Joy Beyond All Compare

Happy Last Weekend of January 2025...already?!!

Last Sunday evening a much belated birthday celebration was enjoyed

(due to many cold and flu postponements)

in honour of the little lad who turned Jim and I into grandparents!

Happy 8th birthday, Grandson

Ps.40:5

Many, O LORD my God, 

are Your wonderful works which You have done; 

And Your thoughts toward us  

cannot be recounted to You in order;

 If I would declare and speak of them, 

they are more than can be numbered.

(find the whole glorious chapter at the end of this post)

The goldfinch doffed of yellow...

 is a dapper fellow still...

Though winter dims bright colour with a layer of brown twill...

The landscape, green and golden...

 or tucked beneath snowy fleece

Is like a priceless painting; a four-season masterpiece...

 

The heavens as they declare God's glory o'er all the world ...

The bud, arousing wonder for miracles, still unfurled

 Stirs in the human heart a hymn that overflows its brink 

To see God in creation is life's sweetest joy, I think...

In living rooms where laughter celebrates a birthday boy...

(before the ruckus, as little sister from across the table contributed a mighty PUFF!!!)

The goldfinch doffed of yellow is a dapper fellow still

Though winter dims bright colour with a layer of brown twill

The landscape, green and golden or tucked beneath snowy fleece

Is like a priceless painting; a four-season masterpiece 

The heavens as they declare God's glory o'er all the world 

The bud, arousing wonder for miracles, still unfurled

 Stirs in the human heart a hymn that overflows its brink 

To see God in creation is life's sweetest joy, I think

How small and trusting is the hand that tugs on mom and dad

Or Gran and Gramps; how suddenly love makes us humbly glad

For things we dare not forget to thank God for every day

Lest love we take for granted is suddenly drawn away

Wakening us to a more purposed response to God's grace

With ears to hear and eyes to see each other, face to face

In living rooms where laughter celebrates a birthday boy

To see God in our loved ones is surely life's dearest joy

Ah, I am wrong. When laughter's song is turned into a prayer

When sorrow tugs are more than hugs as farewells fill the air 

When teardrops fall and all that we can do is lean on He

Who is a Very Present Help in times of misery

For all who are inducted into ranks of those who mourn

He comforts us; and never fails us when hearts are grief-torn

He who knows love's great suffering does not forsake us there

Ah! to see God in sorrow is joy beyond all compare 

Janet Martin

Ah, I am wrong. When laughter's song is turned into a prayer

When sorrow tugs are more than hugs as farewells fill the air...

Ps.40 BSB (Berean Study Bible)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2He lifted me up from the pit of despair,

out of the miry clay;

He set my feet upon a rock,

and made my footsteps firm.

3He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD.

4Blessed is the man

who has made the LORD his trust,

who has not turned to the proud,

nor to those who lapse into falsehood.a

5Many, O LORD my God,

are the wonders You have done,

and the plans You have for us—

none can compare to You—

if I proclaim and declare them,

they are more than I can count.

6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

but my ears You have opened.b

Burnt offerings and sin offerings

You did not require.

7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

it is written about me in the scroll:

8I delight to do Your will, O my God;c

Your law is within my heart.”

9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

behold, I do not seal my lips,

as You, O LORD, do know.

10I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation;

I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness

from the great assembly.

11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me;

Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

12For evils without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart has failed within me.

13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;

hurry, O LORD, to help me.

14May those who seek my life

be ashamed and confounded;

may those who wish me harm

be repelled and humiliated.

15May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

16May all who seek You

rejoice and be glad in You;

may those who love Your salvation

always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

17But I am poor and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and deliverer;

O my God, do not delay.