Today's Prayer

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ 

will enter the kingdom of heaven, 

but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus~

Matt.7:21

Almost Persuaded-Josh Turner

Four years ago I shared the song below on this post:

No Mere Existence This

as we mourned the loss of a young man in our community

God loves us all, so poor, needy and broken without Him,

He is mankind's Healer, Deliverer and Savior!

He is love

For all who have not heard or trusted God, so good and kind

I pray today unveils the way that only faith can find

Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord, heaven’s passport will win

But only those who do the will of God will enter in

For all who have not yet bowed heads to repent and believe

I pray today the Truth will reveal doubt's lies that deceive

That eyes once blind will see and hearts once hard will yield to He

Who is not mocked; but is the Saviour of humanity

For all who have not understood the gravity of life

I pray today they find the peace that surpasses all strife

Before it is too late, I pray they roam earth’s futile sod

Until they turn from self and sin to want the love of God

© Janet Martin

Today's Bible Love Note:

Cultural Conformity

2 Pet.3:3

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come,

 scoffing and following their own evil desires.

John 12:48
There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words:

 The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith 

to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

2 Timothy 3:2
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,

 boastful, arrogant, abusive, 

disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Jude 1:16
These men are discontented grumblers, 

following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance;

 they flatter others for their own advantage.

Advent Awareness

Phil Wickham - Away In A Manger (Forever Amen) (Official Music Video)

Be always on the watch,

and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen,

and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:36

The Sands of Time Are Sinking...

 

Be always on thy watch and live as if today

Could be the chariot that draws thy deathless soul away

Then arm thyself with truth and seek God’s kingdom first

We all will face the Judgement booth, forever blessed or cursed

With bowed head and bent knee, thy damning sin confess

No one is righteous without He who is our Righteousness

Then as He hears our cries His sacrifice prevails

And his atonement justifies the faith that saves the soul

Time’s somber pendulum is swinging to and fro

And counting down what will become That Day and Hour, oh

Then always watch and pray; Time’s terminating wink

May draw this day of grace away without time left to think

Be always on thy guard, like a watchman alert

Though life/love is hard do not be disillusioned by the hurt

But bow before the manger, bloodstained cross, the empty grave

And think on He a stranger to His own, who came to save

© Janet Martin

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, 

in order to demonstrate His righteousness, 

because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

 26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time,

so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. 

On what principle? On that of works? 

No, but on that of faith.…

Rom.3:25-27

Priceless Provision...

Visiting the dentist that I have had a long-standing 

Or rephrase, a long tipped almost upside-down relationship with

is NOT the way I would choose to start the week 

but I am very thankful for him nonetheless😅😂

This morning I couldn't help but laugh out loud when he asked me

if I'm feeling numb yet? Oxy moron?

Visiting the dentist always allows lots of time to reflect!

The eastward edge of earth and sky gives birth to break of day...

(to we who remain)

We know it will be so for nothing can dawn’s courser’s sway

How beautiful the funeral service message of comfort was yesterday

to the family and friends of my Uncle Ernie Frey

In closing the minister reiterated the wonderful comfort in the knowledge

 that though we mourn it is not without hope

because God did provide a way that defeated death

and leads to life eternal.

Oh, what a blessed hope and joy for all who believe!

So, though this year for many, Christmas is marked with sorrow

for those who believe it remains a season of everlasting joy as well!

The Child in the manger 

became man's redemption on the cross at Calvary!

Now, that's a Tree worth revering,

a joy worth shouting!

From it hung the Light of the World

in time's darkest hour!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

The quote below is from a book of Peter Marshall messages...

The eastward edge of earth and sky gives birth to break of day

We know it will be so for nothing can dawn’s courser’s sway

Just as we know the west will showcase sunset’s artistry

Faith fixes eyes upon a prize it knows but cannot see

This is the day the Lord has made with hope and grace renewed

Time’s march, far more than stiff-starched moment-soldiers, season-hued

It is a footpath to an aftermath by breath concealed

And only when life ceases, then the rest will be revealed

God does not leave grief comfortless when death collects its due

If we believe then we receive Hope’s anchor, firm and true

Though storms may toss with loss, the power of the cross abides

Faith dearly clings through sufferings to the hope God provides

The Faithful One who gave His Son to pay the sinner’s debt

Will never fail though dark the vale of sorrows that beset

God, through His Son, knew love had won, though it appeared He died

The triumph of faith, hope and love was on death’s other side

© Janet Martin

Luke 12:31-32

But seek [f]the kingdom of God, 

and all these things shall be added to you.

 “Do not fear, little flock, 

for it is your Father’s good pleasure

 to give you the kingdom. 

Jesus, Son of God

Something More Precious than Time...

If You Believe

(playing a song from the era of many fond memories

of a friend's mother, who has passed on)

And praise God, she believed and taught her children to believe too!)

At today's visitation the phrase 'precious time'

stood out to me as they fondly recalled

the last days/year and a half with Mother

after they were initially told maybe three months...

Time/life is precious 

but to the believer there is something more precious than Time...

Precious in the sight of the LORD

 Is the death of His saints.

Psalm 116:15

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”

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

you will be saved.

Rom.10:9

Oh, have you received the free gift?

Have you believed so you will not perish

with that final breath

but have everlasting life?

John 3:16

We don't need to find and provide the atonement offering!

God provided the Lamb...

For just as through the disobedience

of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners,

so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus)

the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:19

What is our part?

To believe, receive and then,

'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, 

in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,

 holy and pleasing to God—

this is your true and proper worship.'

Romans 12:1

(this not to secure our salvation, 

but to say thank-you, thank-you, Jesus

with a life of worship!)

He did not leave it up to us sin’s penance to procure

But gave His only Son, Jesus, our pardon to insure

If we believe we will receive the Gift purchased by He

Who suffered for us to achieve redemption’s legacy

He suffered for us to achieve redemption’s legacy

The evil one tries to deceive us with uncertainty

But God is faithful; He supplied atonement’s sacrifice

Once and for all Perfection died to pay salvation’s price

Once and for all Perfection died to pay salvation’s price

He does not ask us to provide what could never suffice

But simply beckons us to trust His forgiveness by grace

If we confess our sins His justice will our guilt erase

If we confess our sins His justice will our guilt erase

Oh God forgive us if some lesser god should take Your place

You lead us, not into temptation, You are our Shield

You repeal condemnation as by Your stripes we are healed

You repeal condemnation as by Your stripes we are healed

Hope’s open invitation rolls across earth’s Harvest Field

While Death is like a reaper’s blade a-swinging to and fro

And joy is knowing Jesus paid the debt we should yet owe

© Janet Martin

One more fav hymn by George Jones

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

Hallelujah, What a Promise

Inspired by my sister-in-law's mom's funeral message and prayers

of hope, comfort and exhortation...

The minister who opened the funeral service stated

'If it were not for people dying a minister’s words would be vanity.'

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

What a privilege and wonder to we who, partakers of

God’s compassion, grace and comfort cannot drain His wells of love

What a hope we have through Jesus; debt no ram could reimburse

Paid upon the cross that frees us from mortal’s inherent curse

Hark! an open invitation, calls to all ‘come unto me’

Beckons to each tribe and nation with salvation’s guarantee

What a blessing to be bidden to draw from Mercy’s wellspring

Though His reasoning is hidden, God is good in everything

Hallelujah, what a Savior, man’s preaching is not in vain

Resurrection’s glorious favour turns death into life again

By one sin we all were blighted; by one death we are set free

By grace we are all invited to a Banquet yet to be

What a joy in spite sorrow, what a peace instills the gale

Yesterday, today, tomorrow, Jesus Christ will never fail

What a journey dust-to-dust is, paved with prayers and washed with tears

What a life of learning trust is, before Jesus reappears

Hallelujah, what a Promise keeps us pressing to the Prize

What a little vapour time is before death opens our eyes

© Janet Martin

Lam.3:24

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Beautiful Renewal

We couldn't see what was on the other side of this bridge!!

Turns out it was a soccer and baseball field😐

We couldn't see what was on the other side of yesterday's election!

Turns out, more of the same!😐

We cannot see what waits on the other side of Time/life!

How that turns out depends on Who we choose to serve/obey here!

Man is NOT our hope! Hallelujah.

We do not need to become bitter or live in fear or defeat!

For what is seen is temporal but what is unseen is eternal!

So once more, the verse I shared the other day;

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Though outwardly we are wasting away, 

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us

 an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 

18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,

 since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Cor. 4:16-18

From here to there sight cannot tell

What waits to fill the gap between

But because This is temporal

We fix our eyes on the Unseen

Lord, help us choose to be thankful

For Who we know will never fail

Where what is seen is temporal

And what is not, You will unveil

Therefore, then we do not lose heart

Though outwardly we waste away

The confidence that You impart

Renews our spirits day by day

© Janet Martin

Here we are, diverse cultures fixed, as believers in Christ, on the Solid Rock!

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

Whom Shall I Fear-David Wesley

God Will Take Care of You

On Persuasion Rekindled

Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,

 that is, the fruit of our lips, [b]giving thanks to His name.

 But do not forget to do good and to share, 

for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Heb.13:15-16

Persuasion rekindles routines where morning melts the dark

Hope holds the Hand of the Unseen as mercy meets its mark

Where faith and trust hold sway or doubt and disbelief confuse

Where choice spreads out a vast buffet and consequence ensues

Soon we vacate this fading habitat of skin and bone

This day the Lord has made like a most sacred stepping stone

Where each breath bears us nearer to the Saviour of the soul

Where faith makes ever dearer the approaching of the goal

We ought to give more earnest heed to that which we have heard

And seek to live in word and deed according to God’s Word

Lest we let slip the fellowship that keeps our judgment sound

For no other love can equip us for faith’s battleground

Be careful then, to make the most of opportunity

For who knows when the ending of this glove we host will be

And we go on to meet He who has numbered all our days

Then pray our legacy will be a sacrifice of praise

We yield to who we worship with humility or pride

Pray we revere the courtship twixt the Bridegroom and the Bride

And yield not to temptation for its glazed trenches are cursed

But rekindle persuasion from the Fount that quenches thirst

And live as if today could be the last drop in life's fount

When time yields to eternity and we will give account

Yield to God's gentle whisper, oh pray, do not disregard

Love's pleading, lest the pasture of our hearts grows cold and hard

© Janet Martin

There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood

In our community a 23 year old man 

who became a husband last summer

and was looking forward to becoming a dad in November

passed away unexpectedly in his sleep a few nights ago!

We never know when our final numbered day will be!

May we live as if we could be next!

Expressions of compassion can be made here

GoFundMe

 

 

Trustworthy and True

On Sunday morning our message was from

Rev. 21 &22

Mortal minds grappled with unfathomable design and dimension!

But this morning, as mercy ushered in new day

I sensed glimpses of a Holy City, 

a New Jerusalem descending

in incomprehensible glory!!

Beauty rends night’s crepuscule

Mercy steals the show

Ethereal ribbons and tulle

Tint time’s undertow

Longing and fulfillment clash

On earth’s eastward sill

Heaven flings ajar its sash

Molten foretastes spill

To gild worlds of wood and stone

With glints from Yon Clime

Till the veil of the Unknown

Lowers one last time

…beauty rends night’s crepuscule

God hears our cries

Granting to love’s push and pull

Glimpses of The Prize

© Janet Martin

Rev.21:1-5

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”

[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, 

and there was no longer any sea. 

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

 “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.

 They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. 

There will be no more death’[b] 

or mourning 

or crying 

or pain, 

for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said,

 “I am making everything new!”

 Then he said, “Write this down, 

for these words are trustworthy and true.”

(are the words Trustworthy and True not two of the

most wonderful words we can cling to?!!)

Star-Trek

The pulpit from which the sermons through

my childhood were preached is tattooed with echoes of this verse (among others)

2 Pet.1:10

Wherefore the rather, brethren, 

give diligence to make your calling and election sure:

as Ira Brubacher's passionate cautions reverberated through the building

(and which I thought, back then, were quite repetitive)

but now begin to understand his pleading 

often accentuated with a somber, softened 'ye-e-e-s! y-e-e-e-s!

Because no one can afford not to make their calling and election sure!

No one can afford eternity 

without hope, without light, without goodness, without God

Our journey through the stars to God

Is traveled on earth’s blip of sod

A myriad of highs and lows

Until the sacred curtain close

When beyond the shortfall of sight

The mystery of Soul takes flight

Whether a feather or a bird

The flight of Soul is undeterred

Untethered in that final breath

To the un-brevity of death

Whether we believe or deny

The Soul will prove God does not lie

Where time is but the toll we trod

On soul-journeys through stars to God

© Janet Martin

When Time No More Will Be

 

Due to a disappointing 'drop' I am back to using the phone camera for now...

Another day of grace

Rolls from dawn’s eastward shore

To each and every one of us

Till time will be no more

Till time will be no more

Not one of us can tell

When we will pass through Death’s dark door

Into Heaven or hell

Into Heaven or hell

There is no in between

Therefore, we ought to ponder well

What none on earth have seen

What none on earth have seen

Will fill eternity

How sacred is time’s go-between

God and humanity

God and humanity

Are never far apart

He grants each day of grace to we,

The darlings of his heart

The darlings of His heart

When Time No More will be

Will witness He who hangs His art

Where everyone can see

Where everyone can see

His sky-wide evidence

That the heaven's declare, so we

Cannot plead ignorance

© Janet Martin

After writing this I read this

today's Daily Bread Devotion!

Stunning.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; 

and even though you do not see him now, 

you believe in him.

 1 Peter 1:8

1 Peter 1:3-9

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope

 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 

This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation

 that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

 In all this you greatly rejoice, 

though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 

 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—

of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—

may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

 Though you have not seen him, you love him; 

and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him 

and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, 

the salvation of your souls.

Because Of What Yet Waits To Be...(Eternity)

Phil Mickelson makes history as he wins the PGA at 50 years old!

Whenever I witness the joy of the winner

in a competition (esp. one that goes against the odds)

 I can't help but think about

the unsurpassed joy of the victory of the believer

when the race is run/victory won and (against all would-be odds) 

we lay hold of the Prize,

possible through the victory of Christ on the cross

when He uttered 'it is finished',

just before He died and paid sin's debt

then rose again because Death is not the victor for all who put

our faith in Christ!

This Hope changes our perspective and objective 

from the temporal to the eternal!

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 

I press on toward the goal to win the prize 

for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Phil.3:13-14 

(Phil. for Philippians, not Phil Mickelson😄)

Because what was will be no more

And what will be we cannot see

Where morning flings ajar Time’s door

We ought to step through rev’rently

To meet this measure of God’s grace

To treat it like a treasured prize

Because this wisp of time and place

Is like a spark that upward flies

Because what was is always set

In fathoms of mercy renewed

We ought to meet morn’s gracious ‘yet’

With conscientious gratitude

Where moments gather to become

The sum of sacred reckoning

Who knows when we will be borne from

Time’s tugging tide of beckoning

Because what was none can retrace

And what yet waits we cannot tell

We ought to tread with steadfast faith

This brink between heaven and hell

Where morning like a gleaming sea

Of beauty over brokenness

Washes shores of eternity

In love’s unbridled faithfulness

© Janet Martin

Where morning like a gleaming sea of beauty over brokenness

washes shores of eternity...

Fringe-Hinge

 

Do you feel it;

The sense of Impending Infinity?

Do you hear it?

How dusk is the hinge on an unfathomable door

And This but the fringe of So Much More

Temporal, so temporary, Eternal, eternity

Yet the two are intertwined very, very intricately

Moments but breath-by-breath tokens preceding forevermore

Where final exhale flings open an unfathomable door

Such a blip of time to ponder what no one can comprehend

Life is no paperback novel; this is serious, my friend

Who knows when we will be ushered from the temporal to see

How what seemed so temporary will impact eternity

© Janet Martin

Time's Sacred No-return Return

A small glimpse of a bit of recent 'pleasure-treasure!'

Do you ever get the sense 

that earth is a boat

and we're passengers 

on time's massive float

being drawn breath by breath 

toward a shore

through the access called Death

to Forevermore?

Time draws its barge along 

on straits of day to day 

Beneath the chime of golden gong 

or clime of lowered gray 

We grapple with A Sail 

of Utmost Gravity 

Because Time’s sacred charge entails 

far more than we can see 

Time tugs its transient bark 

‘neath arcs of dark and light 

Where we are far more than tourists 

on floats of sound and sight 

We wear God-granted grace 

as breath-tones rise and fall 

And bear the very common place 

of duty’s beck and call

Time flies through outstretched arms 

and eyes wide with surprise 

It breezes through fists clenched against 

its resolute demise

It tosses plans awry 

and teaches us to trust

The invisible hand that makes 

visible dust to dust

Time takes its telling toll 

on mortal’s temple-gate 

Where carriages of deathless soul 

have much to contemplate 

For This, no pleasure cruise, 

transports us to a Shore 

Where every single passenger 

embarks forevermore 

Time steals our breath and seals 

its aftermath in years 

How swift its gift of empty reels 

fills up and disappears 

While heart-strings groan and fray, 

and pray, we start to sense 

The absolute approaching of 

That Day of Recompense 

Time ticks around the clock 

but cannot tell how far 

Or near to the most searing dock 

and final pier we are 

To meet the destiny 

of This Fleeting Sojourn 

Where verily, eternity 

is time's sacred return

© Janet Martin 

Some encouragement while we 'sail'...

(Imagine if the passage below said

 'to the churches of Canada' in place of Thessalonians

and this could/would be said of us from its letter-writer?!!)

2 Thess.1:1-5

Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,

*To the church of the Thessalonians 

in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,

[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, 

and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance 

and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, 

and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, 

for which you are suffering. 

2 Thess.2:16-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, 

who loved us and by his grace gave us 

eternal encouragement and good hope, 

encourage your hearts and strengthen you 

in every good deed and word.

What If, After All The Laughter...

No laughing matter if...

What if, after all the laughter...

all the flowers that we held...

What if after all the laughter, 

All the flowers that we held 

We have nothing left that matters 

When our fleeting frame is felled 

What if, after so much pardoned 

After precious mem’ries made 

We depart with heart still hardened 

Never trusted, never prayed 

What if, after we have tasted 

Mercy-upon-mercy poured 

We have ultimately wasted 

The Gift that we just ignored 

(The Gift offered by the Lord)

What if we are not forgiven 

What if we never receive 

The inheritance of Heaven 

Because we did not believe 

What if, after all the laughter

And tears, as time took its toll

We did not yield to the Author

Of Salvation for the soul

© Janet Martin 

Every so often I listen to this powerful song...

Almost Persuaded- Josh Turner

....and often I weep for cold shoulders turned away

from The Gift

Eph.2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; 

but he that believeth not shall be damned.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, 

he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins 

and purify us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:16

for God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten son

that whosoever believes in Him

will not perish but have everlasting life

Why does it matter so much if our name is not written

in the Book of Life??

Rev.20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. 

The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 

12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. 

The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, 

and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, 

and each person was judged according to what they had done. 

14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. 

The lake of fire is the second death. 

15Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life 

was thrown into the lake of fire.