Showing posts with label I AM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I AM. Show all posts

Friday, January 20, 2023

This Is He Who We Adore





The call of He who was, is and will ever be resounds
The love of He who cares for all His creation abounds
The light of He who pierced the darkness of the world abides
The grace of He who sets us free through Calvary resides
The living hope of He who anchors saving faith secures
The truth of He who IS the Word eternally endures
The joy of He who is our strength consoles and satisfies
The salvation of He who shed his own blood, justifies
The armor of He who fits us for every fight defends
The promises of He who hears our humble cry attends
The holiness of He who is our helper awes and cheers
The mercy of He who is kind and faithful commandeers
The righteousness of He who is infallible prevails
The One true God in whom we trust, whose goodness never fails
Amen

© Janet Martin

Exodus 15:11
Who among the gods is like You, O LORD?
 Who is like You--majestic in holiness,
 revered with praises, performing wonders?


Psalm 92:8
But You, O LORD, are exalted forever!

Psalm 113:4-6
The Lord is high above all nations,
His glory above the heavens.
5Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
6Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

Saturday, November 19, 2022

Unplumbed Knowledge (Too Wonderful For Me)


Inspired by Psalm 139
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
 Psalm 139:6

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. v.1

Search me, O God, and know my heart: 
try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me 
and lead me in the way everlasting. v.23-24



There is no fooling You
Lord, you know all our ways
While we were knitted in the womb
You beheld all our days
While we were being wrought
You knew us every one
Before a thought became a thought
Before a deed was done
Your knowledge hemmed us in
Behind, beside, before
Beneath the shadow of your Wing
You keep us evermore

Lord, we are fearfully
And wonderfully made
You know the place intimately
Where thought and choice are weighed
You search and know each heart
Nothing is hid from you
For you fashioned our inmost part
Before one breath we drew
Then, search where you have searched
Lest wicked ways remain
Lest craftiness of pride is perched
Where worship is made vain

Lord, lead us in the way
Of everlasting life
Shield us from the cunning buffet
Of vanity’s vain strife
But purify our hearts
To praise you more and more
Your goodness and mercy imparts
All we are thirsting for
Your thoughts; what preciousness
To think that they should be
Of us, oh, Lord, such knowledge is
Too wonderful for me

© Janet Martin








Tuesday, July 6, 2021

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.”

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')

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.


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

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.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Will You Believe?

  PAD Challenge 27:

For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a believe poem and/or...
Write a don't believe poem.

John 14:27

John 16:33




This world
will wound
And disappoint
And betray
And pretend
But I 
will bind
Grief’s gap
-ing groans
And be 
Your 
Faithful 
Friend

This world 
will pass 
away;
This life 
on earth
Ephemeral
But I AM 
Alpha
and 
Omega
I AM 
Eternal

This world 
at best
Brings out 
the worst
In mortal’s 
sin-cursed 
glove
But I 
transform
Fear, 
doubt,
and hate,
Into 
faith, 
hope 
and love

This world 
is chaotic 
and cruel
with wars 
that will not 
cease
I AM gentle
patient 
and kind
I AM
Your perfect
peace

This world
makes promises
that it 
cannot keep
or control
I AM
the Word, 
Way,
 Truth 
and Life
the Daddy
of your
Soul

Will you 
embrace 
this world's 
illusions; 
trust death's 
loveless 
lies 
Or will 
you believe
 and receive
 life's
 everlasting
 Prize?

Love, God

© Janet Martin

Compact Version😊

This world will wound and disappoint and betray and pretend
But I will bind grief’s gaping groans and be your Faithful Friend

This world will pass away; This life on earth Ephemeral
But I AM Alpha and Omega; I AM Eternal

This world at best brings out the worst in mortal’s sin-cursed glove
But I transform fear, doubt and hate into faith, hope and love

This world is chaotic and cruel with wars that will not cease
I AM gentle, patient and kind; I AM your perfect peace

This world makes promises that it cannot keep or control
I AM the Word, Way, Truth and Life, the Daddy of Your soul

Will you embrace this world's illusions; trust death's loveless lies 
Or will you believe and receive life's everlasting Prize?


Love, God 

 © Janet Martin

John 1:12

But as many as received Him, 
to them He gave the right to become children of God, 
to those who believe in His name:





Saturday, September 26, 2020

Wonder IS God's Signature

 



A Wonderful First Fall Saturday of 2020!




Wonder is spring’s first fair flower 
Summer fields and Autumn’s show 
Wonder is a winter morning 
Swaddled in fresh-fallen snow 

Wonder is boundless, blue welkin 
Wonder is wee bird that sings 
Wonder is a reawak’ning 
To a world of lovely things 

Wonder is dew-diamonds dazzling 
Daybreak with silver-starred blur 
Wonder is a just-hatched gosling 
Wonder is God’s signature 

Wonder is worship’s expression 
Stirred by beauty’s sundry form 
Wonder is God’s intercession 
As He takes the heart by storm 

Wonder gleams in sun-steeped stubble
Wonder whispers, roars and sings
Wonder soars above life's troubles
And restores hope's broken wings

Wonder eases disappointment
Silenced wish and whim applaud 
While we gaze in sheer amazement 
At unveiled glimpses of God

© Janet Martin





Ps.92:1-8

It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.


4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.


8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Faith-Factor





I love this song for these days where we
are tossed on the waves of unrest wrought by politics, Covid etc.
Fear and worry are not the same as legitimate concern...
Legitimate concern drives us before the Lord where faith renews its strength
And He draws us like Peter, from slipping beneath dark waves of fear and despair

When faith is fixed it leaves no room for dark shadows of doubt 
But ‘we of little faith’ find much to stew and fret about 
For it does not come naturally to trust with all our hearts 
Fear is a constant enemy with swift, venomous darts 
Where all things work to our good for those who love the Lord 
And faith, when held to like we should leaves no room for discord 
But with gentle humility bids us do all we can 
To live in peaceful harmony with our fellowman 
For faith, when it is fixed upon the promises of God 
Is not influenced or undone by circumstance’s rod 
But, in the middle of the storm that tosses us about 
Faith hears God whisper, ‘here I AM, oh, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ 

© Janet Martin 


Matthew 8:26
"You of little faith," Jesus replied, "why are you so afraid?" 
Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, 
and it was perfectly calm.

Matt.14:31
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, 
and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?



Saturday, May 30, 2020

How Can We Show Love...

These are dark days but because He lives we can face tomorrow!

"Because I live, you also will live."
John 14:19

 

Have you found it hard to feel encouraged in these dark days? 

 "it's so hard to know how to show love in a city where everyone is afraid"
said Melissa last night as she struggled with ideas on how to show love
in a world where again this week so much of the news 
is heavy and hard and we want to change the world with love but how?
~ "You must be the change you want to see in the world."~
Mahatma Ghandi 

Melissa shared an encounter with her intent to show love the other day...
she heard a lady in a wheel-chair calling 'will someone please help me cross the street?'
so she thought, 'well, that's pretty obvious! I can help her'
but as she pushed the very heavy wheel chair the woman wailed in pain over every bump,
Melissa got stuck in an LRT track and sheer panic forced the chair free!
When she reached the other side one woman was as distraught as the other
and she said 'all I intended to do was show love'.💝

It's hard not to let anger take root in the unfairness-es of life...
but God IS love. 
He IS good!

Psalm 145:8-9
 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.
 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
 
Let's trade our anger in for humble prayer
for a heart of forgiveness and love!
I turned to Psalm 37 yesterday for comfort and encouragement
It begins like this...
Do not fret because of evildoers,...


We are not equipped to stand up for what we believe
until we get down on our knees! 


How can we show love in a world where fear’s dark fathoms roll
With woe and pain, anxiety, chaos out of control
Mountains can seem so hard and high, but we are called to climb
And suffer the strain of its struggle one step at a time

How can we show love in a world where doubt and mistrust mars
The heart where hope should spring immortal, instead of hate’s scars
How can we hold a hand when Covid keeps touch beyond reach
Or comfort one another in death’s losses, dark and deep

How can we show love in a world of love misunderstood
Because broken humanity has not loved like we should
This place where racial prejudice makes people vile of heart
Makes we who want to show love, wonder how to do our part

How can we show love in a world where opinion takes charge
The Word of God rejected/neglected by the masses, by and large
How can we gain wisdom to know how to love without fail
On an ocean of ships tossed to and fro without a sail

How can we show love and not take offense when ‘they’ oppose
When we are crowned with thorns while scorn tramples love’s perfect rose
When evil seems to triumph and the world screams ‘where is God’
When answers are inept when instead of a kiss, a rod

How can we show love in a world that needs it desperately?
We start by looking through lenses of true humility
We start by seeking God to guide, for we are called to climb
One smile, kind word, one retort withheld, one prayer at a time

One heart that trusts the One who battled in Gethsemane
Surrendering His will to Love’s Supreme Authority
One life committed to the call no matter what the price
Where the greatest Command of all begins with sacrifice

© Janet Martin


Wednesday, April 15, 2020

In The Valley of the Shadow...HE IS!


 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
Psalm 23:4

So many people are walking through the valley of the shadow of death
and we would surely fear evil without
God's rod and staff to comfort us!
My friend and I were chatting a bit last night about
how the mind can be an enemy if we let fear dominate...
instead, we said, isn't it a great picture to visualize, as we pray,
Light bids dark evil flee 
for prayer defeats the enemy!




In the valley of the shadow where death stalks its primal prey
Waiting to besiege the pilgrim with Dark Fear’s deceptive sway
HE IS, still mighty in power through the Author of His Name
For in Calvary’s dark hour He fought Death and overcame

In the valley of the shadow where death lurks at every turn
Like the enemy in ambush, (but already overcome)
HE IS, like a tender shepherd never forsaking His sheep
Lifting us upon His shoulder when the shadows grow too deep

In the valley of the shadow where death would its dread instill
There His rod and staff bring comfort and we do not fear evil
HE IS preparing a Table in the presence of the foe
With His goodness and His mercy Heaven’s wellspring’s overflow

In the valley of the shadow where death lies in shrouded wait
Prayers are rising like a fortress evil cannot penetrate
HE IS, WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE, He IS behind and before
And He hems us in until we dwell with Him forevermore

© Janet Martin


 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5



Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.a
3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousnessb
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,c
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surelyd goodness and mercye shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwellf in the house of the Lord
forever.g