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!?

Pondering Paupers (of Spiritual blessing)

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

 who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”

(Eph. 1:3).

When we ignore His divine power, who gives us everything we need to

live a godly life it is no small wonder we stumble...

  3as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

 through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

2 Peter 2:3

If we do not stand tall in times of peace

defending our faith,

how will we stand strong in times of persecution?!

For if they do these things in the green wood,
what will be done in the dry?”
Luke 23:31

If we, professing believers, do not with utter care weigh each action,

whether it is a stepping stone or a stumbling block to spiritual blessing

what is Godliness?

The new creation ought not resemble the old

in desires, in habits and in fruit.

When it does it, pray we take it before our holy, righteous, loving heavenly Father,

confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9)

Pray we covet the spiritual blessing that only devotion to God's commands can bring.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new.

2 Cor. 5:17

Imagine if we coveted spiritual blessing like we do the material?

Everything We Need

To be robbed of spiritual blessing

Is life’s greatest loss of all

To cower and never be hated

For the sake of standing tall

...so, lest sin subtly entangles

And hinders us in the race

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus

And boldly defend His grace

Lest we forfeit sacred riches

Lest we hinder pleading prayers

Lest we trod the name of Jesus

Beneath our feet unawares

Lest we cause another to stumble

Lest we choose depravity

And then, robbed of spiritual blessing

Become a fruitless tree

 © Janet Martin  

Eph.1:18

I 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,

The Wonder of Enough (or Monday Morning Mantra)

Love's mandates are timeless

As we cry out in our hearts 'what can we do?!'

as we lift up brokenness after brokenness to God in prayer

His reply is now as it was then;

Love one another...

John 15:12

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, 

just as I have loved you.

John 14:15

“If you love me, keep my commands.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brethren;

only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love

 

His love poured through us is Enough

Enough to equip us 

for the fight

Enough to convict, forgive, 

to be kind, to be Light

Enough to fulfill

His will, so we pray 

For His love to instill

until we obey

...and love one another

the way we ought

and love one another

the Way He taught

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Lord, help love be sincere

And help us take to heart

The wonder of Thy love so dear

While the world falls apart

Because it does not know

The Truth that sets us free

The joy that sets the heart aglow

Amidst calamity

Where grace in rich supply

True repentance redeems

Where, morn to morn, mercy’s reply

With renewed favor/fervor streams

Where hope does not bring shame

But anchors blood-bought souls

In the salvation through Thy name

While time’s progression rolls

Toward eternity

When Time will be no more

Where faith will taste the victory

That now we hunger for

When the glass of the law

Dissolves, when face to face

We gaze, with undistracted awe

On Thee, Author of grace

Unhindered then, by cares

When prayerful pleadings cease

When love its final burden bears

When all is life and peace

When grief its dagger drops

When swords to plowshares beat

When from valleys and mountaintops

Worship’s anthems repeat

When everlasting Day

Earth’s shackles will undo

When former things are passed away

And all will be made new

…until then, Lord, through Thee

Let our love be sincere

Help us, with unfeigned fealty

Thy precepts to revere

And take to humble heart

Thy steadfast truth and love

And let Thy promises impart

The wonder of Enough

© Janet Martin

Love's To-do list...

Romans 12:9-21 

9 Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

10 Be devoted to one another in love. 

Honor one another above yourselves. 

11 Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

12 Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer. 

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; 

mourn with those who mourn. 

16 Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

[a] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, 

but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b] says the Lord. 

20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, 

but overcome evil with good.

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

The Strength of Hope's Expectancy...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Tragedy tests trust!

Oh God, help us to trust You 

and not lean on our own understanding!

Help us to search out Your promises

so when trouble comes 

we can draw from the well of hope's strength!

The Cleft of  the Rock

The strength of hope’s expectancy does not maintain itself

Nor grows in grace and truth from Bibles closed upon a shelf

To find, we cannot cease to seek; what we love we pursue

(Forbid a form of godliness becomes our go-to)

The veil is rent; forbid we never pause to enter in

To the holy of holies to name and confess our sin

Forbid we never name the Name of He who paid sin’s price

Nor offer our bodies as a living sacrifice

If the joy of the Lord is our strength, oh, pray we cease

To wander from His promises in search of perfect peace

But rather may the Holy Spirit stir our hearts to brim

With hope and joy and peace as we place our trust in Him

The strength of Hope’s expectancy is no coincidence

No mortal moxie can sustain what only faith augments

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name

Forbid we fail Thy righteousness and goodness to proclaim

…or, that a form of godliness denies the power thereof

And we live as if what the cross offers is not enough

Our Father who art in Heaven, convict us so we

Repent, lest sin impairs the strength of hope’s expectancy

© Janet Martin

Immaculate Impressions

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, 

as though God were making an appeal through us; 

we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be [j]sin in our behalf, 

so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Cor.5:20-21

The Anchor of hope’s diligence nods and the heavens laugh

With mercy’s renewed evidence in daybreak’s autograph

We, as ambassadors for He, whose pardon reconciles

If clothed in Christ's humility, will recognize God’s smiles

Morning’s podium broods with beckoning to human race

Come, taste and see the goodness and compassion of His grace

We as ambassadors for He whose kindness perseveres

If tuned to Christ's tenacity, will recognize God’s tears

Trouble’s relentless ways and means resumes its Dreaded Must

Temptation’s primal hunger keens needles threaded with dust/trust

We, as ambassadors for He in whose Word we rejoice

If yielded to Christ's Sovereignty, will recognize God’s voice

The Giver of love’s grin and groan reignites heaven’s wick

Where stumbling block and stepping stone cuts courage to the quick

We, as ambassadors for He who is First in Command

If armed with Christ's security, will recognize God’s Hand

© Janet Martin

A good gardening day seems to be unfolding!

An opportunity to do the late-season planting.

Thank-you, Lord!

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

 

Traitor's Kiss

Forbid that Sunday's worship service

is not simply something I 'do' before I can

'get on with the rest of my day/week'

Forbid that worship is but a once-a-week-ritual,

rather than a daily out-pouring of loving gratitude.

Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

When This Passing World Is Done (How Much I Owe)

Forbid it, Lord that my life is well-honed hypocrisy

That I betray Thee with a kiss where humble love should be

Pray, in the garden of my thought I do not raise a sword

Seduced by a more luring lot than ‘all for Thee, my Lord’

Forbid that I should fail to bear faith’s cross devotedly

And fall into the cunning snare that Satan set for me

That, though with words I honor Thee my heart is far adrift

Unmoved by scenes of Calvary and love’s redeeming gift

Forbid, that in life’s dreadful end judgement exposes it;

How I was never a true friend but just a hypocrite

Forbid, that I should never seek Thee Lord, with all my love

But with a traitor's kiss upon Thy cheek, my hatred prove

Forbid, that when it is too late to undo what is done

At last, I repent of my hate when hell its prey has won

Forbid, I slight the armour that equips, no substitute

And pray I may remember the tree is known by its fruit

© Janet Martin

Luke 6:43-45

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

 44For every tree is known by its own fruit.

 For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;

 and an evil man out of the evil [i]treasure of his heart brings forth evil.

 For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Post-Eden Post-Calvary Pre-Eternity

Inspired in part by a world washed white with snow...

after yesterday's sunshine, blue skies and robin songs!

But mostly inspired by today's devotion...

Above devotion from the book

Morning by Morning Daily Devotional Readings by Charles Spurgeon

Gen3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field 

which the LORD God had made. 

And he said unto the woman, 

Yea, hath God said, 

Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Sin wields its will with wily art

To ease us into apathy

Unless we stand on solemn guard

We cannot fight the enemy

Or recognize ravenous wolves

Clothed cunningly in sheep’s disguise

Or war against the hiss that pulls

Its crafty wool over our eyes

Sin wants perpetrators to wink

At what should cause us agony

Deception hoists its sparkling drink

Without a care for Calvary

It soothes the sacred prick of guilt

And woos the conscience with excuse

It drowns the groans where Pardon spilt

With pleasure’s lure and laughter’s ruse

Sin is the foe, though hard to tell

It masquerades as friend to all

Sin decorates the road to hell

With what keeps us comfortable

No caution signs to notify

The crowd that throngs the downward slope

Ah, who will save them from the lie

That scorns the cross and Living Hope

Sin blinds half-seekers to the truth

The Tempter, a most subtil beast

Preys on the innocence of youth

It bribes desire with a feast

Without the whole armor of God

Not one would stand a fighting chance

Fooled by hell’s beguiling façade

And frauds that foster ignorance

Sin, surely sin has cursed us all

Its fruit, so pleasing to the eye

We ate and partook of the Fall

That caused the Son of God to die

But Death could not contain I Am

The victory it could not win

Sin could not taint the sinless Lamb

He rose triumphant over sin

Sin wields its weapons, but take heart

The blood of Christ cleanses its stain

And we can thwart its evil dart

If we on solemn guard remain

After we repent and believe

Sin is not master anymore

The Holy Spirit we receive

Will aid if we for aid implore

© Janet Martin

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves;

 therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, 

your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Love's Dimensions

How Oft, How Oft

The Wayside Cross

 

Unto the Hills

  

Because the Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 32:6
Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found.

 Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.

How oft my soul-wrought bark would drift

But for the gales that test

How oft my own decrees would shift

From paths of righteousness

Without plans dismayed and upset

How oft, how oft I would forget

Goodness and mercy’s higher ways

To satisfy my numbered days

How oft the gods of greed would rule

Desires of the heart

How oft love would seem cold and cruel

By what facades impart

Without God’s Word to show the way

How oft, how oft I would fall prey

To doubt and dread’s defenseless street

Without His lamp to guide my feet

How oft I could not bear the weight

Of care that love bestows

But for the vision of a gate

That beyond death’s strait glows

Without the anchor of sure hope

How oft, how oft, I could not cope

And oh, how oft I would ignore

The Hand that draws my bark to shore

© Janet Martin

Thankfully, Thoroughly Equipped...

Greater Is He

Instead of cursing and condemning each other we should pray!

Esp. for the leaders of every country in the world!

It's so easy to become distracted by what we see

of fruits of deeds done in darkness

Psalm 8 begins and ends with this glorious

phrase of praise...

Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Believers are called to be the salt of the earth 

and the light of the world...

Matt.5:14-16

You are the light of the world. 

A town/city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

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

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

The believer is equipped

(because greater is He that is in me/ us

than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4)

for whatever we face,

through our Lord's Majestic Name!

May our lives be an offering of praise!

Our glorious God grants everything we need ...

2 Tim.3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,

for [c]instruction in righteousness,

17that the man of God may be complete,

thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Praise He who equips us thoroughly!

Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me...City Alight

Goodness, though evil prospers

Kindness to counter sneers

Pity for profane scoffers

And malicious compeers

Mercy, in spite of meanness

Love for the enemy

Oh, may this be the witness

Of Christ in you and me

A meek and gentle spirit

Strength greater than man’s might

Armor of holy merit

That fits us for the fight

So, when we face our giants

All that the world will see

Is grace to crush defiance

With Christ’s humility

A hope-transformed perspective

The power to endure

A far greater objective

Than this world can secure

In each new morning breaking

A heart amazed and awed

Because of the breathtaking

Majestic name of God

A purpose, pure and pleasing

To heed love’s highest call

Redemption’s charge releasing

The captive from the fall

The faith by which none perish

The hymn to worship He

Whose testament we cherish

The power of Christ in me

A patient perseverance

Until earth yields its claim

And we see without hindrance

Our Lord’s majestic name

When faith concludes its story

With perfect clarity

As we behold/extol the glory

Of Christ eternally

© Janet Martin

Role Call or Perfectly Placed

Above all, our role in love is to trust and obey!

Trust and Obey Vagle Bros.

No confession of loving laud

However great or grand

Absolves obedience to God

The two go hand in hand

No matter who we are, my love

However great or small

No one is super-star enough

To disregard love’s call

True love is not proven in speech

But with meek reverence

Love is the action that will teach

Humble obedience

The role we all are called into

Begins at Calvary

Where love bears witness to One who

Taught through humility

Do not let love despair, dear one

His commands are not hard

When we keep our eyes fixed on

Love’s Leading Hands, nail-scarred

When we receive God's gift of grace

When hearts meeken in awe

How sacred is our perfect place

As love fulfills God’s law

© Janet Martin

Food for Thought;

In today's churches

Are there too many silent men because

there are too many speaking women

or

are there too many speaking women because

there are too many silent men?

Did feminism progress in the church because

good women stepped in where good men did not

or did good men step aside/get 'nudged' aside

 in the order of their God-ordained rank

when women whose intentions were for good

stepped out of their God-ordained order?

1 Cor.11

1 Cor.14:26-39

1 Tim.2

Male or female, we have equal value in the eyes of God

 but we have very sacred and differing roles!

Titus 2:1-8

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.

 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect,

 self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,

 not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 

5 to be self-controlled and pure,

 to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, 

so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 

7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good.

 In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 

8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, 

so that those who oppose you may be ashamed 

because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God;

 for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

John 14:23-24

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;

 and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; 

and the word which you hear is not Mine 

but the Father's who sent Me.

This Life-We-Live Love-Letter...

Hope; what a bitter-sweetest word

for when we hurt

then we seek Hope!

Psalm 71:14-18

As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

of your saving acts all day long—

though I know not how to relate them all.

 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;

I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

And here is our living hope!

Matt.1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,

because he will save his people from their sins."

So,

All about Jesus

or

not about Jesus at all

Who is our life-we-live love-letter to/about?

'Where we are in the process of shaping love’s sacred sum

Then pray for fresh awareness of He who dawn’s page is from'

I was unable to share these photos 'hot off mercy's press' yesterday 

because our internet went down while I was working on this post

and was down all day!

Here is a bit of yester-gold to brighten today's gray😊

This life of you and I is like a love letter we pen

To He who grants the grace whereby we rise and shine again

Where we are in the process of shaping love’s sacred sum

Then pray for fresh awareness of He who dawn’s page is from

The grave will soon collect the boast and bones of you and me

Then, that which matters most will unveil truth’s finality

Dawn’s page of brand-new day soon fills with ink spilled into act

Where what we do and say portrays solemn matters of fact

How subtle is the shuttle of the loom that weaves life’s threads

Reverence and rebuttal groom the rooms of hearts and heads

Where seasons lent soon disappear into revise-proof past

Where the bough bent with now and here soon leaves sheer shadows cast

Love’s weight of cares could crush us beyond ways and means to cope

Without God’s hands to cup us and His word to anchor Hope

Then, when the heart is broken, still true love will suffer long

Through that which God has spoken to comfort and keep us strong

This life-we-live love-letter is a holy enterprise

Our gift to the Creator given when the body dies

Where each new day is a fresh page awaiting our reply

Where what we do and say writes so much more than meets the eye

© Janet Martin

Psalm 62:8

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah