Hope In Spite of Hardship And A Hug for the Hurting...

All the comforts of this world

cannot replace the comforts of the Soul,

wherewith Faith is cheered!

All the wonders of the world

cannot eclipse the wonder of His Word,

whereby Faith is taught!

All the wealth of this world

cannot compare to the riches of His grace;

Faith's inheritance!

***

1 Cor.13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

There is SO much more to this life than what/who meets the eye!

(like potato-diggers or flowers)

Heb.11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

***

Sometimes, when hardships come some doubt God

and his existence.

In the verses below David reflects, first on Joseph

who was sold as a slave, thrown into prison,

through false allegations,

before eventually being released

and given a place of highest honour!

Until the time that his word came to pass,

The word of the Lord tested him

Ps.105:19

...and then, also on the Israelites 

and God's faithful provision for them

in spite of their complaining and ungratefulness !

But (the Israelites) lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,

And tested God in the desert.

And He gave them their request,

But sent leanness into their soul.

Ps.106:14-15

Yesterday I visited a friend who recently moved into hospice.

She knows her time on this earth is almost over,

Yet,

Her room seemed filled with Hope's Palpable Presence; Peace! 

Through Christ's shed blood and her confession of faith,

when she repented and believed,

'in the valley of the shadow of death she fears no evil

for the Shepherd is with her; His rod and staff comfort her...'

(Still, please pray for her and her family!!)

In spite of this, these are hard days 😭🙏

Dear 'S' 💓

Johnny Cash - If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven

Oh God, help us desire You and trust in You

with all our heart 

and not lean on our own understanding,

lest you satisfy our hands with things we see

and send a leanness of soul! 

What awful dread to live, not led

By He who satisfies the Soul

To think and be, by what we see

Rather than faith that makes us whole

What utter loss, to scorn the cross

And settle for this wicked world

To count for naught, salvation wrought

Through Jesus' blood-bought grace unfurled 

What sad effect if we reject

Glad, Living Hope, through faith in He

Who, in death's hour preempts its pow'r

With life, for all eternity

But oh, what peace and joy increase

As we release the part we brave

To Jesus Christ who sacrificed

Himself to overthrow the grave

Janet Martin 

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, 

and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, 

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, 

the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

Because God Is Not a Far-off Father

Sharing some sweet reassurance today,

(because it's so easy to slip into walking by sight!)

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; 

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps.55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be [b]moved.

I couldn't decide on any particular photos to share today

 so I am sharing some recent twilight garden tranquility...

Do the unknowns of tomorrow rob you of peace for today

Does love's joy, laden with sorrow, take a sad, triumphant toll 

Faith, the substance of things hoped for, does it cheer you when you pray

Does it grant God's strength for labor and His comfort for your soul

Or, is dread a thief of laughter, fear, a dark and rolling sea 

God is not a far-off Father; He bids us 'come unto Me'

Do you long for lasting pleasure and delight's true happiness  

Or does this world's fleeting treasure consume worship's mad pursuit 

Do you find sweet consolation in God's steadfast promises 

Does His gift of soul's salvation produce heaven-flavored fruit 

Or is trouble a dictator stealing humble hymns of praise

God is no distant Creator, but a Helper all our days 

In the process of Becoming, are you losing heart, pray tell

Is the noise of progress numbing you to truths that never change  

Although the spirit is willing, does the flesh resist, rebel

Or, is One greater instilling what no rival can estrange 

For, though life is heartbreak-tainted, our prayers are held secure 

Because God is well acquainted with all suff'rings we endure 

In the valley of death's shadow He unfurls the path of life

His word is a Lamp to follow, and a Light to show the Way 

Does the hope of Heaven fill you with courage to face earth's strife

Does the thought of Seeing thrill you as you walk by faith today

Do you face faith's certain danger at the ready to defend

Because God is not stranger; but a very present Friend   

Janet Martin

 

Psalm 145:17-21

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

and kind in all His deeds.

18The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call out to Him in truth.

19He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry and saves them.

20The LORD preserves all who love Him,

but all the wicked He will destroy.

21My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD;

let every creature bless His holy name

forever and ever.

Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them

 as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; 

He saves the contrite in spirit.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength,

 an ever-present help in times of trouble.

I know I have shared these songs before

but I longed to hear them this morning...

Lead Me Gently Home, Father

God Will

In the Sweet Bye and Bye

When We Remember This...

 

This morning my daughter's plans for her day off 

(Christmas shopping, small town meandering)

were suddenly upended when her employer asked

if she could work because a co-worker was sick!

While she was working through her disappointment

 I tried to cheer her with the thought that inspired this poem.

It also reminded me of this song/poem

The Christmas Guest

When we remember this, then second miles extend

Privilege, rather than duty’s stiff upper lip, my friend

When we remember this, we cannot give enough

As we consider His sacrifice and redeeming love

When we remember this, we try, the best we can

To mirror His example of love for our fellowman

Then, when out of the blue He asks us to reply

To help someone we cannot help but say, ‘Lord, here am I’

When we remember this little phrase ‘inasmuch’

It rushes hearts with honor to be called as one-of-such

© Janet Martin

Matt.25:40

“And the king shall answer, and say to them,

 'Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, 

My brothers, you have done it to Me ...

Hopeless Until...

Lots of opportunity to analyze all kinds of angles

today as we wait and wait...

because Canada cares!!

What is Man? Johnny Cash

When we begin to contemplate 

The motive for the want we wait 

For; when weighed in the balance of 

The three that remain; faith, hope, love 

When we strip worry down to size

To find Self its ultimate prize

Then when its offense is confessed

And Intention is reassessed

When we come face to face with 'I'

And all the truths that cannot lie

Then we acknowledge, we are dust 

Hopeless, until in God we trust 

© Janet Martin 

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have [b]ordained strength,

Because of Your enemies,

That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

4 What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit[c] him?

5 For You have made him a little lower than [d]the angels,

And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen—

Even the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the air,

And the fish of the sea

That pass through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Of Hard Heart-knocks...

Let's overthrow evil today with
the one and only name whereby man can be saved; Jesus!

Acts 4:11-12
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 

 Salvation exists in no one else,

For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Matthew 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."

 

I saw a man...Johnny Cash 

 

 

It's hard to trust enough to pray for hard knocks to get ours or a loved ones

 'drifting attention/devotion' back on track...

Sometimes it takes a hard heart-knock for God to get our ears to hear
Because sometimes we balk at what we sense He longs to commandeer 

But, as a mother hen who draws her wings around her chicks, He yearns
To draw His children close; lest one be lost among life’s twists and turns

Behold, what love compels the One who stokes the night with one more Day
And leaves the Ninety-nine to search for the sheep that have gone astray
And like the father who beheld his long-lost son come from afar
When we are still a long way off He runs to meet us where we are

Sometimes we are deceived because we doubt when we ought to believe
Pride goes before the fall that arrogance and stubbornness achieve
But God, so rich in mercy does not leave us without hope and grace
He bends with gentle hands outstretched, if we reach up in humble faith

A Deadly Foe roams to and fro, seeking to draw eyes from The Prize
Without pity he sets a snare and decorates his lair with lies
And many fall prey to enticements, lured by Pleasure’s poisoned charm
Only God’s Word a lamp to light the way, can direct us from harm

Blessed are those who thirst and hunger after righteousness and truth
And blessed are the pure in heart; the meek will inherit the earth
Then, though sometimes the hard, heart-knock seems harsh, Love’s ways and means are just
And He will do what must be done to get the erring one to trust

© Janet Martin 

19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline.  Therefore be earnest and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev.3:19-20

A Blessing For The Heroes/Warriors of Covid-19

 (note: Although the poet wrote 

'don't despair if you must face them all alone'

I think it meant when we have no other person at our side.

Because with God we never face anything alone!)

 
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, 

who always leads us triumphantly 

as captives in Christ and through us 

spreads everywhere the fragrance 

of the knowledge of Him.

God bless you as we pray our way through days we will not miss

(Except in ways we never gave enough kind praise, till this)

God bless you as we make the best of what is not the worst

(Unless we turn our backs on Him, in bitterness immersed)

God bless you as we learn to trust more than we had before

And come to know in spite of woe His grace is always more

God bless you in the second miles nobody keeps count of

Proving on knees, highways, halls, aisles, the greatest of these, Love

God bless you as we weather, all together, day by day

The trouble that, while it is passing, teaches us to pray
God bless you as we weather all together, push and shove,
The trouble that, while it is testing, teaches us to love

© Janet Martin

Gone, But Not Forgotten

Today we will attend a funeral where death has parted husband and wife

(gone, but not forgotten)

then we will attend a wedding where starry-eyed Young Man and Woman will

commit their lives to each other till death doth part. 

May we live with the consciousness of the Shadow of Death

and honour life's Giver with every breath.

 for we never know when we or someone we love will be gone...

Gone beyond the blue horizon

Gone beyond the strait called time

No more guessing or surmising

Death unveils the last Great Climb

Gone while we remain to wonder

What yet waits for you and me

When the gates part over yonder

To begin eternity

Gone where there is no returning

To prepare to meet the Lord

When the end of this life’s journey

Rends the veil to the reward

Changed from mortal to immortal

In the twinkling of an eye

Gone from earth to that Great Portal

Where the soul will never die

© Janet Martin

 Let your light so shine before men,
 that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt.5:16