Showing posts with label Good Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Friday. Show all posts

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Not Seeing Yet Believing...(or, See, Lifted O'er the Dregs of Desperation)


1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
 but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.



See, lifted o'er the dregs of desperation wrought by sin
The cross of Calvary, hope's resolution to begin
He who knew no sin became sin, so sinners may become
The righteousness of Christ, the cornerstone of Christendom 

See there the tree that wears the blood that turns sin's scarlet white
And bears the One who loves beyond comprehension's vague flight 
He who endured the cross, beheld, while being nailed-engraved 
Beyond the nature of love's call to all who would be saved 

See Him suffer then die, so you and I may look and live
Hear Him, while being crucified, cry out, 'Father, forgive' 
He did not hold against us a debt we could never pay
Then praise the name of Jesus who washes our sins away

See, the grave where they laid Him, it is empty, as He said
Death and hell overthrown by He who arose from the dead
See, lifted o'er the dregs of desperation, Dread's reprieve 
The power of the cross; salvation for all who believe 

© Janet Martin

Heb12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, 
the author and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, 
scorning its shame, and sat down 
at the right hand of the throne of God


Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, 
He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross.


that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," 
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, 
you will be saved.


 

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Does It Not (Bid Thought to Marvel)


 


Grace and peace to you from God our Father 
and the Lord Jesus Christ,
 4 who gave himself for our sins 
to rescue us from the present evil age, 
according to the will of our God and Father, 
5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 
Gal.1:3-5


Does it not bid thought to marvel
He who knew no sin became
Sin's sacrifice for all people
To redeem us through His Name

Does it not stir adoration 
For He whose blood was out-poured
Once for all, the soul's salvation
Wrought, through Jesus Christ the Lord

Does it not stun contemplation
That the Son of God should be
Humbled to death's meanest station
On a cross for all to see

Crushed beneath the weight He carries
Sinless, bearing all our sins
For we, beneficiaries
Of His holy sufferings 

Does it not undo vainglory
To view hate's presumptuousness
While love, clothed in bloodshed, gory
Wove faith's robes of righteousness

Does it not renew surrender
Does it not steal our breath
To behold the soul's Defender 
Obedient unto death

Look, where love's manifestation
Suffered voluntarily  
Does it not stir adoration
From the likes of you and me

Jesus Christ gave Himself for us
Bearing Pardon's Albatross 
So that we we may be victorious
Through the power of the cross

Does it not bid thought to marvel
At the hope the cross affords
Through sin's sacrifice so royal-
King of Kings and Lord of lords

   © Janet Martin















Monday, April 3, 2023

A Meek Appeal


“I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh
and give you a heart of flesh. 
And I will put my Spirit within you . . . 
and you shall be my people, 
and I will be your God”







Forgive my apathy
My soul, not wholly awed
Forgetful, where a blood-drenched tree
Extolled the Lamb of God

Forgive my wayward eye
From Cal’vry’s silhouette
Where grief does not compose a cry
Of true repentance yet

Forgive my easy loss
Of sorrow for my sin
Forbid, I gaze upon the cross
Yet bar the Door within

Forgive my errant whim
Desires, prone to pride
Unshaken, as I gaze on Him
With Self, not yet denied

Forgive my lack of zeal
For Your sufficient grace
Draw me back to the cross to feel
Your blood drops on my face

Forbid that I should bow
O Christ, beneath thy Blood
Only to return to sin’s slough
Like a pig to the mud

Remove my heart of stone
Break through my ache of skin
With renewed awe for You alone
Who takes away my sin

Forgive me when I seek
The willing ways of men 
Lord, enter in where flesh is weak
And make me strong again 

© Janet Martin






Friday, April 15, 2022

Looking On Him Who I Pierced...




Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 
7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
 and coming in the likeness of men. 
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself 
and became obedient to the point of death, 
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him 
and given Him the name which is above every name, 
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
to the glory of God the Father.
Phil.2:5-8




Where our failures fuel woe
Restitutions rivers flow
Grace, through glory’s dreaded feat
Crowns faith’s cross with joy complete

See His Hands, nail-scar engraved
Love declares the sinner saved
All who repent and believe
Will salvation’s gift receive

Not by works so none can boast
Not by wealth of worldly toast
This salvation we applaud
Is redemption’s gift from God

Let love’s tears of sorrow spill
Down Golgotha’s bloodstained hill
Kiss and wash His nail-pierced feet
With love’s perfume bittersweet

Stricken, sight esteemed Him dead
While He crushed the serpent’s head
While for our ransom He
Hung till death upon that tree

Wound on wound, the King of kings
Did not rue His sufferings
Did not curse the bitter fruit
Of the tree from Jesse’s root

But with love’s humility
Jesus paid sin’s penalty
Hate, in its most crucial fling
Pierced grace and mercy’s wellspring

‘It is finished’ won the fight
Pierced the darkness with True Light
Rent the veil that hung between
What Now IS and what had been

Where this world runs rife with woe
Redemption's rivers still flow
Grace, through glory’s misery
Crowns life's race with victory

© Janet Martin

“They will look on the one they have pierced.”
John 19:37







Friday, April 2, 2021

Good Friday Meditation

My Faith Looks Up To Thee

 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
 the author and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, 
scorning its shame, 
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
Heb12:2.

So much to woo and distract us
In a world of fear and dread
Oh Lord, let the truth attract us
Fix our hope on You instead

Draw our gaze from what depraves us
Time is but a transient spree
Let us look to love that saves us
Fix our eyes on Calvary

Let us look to love that frees us
Authoring salvation’s hymn
Let us see the love of Jesus
Fix our faith wholly on Him

So much to trouble and test us
So much enmity and strife
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
He is the Way, Truth and Life

Let us turn our attention
From wants of this wicked world
Look to Calvary’s redemption
And Hope’s Blood-banner unfurled

Let us find faith’s satisfaction
In love’s gift, so bitter-sweet
Through Christ’s death and resurrection
Our pardon is complete

Then, when woes and sorrows torment
When through tears, the way grows dim
Let us look beyond the moment
Let us fix our eyes on Him

© Janet Martin


Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Because Of His Mercy...

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 
so that, having been justified by his grace, 
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

You are invited to join us as we worship on Good Friday

and Easter Sunday!


Harmonica players have a special place in my heart
so I chose this version of a favorite hymn for this post


 



Does mercy not make worth the while of ‘smile and try again’
For mercy meets us in each mile it metes, of joy and pain
Life’s flight of forward measured mien would be a fear-filled Must
Without love’s merciful Unseen to anchor hope and trust

Oh Lord, increase faith’s sacred claim, as we press to the Prize
Let Your Name be the only name our worship magnifies
Let the sword of the Spirit (which is your Word) be our might
For by your mercy, we are brought/bought from darkness into Light

May the mercy that you have shown fill us and overflow
From vessels made of skin and bone, so everyone may know
That You loved us so much you sent Your Son to pay the price
So that no one may perish but all have eternal life

Because of your mercy oh Lord our faith is not in vain
By Your mercy grace has restored mankind to You again
The deceiver, the enemy of God is overthrown
Once and for all you shed Your blood sin’s verdict to atone

Your sacrifice has washed away the need for bull and ram
For blood of beast could never pay, only a perfect Lamb
So by the mercy of the One who beheld Calvary
I AM became the scapegoat for the likes of you and me

Oh, let the wonder of such love give weary souls a lift
God loves each one of us so much He still holds out His Gift
Of ‘all who believe will not perish but will be forgiv’n
And receive everlasting life; not death and hell, but Heav’n

Mercy holds wide the door; the Ark of Safety is not sealed
Look up, do not ignore the stripes whereby mankind is healed
Whereby Hope is an anchor though life's storms may surge and toss
Mercy secures faith’s armour in the power of the cross

© Janet Martin

Isa.53:4-6
Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; 
yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.
 6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; 
and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.…

...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
 by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us
 through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 
 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,
 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience 
and having our bodies washed with pure water. 
 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 
 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 
 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, 
but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


Friday, April 10, 2020

I Ask Not For Understanding...Just Faith

While I was writing this I found out about a barn fire in our community, 
I read Today's Daily Bread devotion: below is the first paragraph:
In the Middle Eastern country where they live, Adrian and his family suffer persecution for their faith. Yet, through it all, they demonstrate Christ’s love. Standing in his church courtyard, which was pummeled by bullets when terrorists used it as training ground, he said, “Today is Good Friday. We remember that Jesus suffered for us on the cross.” And suffering, he continued, is something that believers in Jesus there understand. But his family chooses to remain in their homeland: “We’re still here, still standing.”...
I prayed for my mom who this week was tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. She is doing reasonably well (over the worst, we hope) and is in the 3rd week of Quarantine. Please can you remember her in your prayers and pray for dad's protection?! 
I revisited a WOW-some Message I listened to yesterday by Dr. Charles Stanley...
 

I talked to hubby and daughter Emily on the phone for a while...about life!
...and in all of it found pieces to press into poem.
Praying this Good Friday, that soul-searching turns into worship in spirit and in truth...
 (and for my Russian friend/friends)
The STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL version below!

I ask not for understanding but for faith to ‘just believe
Taking at God’s Word His promise of the life we will receive
Yes indeed, we will have trouble, but His Name is like a tow’r
Standing firm amidst the rubble; the cross cannot lose its pow’r

I ask not for understanding but for faith to ‘just obey
To take up the cross of service and to follow all the way
If the gain of this world’s treasure claims the price-tag of the soul

I ask not for understanding but for faith to ‘just endure
Time is like a little teardrop on the cheek of Evermore
Where salvation grants Hope’s Wings that help us soar above earth’s loss
As we bow in humble worship in the shadow of the cross

© Janet Martin

Friday, April 19, 2019

License To Live or How Will We Escape?


PAD challenge day 19: For today’s prompt, write a license poem.


 




How Lucifer loathed Eden’s pair
The origin of man
Shameless, guiltless, they wandered where
Record of Time began
In Eden’s bliss and there it is
He fixed his jealous hate
Bent to destroy the selfless joy
And spoil man’s perfect state
And ruin God, for he could not
Best Heaven’s uttermost
But was cast to the depths of hell
To dwell there with his host
Lowliest and unholiest
Darkness instead of Light
The cunning Schemer could not rest
But set his bestial sight
Upon a way to rue the day
Of I AM’s ‘Let There Be’
He knew the garden of the mind
Was prone to vanity
(Though sin had not yet entered it)
And all was good and fair
The sight of uncontested Love
Was more than hate could bear
And so this Crafter of Deceit
Took shade beneath The Tree
Laden with fruit sumptuous and sweet
But Forbidden, you see
For God put Law into effect
To guard earth’s paradise
“Eat freely of all trees”, He said
To First Man’s honest eyes
“Save one, and if you eat of it
Then you will surely die”
Aha, here satan chose to sit
To tempt them with a lie
…and so he did and they believed
And Eve first took the fruit
Then gave to Adam, both deceived
The Seed of Sin Took Root
And in that fateful bite Death’s curse
Divided and defiled
Cast from The Garden, man must work
And woman bear the child
And for man’s sin a sacrifice
Of shed blood must be met
For death alone for sin atones
For sin alone brings death


How Holy God loved Eden’s pair
The offspring of His Hand
Has fallen; now sin’s vile despair
Wreaks havoc on the land
The blood of lambs, rams, goats and bulls
Can never satisfy
The wrath of God; where animals
Must die and die and die
And God knew they could never be
The life-blood to redeem
Sin and death-cursed humanity
The prey of satan’s scheme
Where the Highest and Holiest
As eras rose and fell
Knew who would put on Lowliest
To save man’s souls from hell
Knew Who would suffer once for all
To restore Adam’s race
Back to a place before the fall
Through Mercy’s saving grace
For God so loved the world He gave
His one and only Son
To save us from hell’s fiery grave
In Eden’s grief begun
And make a way back to The Tree
Of Life; back to The King
Ah, Death where is thy victory
Ah grave, where is thy sting?
So Jesus, fully God did not
Decline Salvation’s Need
But put on flesh and humanness
Redemption’s flood to bleed
For sin, dark, wretched sin must have
A pure and perfect Lamb
Then God, so rich in Mercy gave
Himself, the Great I AM
Love left His throne, the Lord of Heaven
Bore death’s altar, a cross
He died so man may live, forgiven
For mankind’s gain, His loss
Rejected, beaten, mocked and cursed,
He stayed the cruel course
Love, always putting others first
Could not bear sin’s divorce
Faithful to death, death on a cross
He conquered once for all
The curse that spawned death’s albatross
Begun at Adam’s fall…


For death and grave could not enslave
Where God so loved the world
He sent His only Son to brave
All hell’s fury unfurled
Until with three words ‘it is finished’
Death by death became
The fulfillment of Genesis
The name whereby man can be saved
Not by some corpse’s fame
No! Jesus triumph is engraved
In Hands death could not claim
For seals of stone cannot secure
The Glory of The Lord
Where sacred groan did first endure
The gory pierce of sword
But then burst forth in Victory
And Resurrection’s hymn
Evil in its full misery
Could not Love’s Climax dim
Glad tidings of love’s greatest joy
In Bethlehem proclaimed
Drew from the form of baby boy
A Lamb for sinner’s slain
And from this bleeding sacrifice
Salvation for the soul
Where Dying fills flesh-edifice
 Until faith makes us whole
And whosoever now believes
Where death’s dark fear loomed grim
Because of Love’s shed blood receives
Eternal life through Him
And this a gift, salvation’s gift
From God, so all may bring
No boast, but with utmost joy lift
All homage to the King
So, though we suffer for His will
The trouble that must be
Tis but the rite of passage till
We share His victory
Who, though equal to God did not
Cling to His Deity
But, for the love of fallen man
Died to set sinner free
Then Bow beneath love’s Holy kiss
Where Mercy’s blood-drops fell
For if we neglect Love like this
How will we escape hell?




© Janet Martin



 ...how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?