Wonder-witnesses

Last night I got home after Jim (husband) was sleeping and he got up early to leave

so I got up as well to see him off.

then I was wide awake so I settled down for some 'quiet-time'

(such as praying for my sister-in-law Karen who is having 

a hip-replacement surgery today!! prayers valued)

but, my quiet-time was soon interrupted by a rather

suspicious rustling, so I set the mouse traps I have been saving for Jim to set,

...then returned to reading and writing (a few minutes ago I heard a 'snap!')

The background music and backdrop of poetry is often anything but poetic!!

This poem was inspired in part by a conversation this morning

 (while we waited for the coffee to brew) about

how it's harder to get the Christmas 'feeling' as we get older...

Also in part by my devotion passage from Isa.43.

As I read through the chapter I was suddenly so thankful

for the Christmas 'knowing' which is better forever

than just a 'feeling'.

We, by faith are witnesses of Hope's reason!

We are witnesses of wonder!

Isa.43:10-11

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

That you may know and believe Me,

And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,

Nor shall there be after Me.

11 I, even I, am the Lord,

And besides Me there is no savior.

We are witnesses of wonder...

He whose Word will never dim

Causes earth and sky to thunder

With the evidence of Him...

(upstairs window with a screen was my only option

to capture December dusk yesterday)

a wonder-evoking beauty in spite of being blocked by buildings

We are witnesses of wonder

He whose Word will never dim

Causes earth and sky to thunder

With the evidence of Him

Causes creation to capture

Eyes and ears with sight and sound

Overflowing hearts with rapture

As both great and small confound

We are witnesses of glory

So we may know and believe

In He who fulfilled love's story

Hope, joy and peace to achieve

He whose servant-like behaviour

Purchased pardon for sin's debt

Hallelujah, what a Saviour

Dying in the sinner's stead

We are witnesses of promise

Only faith can apprehend

As we fix our eyes on Jesus

And hope's assurance defend

As we trust the One and Only

Author and Perfecter of

Faith; as His truth cheers the lonely

With His everlasting love

We are witnesses of wonder

Where good tidings of great joy

Break the bars of hell asunder

Through Bethlehem's Baby Boy

Glory to God in the highest

Glory to the King of kings

Glory to His love unbiased

And the hope that Jesus brings

He, wounded for our transgression,

Bruised for our iniquities

Through Calvary's intercession

Fulfilled ancient prophecies

We, witnesses of salvation

We, who by His stripes are healed

Sing with joyful exaltation

For the Lord's pleasure revealed 

We are witnesses of 'Knowing'

What the angels sang about

Of the love of God bestowing

Light to pierce shadows of doubt

Of the Word that makes His dwelling

In the likes of you and me

Witnesses of Christ's compelling

Love for all humanity

Janet Martin

Mary's Boy Child- Jim Reeves

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol) - Keith & Kristyn Getty

To Be Obedient and True...

My oldest grandson is having a life-lesson

in what it means to give his fears to God

and trust Him when he is afraid!

After a tragic accident the other week claimed the life of both parents

of a family they were/are quite closely connected with

he expressed his fears this morning, as he and his siblings are preparing

to spend the day at our house to give our daughter and husband a day to themselves

to be refreshed a bit during this season of grief...

'but what if you get in a car crash?'

They explained to him they will do their part to drive carefully

and then we need to trust in God and not live in fear.

To trust God is faith's first step of obedience,

as we trust Him for our salvation!

Through faith's reverence for God's Word/promises

His love for us grows our love for Him! 

My prayer is for my grandson to begin discovering

God's joy and peace in his childhood, 

as he learns to trust because none of us can see

what lies ahead!

To be obedient and true to God whose commands never shift

Would be impossible to do without love for His glorious gift

Through Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life to break the curse of sin

And, all who repent and believe, receive His divine pow'r within

To be obedient and true wreaks havoc with our stubborn/fearful will

Until we yield without holds to He who alone can joy fulfill

Then as we walk by faith not sight, trusting, knowing God will provide

His law will be our chief delight and Self more readily denied 

To be obedient and true to God's commands is to secure

The riches of His promises through tests faith is bound to endure

Because we, without tragedy and loss would not find wealth untold; 

The proven character of faith, more precious by far, than much gold

To be obedient and true, to seek God and His Kingdom first

Would seem a thankless thing to do while idolizing/idealizing goals, sin-cursed

But, when we repent and believe, we receive faith's glorious goal

That none but God's grace can achieve or grant; salvation for the soul 

We all like sheep have gone astray and turned from our Shepherd, the Lord

Who died upon a cross to pay a debt that no one could/can afford

Like a Lamb led to slaughter He bore the chastisement we deserve 

Oh, pray faith's eloquence will be obedience without reserve 

Janet Martin

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man,

 He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

 who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, 

scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Isaiah 53:11

After the anguish of His soul, 

He will see the light of life and be satisfied. 

By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, 

and He will bear their iniquities.

Eph.2:1-10

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

  2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and

 of the ruler of the power of the air, 

the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

  3All of us also lived among them at one time, 

fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. 

Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 

5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.

 It is by grace you have been saved! 

6And God raised us up with Christ 

and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

  7in order that in the coming ages 

He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, 

demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, 

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

9not by works, so that no one can boast. 

10For we are God’s workmanship,

 created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

 which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

This Life Is Not Carefree

1 Pet.5:6-9 NIV

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

that he may lift you up in due time. 

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. 

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion

 looking for someone to devour. 

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, 

because you know that the family of believers

 throughout the world

 is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Any good we receive,

Any good we give

Is possible only

because of God's faithful goodness first!

Ps. 119:67-72

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.

You are good, and do good;

Teach me Your statutes.

The proud have forged[k] a lie against me,

But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.

Their heart is [l]as fat as grease,

But I delight in Your law.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,

That I may learn Your statutes.

The law of Your mouth is better to me

Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

Between what was, and waits

Today unfolds faith’s due

Where joys and sorrows rush dawn's gates

Where trial’s tests pursue...

This life is not carefree

Beneath Refinement’s rod

Happiness grants no guarantee

Unless/until we trust in/yield to God

Between what was, and waits

Today unfolds faith’s due

Where joys and sorrows rush dawn's gates

Where trial’s tests pursue

God, in each hour of need

Attends humility

He grants us power to proceed

Where life is not carefree

So then, press on, assured

For we are not alone

As we face cares not yet endured

And battles not yet won

If God is on our side

Defeat will not prevail

For He is near; his truths abide

His purpose will not fail

His loving kindness hears

Devotion’s agony

Beneath refinement’s rod appears

An angel of mercy

…and faith is overjoyed

What God deigns, we will do

As we, cast down but not destroyed

Faith and courage renew

For life is not carefree

Where sin’s consequence pains

God’s love, proven at Calvary

Still faithfully sustains

Author of earth and Heaven

Love oft must suffer loss

With every care, Thy grace is given

To help us bear its cross

We thank Thee, faithful Lord/God above

For Thou art good always

Though life is not carefree, Thy Word/Thy love

Anoints our souls/goals with praise

Janet Martin

Be Thou My Vision — Kings Return | A cappella Hymn

Perfectly Possible

All goodness is a gift from God!

All the goodness of this life, without God, could not be possible!

God gives us much more than we could ever earn or deserve.

Who, besides Him can we direct true thanksgiving to?!!

For passages that helped inspire today's poem click HERE and HERE

This morning as I opened my eyes and sensed 

life's impending and immense weight of care

the first line of this poem whispered into my heart...

All things are possible with He who made the heavens and the earth

Whose perfect law of liberty when heeded, frees a blessing-feast

He helps us; nothing in this world compares with Him; He grants true worth

His love/flood, at Calvary unfurled to pardon sinners, has not ceased

All things are possible with God; His goodness oft misunderstood

Because our feet have never trod the rocky road to Calvary

To break sin’s curse and pay its debt while nailed upon a cross of wood

To prove our love; love we forget too often and too easily

All things are possible with He whose power raised Christ from the dead;

The same power that sets us free and instills all who have believed

So, we may overcome faith’s foe and put to subjection, the dread

That else would seek to overthrow the joy and peace we had/have received

All things are possible with God; do not despair when sorrows roll

The comfort of His staff and rod delivers us from evil snares

Where the tempter seeks to destroy, God, rich in mercy cheers the soul

And runs its cup over with joy as we trust He who hears our prayers

Janet Martin

Lord, it is yours. It is not mine. 

This life you breathed your life into

Is a gift You ordained to shine

All glory to its Giver; You

God's Way is Best

Author *Charles W. Naylor

1 God’s way is best; if human wisdom

A fairer way may seem to show,

’Tis only that our earth-dimmed vision

The truth can never clearly know.

Refrain:

God’s way is best, I will not murmur,

Although the end I may not see;

Where’er He leads I’ll meekly follow,

God’s way is best, is best for me.

2 Had I the choosing of my pathway,

In blindness I should go astray,

And wander far away in darkness,

Nor reach that land of endless day. [Refrain]

3 He leadeth true; I will not question,

Though through the valley I shall go;

Though I should pass through clouds of trial,

And drink the cup of human woe. [Refrain]

4 God’s way is best; heart, cease thy struggling

To see and know and understand;

Forsake thy fears and doubts, but trusting,

Submit thyself into His hand. [Refrain]

5 Thy way is best, so lead me onward,

My all I give to Thy control;

Thy loving hand will truly guide me,

And safe to glory bring my soul. [Refrain

*Naylor, Charles Wesley. (1874--1950). C. W. Naylor was born in southern Ohio and reared in Ohio and West Virginia by grandparents. At the age of nineteen he left the Methodist church for the Church of God. He worked for a while at the Gospel Trumpet Company in Grand Junction, Michigan and on some evangelistic tours. He was ordained in 1899 in Springfield, Ohio. He was first injured in 1908 in Florida while moving timbers from under a meeting tent. He suffered a dislocated kidney and other internal injuries. A year later he was in a bus accident that left him an invalid for the rest of his life. Naylor wrote eight books, many articles and pamphlets, many hymns and gospel songs, besides being a columnist in the Gospel Trump

What Matters Most

I turn to Ps.119 over and over

as sorrows, like sea billows roll...

Ps.119:27-28

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: 

so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

My soul melteth for heaviness:

strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

This past weekend we received word of tragedy after tragedy on our highways!

Close to home three girls (ages 14, 6 & 4) have lost their parents

(my daughter's neighbour's/friends)

The school my brother teaches at lost a student in another accident.

A man from our church family lost his sister and her husband in yet another accident.

(and these tragedies mentioned are only the ones with personal ties. There were more!!)

Please lift the community up in prayer (esp. the orphaned children!)

And those on the other side of each of these accidents 

where another whole community of families and loved ones suffer

because life as they knew it has been shattered!! 

This is the second neighbour/friend my daughter has lost suddenly

a little over a month apart!

Please pray for Emily and her husband Rob,

 as they continue to support the other family as well!

 

Oh, how harsh seem the various trials we encounter

yet without them how would our faith mature/grow?!

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

when you encounter trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Allow perseverance to finish its work,

so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything.

Oh Lord, we cannot know Thy thoughts

The way Thy mercies move

Are through the trials life allots

Thy faithfulness to prove

Oh Lord, we cannot comprehend

Thy plans Thy love empow'rs

As high as heavens o'er earth ascend

Are Thy ways above ours

Oh Lord, without faith and hope tried

We would grow proud and boast

And forget Thee in our pride

Then miss what matters most

Oh Lord, restore our hearts to Thee

To trust Thy perfect will

Through Thy Word let our comfort be

The power/precepts You instill

Janet 💔🙏

We sang the song It Is Well With My Soul at my sister's funeral a little over a year ago...

(When it is well with our souls, what matters most is well!

Hallelujah!)

It Is Well With My Soul

 

Till the Storm Passes By

I Set My Hope on Jesus

Not Only For a Chosen Few -Hallelujah!

This post, though rather solemn,

because of its sacred subject,

 includes a hallelujah chorus

that is bound to bring a smile to your day! 

1 Tim.2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, 

intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

  2for kings and all those in authority—

so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives 

in all godliness and dignity.

  3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

  4who wants everyone to be saved 

and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

... though bodies die and are returned to dust

The ransomed soul, secure will fly

To He who holds faith's trust 

(higher than the vees of honking geese that tug at heartstrings

as we view their flight from earth's holy ground)

Not only for a chosen few

Did God our Savior, give

His Son to break sin's curse, so through

His death we all may live

...forevermore, though bodies die

And are returned to dust

The ransomed soul, secure will fly

To He who holds faith's trust 

So then, do not lose heart, my friend

Where evil forces wage

For what we see is not the end

But simply sets the stage

For what no mortal can conceive

Of things God has prepared

For all who love Him, and believe

The promises He shared 

Hope Thou in God, and praise His name

Trust His word and obey

No matter what the world may claim

In contrast to God's way

He is faithful and true; His Word

Comforts the part we see

Till that which none have seen or heard

Becomes reality 

Not only for a chosen few

But for all human race

God sent His Son to save us through

His blood-bought gift of grace

And all who believe and confess

That  'He alone is Lord'

Are heirs of all the promises

He tells us in His Word

Janet Martin

God's Word is not simply for a chosen few

but for all of fumbling, stumbling humanity!

It brings light to darkness,

joy to grief

hope to heartache

faith to fear

Hallelujah!! 

Yes, no matter how fumbling and stumbling,

let's keep the hallelujahs rolling!

Mr Bean singing like an angel

1 Cor.2:6-10

Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—

but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God,

a which He destined for our glory before time began.

8None of the rulers of this age understood it.

For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

  9Rather, as it is written:

“No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no heart has imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love Him.”b

10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.

Of Faith's Fortune...

The world wails/groans for a saviour,

for real hope and assurance,

seeking something/someone trustworthy to put their faith in...

while rejecting the Saviour of the world,

Whose hope and assurance

can only be received through faith!

'Ah, but I cannot have such faith!' do we say?

and yet, is Faith not displayed each time

we plant a seed, believing it will grow?!!

God did His part.

He gave us a Saviour,

but before we have access to

 the riches of His grace

we must do our part;

to repent and believe!

To repent is

to turn from our ways to His way!

To believe is...what a mystery belief is

only possible through faith!

and faith is only possible when we cease to doubt!!

Then, oh what true hope, joy and peace,

come by faith;

what knowledge and understanding

come to all who fear Him and love His name! 

Ps.111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:

a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

his praise endureth forever

Ps.112:1

Praise ye the Lord.

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord,

that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Ps.115:1&11,13,17&18

Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, 

but unto Thy name give glory,

for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake...

Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord:

 he is their help and their shield.

He will bless them that fear the Lord,

both small and great.

The dead praise not the Lord,

nor any that go down into silence.

but we will bless the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

 Praise the Lord.

Beyond the tent that tames the sun

And hosts heavens of stars

Beneath the depths of the ocean,

The breath that breaks night's bars...

Beyond earth and its fullness of

Flower, forest and mead...

Beyond the tent that tames the sun

And hosts heavens of stars

Beneath the depths of the ocean,

The breadth/breath that breaks night's bars

Beyond earth and its fullness of

Flower, forest and mead

And seasons that unfold above

The silence of the dead

Is God, the faithful God of all

The God who damns and saves

The God whose name both great and small

Are called to fear and praise 

The God who is Lion and Lamb

Whose divine Word is chief

The God who is the great I AM

And helps our unbelief

 

...whose greatest commandment is love

The love that He imparts

Without exception, in spite of

The dregs of human hearts

He forgives us, if we confess

He saves, if we believe

Faithful in all He promises

And only faith receives

Then, when faith begins to take root

Our hymns to God increase

The life, once dead, is rich with fruit

Of hope and joy and peace

In all who believe in is Name

Life's rivers are unfurled

Through He whose glory we proclaim

'The Saviour of the world' 

Janet Martin

John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:

 ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

David Crowder Band - Because He Lives (Lyrics)

 

Many reject Him because they cannot understand Him.

We cannot possibly begin to comprehend

the depths of his love, but He gave us a glimpse

of its extension on the cross of Calvary!

Rom.11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches 

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

 How unsearchable are His judgments 

and His ways past finding out!

Everyone who comes to Him, 

comes, not by understanding,

but by faith.

Are you afraid!

Are you discouraged?

Have you done your part

so God can do His?

Have you prayed 'Lord, I believe

help thou mine unbelief?'

There is no fairyland waiting after death!

God through his Son, made a way that all may come to Him

and all who truly believe will pass from death to life-

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word 

and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life 

and will not come under judgment. 

Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

John 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, 

because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Hope In Spite of Hardship And A Hug for the Hurting...

All the comforts of this world

cannot replace the comforts of the Soul,

wherewith Faith is cheered!

All the wonders of the world

cannot eclipse the wonder of His Word,

whereby Faith is taught!

All the wealth of this world

cannot compare to the riches of His grace;

Faith's inheritance!

***

1 Cor.13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

There is SO much more to this life than what/who meets the eye!

(like potato-diggers or flowers)

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.

***

Sometimes, when hardships come some doubt God

and his existence.

In the verses below David reflects, first on Joseph

who was sold as a slave, thrown into prison,

through false allegations,

before eventually being released

and given a place of highest honour!

Until the time that his word came to pass,

The word of the Lord tested him

Ps.105:19

...and then, also on the Israelites 

and God's faithful provision for them

in spite of their complaining and ungratefulness !

But (the Israelites) lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,

And tested God in the desert.

And He gave them their request,

But sent leanness into their soul.

Ps.106:14-15

Yesterday I visited a friend who recently moved into hospice.

She knows her time on this earth is almost over,

Yet,

Her room seemed filled with Hope's Palpable Presence; Peace! 

Through Christ's shed blood and her confession of faith,

when she repented and believed,

'in the valley of the shadow of death she fears no evil

for the Shepherd is with her; His rod and staff comfort her...'

(Still, please pray for her and her family!!)

In spite of this, these are hard days 😭🙏

Dear 'S' 💓

Johnny Cash - If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven

Oh God, help us desire You and trust in You

with all our heart 

and not lean on our own understanding,

lest you satisfy our hands with things we see

and send a leanness of soul! 

What awful dread to live, not led

By He who satisfies the Soul

To think and be, by what we see

Rather than faith that makes us whole

What utter loss, to scorn the cross

And settle for this wicked world

To count for naught, salvation wrought

Through Jesus' blood-bought grace unfurled 

What sad effect if we reject

Glad, Living Hope, through faith in He

Who, in death's hour preempts its pow'r

With life, for all eternity

But oh, what peace and joy increase

As we release the part we brave

To Jesus Christ who sacrificed

Himself to overthrow the grave

Janet Martin 

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, 

and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, 

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, 

the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

Beyond the 'But In Part' We See

Below, a photo of a handmade card from a friend,

given almost a year ago...

(the above verse one of my favs)

On Sunday morning one of my students asked me if I have a favorite Bible verse.

 I replied that favourite verses vary, depending on what is happening, etc! 

On that particular morning I had meditated on Ps.119:165.

(because, I asked, 'who doesn't want 'great peace' ?

and that verse tells us who has it and how) 

Today I turned to this familiar and beloved Psalm, 

also an enduring favorite, 

filled with consolation and worship 

as we weather a world filled with sin and it's consequences

 such as sickness and sorrow!

Some sorrows are very public

and others very private!

But God knows them all!

Ps. 46

God is our refuge and strength,

A[a] very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the [b]midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,

The holy place of the [c]tabernacle of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be [d]moved;

God shall help her, just [e]at the break of dawn.

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;

He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

Who has made desolations in the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

***

Take up Thy cross and follow He who grants sufficient grace

Beyond the ‘but in part’ we see before ‘then, face to face’

He helps us bear the suffering that faith must first endure

Beneath the shadow of His wing joy and peace are secure

Do not despair though dark may seem the valley of the hour

The trying of our faith will gleam with God’s sustaining pow’r

Here morning breaks and disappears; all is change and decay

But God remains the same; His years shall never pass away

Then, trust in God with all your heart; He is all-wise and good

From earth we know Him ‘but in part’; love oft misunderstood

So, fix your eyes upon the Prize of ‘someday, face to face’

And do not dread the test that tries the perfecting of faith

Be still and know that He is God; He is faithful and true

Take courage, for His staff and rod protect and guide us through

The valley of the shadow of the part He overcame

At Calvary, for all who love and believe in His Name

Janet Martin

1 Cor.13:12 NKJV

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

God Will Take Care of You

Heb.12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, 

and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

  2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the authora and perfecter of our faith, 

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,

 scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners,

 so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The Ongoing Interview

A year ago today/yesterday our truck was stolen 

out of our back yard during a family reunion

 ( the loss was just a truck and eventually it was recovered) but

I commented to some friends yesterday how it felt like that day began

a volley of staggering blows and losses,

a schooling in sorrow and the 

incomprehensible compassion of God poured through

people and His Word; evoking a keener awareness to a kind of

Interview, where God has always said

'Trust me' and delights in proving His faithfulness

if we are willing to obey and trust Him

A year ago today Lucy dropped by unannounced

with a bouquet of gladiolas, and much sympathy.

(and classic Lucy-greeting,

oh wow! Are you always dressed up like you're going for groceries,

even on a Monday afternoon of canning?!!) 😅💓

My, my I miss my spontaneous, speak-her-mind/heart sister💔😭

Because our truck was stolen (a friend reminded me much later) 

we, unknowingly had our last just-the-two-of-us, heart-to-heart afternoon together!

Before she left we hugged and said 'I love you'.

After the tragedy that ended her earthly life

Her husband chose Rom. 8:28 

And we know that in all things 

God works for the good of those who love him, 

who[a] have been called according to his purpose

as a grounding verse.

 Because of our stolen truck

God worked for good

Lucy's response to the nudge to come 

and give me a hug, amidst her busyness.

God gave me a memory to treasure forever...

(I can't begin to describe how the last year has

transformed joy/hope through incredible heartbreak!

My heart feels ripped, crushed and cradled!!)

The Interview between Father and Child,

to teach needful lessons is always painful, isn't it, daddies?

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God hath shined.

Ps.50:2

We are God’s workmanship; thus, are part of an interview

With He who kindles every star, then dims them with the sun

Who, out of Zion pours perfection’s bespoke beauty through

A fathomless reflection of love’s work barely begun

While, 'gainst a universal scrim, His evidence of truth

Beckons us to remember Him in the days of our youth

The Interviewer of our days; the Kindler of each star

Delights to hear our heartful praise, while joy or sorrow roll

He tests and weighs worship’s reply; no matter who we are

He loves us; Lord of earth and sky and Saviour of the soul

He tries the highs of boast with blows; He refines gains with loss

To prove who we love most; with woes He points us to the cross

Each day runs rife with lows and highs; part of Love’s Interview

While life spills hellos and goodbyes, while we choose who to serve

In a world where anything goes (it seems), where liars woo/coo

Where change and Changeless juxtapose on Hope’s brief honing-curve

While breath by breath soft-dwindles what consumes Attention’s claim

While, like the stars He kindles, God knows each of us by name

...where while life lasts we are in an ongoing Interview

With He who shines through every star, and the sun cannot dim

Who gave His life doomed souls to save, who rose and overthrew

The deadly triumph of the grave, for all who trust in Him

Lord, tune our ears to hear, above the trials faith endures

The Interviewer’s perfect love, whose grace the soul secures

© Janet Martin

Take heart, all of us who are being 'interviewed/tested'...

James 1:2-8

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.

 4But let patience have its perfect work, 

that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, 

who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, 

for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

1 Peter 5:9-10

Resist him, 

standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge 

that your brothers throughout the world 

are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 

 And after you have suffered for a little while, 

the God of all grace, who has called you 

to His eternal glory in Christ, 

will Himself restore you, 

secure you, 

strengthen you, 

and establish you.