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Friday, October 6, 2023

Foretaste of Forever

Because this is the week leading up to Canada's Thanksgiving Weekend
I've been pondering various angles and expressions
of true thanks-living...

1 Tim.4:1-11
Now the Spirit [a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods
which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good,
and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
5 for it is [b]sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things,
you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ,
nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine
which you have carefully followed.
7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things,
having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end [c]we both labor and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men,
especially of those who believe.
11 These things command and teach.

Here it is again!!

God's renewed mercy! 

Lam.3:22-23
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Thank-you, thank-you, Lord
May Thy renewed mercy 
kindle faith's renewed delight!

***

Not with begrudging acquiescence
Or forced generosity
May more than pious performance
Emulate sincerity

Not to soothe heart-parts still stony
By fulfilling duty's bid
Or to balance testimony
On an ‘invisible grid’

Nor for the sake of appearance
Earning holy brownie-points
Through meticulous adherence
To religious do's and don'ts   

But with unpretentious pleasure
And with unaffected praise
Storing treasure over treasure
Beyond mortal’s measured gaze

With devotion’s willing labor
May life's unfeigned gladness be
To love God first, then by neighbor
Because of God’s love for me

May Motive's earnest endeavor
With genuine fervor brim
In earth’s foretaste of forever
Bringing all glory to Him

© Janet Martin









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I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!