Grace Lingers...

God looked upon

Human race

He pitied us

And offered grace

Alpha and

Omega gave

His Son, Jesus

Mankind to save

Oh, pray for those

Not yet secure

Within the Rock

That will endure

For Grace lingers

Upon earth's shore

Where time’s swift river

Is a door

...but the grace

That saves us here

In death’s dark wave

Will disappear

Then pray for those

Not yet secure

Within the Rock

That will endure

© Janet Martin

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly: let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him our actions are weighed. The bows of mighty men are broken, and they  that stumbled are girded with strength. 1 Sam. 2: 2-4

Hope's Core

This constant coming to grips with our mortality

Compels us not to think more highly of ‘me’ than we ought

The shell that we inhabit only temporarily

Houses something we cannot see but should give earnest thought

Ignorance and denial of its presence cannot null

The inevitable of someday, face to face with He

Who breathed into mortal a Soul; this, imperishable

Yet none can expose it by microscopic scrutiny

And should we, cell by cell dissect, this skin and bone dust-tent

Still, none after thorough exam could utter, ‘there it is’

Where half-breath separation between flesh and Soul advent

Should stir a reassessment of the things that fill our days

The Son of God did not lay down His life to save mere flesh

But Deity wore flesh and died to save man's soul; Hope's Core

For death is hell but Life which He gives through His righteousness

Is Heaven in the presence of God's love forevermore

© Janet Martin

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matt.16:26

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul. Gen. 2:7

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Eccles.12:7

  

Heart Trouble

 PAD Challenge day 10:For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Trouble,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and write the poem.

Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Ps. 4:4

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Ps.119:11

The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. Ps.37:31

I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart."  Ps.40:8

The terrible terror of sin

That seeks to lord within

 Oh where can we begin

To break its hold apart

Your Word, your word oh God

Is like a mighty rod

Where weakness can be shod

With armies in the heart

The lion of the deep

Roams to and fro to seek

The struggling one, the weak

To deceive and devour

Your Word, your Word, oh Lord

Is like a two-edged sword

It slays dark demon-hoards

With sacred, sovereign power

The spirit is willing but oh

The flesh is feeble, so

To God’s word we must go

To battle fiends of hell

Your Word, your Word, Jesus

Kindly, gently frees us

Where vice trembles, teases

You whisper ‘it is well’

© Janet Martin