Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

 This poem/prayer was inspired as I prayed for all those who mourn this Christmas! 

(so many hearts are raw with fresh grief and 

so many are learning to live with its tender ache as time goes by)

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (NIV)
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;(NKJV)

Col. 4:2

Dear Heavenly Father,

May the prayers of your dear children

Surround and bless those who mourn

May the faithful Hope of Heaven

Soothe the stabs from trouble’s thorn

May this ranting, raving mad world

Before gates of grace are sealed

‘ere all prophecy is fulfilled

Look to Jesus, and be healed

…peace that passes understanding

Though the storm our vessel tries

Though the tempter is tormenting

Time’s inhabitants with lies

Let it be in us a haven

Make its Source our Strength and Stay

While this swirl of dust is graven

With all that will pass away

Make our hearts a humble altar

Cupped in Living Sacrifice

Remind us, God, you’re our Father

And you bought us with great price

Through the gift of Your Son Jesus

And the curse He overthrew

If we believe you receive us

Making us your children too

Our Father up in Heaven

Let us then hallow Thy name

Through your Gift we are forgiven

None can any merit claim

For the Author of salvation

Gave the very best He had

So that every tribe and nation

Can look up and call you Dad

 

Then as we cry Abba, Father

(For God, oh how oft we slip)

You reach down with tender favour

And restore our fellowship

As You minister in spirit

As You supply our need

Father, we can feel and hear it

Your love, as you intercede

Amen

© Janet Martin 

Instead of devoting ourselves to argument leading to anger,

let us devote ourselves to prayer, leading to worship in spirit and truth!

Reflection's of The Reason For The Season

Snagged some writing time (between dishes) while these munchkins napped...

 (Blurred to respect privacy of non-family members)

This poem was written to refocus on what's important

instead of on what's not done yet!

Let the love of Jesus kindle kindness to each one we meet

Let the joy of Jesus anchor us where cares and prayers compete

Let the hope of Jesus shield our hearts and minds from despair’s woe

Let the peace of Jesus keep us from returning blow for blow

Let the light of Jesus banish doom and gloom with mercy's grace

Let the truth of Jesus vanquish doubt without a shadow's trace

Let the remembrance of Jesus birth in us a song renewed

As the Reason for the season fills our hearts with gratitude

© Janet Martin

Worth It All...

I commented to someone this morning how the eagerness and excitement
of the Sunday School children 

(looking forward to dressing up like people of old on that First Christmas)

makes 'it' (the extra effort etc.) so worth it all!

My thoughts suddenly flashed to our Heavenly Father looking upon His children,

where many mourn and suffer more than laugh

yet oh, how He knows it was/will be worth it all!

(Now if we are (His) children, then we are heirs--

heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,

 if indeed we share in his sufferings 

in order that we may also share in his glory. Rom.8:17)

click this link for the story behind the above song

Then when we bow our hearts and heads and whisper ‘I believe’

When we say ‘not my will but thine’, His purpose to achieve

When we count it all joy to bear life’s trials for His sake

Knowing that perseverance comes through trying of our faith

When we without miserly bent give more than ‘just enough’

And trust in what-so state we are to be content and love

When hope that does not make ashamed makes worth the tender toll

Where His grace is sufficient for the carriage/courage of the soul

And when He sees trust prove belief until we Hear Him call

And we stand face to face, both weeping ‘it was worth it all’

Then we will touch His scars as He wipes final tears away

As He receives the glory for the price He had to pay

…then, when we do not understand His perfect reasoning

We ought to come to Bethlehem and bow before the King

And there behold the Lamb of God who came to take away

The sins of this world so that we may dwell with Him for aye

© Janet Martin

 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:6

Today's Unprecedented Worth

For this is the love of God, 

that we keep his commandments: 

and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world, 

even our faith.

1 John 5:3-4 

We have not taken out very many Christmas decorations yet but

we have set up the Nativity scene to remind us to celebrate 

(hopefully daily)  mankind's Joy to the world

 The thrill never grows old, 

of watching little ones gaze at the figurines 

and delight to hold them, esp. Baby Jesus!

what joy, in spite of our mistakes

upon earth's eastward skyline breaks

Compassion and courage reborn

God's mercy, renewed every morn

Now pales beneath the Master’s hand

The deep that snuffed the sweep that spanned

Our wond’ring gaze with mercy’s ways

And hope that highlights mankind’s days

With purpose greater than the test

To serve love’s sacrificial Best

Now beckons from earth’s eastward brim

With birth of day (a gift from Him)

An urge of wonder stirred and spurred

By He whose Word is not deterred

While proud fools ridicule the grave

And Name of He who came to save

Now unfolds from the love of He

Who authored This with ‘let there be’

A charge, larger than mortal death

As wonder steals our gifted breath

And bids us look straight in the eye

Of Excuse’s pathetic lie

Now burgeons from faith’s beaming berth

This life’s unprecedented worth

Grace hoists Honour’s uncomely tray

Believe, surrender, trust, obey

Until wonder fulfills its law

And kindles constant humble awe

As, step by step and hand in Hand

We, armed with Comfort’s kind command

(‘They are not grievous’ God has said)

Now we proceed with hope, not dread

And fix our eyes beyond time’s fold

Upon a Prize earth cannot hold

© Janet Martin