No Easy Street ...But God, Faithful and True

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Today I am helping at the funeral of a dear sister in our church family

who lived ninety-nine and a half years on this earth

with many, many joys and trials,

but the moment she closed her eyes the shroud of Time fell away,

the glass she peered through darkly disappeared;

in the twinkle of an eye the corruptible put on incorruption, 

mortality put on immortality!

Thinking about this makes us re-evaluate what really matters, doesn't it?!

In the Sweet By and By

Johnny Cash

(would love to link each line to the scripture but

There is a funeral meal waiting to be prepared💗👑😊🙏)

This is no Easy Street; this ‘fighting the good fight’

This ‘making every effort to Shine forth, a blameless light

To walk as wise, not fools; to be careful to keep

God’s commandments and laws, lest idly, we fall asleep

This is no Easy Street; this walk by faith, not sight’

This ‘renouncing ungodliness’, this ‘suffering for Christ’

This ‘walking worthy of the calling we received

Worthy of the gospel of Christ we confessed and believed

This is no Easy Street; to ‘therefore watch and pray’

To take up our cross to follow Jesus every day

To make faith’s sacred calling and election very sure

To be strong in the Lord through the hardship we must endure

This is no Easy Street; obedience and trust

To follow what is good and to deny all worldly lust

To be rich in good works; to walk humbly and kind

To love the Lord our God will all our heart, soul, strength and mind

This is no Easy Street; to take captive each thought

And not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought

To offer our bodies as a living sacrifice

And to shun profane babbling that leads to ungodly vice

This is no Easy Street; to repay good for ill

To surrender as Jesus did and utter ‘not my will’

To know the Scriptures so that we are thoroughly equipped

To abound in love and good works like our Example did

And give more earnest heed to that which we have heard

To grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus through His word

To commit to stand firm; to take heed, lest we fall

He who saved us has called us to the greatest work of all

This is no Easy Street; but God, faithful and true

Is rich and grace and mercy and He cares for me and you

Who, through his risen Son, births in us living hope

The Father of compassion and comfort who helps us cope

…and makes us strong in Him; the power of His might

When we put on His full armor, will fit us for the fight

For God resists the proud but gives the humble grace

His eyes are on the righteous who long to behold His face

…who strain toward the goal; with holy zeal press on

To win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in His Son

Who lay up heavenly store; who have ‘beautiful feet’

Whose joy is in the Lord and not in quests for Easy Street

This is no Easy Street; the strait that few will find

That leads to life when soon we leave this world of strife behind

Where the fulness of joy and pleasures evermore 

Make worth the little while and mile that we suffer before

© Janet Martin

Living With An Almost-Heaven Viewpoint

 Beulah Land

Yesterday's post Sing a Song of Almost Heaven

turned my train of thought down a slightly different track today...

Living with an Almost Heaven Viewpoint shifts our point of view

Makes us more aware of caring about death’s approaching due

Keeps us keened to what is promised that will forever endure

Rather than the cross upon us or temptation’s dangling lure

Time is such a fleeting measure, just a vapor, my dear friend

The soul is the single treasure that will final breath transcend

No matter where feet may take us or what success we may boast

‘Almost Heaven’s viewpoint tunes us to The Thing that Matters Most

What a joy when we envision as we pay Devotion’s Price

Jesus standing where the mission of true love is sacrifice

Jesus smiling as we smile back while we give and give and give

Because Almost Heaven waits after this little life we live

© Janet Martin

Matt.25:40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, 

ye have done it unto me.

Believer's Mandate

Sunday sermons aren't just for Sundays, are they?!!

Love is so much easier said than done, isn't it?!

Just a few thoughts after attending a beautiful wedding yesterday

and listening to a few inspired messages this morning!

This poem, by inserting the words 'ought to' between the words

 'we' and 'live'

may make it more relevant😅🙏

Love is a lifetime commitment on so many levels

in so many ways, to so many people

and above all to/through He who IS love

More Love to Thee-Fernando Ortega 

We live, not just to earn our daily bread and meat to eat

We live to learn better how to wash one another’s feet

We live to give because of what we have freely received

God’s gift of grace from the first moment we truly believed

We live to love God first then fellowman; all else is sin

We live to prove the righteousness and love of God within

We live to mirror Christ’s example of humility

Where pray, nothing is dearer than the truth that sets us free

We live to serve, not to be served, stirred by meek reverence

For He who loved us first and died for death’s deliverance

Then pray when temptation torments and cunning ploys compete

That love’s willing obedience will make our joy complete

For God so loved the world He gave His Son to pay sin’s debt

Once, and for all He overthrew the grave and conquered death

God is not mocked; if we confessed our sin and have believed

We ought to live to give because we have freely received

© Janet Martin

Due to laryngitis and a cough I decided it would be better

to worship from home this Sunday morning,

Links to a few sermons which

  partly inspired this poem!

Do Not Give The Devil a Foothold- Alistair Begg 

July 3rd Message at WBC

Thankfulness and Praise

1 Pet.1:17-19

And if you call on the Father,

who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, 

conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [e]stay here in fear;

 knowing that you were not redeemed with [f]corruptible things, like silver or gold, 

from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

 but with the precious blood of Christ,...

Imagine if every Sunday morning the minister would,

with trembling hands open a letter of encouragement

such as Peter wrote to remind the early church,

the first Christians facing opposition and persecution,

of the believer's living hope, so they/we would

'rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you

 at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 'v.13

Oh joy, we have that letter not only for Sunday morning but every single day!

v.20-21

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, 

but was [g]manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, 

who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, 

so that your faith and hope are in God.

Then as we think on these things 

may our lives overflow with humble thankfulness and praise!

When Joseph was thrown into prison after Potiphar's lie

he did not seek to vindicate himself but trusted God and served Him, even in prison!

'because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.'

Gen.39:23

Lord, help us strive to live our days in such a humble, trusting way...

As this morning's much needed rain is a plant's 'living hope'

so is God's Word/truth to the one who puts their trust in Him!

Lord, help us strive to live our days

With hearts of thankfulness and praise

Remind us of faith’s recompense

A heavenly inheritance

Lord, make the motive of life’s call

To glorify You above all

Lord, in the dark thick of the fight

Help us to be a shining light

Lord, let the kindness of Your grace

Equip, encourage and embrace

Let holy conduct testify

Of the hope on which we rely

Lord, lest some deadly vice creep in

Convict us of each subtle sin

Lord, then as we discern Your ways

Fill us thankfulness and praise

Amaze us with the end that tolls

With the salvation of our souls

Bought, not with world-wealth sacrificed

But with the precious blood of Christ

Lord, keep us from spite's ready snare

Stir in us Gethsemane's prayer

Then, help us strive to live our days

With hearts of thankfulness and praise

Forever and Always,

Amen

© Janet Martin

Matt.5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

 that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Father, what we know not

Teach us

What we have not

Give us

What we are not

Make us,

For Your Son's sake,

amen

(excerpt from message below)

Another excerpt: sometimes a bad thing happens for a good reason!

(Listen around and after the 30 min. mark for very vital, somber, relevant caution!)

The Need for Prayer

Do you love your pastor/s?

Do you pray for them so their

preaching may be the gathered result of our prayers?!!

Does a Sunday morning sermon bring fruit of 'their labour' or 'our labour'

as fellow-labourers for our Lord!?

When We Find The Key To Favor

Yesterday's 'favor' was juicy and sweet!

Not all fruit for our labor seems quite as visible and flavorful as fresh strawberries

but is every bit as sweet if we find the key to God's favor...

Then, what an indescribable treat, to savor joy!

Not in vain is noble effort

Though no ovations resound

Not for nothing is the labor

Though no compliments abound

What a diadem of honor

Crowns what appears commonplace

What pure purpose bids us onward

Though no eager crowds give chase

Though the push and pull of duty

Seems a thankless exercise

What a boon of hidden beauty

Tunes the struggle to the Prize

...when we find the key to favor

When from the moment we wake

Our joy is but to labor

For the name of our Lord’s sake

...when to labor is the favor

When love is its own reward

When work is worship, we savor

Joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord

© Janet Martin

Psalm 5:11-12

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You [f]defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Prov.8:35

For whoever finds me finds life,

And obtains favor from the LORD;

Col.3:23

And whatever you do, do it heartily,

as to the Lord and not to men,

Luke 11:27-28

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out

, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Pondering Paupers (of Spiritual blessing)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”

(Eph. 1:3).

When we ignore His divine power, who gives us everything we need to

live a godly life it is no small wonder we stumble...

  3as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

 through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

2 Peter 2:3

If we do not stand tall in times of peace

defending our faith,

how will we stand strong in times of persecution?!

For if they do these things in the green wood,
what will be done in the dry?”
Luke 23:31

If we, professing believers, do not with utter care weigh each action,

whether it is a stepping stone or a stumbling block to spiritual blessing

what is Godliness?

The new creation ought not resemble the old

in desires, in habits and in fruit.

When it does it, pray we take it before our holy, righteous, loving heavenly Father,

confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9)

Pray we covet the spiritual blessing that only devotion to God's commands can bring.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new.

2 Cor. 5:17

Imagine if we coveted spiritual blessing like we do the material?

Everything We Need

To be robbed of spiritual blessing

Is life’s greatest loss of all

To cower and never be hated

For the sake of standing tall

...so, lest sin subtly entangles

And hinders us in the race

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus

And boldly defend His grace

Lest we forfeit sacred riches

Lest we hinder pleading prayers

Lest we trod the name of Jesus

Beneath our feet unawares

Lest we cause another to stumble

Lest we choose depravity

And then, robbed of spiritual blessing

Become a fruitless tree

 © Janet Martin  

Eph.1:18

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

 in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, 

the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Rock-solid Build/ Race Route

I really enjoy the show Rock Solid Builds on HGTV.

This post however is about a different kind of Rock-solid build!

One of my favorite top ten things in the world is a baptism service.

Listening to testimonies of faith and witnessing the outward sign of an inward change

from the old man to the new rouses in me Joy Unspeakable and Sacred Sympathy.

Joy for the choice by the believer to receive the gift of salvation

and sympathy because the deceiver does not depart when someone takes this step of faith

but rather seems to amass its forces against the child of God, as he or she endeavors to

'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ' 

2 Pet.3:18

(This is the same Peter from Matt.16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my church;

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.)

Growth; we cannot hurry it!

We can make wise choices so as not to hinder it but growth takes time!

Whether plant or child, whether physical or spiritual.

But until full maturity, growth is essential to reach the subject's full potential!

It takes time to grow a sprout to a tree/ sainthood..

...above, as attractive and tender as bindweed's first tendrils may appear

it is full of deadly evil!

On Saturday I once again tackled its tenacity

which has invaded my front flower garden, winding its visible tendrils

around anything it can bind. Left unattended it would dominate 

and terribly hinder healthy growth.

(below; network of roots)

A network of roots running deep below the surface makes it nearly

impossible to completely obliterate the pesky weed, 

but I noticed something as I pulled

at rocks to chase down the rampant roots. 

The weed could climb around and between but never penetrate the rocks!

What a parable as we battle the tendrils of temptation

and seek safety from deadly vices!

They cannot penetrate the Rock!

If we build our house on the Rock,

and embrace the cornerstone which is Christ

sin cannot prevail!

It is when we look away or step/slip from the Rock that we

become enticed and entangled...

Let's build and run on a rock-solid route!

Yesterday at the baptism service one of the young converts

received this verse as a memento of encouragement... 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice

 is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matt.7:24

This devotion from a few days ago also deals with the 'battle'

we encounter as we strive to live for Christ...

(full page below)

Temptation’s tendrils entice first and then entangle, oh

None can afford to wander from the grace whereby we grow

To grow in grace and knowledge of the truth requires grit

And diligent persistence by faith, to accomplish it

The gift of grace begins a race that we are called to run

For the redemption of our souls cost God His only Son

Thus, we are called to throw off all that would entangle us

Eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of faith; Jesus

This is no game, when we lay claim to salvation’s free gift

Without the steadfast anchor of God’s Word, soon we will drift

Without the armor of the Lord none are equipped fitly

To withstand the beguiling wiles of sin’s artillery

Upon the solid Rock of Christ alone we are secure

Do not despair; but pour to prayer the hunger to endure

For the joy set before us let us run and not grow faint

Temptation’s schemes cannot uproot the Rock-established saint

© Janet Martin

 

I looked up the stanza by Charles Wesley quoted above!

A beautiful hymn I had never heard before.

Soldiers of Christ, Arise

Of Love's Royal Priesthood

Why this post?

Because preaching doesn't just happen behind a pulpit

and because the Platinum Jubilee and all its celebrations

got me to pondering royalty and priesthoods...

(watching/listening to the trumpets play in honor of Her majesty, the Queen

for her years of faithful service

literally covers me with goosebumps

and evokes thrills because this celebration is a

miniscule/pale glimpse of

what honoring the King of kings and Lord of lords will be)

I didn't realize until partway through this message/session that it

was an exhortation of encouragement to church leaders.

However, I continued listening to the end because its exhortations were encouraging

to the 'sheep' as well as the shepherd...

Hanging On When You Feel Like Giving Up

But you are a chosen generation, 

a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him

 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Pet.2:9

Serve well the God who is I AM

With heart and hand applaud

Not to seek accolades of man

But to glorify God

Serve well the God of humankind

We, in his image made

Are glimpses of He who designed

Us, and our pardon paid

Serve well the God who gave his Son

Whose sacrifice sufficed

To save and teach us to become

Imitators of Christ

Serve well the God who will supply

Our need; He knows it well

And made a Way that none need die

And be cast into hell

Serve well the God that numbers days

And lends the lease thereof

The God whose mysterious ways

Are always filled with love

Serve well the God who giveth life

Who keeps in perfect peace

The mind that guards against the strife

That hinders love’s increase

Serve well the God whose mercy tries

Whose grace and truth abides

As faith presses toward the prize

That God alone provides

Serve well the God, the King of kings

He who is just and good

Calls us to share the sufferings

Of love’s Royal Priesthood

Serve well thy God and fellowman

With renewed courage run

For what thought can be sweeter than 

To hear Him say 'well done'

© Janet Martin

What Gentle Joy God Sendeth...

Blessed be the Lord,

Who daily loads us with benefits,

The God of our salvation!

Selah

20 Our God is the God of salvation;

And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

Psalm 68:19-20

So much sorrow, beyond our grasp of reason

but our God is the God of salvation!

To His loving kindness we cling!

Surely, His goodness and mercy will follow us

all the days of our lives!

 (Psalm 23:6)

Sometimes our hearts break with our own sorrows.

Often our hearts hurt for another's hurt!

We have in common One who loves us all!

From one deeply hurting this week returned this meek reply.

'we want to trust that God can provide what is needed'

Amen and hallelujah

I Can hear My Saviour Calling...

 

Be Thou My Vision

What gentle joy God sendeth

No step He does not see

On all the way that wendeth

To the soul’s destiny

No tear He does not tally

No storm He cannot still

No God-forsaken valley

No God-forsaken hill

No prayer He does not reckon

Where disappointments try

Where want and worry beckon

He whispers ‘here am I’

No gain He has not granted

No loss He has not known

No seed, when it is planted

He does not see is sown

No hurt He has not suffered

No matter what we face

The blows of life are buffered

With His sufficient grace

No temptation’s vice greater

No trickery too sly

To confound the Creator

Of earth and sea and sky

What gentle joy God sendeth

Where mercy’s fathoms brim

To cheer the way that wendeth

From this world back to Him

© Janet Martin

Eager/Earnest Expectation...

Psalm 139:5

You hem me in behind and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,

and he delivers them.

Psalm 125:2

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore.

The gleaming scepter of new day stretches across the land...

A symbol of God’s sovereignty;

Beauty survives/thrives...

The gleaming scepter of new day stretches across the land

A symbol of God’s sovereignty; all beneath His command

Beauty survives where destruction and death’s heartache abounds

Above trouble and rebellion, God’s faithfulness resounds

Where ’blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth’

Then turn the other cheek and speak of He who gives life worth

Do not despair; it is not cares that hem us in but He

Who works for our good, who watches over you and me

Such knowledge is too wonderful for mortal to attain

Nothing can separate us from God’s sovereign love, amen

Creation's gilt-edged grandeur grants a glimpse of what yet waits

On highways not yet paved with gold, on this side of Hope's Gates 

Where what we bear is temporal; the cross precedes the crown

The test precedes the triumph; when we lay our burdens down

When prayer no longer wends its way from man to Mercy's Door

When sorrow's wounds and broken hearts are healed forevermore 

When what faith cannot understand or comprehend unveils

The glory of God's face, His hands scarred with imprints of nails

When our present suffering will ever fade away

Creation waits in eager/earnest expectation for that day

© Janet Martin

Rom.8:18-19

*I consider that our present sufferings 

are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

 19The creation waits in eager expectation for

 the revelation of the sons of God. 

Yester-dusk...

Creation's gilt-edged grandeur grants a glimpse of what yet waits

On highways not yet paved with gold, on this side of Hope's Gates 

Heaven-bent...

 

Not so enlightened, as to be

Careless with hope’s security

Not so engrossed in earthliness  

I do not prize faith's promises

Not so prosperous I forget

The hungry poor who have no bread

Not so successful as to slide

Into subtle pitfalls of pride

Not so consumed with avarice 

I snub salvation's purchase-price

Not so ingenious I ignore

The One who said ‘I am the Door’

Not so comfortable that I

Am loathe to bid this world good-bye

Not so intent on things below

I have no heaven-wealth to show

No living proof, by quiet deed

Of compassion for those in need

No legacy of self outpoured

As evidence of Christ as Lord

No desire to be poor enough

To treasure most His grace and love

And count all worldly gain as loss

To marvel daily at the cross

To keep in mind, earth's lease is lent

And live each moment, heaven-bent  

© Janet Martin

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, 

strive for the things above, 

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

 2Set your minds on things above,

 not on earthly things. 

Col.3:1-2

Where Your Treasure Is

Immaculate Impressions

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, 

as though God were making an appeal through us; 

we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be [j]sin in our behalf, 

so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Cor.5:20-21

The Anchor of hope’s diligence nods and the heavens laugh

With mercy’s renewed evidence in daybreak’s autograph

We, as ambassadors for He, whose pardon reconciles

If clothed in Christ's humility, will recognize God’s smiles

Morning’s podium broods with beckoning to human race

Come, taste and see the goodness and compassion of His grace

We as ambassadors for He whose kindness perseveres

If tuned to Christ's tenacity, will recognize God’s tears

Trouble’s relentless ways and means resumes its Dreaded Must

Temptation’s primal hunger keens needles threaded with dust/trust

We, as ambassadors for He in whose Word we rejoice

If yielded to Christ's Sovereignty, will recognize God’s voice

The Giver of love’s grin and groan reignites heaven’s wick

Where stumbling block and stepping stone cuts courage to the quick

We, as ambassadors for He who is First in Command

If armed with Christ's security, will recognize God’s Hand

© Janet Martin

A good gardening day seems to be unfolding!

An opportunity to do the late-season planting.

Thank-you, Lord!

Of Side and Ripple Effects (of sin)

Mark 14:38

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Phil.2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13for it is God who works in you

both to will and to do for His good pleasure./purpose

Sometimes I am stunned breathless

at the awesome responsibility 

resting on the shoulders of we who are

training the next generation...

As a parent, grandparent, 

as a child caregiver,

or teacher,

or Sunday School teacher.

Youngsters so beautiful,

 so precious,

 so smart, 

and so innocent

are trusting us!

May God give us grace and truth!

This past Sunday our lesson was about Samson, teaching us that

Samson is just one of many people in

the Bible who failed to obey God perfectly.

 But God still uses sinners in His plan

 to share His love with the world. 

Jesus forgives our sin. 

We can be part of God’s story to share the good

news of Jesus with others.

As we chatted about the story I told them I am glad when I sin

God forgives me and can still use me for his purpose and glory...

Before I had quite completed the sentence one little girl gasped

in horror, 'What?! she said, 'you are glad when you sin?!!"

So, I made sure they all heard the rest of the sentence.

Imagine the confusion if a class of little girls when asked what they learned

would report that the teacher said she is glad when she sins...lol!

So to clarify...I am sad when I sin but it really got me to thinking about whether

I am sad enough and quite as on guard as I should be.

Am I a teacher of truth or half-truths?

Sometimes I am agonizingly awed

by the craftiness of sin.

Always, always I need God's love/Word to show me the way.

Always, always I need his grace to forgive me and whisper 

"ups-a-daisy, dear. Try, try again,

for I will never leave you or forsake you"

This poem is a bit of battleground thought-blood...

The side and the ripple effects of disregarded sin

Seeps like a deadly venom, vile, and veiled by guile’s smooth skin

For, though we repent and receive redemption’s gift of grace

We do not instantly achieve the triumph of life’s race

But only then begin the fight that Satan delights in

To blemish the believer’s light with cunning ploys of sin

Alliances of evil would be too awful to bear

Temptation’s vexing vices oft would drive us to despair

Without the faithfulness of God whose armor will not fail

If we cling to His staff and rod, His pleasure/purpose will prevail

Then praise Him for the battle lest we slip to apathy

And wink because we think we have conquered the enemy

If we confess our sin, God, rich in mercy will forgive

The fight that we are in continues as long as we live

For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light

The master of deception clothes dark evil in pure white

The father of lies plays the charmer while his army lurks

To find chinks in faith’s armor and further destruction’s works

Diligence and enticement spar on battlegrounds within

Because God’s precious people are prized prey for schemes of sin

We ought to give most earnest heed to warnings we have heard

And with hunger for righteousness feed on God’s Holy Word

Because side and ripple effects of pride and selfishness

Can set a snare that twists the truth into ungodliness

Sometimes the stumbling blocks of sin may seem harmless and small

Until life’s testing storms begin, how mighty then, the fall

Where sin’s side and ripple effects employ a subtle tone

To soothe away the sacred void of The Chief Cornerstone

Until the side and ripple effects of sin cuts the cord

To holiest awareness of reckoning and reward

© Janet Martin

Songs like this cheer me on...

I hope they do you as well!

How Can I Keep From Singing- Audrey Assad

Of Heaven-Realities on Earth

2 Cor.7:1

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.

Our Position and Our Purpose! - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

(A few thoughts snared from the message above...

Let us purify ourselves from anything that contaminates body and spirit

If God lives in us let us make our house clean for such a pure God

The sins of the spirit are the mothers to sins of the flesh…

I can imagine a room in your house being perfectly clean 

but I cannot imagine that room staying perfectly clean 

unless the process by which it was first cleansed is repeated.

 Whether a room is in constant use or closed up

 it requires regular sweeping and dusting to stay perfectly clean!

Heaven's first realities for the true Christian, begins on earth! Hallelujah!

He loves us with a Father’s love

And guides us with a Father’s care

Protects and watches over us

He fellowships with us in prayer

And as we pour out hearts to Him

He pours His heart to you and I

His Word a lamp that will not dim

His gift, a life that cannot die

Forgive us when we do not prize

Faith’s privileges like we should

And shift the hunger of our sighs

To things of clay and stone and wood

May our earthly quests revere

Love’s heavenly realities

May we reflect and hold most dear

The honour of such dignities

…as being called children of God

Thus heirs of Him and his dear Son

Forbid, all we give is a nod

For the assurances of Heaven

Where not with laws of fear, but love

He pours His promises divine

Mercies. Indwelling, Communion.

His covenants are thine and mine

Pray God’s redemptive absolutes

Through His divine deliverance

Produces salvation’s first-fruits

Gratitude and obedience

Pray as we seek to purify

Ourselves, we make our temple such

As befits faith's humble reply

To God, who loves us all so much

© Janet Martin