Pure Delight

1 John 2: 15-17

Do not love the world or anything in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, 

the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—

is not from the Father but from the world.

  17The world is passing away, along with its desires;

 but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Col.3:1

If then you were raised with Christ,

seek those things which are above,

where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

When it comes to 'stuff' much wants more,

and yet is never satisfied!

When it comes to the things of God He has enough

to satisfy all of us for all eternity!

No need to want what the other one has

(unlike two little boys playing with tractors! 😅💓)

Love brings no satisfaction to devotion and delight

If its primal attraction is to seek and serve by sight

If what we long and strive for here, is temporal at best

If fulfillment we live for, dear, is not Supremely blessed

…by He who made and loves us and who knows us, heart and soul

Who placed within the glove of us a Faith-in-Him shaped hole

A love-the-Lord-thy-God-with-all-thy-heart-soul-strength-and-mind

-abyss; that, though we gain the world, we are Heaven-designed

And thus, to find true happiness, true hope, joy, peace and love

We first must pursue righteousness/godliness and seek Those Things Above

With uttermost humility and thankfulness, and then

We will find more delight than we thought possible. Amen

© Janet Martin

From Streams in the Desert Vol.2

For Preciousness of Souls...

Happy Almost Mid-May!!

Once more the day the Lord has made extends the goodness of God’s grace...

We never know what a day holds!

We will never know the ways of God, save this;

all things work together for good to those who love Him 

and are called according to His purpose. (Rom.8:28)

All things! 

though disappointments crush,

though sorrows roll,

though disobedience appears to flourish,

though faith is tested,

though many prayers seem to go unanswered,

though cares groan in our mortal tent

God is working these things together for good 

to those who truly, utterly love Him

and are earnestly seeking to serve God's purposes 

rather than desires of the human heart. 

The human bent of the heart is deceitful above all things

and desperately wicked 

and until faith reaches the place where we are willing

to place our dearly-beloved Isaacs on the altar of sacrifice, 

trusting God's holy and righteous love/will above all, 

we struggle and fall,

 because we are born with a rebellious nature,

and thought that errs!

God's purpose calls us, not to be true to ourselves,

but true to Him! 

2 Cor.5:9-11&14-15

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, 

to be well pleasing to Him. 

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 

that each one may receive the things done in the body, 

according to what he has done, 

whether good or bad. 

11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, 

we persuade men; but we are well known to God, 

and I also trust are well known in your consciences...

14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: 

that if One died for all, then all died; 15and He died for all, 

that those who live should live no longer for themselves, 

but for Him who died for them and rose again.

2 Pet.3:8-9

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, 

that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, 

and a thousand years as one day. 

9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, 

as some count slackness, 

but is longsuffering toward [c]us,

 not willing that any should perish 

but that all should come to repentance.

(I really wanted to write about mothers and tots, 

my family, spring beauty, friends and so much that has confounded delight recently, 

and maybe I still will, but the sacred Source of awe and purpose

 seemed to sound a more solemn note to start a new week! )  

***

Once more the preciousness of souls compels all who believe to pray

Because the holiest of goals approaches with each passing day

This transient tent of skin and bone is but Immortality’s cloak

A dwelling place in which we groan, while should'ring love’s compelling yoke

The human heart is full of schemes to serve the part/art that eyes behold

Tossed to and fro by ‘that which seems’ rather than what God’s word has told

Not how one talks but how one walks bears witness to faith’s diligence

Beware of subtle stumbling blocks dressed in kind disobedience

Study ‘the way that seemeth right’, lest it is filled with compromise

Lest first impressions of delight tempt us with ‘you will become wise’

Lest, in the garden of today, we fall prey to temptation’s vice

Enticed by ‘did God really say?’ rather than humble sacrifice

Once more the day the Lord has made extends the goodness of God’s grace

The example, when Christ obeyed still guides the whole of human race

Faultless and faithful to the end, He bore, for preciousness of souls

The death of convicts, to defend, nay, break the curse where darkness rolls

This Tent is more than food and clothes; time’s flicker, no mean, cosmic whim

The cross, love’s proof that God first chose to save all who believe in Him

Then pray, for preciousness of souls, we take up love’s cross for His sake

Because the holiest of goals approaches, with each breath we take

© Janet Martin

Is Your All on the Altar? 

Lyrics by Elisha Hoffman-1839-1929

1 You have longed for sweet peace,

And for faith to increase,

And have earnestly, fervently prayed.

But you cannot have rest,

Or be perfectly blest,

Until all on the altar is laid.

Refrain:

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

Your heart does the Spirit control?

You can only be blest,

And have peace and sweet rest,

As you yield Him your body and soul.

2 Would you walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

And have peace and contentment alway?

You must do His sweet will

To be free from all ill–

On the altar your all you must lay. [Refrain]

3 Oh, we never can know

What the Lord will bestow

Of the blessings for which we have prayed,

Till our body and soul

He doth fully control,

And our all on the altar is laid. [Refrain]

4 Who can tell all the love

He will send from above,

And how happy our hearts will be made,

Of the fellowship sweet

We shall share at His feet

When our all on the altar is laid! [Refrain]

Spiritual Reveille

Reveille: 1. : a signal to get up mornings.

 2. : a bugle call at about sunrise signaling the first military formation of the day.

Getting up every morning is not for the faint of heart, 

but being properly equipped is the key to success!

Luke 24:49

And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you.

But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

1 Corinthians 12:7

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit

is given for the common good.

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power, love, and self-control.

Without God's Spirit within,

without His word hidden in our hearts

so we do not sin against Him, (Ps.119:11)

how often we would fall prey to sight

rather than walking/living by faith.

How often we would make choices

based on logic deduced from a human standpoint

rather than simply *obeying God

and trusting Him for the consequences.

God gifts us with abilities to use for His purposes and glory!

May that be our whole-sole-soul goal today!

Wishing you a day filled with joy only His Spirit can instill,

as we trust He who is able in all circumstances!

Without His Spirit it is impossible for us to do well 

in life's greatest callings, 

such as training up a child in the way they should go...

Come, all who love and fear the Lord, with holy hunger pray

To be a suit of working clothes His Spirit wears today

To be a vessel filled with Light no circumstance can dim

To be, in humble human form a glorious glimpse of Him

Come, all who seek and trust the Lord, believing in his Word

Pour out your heart in earnest prayer for all who have not heard

Who do not comprehend the Light that shines into the dark

Who, like in days of Noah, scorn the safety of faith’s Ark

Come, all who follow and obey the Lord; do not despair

But be the hands and feet of He who keeps us in His care

Put on His suit of armour, like a soldier who prepares

To head into a battlefield suffused with deadly snares

Come, all who love and fear the Lord, with worship’s yielded awe

For purposes infallible; for timing without flaw

For His glory and by his grace, with holy hunger pray

Then be the suit of working clothes His Spirit wears today

© Janet Martin

2 Tim.2:3

You therefore must endure[a] hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:3
Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, 

are you now finishing in the flesh?

Ephesians 3:16

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you 

with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit,

 if the Spirit of God lives in you. 

And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, 

he does not belong to Christ.

You can't 'work out' disobediences to God.

It doesn't work!

-Charles Stanley from the message HERE 

Come, We That Love the Lord

Perfect Satisfaction (because we all seek to be satisfied)

Every life is a testament, not only

of how much God loves us,

but of how much we love Him!

Photo:  Yesterday's Bake-Apple Crumble Tarts and Scottish Coconut and Jam Tarts

Today's bake (plan): Butter tarts!

I am currently working at a 'tart buffet' as part of a meal

next Wednesday evening 

for all our youth, junior youth and kid's zone ministry leaders at church; approx. 50!

Isn't it a wonderful blessing to be able to serve those who serve others

with a delicious 'encouragement/appreciation' meal once a month?!

BTW!! this was not my initial reaction of 'love'! (insert blush)

My first thought, I am ashamed to say was 'why? all this work/fuss etc.

 when they could all grab a bite before their meeting?!!

It would be SO much easier...

There are so many things faulty with the above attitude😓

hence, the need for confession.

Then to top it off,  I was thoroughly convicted by a conversation from/with

 an ancient Brother Lawrence from the 1600's!

I ordered this little book to tag on a few dollars 

so I would qualify for free shipping!

I am only on the second conversation and have been utterly

encouraged and convicted/corrected in my often carnal tendencies...

We all seek to be satisfied

The world, a big buffet

Of tempting fruit cajoling pride

With ‘did God really say?’

So much to see and touch and taste

What vast fields Choice deploys

Soon yielding either worth or waste

In Want’s pursuit of joys

What fickle ventures we afford

What futile wish and whim

We chase, until we love the Lord

And yield our hearts/lives to Him

Then, come what may, bitter or sweet

When love for God prevails

We find a life of joy complete

Because love never fails

We all seek to be satisfied

God’s grace, a grand buffet

Of hope the world cannot provide

Or ever take away

The more we love the Lord, the less

We want of lesser things

As we embrace/enjoy the happiness

Only loving God brings

© Janet Martin

1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow

 with love for one another and for everyone else, 

just as our love for you overflows,

Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: 

that your love may abound more and more

 in knowledge and depth of insight,

Last night as our youngest daughter's little

'blue bug' puttered away I prayed a special blessing on her and all the

fellow-workers who serve/minister to our precious youth!

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We are obligated to thank God for you all the time,

 brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, 

and your love for one another is increasing.

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus 

to live in a way that is pleasing to God,

 just as you have received from us. 

This is how you already live, 

so you should do so all the more.

Nothing But This...

Happy First-Friday-in-February!

F- is for Forgiveness!

***

To hold a grudge is such a heavy weight to carry through the day

Forgiveness frees us from its spite and lets it gently slip away 

Ah, life is much too brief to mar it with the bitter grief of hate

Forgiveness melts its iron bar and flings ajar love's glorious gate 

***

A friend and I decided to bring a splash of 'sunshine'

to February's dreary debut by hitting a few thrift stores

with Extreme Leisure!😂

I found the treasure below to hang in our kitchen dining area

as a gentle reminder of what I/we can quite quickly forget!

Have we nothing but this to bring

To God when shadows fall

To be a gift, fit for a king

Though it may seem so small

Have we nothing but this to prove

The flower from faith’s seed

It is enough. A word of love

A kind and thoughtful deed

Have we nothing to leave behind

When death its due will claim

It is enough, to love, be kind

In Jesus precious Name

Enough to see in every face

The scarred hand-print of He

Who helps us to mirror His grace

With kind humility

Lord, let the Name we utter/cherish most

Because of Calvary

Grant nothing but love's greatest boast

'Not I, but Christ in me'

© Janet Martin

This is (one of) my daily devotionals for this year.

January's 'pathway' focused on God's will

February's pathway focuses on Forgiveness

Forgiven!!-David Crowder

Come as You Are- David Crowder

As We Press Toward the Goal

Dawn’s hoists its mast, ahoy, we cast off to another day

Who knows, but our Captain the full of its come-what-may...

Some of my come-what-may suddenly needs to include a grocery run

when a sudden discovery is made that the household

is in short supply of bathroom tissue!

Nothing quite commands our attention like an empty roll😅😂

It's another frigid and blustery 'ahoy' in southern Ontario

 I LOVE this song as regular readers over the years, may guess😅🙏

Life sometimes tests our focus as we press toward the goal

Its Glance of Circumstances sometimes blinds us to the Whole

Where Time is like a Barge, heaped with its charge of creature care

And we are like the crew, appointed to our sacred share

Of doing our part to serve, first God, then fellowman

And not to grumble at the task, but do the best we can

With humble recognition of that Final Port of Call

When we will meet the Captain and give account for it all

Sometimes we become disillusioned by That Which Is Not

And seeds of discontentment may start to sprout in our thought

And sometimes we forget, in the belly of much-to-do

The Captain’s main concern is for the welfare of the crew

And though his methods of correction may vex you and me

He never fails; his love is steadfast as steadfast can be

A hand upon the shoulder and an anchor for the Soul

To fit us for each tumult, as we press toward the goal

Dawn’s hoists its mast, ahoy, we cast off to another day

Who knows, but our Captain the full of its come-what-may

But if we trust His promises and follow His command

He will not let us blow off course or wallow in quicksand

Though sometimes we are puzzled by the strategies He takes

To reel in our focus till the last stubborn hold breaks

Then, as we surrender both want and will to His control

We will be of good courage as we press toward the Goal

© Janet Martin

Hebrews 3:1 (BSB)

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling,

 set your focus on Jesus, 

the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Lord, lest we who ought to by now be anchored unwaveringly in the faith

we confessed as a child, 

lest we wallow in doubt and disillusionment,

and neglect to teach by setting a mature, humble and godly example  

for our children and grandchildren as we ought,

adjust our focus where needful, to remain fixed on you, 

and not the Glance of Circumstance!

Amen

Christmas That Never Ends

Day-after-Christmas contemplation...

The hustle and bustle of Christmas busyness,

the rustle of wrapping paper,

the frenzy of last minute food and gift prep,

the shrieks of excitement and delight

will soon fade like fond footfalls of farewell,

we collect in heart-vaults.

...but the Spirit of Christmas,

because of God's everlasting goodness through the gift

of his Son, Jesus, is hopefully a daily joy, all year through!

Christmas Season, with all its fuss and bustle will soon fade

And disappear into the hush of Bygone’s promenade

But, Belief in the Reason for the season, anchors peace

His everlasting goodness gladdens hope with joy’s increase

Belief transforms the lens we look through to find happiness

It mends the holes in our souls with precious promises

And grounds faith in the merit of love, unfathomable

Where Father, Son and Spirit manifests Immanuel

Where redemption endorses profound possibility

The blood of Christ that cleanses and atones, sets sinners free

From the inherent curse; the first-fruit that first sin conceived

But God so rich in mercy washed away when we believed

This keeps the joy of Christmas alive in us all year long

His everlasting goodness kindles everlasting song

Because belief in the Reason for the Season transcends

The temporal; Jesus gives us Christmas that never ends

© Janet Martin

the morning after

a lot of laughter, food and joys aka noise😅💖!!!

John 10;10

I have come that they may have life, 

and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus~

Faith's Perfect Provision

In a week from today, (Christmas!)

Christians will be celebrating the birth of the Object of our faith;

our Lord Jesus Christ!

Luke 2:10-11

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: 

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

 which shall be to all people.

 For unto you is born this day in the city of David

 a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Romans 5:1

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, 

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!!!

Yesterday morning a plea in the opening prayer at our church service

caught at my heart...'that You would find us faithful, Lord'!!

What is the use of anything else, if He does not find us faithful?!!

Matt.24:13

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Does this not bid us plead for Sunday morning's fire

to kindle Monday morning's desire?!!

Doesn't it bring fresh zeal/appeal to this old, cherished Christmas hymn??

Oh, Come All Ye Faithful

So this morning, no matter what composes our fears, regrets and sorrows

we may rejoice and be glad in this day He has made...

for He who promised is faithful!!

Heb.10:19-23

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence 

to enter the Most Holy Placed by the blood of Jesus, 

20by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,e

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

  22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,

 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience 

and our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, 

for He who promised is faithful.

***

Enough to know, though sorrow scores the garment of the soul

And the enemy of faith roars, still, God is in control

The witness of each thought and intent of the heart, is kind

His everlasting love is not a figment of the mind

But is, in every circumstance, a Present Help indeed

To all who trust in Him, He grants exactly what we need

Then, where care’s billows ebb and flow, joy and peace still console

Because, it is enough to know that God is in control

Thus, all contenders for the faith have no cause for despair

God’s full armour will keep us safe to persevere through prayer

For He is in control no matter how the Whole may bend

The Shepherd of the Soul helps us be faithful to the end

© Janet Martin

 

Till Life on Earth Is Through

Each new day overflows

With undefeated worth...

The gladness only God bestows

Undergoes grand rebirth

This time of year our hearts and minds start to turn Christmas-ward!

For the believer in Jesus, it is a glad celebration

 of the Living Hope, joy and peace we cherish every day!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace

 as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope 

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

We walk by faith, not sight

The joy that we proclaim

By God’s grace, is the chief delight

Of all who love His name

We do not hope in vain

Our God, faithful and true

Abides with us midst fear and pain

Of this world’s fleeting rue

Each new day overflows

With undefeated worth

The gladness only God bestows

Undergoes grand rebirth

As we fix our gaze

On That Which is Unseen

While weathering the wearing ways

Of time that lies between

By faith, reply reveres

The call that we receive

As we treasure God's Word that cheers

All who trust and believe

…while keeping watch, we pray

That faith will remain true

Until the great and glorious day

When life on earth is through

© Janet Martin

Matthew 24:42
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

Is There Room in your Heart?

Joy Unspeakable

Today's Sunday School lesson

 for my Gr.4-6 class was the parable of the talents from Matt.25:14-30

My prayer is that these little weekly gettogethers will help to

grow their love for God into a joyful, living faith,

wakening their hearts to many opportunities to serve Him every day,

with what He has given,

no matter who or where we are...

that our daily prayer may be at every age

to be good and faithful stewards

Below are a few questions and verses from the lesson...

(good questions and verses to meditate on at any age!)

What are some ways you can use 

what you’ve been given to love God and serve Him?

Why is it worth it, to use what we’ve been given to serve God?

Why was the evil servant wrong to hide the talent?

Rom.11:35-36

“Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?”[a]

36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever!

 Amen.

Rom.14:17-18

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, 

but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 

18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God 

and receives human approval.

1 Pet. 4:10-11

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 

as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,

 so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

 To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

 Amen.

To the true follower of Jesus

there is nothing sweeter on earth

than gathering with fellow-believers 

to worship our Saviour!

Here we renew reverence and encouragement

to be faithful stewards!

All that Thrills My Soul is Jesus

What joy to gather together

To be drawn in one embrace

With love’s invisible tether

Of communal hope and grace

Of humble, glad expectation

To be overcome once more

By devotion’s celebration

To the Savior we adore

To be filled with wordless wonder

As our hearts and souls are wed

In reverence as we ponder

He who died in our stead

What a friend we have in Jesus

Oh, what joy His love bestows

The power of the cross frees us

From the debt each sinner owes

What a beautiful reminder

As we join to praise the Lord

To determine to be kinder

To love and obey His word

To find in worship’s communion

Inexpressible delight

At the glimpse of a Reunion

When at last faith turns to sight

© Janet Martin

1 Pet.1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

By His great mercy He has given us new birthb into a living hope

 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, 

undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

  5who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation

 that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6In this you greatly rejoice, 

though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials

7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, 

perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, 

glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; 

and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him 

and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

9now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, 

the salvation of your souls.