Considering Gifts...

This is the time of year our thoughts start considering gift-giving;

the perfect Something for that precious someone...

 whilst wandering through isles laden with gifts, free for the 'taking'...

Considering that a week ago there was not a flake of snow to be seen

it does feel like winter literally arrived overnight!

(so, I am attempting to acclimate my delight to white-gilded glories/gifts)

Each day nature's buffet is laden with pleasures to share

Each season filled with reasons to run worship through with prayer

To He who grants fresh chances to awaken and rejoice

As He delights appetites for beauty through nature's voice

Each day a smorgasbord of the Lord's handiwork unfurls

Where Nature is a caterer with pocket full of pearls

And tables spread with green, gold, red and white; beneath, above

We witness He whose majesty earth offers glimpses of 

Each day fresh wonder thunders through the chambers of the heart

If we with slower pace embrace the study of God's art

And pause with awestruck posture, and holy humility

In the ache of a snowflake's astounding intricacy

Each day nature's showcase abounds with sounds and sights to thrill

And remind us because of love's kind Giver, to be still 

And trust the Teacher of the creature without skeptic doubt

To join the hymn that seraphim of earth and heavens shout

Janet Martin

O Worship the King

O worship the King all glorious above

Author: Robert Grant (1833)

Tune: LYONS

O worship the King all-glorious above,

O gratefully sing his power and his love:

our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

2 O tell of his might and sing of his grace,

whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.

His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

3 Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;

it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,

and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

4 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.

Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

5 O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,

whom angels delight to worship above!

Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,

in true adoration shall sing to your praise!

Psalm 8:3-6

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

4 What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit[a] him?

5 For You have made him a little lower than [b]the angels,

And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

Read full chapter

Unlike Bridal Shower Gifts

It pained me to crop off all the smiling faces in the photos below

but for respect of privacy I must!

Photo credit; Bridal shower hosts-my sister and niece

Last night I attended a bridal shower for my nephew's fiancée.

Each gift she opened was different but all were thoughtfully

chosen and wrapped for the bride-to-be to open,

and she did with smiles of delight, excitement and thankfulness!

It reminded me of a tidbit of conversation with my mother-in-law yesterday

as we talked of the day when we are 'presented'

back to God, all in our different wrappings,

but unlike bridal shower gifts, 

when God tugs at/opens the diverse wrappings

what remains will be the same in every 'gift';

The Living Soul returned to God,

who so thoughtfully and lovingly 'chose' us,

designed/created us so differently 

and, just as we carefully choose gifts for those we love

He too chose a gift for those He so loves!!

Knowing we are born sinners God provided an

eternal and universal gift/pardon for all who believe in Him.

For God so loved the world that

He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believes in Him will not perish

but have everlasting life

John 3:16

Whatever shapes our share of trials, disappointments and griefs,

God loves us with an unfailing love and justice!

How His face will beam as He welcomes His Bride in the

Greatest Wedding of all Time;

all honor and glory and praise will be for Him

who, through His Redeeming gift purchased Soul's salvation!!

To try and grasp the fulness of his love is mind-blowing!! 

No matter what befalls, God knows

Beneath the Wrapping that we see

His gift of boundless love bestows

More than enough for you and me

God's love no thought can comprehend

He weaves time's ephemeral gauze 

 That drapes The Day when all will bend

Before WHO IS, WILL BE and WAS 

How carefully He fashioned us

Beneath the fleeting part we see

God instilled the mysterious, 

Profound pulse of eternity

The pride and ignorance of fools

Blasphemes/rejects the Name, mighty to save

They do not fear the One who rules

Beyond the tissue of the grave 

God is not mocked; His love is just

Where mercy sparkles from morn's flask 

He grants, to humble faith-hope-trust

Beyond what we can think to ask

No matter what befalls, God knows

Beneath the Wrapping that we see

Each gifted moment overflows

With shimmers of eternity

© Janet Martin

What Gift of Grace is Jesus My Redeemer

Eph.2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 

 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world 

and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,

 the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 

All of us also lived among them at one time,

 gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts.

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

 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ

 even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, 

expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

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

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

 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Only The Best Will Do or Perfect Best

This is the time of year

we start wracking our brains for perfect gifts

because only the best will do when it comes to saying

'I love you'

When considering our efforts of finding 'the best'

doesn't it evoke a picture of God, 

before that first Christmas morn,

looking down on the world, 

His heart shattered with love as He wept,

for He knew 'only the Best will do!'

when it came to proving His love

 for me and for you!

Matt.1:21

And she will bring forth a Son,

 and you shall call His name JESUS,

 for He will save His people from their sins.”

I LOVE the lyrics to the song below

First Christmas Morn

This is the time of year

Unlike the whole year through

When we choose gifts for loved ones dear

Only the best will do

In this season of love

Boxes and bags become

Vaults filled with motley treasures of

Socks, books, toys, candy, gum

Presents are squirreled away

In unsuspecting nooks

A kind of game that parents play

Lest Curious Youngster looks

Reason softens its stance

As love and prudence wrest

As budgets and hearts spar and dance

To find The Perfect Best

The Perfect Best is love

Therefore, love longs to show

The best it can, reflections of

First Christmas, long ago

When Heaven’s Perfect Best

God’s equal, put on man

Knowing the cost, did not contest

Salvation’s perfect plan

Because God loved us so

On that first Christmas morn

Into this sin-cursed world of woe

A Redeemer was born

For God looked from above

And He saw me and You

And said, as His heart broke with love

‘Only the Best will do’

So, God gave us a King

A gift beyond all ken

His only Son, Jesus, to bring

Peace and goodwill to men

A gift that saves the soul

And flings ajar a Gate

That leads to faith’s ultimate goal

Where God and heaven wait

Then pray, this time of year

We rev’rently recall

The Reason for the season, dear

The gift that says it all

For things are only things

Love is the Perfect Best

The gift that only Jesus brings

Makes perfect, all the rest

© Janet Martin

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that

He gave us His only begotten son,

that whosoever believes in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life

Phil.2:5-8

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

6Who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped,a

7but emptied Himself,

taking the form of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross.

Gift-awareness

 

“What you are is God’s gift to you, 

what you become is your gift to God.”

 ~ Hans Urs von Balthasar

...as He rekindles skies with molten gold and rose

The rose glow was brief, soon snuffed by a shroud of impending spring showers

This life we live is like a gift we open every day

To glorify the Giver by the things we do and say

To solemnize the prize that God’s renewed mercy bestows

With praise, as He rekindles skies with molten gold and rose

This life is like a race that teaches runners to endure

For joy still set before us that this world cannot secure

And no one knows how near or far the finish line is set

Before we cross into Yon Incomprehensible Yet

This life composes testaments we should not overlook

Each day a sacred page we fill and God seals in a Book

Where we all hold a precious part in His heart and His plan

And all are called to love Him first and then our fellowman

This life is like a gift we open every morning, oh

Then pray we seek to honor He who grants Time’s fresh ‘hello’

And live as if today could be the final gift, before

We pass over the finish line into Forevermore

Oh, what a dreadful pity if, too late we recognize

The gift of day-to-day was but the prelude to the Prize

But what a joyful morning it will be for all who saw

Beyond faith's frond and humbly esteemed each new dawn with awe 

© Janet Martin

Rom.11:33-36

O, the depth of the riches

of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments,

and untraceable His ways!

34“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been His counselor?”j

35“Who has first given to God,

that God should repay him?”k

36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever! 

Amen.

A Sweet Endeavor

However God has gifted each of us, may our desire be to

use the gift to bring before Him an offering of praise;

 'a sweet aroma to the Lord!'

a phrase repeated over and over into today's scripture reading...

...a sweet aroma to the Lord

Lev. 1:9,13,17, Lev.2:2, Lev.3:5,16

(as sweet as two little girls having a tea-party💖)

This flight that fuels greeting and farewell will soon adjourn

The sightlines of Today soon snuffed as Time is borne away

Then in the light of this, as we weather life’s twist and turn

May we yearn all the more to trust the Giver of today

Whose mercy, new each morning is sufficient, come what may

This age of lawlessness abounding and love growing cold

Rouses in some a solemn sense of Matthew twenty-four

Earth’s stage is set for prophecy’s fulfillment to unfold

The wage awaiting one and all is pounding on a door

Like storm-charged surf resounding as it seethes against time’s shore

This beckoning-before-The-Reckoning, kindles dawn’s flare

Where deception and rejection thrive like a vile disease

As promotions of ignorance, like oceans of despair

Roll over sin-seared consciences with terrifying ease

As if each moment does not groan with God’s atoning pleas

This gift, this gracious gift granted by God’s grace, kind and good

And truth that does not shift and love no knowledge can explain

Is worth the whys and wherefores of mercy misunderstood

God’s word assures believers that our faith is not in vain

(though not all who say ‘Lord, Lord’ will Heaven’s reward attain)

…but those who do the will of God, who trust Him and obey

Whose offering of praise is a sweet-smelling sacrifice

Though scoffers scoff, fooled by the serpent’s ‘did God really say?’

And blinded to love’s Offering that paid the sinner’s price

High minded and unholy in thinking darkened by vice

Oho, this flight that fuels greeting and farewell is swift

Its sightlines tune a volatile vista of numbered days

Thus, in the light of this may we embrace its fleeting gift

And never handle thoughtlessly that which ought to amaze

And fill every endeavor with sweet offerings of praise

© Janet Martin

tea-party cleanup!

Life's Best Gifts...

Today was bittersweet; the last day for one of the tots in my childcare

because he is going to be a big brother soon!

But oh, what a day it was!

... a medley of messes and music!

Beginning with a most spectacular unveiling...

...and as much as I miss the tots when they leave,

 I miss their moms just as much (if not more)!

because they've become dear friends forever!

Life’s best gifts do not fit inside a box

But often take us by tender surprise

As what appears quite commonplace unlocks

A vault of wealth dressed in darling disguise

Of innocence of little girls and boys

Reminding us of childhood’s purest joys

Of happiness gift-wrapped in mess and noise

And beauty we don’t always recognize

…until the past claims its inherent due

With age old ways that stun us constantly

Exchanging what we are accustomed to

For something new to startle you and me

Reminding us to live-laugh-love-and-pray

To take the time to treasure each today

Because The Present is a gift; its tray

Laden without tomorrow’s guarantee

The gifts that fit in boxes bring us cheer

And let a loved one know that they are prized

But the gifts that we hold forever dear

Are often hug and smile and teacup-sized

As hours like flower gardens unfold

Lavish extravagance of moment-gold

Granting gifts that only the heart can hold

With what is often commonplace-disguised

We often wonder at the way time flies

Like feet wearing holes through new pairs of socks

The thunder of What Was mingles with sighs

Of thankfulness for what today unlocks

In skylines running rife with life to seize

Before morn’s frame is filled with memories

Where sooner or later each heart agrees

Life’s best gifts do not fit inside a box

The gifts we cherish most are works of art

Forged into friendships from life’s highs and lows

The keepsakes that we cradle in the heart

Are love’s most fond and favored mementos

Of what at first glance may seem like not much

Just work and play and hope and pray and such

Until we slow enough to taste and touch

Too many gifts to count, that grace bestows

© Janet Martin

Of what at first glance may seem like not much

Just work and play and hope and pray and such...

below, in the summer, her favorite snack is popsicles!

in the winter I think her favorite snack is icicles😍

Every good and perfect gift is from above...

James 1:17

A Get-Rich-Quick-Forever Gift!

 

Inspired by the riches of Ephesians 1&2, Phil. 2, and so many more scriptures

All hinged to the Reason for the Christmas Season

Oh may we desire the wealth of spiritual blessing

possible only if we receive The Gift. God's Gift of grace

(Note: this is not a wealth of ease and material opulence,

because this wealth was bought with a great price!

But the price gives us access to all the priceless promises of God)

One Still Night

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms 

with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Eph.1:3

God’s gift of glorious grace

In meanest cradle lies

The riches of redemption veiled

In baby’s newborn cries

The hope of humankind

Descends from Heaven’s throne

To mercy’s masterpiece designed

Death’s sentence to atone

Through the shed blood of Christ

God trumps Lucifer’s schemes

From His Own Offspring sacrificed

Pardon’s profusion streams

…to lowly sons of earth

The holy Son of God

Suffered the pains of human birth

To bear rejection’s rod

…and suffer unto death

Even death on a cross

The King of kings offered Himself

To be a Lamb for us

The Son of God became

The Name believer’s hail

He suffered crucifixion’s shame

To rend the temple’s veil

So, all may freely come

Hope’s riches to embrace

The Cornerstone of Christendom

God’s gift of glorious grace

No more to be enslaved

By doubt, greed, pride and fear

But through faith, by grace we are saved

We, once far off brought near

To taste death's sweet release

Where Jesus took our place

His blood, the purchase price of peace

God’s gift of glorious grace

Ah, here all praise begins

Death falls like shackles spliced

We, who were dead in our sins

Are made alive with Christ

God, who is rich in love

Forgives this sinful race

Through the exceeding riches of

Jesus, God’s gift of grace

That in ages to come

His kindness might be known

Through we who benefited from

The kindness Christ has shown

© Janet Martin

Thus She Has Promised To Be True

How long are you going to keep this (poem/poems-a-day) up, I've been asked.

I can't say, really, other than

As long as God provides the 'page'

Why is this my answer?

Because one night I pleaded desperately to know for sure

'what is the use of poetry'?!

Is it really His calling/gift to me, or simply my passion/outlet?

So, as I prayed I made a decision that until I sense his confirmation I will take a break!

I climbed into bed and picked up a book I just purchased from a local Thrift Store. 

After rifling through its poem-pages, trying to decide which ones to read

I decided to start on the very first page...

(the whole page)

I have not looked back since (only up)

until the Giver deems otherwise...

Thus, this student asks for grace from those 

who are far more fluent, educated etc.

By the grace of God, write I,

for his honour and glory

with gratitude for what He gave (and withheld)!

When I was a youngster I was sure that shining athletic abilities, esp.

in volleyball or baseball was where true happiness lay!

So I would practice literally for hours throwing/heaving

a ball into the air and catching it. 

My payoff? black eyes, and skinned elbows and knees

 as Best Effort stumbled and slipped and misjudged...

(Contrary to what I was told, practice simply would/did not make perfect)

To this day still, when I throw a ball

 where it will land, in which direction, is anybody's guess.

Yes, often behind me, and I'm still baffled

as to how that happens😂

I have discovered that happiness lies in accepting and being grateful

for what is lent and Thus, being mindful on how it is spent.

He cupped her in His hands and said

No athlete, This Wee Miss, instead

I’ll weave within Her filigree

A soul that aches with poetry

A hunger, not appeased with bread

I’ll plant her dust with word-lust’s corm

Not gift of gab, nor dancer’s form

But ears to hear and eyes to see

The Font of would-be poetry

To take her modest frame by storm

I'll let a poem fill the gaps

That some assuage by swimming laps

I'll let a page produce the rush

That some engage with paint and brush

I'll tune Her to the tree that claps   

Thus, she has promised to be true

To tides that rush her through and through

In oceanic ebb and flow

To grapple with the undertow

Of poems without voice or hue

There is a world that waits to shine

Its gates pearled with breath-soft design

Where trust must pry a sigh apart

To trace the trestles of the heart

And wrestle stars to lilt and line

She reaches up, feels for the hands

That cupped Her as He wove her strands

To sift the quickened sands of time

And snare its rhythm into rhyme

Knowing the Weaver understands

When is enough, Enough, some ask

While heavens tip dawn’s mercy-flask

While hills and rills run wild with spring

While His touch instills everything

That fits the poet for her task

© Janet Martin

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

 the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, 

and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Isa.55:12

Life's Great Masterpiece...

By The Rivers of Babylon

Psalm 137:1-3
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.

2There on the willowsa
we hung our harps,
3for there our captors requested a song;
our tormentors demanded songs of joy:

 

Sometimes when I see the sparse masked attenders at church

(due to covid restrictions)
and as we meet masked shoppers and we hear of old people
literally dying of loneliness I pine deeply for a pre-Covid world and
I wonder if this is a teeniest glimpse what the Israelites felt like as they
hung their harps/instruments of praise on the willows
by the river of Babylon
and wept for the old days/Zion...

Let's not hang up the instrument He has given us to play
but no matter what play to praise Him!!

What has the master lent to thee thy calling to fulfill
In life’s great orchestra, what instrument did He instill
What gift, what tool, what trade did He entrust to His increase
Where we all have a part to play in Life’s Great Masterpiece

No matter where we stand or sit or lie, the Lord is near
He keeps careful account with watchful eye and listening ear
Then oh, take heart; He makes us able to master the skill
It takes to learn to play our part according to His will

Sometimes our fingers get so sore and oh, we get so tired
Sometimes the ‘music’ feels like war, its order undesired
Sometimes the composition seems to make no sense at all
And then sometimes we try to rearrange His sacred call

Forgive us when the Melody is nothing like You planned
Because we shift our focus from the Baton in command
Where no one is too high or low to love our fellowman
And heed its call whereby we go in Life’s Great Masterplan

We ought not hang our harps upon a willow tree and weep
And pine for days gone by; we have an awesome charge to keep
Then pray we do not wish for someone else’s tool or quest
But humbly seek His purpose and honour Him with our best

What has He lent to you and me, to serve with perfect joy
No instrument is insignificant in His employ
Then oh, take heart and do not long for exchange or release
For we all play an awesome part in Life’s Great Masterpiece

…where God hears every lisp and lilt, each minor syllable
In life’s great orchestra no player is invisible
Then oh take heart; let’s play our part without reserve because
Soon our tools will fade into faith’s thundering applause

© Janet Martin

Can't find your instrument?

Get on thy knees...

 

The devotions of the past 3 days convicted/encouraged me to give Him my all

 no matter what!!