Precursor to the Prize

Sometimes it rouses great concern 

At treacherous trends being set...

when the downward slope is so gradual

That it doesn't seem too serious... yet

The single step may seem harmless

but each step will always precede

Another, and we should be wary

of where given Time, they will lead

 There is a way which seems right to a man,

 But its end is the way of death.

Prov.14:12

The price precedes the payoff

The grit precedes the goal

Desire precedes the destiny

Where death unveils the whole

Then, friend do not grow weary

The climb precedes the view

And faith precedes the finish line

Where all will be made new

Reaching precedes the holding
And pride precedes the fall
Planting precedes the harvest, love
(ah, seeds do not stay small!)

The hurt precedes the healing

The bud precedes the rose

And cross precedes the crown that waits

After Time’s curtain close

The want precedes the getting

The prayer precedes the peace

And trust in God precedes the day

When need of it will cease

© Janet Martin

Hell's Kitchen

Let’s make temptation

Feel like the right thing

Feather its outcome

With ribbons and string

Let’s make Sin’s poison

Look and taste rather nice

Let’s sweeten death’s symptoms

With sugar and spice

Let’s make the cost of love

Seem much too large

Let’s offer lots of stuff

At no extra charge

Let’s keep the sheep-ple

Distracted until

They find out too late

The full price of the thrill

© Janet Martin

Dear Pretty Pleasure

This morning's 1-minute Bible Love Notes  devotion focused on a topic that has filled a train of thought  going round and round in my head recently! 

Thank-you Gayle 'for drawing us closer to Jesus one minute at a time!'

I've listened to this message many times because it encourages us to be diligent and wise! 

Dear Pretty Pleasure...

You steal, with bold appeal, attention’s appetite to fill

Where taste and look and listen are always eager to thrill

Be careful, some enjoyments seemingly harmless at first

Drop little seeds that grow into a fruit flagrantly cursed

The root of evil oftentimes disguised by pleasure’s vim

Flaunts little lies to lure our eyes from attributes of Him

And not until the sting of consequence startles our gaze

Do we become aware of Temptation’s ingenious ways

…of tearing down while we were busy being quite at ease

With the compliance to senses always eager to please

Where human nature does not care to pay a pretty price

For something that purchases nothing… but humble sacrifice

Popular opinion based only upon Opinion’s sum  

Begets from dregs of blind belief a horrendous outcome

My dear, my precious, dearest child, pray God to draw your eyes

To look into His word to ever keep you truly wise

Our God, a kind forgiver forgives the mistakes we make

He does not leave us helpless or hopeless; but for our sakes

He gave His word, His perfect word that will not pass away

But guards and guides us with pure truth toward the Judgement Day

© Janet Martin

Desire, Without Second Thought...Oh!!!

 This morning to someone who slept in I suggested turning in a little earlier at night remarking,

"I know it feels nice at the time but it often is not worth it in the morning" 

and I was struck how this applies to most things that please first glance or natural inclination...

and we all have something/things we struggle with at some point/points!

Face value often-times betrays

Seducing us in wily ways

For gaze is eager to indulge

On pleasantries sight will divulge

And as we covet its delight

Oh, soon we yearn to try a bite

Then when we try a bite we earn

The consequence of its return

So we should discern (not with eyes)

If what we desire is wise

This training ground for what remains

Tests want and will with subtle chains

Beware; lest fare that freedom craves

Is that which in the end enslaves

For Vice appears so nice, oh my,

In colours pleasing to the eye

As Endeavor is caught off guard

Sound Choice seems just a bit too hard

Charmed by the teasing, pleasing form

That takes a ling’ring look by storm

Deception cons Want with decoys

First glance perceives as promised joys

Desire without second thought

Ah, what disaster it has brought

Where face-value often betrays

Seducing us with wily ways

As what appeared so nice before

Is the costume Temptation wore

And gaze was eager to indulge

The pleasantries it might divulge

© Janet Martin

 Do not love the world or anything in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—

is not from the Father but from the world.  

The world is passing away along with its desires, 

but whoever does the will of God remains forever. 

1 John 2:15-17

Worth our while just to listen to the first sentence in the video below!

(of course, then hopefully we are 'tempted' to listen to the rest!
Isn't good Temptation The BEST!!?)