church Part 12 

Christian divorced and remarried couples In the Church Part 13

If my spouse left me, why Should I Stay Single? Part 14

more HERE or HERE 

or more from Dr. Joseph Webb  HERE 

or this;

What Makes a Marriage Legal in the Sight of God 

Is my first marriage still standing even if I was not a Christian then?

I got a divorce and remarried all before coming to faith in Christ

I'm a Christian Divorced and married, am I living in adultery?

My first marriage ended; now I'm divorced but I'd to marry a godly Christian

Divorce and Remarriage and the Cost of Following Christ

Sometimes, Only When We're Broken...

Until we come to God without any agenda but  'Thy will be done',

comfort cannot begin...

There is nothing like assembling at a graveside

to stir hearts to set priorities into proper perspective...

Much prayerful reflection and contemplation today,

following Cliff's funeral yesterday...

Cliff mentioned HERE

Sometimes sad failure tries to fool me into thinking all is lost

Sometimes love's sorrow comes to school me in lessons I do not want

Sometimes unknowns could make me tremble like a little leaf, wind-tossed

Because impending storms assemble; till I hear above fear's taunt

'Come'

Sometimes, when looking back at struggles, at 'faith's substance' scarred and bent  

Sometimes its weathered tears and troubles forge a gladder countenance 

Because the heart has grown more tender through love's groaning lessons lent

Wakening a once Thoughtless/thankless Spender to Mercy's extravagance 

'Come' 

Fresh courage commits to be braver in the aftermath of loss

Desire's goals seem to grow graver in the shadow of Time's lease 

And dread, that Noose to joy and laughter pales beneath love's suffered cross

 The gentle, scarred Hands of the Grafter, entitles His Masterpiece

'Come' 

Sometimes a tempest-ravaged garden seems a picture of despair 

Where painful pruning veils the guerdon; because such is faith's veneer 

Hark! a sweet, sweet word is spoken like an answer to all prayer

And sometimes, only when we're broken are we still enough to hear 

'Come'

Sometimes, then in the bowed beholding, at a graveside's solemn pose 

As we witness the final folding of dust-to-dust's snuffed façade 

Sometimes then, far from the mad hunger for plunder that death foregoes  

We can hear the silence thunder with the loving voice of God 

'Come' 

Janet Martin 💔🙏

Matt.11:28-29

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; 

for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 

Matt.14:22-33

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship,

 and to go before him unto the other side, 

while he sent the multitudes away.

  23And when he had sent the multitudes away, 

he went up into a mountain apart to pray: 

and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

  24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: 

for the wind was contrary.

  25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, 

walking on the sea.

  26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,

 they were troubled, saying,

 It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 

27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,

  Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28And Peter answered him and said,

 Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 

29And he said, Come. 

And when Peter was come down out of the ship,

 he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;

 and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 

31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him,

  O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 

33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, 

Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Come, Thou Fount of every Blessing

Come Unto Me

Come, Gracious Spirit

Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Come to Jesus

Pure Delight

1 John 2: 15-17

Do not love the world or anything in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, 

the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—

is not from the Father but from the world.

  17The world is passing away, along with its desires;

 but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Col.3:1

If then you were raised with Christ,

seek those things which are above,

where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

When it comes to 'stuff' much wants more,

and yet is never satisfied!

When it comes to the things of God He has enough

to satisfy all of us for all eternity!

No need to want what the other one has

(unlike two little boys playing with tractors! 😅💓)

Love brings no satisfaction to devotion and delight

If its primal attraction is to seek and serve by sight

If what we long and strive for here, is temporal at best

If fulfillment we live for, dear, is not Supremely blessed

…by He who made and loves us and who knows us, heart and soul

Who placed within the glove of us a Faith-in-Him shaped hole

A love-the-Lord-thy-God-with-all-thy-heart-soul-strength-and-mind

-abyss; that, though we gain the world, we are Heaven-designed

And thus, to find true happiness, true hope, joy, peace and love

We first must pursue righteousness/godliness and seek Those Things Above

With uttermost humility and thankfulness, and then

We will find more delight than we thought possible. Amen

© Janet Martin

From Streams in the Desert Vol.2

Crucial Consideration

Earth's annual flower-carousel has begun to twirl...

and, our days are like the flowers...

a brief bloom at best!

1 Peter 1:24

For, “All flesh is like grass, 

and all its glory like the flowers of the field; 

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Considering that you and I

Are here for such a little bit

It behooves all of us to try

To make the very most of it

To do the very best we can

To honor God with word and deed

To truly love our fellowman

And not to want more than we need

©Janet Martin

Ps.103:15-18

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16For the wind passes over it, and it is [b]gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

Before It Is Too Late

Because death forgets no one,

 today's post is an earnest and urgent beckoning

because of a reckoning none will escape...

The Ninety and Nine...

Luke 15:4-7

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, 

does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness,

 and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 

5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

  6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, 

saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 

7I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven 

over one sinner who repents 

than over ninety-nine [b]just persons who need no repentance.

On his deathbed the other week, my sister-in-law's brother put his faith in Jesus

before, at 51 years of age, he passed from time into eternity.

Praise the Lord! He did not dismiss the window of opportunity still open,

 to repent and believe!

Death forever closes the window of every opportunity

but ultimately the opportunity to receive the gift of salvation!

Sometimes death comes too suddenly to call upon God's name,

so then, we should prepare to meet God today!

God, who so loved us He gave His Son as the final sacrifice for sin because

'without shedding of blood is no remission/forgiveness. Heb.9:22

Matt.24:43-44

But know this, that if the master of the house had known

 what [a]hour the thief would come, 

he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

 44 Therefore you also be ready, 

for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

What can be sadder than to be Almost Persuaded?!

Acts 26:28 NKJV

Then Agrippa said to Paul,

 “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

Almost Persuaded

Death stops us in our tracks,

In leaps of faith, mid-prayer/air

It accomplishes hope’s climax

Or eternal despair

It adjourns highs and lows

When death lowers its bar

It executes life’s curtain-close

No matter who we are

It strips the soul’s veneer

(Pray we prepare to meet

Our God, for we must all appear

Before His judgment seat)

It lurks in every breath

In every step we take

We live in the shadow of death

Eternity at stake

Between Will Be and Was

God’s grace unfurls Time’s mast

And grants what none should waste, because

Today could be our last

Salvation, none can earn

Saves us from sin's dire fate

Because, Death waits at every turn

Who can afford to wait

…to call upon the Name

Of God, mighty to save

All who believe, death cannot claim

For Christ conquered the grave

Therefore, though death is sure

We need not dread its scythe 

All who believe, God holds secure

In everlasting life   

Then pray, do not delay

To make repentance true

Because maybe this very day

Death will take me or you

Then, hearken/listen unto He

Who calls us all by name 

Who gave Himself to set us free

From death's unyielding claim 

Before it is too late

(for death forgets no one)

Pray for faith's gift of saving grace

Through Jesus Christ, God's Son

© Janet Martin

Isa. 51:5-6

My righteousness is near,

My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait upon Me,
And on My arm they will trust.
 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
And look on the earth beneath.
For the heavens will vanish away like smoke,
The earth will grow old like a garment,
And those who dwell in it will die in like manner;
But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness will not be [b]abolished.

Read the full glorious chapter HERE

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 

we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing

 of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 

14 who gave Himself for us, 

that He might redeem us from every lawless deed

 and purify for Himself His own special people,

 zealous for good works.

If The Lord Wills...

Today's devotion, so very fitting for we who are mourning once again!

Our church family is reeling again with the blow

of another sudden loss of one of our family.

Cliff Martin was a friend to my husband, (and me)

both of them life-long truck drivers.

Yesterday morning, for reasons still unknown

Cliff's truck rolled over and he lost his life.

Our hearts are broken for his family

as we lift them to our loving Heavenly Father in prayer.

Will you pray too?

Great is Thy Faithfulness

 

Ps.23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

James 4:13-15

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, 

spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” 

14You do not even know what will happen tomorrow!

 What is your life? 

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

15Instead, you ought to say, 

“If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

(The above verses, since my sister Lucy's sudden death last Sept.

are imprinted on my heart with

every plan I make!!)

If the Lord wills, we will do this or that today. Amen

What peace this precept brings as we face life’s unknowns again

God gives and takes away; life’s day-to-day time’s fleeting nod

Before we go the way of ‘dust-to-dust-and-soul-to-God’

If the Lord wills, we will go here or there today. Amen

We cannot see beyond the very moment we are in

But He who knows our numbered days before one came to be

Unfurls the goodness of His grace for all humanity

To all who trust in Him, He satisfies faith’s deepest needs

The vastness of His mercy thought’s comprehension exceeds

He is with us; He comforts us as we pray once again

‘If the Lord wills, we will do this or that today. Amen’

© Janet Martin

For Those Tears I Died