A Sober Petition (or, An Earnest Appeal)

Today, there’s a surplus of noise in our lives,

 yet God still speaks in a quiet voice 

through the Scriptures and by His Spirit. 

Taking time to prayerfully focus our attention on God 

will help us tune in to His comforting, guiding voice.

 (Daily Bread Devotion-Listening for God's Voice)

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, 

but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Ps.90:14

***

Lulled by this world's noise

oh may it not be so

Deafened and blinded to the joys

Only God can bestow

***

We live in an age of unprecedented distraction!

Oh God, protect me/us from senses dulled

by constant appeal...

The prayer below is a sober petition

inspired in part by my dream last night

when I learned I only had a short time remaining to live,

and in part by the awful reality 

of the regard/disregard of the Word of God

as if it were the word of man! 

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

Grant me not peace where sin resists

Repentance, with Reason’s clenched fists

Where surrender is ‘but in part’

Rather than fully yielded heart

Grant me not joy where pride defends

Choices of disobedience

Convict me where sly snares invade

Lest ‘faith’ becomes a masquerade

Dear loving, gracious, holy God

While I behold but the façade

Whereby judgement is oft inclined

You see my heart and soul and mind

Then, grant me not dull hopes unfurled

By prospects of this fleeting world

But rather guard with watchful eye

The place where true affections lie

And grant me not, where sin still reigns

A false sense of its broken chains

Forbid that I should be deceived

By erring rationale believed

Lord, grant me meeker, purer thirst

To seek you and your kingdom first

Then, help me live each day of grace

Prepared to meet Thee, face to face

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

© Janet Martin

Take Time To Be Holy

Unparalleled Relinquishment

In the course of my prayer this morning,

 what-ifs suddenly tried to force their way in,

seeking to overthrow trust with doubt, faith with fear!

Lord, you know all!

My parents, my husband and my children are in Thy faithful care!

'what a privilege to carry everything to You in prayer'

What unparalleled relinquishment,

what peace,

 to release to God

 full control!

...and then, this is today's devotion!

Thank-you Lord

Help me Lord, where unknowns tarry, to trust Your unfailing hand

Though your way is oft contrary to the purposes I planned

Help me not to dread tomorrow or to fret its mystery 

Keep me from stooping to borrow sorrows that may never be

In life's course of love and learning, testing courts of heart and soul

Help me to release my yearning to the peace of Your control 

Janet Martin

A morning sky like this makes me think of this hymn...

Still, Still with Thee

Lyrics by Harriet Beecher Stowe

1 Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,

When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;

Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,

Dawns the sweet consciousness I am with Thee.

2 Alone with Thee amid the mystic shadows,

The solemn hush of nature newly born;

Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,

In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.

3 Still, still with Thee! as to each newborn morning

A fresh and solemn splendor still is given,

So does this blessed consciousness, awaking,

Breathe each day nearness unto Thee and heaven.

4 When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber,

Its closing eyes look up to Thee in prayer;

Sweet the repose beneath Thy wings o'ershading,

But sweeter still, to wake and find Thee there.

5 So shall it be at last, in that bright morning,

When the soul waketh, and life's shadows flee;

O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning,

Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.

Amen.

Faith's Sacred Enrollment

Through what lies behind

we are being prepared

for what lies ahead!

***

Regret has but one merit;

to learn from it

***

God cares for each of us beyond our wildest comprehension;

and invites us to cast our cares on Him!

Why do I/we often attempt to shoulder care

as if He didn't care?!!

***

What great fun and frustration, as we cheer on

our favourite teams, for better or worse!

When we put our faith in God

we become part of a 'team'

whose 'Coach' puts us through drills we often don't recognize

unless/until they produce His desire's sacred result;

a more humbly prayerful people.

Oh Lord, we give thee thanks

Whatever comes our way

May circumstance unveil the ranks

That teaches us to pray

...that tutors hope and trust

Though sorrow's throes increase

As we surrender what we must

You fill us with your peace

Lord, nothing is too hard

For You to will and do

Where the deceiver preys, you guard

The heart, humble and true

And should we stumble, still

You do not turn away

But with the shards of broken will

You teach us how to pray

Oh Lord, kindly renew

Our courage through your love

Help us to wholly lean on You

The wellspring of Enough 

For we know no true loss

Whatever comes our way

As long as You command/commend the cross 

That teaches us to pray

To wallow in regret

Is futile; Lord, pray we

Will learn from the mistakes that set

More sorry sights on Thee 

Forgiver of our sin

Help us as You prepare

The sacred drills faith enrolls in; 

Today's lessons in prayer

Our faith ought never be

In throne-rooms of this world

Lord, open eyes of faith to see

Your mighty Hand unfurled

Then, as a soldier/soul-dier true

Whatever comes our way

 Help us to put our trust in You

Who teaches us to pray

Your strength, through weakness gleams

In grief, Your comfort cheers

From the ash-heaps of broken dreams

We cry; Your kindness hears

And bends to bind the ill

That comes through creature care

That tests us with love's best until

We lean on You in prayer

 

 © Janet Martin 

Prov.3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

 and he shall direct thy paths.

Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright 

Monday Morning/Every Morning Prayer and Praise...

Lam.3:22-24

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Quicken us, Lord, with Your Spirit, with wealth of Thy wisdom

Lest we would, for some earth-trinket forfeit Heaven's Kingdom

Lest through the love of an idol we lose Intercession

Lest the tongue we do not bridle hinders sin's confession

Lest by breaking one commandment we offend all others

Lest, by errant understanding we cause stumbling brothers

Lest pride's vile infatuation blinds us to faith's calling

Lest the deceiver's temptation binds us to down-falling

Lest greed becomes the go-getter breeding selfish living

Forging from blessing a fetter rather than thanksgiving

Lest we lose this life by loving Self's death-doomed direction

Lest we forget choices proving who consumes Affection

Lest we choose, when life is ended,( sooner than expected)

Compensation we befriended by Who we neglected/rejected

Quicken us Lord, with Your Spirit's steadfast, sweetest pleasure

Lest we value more the merit of earth's fleeting treasure

© Janet Martin 

***  

Mercy, new each morning

What more do we need

To grace our sojourning

To cheer word and deed

To bolster hope's yearning

To secure faith's sail

Mercy, new each morning

Love that will not fail

© Janet Martin 

***

Lord, You know what today/this week will bring

And what its charges will entail

Lord, there is no chink in Your wing

The armour You forge will not fail

Lord, with truth and humility

Let our light shine forth, and then

Through each good deed may others see

You, and glorify You. Amen

© Janet Martin 

***

Christ the True and Better (Lyric Video) - Matt Boswell & Matt Papa

Only For Today...

 

Phil.4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always.

 I will say it again: Rejoice! 

5Let your gentleness be evident to all.

 The Lord is near.

 6Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in every situation,

 by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving, 

present your requests to God. 

7And the peace of God, 

which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds

 in Christ Jesus.

A little doodle to begin a new week of looking up...

(Disclaimer: I have never pretended to be an accomplished artist 😅😂)

Not for tomorrow’s load of care

But only for today

I lift to Thee a simple prayer

To be my Strength and Stay

Not for tomorrow’s want and need

Do I pour out my heart

But only for today I plead

‘Lord, help me do my part’

Not for tomorrow’s battle-cry

Nor morrow’s misery

But only for today, supply

Mercy’s kind courtesy

Not for tomorrow’s come-what-may

Do I beseech Thy grace

Dear Lord, but only for today

Be sorrow’s resting place

Lord, list'ner of love's humble prayer

In Jesus’ name I pray

Fit me, not for tomorrow’s care

But only for today

And, should courage and confidence

Falter, Lord, help me hear

Your whisper, like a thousand winds  

'Fear not, for I am near'

© Janet Martin

A song for your wondering pleasure!

Who Am I?

To the Weaver of Creature Cares, Some Poem-let Prayers

My friend gave me this book for Christmas.

She cautioned that it might make me shed some tears.

It did. 

But what worthwhile tears they are

as it reminded me of Rom.8:28 again,

'how God works all things together for good

to those who love Him and are called

according to his purpose.'

Sometimes, the troubled parts we see as hues of heartache blend

Are but threads in a Tapestry we cannot comprehend 

How often what may seem like disappointing change of plan

Is but God's intervention anointing the will of man

As from a skein of Mercy's flax He weaves, beyond our ken

Much more than we could think to ask or think to think. Amen  

***

Dear Lord, when I forget in the thick of setbacks and such

To visualize life's shimm'ring thread soft-tumbling through Your Touch 

Help me remember to picture You at the shuttle where

What looks like trouble's tincture is the answer to a prayer

The Weavers Work of Art I only see in part. Lord, then

Create in me a humbler heart of childlike faith, Amen 

***

Lord, when our hope is shaken by dark hues of circumstance 

When one we love is taken or when courage cannot dance

Beneath the weight of waiting and creature cares that life brings

Rather than hope deflating, lift it up on eagle's wings

Because, what tests faith's valour beyond logic's acumen 

May compose the key colour in Your Masterpiece. Amen

© Janet Martin 

Isn't it awesome to remember God knows what we have need of

even before we ask?! 

How His answers go before us all around the world in a wink! 

Matt. 6:8

...your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

His Love Cannot Fail

Hymn: Since Jesus my Savior

Since Jesus my Savior from sin rescued me

Life's pathway shines brighter because I am free

No harn can befall me though foes should assail

My refuge is Jesus, his love cannot fail.

His love cannot fail. His love cannot fail.

There's no one like Jesus, his love cannot fail.

My heart overflows with a wondrous delight

For Jesus is with me by day and by night

His love ever flowing so boundless and free

It never can fail, 'tis for you and for me.

His love cannot fail. His love cannot fail.

There's no one like Jesus, his love cannot fail

There's no one like Jesus to comfort and bless

There's no one like him in the hour of distress

He knows every trial on life's upward way

His love cannot fail, 'tis a joy day by day.

His love cannot fail. His love cannot fail.

There's no one like Jesus, his love cannot fail.

Singers: Altar of Praise Chorale

Words and music: James M. Black

Overcome With Joy

This past year felt a bit like a blur of one sorrow after another,

Dec. 14 marked eight months since the loss of my neighbour/friend.

Dec. 15, marked one month since my husband's mother passed to her desired rest,

And today, Dec.17, marks three months since I lost one of my beloved sisters, Lucy.

and many lost a friend,

but through deep grief I have time and again been speechlessly

overcome with joy through the comfort of promises from God's word and through

the compassion of so many caring family, friends and neighbours 

leaving in its wake a multitude of kinder, more tender friendships.

As we partake rather than flee from bearing one another's burdens

and so fulfilling the law/love of Christ, (Gal.6:2)

He surprises us with unsurpassed joy 

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice;

at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

Bach: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Lyrics)

Lord, leave me overcome with joy

No words can quite define

No circumstance can quite destroy

Nor sorrow undermine

Lord, as I lift my eyes to Thee

From earth's groaning employ

Remind me that mortality

Precedes eternal joy

Console me with the glorious thought

Of joy still set before

Until a joy I had not sought

Surprises sorrows sore

And fills the longings of my heart

With joy beyond compare

And faith to face the cunning art

Of stumbling block and snare

Permit a humbler joy be born

Upon my bended knee

As I lift up my plea each morn

Then wait expectantly

Amen

~Janet Martin

On Finding Faith's Fortune

It's easy to 'be still' in the calm scenes of life

like soft snowfall at daybreak,

But all of life is not A Soft Snowfall

Today's poem is a prayer

because walking by faith never happens by accident. 

Today Lord, make my gladness whole, not with some outward sign

But, with your whispers, quench my soul, lest cursed, I thirst and pine

Help me be still and know that You are God; by faith, not sight

Open the eyes of my heart to Your wonder and delight

Remind me of Your kindness, whose full proof streams undeterred

Redeem me from my blindness to/through the riches of Your Word

Restore my soul to worship as I behold Calvary

Renew love's sacred courtship/rebuke each carnal courtship; create a clean heart in me

Though my spirit is willing, Lord, you know my flesh is weak

(Faith's fortune, though more thrilling than this world's, is hard to seek)

This world's allure is glamour-glossed but is death and hell's prey

My God, without counting the cost, help me choose You today

Lord, faith must all self-will resign; feeling and sight denied

Help me to make your promise mine; and thus, in peace reside

For you will keep in perfect peace the mind that trusts in You

All futile fear and worry cease as Your peace runs faith through

From Nazareth a Good Thing came; a child was born, Your Son

And Jesus is His holy name; Saviour for everyone

Lord, hope and joy need nothing more; surprise me once again

To find Faith's fortune, set/yet before, my chief delight. Amen

 © Janet Martin 

Ps.51:6-12

...Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9Hide Your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from Your presence;

take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and sustain me with a willing spirit...

Read the whole glorious chapter  HERE

Content (A Prayer)

The message at my mother-in-law's funeral yesterday

filled my sorrow-worn heart with comfort as we

'press toward the mark for the prize 

of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil.3:14

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 For we brought nothing into the world,

 and we can take nothing out of it.

1 Tim.6:6-7

As I listened I was impacted by a wonder-filled wave

of comfort, joy and gratitude for the enough-ness of God's Word!

It inspired a prayer for contentment...

Lord, today before we embark toward its setting sun

And press anew toward the mark for the prize not yet won

Lord, grant us eyes to see Your Hand and ears to hear Your voice

And hearts content to understand faith's reasons to rejoice

Content to trust the measure of Your ever-present care

Content to count Your perfect love worth every cross we bear

Content to comfort sorrow's pleas with promises to claim

Content to fall upon our knees and call upon Your name

Content to live a hymn of praise for Your kind faithfulness  

Content to commit all our ways to You; You cheer and bless 

Content to know You will not cease throughout eternity 

That you will keep in perfect peace each mind stayed upon Thee

Content to satisfy Want's thirst from wellsprings of Your word

Content where daybreak's bowers burst with mercies undeterred  

Content, because Your grace bridges the depths of death and hell

Content because your Word's riches no tallying can tell 

Content because better than gold, is the joy of You, Lord

Content because we know You hold Time's vulnerable cord

Content because You hold the key to happiness unfurled

Without You reigns depravity though we gain all the world  

Content to strive to imitate Divine Humility 

To be obedient, though great the cross and cost may be

Content to know without a doubt what You say You will do

Content to make today about eternity with You 

Content to live to give you all honor and glory, oh

Forgive me, Lord, sometimes I fall prey to Self, as You know 

Content because Your love is true, your Word is too, and then

Content because greater are You than anything. Amen 

  © Janet Martin

The song below is comforting too...

Wish You Were Here

 

When We All Get To Heaven | Official Music Video | Redeemed Quartet

Nothing Is Mine Alone Save This...

Lest I harbour an unforgiving spirit,

Lest I forget whose love and grace grants what I consider 'mine',

Lest I grow greedy, self-serving/reliant, proud, bitter, 

Lord open my eyes and remind me,

The only thing that is mine 

is my reply to You

for all You have given/done for me

On Sunday we were challenged to contemplate our

response, attitude and gratitude for forgiveness

Click HERE and then click Nov. 10 service

for beautiful baptism testimonies, 

and meaningful message!

Mark 11:26

But if ye do not forgive, 

neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Lord, you forgive, You bore my shame/blame

Not one sin saved to damn 

Then Lord, help me in the same way

To forgive fellowman  

May these words forever strike a chill to our undying souls,

'I will not forgive'

Thy handiwork and love, my awe...

Dear Lord,

Remind me, what is 'mine' is Thine

All that First Glances own

Are but gifts from Thy Hand divine

Nothing is 'mine' alone

Save Thy forgiveness for my sin

Thy Presence for my fear

Thy Love, my stubborn will to win

Thy Word, my hope and cheer

Thy promises, my faith's delight

My joy, Thy grief achieved

Thy death for my eternal life

The hour I believed

Thy rod and staff to comfort me

Thy pardon for my debt

Thy mercy, my humility

Thy grace for my regret

Thy life for mine; Thy life-blood shed

Thy prayer-groaned/honed albatross

'Father forgive'; Thyself instead

Of me upon the cross 

Thy penance for my reckoning

My power by Thy Name

My reply to Thy beckoning

Is all that I can claim

Thy handiwork and love, my awe

Thy Righteousness, my peace

No hope have I save by Thy law

That anchors my release

From death and hell, My freedom sealed

By Thy decree divine 

My brokenness, by Thy Wounds healed

All that I have is Thine 

So, when my erring attitude

Forgets Thy goodness, then

Correct my lack of gratitude

As You see fit. Amen

© Janet Martin

I've shared the songs below many times

because I love them!

There Is A Fountain With Lyrics By Selah

Forgiven-Crowder

Come As You Are-Crowder

Hope's Sublimity or Recognizing The Comforter

A friend sent me these verses last night to encourage me

and help me guard against despair...

2 Cor.4:8-9 NIV

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not in despair; 

 persecuted, but not abandoned; 

struck down, but not destroyed...

Thank-you Lord!

Thank-you, as you rend night's curtain

 Whatever today commands

Your hope lets Faith know for certain

That we are in perfect Hands 

A prayer to begin a new week...

While I am learning how to love You, Lord, the way I ought

How to be a reflection  of the love that Your love taught

How not to think more highly of Self than I should, instead

To live with more awareness of the life-blood that You shed

Then, to be much more thankful for the hope Your pardon sealed

While I am learning hope's bedrock; by your wounds I am healed 

Have mercy, Lord, while I am learning hope's sublimity; 

If you kept record of my sin, how hopeless hope would be...

© Janet Martin

Hope is grief's Healer

In Christ's wounds whereby we are healed, 

Hope is manifested.

Here we find the tangibility of these truths

Ps.147:3

He heals the brokenhearted 

and binds up their wounds.

Ps.34:18

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, 

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Isa.53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

 he was crushed for our iniquities;

 the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 

and by his wounds we are healed.

Before Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended He promised this;

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit-John 14:15-18

(Joel 2:28-32; John 16:5-16; Acts 2:1-13; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7)

15If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:

but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you...

You Are Mine- David Haas 

Yea, Though I Walk Through the Valley...A Prayer

 

I received the postcard below in the mail last week,

Painted by my friend 

this was yesterday's devotion...

Every day I am comforted by visits, messages, phone calls, 

scripture, cards, meals, food-gifts, flowers, songs and prayers

Thank-you all so very much!

As, through each kindness I learn

God's faithfulness at every turn

On Sunday, as I gazed at this view at my friend's home...

...I felt the presence of this verse...

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Ps.23:2

Dear Lord, supply my need today

To trust Your will, Your Word, Your Way

To love Your law then, to obey

In Jesus precious Name, I pray

Your rod and staff, they comfort Me

Your armour thwarts the enemy

Though dark the passage through death’s vale

The Light of Your Word will not fail

Dear Lord, in Thee I put my trust

Until my frame returns to dust

Help me to be faithful and true

Until my soul returns to You

I love you Lord, let nothing mar

My confidence in who You are

Through every gasp of grief and pain

Your perfect purpose will sustain

Your goodness and mercy abide

Save me from doubt's rebellious pride

Your thoughts reach far beyond my ken

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

© Janet Martin

Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs

 according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Sharing the link to  two stunning

and new for me songs sent to me this morning...

What a Broken Heart Can Do-Brian Free & Assurance 

Cares Chorus-Kelly Willard 

I can almost here Lucy exclaiming over the songs!!