Sing For Joy or Worth It

"folding is my least favourite part' said Victoria just now

'but the fluffiness makes it worth it!'

...as she labors patiently at folding in the egg-whites

for her dad's belated birthday cake;

Coffee Cream Sponge Cake

😋

Her cakes make our family sing for joy.

She's got the touch!

Psalm 95:1

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 66:1

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

The irises are bursting with 'joyful noise' these days...

A lot of early perennials have a very brief bloom,

but the joy they bring while blooming is so worth it!

...it's so windy this morning the irises were like trying to

get toddlers to pose for a picture...

they wouldn't stand still.

One morning this week Toddler arrived sporting her latest fashion trend;

Sister's (clean) undie-hat😂

Tots can be extremely draining, but the joy they bring is SO worth it!!💗💗💗

Lift up your hands and sing for joy where loveliness abounds

In spite of all that breaks our hearts, annoys, dismays, confounds

God is still good; He cares for us; He helps us so we may

Deny ourselves; take up our cross and follow Him today

Morning runs rife with heartache in each day the Lord has made

Sorrow stalks ev’ry step we take and fear seeks to invade

Be not afraid but sing for joy; let God’s goodness console

For nothing on earth can destroy His Absolute control

The earth and its fulness thereof, yon boundless galaxy

Cannot contain God’s perfect love He proved at Calvary

Greater is He in us than He who is in-of the world

Then sing for joy; let love’s truth be triumph’s banner unfurled

When we are tempted to despair because of what must pass

Cry to the Lord in earnest prayer; He keeps His promises

And, lest the stones cry out where doubt has silenced our song

Lift up your voice and shout for joy to He who does no wrong

Bow down before the One who has declared His sovereignty

‘Heaven, my throne, earth, my footstool; what have you built for me’

Come, humbly yield to His command and tremble at His Word

And sing for joy beneath the Hand of justice undeterred

What may seem ignored by the Lord is not; be of good cheer

Someday God will reward what may seem so forgotten here

Then sing for joy (if you believe) after this grief and strife

It will be worth it, as we receive everlasting life

© Janet Martin

a few more joy-peeks at what makes everything else SO worth it...

6:30 a.m. play-dough time?!

His grin says anytime is play-dough time!

Isa.66:1-2

Thus says the Lord:

“Heaven is My throne,

And earth is My footstool.

Where is the house that you will build Me?

And where is the place of My rest?

For all those things My hand has made,

And all those things exist,”

Says the Lord.

“But on this one will I look:

On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

And who trembles at My word.

Matt.24:6

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:

see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass,

but the end is not yet.

Will You Believe?

  PAD Challenge 27:

For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

Write a believe poem and/or...

Write a don't believe poem.

John 14:27

John 16:33

This world

will wound

And disappoint

And betray

And pretend

But I 

will bind

Grief’s gap

-ing groans

And be 

Your 

Faithful 

Friend

This world 

will pass 

away;

This life 

on earth

Ephemeral

But I AM 

Alpha

and 

Omega

I AM 

Eternal

This world 

at best

Brings out 

the worst

In mortal’s 

sin-cursed 

glove

But I 

transform

Fear, 

doubt,

and hate,

Into 

faith, 

hope 

and love

This world 

is chaotic 

and cruel

with wars 

that will not 

cease

I AM gentle

patient 

and kind

I AM

Your perfect

peace

This world

makes promises

that it 

cannot keep

or control

I AM

the Word, 

Way,

 Truth 

and Life

the Daddy

of your

Soul

Will you 

embrace 

this world's 

illusions; 

trust death's 

loveless 

lies 

Or will 

you believe

 and receive

 life's

 everlasting

 Prize?

Love, God

© Janet Martin

Compact Version😊

This world will wound and disappoint and betray and pretend

But I will bind grief’s gaping groans and be your Faithful Friend

This world will pass away; This life on earth Ephemeral

But I AM Alpha and Omega; I AM Eternal

This world at best brings out the worst in mortal’s sin-cursed glove

But I transform fear, doubt and hate into faith, hope and love

This world is chaotic and cruel with wars that will not cease

I AM gentle, patient and kind; I AM your perfect peace

This world makes promises that it cannot keep or control

I AM the Word, Way, Truth and Life, the Daddy of Your soul

Will you embrace this world's illusions; trust death's loveless lies 

Or will you believe and receive life's everlasting Prize?

Love, God 

 © Janet Martin

John 1:12

But as many as received Him, 

to them He gave the right to become children of God, 

to those who believe in His name:

Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace

Onus of Belief (and unbelief)

 PAD Challenge 27:

For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

Write a believe poem and/or...

Write a don't believe poem.

We Believe- Newsboys

 

Some are afraid to Believe

For the onus it will bring

Because belief is grounded in

The soil of reckoning

And reckoning becomes

When this mist-kiss is through

The price of Belief’s soldered sums

Not in the what, but Who

Still, some avoid Belief

As if this will annul

The Soul that cannot die

And reply's inevitable

They scorn love’s Beckoning

Disregard the reward

But oh, unbelief's reckoning

Ought not to be ignored

© Janet Martin

John 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

 that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him. 

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already 

because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, 

but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 

 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light 

for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 

 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, 

so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done 

has been done in the sight of God.

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,

but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Romans 10:9

that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"

and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,

you will be saved

Beauty of Believing...

PAD Challenge 27:

For this Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

Write a believe poem and/or...

Write a don't believe poem.

For Beauty of being is climbing the hill

But then, taking sweet time to enjoy the view

Believe in the largeness of faith's little leaps

Of finish-lines not too far-off to forget

For Beauty of living lies not in yon deep

But Here, in Now's Very Present Pirouette

Believe in a Power that surpasses thought 

Believe that God's goodness will never depart

In Beauty of loving; its masterpiece wrought

Not in fairness of form or face, but the heart

Believe in small syllables like 'us' and 'we'

Believe in the potent potential of ink

The Beauty of learning in poetry

In eth'real elixirs, sky blue, gold and pink

Believe in Becoming; not in standing still

Braving the battle of Seasons, strange and new

For Beauty of being is climbing the hill

But then, taking sweet time to enjoy the view

Believe He is able, Who breathes life to dust

And spreads out a feast for taste buds of the soul

Beauty of Believing accomplishes trust

While poised on Percussion of Unknown's drum roll

Janet Martin

Ephes.5:15-17

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 

 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 

I Believe -Redeemed Quartet 

 

Come To Jesus

 Come to Jesus - Chris Rice

One scandal after another after another...

One we are all a part of; Sin

We all need Jesus

for there is no one righteous, no, not one

So when they continued asking him, 

he lifted up himself, and said unto them, 

He that is without sin among you,

let him first cast a stone at her.

John 8:7

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."

Acts 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, 

for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind 

by which we must be saved."

Come to Jesus, 

Full forgiveness 

Waits the sinner to immerse 

Come to Jesus 

He releases 

Condemnation’s 

Woeful curse 

What is man 

But bent and broken 

‘neath a debt of guilt and shame 

Come to Jesus 

Mercy frees us 

There is hope in Jesus’ Name 

Come to Jesus 

Heavy-laden 

Come to love that will not fail 

Lay down dread 

And regret’s burden 

Death and hell will not prevail 

Let the rivers 

Of salvation 

In scarlet redemption flow 

There is no more 

Condemnation 

To sinner’s washed white as snow 

Come to Jesus 

He receives us 

Without prejudice and blame 

Come to Jesus 

Trust His promise 

‘to pardon is why He came’ 

Do not let the 

Lies of evil 

Keep you bound by doubt’s dark hour 

This is but 

The blight of Eden 

Seeking who he may devour 

Come to Jesus 

Rock of ages 

Anchoring the storm-tossed Soul

Come to Jesus 

He will save us 

Only faith can make us whole 

© Janet Martin 

Someday, Forevermore or Bond of Freedom

(for we who share the bond of freedom in Christ)

For now we are apart but someday

worshippers will sing together forever and ever!

This first song is very fitting for the times we are in

(worth the while to read the translation)

Simon & Max Khorolskiy - Не грусти, не рыдай

FILL MY CUP, LORD | THE LIVING STONES QUARTET

 

Glorify Thy Name

 

1 Thess.4:16-18

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, 

with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, 

and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

After that, we who are still alive and are left 

will be caught up together with them 

in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 

And so we will be with the Lord forever. 

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

From sea to sea and shore to shore we who believe are bound 

By a sweet and communal cord of common, holy ground 

The blood that washes sinners clean and sets the cursed soul free 

Is Mercy’s universal vein that binds God’s family 

Salvation, wrought through Jesus Christ is our saving faith 

His death, to pay the debtor’s price no offering could erase 

For blood of bulls and rams could not atone and justify 

Only a Perfect Lamb, the Son of God could satisfy 

And by His outpoured blood we are unified far and wide 

To be the family of God; His pure and spotless bride 

Not by our works (lest we would boast) but by the grace of He 

Who gave his uttermost upon the cross of Calvary 

From sea to sea and shore to shore, while onward ages roll 

A beautiful, mutual yoke binds soul to soul to soul 

Of we who are freed from death’s sting through He came to save 

Because He died and rose again, Christ has conquered the grave 

Jesus fulfilled salvation’s plan, His name above all names 

Has given to the soul of man, hope, without guilt’s past claims 

Redemption is the joy we share, His love the song we sing 

In universal praise and prayer to Jesus Christ our King 

© Janet Martin 

Reason Enough

  

I Stand Amazed

Your Will Be Done

What a tragedy to have enough religion 

to believe in the existence of God but,

not familiar with His word,

  His precious, enduring promises,

 have nothing to cling to in troubled and uncertain times 

to ground, guide, caution, comfort and cheer.

The wellspring of God’s goodness brims 

With Reason Enough to sing praise 

For Hope transcends all mortal things 

Which fuel sorrow’s troubled days 

What love approved Salvation’s rod 

He became sin who knew no sin 

So that the righteousness of God 

Becomes the righteousness of man 

The promises of God endure 

This, Reason Enough to press on 

None else can annul or secure 

The pardon purchased through God’s Son 

Then, though the bold world make-believes 

That it can reason all things well 

Beware, for arrogance deceives 

Unbelief achieves only hell 

Therefore, gird up thy loins of thought 

Be sober, and hope to the end 

In the salvation Jesus wrought 

Yet to reveal in full, my friend 

Oh, think upon His wondrous grace 

As we, hope’s advocates behold 

The grim fulfillment taking place 

That ancient prophecy foretold 

And let hope be Reason Enough 

To shout for joy and trust always 

In the wellspring where Perfect love 

Grants Reason Enough to sing praise 

…where but two destinies exist 

Heaven or hell, without a doubt 

And Death is but the catalyst 

To Who this life is all about 

© Janet Martin

1 Peter 1:13-21

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace

that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, 

conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [f]stay here in fear; 

knowing that you were not redeemed with [g]corruptible things, like silver or gold, 

from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, 

but was [h]manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, 

who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

And That Believing We...

 But these are written that you may believe^[a] 

that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, 

and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31 

….and that believing we have life through His eternal name

Amidst this world’s trouble and strife we have hope without shame

No matter what mankind may do they cannot touch the soul

If we believe we have the pow’r of faith to make us whole

A joy unshakeable, though all else shakes our confidence

We know that we are able through Calvary’s consequence

He who suffered on our behalf for forgiveness of sins

Will never leave us Comfortless in this world’s sufferings

For we have the assurance in the trials that we meet

They forge firmer endurance so that faith may be complete

…and that believing we learn to be constant in our prayers

As we fix humbled yearning beyond this world’s sad affairs

Where joy we count comes from a fount they cannot comprehend

Until Belief opens our eyes we are like lost, blind men

But then, believing we receive the reason Jesus came  

To give life more abundantly through His eternal name

© Janet Martin

So many verses to encourage us 

in these darker days of health and economy!

May all who are seeking find

joy and peace through

Jesus' Name;

The True Light and Life-giver!

Romans 8:18-21 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing 

with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, 

but because of him who subjected it, i

n hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption 

and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God...

I Ask Not For Understanding...Just Faith

While I was writing this I found out about a barn fire in our community, 

I read Today's Daily Bread devotion: below is the first paragraph:

In the Middle Eastern country where they live, Adrian and his family suffer persecution for their faith. Yet, through it all, they demonstrate Christ’s love. Standing in his church courtyard, which was pummeled by bullets when terrorists used it as training ground, he said, “Today is Good Friday. We remember that Jesus suffered for us on the cross.” And suffering, he continued, is something that believers in Jesus there understand. But his family chooses to remain in their homeland: “We’re still here, still standing.”...

I prayed for my mom who this week was tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. She is doing reasonably well (over the worst, we hope) and is in the 3rd week of Quarantine. Please can you remember her in your prayers and pray for dad's protection?! 

I revisited a WOW-some Message I listened to yesterday by Dr. Charles Stanley...

 

I talked to hubby and daughter Emily on the phone for a while...about life!

...and in all of it found pieces to press into poem.

Praying this Good Friday, that soul-searching turns into worship in spirit and in truth...

 (and for my Russian friend/friends)

The STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL version below!

I ask not for understanding but for faith to ‘just believe’

Taking at God’s Word His promise of the life we will receive

Yes indeed, we will have trouble, but His Name is like a tow’r

Standing firm amidst the rubble; the cross cannot lose its pow’r

I ask not for understanding but for faith to ‘just obey’

To take up the cross of service and to follow all the way

For what profit is the measure of a pleasure-seeking goal

If the gain of this world’s treasure claims the price-tag of the soul

I ask not for understanding but for faith to ‘just endure’

Time is like a little teardrop on the cheek of Evermore

Where salvation grants Hope’s Wings that help us soar above earth’s loss

As we bow in humble worship in the shadow of the cross

© Janet Martin