Hope (No Holds Barred)

Where we tripped over stumbling blocks we laid

And plans we made succeeded to our shame

And choice now bears the price we blindly paid

And we have no one but ourselves to blame

When deeds, meat for repentance, proved The Fall

Our God so rich in mercy forgave/forgives all

When consequence abounds in bitter fruit

(For root of pride can yield no goodly/godly gain)

And if repentance is not absolute

We weep and beg upon our knees in vain)

But if we have surrendered, no holds barred

God reaches down with hands, redemption-scarred

When we groan ‘neath the weight of Wisdom earned

Through what we yearned for, long returned to dust

While Thought by human nature too oft spurned

Kind admonition contrary to lust

When we with contrite spirit make amends

Then God so rich in forgiveness defends

When we battle with demons, dark with doubt

And eyes are drawn from Hands, still grace engraved

Then call on the Him, for no one is cast out

Whoever calls on Jesus will be saved

There is room at the cross for everyone

Where God so rich in mercy gave His Son

When we are tempted to despair, press on

For all we bear for Christ in not in vain

And ought we not to suffer for the One

Who bore our debt so that to die is gain

Now then forget what lies behind, instead

Press on toward the Prize that lies ahead

…for when we trust in He who keeps His Word

Engrossed in more than subjects sight-defined

Then we can live with passion undeterred

Vision no longer blurred with double mind

And when at last we pass through death’s cold gates

God who made Heaven possible there waits

© Janet Martin

 Phil. 3:13-14 (BSB)

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind 

and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize 

of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.