Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The Gain of Loss

 



The pain of loss grants gain because we start to realize
That all we have God’s goodness gave; the prelude to The Prize
When we shall see His majesty then we will understand
How loss was but love’s albatross before the Promised Land

When deathless soul flies to its goal like a bird from a cage
Then we will see faith’s Mystery unfold on Heaven’s stage
The pain of loss that shaped the cross that we are called to bear
Will melt like snow when warm winds blow as we shed ev’ry care

The pain of loss carries an awesome opportunity
To lean on He who calms the sea and keens humility
for mortal mold of have and hold is but the brief prelude
That shapes and hones the steppingstones to endless gratitude

The pain of loss may vex and toss the heart with want and woe
Until we cling, through suffering to He who loves us so
And thus begin to hate the sin of selfishness and pride
And look with awe at He who saw our need and did provide


© Janet Martin

 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  
 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth 
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
 in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him,
 not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, 
but that which comes through faith in Christ, 
the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 
Eph.3:7-9




Then, When The Storms of Life...


 this song never gets old...


Ah, here we go again
Armed for life’s high and low
With love to bind the wounds of men
With grace whereby we go

Day breaks and draws us through
A myriad of halls
Until the sky is navy blue
As noiseless, the night falls

Where in between these banks
Of sky and sea and sod
We offer up a life of thanks
And leave the rest to God

For both heaven and earth
And the fullness thereof
Belongs to He who renders birth
And tends His flock with love

Then, when we are afraid
As trouble tests our will
Let’s lift our eyes to He who made
Today and abides still

His love will never fail
His love will never cease
Then, when the storms of life assail
His love will give us peace

© Janet Martin

Romans 8:35-39

 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 
Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  
As it is written:“For Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 
neither angels nor principalities, 
neither the present nor the future, 
nor any powers,  
neither height nor depth,
 nor anything else in all creation, 
will be able to separate us from the love of God 
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hallelujah!


Monday, March 30, 2020

When, In All This World...


We are bearing a universal cross.
We mourn for suffering and loss of life the world over, 
due to COVID 19.
Let's face it; we're all family.
How about a great big group prayer-hug?! 

Father in Heaven we adore You
Father in Heaven teach
us to trust You for no one
 is ever out of Your reach
Let faith be our Beacon
when sore tempests roll
Dear Father in Heaven
Let faith in Thee make us whole

In Thy Name we pray,
Amen

 2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, 
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, 
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.




When, in all this world of wonder, have we ever felt like this?
Bound by kindred hurt and hunger to love’s hug and tug and kiss
When have we, though still oceans, countries and continents apart
Ever felt this closely knitted; sister-brother, heart-to- heart

When in all this world of trouble have we ever faced as one
The awareness of a bubble floating fragile ‘neath the sun
Where the blue dot we inhabit holds love's means to bridge each rift
(We are all indebted creatures to the Giver of life’s gift)

When in all this world of sorrow have we let love intercede
Pulling to the same tomorrow for a universal need
What gathers us more completely in a world of us and you
Than when we suffer together and then help each other through

© Janet Martin




Fragile Fabric...Fold With Care

 Sharing some photos of grand-daughter's first birthday, taken by her momma.
We were able to share a mini face-time party. (so thankful for technology!)


 ...plus one with her VERY mischievous brother 😁


I feel foolishly humbled to even think of grumbling over not being able 
to attend our grand-daughter's first birthday party, 
when I think of all the doctors and nurses sacrificing their time and maybe lives 
away from familyfor days on end to help fight the war on COVID 19. 
Wow! are we not learning to take  NOTHING for granted?!!
 Treasure today. Feel its fabric. Study its design.
Who knows what tomorrow holds!


Now we look a little closer at the fabric of today
Patterns that once seemed quite common bloom in gorgeous disarray
My, the sky is like a poem written in blue-tumbled hues
My, the little lad is handsome in his muddy running-shoes

Forget scolding; suddenly just holding you feels full of holes
As we look a little longer at what comforts and consoles
Bud-bejewelled branches reaching where the chilling winds recoil
Closed signs in shop windows teaching us the sheer beauty of toil

Footsteps floored by the awareness of the holy ground we tread
Where fine art in wild abandon falls from brushes overhead
Let’s not leave until tomorrow what we should achieve today
Lest the time we hope to borrow has somehow vanished away

Let’s look closer at the fabric that morning mercy unfurls
Lest we miss motley mosaics of spilled milk and baby girls
Where what sometimes feels eternal is a blip of now and here
Moment-momentum like waves that wash the shore and disappear

Let’s look closer at the fabric that soon folds and enfolds This
Find the music and the magic in the measure of What Is
Where patterns, fleeting and precious soon evolve and rearrange
Fading like fond, farewell kisses tossed and lost on winds of change

© Janet Martin




Love's Beck and Call




Tis not in vain,
Life’s grief and pain
The Unknown road we trod
If twist-and-turn
Helps us to learn
Our utter need for God

The loss we share
The cross we bear
Is worth its weight of woe
If by its mien
We learn to lean
On He who loves us so

Tis not in vain
If what we gain
Transcends man’s numbered days
As what we learn
Bids us to turn
From proud and careless ways

Pity the one
When life is done
Who did not humbly heed
Love's beck and call
That bids us all
To reckon utter need

© Janet Martin

 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, 
who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gal.2:20