Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts

Monday, January 22, 2024

What/Who We Need Most...(To Get From Here to There)




A stunning sunrise to kick off a new week to...who knows what?!!



For football fans, the countdown to who will make it to the 2024 super bowl is on!

Golfers have been delighting fans with some history-making highlights!

Did you happen to see any of winner, Steve Alkers amazing shots this past Friday and Saturday

Last week the winner of the Sony open was Grayson Murray!



He has been open about the demons he battles in his personal life, 
which affected and impeded his game! 
When asked what the difference is in his life now, he answered immediately that
his fiancée, but above that, Jesus Christ has made the difference!

For, no matter how sweet the kick, the toss, the shot, the triumph
it will never be enough to satisfy our need. Thrills soon fade...

1 John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or anything in the world.
 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, 
the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—
is not from the Father but from the world. 
17The world is passing away, along with its desires; 
but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? 
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
***

We need more than this world’s finesse, to get from here to There
We need more than man’s promises, on which to cast our care
Where, though we need each other to cheer us along the way
To help us as we weather ups and downs from day to day
Our kindest word or dearest deed are inept on their own
To satisfy the need this world cannot fill or atone

We need Jesus, nobody else can save us from our sins
Or help us into heaven when eternity begins
Or hear our prayers or see into our heart of hearts to know
The truth without excuse, idols He longs to overthrow
The spirit, oh, so willing, and the flesh, weak as can be
Without His Spirit instilling, ‘not I, but Christ in me

We need more than this world can boast of season-severed strings
No matter what success we toast, these are all fleeting things
The love of family and friends, as precious as they are
Will never be enough to rend and fling Heav’n’s gates ajar
We need Jesus; His Name is Wonderful, Mighty to save
He fits us for the flight that thunders through the lifeless grave

When all is said and done; the gap that gaped twixt here and There
Dissolved; when we have run the final lap of worldly care
We need more than this world can give; the whole world not enough
To take the place of ‘Look and live’; God’s gift of grace and love
Is Jesus; we all need Him; Savior, Shepherd, Father, Friend
For this world’s greatest favor is but vapor in the end

© Janet Martin






Monday, December 12, 2022

Let All Who Believe Shout for Joy

The third week of advent celebrates joy!
Our temporary joys pale in comparison with the eternal joy of Jesus!
Scripture is filled with proclamations of joy!
hallelujah!
...in this world we will have trouble but take heart!
He has overcome the world!
John 16:33

As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.
Remain in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love,
just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you
and your joy may be complete.
John 15:9-11




The joy that waits to transport us from faith to sight defends
The joy still set before us with the joy God’s Spirit sends
To be a friend and comforter, to anoint lips with praise
For what the Lord has done to fill us with joy all our days

The joy that is complete begins with love’s obedience
To worship He who forgives sins and voids its consequence
He is the Vine, the branch apart from Him can bear no fruit
Of righteousness because the heart denies Truth's Absolute

The soul that is redeemed proclaims God’s goodness all day long
Then bless the beauty of the name that fills our hope with song
For glad tidings of joy, no worldly riches can afford
Bethlehem’s baby boy became our Saviour, Christ the Lord

Let all who believe shout for joy for what the Lord has done
No power on earth can destroy what Calvary has won
He broke the curse of death and hell; the world He overcame
He authors joy unspeakable and Jesus is His name

Let all who take refuge in Him rejoice, yes! shout for joy
For time and trouble cannot dim the Voice of hope's employ
Then, may the joy and peace of God, anoint and overflow
In all we do and say, awed by God’s gift so long ago

© Janet Martin

1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 
By His great mercy He has given us new birthb into a living hope 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
  4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, 
reserved in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power
 for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while 
you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 
7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, 
which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, 
and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; 
and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him 
and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 
9now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, 
the salvation of your souls.

Psalm 5:11-12
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them ever shout for joy.
May You shelter them,
that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
12For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous;
You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

Friday, December 3, 2021

Come, One and All and Gather Round

This post is inspired in part by Luke 2

 Light of the Stable-Selah



  



If covid has proven anything it's that we all need
the glad tidings of great joy/grace through Jesus!
We have been challenged and most of us likely disappointed
at times at responses and attitudes of our fellow-travelers
(in this journey of life) 
during the ongoing ripple-effects of this pandemic,
making the account of Jesus birth and childhood in Luke 2 
especially meaningful and vital this year!
Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said unto them, 
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David 
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

1 John 3:10
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 
that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Come, one and all and gather round
Love’s wonder to behold
Glad tidings of great joy abound
For people young and old
For Jesus, though the King of kings
Did not despise God’s call
Or flee Calvary's sufferings
To be Saviour of all

Come one and all and gather round
The manger where He lay
Jesus, not royal robed and crowned
But on a bed of hay
Come bow your head and shed a tear
Of both sorrow and joy
Behold Majesty’s meek veneer
In Mary’s Baby Boy

Come, one and all and gather near
Lest morrow is too late
The message of God’s love is clear
Destiny more than fate
For whoever believes in Him
Eternal life will gain
Death’s verdict without God is grim
And life, hopeless and vain

Come, one and all and gather round
To celebrate with joy
The hope for man, none can confound
And nothing can destroy
Come one and all, hail and adore
The Gift angels applaud
For this is more than ancient lore
This is the love/Son of God

© Janet Martin



This morning's Daily Bread Devotion
 includes this precious passage of scripture from
1 John 2:28-3:10

The Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, 
that [a]when He appears, we may have confidence 
and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 
29 If you know that He is righteous, 
you know that everyone who practices righteousness 
is born of Him.

The Command to Love
3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
 that we should be called children of [b]God! 
Therefore the world does not know [c]us, 
because it did not know Him. 
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; 
and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, 
but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, 
for we shall see Him as He is. 
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, 
and sin is lawlessness. 
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, 
and in Him there is no sin. 
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. 
Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. 
He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 
that He might destroy the works of the devil. 
9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, 
for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, 
because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: 
Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, 
nor is he who does not love his brother.


Saturday, July 3, 2021

Consolation Canticle


This post is inspired be this dear old hymn;

We may come to Him just as we are!





When life doles out double trouble; when hearts break with bitter grief
Each day like an uphill struggle where disappointment seems chief
What sweet comfort to remember There is One who will defend
Then we weep with joyful wonder ‘What a friend, oh, what a friend’

When love feels too great a burden; thorns bereft of Beauty’s crown
When we groan beneath the hurtin’ and we want to lay it down
What sweet solace to remember There is One who will restore
As we lean on Him and murmur ‘What a Saviour I adore’

When the weight of what is waiting seeks to steal our present strength
When the process of the breaking strips away well-trained pretense
What sweet release to remember There is One who fully heeds
As we hope with humble hunger in He who supplies our needs’

When faith's altar is the rubble that remains of plans and dreams
What a friend we have in Jesus; no matter how all else seems
What sweet goodness to remember, there is One who will prevail
Then we walk, stronger than ever because Jesus will not fail

© Janet Martin

Matt.11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. 
29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 
for I am [f]gentle and lowly in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls. 
30For My yoke is easy 
and My burden is light.”
Jesus~





Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Unfailing Love

 PAD Challenge day 20;

For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt:
Write a love poem and/or...
Write an anti-love poem.


(I share this song repeatedly because I love it)

Love in blood-veiled glory, bowed
Did not fall or fail
Gave His life, though, loud the crowd
Mocked and scorned Hope’s Grail

Love in utter Mercy groaned
It is finished, then
With his dying breath atoned
Fallen sons of men

Love in glorious triumph rose
Scorned death's lowly tomb
For no burial could enclose
Resurrection’s Bloom

Love in kind compassion waits
To rend Yonder Veil
Too many outside the gates
Where love did not fail

© Janet Martin

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
 Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, 
but everyone to come to repentance.

What If Only Sunny Weather...


Whether its gray skylines or headlines
remember, the sun/Son is always near



Up and up the sun is climbing
Though the dawn is dark and gray
The Creator’s perfect Timing
Will drive brooding clouds away

What we see is but a little
We cannot behold the sum
While we are still in the middle
Of what is yet to become

So, when morning skies are bleary
And horizons bleak and gray
Keep the faith, when day is dreary
The sun is not far away

Imagine if on that morning
When we meet HIM face to face
We had never known the yearning
For a better time and place

Take a moment to consider
When we reach life’s solemn end
What if Jesus is a stranger
Not a Comforter and Friend

What if only sunny weather
Blinded faith's eyes to the Day
When time's ever-thinning tether
Breaks its ties and falls away

Up and up we all are climbing
Though for now clouds may prevail
Faith trusts in the perfect timing
Of a Son that does not fail

© Janet Martin



2 Peter 1:3


His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life
through our knowledge of him
who called us by his own glory and goodness....

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue, knowledge;

and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive
in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure.
For if you practice these things you will never stumble,

We live in an age of greatest educated ignorance ever,
as Higher Education Institutions disregard God...
Here Paul is urging believers to increase
their Higher Education in
the only knowledge that can make us wise;
the knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ...


If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world
through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
only to be entangled and overcome by it again,
their final condition is worse than it was at first.


But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.


Wednesday, December 16, 2020

In Spite of Bitter-Sweeter or While We Ate Eggs



A few conversations with sisters/friends had me contemplating how much
bitter-sweeter this Christmas seems without the joy of family and friend get-togethers;
how photos in the mail are bittersweet; how keeping the enthusiasm
in much modified plans is bittersweet!

Then, nothing like children to shift our focus...



Why are you listening to this song? asked little Girl 
through mouth full of scrambled egg.

Um, because it talks about Immanuel, I answered...
(I love the words to the song below)

 

Matt.1:23
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, 
and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

...so, while we ate eggs we talked about God; 
God With Us, Immanuel
no matter what, or where or when we are never alone!
God is with us all the time so we don't need to be scared or too sad.
How often as I try to teach children my words preach to me...


Bitter-sweeter ring the anthems of the worship we employ 
Gratitude and longing duel in Hope’s bitter-sweeter joy 
As wonder and hunger mingle in a bitter-sweeter trust 
Where an ocean of emotion rolls through mankind’s Soul-full dust 

From the heart of Love Unfailing to this groaning, broken world 
Hope Immortal keeps its promise in each breath-banner unfurled 
Through the Christ-child, born of Mary, in a stable so forlorn 
Came man’s Scapegoat, our pardon, on that first glad Christmas morn 

Bitter-sweeter bow the branches laden with fresh fallen snow 
Mirroring the heart that gazes on a scene of long ago 
Where still faithful through the ages gleams the Star that cannot dim 
As from bitter-sweeter places we still come to worship Him 

Come, and raise a hymn of gladness to He who came to atone 
Praise Immanuel, God With Us, we are never all alone 
Praise the One whose name is Jesus, come to save people from sin 
So the bitter blight of Eden, by God’s mercy will not win 

Hallelujah, hallelujah, bitter-sweeter flows our hymn 
As we gaze upon the Christ-child who would be torn limb from limb 
Where love, faithful to his Father did not scorn salvation’s plan 
But obeyed salvation’s Author; Son of God born son of man 

Hallelujah, hallelujah, praise He who has overcome 
Greater is the One within us than this world’s most mighty sum 
He, who came to earth to save us with love none can comprehend 
Will not leave us or forsake us but is our most faithful Friend 

© Janet Martin 


Matt 1:21

She will give birth to a son, 
and you are to give him the name Jesus, 
because he will save his people from their sins."




Thursday, December 10, 2020

Sons and Heirs (How can it be?)

Glorious truth (for we who believe) to ponder!

Gal.4:4-7
But when the set time had fully come, 
God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
  to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b
 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 
the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 
 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; 
and since you are his child, 
God has made you also an heir.




Then, when we were still dead in sin 
As lost, as lost can be 
The Son of God came down to man 
To die for you and me 

To die, and thereby conquer death 
Oh, sacred mystery 
To make we, lowly sons of earth 
Part of God’s family 

To do through love what law could not 
To set sin’s captive free 
No longer slaves, but sons of God 
Then heirs of Royalty 

As sons of God, we, sons of men 
Dare not Freedom forsake 
Lest we become enslaved again 
By chains He came to break 

© Janet Martin 

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves 
be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Does His Name, the Name of Jesus...



It's not too early, is it...
to turn our eyes toward Bethlehem?

Behold Him (Official Lyric Video) - Paul Baloche ft. Kim Walker-Smith

 

Immanuel (From The Squalor of a Borrowed Stable)




Does His name, the name of Jesus stir a love song in Thy soul 
Does He melt the mountain-shadows from landscapes beyond control 
Does He thrill and fill with wonder the eternal child within 
Does He satisfy heart-hunger when we fix our gaze on Him? 

Does His Name, the name of Jesus calm the waves of doubt and fear 
Do You feel Him right beside you in the trench of Now and Here 
When the darkness starts to thicken and threatens to snuff hope’s flame 
Tell me then, does your pulse quicken at the mention of his Name 

Does His name, the name of Jesus draw you back to Bethlehem 
Have you peered into the manger like the shepherds way back when 
Have you followed with the masses through the streets, or climbed a tree 
Have you knelt and wept with sorrow at the cross of Calvary? 

Does His name, the name of Jesus take you to an empty tomb 
Where a Rock would never deter or detain Heaven’s Bridegroom 
Does His name, the name of Jesus as trouble and strife increase 
Fill thy vessel in the tempest with an everlasting peace 

© Janet Martin 



Friday, July 3, 2020

Victors, Even As We Fight

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, 
and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, 
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. 
And his commandments are not burdensome.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. 
And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world 
except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?




Not overcome by evil; no, but victors even as we fight
We battle a defeated foe if we are walking in the Light
Though Satan like a lion roams still seeking whom he may devour
Though he with desperation combs the world with his limited power
He knows the fullness of his woe and the hopelessness of his plight

And though the victory is won the fight is real; the fight is hard
And though the work of Christ is done, the soul must be on sober guard
To be love’s living sacrifice with kind regard to human race
To be willing to pay the price that comes with Mercy’s gift of grace
As on hope’s Steadfast Beacon we fix faith’s blurred reason, sorrow-scarred

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might
Put on the whole armour of God so you may withstand evil’s smite
For without Him defeat is sure; death and hell, its secured reward
Ah, who such anguish can endure and who such horror can afford
But we, according to His word, are victors even as we fight

© Janet Martin

Eph.6:10-18
 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  
 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  
 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 
but against the rulers, against the authorities, 
against the powers of this dark world 
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  
 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, 
you may be able to stand your ground, 
and after you have done everything, to stand.  
 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  
 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  
 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, 
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  
 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, 
which is the word of God.
  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
 

Friday, December 27, 2019

Once Upon Truth, Not Make-Believe


Jesus! so much more than a baby in a manger on that first Christmas Day!  

 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,
 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29


Once upon truth, not make-believe
Sin cursed man through Adam and Eve
And birthed the madness of a race
That would be doomed but for God’s grace

Where long many prophets foretold
What many never saw unfold
That God would send a Lamb to be
The scapegoat for sin’s penalty

So long and strong the nations kept
The law with sacrifice inept
Because the blood of bulls, you see
Could not redeem eternally

Faithful God always keeps His Word
His thoughts and ways are undeterred
Thus, Father set beneath Love’s rod
His Son to be the Lamb of God

...and on that first fair Christmas morn
The Saviour of the world was born
Jesus, God of living and dead
Laid in a manger for His bed

(Where being God, He could have used
This as just cause to be excused
From the cost of salvation's plan)
But, He put on likeness of man

Not any man, but servant heart
So none would envy any part
His company the sick, cast down
Throngs followed him from town to town

Until that awful, glorious day
When death would have life’s perfect say
As ‘it is finished’ set man free
And stripped the grave of victory

And gave to all, once and for all
A way to be saved from the Fall
To grant to human race the joy
And hope that nothing can destroy

Through love and truth, not make-believe
That all of mankind may receive
For we are all part of a race
That would be doomed but for God’s grace

© Janet Martin