Tip o' Faith's Hat to Teachers (aka troubles/trials)

My dad, recovering from surgery is well enough

to be transferred to a local hospital today! PtL!

Today's poem is a reflection on 'good teachers' we don't always recognize,

(in their under-appreciated disguises)

 and also inspired by a sentence in today's devotion

that really hit home in light of lessons our family

 is (hopefully) learning about the wonderful, sufficient grace of God!

We feel like we have been shown grace over grace!

Thank-you for your part in this grace

through your prayers, flowers, messages etc!

John 1:16

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

We should not, though they vex and test intentions, plans and preference

Expel the ‘teachers’ God deems best, to authorize epiphanies

Through lessons we would never choose to suffer through experience

That introduce us to the views of Dry-ground Paths through Parted Seas

We should not, but we oft fall prey to logic’s finite theory

Because God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways appoint purpose none can preempt

Where severe ‘teachers’ God assigns to educate humanity/humility

Seem ruthless as they prune the vines that else would grow wild and unkempt

We should not but we often fail to trust the ‘teachers’ God ordains

To show us, through trouble’s travail, a love by mercy justified

Of soul restored through comfort of the rod and staff His grace constrains

As He administers His love to counter fear and rebuke pride

We should not but oft fix our gaze on prizes we behold with eyes

Forgetful of how sight betrays confidence placed in what we see

God’s ‘teachers’ may seem harsh and rude; His goodness hard to recognize

While perfecting faith’s greater good, through thorough tests of misery

We should not cross bridges before we reach the chasm that they span

Nor reject lessons that restore the soul that else is prone to stray

Nor expel ‘teachers’ He anoints to save us from the ways of man

Though the drill stings and disappoints, behold the cross, trust and obey

Because each cross that God allows is always anchored in His grace

Each lesson the ‘teacher’ bestows is to prove love’s fidelity

With humbler gratitude, lest we become forgetful of our place

Unworthy beneficiary of the triumph of Calvary

Thus, we should not despair when we suffer and face trouble’s increase

But with thankful humility, recognize God’s redeeming love

Then trust the ‘teachers’ He deploys to draw us to His fount of peace

To cheer us with unrivaled joys that this old world knows nothing of

Janet Martin

Marvelous Grace (Grace Greater Than Our Sin)

Love's Loss... of Words

 Happy 25th, Victoria! 

Love; the epitome of joy and sorrow

Of holding and letting go.

Breakfast date with dear Dad...

Since Friday night my siblings and I have taken turns staying with dad (and mom)

 because mom was suddenly hospitalized to receive treatment for ITP etc. 

We are thankful she is being released, at least for today because

today my dad is having a surgery to get as much of a tumour removed

as the surgeons safely can, because the tumour is pressing on his brain

and causing swelling. Prayers are deeply valued.

Update!!The surgery went well!

thank-you everyone, for praying

and continued prayers for health, strength and healing!

Our family is also mourning with my niece J, 

(mentioned last week) and her family

On Monday J. gave birth to their premature daughter, Eleanor Alice Mae,

who went to be with Jesus before she was born.

Prayers for their peace and comfort also cherished!

Last night we celebrated our beautiful, kind, generous Victoria's birthday a day late,

and I was struck afresh at the precious tug of love's opposing tides

of joy and grief...and how nothing can leave us quite as speechless

as trying to express Love! 

Love leaves us at a loss for words, ink cannot cage in poetry

It overflows and undergirds the heart with awed humility

And fits us for its seconds miles that without love we could not bear

It testifies, with tears and smiles both joy and grief beyond compare

Love never fails, though oft we do, God grants his patient sympathies

And without measure runs life through with whole, new opportunities

To learn through stumble and regret to forgive and forget and then

By the example Jesus set to love one another. Amen

Love is the voice of tender care to cheer us where troubles abound

It is the hand that helps us bear the burdens of love’s holy ground

It is the ear that hears; the heart that weathers both pleasure and pain

And whether near or far apart love’s faithfulness and truth remain

…to fill the holes loss leaves in souls with love still left to give and take

To teach us, where fond farewell tolls, to savour what love’s moments make;

A picture books of memories we made in Bygone’s Now and Here

Reminding us to cherish these moments before they disappear

Love, the greatest wonder of all oft strips our lips of eloquence

While laughter lilts and teardrops fall with love’s exposing/opposing elements

For love both breaks and heals our hearts, both grueling grief and joyful laud

While oft love’s loss of words imparts a vivid, precious glimpse of God

Janet Martin

1 Cor.13:4-8

Love is patient, 

love is kind.

 It does 

not envy, 

it does 

not boast,

 it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

  Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 

It bears 

all things, 

believes 

all things, 

hopes 

all things, 

endures 

all things.

Love never fails.

Worthy (Wealth Evaluation)

We live in an age not so very much different as ages past...

of good intention juxtaposed with temptation

and 'being wise in our own eyes' 

and not always trembling at the consequence of disobedience/rebellion,

and its ripple effect...

In 1 Samuel 15

God rejected Saul as king after Saul rejected/disobeyed

the word of the LORD, though Saul repented,

the consequence of his disobedience could not be reversed!

1 Sam.15:20-23

And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, 

and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, 

and brought back Agag king of Amalek; 

I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 

21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, 

the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed,

to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

22 So Samuel said:

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of [d]witchcraft,

And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He also has rejected you from being king.”

Who do we listen to as we make countless choices every day?

Whose authority do we reflect/reject 

as we prove who we belong to; God or self?

Do we consider our choice worth the cost?!!

Andrew Peterson - Is He Worthy?

All who belong to the Father

Belong to the King of kings

Heirs and joint heirs of love’s Author

And the shares this Sonship brings

He is our regal provision/position

He is the Way, Truth and Life

Anchoring hope where derision

And opposition runs rife

His wealth defends faith's discourses

Inheritance beyond ken

Wellspring of unplumbed resources

Bids us draw and drink. Amen

What unfathomable stature

Instills mortal dust to dust

Partakers of divine nature

Escapees of evil's lust

Lord, lest leprosy of spirit

Some sinful longing sustains

Pray Lord, search the heart and try it

Lest a wicked way remains

God is love; love never forces

Anybody to believe

But the riches He endorses

Each yielded heart will receive

Satisfying the soul's hunger

With love's infinite supply 

Pity all who drift and wander

Disillusioned by the eye 

Unaffected by the Saviour

Unwilling to 'taste and see'

   Choosing death's selfish/sinful behaviour

Rather than bowing the knee

Worship is the revelation/elevation

Of who we most love and crave

Either the God of salvation

Or gods, powerless to save

Do we rejoice to assemble

With fellow-heirs, undeterred

By this world's off'rings, to tremble

At the power of God's Word

Are we part of faith's profession/procession

 Washed in the blood Jesus spilled

 Do we treasure faith's possession

Of God's promises fulfilled

 

Janet Martin

Rom.8:17

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, 

if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

1 Pet.4:12-13

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,

 as though some strange thing happened to you;

  13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings,

 that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

2 Pet.1:10-11

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, 

for if you do these things you will never stumble;

 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly

 into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ode To a Wall With a Window

A wall without a window is a wall

But a wall with a window is a view...

Regular visitors are very acquainted with the tree-views below, 😅💚

often captured in photos as day breaks or seasons or weather changes

or shadows fall...

Through windows we witness as it were, time's changing of the guards;

night yielding to morning,

season to season, 

but a wall with a window lets in light...

Through windows we watch snowflakes...

or pelting rain

A wall without a window is a wall

But a wall with a window is a view

Through windows we watch seasons rise and fall

Like ebb and flowing tides of hue on hue

A wall without a window is quite plain

But a wall with a window is like art

Framing our loved ones coming down the lane

Framing many-a scene that steals the heart

A wall without a window has no sill

On which to place a friendly flower pot

Or linger at, to watch creation spill

God’s handiwork, or keep an eye on tot

A wall without a window we walk by

Often without a second thought, it seems

But a wall with a window draws the eye

To drink the sky where mercy's mantra streams

A wall without a window is mundane

But a wall with a window lets in light

Through it we watch snowflakes or pelting rain

Or earth disappearing into the night   

A wall without a window stays the same

But a wall with a window never does

Each day grants fresh panoramas to frame

Of that which is, and never that which was

A wall without a window we adorn

With furniture and shelves, artwork and books

But a wall with a window full of morn

Awakens praise and second and third looks

A wall without a window we arrange

And rearrange to suit mood, style and thrill 

But a wall with a window's constant change

We never need to wonder how to fill 

A wall without a window shuts us in

But a wall with a window sets us free

To gaze and trace familiar scenes that win

Affection for four-season pageantry/poetry

Janet Martin

A wall without a window we adorn

With furniture and shelves, artwork and books...

But a wall with a window's constant change

We never need to wonder how to fill...

 

Sufficient Evidence or Veiled, Yet Sufficient

Here He is again with compassions that fail not and

mercy new every morning!! 

Lam.3:22-24

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Ps.145:17-18

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

and kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call out to Him in truth.

God continually grants fresh opportunity

to teach and reveal Himself to us through trust-lessons!

When crises comes pray we remember,

'The eternal God is y(our) refuge, 

And underneath are the (His) everlasting arms... Deut.33:27

At this point

I cannot divulge details in the prayer request I am sharing

but will you pray for my niece J today and the attending doctors

and her family?!!

Update; J is back home but continued prayers appreciated!

Creation declares and extols God’s glory and preeminence

We stand in awe as we behold veiled, yet sufficient evidence

While God replenishes hope’s cup of joy with divine sympathy

He who is perfect bears us up on arms we sense but cannot see

The troubles of this world abound; but cannot confound humble praise

The power of the cross is sound; without it we are castaways

The suffering that Christ foreknew and yet forsook His throne to bear

Death on a cross to save all who believe, is love beyond compare

Sufficient is the part we see to warrant steadfast trust in Him

Through each heartbreaking tragedy; through all we deem cruel and grim

He does not leave us comfortless; But through His Spirit and His Word

He manifests His faithfulness to keep faith’s courage undeterred

The LORD, righteous in all His ways sustains sufficient evidence

To counter doubt when loss dismays the dream with deep disappointments

Or when life’s dire strait alarms, and faith would faint as fears increase

Beneath, His everlasting arms; within, His hope and perfect peace

Janet Martin

What God Hath Promised (God Hath Not Promised Skies Always Blue)

  

Hope's Heaven-Splendoured Hues...

Today's poem was inspired in part by the C.S. Lewis quote below,

in part by the picture taken while I watched mercy's renewed/replenished fountain brim,

and in part by Psalm 24!

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, 

because it is not there. There is no such thing."

 C.S. Lewis.

The stomping ground of hopes and dreams is bathed in Heaven-splendored hues

From gleaming founts God’s goodness streams with mercies each morning renews...

Ps.24

The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof,a

the world and all who dwell therein.

2For He has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?

Who may stand in His holy place?

4He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idolb

or swear deceitfully.

5He will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from the God of his salvation.

6Such is the generation of those who seek Him,

who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.c

Selah

7Lift up your heads, O gates!

Be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of Glory may enter!

8Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, O gates!

Be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of Glory may enter!

10Who is He, this King of Glory?

The LORD of Hosts—

He is the King of Glory!

The stomping ground of hopes and dreams is bathed in Heaven-splendored hues

From gleaming founts God’s goodness streams with mercies each morning renews

Ah hope! the anchor of ‘amen’; the pleasure of both heart and soul

Like a wellspring of comfort when our dreams are dashed and sorrows roll

Hope’s hues are glorious and bright in spite backdrops dark with dread

Hope is a beacon of Soul-light; reason’s Reveille to lift the head

That else would droop beneath the weight of fear and disappointment’s heel

Hope swings ajar a starry Gate no foe can bar or woe can seal

Hope is impossible without true peace and happiness from God

The Tempter baits his snares with doubt while setting feasts on its façade

But hope, guarded by Faith’s sound shield is fitted to withstand his wiles

The substance of things unrevealed protects us from fruit that defiles

Lift up your heads, and do not grieve; the devil is no match for He

Who dwells within all who believe; whose Word is truth that sets us free

Whose Hope no traitor can destroy; whose saving faith will make us whole

Lift up your heads and shout for joy; hope is the anchor of the soul

Hope’s hues cheer us like spring’s first flow’rs delight the winter-weary sigh

Its armour equips and empow’rs us as we face faith’s battle-cry

Where evidence of things unseen establishes each stepping stone

In hues of gold and evergreen, hope blazes faith’s trail to God’s throne

Janet Martin

Also in part by yesterday's devotion re-read today...

It Is March...

 Happy, happy March!

It is March; let’s wander, thought-loose through the *thawing countryside

Where the brook is gushing, rushing beneath blushing eventide...

*(it is definitely NOT thawing yet, but it will!)

It is March; ah, soon dusk’s shadow-fall will sprawl on backdrops green...

Rather than hues of blue etched starkly on canvas of ice-glazed sheen...

It is March; three little words that kindle sunshine in our souls

On the air a sense of fragrant flower-imminence cajoles

Landscapes, still tucked tightly beneath sheaths of snowflake eiderdown

Somewhere spring stirs; furrows emerge, patterning white sweeps with brown

As stubbly fields mimic three-day growth on Old Man Winter’s chin

Hope waltzes with weightless slippers over hills and under skin

Where dreamlands brim with bright promise bud and bulb wait to fulfill

Ears are keened to catch the first robin-chirrup or killdeer-trill

It is March; ah, soon dusk’s shadow-fall will sprawl on backdrops green

Rather than blue hues etched starkly on canvas of ice-glazed sheen

Ah! we will weather its weather, whether warm-gold or cold-gray

For we know in March, an age-old tug-of-war is under way

Raindrops tap-tap on the window, snow and sleet rap at the door

Time enough will prove the victor; spring will always win the war

Daffodils will bob in breezes, gaining many a glad glance

Stiff gales will yield to sun-kisses; springtime’s annual romance

It is March; let’s wander, thought-loose through the thawing countryside

Where the brook is gushing, rushing beneath blushing eventide

Where the sugarbush is basking in brief popularity

As nature’s sweet-sweetest wonder drip-drips from the maple tree

While mouths water at the thought of syrup drizzled on pancakes

Donuts sizzling from the fryer, apple fritters, belly aches

While we marvel at the measure of pleasure each season grants

Good old days (in spite of progress) rekindles Bygone’s romance

It is March; and we are ready to shed parkas, mitts and hats

Ready for the warmer welcome of flipflops and lawn-chair chats

Ready for the friendly hello of tulip and buttercup

For the training and the scolding of muddy, mischievous pup

Ready for outdoor to-do-lists, armed with rakes, hoes, spades and seeds

Ready even for the never-ending task of tackling weeds

Ready for rosy complexions, courtesy of gardening

It is March and we are winter-weary and ready for spring

Janet Martin

It is March; and we are ready to shed parkas, mitts and hats

Ready for the warmer welcome of flipflops and lawn-chair chats...

Dear God, Forbid...

If these roses were nothing more than a

 two-to-three week-bloom's-worth

it would seem like a hefty price to pay for soon-fallen petals...

Every touchable and taste-able gift without love soon lies in waste! 

But with love, the knowledge and memory of The Gift

sustains a continuous joy! 

The humility of the cross, without love would be a mockery of God's goodness

but because He so loved us He saved us through The Gift of His Son to take our punishment

and pay sin's penalty once for all, 

purchasing the gift of salvation that we all may by faith receive,

sustaining a continuous joy 

from the moment it is given and received

throughout eternity!

Dear God, forbid we strive to secure faith's worth through our works,

but oh, dear God, forbid we fail to shine Your worth through our works

 so all who see may glorify Thee!

In Matt.5:16 Jesus commands us to...

Let your light so shine before men,

 that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

***

"It is not great faith, but true faith, that saves; 

and the salvation lies not in the faith, 

but in the Christ in whom faith trusts."

- Charles Spurgeon

***

Dear God, forbid that we should fail to praise You for Your faithfulness

As if Calvary’s sore travail was something trivial to ignore

And God forbid that we should cease to pray with great unworthiness

And gratitude to You, whose peace consoles and calms Fear’s lion-roar

Dear God, forbid that we invade Today equipped with nothing more

Than thirst for fortunes that will fade with final breath's solemn reveal

And God forbid we live enslaved to idol-worship You abhor

Heedless of holy scars engraved on hands that help and hold and heal

Dear God, forbid that we should count, rather than blessings, curse on curse

Dashing like beasts through mercy’s fount that each new morning manifests

And God forbid that we forget Who died for us, and thus we nurse

The injuries of wounded pride or disappointment's complex tests 

Dear God, forbid we never taste the bread and water of Enough

But lay life's precious lease to waste, like pigs, rolling in priceless pearls

And God forbid we never find Your wellspring of redeeming love

Wallowing in shackles and blind to Truth's lifeline, Your Word unfurls   

Dear God, forbid that we should wait until it is too late to call

On you, or humbly contemplate sin's pardon paid at Calvary

And God forbid man justifies, through sight and logic's wherewithal 

'a way that seems right' but denies Your Unrelenting Sovereignty 

Knowing, rather than sacrifice You desire obedience

Because of the unrivaled price You paid to achieve death’s defeat

Dear God, forbid we choose soul’s doom rather than its deliverance

Dear God, thank-you! Your empty tomb proclaims enough until we meet

Dear God, forbid we wave love's rose, but rue its thorn and curse its sting 

Unwilling to suffer love's blows or live beneath love's cross, content 

Not hungering and thirsting for your Word, nor crowning you as King

On our heart's throne because you bore sin's penalty and punishment 

Dear God, forbid we taste and see, but then let vanity take root

Forgetting how you set us free and the great things that you have done

Unlike the tree beside rife streams, through drought and heat, still bearing fruit 

Because the hope that faith esteems, is in You and in you alone

Janet Martin

This poem first began while pondering Samuel's warning to Israel

after he anointed their first king, Saul, after they pleaded with him

'for a king to judge them like other nations' 1 Sam.8:5

They wanted a king other than God! 

The conclusion of Samuel's warning in 1 Sam.12:20-25

struck a deeply convicting chord in my own heart (esp.v.24) 

20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; 

yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 

21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things 

which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 

22 For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake,

 because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me 

that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; 

but I will teach you the good and the right way. 

24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; 

for consider what great things He has done for you. 

25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

Take Time to be Holy

    

Like Morning Comes, And Spring...

It's the end of February...

and so we begin to look more expectantly for signs of spring,

like more warmer sunshine...

to tickle  icicles into merry melting! 

Like gardens emerging...

Like sunny-deck coffee breaks ...

Like morning comes and spring, so too

We know joy waits beyond grief's due

The crushed seed that falls to earth's tomb

Runs rife with life waiting to bloom

💗🌷💚🌷💛🌷💜

John 12:24

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat

 falls to the ground and dies,

 it remains only a single seed. 

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Ps.30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, 

His favor is for life;

 Weeping may endure for a night,

 But joy comes in the morning.

The night does not remain

Morning unveils yon hill

The sun breaks through after the rain

Spring follows winter’s chill

And wisdom, hard to earn

Is worth waits, fierce and hard

Rewarding all, willing to learn

With patience, battle-scarred

And though grief lets/lends the part

That love cannot elude

Joy returns and restores the heart

To gladder gratitude

For, though love suffers long

Morning is always near

Like a spring-after-winter-song

To plant the heart with cheer

Janet Martin

MORNING HAS BROKEN - Cat Stevens (Lyrics)