Earth Is Not Heaven...

SO much bad news these days…

So much trouble we see

If this was all there was, then hope

Would be a mockery 

 "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."

John 16:33

Logic cannot ration Reason

It cannot explain Unseen

Earth is not a slice of heaven

But the steppingstone between

All the love we have been given

Is not immune to life’s care

Earth will never be like heaven

Just the means to getting there

This brief blip of hurt and hunger

With happiness tucked betwixt

Where nobody can grow younger

Should make us make sure of this…

With time’s what-why-how and wherefore

That its days and years allow

We should never, ever ignore

Who we should acknowledge now!

Here we beg, barter and bluster

Beneath Mercy’s loyalties

But the best that we can muster

Is a trove of memories

…where gross under-estimation

Makes us think God isn’t fair

As if somehow earth was heaven

Not its sorrow-stricken stair

© Janet Martin

 However, as it is written:

 "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, 

and what no human mind has conceived" -- 

the things God has prepared for those who love him--

1 Cor.2:9

I’ve heard this quote stated in a few ways…

For a believer this life is as bad as it gets

For an unbeliever this life is as good as it gets

Or,

For an unbeliever earth is as close to heaven as they will get

For a believer earth is as close to hell as they will get

Of Heavenly Fathered Miles...

No matter how wonderful they are our earthly fathers are found wanting.

They are not always near and they don’t always hear when we talk to them,

Nor do they always understand.

Not so with our Heavenly Father.

The miles life lets beneath our feet

May not always be easy-street

Where why and if and but compete

In mouths and hearts and hands

And sometimes in the flight of it

And often lonesome ‘night’ of it

We hunger in the fight of it

For one who understands

…and someone does

He always has

We know because

I AM abides

His Word is sure

It will endure

Nothing can lure

Him from our side

Then in the lowly dirt of it

And aching holy hurt of it

Love will be worth the work of it

Heaven waits to reply

But in the meanest while of This

The often second mile smile-kiss

The Kindest loving Father IS

Our need He will supply

Come unto me

This is His plea

Simply that we

Trust and obey

He never leaves

Never deceives

Blind faith believes

He leads the way

When we can’t spell the why of it

And we well with the cry of it

Still, through the low and high of it

One Thing remains the same

No matter what the liars say

We will meet face to face someday

Our Father, Truth, The Life, the Way

Salvation is His name

Be not afraid

Nor doubt-dismayed

Our Father paid

Sin’s debt we owed

The One who gave

Hope to the grave

Will help us brave

Life’s heartbreak road

Pour out your heart-of-hearts to He
Who came to die for you and me
So that someday, praise Him, we'll be
Forever round His throne
Forevermore no sorrow-tears
No hunger, pain, no morrow-fears
Our Heavenly Father commandeers
This worthy, earthy groan

© Janet Martin

 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
The Lord's Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven, 
Hallowed be thy name.
 Thy kingdom come, 
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
 Give us this day our daily bread.
 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, 
and the glory, 
for ever. 
Amen.

Matt.6:9-13