Faithfulness's Fitness/Litmus Test (or All For Christ)

Today's song and poem, a very personal challenge!!

Ps.130:1-4

Out of the depths

I cry to You, O LORD!

2O Lord, hear my voice;

let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

3If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities,

then who, O Lord, could stand?

4But with You there is forgiveness,

so that You may be feared.

I Surrender All

 

Invitation Medley-Anthem Lights

Oh, am I ready to be hated as I take a steadfast stand

When sinfulness is celebrated without fear for God’s command

Am I equipped with the Full Armor, (that without, none can endure)

Where an unscrupulous charmer tosses many a lovely lure

Am I prepared to be reviled, rejected, ridiculed, loathed, jeered

When discernment is unbeguiled, because God’s precepts are revered

Am I willing to be accused falsely, yet answer not a word

While I am spit upon, abused, will love suffer long, for my Lord

Am I careful to leave unspoken trendy, empty sentiment

And where my will is still unbroken, am I willing to be bent?

Am I devoted to God's calling for His glory, by His grace

Ready to face the Enthralling Exodus from Fleeting Chase 

Am I committed to take up the cross of Christ with heart and limb

Ready, no matter what the cost, self-sacrificed, to follow Him

Am I hungry for His kind favor rather than the world’s applause

And vigilant of my behaviour in accordance with His laws/cause

Am I longing to be to be like Him, challenged and misunderstood

Knowing, for all who truly love Him, God works out all things for good

Oh, am I ready to portray Him, with faith all but Jesus-blind

To humbly love and obey Him with all heart, soul, strength and mind

© Janet Martin

1 Cor.1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Eph.5:1-17

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, 

an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, 

let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 

4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, 

which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 

5 For [a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man,

 who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things

 the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Walk in Light

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. 

Walk as children of light 

9 (for the fruit of the [b]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 

10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,

 but rather [c]expose them. 

12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 

13 But all things that are [d]exposed are made manifest by the light,

 for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

Walk in Wisdom

15 See then that you walk [e]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is...

Let no One Deceive You...Part 1

 

Part 2

A Precious 'Pressing' Presence

'prayerfully pressing into His presence.' 

is the final phrase in today's Daily Bread Devotion.

Oh, what would we do without this refuge?! 

When all else fails, never God. 

No matter what may seem...

Ps.31:19

How great is Your goodness,

Which You have stored up for those who fear You,

Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,

Before the sons of men!

He gives sufficient grace where Unknown’s tempest rolls

He tests the treasures we embrace as we pour our souls

Goodness and mercy’s trove no trial can expend

Nor drain the storehouses of love no thought can comprehend

He teaches us to trust only as all else fails

He reaches through our rue of dust to hoist hope’s weathered sails

His promises endure to comfort mortal care

He keeps faith’s falt’ring bark secure as we press into prayer

…where God’s presence defends faith’s groaning cruciform

As peace, not of this world transcends the substance of the storm

Where no power on earth can begin to compare

To the inimitable worth of full surrender’s prayer

© Janet Martin

Beautiful post on Barnstorming Blog today about prayer!!

In Christ Alone

As We Face What Waits To Be...

 

After two funerals, one on Friday and one yesterday

it is impossible not to be impacted by the brevity and sacredness of life on earth.

For, even though both funerals were for elderly women who had outlived

'by reason of strength, four score years'...

the moment life ceases to be all that matters is how we prepared for eternity!

Here we all still are, where God tips the scales of mercy in our favour,

where the invitation to 'come' resounds, 

and where redemption for sin still flows full and free!

Heb.9:27-28

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, 

28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many;

 and He will appear a second time, 

not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

Are you among those 'who eagerly await Him 

because of His gift of salvation'?!

Jesus Paid It All

Daybreak tips God’s scales of mercy in our favour; faith ahoy

With the promise of his Presence we proceed with hope and joy

Armed with the awesome awareness of the power of His Word

Gladness rekindles commitment to our calling undeterred

Because no matter what happens as we face what waits to be

Nothing in the world can sever us from God and love's decree

As Time’s thread runs through His fingers and our numbered days decrease

May Hope’s finished work through Jesus fill our hearts with joy and peace

We who believe in Him receive so much to be thankful for

As the Hour is approaching that nobody should ignore

When the joy still set before us is unveiled and we shall see

He who tips morn’s scales of mercy and beckons ‘come unto Me’

Death demands life’s full attention ere it cuts time’s sacred cord

And it ushers us to reckon with the love we most adored

Pray before the hour ceases when repentance comes too late

We have put our trust in Jesus, who will greet us at death’s gate

Then, when like a little vapor time’s brief sojourn disappears

We who have believed will enter in to ‘no more pain or tears’

But for all who disregarded He whose love tips mercy’s scales

There remains the endless horror of rejection’s endless wails

© Janet Martin

There is a Fountain filled with Blood