Showing posts with label holiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiness. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

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...







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 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
These precious words; how great Thou art

© Janet Martin



An oldie!!



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.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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...  



Wednesday, January 11, 2023

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




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.”

Monday, November 21, 2022

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.








To remember the empty tomb: Christ conquered death and hell


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

© Janet Martin

Friday, March 11, 2022

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
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.





Monday, February 28, 2022

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

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



This poem was inspired in part by our message yesterday!






Wednesday, July 7, 2021

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!…

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Our Greatest Achievement (pride-weak or humility strong)


A quote, retained from my growing up years;
Humility is a hard thing to achieve;
The moment we think we have it we've lost it! 😉


One of my dearest, humbling happiness-es is peering deep
into the delicate perfection of a flower ...



In today's world, happiness,
not holiness seems touted as
our greatest goal/achievement or 'right'!
Pride, not humility is hailed as 'hero'!

It is impossible to be proud and holy!
It is impossible to be proud and truly happy!

Below is Holy Scripture's 'tip' of this topic!

...but as He who called you is holy, 
you also be holy in all your conduct, 
 because it is written,
 “Be holy, for I am holy.”

A man's pride will bring him low, 
but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

James 4:6
But he gives us more grace.
That is why Scripture says
: “God opposes the proud 
but shows favor to the humble.”

Prov.6:16-19
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him:
A[b] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

(I've discovered when I do a Bible word search on 'happy'
most often it is translated into 'blessed')

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, 
who has not turned to the proud, 
nor to those who lapse into falsehood.


We, since Eden's calamity
Have struggled with temptation's bent
The Word, that WAS, IS and WILL BE
No mortal twist can circumvent

We are without excuse because
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
Is steadfast in Love's changeless laws
No Author of confusion, He

Holiness is our highest Call
Not happiness, as some may claim
 Defiant pride precedes the fall
That leads to destruction and shame

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
So many dare to disregard  
As if the cross of Calvary
Was but a charm or a postcard

The way to destruction is broad
Death's dark and downward jaunt seems bright
While the devil who detests God

The deceiver is sly and vile
No one is too precious to spare
His mission, seeking to beguile
Those not yet on hell's thoroughfare

God's truth and love will never shift
He is just, trustworthy and kind
When we receive salvation's gift
He opens eyes that once were blind

Then call on Him in humble awe
Before pride makes a mockery
Of He who IS Love's Perfect Law
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

Seek holiness without reserve
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
Waits to reward as we deserve;
Earned through pride or humility

Janet Martin

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.