Within or Without Hope's Happiness/Steadfastness

2 Cor.1:20

For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. 

And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

2 Peter 1:4

Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, 

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, 

now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Romans 4:21

...being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

God's promises and commands are non-negotiable! 

If either one were, then hope's anchor would be loosed!

Heb.6:18-19

Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, 

we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us 

may be strongly encouraged.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

In Christ Alone

So much of life seems hung/strung from threads of-if-perchance-perhaps

Its care and strife can crowd our heads with visions of collapse

The volatility of all we see needs something More

To anchor Hope, and make the call of life worth living for

So much of joy seems tried by grief and disappointment's sting

The thoughts that we employ are chief of almost everything

Praise God! His Portion is enough to trump the soul's appeal

We are not at the mercy of the roll of fortune's wheel 

So much of what leaves us most awed transcends Thought's grandest ken

For all the promises of God are 'yes' in Christ. Amen 

So then, above all else we ought to feed Thought with God's Word

His promises, Perfection-wrought will keep hope undeterred

So much of what we fix our eyes upon is bound to fail

Where touch and taste and such disguise the Prize that will prevail

Where worldly lures of 'happiness' disillusion hope, when

They disregard God's promises of 'yes' in Christ. Amen

So much of bitterness of heart is caused by Thought amiss

What/Who we most love serves to impart hope's Fountain or abyss 

Praise God! When creature-quest is founded/grounded within truth and grace 

Of 'yes' in Christ, the rest is bound to fall in perfect place 

So much of what appears goodness, without the knowledge of

The power of God's promises, disenchants hope and love 

Without the Rock of God's commands, what-if, perchance, perhaps

Erects a house upon time's sands, predestined for collapse 

There is no in-between the lines of divine Yes and No

Oft lack of humility pines where praise should overflow 

But, if hope seeks its steadfastness/happiness within God's commands, then

It stands firm on the promises of 'Yes, in Christ'. Amen 

 

Janet Martin

Ps.119:19&32

I am a stranger in the earth:

hide not Thy commandments from me...

I will run the course of Your commandments,

For You shall enlarge my heart.

or NIV trans.

I run in the path of your commands,

for you have broadened my understanding.

Standing on the Promises - Alan Jackson - Lyrics

Everyone is Welcome (in Mercy's Throne-room)

Recently a friend remarked to me,

' It seems, the older we grow the more we pray'

Yes! I replied, and it seems to me,

 the more we pray the less our words!

God knows our hearts 

so He knows exactly what we need

and exactly when we need it!

What peace this knowledge brings!

Sweet Hour of Prayer with Lyrics by Alan Jackson

No fancy phrase demanded

No verbose agility

No reserved rank or status

Or exclusive pedigree

No exam or diploma

Or prerequisites to meet

To cry to God in Heaven

Or to fall before His feet 

No interview or survey

Before we can qualify

To enter Mercy's Throne Room 

Through the door of creature cry 

No uniform required

No strict format to appease

To lift our heart to Heaven

As we pour out praise and pleas 

...and seek Hope's sacred solace

With surrendered heart and soul

Reaching to touch the hemline

Of the One who makes us whole

No pious prose is needed

Nor grand phraseology 

A groan is interceded

When cried in humility   

...and everyone is welcome

To believe and call on He

Who beyond comprehension

Ever cares for you and me 

Janet Martin

1 Pet.5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, 

so that in due time He may exalt you. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him, 

because He cares for you.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; 

He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

 Look at the birds of the air: 

They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not much more valuable than they? 

 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Psalm 116:1-2
I love the LORD, 

for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. 

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

 I will call on Him as long as I live.

Psalm 28:6
Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 

and His ears are inclined to their prayer. 

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Just As I Am with Lyrics by Alan Jackson

Fernando Ortega Pass Me Not With Lyrics

From a Garden-Lover's Point of View

The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,--

One is nearer God's heart in a garden 

Than anywhere else on earth.

From God's Garden by

Dorothy Frances Gurney

Gen.3:8

And they heard the sound of the Lord God 

walking in the garden in the cool of the day...

Time began in a garden; little wonder then that we

Feel closer to God's heartbeat in nature's tranquility

To witness the unfolding of a seed, to bud, to flow'r

Grants the sacred Beholding of God's majesty and pow'r 

What privilege to labour where the world's noise is subdued

By He whose lavish Favour fills our hearts with gratitude 

...and kindles genial ardour for the holy ground of soil

Beneath cloud-tumbled arbour we worship with sweat and toil

We find friendship in flowers and soft serenade of breeze

As we linger in bowers with birds, butterflies and bees 

Content with wonder driven from a plot of awesome worth

Gleaning glimpses of Heaven from the gardens of the earth

Where, though this is no Eden; (Adam's curse is ours to bear)

God still walks in the garden; oh, what joy to meet Him there 

Better than lust for leisure or the futile quest for Things

Is the unparalleled pleasure only a garden brings 

Janet Martin

of seed...

to bud...

...to flow'r! 

In The Garden- Alan Jackson

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Sometimes I'm Tempted To Suppose

Sometimes I’m tempted to suppose life lovelier without the rain...

A year ago today was also rainy, 

the day we huddled solemnly beneath umbrellas,

 around a freshly dug grave; the grave of Dear Lucy

while our tears and nature's tears mingled...

Sometimes I’m tempted to suppose the rose sweeter without its thorn...

Sometimes I’m tempted to suppose the rose sweeter without its thorn

Love better without loss or pricks, life kinder without ups and downs

Or battles between wrong and right, or tug-of-wars that leave us torn

Twixt Now and scenes perfected by what we forget of faded frowns

Sometimes I’m tempted to suppose life lovelier without the rain

Happiness fuller without pain of broken bodies, dreams and hearts

Or weariness from tolls of toil and pangs of till-we-meet-again

But then how would we recognize the prize of highs, life's low imparts

Without the hill how would we thrill at views while filled with speechless thanks

Would triumph be as sweet without the test of spirit, strength and limb?

Without the thorn would roses rise to calls reserved for rarer ranks

Without loss, push and shove, could love compose a truly noble hymn?

Sometimes I’m tempted to suppose Plan without interruption best

Hope choicer, without waiting for the timing/answer only God bestows

Easy Street more appealing than the twists and turns of bitter test

But then, without the thorns of life how would we recognize its rose?

Janet Martin

 

Alan Jackson - Sissy's Song lyrics

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, 

when you encounter trials of many kinds,

 3because you know that the testing of your faith

 develops perseverance.

 4Allow perseverance to finish its work,

 so that you may be mature and complete, 

not lacking anything.

Redemption-wrought Renewal

Surely all the suffering of sorrow, sickness, loss

would get the best of us without God's comfort through the cross

Praise Him; the best this life affords is free to one and all

Salvation through the sacrifice that saves us from The Fall

and breaks the curse of death and hell the hour we believe

renewing faith's hope day by day, through life yet to receive

John 3:16 (NKJV)

For God so loved the world 

that He gave His only begotten Son,

 that whoever believes in Him 

should not perish 

but have everlasting life.

2 Cor.4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Even though our outward man is perishing, 

yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 

 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 

is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 

 while we do not look at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen. 

For the things which are seen are temporary, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Renewed day by day

Where challenges we face

Would draw hope’s anchored joy away

Without God’s love and grace

Without His promises

To cheer our mortal clay

Without His perfect no and yes

To comfort as we pray

Without the confidence

Of Him, in full control

Without Calvary’s Providence

To save the deathless soul

...till the dark glass between

Faith and Sight melts away

The glory of what/Who is Unseen

Renews us day by day

© Janet Martin

Standing on the Promises of God

Because He Lives- David Crowder

Not a Once-and-Done Thing-Surrender

 

This poem was inspired in part by a conversation with a friend yesterday,

who has suffered some severe disappointments in the past few years 

and what appears to the naked eye, to be setbacks

resulting in trying physical and financial challenges!

But, I was so struck by the beauty of her spirit of surrender to God's will

as she spoke about joys she is discovering through her walk by faith, not sight.

Not easy by any stretch, but real! and a reminder for all of us

to yield and trust rather than fret and doubt!

On our own journeys (my own journey) of surrender,

 I pray, Oh Lord, for more

'trust with all my heart rather than leaning on my own understanding'!

Ah surrender, you are not once and done, but pray

with each surrender we demolish another stumbling block to full surrender!

Only Trust Him-Alan Jackson

The joy of surrender, oh, how can it be

Relinquishing want’s anxious hold

To trust in the Lord, where, though faith cannot see

It rests in the truths He has told

The peace of surrender, oh, how is it so

To yield amidst trouble’s travail

To the kind assurance God’s word will bestow

To know that He will never fail

The heart of surrender, oh, sweet, sweet release

To commit/submit to God’s perfect will

To find in the place of my pining, His peace

As storms of selfish struggle still

The bliss of surrender, unreserved and true

The beauty of bowing, undone

Allowing God’s Spirit to will and to do

The work He has barely begun

© Janet Martin

I remember my grandmother reminding me

'surrender is only a battle if we put up a fight'.

Utterly impacted; oh, that it could be

That the love of God would work

 love’s miracle in me!

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; 

trust in Him, and He will do it.

Prov.3:1-8

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments;

2for they will add length to your days,

years and peace to your life.

3Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regard

in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

7Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your bodyb

and refreshment to your bones.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms-Alan Jackson

Save Pray...

 

From those who mourn for loved ones called from this world to the next,

(So, so many) 

to those who have lost or not found The Way in this world

(so, so many)

sorrow-storms roll, and what can we do

where no one can restore loved ones departed,

 or force repentance, 

or faith in God 

or love for Him?!

 Ah, yes. We can pray!

(for faith and love's increase in all of us)

It's been a little while since I shared

one of my most beloved hymns

Sweet Hour of Prayer

(lyrics in above link)

Sweet Hour of Prayer

What we can do nothing about (save pray) we ought to then

Rather than shake our fists and shout and berate fellowmen

Rather than fret and forget who (when we pray) hears us plead

The first thing that we ought to do is trust God with our need

Prayer is more than religious sport or platitude-regale

More than a sorry last resort, when all our efforts fail

Prayer is faith’s tender fellowship, as man to God confides

Where through His Word God will equip us for what life betides

Sweet hour of prayer, God meets us there; He comforts and sustains

He bids us leave our burdens where surrender rends dark chains

He stretches out His arms and draws us close; Love never fails

His whisper calms the storm that was, as ‘peace, be still’ prevails

What we can do nothing about (save pray) ah, pray we would

Rather than yield to dismal doubt while God works for our good

God, who is rich in mercy hears the humble heart’s request

And through our dialogue of tears, He works for our best

God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love for us

While we were dead in sin, He made us alive through Jesus

Thus, now no matter what we face His kindness can afford

Exceeding riches of His grace through Jesus Christ, our Lord

What we can do nothing about (save pray) where evil lurks

We ought to then; faith without prayer is like faith without works

With meek and contrite attitude, then pray and do not cease

Until hope's cup of gratitude flows over with God’s peace

© Janet Martin

The past two Sunday morning messages 

were focused on one of my most beloved passages of Scripture;

 Ephesians 2

Many are the times I whisper the sweet treasure of the beginning of verse 4:

But God, who is rich in mercy,

because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in trespasses,

made us alive together with Christ

(by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 that in the ages to come He might show

the exceeding riches of His grace

in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Lent to Lose (in order to find)

On Sunday our message was from Matthew 16

 including the challenge in verse 25;

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,

but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

Oh, how easy it is to forget

Life is a gift, lent!

...a gift with sacred reckoning

on how it is spent

Only Trust Him-Alan Jackson

This poem is inspired in part,

by a family tragedy...

On Sunday night my nephew's 19 mo. old son went missing on their farm.

His body was recovered on Monday in a manure pump.

Please pray for strength and comfort

for my brother Stuart and their family and

esp. for my nephew and his wife, Charles and Andrea!

Sometimes the certainty of sorrow tries to steal the glow

And make us worry ‘bout tomorrow and what none can know

Sometimes senses of satisfaction lose approval’s nod

As love suffers the hard attraction that points man to God

Sometimes the trouble we are born to tests want’s willful way

Tempting man with doubt’s first question ‘did God really say?’

For we see only the pieces; the picture as a whole

Must wait until God’s will releases body from the soul

Sometimes people are prone to ponder Mercy’s Upper Hand

But we were born to trust and wonder, not to understand

Born to find strength in surrender, not in a fist we raise

Born to be a humble spender of numbered, gifted days

Sometimes our own idea of what should or should not be

Makes us rebel against replies of ‘be it unto me’

Sometimes sudden loss reminds us not to take for granted

What we soon will leave behind us, back to He who lent it

© Janet Martin

 

 

 

Universal Call/Cross

Wherever He Leads I'll Go

(can you whole-heartedly and honestly sing the hymn below without reserve?!)

Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite when I sing it.

I tend to get kinda stuck in My Ways😒

Taking up our cross and following...

Nothing speaks quite so powerfully as a person's choices.

When we watch someone lay all of their own personal desires

on the altar of daily sacrifice to wholly follow Him.

We have a young man with a young family who is about to start fulltime

service at our church after leaving a secure job to answer God's call.

Will you pray for him (Andreas) and his family in this leap  step of faith...

And while you do could you add another man (Gary) and his family to your prayers,

joining our church family in January.

The rebuilding at WBC, around the hole Ron left begins...

Matt. 16:24 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, 

let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Luke 9:23

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, 

let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

There is a universal call to all who love God’s Son 

Though He has paid the debt for sin the cost has just begun 

For all who follow in His steps must be willing to die 

To the desires of the flesh and their own will deny 

There is a cross not made of wood that we are called to take 

To do the things disciples should for their dear Master’s sake 

Not to adhere to high decrees some prominence to prove 

But to follow where His call leads with no motive/credit but love 

There is a thorough reckoning that someday will come due 

Where reply to His beckoning is more than verbal spew 

Whether we are courageous or remain somewhat aloof 

Our answer spills in pages we fill up with Living Proof 

There is a universal call to repent and believe 

And oh, how very beautiful is Faith’s Gift we receive 

Where, though Redemption’s price is paid and salvation is free 

The cost is still cross-shaped as we respond to ‘follow Me’ 

© Janet Martin 

Believe To Receive

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. 

Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Mark 5:34

Luke 18:42
"Receive your sight!" Jesus replied. "Your faith has healed you."

Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Luke 17:19

Luke 7:50
And Jesus told the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you."

 And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Matthew 9:29
Then He touched their eyes and said,

 "According to your faith will it be done to you."

Faith is unlike any other gift;

We have to believe before we can receive.

Often, in this world we believe when we see!

Not so with faith...

How can we get faith?

By getting to know the One in whom we place it.

How can we get to know Him?

Only one way; by getting into His Word and

acquainting ourselves with His loving promises.

This poem came out of my personal struggle with letting go

of anxiety and to put my trust wholly in God

(to let faith make me whole) 

When we believe

Then we receive

Faith cannot first behold

Trust must rely

On God’s reply

With courage brave and bold

Lord, God we pray

That come-what-may

Our faith will make us whole

When we believe

And then receive

The healing of the soul

Belief, my friend

Cannot pretend

Faith has no seen façade

But we receive

As we believe

The promises of God

Then pray we trust

And yield this dust

To He who knows all things

As we believe

We will receive

The perfect peace faith brings

When we believe

Then we receive

There is no other way

 But we will find

Sweet peace of mind

When we trust and obey

© Janet Martin

The artist below (David Wesley) is a nurse here in Ontario, Canada. 

Let's remember to pray without ceasing for 

healthcare workers all over the world!

Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. 

For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, 

and He also has become my salvation."

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace,  

Whose mind is stayed on You, 

Because he trusts in You.

Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.