For Bearers of Hurts and Disappointments

So much of faith's fight is fought in the hidden battlefield of the heart

where often God alone is witness of its tender triumphs and death-defying defeats!

God's call to faithfulness is not for the faint of heart nor for half-hearted endeavors!

Faithfulness is an all-in fight to the finish

often riddled with hurts and disappointments.

1 Cor.9:24-26

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?

 Run in such a way as to take the prize. 

25Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. 

They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. 

26Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. 

27No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, 

so that after I have preached to others, 

I myself will not be disqualified.

This poem began when dawn dripped from coral eaves...

Now the day is almost done awash with rain and leaves...

Where hurt and disappointment rakes relentless talons through

Where we wrestle with sacred stakes witnessed by only You

Where we are often tested by the fires of dismay

Our motives tried and tempted by the liar’s merchant sway

Where touch cannot make manifest, nor visage intervene

The substance of hope’s hidden quest of evidence unseen

Where the strait gate which faith is warned to press and strive toward

Bids us to endure hardness like a soldier for You, Lord

Bids us to put on the full armour only You supply

Bids us to be on guard for the Charmer of cunning ply

Bids us to lay our all upon altars of sacrifice

Bids us to heed the call without aversion to the price

Bids us to bear love’s cross in faith’s response of gratitude

Where what appears as loss on earth is but Heaven’s prelude

Where hurt and disappointment clings to grace that will not fail

While we wrestle with Reckonings that Your face will unveil

Grace crowns the law of Moses with the law of love’s decree

Knowing Your love that chose us is the law that sets us free

That the gift of salvation no mortal creed can undo

There is no condemnation for all who are found in You

Knowing You are not mocked; and that we will reap what we sow

Knowing not how we talk but walk is the fruit that will grow/show

While hurt and disappointment undo and refine the part

That only You bear witness to; the throne room/war room of the heart

Lord, there is nothing hid from You; nothing impossible

Where hurts and disappointments rue, You work the miracle

Where transformation’s work is wrought, not on a bed of ease

But in the thick of what is not according to our ‘please’

As we yield fear and dread and doubt to faith to undergird

And do not take one step without reliance on Your Word

Where hurts and disappointments hone the heart, so oft betrayed

To fix its hope and trust upon the Cornerstone You laid

© Janet Martin

Sunrise Reveille For Soul-diers

Arise and shine. God’s love divine beams brighter than the sun

No feckless race is yours and mine that we are called to run

Through hope that maketh not ashamed, because the love of God

By His Holy Spirit acclaimed, in hearts is shed abroad

Do not despair. God’s tender care is faithful to the end

Nothing in this world can compare to Jesus as our Friend

He heals the broken-hearted and instills in us His worth

Faith's every step is guarded by the God of heav’n and earth

Behold the Lamb. The Great I AM who takes away our sins

His Word is not an errant sham; He IS where hope begins

He is the Way, the Truth, the Life; by His grace we are saved

Redemption’s cleansing stream runs rife where Calvary was braved

Trust in the Lord. Who can afford to forfeit deathless soul?

Or doubt the infallible Word undeterred by time’s toll

The Bread of Life none can destroy. The truth that sets us free

Is but the foretaste of the joy that fills eternity

Oh taste and see. This is no fleeting pleasure or delight

The goodness of God will appease heart and soul's appetite 

Hunger and thirst for righteousness rather than worldly laud

Then He who loved us first will bless us with the peace of God

 

© Janet Martin

Rom.5:1-5

Therefore being justified by faith, 

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,

 and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: 

knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

 5And hope maketh not ashamed; 

because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts 

by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

The Wonder of Enough (or Monday Morning Mantra)

Love's mandates are timeless

As we cry out in our hearts 'what can we do?!'

as we lift up brokenness after brokenness to God in prayer

His reply is now as it was then;

Love one another...

John 15:12

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, 

just as I have loved you.

John 14:15

“If you love me, keep my commands.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brethren;

only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love

 

His love poured through us is Enough

Enough to equip us 

for the fight

Enough to convict, forgive, 

to be kind, to be Light

Enough to fulfill

His will, so we pray 

For His love to instill

until we obey

...and love one another

the way we ought

and love one another

the Way He taught

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Lord, help love be sincere

And help us take to heart

The wonder of Thy love so dear

While the world falls apart

Because it does not know

The Truth that sets us free

The joy that sets the heart aglow

Amidst calamity

Where grace in rich supply

True repentance redeems

Where, morn to morn, mercy’s reply

With renewed favor/fervor streams

Where hope does not bring shame

But anchors blood-bought souls

In the salvation through Thy name

While time’s progression rolls

Toward eternity

When Time will be no more

Where faith will taste the victory

That now we hunger for

When the glass of the law

Dissolves, when face to face

We gaze, with undistracted awe

On Thee, Author of grace

Unhindered then, by cares

When prayerful pleadings cease

When love its final burden bears

When all is life and peace

When grief its dagger drops

When swords to plowshares beat

When from valleys and mountaintops

Worship’s anthems repeat

When everlasting Day

Earth’s shackles will undo

When former things are passed away

And all will be made new

…until then, Lord, through Thee

Let our love be sincere

Help us, with unfeigned fealty

Thy precepts to revere

And take to humble heart

Thy steadfast truth and love

And let Thy promises impart

The wonder of Enough

© Janet Martin

Love's To-do list...

Romans 12:9-21 

9 Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

10 Be devoted to one another in love. 

Honor one another above yourselves. 

11 Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

12 Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer. 

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; 

mourn with those who mourn. 

16 Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

[a] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, 

but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b] says the Lord. 

20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, 

but overcome evil with good.

Of Love's Royal Priesthood

Why this post?

Because preaching doesn't just happen behind a pulpit

and because the Platinum Jubilee and all its celebrations

got me to pondering royalty and priesthoods...

(watching/listening to the trumpets play in honor of Her majesty, the Queen

for her years of faithful service

literally covers me with goosebumps

and evokes thrills because this celebration is a

miniscule/pale glimpse of

what honoring the King of kings and Lord of lords will be)

I didn't realize until partway through this message/session that it

was an exhortation of encouragement to church leaders.

However, I continued listening to the end because its exhortations were encouraging

to the 'sheep' as well as the shepherd...

Hanging On When You Feel Like Giving Up

But you are a chosen generation, 

a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him

 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Pet.2:9

Serve well the God who is I AM

With heart and hand applaud

Not to seek accolades of man

But to glorify God

Serve well the God of humankind

We, in his image made

Are glimpses of He who designed

Us, and our pardon paid

Serve well the God who gave his Son

Whose sacrifice sufficed

To save and teach us to become

Imitators of Christ

Serve well the God who will supply

Our need; He knows it well

And made a Way that none need die

And be cast into hell

Serve well the God that numbers days

And lends the lease thereof

The God whose mysterious ways

Are always filled with love

Serve well the God who giveth life

Who keeps in perfect peace

The mind that guards against the strife

That hinders love’s increase

Serve well the God whose mercy tries

Whose grace and truth abides

As faith presses toward the prize

That God alone provides

Serve well the God, the King of kings

He who is just and good

Calls us to share the sufferings

Of love’s Royal Priesthood

Serve well thy God and fellowman

With renewed courage run

For what thought can be sweeter than 

To hear Him say 'well done'

© Janet Martin

What Gentle Joy God Sendeth...

Blessed be the Lord,

Who daily loads us with benefits,

The God of our salvation!

Selah

20 Our God is the God of salvation;

And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

Psalm 68:19-20

So much sorrow, beyond our grasp of reason

but our God is the God of salvation!

To His loving kindness we cling!

Surely, His goodness and mercy will follow us

all the days of our lives!

 (Psalm 23:6)

Sometimes our hearts break with our own sorrows.

Often our hearts hurt for another's hurt!

We have in common One who loves us all!

From one deeply hurting this week returned this meek reply.

'we want to trust that God can provide what is needed'

Amen and hallelujah

I Can hear My Saviour Calling...

 

Be Thou My Vision

What gentle joy God sendeth

No step He does not see

On all the way that wendeth

To the soul’s destiny

No tear He does not tally

No storm He cannot still

No God-forsaken valley

No God-forsaken hill

No prayer He does not reckon

Where disappointments try

Where want and worry beckon

He whispers ‘here am I’

No gain He has not granted

No loss He has not known

No seed, when it is planted

He does not see is sown

No hurt He has not suffered

No matter what we face

The blows of life are buffered

With His sufficient grace

No temptation’s vice greater

No trickery too sly

To confound the Creator

Of earth and sea and sky

What gentle joy God sendeth

Where mercy’s fathoms brim

To cheer the way that wendeth

From this world back to Him

© Janet Martin

Because We Are His Loved Ones

 

As I pray for they who suffer great sorrow for the loss of loved ones, 

for those in war torn countries or

for those who suffer angst of concern for loved ones in war torn countries, 

for they who suffer the ravages of physical affliction, 

for they who must watch loved ones suffer

and oh, especially for they who have still not believed 

but reject the Saviour of the soul, 

( whose most beloved we are,)

for all who miss out on the joy this world cannot give

Again and again I cast my care on Him 

because He cares for you and me!

Sweet, sweet comfort in the midst of bitter grief!

We are not alone in our suffering...

'After we have suffered a while the God of all grace

who has called us unto His eternal glory

will perfect, strengthen, stablish and settle us!'

2 Pet. 1:10

Amen

Because He cares for me and you, whatever may befall

We need not fret; He’ll see us through our struggles, great and small

Because he bids us cast our every care before His throne

We need not worry for we never bear love’s cross alone

Because He is the Way, the Truth, the Life eternally

We need not join the fruitless strife of doubt’s futility

Because greater is He in us than he of worldly creed

We need not fear, but simply trust for He supplies our need

Because He honours those who honour Him, though scorner’s jeer

We need not let their insults dim the hope that we revere

Because He died so we may live, and bore our sin and shame

We need no purpose but to give all glory to His Name

Because God’s love runs deep and wider than thought’s farthest glim

All that we need He will provide as care is cast on Him

Because of faith’s established goal, though dark the strait between

Our need, the Saviour of the soul, will wholly intervene

Because our utter need is met in faith's redeeming hour

We need not fret; because the cross will never lose its power

© Janet Martin

1 Sam.2:30

But now the LORD says: ‘Far be it from Me; 

for those who honor Me I will honor, 

and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

Far graver than the battle is an illusion of peace

Causing our souls to slumber while evil's armies applaud 

Far graver than war’s fearful horror's while death-tolls increase

Is walking, talking, laughing, living without fear of God

Far graver than faith's groaning as we stand on steadfast guard

Is the seductive courting of diversion's deadly dance

Far graver than the blood and tears that stain streets, sorrow-scarred

Are hands and feet, soft, smooth and lily white with ignorance 

Far graver than the suffering that rouses our pleas

For more than this world can bestow, is life without a care

For, graver than the crushing blow that brings us to our knees

Is living without ever bowing before God in prayer

© Janet Martin

In The Cross The Peterens

More Contemplations on Love

Love, be glorious as a sunrise

Beauty void of vanity...

Love, be glorious as a sunrise

Beauty void of vanity

Newness in spite of spent ages

Hope's gentle humility

Love, be lovely as a flower

Broken bud to beaming laud

Blooming where our feet are planted

Giving all glory to God

Love, be like a ship, seaworthy

Fit to weather stormy gale

Trust the Captain for the journey

He is good and will not fail

Love, be like a lilting fountain

Love be like a joyful song

Love be like the One who suffered

Though He committed no wrong

Love, be like a fearless soldier

Love, be like a warrior’s shield

Like a vineyard or an orchard

Gleaming with opulent yield

Love, be sobriety's laughter

Not the wino's loosened tongue

Be a role model, trustworthy

A kind mother to the young

Love, be like a mighty ocean

Love, be like a little seed

Stun us with the potent power

Of small scattered word and deed

Love, be like an earnest offering

On the altar of today

Labour not for acquisitions

That in death will fade away

Love, do not become disheartened

When the call would cast thee down

Remember the One who showed us

First the cross and then the crown

© Janet Martin

Phil.2:1-4

Therefore if you have any encouragement 

from being united with Christ, 

if any comfort from his love,

 if any common sharing in the Spirit,

 if any tenderness and compassion, 

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, 

having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 

  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

  not looking to your own interests 

but each of you to the interests of the others.

Never, For One Wayward Wink...

A special treat for you and me today!

Sunrise photo with a different skyline!

Jim (truckdriver-husband) sent this photo

 from somewhere in the very chill hills of

very Northern Ontario

(no phone reception when I tried to call and find out where)

(update: Schreiber, Ont.)

'Surely the morning gold and pink

Is the hem of His gown'

 Because I have yet to walk the mile

of those who mourn the loss of a parent, sibling,

son, daughter, spouse, etc. I cannot pen

the places that those losses must lead Love through

and I do not pretend to know what they know

but I can imagine, 

and hurt

and pray

and weep with those who weep

and plead to God 

to

bless those who mourn (Matt.5:4)

💔

What comfort to know

that never for a single, wayward wink

does The Lord, our Shepherd 

shift His gaze from His beloved Sheep...

🙏

Between miles yet to live and love

And miles that we have trod

Pray, where we are we find enough

In the kind love of God

Through wildernesses of today

Of mortal want and woe

Our Sovereign God still leads the way

Love's manna falls like snow

Enough, always enough, to feed

The cries of you and I

Exactly when, how much we need

His mercy will supply

The Pillar of His Promises

Will never shift or fade

But leads in paths of righteousness

In this day He has made

Toward the Promised Land we face

And run life’s race with joy

And lean on Him and trust His grace

That nothing can destroy

For, never for one wayward wink

Does He forsake His own

Surely the morning gold and pink

Is the hem of His gown

Surely goodness and mercy shall

Follow us all our days

Until forever we will dwell

In the house of His praise

© Janet Martin

 Familiar and forever precious...

Psalm 23 KJV

 The Lord is my shepherd; 

I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

 he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul:

 he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil: 

for thou art with me; 

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

 thou anointest my head with oil; 

my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Take My Hand and Lead Me

Translation below...

Translation of lyrics...

So take my hands

So nimm denn meine Hände

and lead me

Und führe mich

Until my happy end

Bis an mein selig Ende

And forever.

Und ewiglich.

I don't like to go alone

Ich mag allein nicht gehen,

Not a step;

Nicht einen Schritt;

where you will go and stand

Wo du wirst gehn und stehen,

Then take me with you.

Da nimm mich mit.

wrapped in our mercy

In dein Erbarmen hülle

my weak heart

Mein schwaches Herz

And do it completely still

Und mach es gänzlich stille

In joy and pain;

In Freud und Schmerz;

Let rest at your feet

Laß ruhn zu deinen Füßen

your poor child;

Dein armes Kind;

It wants to close its eyes

Es will die Augen schließen

And believe blindly.

Und glauben blind.

Even if I don't feel anything

Wenn ich auch gleich nichts fühle

of your power

Von deiner Macht,

You lead me to my goal

Du führst mich doch zum Ziele,

Even through the night.

Auch durch die Nacht.

So take my hands

So nimm denn meine Hände

and lead me

Und führe mich

Until my happy end

Bis an mein selig Ende

And forever.

Und ewiglich.

Morning Commission/Submission/Mission-Statement

Someone just posted this on our church-family Facebook page...

Praying this for my friend Pauline today,

and for my cousin Wayne and his family

who continue to need our prayers for encouragement

 in his and their ongoing long suffering!

I'm still reading the book about Charles H. Spurgeon's wife, Susie's life...

and am utterly inspired and astonished at the humility and faithfulness in their devotion

to their Lord and Saviour, through so much sickness, pain and hardship!

My friend's recent illness which caused her to miss her son's wedding last Saturday

fills our hearts and prayers with pitying pleas for God's sufficient grace to sustain her...

Praying for healing and health so she may attend her next son's wedding in February.

Will you pray too, for her strength for today?

Yon tray soft-tilts to gilt the eastward edge of earth and sky

Dawn’s blushing fringe expands to tinge then wash the night awry

Where star-eyed hope and dream is like the little lark that sings

Before the darkness disappears and morning spreads its wings

Where mercy never falters, to altars of human hearts

God’s everlasting goodness His unfailing love imparts

His grace provides the sacrifice for worship’s offerings

Always sufficient for the mission that each new day brings

Dawn tilts a tray of gold and gray; ahoy, with joy we rise

To take up the cross of today with grace our God supplies

He does not leave us comfortless or helpless in the strife

Goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our life

© Janet Martin

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23:6

Earthen Treasure Chests

 Christ, Our Hope in Life and Death

Therefore we do not lose heart.

Even though our outward man is perishing,

yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,

is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen,

but at the things which are not seen.

For the things which are seen are temporary,

but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Cor.4:16-18

I think I shared this scripture verse a week ago,

but it is in today's Daily Bread Devotion

as well as much needed encouragement

where suffering does not seem to take a break in this broken world.

But, for we who have placed our faith in Jesus

we do not lose heart!

This afternoon I will go to the visitation

for one of the young moms I did childcare for briefly

before she started working from home because of Covid-19,

before being diagnosed with cancer in the spring.

Our hearts are broken for this young family!

Will you hold them (Dana's family) in your prayers??

While the outward man wastes away

As seasons take their toll

Still, we are renewed day by day

In fathoms of the soul

And, though we cannot keep at bay

The hardships we must bear

Within these vessels made of clay

God puts His Treasure there

So that the excellence we boast

Is not of us, but He

Who gave for man, love’s uttermost

To set cursed sinners free

Then though the outward wastes away

Beneath affliction’s rod

Within these vessels made of clay

Shines the treasure of God

© Janet Martin

2 Cor.4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, 

that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

It Takes Time (to make a flower)

Yesterday's Daily Bread Devotion included this needful reminder;

Even though trusting Jesus as Savior makes us a new creation,

there’s still some ongoing work the Spirit needs to do.

And it takes time and work 

for Him to accomplish “true righteousness and holiness”

(Ephesians 4:24).

True righteousness and holiness=true beauty!

Do you ever weary of the work and waiting

for the needful hidden heart-art 

before the flower flourishes?

I needed to dust the dahlias.

Something is eating out the bud before it blooms!

The pest-control-pruning-process is vital 

to producing a healthy plume

(earwigs love a good dahlia-feast)

The tendrils of this flower vine needed constant intervention

until they learned to climb

Oh, it takes time to become who, in Christ, we ought to be

The road is riddled with potholes, to true humility

The stumble and the faceplant, though unpleasant helps God turn

A stubborn heart into submission; it takes time to learn

We cannot rush the Hand that wove us in our mother’s womb

Just as it takes time for a bud to break to bare its bloom

So too, it takes time to become the masterpiece of He

Who understands that we are dust and loves us patiently

It takes time to eradicate the nature of the beast

We tend to do the things we hate the most, rather than least

And were it not for God’s compassion for humanity

And His boundless redemption how desolate we would be

If our hope in Christ were for this life alone, alas

How pitiful and futile then would be man’s days like grass

But because Christ has risen from the dead, we too shall rise

Thus, we revere the time it takes to prepare for the Prize

…for it takes time to learn to love, to let Beauty unfold

To purify the motive of, and crucify the old

So when we feel discouraged by hope’s hurdles and mistakes

Remember, this is just the heart-art/heart-part before the bud breaks

© Janet Martin

Psalm 103:13-18

As a father pities his children,

So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

14For He [a]knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16For the wind passes over it, and it is [b]gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

17But the mercy of the Lord

 is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

18To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

Courage, With Joy

Below is a message from my friend Jane, sent to me years ago

after I confessed how terribly terrified I am to share the poetry publicly...

I printed and scotch-taped her reminder beside my computer screen

and it has been a powerful reminder more times than I can count...

Because of the prolific nature of this 'poem-porch' 

one might assume it's easy to hit 'publish' and bare heart-pieces to the world. 

But if it were possible to pull apart the place where feelings lie you would see

so much would-be insecurity, timidity and fear! 

However, whatever our creative outlet is, 

we only ever create with what God first has created. 

We are like children playing with His crayons 

and thereby we create 

and owe God an answer when He asks,

'What are you going to do with it?'

The most terrifying, exhilarating thing we will ever do

is to 'let go and let God!'

My friends host our church's podcast for women.

 Another friend is the guest on the latest episode 8.

I was so touched by her reminder that,

'as we are aware that we create with what He gives

creativity becomes a source and form of constant worship'

Yes, and

 This worship helps to fill life with constant joy!

George Macdonald wrote over a hundred years ago

"A poet is a man who is glad of something and

tries to make other people glad of it too"

That quote is still as true as ever

and reveals why an artist has the courage, with joy,

to share what they/we have created...

...to recognize with holy awe that all we are and touch

Is created and granted by He who loves us so much

We are so very diff'rent, yet still so very 'the same'

Created in His image to bring glory to His name

How loud doubt's voice would shout with fearful insecurity

Without His still small voice that whispers 'just do it for Me'

Then suddenly dark demons flee and joy transforms despair

As we honour His majesty with talents He put there 

Forbid, when face to face we give account for what we did

That pride or doubt or lack of faith kept our talents hid

Or that Comparison, (the deadliest kill-joy of all)

Would have succeeded in making us ashamed of His Call

So pray for courage to proceed with joy to glorify

The Giver with the gift that He has given you and I

Then, as we hold the crayons, may we be filled with sheer awe 

To feel His Hand over our fingers, teaching us to draw

Janet Martin

Let's all seek to bless others by glorifying the Giver

with our gift/s.

This poem could also be called

Why my to-do list grows longer and longer

because in the middle of Very Busy...a poem might nudge😊