Showing posts with label Christmas poem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas poem. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Christmas That Never Ends

Day-after-Christmas contemplation...

The hustle and bustle of Christmas busyness,
the rustle of wrapping paper,
the frenzy of last minute food and gift prep,
the shrieks of excitement and delight
will soon fade like fond footfalls of farewell,
we collect in heart-vaults.


...but the Spirit of Christmas,
because of God's everlasting goodness through the gift
of his Son, Jesus, is hopefully a daily joy, all year through!

Christmas Season, with all its fuss and bustle will soon fade
And disappear into the hush of Bygone’s promenade
But, Belief in the Reason for the season, anchors peace
His everlasting goodness gladdens hope with joy’s increase

Belief transforms the lens we look through to find happiness
It mends the holes in our souls with precious promises
And grounds faith in the merit of love, unfathomable
Where Father, Son and Spirit manifests Immanuel

Where redemption endorses profound possibility
The blood of Christ that cleanses and atones, sets sinners free
From the inherent curse; the first-fruit that first sin conceived
But God so rich in mercy washed away when we believed

This keeps the joy of Christmas alive in us all year long
His everlasting goodness kindles everlasting song
Because belief in the Reason for the Season transcends
The temporal; Jesus gives us Christmas that never ends

© Janet Martin

the morning after
a lot of laughter, food and joys aka noiseπŸ˜…πŸ’–!!!



John 10;10
I have come that they may have life, 
and that they may have it more abundantly.
Jesus~








Monday, December 25, 2023

Lord, As We Linger in the Presence of Christ's Sacred Birth, (A Christmas Prayer)

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 
who came from the Father, 
full of grace and truth.

From our House to Yours
Joyous Christmas Blessings~


Lord, as we come, like shepherds and wise men of old this morn
To gather in the stable where Christ, our Saviour was born
Waken a sweeter wonder as our gifts of worship ring
Renew a humbler hunger for the hope you came to bring

Lord, as we haste to see the Baby in a manger bed
And gaze on He who came as sin’s atonement in our stead
Impress on us anew love’s allotment of joy and grief
Then kindle purer gratitude, abolish unbelief

Lord, as we kneel before You, let the incense of prayers rise
In utter adoration, as we consider faith’s Prize
Deliver us from evil, tune our hearts to hear Your Voice
Where this dark world seeks to drown angel-anthems of 'rejoice!'

Lord, as we linger in the Presence of Christ’s sacred Birth
As You unveil Your glory in the highest to the earth
As we behold Your glory, full of grace and truth, Lord, then
Increase in us glad tidings of peace and goodwill. Amen

© Janet Martin

Luke 2:8-20

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.





Friday, December 22, 2023

Beholding Christmas (or Joy's Supremacy)


For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be upon His shoulders.
And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of His government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness
from that time and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

***

The more we try the less it seems we can comprehend
the vastness of God's everlasting love!

That's why there are SO many poems and hymns
composed, trying to put into words
what words can never fully express-
of worship enough to fill eternity!
Hallelujah!




Behold the love/Son of God
Born for sin’s sacrifice
To bear hatred’s most cruel rod
To pay salvation’s price

Behold Bethlehem’s Boy
Redemption’s humble King
Who knew good tidings of great joy
Would cost Him everything

Behold, the Prince of Peace
Behold the zeal of He
Whose grief accomplished the increase
Of His/joy's supremacy

Behold Humility
Child of Mary’s travail
I AM fulfilling prophecy
In minutest detail

Behold, hope’s Star unfurled
Kneel at the manger, then
Behold, the Saviour of the world
Behold Christmas. Amen

Behold, a child is born
Behold, a Son is giv'n
To pierce hell's darkness with a Thorn
That lights the Wick of Heav'n

© Janet Martin



Micah 5:4
And He shall stand and feed[a] His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God;
And they shall abide,
For now He shall be great
To the ends of the earth;  

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

We Are All Children (at Christmas Time)




we were counting cookies, one, two, three



when someone stole the cherries!
H-m-m-m, who could it be πŸ˜‚πŸ’—





this poem is a mingling of past, present and future
part recollection, part participation
and part anticipation πŸ˜‹πŸ˜ŠπŸ’–

Arms open wide to big hugs of hello
Breath hangs on air, breathless with stars of snow
Scents from the kitchen delight young and old
(We are all children when licking out bowls)

Love looks for ways to fit into a box
Dollies and teddy bears, books, balls and blocks
New socks, odd gadgets, bubble bath, wind chime
(We are all children at gift-giving/getting time)

Tins fill with many a sugary prize
Budget and extravagance compromise
Cook-space grows crowded, taste-testers abound
(We are all children where cookies are found)

Christmas hymns kindle heart-hearths with love’s joy
We thrill as gladness spills from girl and boy
Joy to the World, Silent Night, Deck the Halls
(We are all children while singing those car’ls )

Hark! hear that glorious story again
Gaze at the angels, shepherds and wise men
Kneel at the manger, be wondrously awed
For, we are all children when gazing at God

© Janet Martin

Hark! hear that glorious story again
Gaze at the angels, shepherds and wise men
Kneel at the manger, be wondrously awed
For, we are all children when gazing at God



Tuesday, December 19, 2023

This Christmas, As I Come To Gaze (At Thy Nativity)


Recently a message I listened to contained the caution that we, as believers 
should guard against getting caught up in romanticizing the Nativity, 
easily possible when charmed by enchanting figurines... 


Sometimes, in this age of 'progressive thinkers' some so-called believers
assume the 'perks' and promises of salvation, 
God's favors and blessings 
without first entering through the Door 
of true repentance which leads to obedience. 

May we, as we search the scriptures, 
ask God to open the eyes of humbled hearts 
to seek and know the full truth of what we 'most surely believe'...
Today's poem began as I pondered parts of Luke 1.



Dear Jesus,

This Christmas as I come to gaze
At Thy nativity
May no vain thought hinder my praise
Or mar my love for Thee

With childlike faith without dispute
With stubborn will undone
With worship in spirit and truth
May I behold Thy Son

The Saviour of the World, first laid
in lowly feeding trough
Thy holiest of holy Babe
No kingly splendor sought  

That none should envy how You came
nor covet Thy renown 
The King of kings, in mortal frame 
From Heaven's throne, stepped down

Then, as I bring my gift of love
To Thy nativity
Impress on me the shadow of
the cross/Gate of Calvary

Amen~

  Janet Martin



  


Saturday, December 16, 2023

Marvelous Light


Isa.9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
 on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned...


I am 'labouring' through the last books in the Old Testament,
 groaning through the sobering passages of God's wrath and judgment 
for everyone who turns away from Him, because they do not fear Him,
 but worship others gods, and do not keep His commandments.

But oh, wonderful grace of Jesus, always with every judgment God reminds them
of his mercy and redemption for all who repent and come/return to Him!!






Rom.6:12-14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness,
but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life;
and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Part of Zacharias's song in Luke 1:76-79

And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord

to prepare the way for Him,

77to give to His people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the Dawnf will visit us from on high,

79to shine on those who live in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet

into the path of peace.”


The poem below is but a pale halo of awe, for words fail as we consider
the awesome love and mercy of God...


Into the darkness of the world that groans with scorn and spite
The splendor of hope is unfurled to pierce the dark with Light
To salvage us from death’s despair, from sin’s most cunning means
To draw us to repentant prayer where mercy intervenes

The Saviour of the world has come; Jesus, the Son of God
The Cornerstone of Christendom to bear death’s meanest rod
The Great I AM, the King of kings and Lord of lords became
The Lamb who takes away the sins of all who trust His Name

‘Ho, every son and daughter’ the Heavenly Father cries
Come, drink the Living Water from the well that never dries
Come and buy without money, eat to fulness without price
A land of milk and honey waits through mercy’s sacrifice

Into the darkness of the world in need of peace and joy
Behold, a great Light is unfurled, veiled as an infant boy
Who came to bring Justice to earth and hope to sorry strife
To pierce the fierce shadow of death with everlasting Life

…to guide our feet into the path of peace, away from sin
To satisfy God’s blameless wrath by bringing souls to Him
To soften stubborn hardness of cold hearts with mercy’s might
To call us out of darkness into His marvelous light

© Janet Martin


1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, 
a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, 
to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness 
into His marvelous light.


Isa.55:1-9
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money;
 come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? 
and your labour for that which satisfieth not? 
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,
 and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live
; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, 
and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God,
 and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
 and let him return unto the Lord, 
and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, 
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

December Hymn

 


December drapes dormant landscapes with snowflake-sequined flair
It kindles in its chill a thrill that contradicts despair
And cheers faith’s frame with hope’s dear Name; Jesus! As once again
Hearts start anew to travel to the town of Bethlehem

December decks earth’s halls with shawls that nature’s shuttle weaves
Where fall-gales doffed treetops, white softness soothes its loss of leaves
And stirs within cages of skin a holy atmosphere
Of peace and love, through knowledge of the Name we hold so dear

December brims with joyful hymns and beauty to behold
Fresh snowfall awes and gently draws us back to days of old
Until we feel the sacred zeal of shepherds and wise men
And yearn to bring the Christ Child King gifts of worship. Amen

December rings the old year out before it brings the new
It rebukes doubt with shouts of joy for what is good and true
And bids us come and see Christendom’s Cornerstone, and laud
The glory of the Gift, where love unveils the face of God

© Janet Martin

2 Pet.1:1-2
To those who through the righteousness 
of our God and Savior Jesus Christ
have received a faith as precious as ours:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance 
through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.





some of the 'hymns' of joy brimming from cookbook lyrics,
due to Christmas celebrations beginning...

(very versatile for switching up the dry fruit and nuts!)


(or, in Victoria's words, melt-in-your-mouth-orange pillows)


(easily done using home-canned fruit)




 

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Only The Best Will Do or Perfect Best

This is the time of year
we start wracking our brains for perfect gifts
because only the best will do when it comes to saying
'I love you'

When considering our efforts of finding 'the best'
doesn't it evoke a picture of God, 
before that first Christmas morn,
looking down on the world, 
His heart shattered with love as He wept,
for He knew 'only the Best will do!'
when it came to proving His love
 for me and for you!

Matt.1:21
And she will bring forth a Son,
 and you shall call His name JESUS,
 for He will save His people from their sins.”

I LOVE the lyrics to the song below



This is the time of year
Unlike the whole year through
When we choose gifts for loved ones dear
Only the best will do

In this season of love
Boxes and bags become
Vaults filled with motley treasures of
Socks, books, toys, candy, gum

Presents are squirreled away
In unsuspecting nooks
A kind of game that parents play
Lest Curious Youngster looks

Reason softens its stance
As love and prudence wrest
As budgets and hearts spar and dance
To find The Perfect Best

The Perfect Best is love
Therefore, love longs to show
The best it can, reflections of
First Christmas, long ago

When Heaven’s Perfect Best
God’s equal, put on man
Knowing the cost, did not contest
Salvation’s perfect plan

Because God loved us so
On that first Christmas morn
Into this sin-cursed world of woe
A Redeemer was born

For God looked from above
And He saw me and You
And said, as His heart broke with love
Only the Best will do

So, God gave us a King
A gift beyond all ken
His only Son, Jesus, to bring
Peace and goodwill to men

A gift that saves the soul
And flings ajar a Gate
That leads to faith’s ultimate goal
Where God and heaven wait

Then pray, this time of year
We rev’rently recall
The Reason for the season, dear
The gift that says it all

For things are only things
Love is the Perfect Best
The gift that only Jesus brings
Makes perfect, all the rest

© Janet Martin


John 3:16
For God so loved the world that
He gave us His only begotten son,
that whosoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life

Phil.2:5-8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,a
7but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross.

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Let Joy Ring Through the World


I hope you all had a wonderful day...
Here it felt like it went from morning



... to night in no time at all!!





Let joy ring through the world
The light of life is born
The One the prophets long foretold
Has put on human form

The hope of nations cries
A Babe in manger bed
Unveils God’s face before man’s eyes
As God and man are wed

The heights of Heaven bend
To dredge the depths of death
A gift man cannot comprehend
Has drawn salvation’s breath

Then praise the Name of He
Who saves us from our sins
So death/hell does not seize victory
When End of Days begins

Let worship’s song resound
As we rejoice and pray
Glad tidings of great joy abound
Even unto this day

Then bow with heart undone
Before our God of grace
Because He gave His only Son
To die in our place

...and make God's glory/love's story known
That angels still applaud
The King of kings stepped from His throne
To be the Lamb of God

© Janet Martin



Hallelujah, though colorful cookies are a nice, sweet
celebration treat
Christmas is SO much more!
It is the celebration of mankind's hope 
we tell to our children so they may tell their children!




Saturday, December 24, 2022

My Christmas Prayer

From our house to yours-Merry Christmas!

The plan was to be part of a choir at church tonight at
 our Christmas Eve celebration
Celebration/worship is still happening at home, but not the choir!
Everyone is storm-stayed far and wide due to the 'crippling blizzard'!
Still
May we rejoice as we reflect on the Reason for the season,
and the Reason for the believer's joy!


This poem was also going to be shared tonight at the Christmas Eve service
I share it with all of you now, my prayer for us all,
 as we celebrate our Saviour's birth!  


My prayer for every one of us, for each day that we live
Is that we taste the joy of Jesus, only He can give
The glad tidings of joy angels proclaimed, in days of old
I pray, just as the shepherds did, we hasten to behold

And though we do not kneel, as they, that night at Bethlehem
I pray, that daily we rehearse the day we look on Him
And that the joy of living hope is like a Light unfurled
Because by faith we have beheld the Saviour of the world

I pray the joy of Jesus melts each shadow of a doubt
As we receive the Reason that Christmas is all about
Then, come what may, I pray that nothing in this world can dim
Joy’s Star, as we, like the Wisemen have come to worship Him

© Janet Martin

From me to all of you who faithfully drop by my 'poem-porch',
wishes for a blessed Christmas to you and yours!



Luke 2:1-20
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Monday, December 19, 2022

Let's Talk Today About Good News


Some Good News songs and a poem to kick off the week leading to
The manger, the cross and the empty tomb!
Leading us from despair to hope,
from darkness to Light
from hell to Heaven!

 Noel, Noel-(2022 remake)


Agnus Dei-Michael Smith

 



In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4

Note of 'non-apology'!: 
it was really hard to reign in the Good News surge of pure joy!πŸ’–πŸ™

Let’s talk today about the things that bring us hope and joy
The song the angels sang still rings with truth none can destroy
Where unto us was born that day, a Saviour, Christ the Lord
And nothing in the world can sway the soundness of God’s Word
And nothing can annul the gift that gladdens death’s dark toll
Time cannot change nor tempest shift the anchor of the soul
Nor dim the Light of men that darkness cannot overcome
In Him is life and that life is the Rock of Christendom
The breath of the believer and the faith that makes us whole
The bane of the deceiver and the beauty of love's goal

The Good News of salvation is greater than headline gloom
The Author of creation did not leave us in sin’s doom
But gave His Son to save us from a debt we could not pay
The precious blood of Jesus Christ washes our guilt away
And cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we confess
God fits us for faith’s fight with his abiding promises
He leads us not into temptation but delivers us
From awful condemnation for all those in Christ Jesus
Let’s walk the Way He taught, faith’s humble devotion to prove
Let’s talk today about God and His everlasting love

Let’s count with grateful gladness all the blessings grace bestows
And counter this world’s madness full of wolves dressed in sheep’s clothes
Wise in their own eyes they deny the cross that faith must bear
And reason truth into a lie and pride into a prayer
Without repentance and belief; oh, pray they see the Light
And weep because  joy crowns our grief, for He gave us the right
To become His dear children, if we believe in His name
No longer slaves of Satan but heirs of Christ's glorious claim
Thus faith abounds with hope and joy, through the power of He
Whose Spirit, grace and truth’s alloy, secures death’s victory

Let’s talk about Emmanuel; God with us constantly
His goodness and mercy the wellspring of eternity
His perfect peace to all whose minds and hearts are stayed on Him
Let’s talk about the Good News and drink from fountains that brim
With glad tidings that bad news cannot keep from coming true
Let’s talk about God’s love and choose to love Him through and through
Because no matter what betide, God works for our good
He knows our need and will provide, though oft misunderstood
Because of what faith’s testing brings while trouble has its day
Ah, let’s talk about heav’nly things that never fade away

© Janet Martin




Tuesday, December 13, 2022

A Get-Rich-Quick-Forever Gift!

 

Inspired by the riches of Ephesians 1&2, Phil. 2, and so many more scriptures
All hinged to the Reason for the Christmas Season
Oh may we desire the wealth of spiritual blessing
possible only if we receive The Gift. God's Gift of grace

(Note: this is not a wealth of ease and material opulence,
because this wealth was bought with a great price!
But the price gives us access to all the priceless promises of God)





Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms 
with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Eph.1:3

God’s gift of glorious grace
In meanest cradle lies
The riches of redemption veiled
In baby’s newborn cries
The hope of humankind
Descends from Heaven’s throne
To mercy’s masterpiece designed
Death’s sentence to atone
Through the shed blood of Christ
God trumps Lucifer’s schemes
From His Own Offspring sacrificed
Pardon’s profusion streams

…to lowly sons of earth
The holy Son of God
Suffered the pains of human birth
To bear rejection’s rod
…and suffer unto death
Even death on a cross
The King of kings offered Himself
To be a Lamb for us
The Son of God became
The Name believer’s hail
He suffered crucifixion’s shame
To rend the temple’s veil

So, all may freely come
Hope’s riches to embrace
The Cornerstone of Christendom
God’s gift of glorious grace
No more to be enslaved
By doubt, greed, pride and fear
But through faith, by grace we are saved
We, once far off brought near
To taste death's sweet release
Where Jesus took our place
His blood, the purchase price of peace
God’s gift of glorious grace

Ah, here all praise begins
Death falls like shackles spliced
We, who were dead in our sins
Are made alive with Christ
God, who is rich in love
Forgives this sinful race
Through the exceeding riches of
Jesus, God’s gift of grace
That in ages to come
His kindness might be known
Through we who benefited from
The kindness Christ has shown

© Janet Martin