Sweet and Sacred Solace

Have you confessed before God

that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour?

Have you, by faith received redemption's gift,

salvation for your soul?

Have you experienced the joy and peace 

that only God's full forgiveness brings?

Do you have the assurance, when death comes

That Jesus' death and resurrection

conquered the grave?!

If so, have we not the best reason to rejoice

all the days of our life,

with reverent adoration

for the sweet and sacred solace of

God's abiding Presence, no matter what befalls?!

There is a Redeemer

God is a Redeemer.

When we fall, He cares

Untangling the Dreamer

From besetting snares

God is love. He listens

When we weep He hears

Reaching down from heaven

To gather our tears

God is good and righteous

When faith is deterred

He thrills to delight us

With His faithful word

God is kind and gracious

When we stumble then

Rather than condemn us

He says 'try again'

God is rich in mercy's

Staggering supply

Bidding, but not forcing

How we will reply

© Janet Martin

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things

 such as silver or gold

 that you were redeemed from the empty way of life 

you inherited from your forefathers, 

/ but with the precious blood of Christ, 

a lamb without blemish or spot.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood,

 the forgiveness of our trespasses,

 according to the riches of His grace

Titus 2:14
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness

 and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession,

 zealous for good deeds.

Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law

 by becoming a curse for us. 

For it is written:

 “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Till Death Doth Part Is Not Word-art...

Mark 10:7-9

 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother

 and be united to his wife,

c 8and the two will become one flesh.’d 

So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9Therefore what God has joined together, 

let man not separate.”

For all who are married

 or thinking of marriage,

or thinking of ending a marriage,

something to consider/ponder...

What God has joined 💕💗

He will sustain

through ups and downs of love

'as long as both shall live' remain

He will His witness prove...

No, not our anniversary,

no, no wedding today

Just pondering the inescapable,

exhaustless common ground

 of love

Before any marriage fails

a friendship fails first.

May this year be filled with

refreshed and restored friendships!! 

🙏🙏🙏

God will not fail

all who humbly and sincerely

ask Him for help and wisdom.

Till death doth part is not word-art by signatures undone

Love's solemn vow does not somehow recant as time goes by

These words 'I do' are woven through God's hands; two become one

A covenanted knot, God-wrought, only death can untie 

Husband and Wife are thus, for life; marriage, a Mystery

Where what was two with this 'I do' is transformed into one 

And no rebate can separate the sacred filigree

As vows of love are sealed above, only by death undone 

For better-worse is not a curse but a glimpse of God's heart

To have and hold while dreams unfold much to learn and forgive

 And keep the vow no matter how many urge 'one' to part 

Airing 'just cause' as if this was mankind's prerogative 

We are not God; and too oft awed by what is not Enough

Like pride of life, or selfish strife or trusting mortal ken 

God's word is true; He helps us through the thick and thin of love

Till death doth part is not word art, but God with us. Amen 

© Janet Martin

Chariots of Fire

Ps.139:1-6

O LORD, You have searched me

and known me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

You understand my thoughts from afar.

3You search out my path and my lying down;

You are aware of all my ways.

4Even before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, O LORD.

5You hem me in behind and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Daylight rolled across the earth

like chariots of fire...

... before clouds obliterated the gold with gray

...but, gold or gray, the Giver of Today is The Same; good!

(Click linked lines for scripture passages)

How much more difficult appears the day

How darker with despair looms the unknown

How readily fresh courage slips away

When we forget that we are not alone

When we forget God's precious promises

'Lo, I am with you always, to the end

Take heart, I will not leave you comfortless

But send an Advocate to be your friend

To intercede with groans too deep for words

To lead you in the path of righteousness

And to the Higher Rock my goodness girds

I AM the LORD; your refuge and fortress

I am the Lord; the God of all mankind

Is anything too difficult for Me?

I hem you in from before and behind

Such knowledge is too wonderful for thee 

...too lofty to attain with mortal ken

Dear child of mine, let not dread's thought conspire

As I am with you now, I will be then

To fill the hills with chariots of fire

© Janet Martin

 Eric Liddell's story inspired the epic piece of music Chariots of Fire!

Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire

 

We, followers of God, are all in a race, not so dissimilar to Eric Liddell's;

called to stand for convictions founded in the Word of God,

no matter what the cost.

Dear Mariner of Time...

Happy, happy New Year!

As I was working on today's poem I replied to a Facebook comment

on the previous post...I am Thinking of you, my dear Lucy

And shared with my friend a half-awake-half-asleep dream.

The ambience of that 'dream' helped inspire today's poem!

By this 'dream' I was reminded afresh; 

God has inconceivable joys forevermore in store

for all who believe in Him, when we reach Yonder Shore!

In my 'dream' I suddenly had a 'picture/vision' of God smiling and whispering 

'if you could only imagine the joys I have in store for followers of Me!!'

 and I had this sense of blinding white-gold glory 

and absolute comfort and peace. 

Hard to describe. 

But it has cheered me immensely.

The Race of Faith

Heb.12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 2looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

So now into another year we sail...

Dear Mariner of Time, dread not the gale

For hope, through Jesus Christ, anchors the soul

And faith in Him assures us of the Goal

Without a doubt storms wait with shrieking blast

Without a doubt death's shadow will be cast

Without a doubt the sun also will shine

To warm and cheer us, Mariners of Time

The Voyage from the cradle to the grave

Is one each Mariner of Time must brave

Where Telescope of Sight and Logic strains

But cannot see what only faith attains 

Into another year we sail, ahoy

And wonder what will come, of grief and joy

Dear Mariner of Time, dread not the course

No fate can take vessels of faith by force 

The Captain of faith's fleet will never fail

And though He tests the rigging with the gale

Dear Mariner of Time, each Tempest Sore

Sweetens and keens faith's fervour for the Shore 

© Janet Martin

The Hatley Family...He Whispers Sweet Peace To Me