How Lovely Is This Day of Grace

My prayer is that this poem wakens me/us to want God more!

(and a side note; So thankful for this first morning in a few weeks 

that I feel like happy-dancing

rather than pulling the covers over my head and saying

 'Day! Go away!')

It's a blustery beginning to a hungry-bird Friday!

(refilling these feeders every day right now!)

Yes. Bigger ones would be nice but have you seen the price on large bird feeders?!

We will make do with these till they break then see what we can find.

Seems we are in a season where tears and prayers mingle constantly for

so many struggling and suffering!

How lovely is this day of grace!

Lord, establish our focus not on what we see 

but on You, Who we know is faithful

far beyond our comprehension

Oh, hear our prayer and convict us of our sins!

'Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors'

How crucial is the call to be careful, steadfast, sincere

How subtle is the slippery slope that camouflages truth

How sacred is the sparkle composing the soul’s veneer

How soft the soil of innocence and fleeting green of youth

How steadfast wanes the breadth between birth and death’s on and on

How unknown the longevity that numbered days afford

How utter is the verdict when the final breath is drawn

How dire is the destiny of salvation ignored

How certain are the promises kept by the Word of God

How stable is hope’s anchor though we are tossed by life’s gales

How hard the hardships of this world without faith’s staff and rod

How wonderful to know God’s love never falters or fails

How beautiful the feet of they who preach God’s gospel, peace

How temporal the clay that molds the jars that hold our tears

How everlasting is the One whose mercies never cease

How comforting to know that when we cry to Him, He hears

How near and dear the day is drawing when all will behold

God, Alpha and Omega, who Is, Was and Is To Come

How crucial are the moments that so steadily unfold

Until no earthly tie remains, only life’s sacred sum

How quickly then before death’s summons we ought to reply

How awful to repent too late when mercy’s gate is barred

How lovely is this day of grace God gives to you and I

How patient are His hands outstretched, how perfect, oh, how scarred

© Janet Martin

Rev.1:1-7

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him

 to show His servants what must soona come to pass. 

He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

  2who testifies to everything he saw. 

This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,

 and blessed are those who hear and obey 

what is written in it, because the time is near.

(John Greets the Seven Churches)

4John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:b

Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, 

and from the seven Spiritsc before His throne,

  5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, 

the firstborn from the dead, 

and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

  6who has made us to be a kingdom, 

priests to His God and Father—

to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! 

Amen.

7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, 

and every eye will see Him—

even those who pierced Him. 

And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. 

So shall it be!

 Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,d” says the Lord God, 

who is 

and was 

and is to come—

the Almighty.