Happy Labor Day Rest

Harvest season; the most wonderful, wearying time of the year!

Aren't you so thankful for God's design/example/command?!

Six days labor, 7th day rest!

Ex.20:8

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Isa.58:13-14

Observance of the Lord’s Sabbath quickly becomes obsolete

if it does not spring from the sense of sanctity

generated and nourished by the fact 

that God set apart this day for our good.

It’s not irksome.

It is not a punishment.

It’s a phenomenal liberating privilege.

(one quote from messages below)

Holy Day or Holiday! (Part 1 of 4)

Holy Day or Holiday (part 2 of 4)

Holy Day or Holiday (part 3 of 4)

Holy Day or Holiday (part 4 of 4)

I began to save profound thoughts from the above messages;

below are a few more but there are too many to keep up with so

I just re-listen to the messages

 to be reminded, rebuked, re-challenged and recommitted!

The recognition of the distinction of the day

is indispensable to its observance.

The rest which God has ordained is a rest from labor and a rest to Him.

The Day of Rest is a day which has a positive dimension and focus

towards the Lord, our God.

It is not simply kept from our every day routine

but it is kept for the Lord.

It is a rest of another kind of activity.

We rest from the ordinary activity of the other six days.

Why?!

Because we might be released into the worship and contemplation 

of the glory of God!! That's why!!!

...so, the principle stated is such that we might enjoy

the privilege of God's presence,

the study of God's Word,

the fellowship of God's people

uninterrupted by both employment and leisure,

which draws from us a devotion to Christ

in a singular way...

Thy delight Lord, who can measure

What kind goodness for man’s best

Is the wise and wondrous treasure

Of Thy ordained Sabbath rest

Reprieve from workaday stresses

Rest from toil to honor Thee

To worship the One who blesses

All who seek You truthfully

Six days for mankind to labor

Six days for mortal employ

One day set apart with favor

To laud the believer’s joy

..with attentions undivided

With hearts wholly fixed on Thee

To reflect and be reminded

Of Thy love at Calvary

What a gladdest invitation

To go to Thy house, oh Lord

To celebrate the salvation

That no labor could afford

Thou, oh God of all creation

Didst found the fourth command first

One day for rest’s consecration

Even before man was cursed

What a sweet and sacred priv’lege

After six work days are through

One day to pay humble homage

To One God, faithful and true

What relief Sabbath releases

As we worship and applaud

Thy name above all names, Jesus

With the family of God

What unparalleled refreshment

As we listen to Thy Voice

As Devotion's fond commitment

Rests from labor to rejoice

© Janet Martin

Heb.10:19-25

Therefore, brethren, having boldness[a] to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 

20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, 

having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience 

and our bodies washed with pure water. 

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, 

for He who promised is faithful. 

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another,

 and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Death's Grave Inevitable

 

2 Cor.5:9-10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent,

to be well pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

that each one may receive the things done in the body,

according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Death and Dying-Alistair Begg

Death can spring like a hidden trap; eternity unfurled

Without warning; light or darkness the soul’s forever-world

No in-between; one of two destinies, Heaven or hell

Waits at the Gates of Final Breath’s Grave Inevitable

Where we will all appear before the judgement seat of Christ

To receive just reward for deeds just as He has promised

Where time will roll up like a scroll, when God at last is seen

As Death’s Grave Inevitable rends the frail veil between

So, pray that we aspire to please Him, first and foremost

To make the God of our salvation our utter boast

Because He loves us so and has conquered Death so that we

At its Grave Inevitable will taste its victory

Death can spring like a hidden trap; eternity unfurled

Without warning it flings ajar the soul’s forever-world

Today we choose one of two destinies; Heaven or hell

Waits at the Gates of Final Breath’s Grave Inevitable

© Janet Martin

On Conquering Futility

If we as gardeners only focus on what isn't growing or blooming

the way we had hoped or planned for,

we would miss what is!

So too in the garden of Life!

It's been years since I've grown snow-on-the-mountain flowers

and it's the first time for larkspur, 

(which could be why I am sharing SO many larkspur-shots)😅

 thanks to some seeds given to me

last Christmas from one of my gardener-friends.

I am delighting in their splendor! 

however, I thought the larkspur would be taller than the snow-on-the-mountain 

so the tiered flower-garden isn't quite what I had pictured,

but we enjoy what grew rather than what didn't...

like the straw-flower seeds I planted behind the marigold.

This sunflower below, as it grew larger began to obstruct the passage and the view in the arbor...

so I snipped it off for a centerpiece!

Here's to each of us to making the most of Today's 'garden'.!

Futile to wallow in regret

That no thought can undo

Better to focus on the Yet

Now runs its fingers through

Futile to pine for what once was

Leave Bygone on its shelf

And focus on what Is because

No day repeats itself

Futile to wish for what is not

With longing and lament

Better to give the best we’ve got

Before Today is spent

Futile to waste away in want

Better to kneel in prayer

And ask God to vanquish the taunt

Of defeat and despair

Futile to bear yesterday’s loss

Or surf Past’s frozen tide

Better to take up today’s cross

And trust God to provide

© Janet Martin

“‎"The best of men are just men at best.― Alistair Begg

Jesus-Always, Only

Believer's Mandate

Sunday sermons aren't just for Sundays, are they?!!

Love is so much easier said than done, isn't it?!

Just a few thoughts after attending a beautiful wedding yesterday

and listening to a few inspired messages this morning!

This poem, by inserting the words 'ought to' between the words

 'we' and 'live'

may make it more relevant😅🙏

Love is a lifetime commitment on so many levels

in so many ways, to so many people

and above all to/through He who IS love

More Love to Thee-Fernando Ortega 

We live, not just to earn our daily bread and meat to eat

We live to learn better how to wash one another’s feet

We live to give because of what we have freely received

God’s gift of grace from the first moment we truly believed

We live to love God first then fellowman; all else is sin

We live to prove the righteousness and love of God within

We live to mirror Christ’s example of humility

Where pray, nothing is dearer than the truth that sets us free

We live to serve, not to be served, stirred by meek reverence

For He who loved us first and died for death’s deliverance

Then pray when temptation torments and cunning ploys compete

That love’s willing obedience will make our joy complete

For God so loved the world He gave His Son to pay sin’s debt

Once, and for all He overthrew the grave and conquered death

God is not mocked; if we confessed our sin and have believed

We ought to live to give because we have freely received

© Janet Martin

Due to laryngitis and a cough I decided it would be better

to worship from home this Sunday morning,

Links to a few sermons which

  partly inspired this poem!

Do Not Give The Devil a Foothold- Alistair Begg 

July 3rd Message at WBC

Thankfulness and Praise

1 Pet.1:17-19

And if you call on the Father,

who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, 

conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [e]stay here in fear;

 knowing that you were not redeemed with [f]corruptible things, like silver or gold, 

from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

 but with the precious blood of Christ,...

Imagine if every Sunday morning the minister would,

with trembling hands open a letter of encouragement

such as Peter wrote to remind the early church,

the first Christians facing opposition and persecution,

of the believer's living hope, so they/we would

'rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you

 at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 'v.13

Oh joy, we have that letter not only for Sunday morning but every single day!

v.20-21

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, 

but was [g]manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, 

who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, 

so that your faith and hope are in God.

Then as we think on these things 

may our lives overflow with humble thankfulness and praise!

When Joseph was thrown into prison after Potiphar's lie

he did not seek to vindicate himself but trusted God and served Him, even in prison!

'because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.'

Gen.39:23

Lord, help us strive to live our days in such a humble, trusting way...

As this morning's much needed rain is a plant's 'living hope'

so is God's Word/truth to the one who puts their trust in Him!

Lord, help us strive to live our days

With hearts of thankfulness and praise

Remind us of faith’s recompense

A heavenly inheritance

Lord, make the motive of life’s call

To glorify You above all

Lord, in the dark thick of the fight

Help us to be a shining light

Lord, let the kindness of Your grace

Equip, encourage and embrace

Let holy conduct testify

Of the hope on which we rely

Lord, lest some deadly vice creep in

Convict us of each subtle sin

Lord, then as we discern Your ways

Fill us thankfulness and praise

Amaze us with the end that tolls

With the salvation of our souls

Bought, not with world-wealth sacrificed

But with the precious blood of Christ

Lord, keep us from spite's ready snare

Stir in us Gethsemane's prayer

Then, help us strive to live our days

With hearts of thankfulness and praise

Forever and Always,

Amen

© Janet Martin

Matt.5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

 that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Father, what we know not

Teach us

What we have not

Give us

What we are not

Make us,

For Your Son's sake,

amen

(excerpt from message below)

Another excerpt: sometimes a bad thing happens for a good reason!

(Listen around and after the 30 min. mark for very vital, somber, relevant caution!)

The Need for Prayer

Do you love your pastor/s?

Do you pray for them so their

preaching may be the gathered result of our prayers?!!

Does a Sunday morning sermon bring fruit of 'their labour' or 'our labour'

as fellow-labourers for our Lord!?

Of Love's Royal Priesthood

Why this post?

Because preaching doesn't just happen behind a pulpit

and because the Platinum Jubilee and all its celebrations

got me to pondering royalty and priesthoods...

(watching/listening to the trumpets play in honor of Her majesty, the Queen

for her years of faithful service

literally covers me with goosebumps

and evokes thrills because this celebration is a

miniscule/pale glimpse of

what honoring the King of kings and Lord of lords will be)

I didn't realize until partway through this message/session that it

was an exhortation of encouragement to church leaders.

However, I continued listening to the end because its exhortations were encouraging

to the 'sheep' as well as the shepherd...

Hanging On When You Feel Like Giving Up

But you are a chosen generation, 

a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him

 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Pet.2:9

Serve well the God who is I AM

With heart and hand applaud

Not to seek accolades of man

But to glorify God

Serve well the God of humankind

We, in his image made

Are glimpses of He who designed

Us, and our pardon paid

Serve well the God who gave his Son

Whose sacrifice sufficed

To save and teach us to become

Imitators of Christ

Serve well the God who will supply

Our need; He knows it well

And made a Way that none need die

And be cast into hell

Serve well the God that numbers days

And lends the lease thereof

The God whose mysterious ways

Are always filled with love

Serve well the God who giveth life

Who keeps in perfect peace

The mind that guards against the strife

That hinders love’s increase

Serve well the God whose mercy tries

Whose grace and truth abides

As faith presses toward the prize

That God alone provides

Serve well the God, the King of kings

He who is just and good

Calls us to share the sufferings

Of love’s Royal Priesthood

Serve well thy God and fellowman

With renewed courage run

For what thought can be sweeter than 

To hear Him say 'well done'

© Janet Martin