Panic-stricken or Peace-secured

 We choose panic or peace through Who/who we believe...

Fear peers through the Unknown

Dread flaunts a giant foe

Faith fixes feet on steppingstones

Of grace whereby we go

Fear finds so many ways

To foster dark despair

Faith takes God at His Word and prays

And casts on Him life’s cares

Fear drains our laughter dry

And thrives on misery

Faith does not demand reasons why

But trusts Love’s sovereignty

Fear weakens and destroys

It makes thought rash, uncouth

Faith strengthens because hope’s pure joy

Is anchored in the Truth

Fear is a heartless fiend

Feasting on trembling prey

Faith finds a secure foothold in

The Hand that leads the way

© Janet Martin

Fear; a deadly epidemic
Exposing man's deepest flaw
Faith; assuring and authentic
Fills the heart with peace and awe

 There is no fear in love. 

But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 

The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, 

drunkenness and the anxieties of life, 

and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.   

For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  

 Be always on the watch, and pray...

Luke 21:34-36 

 Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isa.41:10

Night Thoughts

PAD Challenge Day 4: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Night (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. 

"These are night-thoughts.

The day will wash them away"

Quote from; From Larkrise to Candleford 

Through chasms carved with what is not

They rush; frail flood-gates yield to thought

That daylight’s barricades had barred

But midnight’s maelstroms disregard

And would wreak havoc in the Place

That cups our mustard seed of faith

…for something about darkness wakes

A world immune to masquerades

It strips bravado down to size

As fear rallies its troop of lies

To thunder through thought’s sleepless form

With ‘what ifs’ agonizing storm

And were it not for prayer to keep

A Shepherd’s watch on thought-shaped sheep

And were it not for grace to guard

The fold those night-fiends disregard

We could not ward off wolves that wait

To break in and annihilate

So when I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord His watch to keep

And guard me from the beasts that lurk

When I have set aside my work

Where love and longing carve an ache

That sometimes night-thought’s overtake

© Janet Martin

We Could Focus On Fear Or...Faith

Let's face it; there are real, legitimate fears but it is futile to make them our focus.
Rather we should take them to God and plead on their behalf!

We could focus on fear that feels like it finds footholds in our gut

We could tremble and sink into doubt and despair’s engulfing rut

When we feel like a vessel lost or leaves tossed on a reckless gale

We could focus on fear or cling to promises that cannot fail

We could focus on what we see rather than Evidence Unseen

Self-pity could cry ‘woe is me’ and pine for ‘not-mine’ pastures green

Unknown, like a blood-thirsty beast could seem to stalk us like doomed prey

And we could be a sorry feast or cling to He who knows/IS The Way

We could focus on what we wish when God’s love leaves our spirits stung

To wrest from faith the size of it; to test the prattle of the tongue

We could focus on fear that paralyzes like a viper’s sting

Or we could fold fear into prayer and just trust God in everything

© Janet Martin

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus...

Isn't this true for us too as it was for Peter...
if we keep our eyes on Jesus he will help us 'walk on water'
 but if we look around and focus on the dark waves
we will sink in fear!

When grief wreaks havoc in our form

And dreams in shambles lie

Pray that we hear within the storm

“Take courage, it is I”

When hope is tempest-tossed about

Where faith and fear-lords vie

Pray that we hear beyond all doubt

“Take courage, it is I”

When Love draws loved ones out of reach

And leaves us wond’ring why

Pray that we hear a Voice beseech

“Take courage, it is I”  

And when we that last strait must brave

Where death’s dark mysteries lie

Pray that we hear across the wave

“Take courage, it is I”

© Janet Martin

 But Jesus immediately said to them:

 "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Matt.14:27

But Ah, Ink

Sometimes after a particularly draining day

 I need a good poem-purge before I tackle the tail-end of tasks 😊

You walk through rooms that talk cannot quite enter, but ah, ink

Can drown out frowning skeptics and the fear that of what They think

You put your arm around my sigh and draw me to that place

Where chaos and commitment and clemency interlace

You do not bid me hurry for the clock is running out

But like a patient teacher you encourage when I doubt

You listen while I pour out fondest joy and deepest woe

And never tell me halfway through, ‘excuse me, I must go’

You probe beneath the surface, go where none have gone before

And urge the poet onward till the surge rushes the shore

You bid her brave the waters that her voice would never dare

Until your ink-splurge fathers something akin to a prayer

© Janet Martin