Potential Disaster...(by Faith Averted)

November unfurled in a blaze of glory/mercy renewed!

Cares press and threaten happiness; The shroud of The Unknown

Could blind us to what remains true; we never walk alone

Could have the gall to cast a pall of rude ingratitude

Before our eyes where morning skies unfurl mercy renewed

Could make us dread what lies ahead if we forget to lean

Upon The Word, undeterred by what will be-is-has been

Could toss about and make us doubt Hope’s anchor of the soul

Could rob us of the peace and love of faith that makes us whole

Could weigh us down with cynic’s frown where beauty breaks earth’s vat

Could make us miss the joy of This while fretting about That

Could darken hearts with venom darts while morning breaks night’s mold

And melts the stars from heaven’s bars to wash the earth with gold

Cares press and threaten holiness; the intellect of man

Could justify what some deny because they doubt Love’s plan

But God will bless with happiness those who trust Him and praise

The Giver of More Than Enough as mercy numbers days

What could befall cannot forestall God's goodness preordained

Nor circumvent His mercies bent with justice still contained 

Though what we see appears to be doom and gloom's bitter fruit  

What could unfold cannot withhold grace and truth's Absolute 

© Janet Martin

First when I got up life seemed to be trying to press

its shroud of cares upon my shoulders then My devotions included 

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.[b]

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;

he is greatly exalted.

...and Brenda's post once again reminded me

to celebrate life's ever-present beauty and joy!

That was all before the glory of daybreak when

'The heavens declared the glory of God;

the skies proclaimed the work of his hands.'

Psalm 19:1

...so no matter what is going on to compose our secret 

or not so secret cares and sorrows that could seek to dethrone our

happiness/holiness,

what a joy to remember

'God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

Psalm 47:8

Believer's Blessing

Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

Under His Wings

No matter what befalls

Where trouble's thralls increase

You answer the believer's calls

With hope and joy and peace

This world is full of woe

Fear's forces never cease

But no power can overthrow

Your hope and joy and peace

The soul that trusts in You

From worry, finds release

As you run the believer through

With hope and joy and peace

Janet Martin

Faithful One

God Himself...

How easy it would be to become disillusioned by what we see

if not rooted in what we know, because God said so.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 

and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

 In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

When tried by disappointment’s test and vexed by plans upset

When waves of want for what seems best roll through prayers still unmet

When second chance and circumstance grant opportunity

To seize anew the Hope God grants to cheer adversity

Then pray we hold more near and dear the Lantern of his Word

To light faith’s path lest footsteps veer because vision is blurred

To light faith’s path lest footsteps veer because vision is blurred

Requires more than the veneer of valor undeterred

Without God’s Word life’s storms are ruthless, tossing to and fro

The soul not rooted in His Truth that none can overthrow

Then pray, we repent and believe so that we may endure

With more to cling to than the sheave that death cannot secure

With more to cling to than the sheave that death cannot secure

Though disappointment’s test may grieve and morrows are unsure

We have hope’s confidence that nothing in this world can shake

While we long for deliverance from anguish and heartbreak

His Word is a lamp to our feet, a Light unto our path

And God Himself until we meet in Time’s Grand Aftermath

…and God Himself until we meet in Time’s Grand Aftermath

Where nothing remains to compete with love’s mercy or wrath

Then, lest disenchantment and doubt should cause our foot to slip

Do not begin today without God’s Word to full-equip

Then, come what may the dark cannot triumph the Light of All

As we press on toward the mark for the prize of God’s call

© Janet Martin

One Day/Step At A Time

This poem kinda progressed as the morning unfolded

stunning me afresh with the need to

Only Trust Him

We would wear ourselves weary with worry, 

but for what good?!

Oh Lord God, rich in mercy, help us trust You 

like we should

Help us to look longer at the lily's attire 

Until fear and pride turn into worship's pure fire

My little 'longer look' at lilies this morning

while pouring out my heart to their Creator/Clothier 

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory 

was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:27

Life grants us one day at a time

Then leave to God tomorrow’s dread

For on this ever-present climb

We cannot leap back or ahead

Futile to fret the ‘Yet’ none sees

Where fear and faith ever compete

Better to get down on our knees

And pour our cares at Mercy’s feet

For as we yield, we learn to trust

And as we trust we learn to yield

The love of God is not unjust

He clothes the lilies of the field

God grants us one day at a time

A step-by-gifted-step ascent

He holds the ladder as we climb

Where all we have and hold is lent

Then as we soften our grip

And cling to nothing but His Word

We start to taste the fellowship

That waits in heaven, undeterred

God ministers in 'breath-by-breath'

His purposes, oft unrevealed

While he finetunes the strings of faith 

He clothes the lilies of the field

How flippant is our finest boast

And all that mortal may applaud

How foolish to propose a toast

Blind to the faithfulness of God

Grace grants us one day at a time

Oh, pray that our goal will be

To give God glory as we climb

From time into eternity

© Janet Martin

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The [b]help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 43:5

The World tells us to reach within ourselves!

The Word tells us to reach out to God and trust...

in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God 

and the Word was God.

John 1:1

Our Greatest Achievement (pride-weak or humility strong)

A quote, retained from my growing up years;

Humility is a hard thing to achieve;

The moment we think we have it we've lost it! 😉

One of my dearest, humbling happiness-es is peering deep

into the delicate perfection of a flower ...

In today's world, happiness,

not holiness seems touted as

our greatest goal/achievement or 'right'!

Pride, not humility is hailed as 'hero'!

It is impossible to be proud and holy!

It is impossible to be proud and truly happy!

Below is Holy Scripture's 'tip' of this topic!

...but as He who called you is holy, 

you also be holy in all your conduct, 

 because it is written,

 “Be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:15-16

Proverbs 29:23

A man's pride will bring him low, 

but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

James 4:6

But he gives us more grace.

That is why Scripture says

: “God opposes the proud 

but shows favor to the humble.”

Prov.6:16-19

These six things the Lord hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him:

A[b] proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

(I've discovered when I do a Bible word search on 'happy'

most often it is translated into 'blessed')

Psalm 40:4

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, 

who has not turned to the proud, 

nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Take Time To Be Holy

We, since Eden's calamity

Have struggled with temptation's bent

The Word, that WAS, IS and WILL BE

No mortal twist can circumvent

We are without excuse because

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

Is steadfast in Love's changeless laws

No Author of confusion, He

Holiness is our highest Call

Not happiness, as some may claim

 Defiant pride precedes the fall

That leads to destruction and shame

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

So many dare to disregard  

As if the cross of Calvary

Was but a charm or a postcard

The way to destruction is broad

Death's dark and downward jaunt seems bright

While the devil who detests God

Masquerades as angel of light

The deceiver is sly and vile

No one is too precious to spare

His mission, seeking to beguile

Those not yet on hell's thoroughfare

God's truth and love will never shift

He is just, trustworthy and kind

When we receive salvation's gift

He opens eyes that once were blind

Then call on Him in humble awe

Before pride makes a mockery

Of He who IS Love's Perfect Law

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

Seek holiness without reserve

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

Waits to reward as we deserve;

Earned through pride or humility

Janet Martin

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2He was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made through Him,

and without Him nothing was made that was made.

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

5And the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.

Waiting For Covid-19 to Pass

 PAD Challenge day 17: For today's prompt, write a waiting poem.

Every so often I crank up this song by Johnny Cash

These Things Shall Pass

 

Because of soaring numbers in new Covid-19 cases

Ontario tightens restrictions even harder for 6 weeks!

This prompt Waiting, feels like the first thing we talk about 

even before the weather these days!

(and we're Canadian!) 

We feel like we have been waiting for things to

return to 'normal' for more than a year, and now this;

Seemingly worse, not better in spite of vaccines?!!

It's discouraging!

So, the word 'wait' can be a millstone around the neck

 or a steppingstone beneath our feet/knees.

It's up to us.

(My heart esp. goes out to small businesses!

Hang in there as you weather open to curbside-takeout-closed..)

Within the walls of circumstance, we wait; the gate is barred

To Freedom’s Ballroom; numbers soar while hope hits new lows hard

But, let’s not forget what we have though we feel far apart

We have each other and God’s Word to cheer the faint of heart

Wisdom chisels its masterpieces not on Easy Street

Our faith is not refined until its mettle feels the heat

Then, though fear grips us by the throat as we wait anxiously

We have each other and God’s Word; how thankful we should be

Technology for all its faults helps us to keep in touch

While we wait for Restriction to release its strangling clutch

Let’s take a deep breath, keep the faith though hope is battle-scarred

And be so grateful that we have each other and God’s Word

Selfishness is a monster; it wreaks havoc in the world

It desecrates the banner of morn’s fresh mercy unfurled

So, let’s love one another while we wait, though walls apart

We have God’s Word in which to trust so we do not lose heart

© Janet Martin

1 Peter 4:7-10

The end of all things is near. 

Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

  Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins

.Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

As good stewards of the manifold grace of God,
each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

These verses really hit home right now.

even now we can show hospitality by dropping

a meal to a needy family, by sending words of cheer via text, emails,

cards, phone calls, yes, even when it feels

like we are growing weary of doing good (Gal.6:9)

This week my I received a package from a friend in another country!

The surprise of its sweet love brought much needed joy

to a hard week! 

Thank-you Sasha for the gift from

The World of James Browne

The Truth About Things

This poem was inspired partly by this morning's Bible Love Note

and partly by spending a few hours yesterday burning

brush picked up and raked form the yard...

'At death all Things will turn to dust and ash'

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: 

and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Eccles.12:7

Truth does not shift its weight from foot to foot

Or like a shadow; it is absolute

The precedence of God no one outranks

Man’s part is to obey and give Him thanks

This keeps the heart from becoming enslaved

To the futility of Things, the ‘old man’ craved

Truth teaches us to value what we ought

Lest in the quest for wealth, Truth is forgot

Only treasures in heaven will not rust

All else at death will turn to ash and dust

Naked we came and naked we will leave

Beware, lest snare of Satan doth deceive

The grave is the cadaver’s final splash

At death all Things will turn to dust and ash

© Janet Martin

 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.…

Matt.6:19-21

On that note I am about to leave to buy some things,

Because some Things serve a sweet cause such as

 a gift for Grand-daughter's second birthday!

Last year store-lockdowns and Covid restrictions

 kept her first birthday a rather low-key

celebration. no gifts, no party!

This year hopefully we will celebrate with renewed awareness and thankfulness

 of the preciousness of words like 'together' and 'hello'

and 'have a piece of cake'!

Morning Meditation for Soul-feet

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

More, oh Lord, than light of morning

To be a lamp to our feet

More than blush and gold adorning

Where light and shadow compete

Where the way is wrought with pitfalls

That the sun cannot expose

As its east to west unravels

The path to life’s curtain-close

More, oh Lord, than resurrection

Of the orb that melts the dark

Pointing in the one direction

That will never miss its mark

Let your word, be like a beacon

And a lamp unto our feet

Let it light the way of reason

Ere death’s solemn gaze we meet

More, oh Lord, than light of heavens

Over each step to preside

Futile is yon molten lantern

Mortal’s deathless crux to guide

Thus, oh Lord, let your Word ever

Be a light unto our way

For Thy Word, oh Lord, will never

Lead the feet of souls astray

© Janet Martin

Pure Delight's Promise

 

This wall-art was retired from one of the bedrooms to make room

for fresh décor, so I claimed it for an empty wall by the front door

 to read again and again to remind myself how joy may remain full!

Psalm 37:4

If we delight ourselves in He

Of boundless creativity

Who authored sky and sod and sea

With infinite authority

In He whose promises prevail

Whose love does not falter or fail

Who stands with us when storms assail

When mountains seem too sheer to scale

In He whose plan instills the seed

To sustain our physical need

But did for far more intercede

When from sin’s debt mankind was freed

…who became sin who knew no sin

Once and for all, an offering

Who saw the triumph death would bring

After the cross of suffering

If we delight ourselves in He

Who overthrew the enemy

And denied death its mastery

‘Ah grave, where is thy victory’

If we delight in He who gave

His Son, each one of us to save

So when we brave death’s sullen wave

Heaven, not hell will meet the grave

If delight in He whose art

Steals our breath and death’s cold smart

He will fulfill with joy, His part

In the desires of the heart

© Janet Martin

Delight in God- Charles Spurgeon

Eternal Wonder

 

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, 

a worker who does not need to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Tim.2:15

Thy Word-Amy Grant

Keep God’s Word in your heart 

It is His hand held out 

To hold the shield that thwarts the darts 

Of fear and hate and doubt 

In God’s Word fix your trust 

While dark doom’s billows roll 

Faith keeps steadfast the bark of dust 

That harbours deathless soul 

Cling to the Word of God 

When storms of life assail 

It is the only staff and rod 

Of hope that will not fail 

God's word wakens within

The wonder of His love

And how to guard the heart from sin

That plagues this mortal glove

God’s Word is sure and true 

Heaven to earth’s embrace 

His grace the arms that draw us to 

Behold him face to face 

© Janet Martin

Heaven and earth will pass away, 

but My words will by no means pass away.

Matt.24:35

To the pure, all things are pure, 

but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, 

nothing is pure. 

In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 

16They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. 

They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Titus 1:15-16

Changeless Chancellor...

Dawn broke gray today,

rather than the spectacular radiance we raved over, morning

after morning,

after morning,

this week!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

He does not change, like shadows shift

Who grants each good and perfect gift...

He does not change like shadows shift 

Who grants each good and perfect gift 

His grace sufficient day by day 

Whether windows frame gold or gray 

From founts that refine faith with test 

He counts us worthy of His best 

He does not change, while all else does 

HE IS, while This soon turns to Was 

Then pray that awe and love commence 

To adjure meek obedience 

Lest we confuse the order of 

Desire’s Want with Perfect Love 

He does not change; His Word transcends 

The leap of faith that time extends 

Where surely the Love we embrace 

Behooves recipients of grace 

To consider with reverence 

Our duty of obedience 

He does not change; where you and me 

Bear great response-ability 

As seasons pass and shadows shift 

But not the Giver of the gift 

Who charges mankind with the call 

To love Him, Lord God, most of all 

Forbid we settle for far less 

Citing reasons like ‘happiness’ 

Brushing off sin like flecks of dust 

Winking at God, worthy of trust 

Because He does not change or shift 

As love pours out gift upon gift 

© Janet Martin

For the obedient and faithful a great day is coming!

Today's Daily Bread Devotion Bible reading

Rev.19:1-9

After these things I [a]heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to [b]the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both[c] small and great!”

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

God Lifts His Voice

 

God lifts His Voice

and darkness drifts...

into the gift of brand, new day...

God lifts his voice and darkness drifts into the gift of brand, new day 

Snow slips and drips into spring’s grinning, winning, thinning hip-hooray 

Flawless vision with precision aligns commission of the stars 

Wonder thunders, whispers, plunders, drives asunder hunger’s wars 

God lifts his Voice; svelte veneers melt beneath the Whisper of the One 

Who ordains and orders cosmic borders dwarfing stars, moon and sun 

Who causes fire to rain and rain to fall and fall to winter days 

Who tires not while we inquire at His higher thoughts and ways 

God lifts His Voice; bittersweet charter metes the mortar of the clock 

Mercy gushes through ambushes of quicksand around Solid Rock 

Mankind rushes, recedes, pushes at brushes beyond our control 

Sensing an immense propensity of Mortality to Soul 

God lifts His voice; and dawn deploys the sorrow-joys of smile and tear 

Until the final crepuscule will frill the hill and disappear 

And stars will fall like ripened figs when the wind wildly shakes the tree 

God lifts His voice; the earth melts into the scroll of eternity 

© Janet Martin 

...he lifts his voice; the earth melts...

Psalm 46:6 

 

So Many Reasons To Rejoice

 Grace and Peace to you from God, Our Father

Fernando Ortega

2 Peter 1:2-4

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

 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,

 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.

Lord, you never lie, Your mercy each morn 

Is fresh as a flow’r from bud’s bower borne 

Your Word, a Rock upon which we can stand 

While the clock winds down Time’s seasons of sand 

We will rejoice in today, made by You 

No matter what, You are Faithful and True 

You never move while empires rise and fall 

No one can overthrow Ruler of all 

Justice and goodness establish Your throne 

No matter what, Lord, Thy will, will be done 

You are our glory, our strength and our shield 

Since by faith, Your righteousness was revealed 

Lord, though the world groans in sorrow’s travail 

You never falter, Your love does not fail 

Even the wind and waves heed your command 

Heaven and earth are secured in your hand 

Whom shall we honor, Lord, Whom shall we fear? 

No other God do we humbly revere 

Lord, you never lie, then remind and renew 

Thy righteous precepts, trustworthy and true 

While here we bear birth and death’s in-between 

Fix our faith on hope’s glorious Unseen 

Lord, you invite all to, ‘come unto Thee’ 

Forbid we settle for something we see 

Let us forever be utterly awed 

For there is none other like You, oh God 

Even though Eden's entrance-way is sealed 

Creation glories with glimpses revealed 

Time is a scroll unfolding prophecy 

For as You told it, Lord, so it will be 

Then let us put on a garment of praise 

Worship the One who has numbered our days 

He who wove us in our sweet mother’s womb 

 He who broke sin's curse and shrugged off the tomb 

Let us forever rejoice in the Lord 

No matter what, we can trust in His Word 

© Janet Martin 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    love and faithfulness go before you.
 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
 They rejoice in your name all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
 For you are their glory and strength,...

Psalm 89:14-17

though all else changes...never God!

The Times, They Are A-Changin'-Rory Feek