A Little Lilt of Everlasting Praise

A little end-of-year reflection of thankfulness

and worship that pray, has barely begun!

Life is a collection of moment-pixels!

Give thanks! 

I confess its a bit of a Poem-blitz today...

a way to keep the wick of gladness trimmed and hope's flame lit, 

where so much sadness threatens to permanently snuff it, 

without reminders of why it never can! 

hallelujah!

Thank-you for sin’s redemption paid through the blood of Your Son

Thank-you for full forgiveness for the wrongs that we have done

Thank-you for Your sweet promise as confession’s sorrows pour

When You forgive our sins, God, You remember them no more

Thank-you for the Lamp of Your Word to light the path of life

Because the throughway to Your throne is full of grief and strife

Thank-you that we have access where the temple’s veil is rent

To come to You, not through a priest but through Your covenant

Thank-you that what this world can never give, You will supply

Your wellsprings of goodness and love will never drain or dry

Thank-you for more than we deserve because You love us so

And nothing here is greater than the grace that You bestow

Thank-you for the true beauty of hope’s unmerited worth

To crown the countless beauties lavishing heavens and earth

Thank-you for what creation spills before our wond’ring eyes

Thank-you for what salvation seals, revealed in paradise

Thank-you for holy purpose in what would be commonplace

But love turns into worship’s joyful gratitude for grace

Thank-you for the gift of Today; where no two are the same

Thank-you that You hear everyone who calls upon Your name

Thank-you that You abide and that You work for our good

And that what we confide in You is always understood

Thank-you for eyes to see and ears to hear, thought to recall

Your precious promises and bounty's blessings great and small

For feet to walk and hands to tend to tasks or fold in prayer

Thank-you that whatever we ask, we know you hear and care

Thank-you for friends and family, for home, sweet home and such

For faces in our memory, we can no longer touch

For Your faithful companionship as we take up our cross

For the gain of your comfort in the pain of our loss

Thank-you that You are with us thus we are never alone

Thank-you, for every stumbling block, there is a stepping stone

Thank-you for food to eat and clothes to wear and work to do

Thank-you that You are absolute, omnipotent and true

Thank-you for what we learn through the bitter rue of mistakes

To humble wisdom's crown we earn as pride’s countenance breaks

Thank-you for gardens out-of-doors or on a windowsill

Thank-you for pups and kittens, for the birds that flit and trill

Thank-you for the raincloud that pours Your answer to our plea

For the wee baby that restores joy in humanity

Thank-you for soft sunshine that warms away cold winter’s gloom

Thank-you for seeds instilled with miracles of bud and bloom

Thank-you for toil’s gracious reward of slumber, sound and deep

Thank-you for vital vim restored after a good night’s sleep

Thank-you for a pricked conscience to rebuke the erring mind

For the refuge of perfect peace that all who trust will find

For Your green pastures and still waters, when courage obeys

For Your goodness and mercy to follow us all our days

Thank-you God for your faithfulness transcending time and place

For hymns made possible because You love vile, human race

Thank-you, oh God, that nothing is impossible with You

No matter what, there is nothing too hard for You to do

Thank-you that You have proven by what death’s tomb could not stay

Your power and Your glory and Your Kingdom now for aye

No army you can defeat You and no evil overthrow

For You have overcome the world, in spite of trouble’s woe

And all who repent and believe, fight a most worthwhile fight

For You will be the One they/we see when faith is turned to sight

Thank-you that You are slow to anger, abounding in love

And for your patient kindness as You chasten and reprove

Thank-you for living hope to spur us onward until we

Together with You Lord, thank you through all eternity

© Janet Martin

Psalm 103:1-5

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.