Because God (Still) So Loves The World

Sometimes I am unsure/timid in how/what to share 

of sacred and  intimate glimpses of fellowship

 with my Saviour, yet, in the very same frame of timidity

is a joy so unspeakably precious and empowering because of Jesus,

it cannot be kept to myself;

 a joy that dispels would-be discouragement  

and compels me to love, forgive and trust

with renewed spirit, by the grace of God.

Sometimes our havoc-wreaked spirits can feel like a bit like the

earth appears, in or after a storm, and we need to spend extra time with 

He who is greater in us, than He who is in the world!

Yesterday morning I oohed and aahed 

while Jim watched the weather forecast 

and warned me this hoar frost is going to turn into horror-frost!

Yesterday afternoon my ooh's were a bit more subdued as the ice began to accumulate...

Last night the power went out and all we could do was listen to ominous cracks and crashes!

This morning our power is back on but a lot of harder-hit areas are still out!

I think this is the branch we heard breaking off...

A glimpse at what/Who sustains hope and joy no matter what...

For God so loved the world He did not spare the cruel cost;

But gave Himself;  Jesus, to come and seek and save the lost

Above all else His love pursues, pardons, persists, prevails

To all who call on Him in truth, His answer never fails

Though often we must wait on Him as faith is vexed and tried

For God who loves us so, detests all stumbling blocks of pride

And He knows what is best; beyond the pressing part we see

His perfect will anoints the test with blessed security/victory

Through promises that bind faith's wounds and cheer the heavy heart

He ushers peace into our souls while the world falls apart 

Because, through the knowledge of God, grace and peace multiply

 His divine power every righteous need will satisfy 

 

For God so loved the world, the Mystery of Three in One

Supplied atonement's sacrifice through Jesus Christ His Son

Once and for all, so everyone who repents and believes

Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, eternal life receives

(because without shed blood there is no forgiveness for sin)

Thus, without faith in Jesus Christ where can true hope begin?

For without God who loves us with an everlasting love

No matter what we seek and find, it will not be enough

To satisfy heart, soul and mind, with perfect joy and peace

Made possible through He whose government will never cease

Therefore, no matter what dread prospect must yet be unfurled

Faith's treasure sweetly cheers  because God still so loves the world

Janet Martin

2 Cor.4:5-9

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, 

and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”b 

made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light 

of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.c

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show 

that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed;

 perplexed, but not in despair; 

persecuted, but not forsaken; 

struck down, but not destroyed.

1 John 2:2
He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,

 and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Love of God - Mercy Me [With Lyrics]

Like Glimpses Through a Gate

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; 

In Your presence is fullness of joy; 

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The thrill of February spring was short-lived,

...as was the clean up from previous ice-storms, 

 We woke to a world ensconced in nature's glitz!

How oft the Creator consoles

Earth's happiness, so full of holes...

February is always a struggle for me, poetically-speaking, 

and this February is no exception, so emotionally demanding/draining

 with so much local trouble and sorrow,

not to mention globally!

But hallelujah,

 God Was, Is, and Ever Will Be in perfect control!

We walk by faith, not by sight!

2 Cor.5:7

How oft the Creator consoles

Earth's happiness, so full of holes

Where grief exacts love’s bitter thorn

As dreams are dashed and hearts are torn

…and then the morn heaps hope’s buffet

As mercy’s masterpieces splay

Like glimpses, through a gate ajar

Where everlasting pleasures are

How often our faith could be

Disillusioned by tragedy

This, but part and parcel of Time

Tethered to weathered season-chime

Where rhyme and reason could dismiss

God’s goodness with betrayal’s kiss

Until, like glimpses through a gate

He reminds us of joys that wait

How often we could lose our way

If we relied on logic’s say

Where wise and fool alike concede

Man’s days are few and full of need

But, the best this world can demand

Pales, compared to God’s Promised Land

Glimpsed through a gleaming gate, agape

With impressions of its landscape

How oft the poet’s flound’ring prayer

Could yield to pirates of despair

Where unholy taunt plunders thought

And steals joy with blessings forgot

Until God opens downcast eyes

To impact us with sweet surprise

Unveiled, like glimpses through a gate

Where worship’s endless pleasures wait

How oft life's weight of care could wage

A war that nothing could assuage

Without more than this world can host

Of temporary toast and boast

Hoisted between eternities

A flail of mortal agonies

While glimpses through yon Gate remind

The man of the soul's transient rind 

How oft the Creator consoles

Earth’s happiness, so full of holes

With glimpses of Heavenly Hills

From whence our Help and Comfort spills

To cheer us onward in the flight

Of walking by faith, not by sight

Until Yon Gate eclipses grace

And glimpses become face-to-face

© Janet Martin

Psalm 121:1-3

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

2My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

3He will not allow your foot to [a]be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Lord, I Need You

I Need Thee Every Hour

This Very Special Day

'I think I will have a muffin this morning', I said to Victoria 

as I put on another pot of coffee, 'since it is such a special day'.

Both of us had workdays cancelled because of school closures 

due to freezing rain this morning

This is a special day

The way the wind roars through

The ups and downs that crown

Life’s little lilt of

Me-and-you

How soft and swift the gift

Of Today is undone

By fingers, gossamer

And lowered masts on

Twilight’s galleon

Life’s leap from rocking cradle

To the still and silent grave

Does not leave us a hint

Of how much time 

Between we have

So, let’s not miss the melody

Of ‘us’, a ballad, sweet

And dance where paper ballrooms

Briefly pause

Beneath our feet

Time is a tender thief

Sometimes its wooing way

Could whisper us to sleep

Before we thank God for

This very special day

© Janet Martin

Let's Just Stay Home

 All schools including colleges and universities are closed today in hopes that people 'just stay home'!

It's much safer for those trying to keep roads clear if there is less traffic skidding about!

Let’s just stay home

The wild wind wails

and flails its tears like broken glass

Let’s stoke the embers into flame

and make Cozy;

this too shall pass

Let’s snuggle beneath fuzzy shawls

while Nature decks its halls with B-r-r-r

Let’s bake a cake (or muffins)

to celebrate

Time’s creaky gait toward summer-r-r!

 Let’s count the ways we love thee, home

Thy warm welcome

never wears thin

How sweet the tempo of thy poem

How dear the laugh-lines

of thy grin

How beloved thy roof and walls

They gather us closer a bit

And shelter us from brutish brawls

while Old Man Winter throws a fit

...and heaven drops its hints of joy

in cheery kettle-tune and such

In happiness of girl and boy

at ease near mother's gentle touch 

Let's picnic by the fireplace

Let's just ignore the roaring clock

No, let's look time straight in its face

and savor every tick and tock

Let's live life slow;

let's be ourselves

Ah, never mind what others think

Family-arity fills shelves

with photos, books and poet’s ink

that authors within wood and stone

the solace of love’s humble prayer

while we work fingers to the bone

lest home-sweet-home becomes threadbare

So, not without meek, thankful thrill

do we utter this sacred Tome

while wild the gale exerts its will  

glad, glad we say;

let’s just stay home

© Janet Martin

and then the irony; while writing this poem Matt, after hearing his school is closed went straight to work. "I'm not sitting around here all day!" he said to his anxious mother😊

I got a text from a neighbour asking if its okay if she comes over today.

(I guess she's not feeling the 'let's just stay home' thing either😁)

Victoria on the other hand told me she's so glad to be home today 

because she didn't sleep very well last night due to the fact 

that she kept dreaming there was a crow in her room that constantly flew at her head😂

More Than Time's Glance Can Tell

 Writing this while ice-rain pelts the window and all schools are closed far and wide!

An unexpected day off for me as well.

People are staying home unless they simply can't!

Hoping this ice-storm makes quick work of its 'art'.

We've seen too much of it for our taste in the past few years! 

(below, last April)

For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind,

and reveals His thoughts to man,

the One who turns the dawn to darkness

and strides on the heights of the earth,

the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

Amos 4:13

More than weather or if we have

Enough to make ends meet

More than fond plans before the grave

Claims what none can defeat

This day the Lord has made is more

Than almost-memory

It is a stepping stone toward

God and eternity

More than an orb of fate unfurled

More than money we earn

Naked we came into this world

Naked we will return

This trek of ‘all is vanity’

Of creature joy and grief

Is far, far more than we can see

Where none but God is Chief

Holy, holy, each breath we take

The soft undoing of

The stuff we heap, the plans we make

The people that we love

Where God so rich in mercy, gave

More than time's glance can tell

For death is greater than the grave

That holds the lifeless shell 

More than the bud of beaming spring 

More than summer's full bloom

More than autumnal winnowing

Before the wintry tomb

More than four seasons, round and round

On earth-bound carousel

More than a stint of lost and found

Beneath time's tolling bell

More than the host and boast of years

Whilst learning what we know

More than mist, kissed with smiles and tears

Where hold means letting go

More than a span of bread we break

Of hello and farewell

Holy, holy, each step we take

Toward Heaven or hell

© Janet Martin