What Gladness This!!

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Ps.63:3

2 Cor.5: 14-15

14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:

that if One died for all, then all died;

15and He died for all, that those who live should live

no longer for themselves,

but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Today's poem is inspired in part

as I ponder the tragic futility of war, hatred and spite,

and partly as I contemplate this stunningly poignant poem

To a Siberian Woodsman by Wendell Berry

It is spring...

Birds sing...

Buds break...

Heaven breaths hope

 to a broken world

drenched with shed blood and tears

and heartache...

The love of God is greater than all hate since time began

Greater is He in us than all armies of earth unfurled

Evil torments the part we see, but what profit has man

If, for the price-tag of his soul he acquires the whole world

What comfort this; when confronted with heinous hate of man

The love of God is greater than all hate since time began

The love of God equips us to endure, with power from

The One who sinless, bore our sins; who made heaven and earth

Who, though falsely accused, like a sheep before shearers, dumb

He answered not a word but was obedient to death

Take heart, when hate wields wicked blows, with schemes, vile and impure

The everlasting love of God equips us to endure

The love of God compels us to love the unlovable

To turn the other cheek rather than return blow for blow

To be a vessel instilled with redemption’s miracle

Empowered by hope, joy and peace this world cannot bestow

Then when we face the brunt of hate, cruel and contemptible

The love of God compels us to love the unlovable

For once we too were dead in sin; foolish, enslaved, deceived

Before the loving kindness of God opened up our eyes

And we beheld His wounds we caused and we were deeply grieved

And then repented and believed in Christ who justifies

Thus, when we witness arrogance of hate, greed, spite and pride

The love of God makes possible love vast and deep and wide

The love of God makes possible, what otherwise would be

Impossible. Love is God's evidence none can descry

Incomprehensible, inexplicable Mystery

No one has seen and yet only a fool dares to deny 

What gladness this; no matter what hatred may desecrate

The love of God is greater and able to compensate 

Janet Martin

Rom.8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine

 or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For Your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”g

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

 through Him who loved us. 38

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor principalities, 

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

39neither height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God

 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Titus 3:1-8

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities,

 to be obedient and ready for every good work,

  2to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, 

showing full consideration to everyone.

3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, 

and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—

living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

  5He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, 

but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birtha and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

  6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 

7so that, having been justified by His grace, 

we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 

8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, 

so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. 

These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

'When unfaithful to His love we are readily seduced

by every temptation,

Without his love in our hearts we become

victims to other loves, 

which lead us into idolatry,

plunge us into hurtful lusts,

and poison the wells of our joy.

We must either be enthralled 

by the surpassing love of Jesus,

or we shall be fascinated by the world's deceits...'

Charles Spurgeon~ 

From the message My Restorer found HERE

Equipped to Endure...

It is wise and good as we wake, to yield to God our everything 

Then to put on His armour before we face what today will bring...

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake

Ps.23:1-3

I sense a collective groan from spring-hungry Ontarians this morning...

(unless you're a maple syrup producer!)

We are SO ready for green pastures!

so THIS is what was in yesterday's captivating clouds!

...and golden-dusk shadow-play

and green pastures and still waters!

It is not for the faint of heart to climb time’s winding flight of air

Not knowing what may try the part that smarts with holy groans of prayer

There is no certainty but this; the loving faithfulness of He

Whose promises span the abyss twixt Today and eternity

It is not for the faint of faith to brave daybreak’s virgin release

Not knowing what may try the grace whereby we find true joy and peace

But this we know; God keeps His word with love beyond perception’s ken

His Sovereignty is undeterred and works for our good. Amen

It is not for logic to judge God by façades of creature care

While the deceiver tries to budge hope’s anchor with doubt and despair

God’s Word abides; Truth does not shift like rolling waves or shadowed glade

Arise; embrace the gleaming gift of this new day the Lord has made

Arise and know it is for us He keeps His covenant of old

No need to fear or fret and fuss for He is in perfect control

His suit of armour is enough to equip us to stand and fight

For this we know; faith, hope and love pierce death’s darkness with life and light

It is not for the faint of heart to wonder where today's 'stair' leads

What peace to know God will impart the means to know faith's dues and needs 

Lord, give us ears to hear need's cries and eyes to see beyond Self's world 

Then find, to faith's humble surprise unspeakable treasure/wonder unfurled 

Janet Martin

Someday, by the grace of God we will look and marvel...

so THIS is what those clouds held/veiled! 

It's Not An Easy Road

“The Lord Is My Shepherd” | Sermon by Charles Spurgeon | Psalm 23:1

A sermon rich with reminders and challenges;

One quote esp. caught my ear since we are praying, trusting 

and waiting on the Master to provide a fulltime teaching pastor

 for our church/flock at WBC.

'When we look to the pastor but not to the Master,

the Master says, 'They are looking to the wrong person

so they shall get nothing.' But, when we look to the Master

He often supplies our needs through the pastor."

Simply, A Vessel

It seems the older we grow, the faster time flies!

How are we over halfway through October already?!

How are we nearing the end of another harvest season

that it seems we just planted not so very long ago?!

Gal.6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; 

for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

There is no getting around it;

whether we plant conscientiously,

carelessly, or with carefully-crafted cunning,

cover/bury deeply the seed/deeds we strew/do

we reap what we sow! 

We have all at one time or another sown seeds we later regretted,

and we would surely lose heart as we reflect on those seeds

 but for this:

2 Cor.7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance 

leading to salvation, not to be regretted;

 but the sorrow of the world produces death.

In the spring I planted a perennial mum from my mom's perennial garden.

Its flourishing autumn beauty is such a pleasure to behold!

When good seeds are planted then good fruit and flowers follow!

Sometimes what we plant in the spring of our lives doesn't bloom until the autumn...

Oh, pray it is more than wild oats we've sown!

***

We are, in a sense all vessels through which seeds pour...

2 Tim2: 20-21

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, 

but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 

 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, 

he will be a vessel for honor,

 [h]sanctified and useful for the Master, 

prepared for every good work. 

Yesterday I harvested the last of my garden produce...

Not all harvests are as quickly cultivated and collected 

as that of the garden variety! but, 

Gal.6:9

Let us not grow weary while doing good, 

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

God does not require a crowd to fulfill Purpose true 

But simply a vessel, unproud, willing to be poured through

Each legacy of faith begins with self-surrendered 'yes' 

As we repent of our sins and and turn from worldliness/carelessness

To walk by faith or run its race with endurance does not

Depend upon athletic pace or skill, but trust in God  

To trust God is to trust his Word; to trust is to obey

To keep His precepts, undeterred by all who turn away

How sweet to hone hope's happiness, not in fleeting delights

But in God's steadfast promises where faith fixes its sights 

How holy is time's ebb and flow unfolding Now to Then

How surely we reap what we sow; God is not mocked. Amen 

...nor does He require a crowd, His purpose to fulfill 

But simply a vessel, endowed with faith's surrendered will   

Janet Martin

'Very much of our future life will depend upon our earliest days',

said preacher Charles Spurgeon on January 15, 1893,

then quoted Mr. Ruskins, not quite verbatim,

' people often say we excuse the thoughtlessness of youth,

but he says no, it never ought to be excused.

I'd far rather hear of thoughtless old age when a man has done his work,

but what excuse can be found for a thoughtless youth?

The time for thought is at the beginning of life

and there is no period which so much demands

or so much necessitates thoughtfulness as our early days...

I would that all young men would think so.

They say that they must sow their wild oats.

No! No, my dear young friend.

 Think before you sow such seed as that,

 what the reaping will be.

See if there is not better corn to be found 

than wild oats and sow that,

then think how you will sow it 

and when you will sow it

for if you do not think about the sowing,

what will the harvest be? '

Emmanuel (What more do we need?)

Matthew 1:23

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, 

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, 

 being interpreted is, God with us.

Emmanuel-God with Us

O Come, Emmanuel-Simon Khorolskiy 

God with us since the beginning; God with us; His Word unfurled

Like hope’s harbor in this sinning, struggle-stricken, broken world

God with us, His omni-presence no army can overthrow

His Word in our hearts, the essence of peace only faith can know

God with us down through the ages; grace and truth to set us free

Manifesting sacred pages; He Who Was, IS and Will Be

God with us in joy and sorrow never to leave or forsake

Yesterday, today, tomorrow His Word will not change or shake

God with us, ah, precious promise, who can fully comprehend

The wonder of Jesus; glorious, infinite and without end

God with us, eternal power, demons tremble when we pray

 Oh, the height and depth of our confidence through mercy's Stay

God with us amidst a heathen disregard and deadly jeer

In and through His Word faith meets/seeks Him to comfort and commandeer

God with us, Unseen, yet faithful Father, Counsellor, and Friend

He helps us to help each other to be faithful to the end

God with us, sweet consolation no matter what may beset

God with us, mankind’s salvation oh, may we never forget

Holy, holy hallelujah! Come, let us praise and adore

He who is Love, Truth, Jehovah! God with us forevermore

© Janet Martin

Emmanuel, God With Us- Charles Spurgeon

Sometimes, In This Present Culture

Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him-

-the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and strength,

the Spirit of knowledge

and fear of the LORD.

(this verse below fills my heart and prayers these day...)

Ephesians 1:17-19

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit ^f of wisdom and revelation,

 so that you may know him better. 

18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened 

in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, 

the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 

19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

If we want something to grow we feed it.

What is fed will grow...

Spiritual growth or the hunger for spiritual blessing

happens as we feed on 'spiritual bread'!

John 6:35

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. 

Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, 

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Sometimes in this present culture

We could fall prey to despair

Where evil is like a vulture

And people don't seem to care

Or fall before God in prayer

Present culture's satisfaction

Fosters lies and unbelief

 Numbed by cyberspace-distraction

The god of opinion, chief

Dumb to God in heaven's grief 

Seems as if Spiritual Blessing

Is a treasure few esteem

Focused rather on possessing

Fortunes, fickle as a dream

While eternal riches stream

Seems as if mankind's redemption

 Purchased through God's only Son

Is the bull's eye of rejection

Though He died for everyone

Though He cried 'Thy will be done'

...to bring many sons to glory!

To lay down hope's solid rock

Seems as if God's Great Love story

Has become a laughing stock

Culture hails the stumbling block 

Fearless in the face of Mercy

Fearless, though death and hell wait

Scorning Christ with jeers and curses

Or with doubt's fruitless debate

Fearless in their dire state/strait

Blinded by the tempter's logic

Lured by sight's defeated stride

Seems this present culture's rock is

But the shifting sands of pride

Or the boast of God denied

Seems as if Spiritual Blessing

Is an odd and foreign phrase

Not a treasure worth confessing

And pursuing all our days

By denying self-bent ways  

Seems as if the fickle aweing 

Of excess, not sacrifice

Veils the subtle serpent drawing

The attention from the price

With enticements, 'fun' and 'nice'

Seems as if this present culture

Does not grasp the sacred Thence

Of heaven or hell, of judgement 

And the certain recompense 

Of the soul's inheritance

Seems as if 'riches in glory'

Falls on head-phone deafened ears

And the grace of God's love story

Is met with hate's bold-faced sneers 

Or Indifference-Veneers

As if the best we inherit

Is Something gold-silver-pearled

And as if life's Crowning Merit

Is This Fleeting Warp unfurled

Not riches beyond this world

Sometimes, in this present culture

Love weeps beneath faith's scorned cross

Hell's lord is a gilded vulture

Heaven's God tests us with loss

 And prayer's groaning albatross

God, open Faith's eyes within us

Tune us to truth's cunning foes

You are not slack in Your promise

Of wealth time cannot disclose

Of inheritance You chose

© Janet Martin

Psalm 47:4
He chooses our inheritance for us, 

the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. 

Selah

1 Pet.1:3-5

A Heavenly Inheritance

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4to an inheritance [b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, 

reserved in heaven for you,

  5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation 

ready to be revealed in the last time.

***

We only progress in sound living

as we progress in sound understanding

Charles Spurgeon~

***

Surviving our Present Culture

 

...and if after you listen to the first message you are hungry for more...

Satan's Strategy to Defeat Us – Dr. Charles Stanley

Rock-solid Build/ Race Route

I really enjoy the show Rock Solid Builds on HGTV.

This post however is about a different kind of Rock-solid build!

One of my favorite top ten things in the world is a baptism service.

Listening to testimonies of faith and witnessing the outward sign of an inward change

from the old man to the new rouses in me Joy Unspeakable and Sacred Sympathy.

Joy for the choice by the believer to receive the gift of salvation

and sympathy because the deceiver does not depart when someone takes this step of faith

but rather seems to amass its forces against the child of God, as he or she endeavors to

'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ' 

2 Pet.3:18

(This is the same Peter from Matt.16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my church;

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.)

Growth; we cannot hurry it!

We can make wise choices so as not to hinder it but growth takes time!

Whether plant or child, whether physical or spiritual.

But until full maturity, growth is essential to reach the subject's full potential!

It takes time to grow a sprout to a tree/ sainthood..

...above, as attractive and tender as bindweed's first tendrils may appear

it is full of deadly evil!

On Saturday I once again tackled its tenacity

which has invaded my front flower garden, winding its visible tendrils

around anything it can bind. Left unattended it would dominate 

and terribly hinder healthy growth.

(below; network of roots)

A network of roots running deep below the surface makes it nearly

impossible to completely obliterate the pesky weed, 

but I noticed something as I pulled

at rocks to chase down the rampant roots. 

The weed could climb around and between but never penetrate the rocks!

What a parable as we battle the tendrils of temptation

and seek safety from deadly vices!

They cannot penetrate the Rock!

If we build our house on the Rock,

and embrace the cornerstone which is Christ

sin cannot prevail!

It is when we look away or step/slip from the Rock that we

become enticed and entangled...

Let's build and run on a rock-solid route!

Yesterday at the baptism service one of the young converts

received this verse as a memento of encouragement... 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice

 is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matt.7:24

This devotion from a few days ago also deals with the 'battle'

we encounter as we strive to live for Christ...

(full page below)

Temptation’s tendrils entice first and then entangle, oh

None can afford to wander from the grace whereby we grow

To grow in grace and knowledge of the truth requires grit

And diligent persistence by faith, to accomplish it

The gift of grace begins a race that we are called to run

For the redemption of our souls cost God His only Son

Thus, we are called to throw off all that would entangle us

Eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of faith; Jesus

This is no game, when we lay claim to salvation’s free gift

Without the steadfast anchor of God’s Word, soon we will drift

Without the armor of the Lord none are equipped fitly

To withstand the beguiling wiles of sin’s artillery

Upon the solid Rock of Christ alone we are secure

Do not despair; but pour to prayer the hunger to endure

For the joy set before us let us run and not grow faint

Temptation’s schemes cannot uproot the Rock-established saint

© Janet Martin

 

I looked up the stanza by Charles Wesley quoted above!

A beautiful hymn I had never heard before.

Soldiers of Christ, Arise

Of Heaven-Realities on Earth

2 Cor.7:1

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends,

let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,

perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Our Position and Our Purpose! - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

(A few thoughts snared from the message above...

Let us purify ourselves from anything that contaminates body and spirit

If God lives in us let us make our house clean for such a pure God

The sins of the spirit are the mothers to sins of the flesh…

I can imagine a room in your house being perfectly clean 

but I cannot imagine that room staying perfectly clean 

unless the process by which it was first cleansed is repeated.

 Whether a room is in constant use or closed up

 it requires regular sweeping and dusting to stay perfectly clean!

Heaven's first realities for the true Christian, begins on earth! Hallelujah!

He loves us with a Father’s love

And guides us with a Father’s care

Protects and watches over us

He fellowships with us in prayer

And as we pour out hearts to Him

He pours His heart to you and I

His Word a lamp that will not dim

His gift, a life that cannot die

Forgive us when we do not prize

Faith’s privileges like we should

And shift the hunger of our sighs

To things of clay and stone and wood

May our earthly quests revere

Love’s heavenly realities

May we reflect and hold most dear

The honour of such dignities

…as being called children of God

Thus heirs of Him and his dear Son

Forbid, all we give is a nod

For the assurances of Heaven

Where not with laws of fear, but love

He pours His promises divine

Mercies. Indwelling, Communion.

His covenants are thine and mine

Pray God’s redemptive absolutes

Through His divine deliverance

Produces salvation’s first-fruits

Gratitude and obedience

Pray as we seek to purify

Ourselves, we make our temple such

As befits faith's humble reply

To God, who loves us all so much

© Janet Martin

 

The Key to Finding Happiness

“It is not how much we have,

but how much we enjoy,

that makes happiness.”

— Charles Spurgeon

This little gal finds happiness

in mixing and stirring

(oh, if only you could hear the pleasant chatter!)

I enjoy small blips of quietness and tidiness

amidst the mess and mayhem of memories😊💗

(Some people spring and fall clean.

I tend to winter-clean and reorganize 

because outdoor work is on pause!)

Rolling-pin-collection dusting is complete...

Why a rolling pin collection?!!

I have no idea other than once I started, I was amazed at

how many colours, shapes and sizes they come in...a bit like people😅

 

This life runs rife with choice and chance

That makes us pray or fuss/cuss

How we reply to circumstance

Is always up to us

This life runs rife with want and need

Awaiting our reply

Where common font of word and deed

Is up to you and I

This life runs rife with ups and downs

Beyond our control

A smorgasbord of smiles and frowns

To rankle and console

This life runs rife with so much care

Where all we have is lent

A feast to favor faith’s welfare

Is always God’s intent

This life runs rife with more or less

Of yes and no combined

The precious key to happiness

Is up to us to find

© Janet Martin

I am also enjoying some

Spurgeon , thanks to Christmas gifts!

Prov.3:13-18 KJV

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, 

and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, 

and the gain thereof than fine gold

15 She is more precious than rubies: 

and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her

16 Length of days is in her right hand;

 and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: 

and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Heart-sick

From The Dying Thief- Charles H. Spurgeon

The fact is, there is nothing so good but men can pervert it into evil, if they have evil hearts: 

the justice of God is made a motive for despair, and his mercy an argument for sin. 

Wicked men will drown themselves in the rivers of truth as readily as in the pools of error. 

He that has a mind to destroy himself can choke his soul with the Bread of life, 

or dash himself in pieces against the Rock of ages. 

There is no doctrine of the grace of God so gracious 

that graceless men may not turn it into licentiousness.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul - The Living Stones Quartet

Sometimes the heart gets sick

The evils of this world

Can cruelly cut us to the quick

So shamelessly unfurled

Debauchery and greed

Pay no heed to the cost

But dark and dangerously feed

On lost leading the lost

The troubles that we face

Would crush and overthrow

But for the fountain of God’s grace

That washes white as snow

Beware of the soul’s foe

The craft of finite pow’r

Who seeks while roaming to and fro

All who he can devour

Dear soul, be on thy guard

Take up thy Spirit-sword

Lest, by a lie you should discard

The armour of the Lord

Lest, by sin’s sleight of hand

We lose sight of the Prize

Without God’s armour, who can stand

Against satan’s disguise

Sometimes, the heart is sick

Of evil’s hellish sway

Oh God, when life cuts to the quick

Hear the tears that we pray

...and let Belief's increase

Be more than idle talk

Lest faith is shattered piece by piece

Against the Solid Rock

© Janet Martin

Psalm 62:1-2

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.