Redemption's Groaning Gate Flings Wide...

 My sister Lucy's granddaughter picked these wildflowers for me the other day...

I don't think she noticed the tears I choked back as I was honoured

by her innocent eagerness.

The mug seemed the perfect vase for my utter joy and sorrow!

Below is a collection of verses to treasure as they comfort and cheer the soul

and remind us of what matters most!

Psalm 25:14

The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.

Psalm 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and a shield;

 the LORD gives grace and glory;

 He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

Psalm 115:13

He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.

Psalm 5:12

For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; 

You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

Ps.69:15

But as for me, my prayer is to You,
O Lord, in the acceptable time;
O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,
Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.

Ps.119:153-160

153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me:

 for I do not forget thy law.

154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: 

quicken me according to thy word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked: 

for they seek not thy statutes.

156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord:

 quicken me according to thy judgments.

157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; 

yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; 

because they kept not thy word.

159 Consider how I love thy precepts:

 quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.

160 Thy word is true from the beginning: 

and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

 

Redemption's groaning gate flings wide and a new day is born...

A multitude of mercies smiles upon a world sin-worn... 

Redemption's groaning gate flings wide and a new day is born

A multitude of mercies smiles upon a world sin-worn 

The Author of Salvation who appoints what none can trace

Once more anoints creation with un-stoppered love and grace

Regret, remorse, repentance spar within the human heart 

God's holiness and man's pride are a humble prayer apart 

Oh Lord, rebuke my erring will, waiting to cause offence 

So the purposes You fulfill/instill may have preeminence 

The truth of your salvation comforts all who fear You, LORD 

Imbue deep dedication to the counsel of Your Word

Lest, for the lack of earnest heed I look away and drift

Forgetting who supplies my need with truths that do not shift 

Delight thrills all who love Your law with thoughts too rare to speak

My spirit thirsts for constant awe, but oh, my flesh is weak

Prone to descend the slippery slope of half-truth to appease

The carnal foe to Living Hope with 'come soul, take thine ease '

Each edict of your Word is true, where faith sees but in part  

Lord, help me learn it through and through and hide it in my heart 

So that I do not grieve you, Saviour, but with yielded will

Reverence the Shield of Your favour as Your mercies spill

Janet Martin  

 

 

Love's Law Of...(First things First)

While the layout of each lesson-book may vary

the requirement and result are universal because

we reap what we sow

and God is not mocked! Gal.6:7

I've been on a stretch of demanding days and

half-sleep nights. During the night, last night

the electricity must have blinked off and since I don't

have a battery back-up in my alarm clock

and since I had the blind and room-darkening curtains pulled

and since I had a sound sleep last night, I was appalled when

I looked at my phone and it was... 8:48?!! 😭😬

The tempter was there instantly with 'you over-slept!

no time for devotions today! you must hurry! hurry!"

What a most terrible way, (I have learned from experience)

to hurry, hurry into the day without first thanking and praising God for his mercies renewed,

and then lifting up our 'broken' to Him, our sick, sorrowing and lost loved ones.

Then drinking from the wellspring of His word to have our spirit refreshed and strengthened

because the flesh is weak and prone to fall prey to what it sees...

Circumstance changes constantly...

Last night, snow and ice-ensconced world...

This morning, sunshine drenched world beneath rising temps!

Tis an art the heart must master for life's story to be sweet

Success can lead to disaster if we do not learn its creed

Where the spirit oft is willing but the wanting flesh is weak

Where sight oft seems more fulfilling than ‘faith as a mustard seed’

Tis a test the best of scholars and teachers cannot evade

Nor the tribe that wears blue collars nor miners, nor astronauts

In the end we all will answer for the choices we have made

Be it maestro, merchant, dancer, five-star chef, scrubber of pots

Tis a law of awe and wonder, impossible to detail

Where wellsprings of blessing thunder from each breath no longer cursed

It will enrich dream and duty, a rubric that will not fail

As we marvel at the beauty of love’s law of First things first

© Janet Martin

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’c and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’d”

28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Read Jesus answer HERE...v.30-37

Take Time to be Holy

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.

Heb.13:8

...leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matt. 5:24

Because The Heart Is Prone To Fear...

The heart is prone to fear

The eye to what it sees

Without God’s Word to commandeer

How gullible are these

The ear is how we hear

With voice we speak and sing

Without God’s Word to enrich cheer

How hollow noises ring

From minds, thought is unfurled

The hand follows, with deed

Without God’s Word, to gain the world

Still cannot sustain need

Bodies are born to die

Dust-to-dust, the Soul’s gown

Without God’s Word, hope is a lie

And knowledge but a clown

The Soul, God-breathed, endures

Beyond mortality

Faith in God and His word secures

Its holy destiny/victory

Headlines spew hateful wrath

And forecasts, dark and grim

God’s Word is a Light to our path

No woe/foe its glow can dim

Better to trust the Lord

In all we do not know

Because the power of His Word

No force can overthrow

The heart is prone to fear

Fear blinds us to the hills

Where God draws flaming chariots near

With peace His Word instills

The heart is quick to yield

To fear and dread and doubt

God's Word is both a sword and shield

None can survive without

© Janet Martin

Eph.6:13-17 BSB

13Therefore take up the full armor of God,

 so that when the day of evil comes, 

you will be able to stand your ground, 

and having done everything, to stand.

  14Stand firm then, 

with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 

with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 

15and with your feet fitted 

with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

  16In addition to all this, 

take up the shield of faith, 

with which you can extinguish all

 the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

17And take the helmet of salvation 

and the sword of the Spirit, 

which is the word of God.

Blessed Assurance

My Anchor Holds

With or Without (the Word of God)

We all have a most sacred choice to make;

who we will believe and seek to follow

all the days of our life.

I had almost completed today's post before I

read today's devotion from Streams in the Desert Vol.2

This devotion encapsulates today's post in a briefer,

and beautifully-eloquent read...

 ***

We all, without the Word of God

Would become wise in our own eyes

The truth suppressed by futile thought

Ignorance fostering demise 

Without the Word of God, mankind

Sifts through lesser philosophy 

A world of blind leading the blind

Not knowing that they cannot see 

Without the Word of God we err

Because we do not know the truth

Of He whose love beyond compare

Overflows earth and heav'ns with proof 

© Janet Martin 

***

Sometimes I shutter at statements made

by those who do not know what they do not know

because they do not know the Word of God 

so they invent their own gods.

At other times I shutter at all of us

who have free access to His Word,

who have been taught richly from His Word since childhood

yet have never personally found Him to be our greatest delight!

The Word of God is filled with praises and professions

for the excellence of His Word.

One of my favourite meditation 'pastures' is Ps.119 HERE

Below, a glimpse of its goodness

v. 33-40 NKJV

 ה HE

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,

And I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;

Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,

For I delight in it.

36 [a]Incline my heart to Your testimonies,

And not to covetousness.

37 Turn[b] away my eyes from looking at worthless things,

And revive me in [c]Your way.

38 Establish Your word to Your servant,

Who is devoted to fearing You.

39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,

For Your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;

Revive me in Your righteousness.

***

And this

Isa.55:10-12

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower 

and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out with joy,

And be led out with peace;

The snow has certainly come down from the heavens

in abundance this winter!

So much for leaving the old wicker chair out there,

 thinking I would enjoy an occasional 

outdoor morning coffee this winter 😅

What confidence God's Word imparts

A light unto our path

To guide and shepherd stray-prone hearts

With mercy's rod and staff 

What timeless truth His Word defends

His promises endure

Love's perfect law that never ends

Keeps faith's foothold secure

What sustenance His Word bestows

What sacred Bread and Wine

 To quench our thirst and feed our souls

From love's life-giving Vine 

What joy and peace His Word provides

What Hope no dark can dim

For the Word that IS God abides

With all who trust in Him

How incomparable, God's Word

 Eternal wellsprings pour

As page by page, pray hearts are stirred

To love Him more and more

© Janet Martin 

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God.

Wonderful Words of Life

Acappella - I love you Lord  

How Else??

Christmas is far more than an excuse to decorate,

or buy gifts for loved ones

or (over) indulge in favourite foods and drinks...etc.

It is more than an arranging of religious figurines...

 Christmas, for Christians, is the celebration of Christ's first coming to the world!

And a celebration of anticipation of His second coming!

And hopefully, not simply a seasonal celebration

but a faithful continuation of the holy joyful expectation

of meeting Jesus

where, each time we open His Word, 

we do meet Him but not yet face to face!

Each time we open his Word

we meet Him there!

Have you met Jesus today?

Coming Soon-Redeemed Quartet

Recently I heard this caution;

If you do not read the Word of God

you will be deceived.

If we do not read the word of God we will err in our thinking...

Matt.22:29

Jesus replied, “You are in error because 

you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

How often the word of God contradicts human logic...

To defend sin, no matter how hurt we are/were

or how much we love the sinner

is to defend disobedience and ungodliness!

....God is light and in Him is no darkness.

If we say we have fellowship with Him

and walk in darkness, we lie (1 John 1:5-6)

Oh, may we ask the Lord as we meet Him

in his Word ....

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, 

may give you/us a spirit of wisdom and revelation 

in your/our knowledge of Him.

(18I) ask that the eyes of your/our heart(s) may be enlightened, 

so that you/we may know 

the hope of His calling, 

the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

19and the surpassing greatness of His power

 to us who believe.

Eph.1:17-19

How can we taste and see God's goodness without knowledge, first, of Him

How, in this world of sin and darkness, can we shine, without His Word

How, without putting on His armour can we face faith's foe, so grim 

For he masquerades as a charmer, smooth-talking till truth is blurred

 Mass ignorance and confusion applauds the blind leading the blind

After claiming Christ's absolution, God's love-light is shed abroad

In our hearts; As His Word reaches joint and marrow of darkened mind 

His Word alone begins to teach us how to live and love like God

How else can we claim to know Jesus, yet not/but to seek Him through His Word?  

No other scripture can release us from clutches of sinful choice 

How, without His Word to win us can faith persevere, undeterred

How, without His Word within us can we begin to hear His Voice?  

Janet Martin~

Ps.19:7-11

The Law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

8The precepts of the LORD are right,

bringing joy to the heart;

the commandments of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

9The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

the judgments of the LORD are true,

being altogether righteous.

10They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

11By them indeed Your servant is warned;

in keeping them is great reward...

Read the whole glorious chapter HERE

For Everyone Forevermore

For better-worse, for rich and poor, for ignorant and wise,

For loud and proud  and shy unsure; for every shape and size

For young and old and in between, no matter where or who

In wilderness or valley green, the Word of God is true

For everyone, forevermore The Lord's precepts abide

While centuries, like billows pour through morn to eventide 

For faith and hope's security, for souls in barks of dust

For both the friend and enemy, the Word of God is just

For robust-strong and sickly-frail, from greatest to the least

For both those who succeed and fail, His word is a like a feast

Come all and freely drink and eat; salvation's stream runs rife

For love accomplished death's defeat; the Word of God is life

Oh, taste and see that He is good; oh, pray for ears to hear 

Lift up your heads, accursed brood, redemption draweth near

Behold, the Saviour of the World, the Light no dark can dim

God's power and glory unfurled; The word of God is Him

 © Janet Martin

Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;

 and you without money, come, buy, and eat!

 Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. 

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water

 springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. 

Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, 

and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God.

Faith's Final Resting Place

Precious in the sight of the LORD

 Is the death of His saints.

Ps.116:15

This poem was inspired by a message from a friend,

on the morning of Lucy's funeral

This friend has suffered/suffers the grief of losing a sister as well as her husband.

“Watching a dear sister being laid in her final resting place

 is exceedingly painful', she said,  'but God is there”

Through our 'growing up years', our wise dad would remind us to live

in the good times in a way to prepare us for the bad times.

Learn scripture in the good times

to cling to in the bad times.

Love your Lord in the good times,

fellowship with Him

so He is no stranger in the bad times ..

The song below became very precious to me in the spring

 after the sudden death of a neighbour and friend,

also due to a tragic accident.

I have listened to it countless times and cherish the lyrics so much! 

(copy of lyrics at the end of this post!)

I Set My Hope on Jesus

Faith’s final resting place, no sweeter grief to brave

Than the death of a saint whose soul returns to God who gave

Where we who still hold fast still wonder at the scene

That greets faith’s gaze at last without a dark glass in between

Where worship’s hallelujah flows unmarred by care

Of toil and trouble’s mortal woes, we who remain yet bear

Faith’s final resting place, no richer recompense

As man’s salvation, by God’s grace gains faith’s inheritance

Bought with the blood of Christ, the promise we received

From the Lamb of God sacrificed, the hour we believed

And then, what comfort sweet, attends the grieving soul

In death the price of death’s defeat reveals faith’s Sacred Whole

Faith’s final resting place lies not beneath cold sod

But in love's beautiful embrace and faithfulness of God

For, precious in His sight is the death of a saint

Therefore though we mourn we will fight the Good Fight and not faint

As we hope in the Lord; His Word sustains the flight

Until the final resting place as faith is turned to sight

Janet Martin

2 Tim.4:7

I have fought the good fight,

 I have finished the race,

 I have kept the faith.

Lyrics

When this life of trials test my faith

I set my hope on Jesus

When the questions come and doubts remain

I set my hope on Jesus

For the deepest wounds that time won't heal

There's a joy that runs still deeper

There's a truth that's more than all I feel

I set my hope on Jesus

I set my hope on Jesus

My rock, my only trust

Who set His heart upon me first

I set my hope on Jesus

Though I falter in this war with sin

I set my hope on Jesus

When I fail the fight and sink within

I set my hope on Jesus

Though the shame would drown me in its sea

And I dread the waves of justice

I will cast my life on Calvary

I set my hope on Jesus

I set my hope on Jesus

My rock, my only trust

Who set His heart upon me first

I set my hope on Jesus

Though the world called me to leave my Lord

I set my hope on Jesus

Though it offer all its vain rewards

I set my hope on Jesus

Though this heart of mine is prone to stray

Give me grace enough to finish

'Til I worship on that final day

I set my hope on Jesus

I set my hope on Jesus

My rock, my only trust

Who set His heart upon me first

I set my hope on Jesus

I set my hope on Jesus

My rock, my only trust

Who set His heart upon me first

I set my hope on Jesus

I set my hope on Jesus

Songwriters: Matt Boswell / Matt Papa / Keith Getty

The Secret to True Success and Wealth

Thy Word...

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God

and the Word was God

John 1:1

In the eyes of the world George Muller died, 

a very poor man.

In the eyes of God, George Muller's earthen vessel

left behind a legacy overflowing with treasure...

God's Word heard, believed, received and obeyed,

holds the secret to true success, to true riches!

Rom.11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Pray we believe and receive His inheritance!

Eph.1:17-21

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. 

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, 

19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength 

20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead 

and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 

21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, 

and every name that is invoked, 

not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Today's poem was first inspired by 

today's Scripture reading from 2 Cor, 4 & 5

click links for glorious passages from God's Word

The Word of God IS spoken; faith’s token of delight

God’s Word to heal the broken; to give to the blind, sight

God’s Word to help the helpless, to give strength to the weak

God’s Word to gird love’s answer to turn the other cheek

God’s Word to guide the pilgrim, God’s word to gird and bless

God’s Word to teach, correct, rebuke and train in righteousness

To thoroughly equip us for every good work

To remind and convict us of laws we dare not shirk

God’s Word, a lamp to our feet; a light unto our path

God’s Word to tell us of the blood/love that saves us from His wrath

God’s Word, perfect and holy, to show us right from wrong

To equip us, like soldiers, and in God’s might, be strong

God’s Word to give true wisdom, true knowledge, joy and peace

God’s Word, glimpse of His Kingdom after this world will cease

God’s Word to comfort sorrow, to cheer us on our way

God’s Word, changeless in spite of what the proud and erring say

God’s Word, solace for seekers who flee the world, sin-cursed

To satisfy soul-hunger and quench hope’s panting thirst

God’s Word to be both beacon and bulwark , our defence

To fill faith’s earthen vessels with Heaven's excellence 

To be the soul’s firm anchor, though we are tempest-tossed

To be our Good Shepherd, to seek and save the lost

The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End

God’s Word, Judge and Redeemer, faithful Forever Friend

God’s Word, His divine power instilling godliness

God’s Word filled with exceedingly, precious promises

© Janet Martin

2 Pet. 1:3-4

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,

  4by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, 

that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, 

having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.