God Gives; We Take...

Yesterday's hold-and-letting-go 'lament/minuet'

inspired today's give and take contemplation...

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

 coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

Acts 17:28

For in him we live and move and have our being.

’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

How often we are like this robin,

who took full advantage of a freshly-filled birdbath!

We soak and splash in the faithfully-replenished fountain of blessing.

Pray we thank the Giver for all we take! 

God gives; we take. All we receive precedes relinquishment

Each accomplishment we achieve the fruit of favours lent

Goodness and mercy’s wellspring spills; we drink, with gifted breath

Too oft mindless of He who fills the fount of life-to-death

God gives; we take. A treasure trove of generosity

Anoints our touch-and-taste with love’s accountability

Where all we have is what we take while He ordains the chance

And it is up to us to make the most of all He grants

God gives; we take; and if we suffer loss tis but the part

Of gain we often overlook until it breaks our heart

And bids us contemplate the sum of grace till we are awed

For all we have is given from the outstretched Hand of God

God gives today; we wake and take it, consciously or not

Ah pray, that what we make of it is the best we have got 

He gives; we take. Forbid we boast in anyone but He

Who loves us to the uttermost for all eternity 

© Janet Martin

John 19:10-11

So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me?

Do You not know that I have authority to release You 

and authority to crucify You?”

11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me

if it were not given to you from above.

Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

Olives That Have Known No Pressure - Hymn 626

Olives that have known no pressure

No oil can bestow;

If the grapes escape the winepress,

Cheering wine can never flow;

Spikenard only through the crushing,

Fragrance can diffuse.

Shall I then, Lord, shrink from suff’ring

Which Thy love for me would choose?

Each blow I suffer

Is true gain to me.

In the place of what Thou takest

Thou dost give Thyself to me.

Do my heart-strings need Thy stretching,

Songs divine to prove?

Do I need for sweetest music

Cruel treatment of Thy love?

Lord, I fear no deprivation

If it draws to Thee;

I would yield in full surrender

All Thy heart of love to see.

I’m ashamed, my Lord, for seeking

Self to guard alway;

Though Thy love has done its stripping,

Yet I’ve been compelled this way.

Lord, according to Thy pleasure

Fully work on me;

Heeding not my human feelings,

Only do what pleases Thee.

If Thy mind and mine should differ,

Still pursue Thy way;

If Thy pleasure means my sorrow,

Still my heart shall answer, “Yea!”

’Tis my deep desire to please Thee,

Though I suffer loss;

E’en though Thy delight and glory

Mean that I endure the cross.

Oh, I’ll praise Thee, e’en if weeping

Mingle with my song.

Thine increasing sweetness calls forth

Grateful praises all day long.

Thou hast made Thyself more precious

Than all else to me:

Thou increase and I decrease, Lord—

This is now my only plea.

The High Stakes of Steppingstones

Sunday's teaching message at our church

was based on Matt. 6, 

a chapter that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to

how we ought to live/give...

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moths and vermin destroy, 

and where thieves break in and steal.

 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moths and vermin do not destroy, 

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

 21 For where your treasure is,

 there your heart will be also.

Today; a steppingstone cradled in the hand of God

No matter how we look at it...

...we are in good hands

Dawn breaks; earth’s shadowed tide recedes as flood of daylight fills the sky

And sets beneath a world of feet far more than meets the naked eye

Where each day, like a steppingstone is cradled in the Giver’s Hands

On it, Creature of grin and groan shoulders love’s duties and demands

Often paying minimal heed to He who keeps us in His care

While we, a soul-instilled stampede, resume Transport from Here to There

And because God wills hearts to soften, rather than grow proud and cold

His tutorship of mercy often clashes with our stubborn/selfish hold

Upon the east a Feast of Goodness, promise-anchored, rends the air

But poverty can’t eat a promise; God bids all who 'have', to share

To bear in mind the measure of love’s evidence naught can Disguise

Residence of the treasure-trove will tell where our allegiance lies

Without a word to justify, without excuses to explain

For we are all servants either for this world or for heaven’s gain

There is no in between; nothing to counter living proof of choice

Twixt beckoning and reckoning a world of hands and feet give voice

…to Who we dearly love the most and who is the heart’s true delight

Who rushes our tongues with boast and cheers us onward in the fight/flight

Who fills our hope with happiness and whose name we thrill to repeat

What definition of success commands our hands and march of feet

Who makes it worth the give and take that may seem of small consequence

Before we behold the high stakes as steppingstones yield recompense

Dawn breaks; the stakes of steppingstones may seem a payoff far and dim

But one glimpse of God on His throne and we would all be heirs of Him

© Janet Martin

All We Have...(Comes From God)

Am I truly willing to love (aka give)

with all I have?

This, the challenge/conviction from this morning's reading...

A few excerpts below

This morning is gleaming and shiny as a new silver or gold coin

begging to be spent/invested!

So many avenues, snares and benefits for both money and time

where every day is an investment for eternity!

Ps.16:11 

You will show me the path of life;

 In Your presence is fullness of joy; 

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Heb.4:13 KJV

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:

 but all things are naked and opened 

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

NIV

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. 

Everything is uncovered and laid bare 

before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Creator of life is the Supreme and Sovereign Giver 

(and withholder) of all we have or want!

Rom.8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good 

of those who love him, 

who have been called according to his purpose.

Nothing is hidden from the One with Whom we have to do

No thought or motive's intention escapes His thorough view 

Not one measure that we possess , not one means we applaud

Is secured by our own success; All we have comes from God

No one is exempt from the tender love that wrought God's grace

God gave Himself and did not send another in His place

To bear surrender's uttermost; death on a cross, so grim

To leave no room for mortal boast; All we have comes from Him

No part of God's authority is for a select few

Forbid we have no fear of He with Whom we have to do

But, weigh all that transcends the grave with holy diligence

Because all that we have is by the Giver's providence 

Pray, we wholly rely on He who supplies our need

Pray we despise the enemy that thrives on fear and greed

For all we have is given, not to claim as our own

 Else earth's foretaste of Heaven would not make the Giver known  

 

Oh God, deliver us from evil that subtly takes root 

The love of money; a devil that blights both tree and fruit

Oh God, the Giver of our days, with Whom we have to do

Instill in us love's hymn of praise; all we have comes from You

So then, with all we have from You, pray, with all that we have

Of might and means, we purpose to invest beyond the grave 

Aware that life composes what death cannot circumvent 

When the Giver discloses what we did with what He lent 

© Janet Martin

A few more excerpts from the ending of the book

George Muller of Bristol...

to both cheer and challenge all who seek to live

to give without counting the cost!

Building for Eternity...

 

 

 

When We Remember This...

 

This morning my daughter's plans for her day off 

(Christmas shopping, small town meandering)

were suddenly upended when her employer asked

if she could work because a co-worker was sick!

While she was working through her disappointment

 I tried to cheer her with the thought that inspired this poem.

It also reminded me of this song/poem

The Christmas Guest

When we remember this, then second miles extend

Privilege, rather than duty’s stiff upper lip, my friend

When we remember this, we cannot give enough

As we consider His sacrifice and redeeming love

When we remember this, we try, the best we can

To mirror His example of love for our fellowman

Then, when out of the blue He asks us to reply

To help someone we cannot help but say, ‘Lord, here am I’

When we remember this little phrase ‘inasmuch’

It rushes hearts with honor to be called as one-of-such

© Janet Martin

Matt.25:40

“And the king shall answer, and say to them,

 'Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, 

My brothers, you have done it to Me ...

Thankfulness in Action

These tots are giving their pets breakfast!

God bless everyone who gives today on what has been dubbed Giving Tuesday!

God bless everyone who gives, no matter what day it is!

Many organizations have committed to doubling the amount of each gift/donation today,

but, as we pray for each need we give toward

 we know in God's hands the increase of the gift

is incomprehensible!!

For more scripture and thoughts on giving see Friday's post! Good, Better, Best

Matt.25:34-40

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Thankfulness is not uttered by the voice of noisy word

But by language of loving kindness, it is seen and heard

Love’s proof unfurls a banner by the speech of how we live

By who we try to honor as we humbly help and give

How holy is the quickened toll that draws souls back to He

Who is still in perfect control with all authority

In spite of what may seem to be a war twixt need and greed

Between excess and poverty, laxness and earnest heed

We who profess to love God are His earthly feet and hands

Kindness is a love-language that no one misunderstands

Love, above and beyond the call of duty’s sorry rod

Delights in the excitement of giving glory to God

© Janet Martin

Happy Daily Delighting!!

2 Cor.9:6-9

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, 

and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, 

not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.a 

8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, 

so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, 

you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”b

Good, Better, Best

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly

 above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Eph.3:20

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Phil.2:13

This is the time of year when in boxes and mail boxes are FLOODED with pleas for donations

 leaving us wishing we could help them all! they are all worthy causes.

The Red Cross seeks to touch our hearts with a packet of tangible gifts,

right down to a personalized pen to sign and send; no excuses!!

Today's Devotion in the book Streams in the Desert

struck me with the realization that to give is more than

the licking of an envelope with 'gift enclosed'

more than a few clicks on a keyboard after hitting

'donate now' then forgetting as soon as we exit the page.

Rather, monetary aid hopefully is the small part in the

much larger labor of praying for the causes to which we give!

In my in box, just to name a few;

The Canadian Bible Society seeks to bring the

hope of the God's Word to those who do not have access to bibles.

Focus on the Family seeks to minister in various ways to strengthen families

in this troubled and confused age.

Our local churches seek to minister in our own communities...

and the list goes on!!

Praying we all pray for guidance to know where

to do our part with a generous heart!

To ‘do’ is a good start

To give is pleasing too

But to pray is the vital part

Of all we say and do

For as we pray toward

The hope to which we live

We will better honor the Lord

With what we do and give

To give is well and good

To ‘do’ our part is fair

But to live and love like we should

Begins and ends with prayer

The good of love's kind quest

Is better every day

As we are blessed with Mercy's best

Because we pray and pray

Then, what seems commonplace

Turns into worship where

Exceedingly abundant grace

Works God's pleasure through prayer 

© Janet Martin

We may not be able to help everyone but everyone can help someone,

hopefully beginning with prayer and seeking to honour God

in all we give and do!

Eph.6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions 

with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert 

and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times 

and not lose heart:

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, 

but in everything, by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Enough

We love, because love never fails

...then trust the Author of it

 to work out the veiled details

Love takes pleasure in other people's happiness-es... 

and big or small successes

Do you ever feel like there's no way, in the girth of need, to do/be enough?

How misunderstood; for there is no dearth when it comes to love

It is when Self stands in the way we sense love's lack thereof

No, we don’t need to know the details when it comes to love

So, we pour out our heart-and-soul, then God makes it enough

We give out of what His love grants (ah, nothing is our own)

As we entrust the circumstance to ‘Lord, Thy will be done’

Love does not count amounts and tally up dollars and cents

It does not keep track records of ‘the heart’s full abundance’

But rather replies humbly in the way only love can

Love does not seek itself, but firstly God, then fellowman

Love does not doubt the Author and Perfecter of Faith’s ‘yes’

But takes a flying leap and lands upon His promises

Where a small glimpse of Heaven spills as need relies on trust

Knowing full well that hell on earth is greed inflamed by lust

Love does not barter to augment miserly treasury

Love is an ardent benefactor, grieved by poverty

Love does not need to know the why and wherefore of it all

Learning that in the giving IS living love’s miracle

Love lacks nothing and does not ask for recompense for deeds

But is a sower that goes forth and scatters fruitful seeds

Knowing though needs are many, we will always have enough

Not by the worth of penny but by the Birthright of Love

© Janet Martin

Col.3:12-14

 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, 

compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 

 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, 

forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

  And above all these put on love, 

which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

God-given Rite...

Give as you are able

according as the Lord has blessed you...

Deut.16:17

  Never twist justice to benefit a rich man, and never accept bribes. 

For bribes blind the eyes of the wisest and corrupt their decisions. 

Deut.16:19

What counts is not the place or face by rank or rights defined

This is no contest; we are all called to life’s kindred goad

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

To love our neighbour as our self and share life’s heavy load

What counts is not the number of amounts as much as this

The measure of the heart; this is the place where giving starts

God sees beneath the outer scarf to what our intent is

And we cannot deceive He who wealth’s ways and means imparts

What counts is not so much the vessel as its harboured sum

This is no contest; we are all called to life’s kindred role

To love God and each other, for soon what is will become

The blip before God strips us of everything but the Soul

© Janet Martin

Let's Get Real!

PAD Challenge day 20: For today’s prompt, write a light poem.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. 

Instead, they set it on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

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

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

Matt.5:15-16

This monument in the Port of Sydney, struck a powerful chord when we visited last year.

Let's pray for passion to reach and help the needy in the chilling storms of life!

None of us can do it all but all of us can do something!

this photo was taken at the Sydney Merchant Mariner's Memorial.

Yes. Let’s get real. The way we feel should strike a kindred cord

For we all bear the brunt of love and longing’s two-edged sword

Then let’s be honest with each other; that which disappears

Hones and reshapes us with the carving knife of days and years

Where what we hold of moment gold soon falls prey to past’s knell

(For He who gives has the authority to take as well)

Then let’s get real and focus on the way we ought to live

And recognize that what we have God lent to us to give

For we are called to love each other and make this our aim

To shine the Light of Him through us and glorify His name

Yes. Let’s get real where Want’s appeal is never satisfied

Let’s lay up treasure far beyond this frond of dust and pride

Let’s make it our mission to focus on love’s reply

And pray to God to help us when our longing runs awry

Where we are altogether first-time travelers of Time

And none of us can see beyond this Very Present Clime/climb

Where pray then, all together, tethered by hope’s heart and soul

Let’s live to help each other as we press toward The Goal

For we are called to shine our light through good deeds, Self-denied

So that our Father up in Heaven may be glorified

© Janet Martin