How To Recognize What Matters Most

Yesterday morning began a new year of Sunday School,

at our church,

and as I joined the group of teachers and children

something hard to explain ripped through me...

such love for a room packed with Eager Innocence!!

(soon under fire!!)

What a sacred charge, for we who are older

to teach, (far more by example than words)

our children to remember their Creator in the days of their youth

and what it means to love the Lord, (y)our God,

with all (y)our heart, soul, strength and mind

and to love (y)our neighbour as (y)ourself! 

Luke 10:27,Mark 12:30-31,Matthew 22:37-40,

Deuteronomy 6:5,Deuteronomy 30:6,Romans 13:9,James 2:8,

Mark 12:33-34,Leviticus 19:18,1 John 3:18,Deuteronomy 10:12,

Matthew 19:19,Hebrews 8:10,Galatians 5:13

Children are such precious jewels!!

When He Cometh 

The older that we grow the harder it becomes to change set ways!

How crucial, while we may, to pray, 'God teach us to number our days...

...so we may gain a heart of wisdom, before days come, trouble-cursed

Before we find no pleasure in seeking God and His kingdom first

Before worldly cares choke His Word that fell like seed on thorny ground

Before strife or the pride of life lures love, still innocent and sound 

Before desire is not stirred to love the Lord with all we have

Before we boast, forgetful of Who's goodness and mercy forgave

...Us, while we were still dead in sin, sinless, God's Lamb was sacrificed

To rend the temple's veil and anchor Living Hope in Jesus Christ 

Granting to heirs of Love's great promise, consolation, strong and sure 

Fitting faith, when facing temptation, with conviction to endure

Before we grow old, habit-hardened, heart untuned to wisdom's ways/praise 

Pray the Lord to teach us early how to humbly number our days 

...and how to recognize the gain of what appears most modest mien 

Faith, the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen 

 

© Janet Martin

Eccles.12

Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”—

2 before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

3 when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4 when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;

5 when people are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags itself along

and desire no longer is stirred.

Then people go to their eternal home

and mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,

and the golden bowl is broken;

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the wheel broken at the well,

7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a]

“Everything is meaningless!”

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, 

but he also imparted knowledge to the people. 

He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 

10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, 

and what he wrote was upright and true.

11 The words of the wise are like goads,

 their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails

—given by one shepherd.[b] 

12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, 

and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

The Deceitfulness of Sin...

Heb.3:12-13

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart 

of unbelief in departing from the living God;

 13 but [b]exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” 

lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

The above verses and the butterfly below helped inspire today's poem

Yesterday I watched this butterfly waft from the pretty purple bloom

straight into a spider's web!

In a flash the spider's sting paralyzed its prey...

and instantly it proceeded to roll the butterfly

hopelessly, into its silky trap...

The butterfly flew into it innocently.

Unless we exhort one another daily,

honing discernment,

we too can get tangled in 'silky traps'

that seem quite innocent looking to the naked eye...

The problem with Deceit is,

it doesn't looks deceptive!!

Its pleasing-to-the-eye-attire appears so very nice

It caters to creature-desire and blinds Want to its price/vice

Its voice is oh, so pleasant, dear, it really seems okay

It soothes the prick of conscience clear, with ‘did God really say?’

Distracting us from love so pure with bait of Fleeting Thrill

It dangles the form of the lure before our waning will

Easing us, subtle charmer, with most arduous appeal

Daring discernment’s armor with pleasure of how-we-feel

Until we feel quite heady with fervor’s footloose delight

The tempter always ready with reasons that fit just right

He attracts our attention with most darling of disguise

Barters with Best Intention, ruthless ruin-er of lives

Promiscuous and licentious, discernment's evil twin 

Proud, pretty and pretentious; the deceitfulness of sin

© Janet Martin

The butterfly and spider reminded me of a poem

I learned as a child,

 from one of my mother's school readers.

The Spider and the Fly (1829)

by Mary Howitt

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,

"'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;

The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to shew when you are there."

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,

For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.

"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,

And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,

They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend what can I do,

To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?

I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;

I'm sure you're very welcome–will you please to take a slice?"

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,

I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,

How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!

I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,

If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,

And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:

So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,

"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple–there's a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,

Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;

With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue–

Thinking only of her crested head–poor foolish thing! At last,

Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.

He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,

Within his little parlour–but she ne'er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read,

To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:

Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

Of First Glances

If all was as pure as fall-morning's delight when earth is dipped in frost

First glance could indulge its appetite without ever weighing the cost

But Guile preys on First Glance, it seems, to captivate its prey

 Then test the quests that Want esteems with very subtle sway

 For all is not pure as fall-morn's delight, when earth is dipped in frost

Where first glance indulges its appetite without ever weighing the cost

At first glance, Guile seems to tick the right boxes

A fine façade can play tricks on the eye

But oh, my dear, be on guard for sly foxes

Tickling Thought’s tendrils of reason awry

Study the fruit of the tree, trace its branches

Past the entrancing sigh of wind through leaves

Past the impressions offered to first glances

Past the distraction attraction achieves

Guile, though it smiles, is still, just a smooth-talker

Sin, clothed in lamb’s wool does not make it pure

Vice, masquerading as Nice, is a mocker

Tempting gullible first glance with its lure

…that seems at First-Glance to tick the right boxes

Making us second guess That Still Small Voice

Whispering, ‘Oh! be aware of sly foxes

Teasing Thought’s tendrils of reason to Choice

© Janet Martin

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food 

and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, 

she took some and ate it. 

Gen.3:6

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, 

our vineyards that are in bloom.

Song of Solomon 2:15

What are the “little foxes that spoil the vine”? CQ Kids

 

Post-Eden Post-Calvary Pre-Eternity

Inspired in part by a world washed white with snow...

after yesterday's sunshine, blue skies and robin songs!

But mostly inspired by today's devotion...

Above devotion from the book

Morning by Morning Daily Devotional Readings by Charles Spurgeon

Gen3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field 

which the LORD God had made. 

And he said unto the woman, 

Yea, hath God said, 

Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Sin wields its will with wily art

To ease us into apathy

Unless we stand on solemn guard

We cannot fight the enemy

Or recognize ravenous wolves

Clothed cunningly in sheep’s disguise

Or war against the hiss that pulls

Its crafty wool over our eyes

Sin wants perpetrators to wink

At what should cause us agony

Deception hoists its sparkling drink

Without a care for Calvary

It soothes the sacred prick of guilt

And woos the conscience with excuse

It drowns the groans where Pardon spilt

With pleasure’s lure and laughter’s ruse

Sin is the foe, though hard to tell

It masquerades as friend to all

Sin decorates the road to hell

With what keeps us comfortable

No caution signs to notify

The crowd that throngs the downward slope

Ah, who will save them from the lie

That scorns the cross and Living Hope

Sin blinds half-seekers to the truth

The Tempter, a most subtil beast

Preys on the innocence of youth

It bribes desire with a feast

Without the whole armor of God

Not one would stand a fighting chance

Fooled by hell’s beguiling façade

And frauds that foster ignorance

Sin, surely sin has cursed us all

Its fruit, so pleasing to the eye

We ate and partook of the Fall

That caused the Son of God to die

But Death could not contain I Am

The victory it could not win

Sin could not taint the sinless Lamb

He rose triumphant over sin

Sin wields its weapons, but take heart

The blood of Christ cleanses its stain

And we can thwart its evil dart

If we on solemn guard remain

After we repent and believe

Sin is not master anymore

The Holy Spirit we receive

Will aid if we for aid implore

© Janet Martin

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves;

 therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, 

your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Love's Dimensions

When People Fight...

Today's Daily Bread scripture reading

evoked tears, of both sorrow and joy!

Sorrow, because we seem to be a world at war with each other;

Family against family

brother against brother in the church.

citizens against the government

country against country,

Joy, because of the everlasting richness, rightness

and faithfulness of God and His Word!

The end is near.

Hallelujah!

Today's Scripture reading;

1 Pet.4:7-11

The end of all things is near. 

Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

 8 Above all, love each other deeply, 

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

 as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 

Amen.

All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name

When people fight, we lose sight of the bigger picture, oh

The power and the glory of the One who loves us so

He came to die so you and I, when we have run life’s race

Are saved from death and hell because He saved us by His grace

When people fight, we lose sight of our universal need

Repentance and deliverance from sin’s inherent seed

Through Jesus Christ, sin’s sacrifice, once and for all became

Salvation that cannot be found in any other Name

When people fight, we lose sight of the love that Jesus taught

In anger’s spew we forget to take captive every thought

Or seek a city yet to come, from Calvary unfurled

And therefore, we do not wage war with weapons of this world

When people fight we lose sight of Redemption’s crimson tide

The Lamb we led, with thorn-crowned head that we all crucified

Cried out,’ Father, forgive them for they know not what they do’

Oh God, forgive us when we miss the big picture of You

Forbid we meet you Jesus, with Your blood still on our Hands

Because we didn't repent and obey love's Great Commands

Forbid we, without thought of how we ought to love and live

Reject You, Son of God who came to redeem and forgive   

© Janet Martin

How true, oh, how true we are seeing Jesus' warning: Matt. 10:34-39

Christ Brings Division

34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. 

I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

35For I have come to ‘set[j] a man against his father

, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 

37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

  39He who finds his life will lose it, 

and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

morning by morning above the chaos

the heavens declare the glory of God

and the skies proclaim the work of His hands!

Ps.19:1

Wisdom's Magnum Opus

 

'We should not ask whether 'The Thing' on its own is Good or Bad,

 Dad would caution us when teaching discernment,

 'because a Thing/action is always hinged to where it leads. 

After the ripple effect is studied you will have your answer

about whether a Thing is good or bad.'

Have I always heeded Wisdom's Magnum Opus?

Sadly, no. Sometimes I allow the sparkle of the splash to blind me!

Ripple-effects of recompense

Should cause us to be ‘ware

And consider the consequence

Action is bound to bear

Discernment delves deeper than mere

-ly breadth of pebble-throw

It contemplates the scope and sphere

Of how far ripples flow

Love looks beyond the present-tense

And sparkle of the splash

To where ripples of recompense

Are surely bound to wash

The path to Aftermath is scarred

By vain apology

Because of ripples that we barred

From our periphery

© Janet Martin

Balance-beams of Beauty and Happiness

The wrong and right of choice compels keen conscience to beware

Where height and light of hope dispels the dark depths of despair

The shawl of self-pity we clutch can turn into a noose

The fall that follows pride and such leaves egos less footloose

Longing can drain wishing-wells dry if we forget to pray

Sometimes the tear that dims the eye washes the cloud away

How subtle is the certain sum that habits will ingrain

The way we are is the outcome of thoughts we entertain

Hard to feel crappy if we concentrate on thankfulness

To make others happy is the secret to happiness

…and happiness if often noisy, messy, sticky, sweet

A room where boys and girls dash through with dream-worlds in their feet

Richer are we content with less than much wanting for more

Where without words we all confess who we are living for

Where without human kindness nothing else is worth our while

And beauty is its finest in the showcase of a smile

© Janet Martin

Of Large Estate

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch at the door of my lips.

Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing

or take part in works of wickedness

with men who do iniquity;

let me not feast on their delicacies.

Let the righteous man strike me;

let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion.

It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it.

For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked. 

Psalm 141:3-5 

Lord, set a watch before, behind

With measure sound and stout

That large estate of heart and mind

So volatile without

For as a man thinks so he is

The mouth speaks from the heart

These establish the genesis

Of all that we impart

Then help us to hunger and thirst

After Your righteousness

Though spirit wills the flesh is cursed

With inherent weakness

....where pride always precedes the fall 

As we prove with vain jest

That without Your love we are all

Deplorable at best

Make us unwise in our own eyes

Forbid we walk by sight  

Help us to humbly recognize

How much we need your Light

…and how we need a watch designed

By Whom all things are known

The large estate of heart and mind

So cunning on its own

© Janet Martin

 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

Prov.3:7

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:...

Prov.23:7

 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil?

 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matt.12:34

Free Reign/Rein

 PAD Challenge day 17: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Free (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

When thought breaks bounds of order and is given full, free rein/reign

It finds our greatest weakness glaring like a crack of light

The lure of feeling’s fancy trolls a dark and dangerous vein

Craving's belly growls with an insatiable appetite

When want, the author of Excuse’s Fine Soliloquy

Stamps longing with approval, driving discernment amuck

The mastermind of mayhem, dressed in fool’s-gold finery

Seduces us with images of opulence and luck

When thought, ungoverned roams footloose and feckless as the dust

It leads us into places even angels fear to tread

The idle mind, a playground for the lawlessness of lust

The hunger in its hollow raving mad, though fed and fed

When thought, not taken captive wanders where it should not go

It falls prey to the enemy bent on ruin and loss

Where we all would be finished, but for He who loves us so

And guards thought through subjection to the power of the cross

© Janet Martin

 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world.

 Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God;

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Cor.10:4-5