Captivated By Freedom (in Christ)

This week I was challenged by a speaker who asked; 

Do we dwell on the love God has for us?

Do you we ponder his earthly mission

to try to grasp what He went through to prove it?! 

I’m captivated by the love that sets the prisoner free

By grace that sealed death’s pardon on the cross of Calvary

Ah, universal and eternal, glorious release

Where wonder becomes worship as we hail the Prince of peace

I’m captivated by the fount from whence all blessings swell

In mercies far too manifold for tongue or pen to tell

Ah, who can understand the love that naught can comprehend

No height or depth or breadth of thought is able to transcend

I’m captivated by the freedom utter faith receives

By power in surrender that only Belief achieves

Ah, who are we that that He who authored all with ‘let there be’

Foreknew in the beginning the climax of victory

I’m captivated by the Presence sight cannot behold

By He who is within us and has overcome the world

Ah, yes! Our Creator is greater than anything

The mighty Mediator twixt the serpent and its sting

I’m captivated by the Hope the Shepherd gives His sheep

By the assuring promises that we know He will keep

Ah, though we do not know the high and lows that we must face

I’m captivated by the love that grants sufficient grace

© Janet Martin

1 Corinthians 6:12 

 "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial.
 "Everything is permissile for me" -
 but I will not be mastered by anything.

John 8:36 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again 

by a yoke of slavery.

Free Access

 PAD Challenge day 17: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Free (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, 

because he will save his people from their sins."

Matt 1:21

Zach Williams...
It was an honor performing #ThereWasJesus at the 2019 #CMAAwards with Dolly Parton! 

Listen to the rest of the album here: https://ZachWilliams.lnk.to/RescueSto...

Because the price was paid

By Christ at Calvary

We may approach with confidence

The one who set us free

Despair is like a noose

Of unbelief in He

Who cut the chains to Hades loose

And set the captive set free

Free to pass through The Door

To the Most Holy Place

Never by what or who we are;

It is a gift of grace

Because the price was paid

By Christ at Calvary

Where restitution has been made

Therefore access is free

© Janet Martin

 Romans 5:1-5

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, 

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand; 

and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, 

because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, 

because God has poured out His love into our hearts 

through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Expression of Awareness

May we live to remember 

the freedom we enjoy 

whether in outings...

...or ordinary days

...is something we should never take for granted!

For what we have

Someone gave

For how we live

Someone died

Someone who

had families

Who filled them

with love and pride

Someone who

laid hopes and dreams

on lines

they didn’t want to cross

someone who
for freedom’s gain

suffered loss

Should we not then

Reflect in all
we do and say

A love-and-kindness
gratitude

For the freedom we have

Today

© Janet Martin

Somber Celebration...Happy Canada Day!

I have often shared excerpts from Peter Marshall's
 The American Dream(for the whole message click link)

which I read each Canada Day because the message applies to Canadians just as well! 

...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves

 and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chron.7:14

Land of liberty’s allowance

Brims with bloom and ‘freedom’s vote’

While it wavers in a balance

With a noose around its throat

Land that boasts of milk and honey

Tables heaped with fortune’s fruit

From a tree of borrowed money

With a sickle at its root

Land of ebbing comprehension

Where Endeavor’s Ego flies

Posting plans of intervention

From quick-sands of compromise

Land of bounty, land of beauty

Freedom is bought with a price

Land built on far more than duty

Land that stands on sacrifice

God, who made thy mountain rafter

Carved through rock thy coursing sea

Forgive those who scorn with laughter

Thou who keeps us strong and free

Somber is our celebration

Aware like never before

Of a rift in the foundation

And a wolf outside the door

© Janet Martin

 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: 
be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matt.10:16

 Our National Anthem

 written by Calixa Lavallée


"O Canada" (French: Ô Canada) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the music, after which, words were written by the poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The original lyrics were in French; an English translation was published in 1906. Multiple English versions ensued, with Robert Stanley Weir's version in 1908 gaining the most popularity, eventually serving as the basis for the official lyrics enacted by Parliament.^[1] Weir's lyrics have been revised three times, most recently when An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender) was enacted in 2018. The French lyrics remain unaltered. "O Canada" had served as a de facto national anthem since 1939, officially becoming the country's national anthem in 1980 when Canada's National Anthem Act received royal assent and became effective on July 1 as part of that year's Dominion Day (now known as Canada Day) celebrations.

O Canada
Lyrics

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

The words of the original poem of 1908 by Stanley Weir are as follows:

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.

Refrain
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!

Refrain

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North, strong and free!

Refrain

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.

Refrain
Original Poem by Judge, R. Stanley Weir, 1908

Music by: Calixa Lavallée