Fortune of Fear

Today's devotion from the book Consolation

by Chas. E Cowman

"We all started somewhere at some point in our journey as a believer'

was my dad's reply a few months ago when I asked him to pray

for someone who, as yet, has not taken the first step of faith.

How often since then, those words have encouraged me not to give up

in lifting my loved ones to God in prayer,

whether it is for the first, sacred, genuine step of confessing that we are a sinner

and need Jesus as our Saviour, 

or in the ups and downs that follow repentance and belief.

On Sunday, the pastor closed his message with encouragement,

reminding us the Christian life is a course of ups and downs,

feeling near to God on some days and on others days

wondering why He doesn't feel so near.

He encouraged us to cling to the truth of a changeless God,

who, no matter how we feel steadfastly abides with us,

So then, he reminded us to abide in the Vine so we may live a fruitful life

for apart from Him we can do nothing.

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,

and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Proverbs 3:7:

"Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil"

Matt.10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Heb.10:31

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is impossible to truly love or follow God until we truly fear Him;

Until He who loved us so much He gave His Son/himself

to break the curse of sin, so all who believe

will never perish but have everlasting life...

 until this Holy God confounds our utter thought

as we try to fathom His love, mercy and holiness

we will fail to live the Christian life.

As our reverence/fear for God grows,

so grows our love.

Ps.103:11

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

 (read the whole glorious chapter of Ps.103 HERE)

Lord let not faith be warped by sight

Nor trust, by understanding

But let the fear of Thee delight

My will with Thy commanding

And let devotion not be swayed

By ups and downs of living

Lord, keep my want-prone wonder stayed

Beneath Thy cross, life-giving

And woo me, not with worldly creed

Or fortune's vain ovation/persuasion 

But, help me pay more earnest heed

To Thee, Rock of salvation

That I may gain a heart of love

Of wisdom's priceless treasure

And grow in grace and knowledge of

Thee, one true God, forever

Amen

Janet Martin

Ps.62:2

He only is my rock and my salvation;

 He is my defense; 

I shall not be greatly moved.

Rock of Ages

Gale-worthy Grounding

Devastation and disaster are part of this life

and sometimes sadly, seems the only way

 for God to really get our attention.

Somehow, when life unfolds smoothly we

are more apt to slip into selfish complacency rather

than call on Him.

When we dwell only on grief's wounds 

that loss of loved ones inflicts

sorrow can be almost unbearable!

However, when we remember and think on the believer's gain, 

where death is but the door to faith's inheritance

what comfort God's promises bestow.

John 11:25

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. 

Do you believe this?”

My friend gifted me a beautiful book

knowing how much I love the books

Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley

This book, by the the same author, Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman 

is entitled Consolation... and I love it!

It is a collection of daily devotions

of consolation and encouragement...

(And the pretty, handmade brooch pinned to my bookmark ribbon

was a gift as well from a sweet and super-talented artist

 in my Sunday School class 💝💖)

Yesterday's devotion was esp. ministering to me

and may be to you as well, 

as our hearts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in LA.! 

As I pondered where to begin

to find the beginning of true hope, joy and peace

as I began to trace one truth

it always joined to another...

Faith, without a firm foundation when life’s gales begin to blow

Will be devoid of duration; like a ship tossed to and fro

Hope, without faith’s expectation anchored in redeeming love

Flaps it wings; determination on its own is not enough

Joy without hope’s secure anchor; Jesus, who forgives our sin

When met with bereavement’s rancor, has no Comforter within

Peace, without joy’s Awesome Author, (whose gift of salvation saves)

Cannot be; because no other Voice can calm dread’s wind and waves

Trust, without God’s peace to buffer trouble’s billows undeterred

Cannot bear what it must suffer without guidance from God’s Word

Love, without Trust’s full surrender, is a bud, eager to burst

With incomparable splendor of the One who loved us first

Faith, hope, joy, peace, trust and love; what better bulwark can there be

By the grace of God quite enough to pray ‘be it unto me’

Quite enough to be enough though hell's fury should be unfurled 

Upon the Rock of Jesus' love Faith's Footing overcomes the world  

© 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; ...

Colossians 1:5
the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, 

of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

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

 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, / 

and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,

 reserved in heaven for you, / 

who through faith are shielded by God’s power 

for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises,

 let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit,

 perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, 

without which no one will see the Lord.

How Firm a Foundation

 

Lyrics...

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

3

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

4

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

5

“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove

My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;

And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,

Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”

6

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”

Author (attributed to): R. Keen (1787); Author: K. (1787); Author (attributed to): George Keith (1787)

Where Unholy Thoughts Could Play...

Ps.86:5&10-13

For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving,

rich in loving devotion to all who call on You...

...For You are great and perform wonders;

You alone are God.

11Teach me Your way, O LORD,

that I may walk in Your truth.

Give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear Your name.

12I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify Your name forever.

13For great is Your loving devotion to me;

You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.

A few glimpses at what helped to inspire today's poem...

From the book George Mueller of Bristol

and The Building of Character by

Rev. J.R. Miller D.D.

Lord, where unholy thoughts could play

And tempt ‘the good I would’ to stray

Where dark despair could defeat joy

And bait worship with cunning ploy

Where judgement could bar/mar gentle grace

And would make me forget my place

Where pride, could with subtle disguise

Deceive good intention with lies

Where I am often boldly prone

To pursue int’rests of my own

Rather than do the best I can

To encourage my fellowman

Where opportunity abounds

And oft humility confounds

Where self-indulgence could creep in

And blind me to its crafty sin

While wisdom calls out in the streets

While excuse grooms its masterpiece

Where unholy thoughts could conceive

A religion of make-believe

Lest by imagination’s whim

The light that I could be grows dim

Lord, let Thy mercy hear my plea

Restore my zeal and love for Thee

Fain and vain is the good I would

Save through the power of Thy blood

Thus, may my utmost longing be

Love’s thankfulness for Christ in me

Lest, where unholy thoughts could play

I slowly, surely go astray

Bind round my neck, write on my heart

These precious words; how great Thou art

© Janet Martin

How Great Thou Art

An oldie!!

Alone With God

Lyrics by Johnson Oatman, Jr

1. When storms of life are round me beating,
   When rough the path that I have trod,
   Within my closet door retreating,
   I love to be alone with God.
   • Refrain:
     Alone with God, the world forbidden,
     Alone with God, O blest retreat!
     Alone with God, and in Him hidden,
     To hold with Him communion sweet.
2. What though the clouds have gathered o’er me?
   What though I’ve passed beneath the rod?
   God’s perfect will there lies before me,
   When I am thus alone with God.
3. ’Tis there I find new strength for duty,
   As o’er the sands of time I plod;
   I see the king in all His beauty,
   While resting there alone with God.
4. And when I see the moment nearing
   When I shall sleep beneath the sod,
   When time with me is disappearing,
   I want to be alone with God.

The Holy Whole (of Soul's eternity)

Gorgeous sunny, spring daybreak!

I'm sure everyone in our neck of the woods wants to make the most 

of FINALLY, a fabulous stretch of sunshine warming winter-weary bones! 

Lawn-raking never felt so fine, like spring-cleaning the outdoors!

The wise in this world endeavor to make the most 

of every day, no matter the weather! 

Because, no matter who or where we are, death is life's gravest matter 

and none of us knows how near its Door draws with each breath we take...

***

We live but once; the wise weigh well the measure of its lease

For there are none who can foretell how soon a life will cease

But only God, who grants each breath beholds the holy Whole

Of numbered days before the death that bares the deathless soul

Not one of us can know who next will hear His summons fall

To draw us from time’s brief context to meet the Lord of all

Death is life’s gravest matter borne on seasons as they roll

Its dust and ash we scatter, the torn garment of the soul

The holy Whole of moment-sums slip subtly, yet rife

Through the undoing that becomes the measure of a life

The wise, aware of today’s momentous fragility

Weigh well the flickering blaze of accountability

Oho, how soon the afternoon dons twilight's dusky hues  

How swift life's gleaming gift spawns the shadow of deathly dues

How surely no one knows That Rending Toll's proximity 

That will  unveil The Holy Whole of Soul's eternity 

© Janet Martin

Luke 12:35-40

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 

36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, 

so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. 

Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, 

will have them recline at the table 

and will come and wait on them. 

38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready,

 even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

 39 But understand this:

 If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming,

 he would not have let his house be broken into. 

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come 

at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Oho, how soon the afternoon dons twilight's dusky hues...  

How Awesome is This Place

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,

 “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 

And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! 

This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” 

Gen.28:16-17

Echoing Jacob's words today 'how awesome is this place'

of God's redeeming grace

On That Day-City Alight

How awesome is this place

Where grace and mercy meld

To bring hope to a sin-cursed race

Through Jesus, not withheld

But, for glory’s increase

He suffered in our stead

The punishment that brings us peace

And triumphs death’s dark dread

How awesome is this place

Of grief, joy, love and hate

Where some believe with humble faith

And some doubt and debate

The way, the truth, the life

The hope that sets us free

Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ

And the grave’s victory

How awesome is this place

This is the gate of heav’n

Where, by the goodness of God’s grace

The sinner is forgiv’n

Not in part, but in full

Redemption’s torrents pour

To work in us the miracle

Of sins recalled no more

How awesome is this place

Eternity’s threshold

The darksome glass, ere face to face

His beauty we behold

Where no more tears will be

When all will be made new

Together forever with He

Who so loves me and you

How awesome is our Lord

Where His grace tarries still

While prophecy fulfills His Word

According to His will

Where earth is heaven’s gate

Then call upon His name

Before it is too late, too late

Salvation’s gift to claim

© Janet Martin

Rev.21:5

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” 

Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

My 'I Shall Not Want' Want-list

I want to see the beauty in each day that He has made...

Our world is completely winterized where only two weeks ago 

I took a long walk admiring the remnant foliage of fall...

And just like that, with the snow

thoughts of Christmas start to take center stage

where want and wish lists also begin to take shape...

While gifts are nice and delightful expressions of love,

as we grow older, we realize more and more

 that what satisfies our Want cannot be unwrapped from

pretty paper and ribbons.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

I shall not want...

Ps. 23:1

Without refreshment and renewal found in God's Word alone.

our want lists are apt to run a bit askew,

and discouragement would drain

our 'joy complete'

John 15:9-11

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 

Now remain in my love. 

10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love,

 just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 

11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you 

and that your joy may be complete.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

I want my thoughts established in the soundness of God’s Word

I want by joy completed when I see Him face to face

I want my footsteps ordered by His law to undergird

I want my gladness anchored in the goodness of His grace

I want my focus fixed upon The Prize we cannot see

I want my thirst and hunger satisfied by righteousness

I want my hope held steadfast in the promises of He

Whose love and justice will not fail to comfort, keep and bless

I want my store of treasure to be more than merchant wage

I want to want more dearly what this world can never give

I want to hold fast to the teachings passed from age to age

I want a heart that grows more thankful with each day I live

I want to treat my fellowman with kind humility

I want with heart and soul and mind to love the Lord, my God

I want my light to shine so others may see Him in me

And with the gospel of His peace, I want my feet thus shod

I want to never envy ungodly prosperity 

I want to not be fooled by the appearance of the shell

I want, with awe and wonder to look upon Calvary

To remember the empty tomb: Christ conquered death and hell

I want to see God's beauty in each day that He has made

I want to work toward a goal beyond this world's success

I want to be discerning where wolves in sheep's clothes invade

I want to leave behind a legacy of faithfulness 

I want to keep my tongue from meting cruel blow for blow

I want to find the Life no thief can steal, kill or destroy

And when I die, I want to hear the sweetest words I know

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter Thy Lord’s joy”

© Janet Martin

Post-Eden Post-Calvary Pre-Eternity

Inspired in part by a world washed white with snow...

after yesterday's sunshine, blue skies and robin songs!

But mostly inspired by today's devotion...

Above devotion from the book

Morning by Morning Daily Devotional Readings by Charles Spurgeon

Gen3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field 

which the LORD God had made. 

And he said unto the woman, 

Yea, hath God said, 

Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Sin wields its will with wily art

To ease us into apathy

Unless we stand on solemn guard

We cannot fight the enemy

Or recognize ravenous wolves

Clothed cunningly in sheep’s disguise

Or war against the hiss that pulls

Its crafty wool over our eyes

Sin wants perpetrators to wink

At what should cause us agony

Deception hoists its sparkling drink

Without a care for Calvary

It soothes the sacred prick of guilt

And woos the conscience with excuse

It drowns the groans where Pardon spilt

With pleasure’s lure and laughter’s ruse

Sin is the foe, though hard to tell

It masquerades as friend to all

Sin decorates the road to hell

With what keeps us comfortable

No caution signs to notify

The crowd that throngs the downward slope

Ah, who will save them from the lie

That scorns the cross and Living Hope

Sin blinds half-seekers to the truth

The Tempter, a most subtil beast

Preys on the innocence of youth

It bribes desire with a feast

Without the whole armor of God

Not one would stand a fighting chance

Fooled by hell’s beguiling façade

And frauds that foster ignorance

Sin, surely sin has cursed us all

Its fruit, so pleasing to the eye

We ate and partook of the Fall

That caused the Son of God to die

But Death could not contain I Am

The victory it could not win

Sin could not taint the sinless Lamb

He rose triumphant over sin

Sin wields its weapons, but take heart

The blood of Christ cleanses its stain

And we can thwart its evil dart

If we on solemn guard remain

After we repent and believe

Sin is not master anymore

The Holy Spirit we receive

Will aid if we for aid implore

© Janet Martin

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves;

 therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, 

your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Love's Dimensions

Today's Holy Ground

When The Greatest Commandment is disregarded

then everything else that follows falls out of place.

(Matt.22:36-40

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

 This is the first and greatest commandment. 

 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”)

Mercy unveils its token

Across the land and sea

A new morning has broken

Holy, holy, holy

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul; 

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

The love that pardons sinners

Where truth and grace abound

Wakens pardoned believers

To today’s holy ground

The hope wrought through redemption

As trouble’s billows break

Sweetens, with awed perception

Each holy breath we take

He, who for our transgression

Bore hate’s hostility

Teaches, through His subjection

Holy humility

Mercy unveils its token

Across the land and sea

A new morning has broken

Holy, holy, holy

No other God can conquer

And bid the darkness flee

Nor satisfy want’s hunger

With holy fealty

The strength of rebels falters

When fixed on this world’s mess

Nothing supplants or altars

God’s holy righteousness

This love, above all scandals

That no brute can confound

Bids us take off pride’s sandals

On today's holy ground

By grace we are forgiven

And so unworthy of

Earth’s small foretaste of Heaven

God’s holy, holy love

Oh, come let us adore Him

Let humble praise resound

God sees who bows before Him  

On today's holy ground

© Janet Martin

Here's My Heart, Lord

This poem was inspired in part by our message yesterday!

How Marvelous, How Wonderful

The Beginning of Knowledge...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov.1:7

I have been pondering the above verse for the past week;

how fear of God or lack thereof, affects every single decision we make!

Then, lo and behold, it was the key verse in today's Daily Bread Devotion!

All things were made by Him...

The beginning of knowledge is not by some college taught

But as we meet God through his Word and revere His commands

For what starts with a niggle in our hearts or in our thought

Will soon wiggle its way into our mouth, or feet and hands

The beginning of knowledge does not age-discriminate

We are all never too old to discover something new

Our Father up in Heaven is a God of love, not hate

We prove how much we fear Him by the things we say and do

The beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord, our God

Then tremble at His word and reverence His holy Name

Do not stand in the way that wicked wanderers applaud 

The fool that loathes wisdom's instruction will be brought to shame

The beginning of knowledge is to recognize our place

Beneath the grace of God who forgives and sets sinners free

The fool does not tremble to think of 'someday face to face'

The wise seek godly counsel with fear and humility

Janet Martin

Prov.3:7

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Proverbs 14:26-27
He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, 

and his children shall have a place of refuge.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, 

turning a person from the snares of death.

Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD prolongs life, 

but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, 

but with many counselors comes deliverance.

Isa.66:4-6

So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.” 5You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.” 6Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!…