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Friday, July 17, 2020

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.



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