Wonder-witnesses

Last night I got home after Jim (husband) was sleeping and he got up early to leave

so I got up as well to see him off.

then I was wide awake so I settled down for some 'quiet-time'

(such as praying for my sister-in-law Karen who is having 

a hip-replacement surgery today!! prayers valued)

but, my quiet-time was soon interrupted by a rather

suspicious rustling, so I set the mouse traps I have been saving for Jim to set,

...then returned to reading and writing (a few minutes ago I heard a 'snap!')

The background music and backdrop of poetry is often anything but poetic!!

This poem was inspired in part by a conversation this morning

 (while we waited for the coffee to brew) about

how it's harder to get the Christmas 'feeling' as we get older...

Also in part by my devotion passage from Isa.43.

As I read through the chapter I was suddenly so thankful

for the Christmas 'knowing' which is better forever

than just a 'feeling'.

We, by faith are witnesses of Hope's reason!

We are witnesses of wonder!

Isa.43:10-11

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

That you may know and believe Me,

And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,

Nor shall there be after Me.

11 I, even I, am the Lord,

And besides Me there is no savior.

We are witnesses of wonder...

He whose Word will never dim

Causes earth and sky to thunder

With the evidence of Him...

(upstairs window with a screen was my only option

to capture December dusk yesterday)

a wonder-evoking beauty in spite of being blocked by buildings

We are witnesses of wonder

He whose Word will never dim

Causes earth and sky to thunder

With the evidence of Him

Causes creation to capture

Eyes and ears with sight and sound

Overflowing hearts with rapture

As both great and small confound

We are witnesses of glory

So we may know and believe

In He who fulfilled love's story

Hope, joy and peace to achieve

He whose servant-like behaviour

Purchased pardon for sin's debt

Hallelujah, what a Saviour

Dying in the sinner's stead

We are witnesses of promise

Only faith can apprehend

As we fix our eyes on Jesus

And hope's assurance defend

As we trust the One and Only

Author and Perfecter of

Faith; as His truth cheers the lonely

With His everlasting love

We are witnesses of wonder

Where good tidings of great joy

Break the bars of hell asunder

Through Bethlehem's Baby Boy

Glory to God in the highest

Glory to the King of kings

Glory to His love unbiased

And the hope that Jesus brings

He, wounded for our transgression,

Bruised for our iniquities

Through Calvary's intercession

Fulfilled ancient prophecies

We, witnesses of salvation

We, who by His stripes are healed

Sing with joyful exaltation

For the Lord's pleasure revealed 

We are witnesses of 'Knowing'

What the angels sang about

Of the love of God bestowing

Light to pierce shadows of doubt

Of the Word that makes His dwelling

In the likes of you and me

Witnesses of Christ's compelling

Love for all humanity

Janet Martin

Mary's Boy Child- Jim Reeves

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol) - Keith & Kristyn Getty

The Journey of Grief...a Reflection

The Journey of Grief 

As we face the journey of grief, no one hands us a map, 

clearly marked with when we must navigate what, or how, 

and no one hands those around us a map either,

with a distinctly highlighted path from starting point to finish line of grief’s journey.

On the journey of grief, each landscape varies; 

its hilltops and valleys uniquely individual,

uncharted, and ever so personal.

Sometimes, on its journey, grief grants pitstops where, 

for a glorious minute or hour

We forget that we are sad, 

forget bitter loss as we taste and treasure,

 if only for a little

a hint of sweeter days to come…

Then the weight of sadness rushes back in, 

its ebb and flow without cut and dry rhythms.

Some days sorrow almost overwhelms us with longing 

for what will never be again;

Longing to hear their voice, 

to see their smiles and tears and, feel their hugs.

Longing for new stories about him or her. 

But there are no new stories

So, we recall the old ones again 

and laugh or cry,

in a tender effort to keep 

precious memories alive!

In the journey of grief, we hurt for ourselves 

but we also hurt for fellow-travelers/mourners.

And in our human sorrow-tender nature 

we want to help them;

To ease suffering by easing their weight of sadness;

The very weight that God allows for us

 to discover firsthand the glorious power of Him;

His Very present Help, 

His comfort, 

His strength!

The very weight we want to eradicate 

is the weight that draws us to our knees!

To our personal Gethsemanes, 

to learn utter surrender 

and echo the prayer of Jesus

Not spared from pain and sorrow as He prayed

 ‘not my will but Thine’

And because of Jesus, the believer’s journey of grief

 is not traveled alone or without hope.

For the believer the promise in Rom.8:28, 

that God works all things for good to those who love Him,

 and are called according to His purpose, 

is truth,

 is hope, 

is reality 

on a timeline beyond our control or comprehension.

On the topic of Life’s burdens J.R. Miller wrote,

In every burden that God lays upon us

 there is a blessing for us if only we will take it.

Our pain and sorrow, 

endured with sweet trust and submission

leave us with life purified and enriched, 

with more of Christ in us.

Is there any greater good that God could work 

than ‘more of Christ in us’?

I treasure now, more than ever, 

the words of Jesus when He comforted Martha 

after the death of her brother Lazarus; in John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 

And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. 

Do you believe this?”

What glorious comfort and hope 

transcends deepest grief, 

when we believe this!

Though grief is great, 

hope is greater.

Do you Believe This?

When Death, the Scythe that ceases Time, gathers a loved one beyond reach

Do you believe? Does Heaven’s clime become longing's lamenting roar

Though sorrow staggers 'neath the weight of lessons love must ever teach

Do you turn eyes toward a Gate that gleams far fairer than before

When Death delivers Farewell's rift and stuns the grasp of mortal ken

Do you believe? does God’s grace-gift fill sorrow with hope over-joyed

Because you know, though tears may flow, God keeps His promises. Amen

Though Death is a grim reaper, oh, how dear the hope that spans grief’s void

When Death reminds we who remain how small-swift-sacred is life's lease

When earthly loss is Heaven's gain does Heaven suddenly draw near?

Do we believe? with hurting hearts do we turn to the Prince of Peace

Trusting His will till sight imparts the face of God and loved ones dear

When Death, with one fell swoop subdues the Soul’s dust-to-dust vestibule

Then it will be to late to choose who we will trust or serve; oh pray

Do you believe in He who made the hope/home of Heaven possible

Are you prepared should Death’s swift blade cut your life to the quick today?

Do you believe and do you love He who does not leave or forsake

Is salvation’s solace enough to console sorrow’s weeping wail

For God so dearly loves and hears us; He draws nearer when hearts break

Through His Word He gently cheers us with goodness that will not fail

Janet Martin

Of Faith's Fortune...

The world wails/groans for a saviour,

for real hope and assurance,

seeking something/someone trustworthy to put their faith in...

while rejecting the Saviour of the world,

Whose hope and assurance

can only be received through faith!

'Ah, but I cannot have such faith!' do we say?

and yet, is Faith not displayed each time

we plant a seed, believing it will grow?!!

God did His part.

He gave us a Saviour,

but before we have access to

 the riches of His grace

we must do our part;

to repent and believe!

To repent is

to turn from our ways to His way!

To believe is...what a mystery belief is

only possible through faith!

and faith is only possible when we cease to doubt!!

Then, oh what true hope, joy and peace,

come by faith;

what knowledge and understanding

come to all who fear Him and love His name! 

Ps.111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:

a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

his praise endureth forever

Ps.112:1

Praise ye the Lord.

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord,

that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Ps.115:1&11,13,17&18

Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, 

but unto Thy name give glory,

for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake...

Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord:

 he is their help and their shield.

He will bless them that fear the Lord,

both small and great.

The dead praise not the Lord,

nor any that go down into silence.

but we will bless the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

 Praise the Lord.

Beyond the tent that tames the sun

And hosts heavens of stars

Beneath the depths of the ocean,

The breath that breaks night's bars...

Beyond earth and its fullness of

Flower, forest and mead...

Beyond the tent that tames the sun

And hosts heavens of stars

Beneath the depths of the ocean,

The breadth/breath that breaks night's bars

Beyond earth and its fullness of

Flower, forest and mead

And seasons that unfold above

The silence of the dead

Is God, the faithful God of all

The God who damns and saves

The God whose name both great and small

Are called to fear and praise 

The God who is Lion and Lamb

Whose divine Word is chief

The God who is the great I AM

And helps our unbelief

 

...whose greatest commandment is love

The love that He imparts

Without exception, in spite of

The dregs of human hearts

He forgives us, if we confess

He saves, if we believe

Faithful in all He promises

And only faith receives

Then, when faith begins to take root

Our hymns to God increase

The life, once dead, is rich with fruit

Of hope and joy and peace

In all who believe in is Name

Life's rivers are unfurled

Through He whose glory we proclaim

'The Saviour of the world' 

Janet Martin

John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:

 ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

David Crowder Band - Because He Lives (Lyrics)

 

Many reject Him because they cannot understand Him.

We cannot possibly begin to comprehend

the depths of his love, but He gave us a glimpse

of its extension on the cross of Calvary!

Rom.11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches 

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

 How unsearchable are His judgments 

and His ways past finding out!

Everyone who comes to Him, 

comes, not by understanding,

but by faith.

Are you afraid!

Are you discouraged?

Have you done your part

so God can do His?

Have you prayed 'Lord, I believe

help thou mine unbelief?'

There is no fairyland waiting after death!

God through his Son, made a way that all may come to Him

and all who truly believe will pass from death to life-

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word 

and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life 

and will not come under judgment. 

Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

John 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, 

because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

For One and All, the Same

Ten thousand people doing something wrong does not,

as the number of wrong-doers increases,

eventually make the wrong right!

'They do it too' is a dangerous excuse if 'they' are doing wrong!

2 Cor.5:9-10 (read the whole sacred chapter HERE)

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, 

to be well pleasing to Him. 

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 

that each one may receive the things done in the body, 

according to what he has done, whether good or bad...

We are well known to God

Our hearts, an open page

Then bow before Him, wholly awed

For He holds judgment’s wage

A wage we justify

With simple clarity

The track-record of our reply

Will prove if we loved He

…who suffered Calvary

To pardon our sin

So that all who believe will be

Heirs and co-heirs with Him

(To believe is to know

For all that we do not

That by the grace of God we go

Regardless of our lot)

The hour we believe

Repenting of our sin

Is the same hour we receive

Eternal life with Him

Through God’s Son, sacrificed

Salvation’s gift was wrought

Repentance, through the blood of Christ

Redeems each soul, blood-bought

How Mercy must have groaned

Knowing love’s albatross

To gain the joy of sin atoned

He must endure the cross

But there, belief begins

A lifelong wonderment

In He who forgives our sins

And makes the heart content

He arms us for faith’s strife

Through the might of His name

He is the Way, the Truth, the Life

For one and all, the same

© Janet Martin

John 3:14-18

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:

 but he that believeth not is condemned already, 

because he hath not believed in the name 

of the only begotten Son of God.

Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?

 

To Live a Hymn

Yesterday I attended the funeral

of my friend's father-in-law.

He was 65.

Then, I attended a visitation for another friend's son-in-law.

He was 34.

There my friend told me how my sister Lucy's picture hangs near her sewing machine

so she remembers to pray for me and Lucy's family.

(for irregular visitors here; my sister lost her life suddenly 

when she was hit while riding her bicycle last Sept.) 

Lucy was 55. 

When someone we love passes away it brings an end to

conversations, activities, dreams and plans once fondly shared.

But it flings wide the renewed invitation to dredge the deeps of

what truly matters, above all!

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.

 1 Cor.13:13

Faith in the finished work of the cross!

Hope through Jesus' resurrection!

so we may know God's love

that surpasses knowledge!

1 Cor.15:16-19

16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, 

we are of all people most to be pitied.

John 11:25-26

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.

 The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 

26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. 

Do you believe this?”

Do the above verses not ignite or rekindle a desire

to live the reflection of belief/faith?!

to live a hymn of hope?!

to live the light of love?!!

To live a hymn of love for Thee

O Lord, let this our motive be

To yield Want’s will to Thy command

To trust the leading of Thy Hand

And not with human wisdom try

Reason’s demand to satisfy

But without fail, to find enough

Where these abide;

 Faith, hope and love

To live a hymn to worship Thee

No matter what the cost may be

To know, no matter what our lot

Tis cradled in Divine Forethought

Where, once for all, Thy sacrifice

Suffered and covered pardon’s price

So, we would always find enough

Where these abide;

 Faith, hope and love

To live a hymn of humble awe

O Lord, to delight in Thy law

And then to fill Time's bar of days

With open-handed, thankful praise

Rather than loot of fleeting pelf

That cannot appease gods of Self

Lord, overflow hearts with enough

Where these abide;

Faith, hope and love 

To live a hymn of joy in Thee

With faith and hope's expectancy

Without a dearer purpose than

To love you first, then fellowman

To lay before Thy throne of grace

Each tear that treads the soul or face

Each prayer learning to find enough

Where You provide

 Faith, hope and love

© Janet Martin

Eph.3:14-21

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,

 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.

 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you

 with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 

18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,

 to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

 according to his power that is at work within us, 

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

for ever and ever! 

Amen.

Read the full glorious chapter of 1 Cor.15 HERE

1 Cor.15:50-58

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, 

that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,

 nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 

52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 

For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, 

and we will be changed. 

53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, 

and the mortal with immortality.

 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, 

and the mortal with immortality,

 then the saying that is written will come true: 

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h]

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 

57 But thanks be to God! 

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. 

Let nothing move you.

 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,

 because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Below, the last paragraphs of yesterday's and today's devotions from

Streams in the Desert Vol.2

...and last but not least, my most listened to song of 2024...

I Set My Hope on Jesus

In The Light of Salvation

What a weekend of events I was blessed to be part of, 

in roles both of serving and being served through/with our church family!

I am so thankful for fellow-believers who lovingly understand and forgive 

my imperfections and love me because of the love of Christ!

Hallelujah🙏

On Saturday I was part of a team that served food to men 

who gathered for encouragement and instruction, 

as they strive to be spiritual leaders and servants of God

 in their homes, church, community, etc. 

yummy fresh fruit, bundt and coffee cake buffet for the morning refreshments,

...and then I TOTALLY forgot to take pictures of lunch!

***

Fellow-believers are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Just as in any family, we don't all see eye to eye in everything

but as we cherish and marvel at the grace of God,

through His gift of salvation, He helps us to forgive

and love one another!

We cannot love as we ought, while clinging to grudges,

and hope, while doing so, to reap the benefits/blessings of God's grace.

After professing to receive the gift of saving grace, the redemption

 that pardons the penalty of sin, through the precious blood of Christ,

pray we do not we refuse grace/forgiveness to our fellowman.

Grace to our fellowman is not approving of, or excusing brokenness, sin, etc.

but it is a willingness, in light of God's mercy and faithfulness

to love one another and to trust Him to work in each of our lives 

as we humbly pray for and encourage each other. 

How much we miss firstly, of joy of  the Lord

 and then also of loving each other,

 if we allow bitterness to bind our wounds,

rather than forgiveness! 

Matt.18:21

21 Then Peter came to Him and said,

 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, 

and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, 

but up to seventy times seven.

 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king 

who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, 

one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 

25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, 

with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 

26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 

‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 

27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, 

released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants 

who owed him a hundred denarii; 

and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying,

 ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 

29 So his fellow servant fell down [a]at his feet and begged him, saying,

 ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [b]all.’ 

30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done,

 they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him,

 ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 

33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, 

just as I had pity on you?’ 

34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers 

until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you 

if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [c]his trespasses.

***

I/We cannot cling to grudges against those who wrong me/us, yet

Assume the One who judges will forgive me/us, and forget

Each bitter accusation, as God pardons you and me

In the light of salvation loses its validity 

I/we cannot harbour grievances that foster futile strife

Yet claim the gift of righteousness and everlasting life 

Redemption's transformation triumphs where mortal might fails 

In the light of salvation love petitions and prevails 

I/we cannot guard an idol of reasons to sustain spite

Yet boast faith's rich reward with all who have fought The Good Fight 

The God of all creation provides hope in Christ alone

In the light of salvation none are fit to cast a stone  

© Janet Martin

CityAlight ~ Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me (Lyrics)

What a foretaste of glory yesterday, as voices united to sing this hymn of worship...

An Evolving Evaluation (of Evidence)

Today's poem began with a 'blush hush/rush' soon filled with workday noise!

 Happy workday, everyone! 

(and my heart/prayers go out to all who wish they could work and can't)

I hope today's poem grants a splash of joy and good cheer!

This poem kind of evolved with the dissolving of daybreak...

from texts from Young Mother...

...from rumble of industry

 

from not knowing where to begin

to count the ways of Evidence of Him...

all on a backdrop of Mercy's evidence renewed...

Dawn’s blush hush/rush fills with workday noise

Nature’s showcase unveils fresh joys

That none can claim with boastful pride

Where colors of the countryside

Like ever-changing works of art

Amaze the mind and thrill the heart

Evoking a hymn, like a prayer

In praise to One beyond compare

Whose ways we cannot comprehend

Whose faithfulness will never end

Whose Word is trustworthy and true

Whose promises naught can undo

Where, as dawn slips on workday hues/shoes

As industry resumes its dues

And motherhood its sacred charge

As dawn unmoors its teeming barge

How humbly wonderful to know

Whose goodness none can overthrow

Whose hope is sure, whose hand will guide

From break of day to eventide

Where nature’s showcase spills God’s heart

In unparalleled works of art

Where earth and sky declare His name

Inviting/compelling us to do the same

A wealth of wonder waits. Ahoy

Nature’s showcase erupts with joy

We hardly know where to begin

To count the frames, we see God in

Creation’s cradles stream and brim

With countless evidence of Him

Making more pitiful the clod

Who clings to denials of God

Making meeker all who believe

Because of the grace we receive

Making gladder the humbler prayer

To He who knows each creature care

© Janet Martin

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—

his eternal power and divine nature—

have been clearly seen, 

being understood from what has been made, 

so that people are without excuse.

Whose hope is sure, whose hand will guide

From break of day to eventide...

For This Unprecedented Age...

For this unprecedented age of immorality; 

 of abortion, adultery, homosexuality, 

transgenderism, mass confusion, child neglect and abuse, 

agnosticism, atheism, theism and paganism 

on and on it goes; 

there is only one cure! 

Repentance and belief in the One True God! 

Then as belief yields fruits of repentance/obedience 

to Him through His Word, only then can any real cure begin!

In this age of unprecedented distraction

esp. through the buffet of options offered through modern technology,

God's still, small Voice can be drowned out

until it goes away...!!!🙏🙏

Without careful, prayerful awareness we are all at the risk

of drowning the quietness with just enough noise

to keep us from thinking too deeply/aka, hearing God speak!

(I use the phrase 'unprecedented' cautiously but also with awareness

to the reality that due to modern technology

 and approval by the powers that be, access to

certain atrocities has become medically promoted/commonplace

like never before!)

Thus, thanks in part to modern technology

we are living in an age of unprecedented opportunity and opposition!

The cure for the problem is what it has always been...

2 Chron.7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves

 and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

 then I will hear from heaven,

 and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The page below read a few days ago,(from the book mentioned here and here)

first sparked this poem from a train of thought that has been

ongoing recently..

.(and this book was written in the '60's!!

The line that esp. hits home is this one;

'and they will be tomorrow's leaders')

And also in part by yesterday's devotion

from Pathways to His Presence by Charles Stanley

For this unprecedented age

Where, at epidemical rates

Mortal rejects its Creator

And fundaments of Truth, debates

Or altogether disregards

What once was reverenced, with awe

Choosing darkness, rather than light

Without godly order or law…

For this unprecedented age

Of lack of fear and faith in He

Who is the Saviour of the soul

The sole hope of humanity

Where churches, once ringing with praise

And sounds of glorious gospel truth

Have been abandoned for the gasp

Of worldly pleasure and pursuit

For this unprecedented age

Of pride going before the fall

As nations, founded on God’s Word

Promote abandoning it all

To be gods, wise in their own eyes

But are in fact, blind leading blind

Where deceit, like a gaping pit

Swallows the unbelieving mind

For this unprecedented age

Of impropriety endorsed

And applauded by worldly-wise

Without guilt and shame, or remorse

For this unprecedented age

Of wolves wearing sheep-like disguise

Soothing, smoothing the inner prick

With unbiblical, sweet, sweet lies

For this unprecedented age

Of unbelief, we pray and pray

We, who with faith and fear believe

In the approach of That Great Day

Oh Lord, we pray and pray that ‘they’

Would repent and believe in You

And that we who believe would be

A vessel that your Light shines through

© Janet Martin

2 Cor.4:1-6

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, 

we do not lose heart. 

2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; 

we do not use deception,

 nor do we distort the word of God.

 On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly 

we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

 3 And even if our gospel is veiled,

 it is veiled to those who are perishing.

 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,

 so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, 

who is the image of God. 

5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, 

and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] 

made his light shine in our hearts

 to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory 

displayed in the face of Christ.

Trust and Obey

Christmas That Never Ends

Day-after-Christmas contemplation...

The hustle and bustle of Christmas busyness,

the rustle of wrapping paper,

the frenzy of last minute food and gift prep,

the shrieks of excitement and delight

will soon fade like fond footfalls of farewell,

we collect in heart-vaults.

...but the Spirit of Christmas,

because of God's everlasting goodness through the gift

of his Son, Jesus, is hopefully a daily joy, all year through!

Christmas Season, with all its fuss and bustle will soon fade

And disappear into the hush of Bygone’s promenade

But, Belief in the Reason for the season, anchors peace

His everlasting goodness gladdens hope with joy’s increase

Belief transforms the lens we look through to find happiness

It mends the holes in our souls with precious promises

And grounds faith in the merit of love, unfathomable

Where Father, Son and Spirit manifests Immanuel

Where redemption endorses profound possibility

The blood of Christ that cleanses and atones, sets sinners free

From the inherent curse; the first-fruit that first sin conceived

But God so rich in mercy washed away when we believed

This keeps the joy of Christmas alive in us all year long

His everlasting goodness kindles everlasting song

Because belief in the Reason for the Season transcends

The temporal; Jesus gives us Christmas that never ends

© Janet Martin

the morning after

a lot of laughter, food and joys aka noise😅💖!!!

John 10;10

I have come that they may have life, 

and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus~