Will We Walk By?

Isa.40:11

(Read the whole AWESOME chapter HERE)

He tends his flock like a shepherd: 

He gathers the lambs in his arms 

and carries them close to his heart;

 he gently leads those that have young.

Canning season allows time for longer listening!

Yesterday I listened to the phenomenal, timeless message shared below.

No matter where in our faith journey we are,

or perhaps not yet begun,

there is hope through the Good Shepherd, for one and all!

(side note; the tomato mountain is shrinking!)

this is what remains this morning...

starting from this (plus some not shown!) on Monday.

The week of full sunshine ripened them far faster than I expected! So thankful.

To say the least, its been an absolute thrill to gather

an abundant harvest in!

It makes the heart glad but pales in comparison

to the gladness of the Shepherd's heart

as His flock is gathered in.

The Tenderness of Jesus! - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

Like a parched land,

Like a stream, dry

Like a lost lamb

Are you and I

No viand for

The starving soul

Without God's store

To make us whole

Like a Shepherd

God tends His flock

His kind love stirred

Beyond all thought

He gathers lambs

 Into His arms

And carries them

 Close to his heart

The ninety-nine

Within the fold

He leaves to find

One in the cold

His love, no thought

Can comprehend

Its glimpse a cross

With life-Blood stained 

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

His urgent groan

His Living Word?

Abundance waits

In rich supply

At the Fold's gates

Will we walk by?

Janet Martin

The ninety and nine by Eddy Harrison (with lyrics)

On Finding The Best of The Best

It is not hard to praise God for blessings we can see with our eyes;

the beauty of the earth and sky, 

the bounty of harvest,

mortal need supplied,

the beautiful child...

(and to think I sometimes dare to doubt or question 

the Designer and Creator of flowers!

 one example among ten-thousand-thousand wonders!!)

God knows the heart; its wilderness and its wellspring!

Its throne and its Lord/lord.

He sees the authenticity or lack of

Thankfulness!

Sometimes His Best is not grasped at first glance...

Not all of life's best is laughter

Nor sunshine, when elements smile

Not all joy waits for gladness after

The sorrow we suffered a while

World-wealth is not life's best treasure

Nor beauty, but feast for the eye

To discover life's fullest pleasure

No measure of money can buy

Not all knowledge sires wise students

Experience-worth laid to waste

Where lack of humility's prudence

Cannot see beyond touch and taste

Life's best is a timely word spoken

To comfort, or caution where sight

Cannot show how God holds hearts, broken

Or ministers songs in the night

The world, for all it has to offer

Cannot bring us peace in the storm

Cannot usher joy to a coffer

That seems stripped, when judged by its form 

Until we love and trust life's Giver

For beauty beyond the façade 

The best that life's best can deliver

Are fleeting, half-glimpses of God 

What seems worst-of-worst is often

The wisdom of God in disguise

Where Best of the Best seeks to soften

Hard hearts/parts with the tears from His eyes 

Janet Martin

Rom.5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith,

 [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, 

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, 

knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 

4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope.

 5 Now hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts

 by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Read the whole glorious chapter HERE

For the Beauty of the Earth (Michelle Swift, Hymn with Lyrics

A Precious Promises Prayer (because of the preciousness of our faith)

All flesh is like the grass; its glory like a flower-field ...

The grass withers, 

the flowers fall...

2 Cor.7:1 NIV (see Cor.6 for context)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends,

let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,

perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

or NKJV

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, 

let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,

 perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Today's poem/prayer

inspired by the above verses & Rom.12, 1 Pet.1 & 2 Pet.1

Not out of compulsion or other legalistic due

Lord, help us perfect holiness with sober reverence

Because You are not mocked; both Your love and judgments are true 

Then for your glory Lord, help us to seek obedience

...not as religion's burden or a noose to happiness 

Not as a key to Heaven (for we have been saved by grace)

But as evidence of faith's commitment and thankfulness  

As we crucify self and put Your glory in its place 

You are the Vine; forbid we boast Your Name yet bear no fruit 

But, You in us and we in you may thus love's charge fulfill 

Renew our minds, so we view life through eyes, wise and astute

No longer conformed to this world but to Your perfect will 

Lord, help us not hold lightly, the gift of Your saving grace

Purchased, not with perishable things such as silver and gold

But with the precious blood of Christ who died in our place

Who redeemed us for riches that cannot be bought or sold 

Therefore, having Your very great and precious promises

Your divine power equips us with everything we need

To live a godly life, empowered by Your righteousness 

By being born again through Your imperishable seed 

All flesh is like the grass; its glory like a flower-field 

The grass withers, the flowers fall, but not your Word, O Lord

Throughout eternity Your Sovereignty will be revealed

To all who believe and receive the promise of Your Word 

Lord, by the grace You give help us to live for you each day

Recalling oft salvation's awful price You paid, and then

Because of the preciousness of our faith, gladly obey

And be a living sacrifice for Your glory. Amen

Janet Martin 

2 Pet.1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness

 through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence.

4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, 

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, 

now that you have escaped the corruption in the world 

caused by evil desires...

(Read the whole Glorious chapter HERE)

God’s Precious Promises – Dr. Charles Stanley

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

The first line in today's poem was one of my first waking thoughts,

as I pondered the day at hand and all of life's varying lots...

Ephesians chapter3, verses 8-13

 (click HERE for the whole glorious chapter of love's Mystery revealed)

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, 

that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

 9 and to make all see what is the [b]fellowship of the mystery, 

which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden 

in God who created all things [c]through Jesus Christ;

 10 to the intent that now the [d]manifold wisdom of God

 might be made known by the church 

to the [e]principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 

11 according to the eternal purpose 

which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 

12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 

13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart...

Generally when we hear the word riches we

visualize Things; opulence, excess, worldly wealth, etc.

How much we miss if we never discover

the unsearchable riches of God's glory!

O the Riches of My Savior - Hymn 542

We cannot trade our lot in life with someone else's so

Whatever be its care and strife, by God's grace we all go

In ups and downs of gain and loss, where unknown's verges brim

He bids us to take up our cross and trust and follow Him

In Him we find more than enough; and only faith can claim

The unsearchable riches of the glory due His name

Of love transcending thought-bound sphere, of knowledge that exceeds

The crippling realms of doubt and fear, to satisfy faith's needs

This temporal and broken world is full of trouble's woe

The curse that the first sin incurred only grace overthrows

As faith believes and thus receives the gift of God to man

Then the Holy Spirit achieves what mortal never can

Sin is the precursor to death and evil's tragedies

To blame God with our gifted breath must be the worst of these

Upon the cross of Calvary His Son/Jesus was sacrificed

To save the likes of you and me through the shed blood of Christ

Therefore, no matter what our lot, we share what matter most

We, with our whole being ought to make the Lord our boast

For all glory belongs to He who overthrew the grave

Who makes known the great Mystery of love, mighty to save

From the beginning of the world, salvation's plan was wrought

As He, the universe unfurled He knew what was His lot

To make known to the likes of us, riches beyond our ken

A Mystery most glorious through Jesus Christ. Amen

Janet Martin

Eph.1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, 

the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Ps.29:2

Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Faith's Security

Gen.3:1

Now the serpent was more crafty

 than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. 

He said to the woman, “Did God really say...?

Lord, pray our faith be established in You,

 so we are not misled by feelings!

Pray we know the truth of your Word 

so we are not swayed by our thoughts,

when the Tempter tries us with 'Did God really say...?

Heb.11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

How Firm A Foundation With Lyrics By Fernando Ortega

Lord, let Thy truth appoint 

Faith's steps, not blinding sight

And let Thy law of love anoint

Faith's patience and delight 

Lord, let faith's hopes and plans

Be subject to Thy will

Better by far Thy ways than man's 

Prone-to-self-serving skill 

...and let the thoughts faith heeds

Be ordered by Thy Word

So that Thy power intercedes

To keep faith undeterred 

So that the word faith speaks

Reflects Humility

So meditation's motive seeks

To ever honour/worship Thee 

O Lord, Thy faithfulness

Is faith's security

Thy loving kindness bound to bless

Each heart that trusts in Thee

Lest faith's footsteps backslide

(Lord, may it never be)

Let Thy eternal Word abide

To guide Faith home to Thee

Amen

Janet Martin

Ps.36:7-10

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,

And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

 For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,

And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

Ps.37:23-24

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross 

 Keith & Kristyn Getty, Sandra McCracken - Official Lyric Video

His Love Cannot Fail

First 'Things' First

Almost every time I face this screen

there is a battle between good and evil;

God and man...

When I succumb to the pride of fear or timidity

my words, whether written or spoken are sorely-flawed and lacking

'For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Tim.1:7

So here's to a new week of seeking God first,

Knowing we can cast our cares on Him

because he cares for us, qualifies us, equips us for

whatever befalls...

We are human; we fumble and stumble oft,

but when we give it all to God, 

He works through our weakness for His purpose and glory!

(for when we are weak, then we are strong!)

2 Cor.12:10

If eloquence is self-assured

Relying on the confidence

Of material knowledge-secured

Through life's school of experience

If the expression of our thought

Is restricted by mortal choice

Then we cannot think as we ought;

'God, tune our hearts to hear Your voice'

If we, without humility

Approach the podium of speech

How very wary we should be

Of what we are about to teach

If, without God to intercede

And take the lead, our gab to gird

We are ill-qualified indeed;

'God, tune our lips to speak Your Word'

For, if we live and move and have

Our being stayed in God, so great 

Then, by His eloquence we brave 

The charge of The Immaculate 

Aware of our rightful place

A vessel fit for service when

We rely on His truth and grace 

'God, help us seek You first. Amen'

Janet Martin

Acts 17:27-29

God intended that they would seek Him 

and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him,

 though He is not far from each one of us. 

‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’

 As some of your own poets have said,

 ‘We are His offspring.’...

Read the whole glorious chapter HERE

Everyone is Welcome (in Mercy's Throne-room)

Recently a friend remarked to me,

' It seems, the older we grow the more we pray'

Yes! I replied, and it seems to me,

 the more we pray the less our words!

God knows our hearts 

so He knows exactly what we need

and exactly when we need it!

What peace this knowledge brings!

Sweet Hour of Prayer with Lyrics by Alan Jackson

No fancy phrase demanded

No verbose agility

No reserved rank or status

Or exclusive pedigree

No exam or diploma

Or prerequisites to meet

To cry to God in Heaven

Or to fall before His feet 

No interview or survey

Before we can qualify

To enter Mercy's Throne Room 

Through the door of creature cry 

No uniform required

No strict format to appease

To lift our heart to Heaven

As we pour out praise and pleas 

...and seek Hope's sacred solace

With surrendered heart and soul

Reaching to touch the hemline

Of the One who makes us whole

No pious prose is needed

Nor grand phraseology 

A groan is interceded

When cried in humility   

...and everyone is welcome

To believe and call on He

Who beyond comprehension

Ever cares for you and me 

Janet Martin

1 Pet.5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, 

so that in due time He may exalt you. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him, 

because He cares for you.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; 

He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

 Look at the birds of the air: 

They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not much more valuable than they? 

 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Psalm 116:1-2
I love the LORD, 

for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. 

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

 I will call on Him as long as I live.

Psalm 28:6
Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 

and His ears are inclined to their prayer. 

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Just As I Am with Lyrics by Alan Jackson

Fernando Ortega Pass Me Not With Lyrics

While We Wait...Quietly

God's Waiting Room is a Garden...

From Eden to Gethsemane/Calvary mankind awaited The Messiah (Saviour)

In Eden, perfection marred by sin. Sin, the author of death, trouble and sorrow.

In Gethsemane, utter surrender to the Father's will.

The Father's Will? 

Salvation/Redemption

Today's devotion struck a deep chord in my soul.

Our church family, while still mourning the loss of of our pastor this past winter

are seeking and waiting on the Lord to prepare and provide another.

The tension between seeking and waiting is not a light matter!

Prayers are deeply appreciated on the behalf of our church staff and leaders,

whose 'violin/cello strings' are being sorely stretched!

Waiting introduces suitors 

That test soldiers of the cross

While goodness and mercy tutors

Faith's students with seeming loss  

Waiting without being anxious

Is not for the faint of heart

Beneath God's perfecting purpose

Oft our own ways groan and smart 

To wait quietly, while hoping

Jars with natural desire

To trust without interloping 

 Tries the wise, as if by fire

God's Waiting Room is a garden

Eden and Gethsemane

First the curse and then the pardon

Waiting unveils Calvary 

Then be of good courage, fellow-

Partaker of suffering 

While we wait God's tunes faith's cello

And repairs each broken string

While we wait, hark! God is speaking

To the likes of me and you

While we wait He too is seeking

Worshippers whose love is true 

Janet Martin

Here I Am To Worship | Maranatha! Music (Lyric Video)

God's Opportunity

Tip 'o the hat to cement truck drivers and cementers.

That is some seriously hard work!!

Some of my brothers and nephews are carpenters so they are a huge blessing

as we build a granny-flat onto my parent's home

for them to hopefully move into by the end of the year!

Lots of hard work is happening but I think cementing must be one of the hardest.

First, the hard work to install heavy cribbing,

then, after the hard work of cementing,

the hard work of tearing it away.

This week I learned what a rebar is and its purpose!

So many metaphors to apply to life;

how what seems like the 'hard work' is actually the preparation 

for the 'pouring' of the foundation!

How there is so much more to the foundation and footing than meets the eye!

Every day we are each God's opportunity 

to work through and in us with the abilities and gifts He has given!

Let's not miss them, because there is no other me or you to do

what he has deigned for each of us to do!

The rebars in our own life-foundations are not visible to others,

nor theirs to us, reminding us there is so much more 

than meets the eye in all of our 'temples'.

It's almost more than my dad (almost 85 and a former carpenter)

can do to simply watch...

What we see never grants enough

to justify disregarding what we cannot see!

(like spiritual rebars, or the lack of them)

God is faithful;

faithful when we are tempted

to fear

to doubt

to despair.

1 Cor.10:12-13

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; 

but God is faithful, 

who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, 

but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, 

that you may be able to [d]bear it.

We are God's opportunity;

Through people just like you and me

He ministers His faithfulness

So we may live to love and bless

...and though no person can fulfill

The part only His Spirit will

He helps us love the way we should

And through this love works all for good

We are God's workmanship; His grace

Equips us for all that we face

So we may daily shed abroad

The light, hope, joy and love of God

Janet Martin  

Faith-Booster

In need of a faith-boost?

Today's devotion is a beautiful reminder

of truths that abide, regardless of what may seem!

By Faith" from Praise and Harmony's Resurrecting God CD

Only a Holy God -Praise and Harmony

We walk by faith and not by sight

No need to know or fret or fear

As step by step we trust the Light

Of God's Word to direct and cheer

Faith walks by the way of the cross

For sinless Christ bore mankind's sin

And suffered Mercy's Albatross

This is no minor, trifling thing

Faith walks in the power of prayer

How limited is mortal might

How finite is the thoroughfare

That winds through highs and lows of sight

Our God forgives when we confess

Faith believes and walks in His grace

As far as east is from the west

His love/blood removes transgression's trace

Ah, what more do we need than this;

To have a God who intercedes

Though much may be sadly amiss

We walk by faith because God leads

Among all gods, none are like Thee

Thy words and works beyond compare

Transcending the small part we see  

We walk by faith; faith walks by prayer

Unite our hearts to fear Thy name

Lord, let Thy law be awe's delight 

Until, returned from whence we came

Help us to walk by faith, not sight

Armed with the Spirit's sword, Thy Word

Faith's shield to quench enemy darts

We step into the fray, oh Lord

Open the eyes of our hearts

Janet Martin

Sharing this chapter as well so it may minister to your soul

as it did to mine this morning. 

Ps 86

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;

For I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my [a]life, for I am holy;

You are my God;

Save Your servant who trusts in You!

3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,

For I cry to You all day long.

4 [b]Rejoice the soul of Your servant,

For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,

And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;

And attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,

For You will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;

Nor are there any works like Your works.

9 All nations whom You have made

Shall come and worship before You, O Lord,

And shall glorify Your name.

10 For You are great, and do wondrous things;

You alone are God.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth;

[c]Unite my heart to fear Your name.

12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

And I will glorify Your name forevermore.

13 For great is Your mercy toward me,

And You have delivered my soul from the depths of [d]Sheol.

14 O God, the proud have risen against me,

And a mob of violent men have sought my life,

And have not set You before them.

15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,

Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!

Give Your strength to Your servant,

And save the son of Your maidservant.

17 Show me a sign for good,

That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,

Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.