Our Sorrow Comes As No Surprise...

 

The benchmark of obedience reveals the hallmark of faith~

Prov.3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

Today's post is inspired in part as I am reading the book of Job

and in part by a recent devotion...

Our sorrow comes as no surprise to He who works for our good

What appears is a brief disguise for purposes misunderstood

To trust the Lord with all our heart rather than lean on mortal ken

Requires yielding every part; heart, soul and mind to Him. Amen

God does not fret when faith is vexed with logic stripped of theory

Our well-laid plan is oft perplexed, if but to test humility

Woe’s merit oft veiled at first glance; the pain of loss oft misconstrued

As passion earns faith’s meeker stance and learns love’s deeper gratitude

This world is full of trouble sore; some barely touched, some crushed, it seems

Without fail, death levels the score of life’s temporal field of dreams

It cuts position down to size where no disguise can thwart its ways

And often takes us by surprise but not to God who numbers days

He has prepared a dwelling place for every person that repents

He cheers faith onward as we face the learning/leaning curves of Providence

He helps us as we suffer long, obeying without compromise 

‘When I am weak then am I strong' at last pride's broken spirit cries 

The thoroughfare for faith is forged from broken pieces held to God

When sight is no longer engorged with this world's promiscuous laud

But content with God's no or yes, faith does not fret with futile whys

But focuses on promises no circumstance takes by surprise 

© Janet Martin

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, 

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

 through Him who loved us.

"By Faith" from Praise and Harmony's Resurrecting God

 Lyrics

By faith we see the hand of God

In the light of creation's grand design

In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness

Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth

With the power of His promise in their hearts

Of a holy city built by God's own hand

A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

'Til the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day

When the longed-for Messiah would appear

With the pow'r to break the chains of sin and death

And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go

In the pow'r of the Spirit to the lost

To deliver captives and to preach good news

In every corner of the earth

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

'Til the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith this mountain shall be moved

And the power of the gospel shall prevail

For we know in Christ all things are possible

For all who call upon His name

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

'Til the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

Oh, we will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

'Til the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Keith Getty / Stuart Townend / Kristyn Getty

No Suitable Substitute

For the last while on Sunday mornings
our teaching messages have been from 1 John,
and have kindled many a meditation
of both somber evaluation and profound encouragement
leading to many coordinating passages throughout scripture.

Eccles.12:13-14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment,
with every secret thing,
whether it be good,
or whether it be evil.

Ps.51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart,
O God, thou wilt not despise.

1 Sa.15:22
So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.

1 John 5:3
This is the love of God,
that we keep His commandments.

Disobedience/sin separated Adam and Eve
from their perfect relationship with God. Gen. 3
Sin made God sorry that He had made man; Gen.6:5-8

Sin kept Moses from the Promised Land. Num. 20:12

...and ultimately sin took God's only Son, Jesus to the cross
to be the eternal Sacrifice for sin;
to purchase our pardon, for all who repent and believe.
Jesus, who pled to God the Father,
if it be possible let this cup pass from me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will... Matt.26:39
And Jesus was obedient to death, even death on a cross. Phil. 2:8

Thus, by the grace of God we can be saved,
not by good works lest we boast,
but for good works God prepared in advance for us to do.
Eph. 2:8-10

The old quote 'actions speak louder than words' rings true!
How hollow are the words 'I love you' without the fruit of deeds to prove it!

Oh Lord as we begin a new week help us anew
to trust in You with all our hearts,
and to fear you and keep Your commandments!

No substitute could suffice to wash away our sin, but Jesus' blood. Heb.10:4-10

No substitute, outside of obedience, can bear witness to the righteousness of God in us. 1 John 2:3

No substitute will do
No pretense will suffice
Nor lenient logic reason through
Faith in God’s proving price

No joy will be complete
No noble cause defend
No clause corrupts the mercy seat
Of God, both Judge and Friend

God, faithful to forgive
Beholds the heart alone
He witnesses the fruit we live
And thus, the tree is known

There is no substitute
No judgement-proof façade
Obedience is the pure fruit
Of love and faith in God

© Janet Martin

Not For Nothing, This...

We are all part of a 'secret service'

only our Creator knows as

He beholds our hearts...

Does it sometimes seem like the altar of today

is heaped with ashes of sacrifice rather than reward?

Take heart, my dear!

There is a much bigger picture

than the part we see!

Gal.6:9

And let us not grow weary while doing good, 

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Not all 'rewards' are as quickly beheld

as the treat inside a popping corn kernel!

Grand-sonny could not contain his exhilaration

as they tried out their new stir-crazy last night! 😋😍

No, it is not for nothing, nor forgotten or ignored

No, every loving sacrifice will gain a rich reward

So fix your eyes upon the prize that only faith can win

When God Himself will say 'well done' and bid Thee enter in

No, it is not for nothing, every secret second mile

Or earnest intercession between Abba and his child

Or every 'cup of water' given in the Name of He

Who sees in secret but someday will reward openly 

No, it is not for nothing, to live with Heaven in view

To give love's highest honour to He whom all praise is due

To love your neighbour as yourself, to be earth's sav'ry salt

Knowing what matters most is treasure poured/stored in Heaven's vault 

No, it is not for nothing but for God, who sees the heart

And a much bigger picture than we who see but in part

Until that day when face to face, His beauty we will see

As He reveals faith's resting place for all eternity  

Janet Martin

The Key/Path To True Happiness

Happiness is not listed with the fruits of the Spirit,

however, happiness is promised to those who trust in and obey the Lord.

( we just might need to take a closer look at what we define as happiness

and who our 'happiness' serves) ooh

Happy/blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

Ps.144:15

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

Jer.17:7

Happiness is the the phoenix that rises

from the ashes on the altar of sacrifice/obedience

So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight

 in burnt offerings and sacrifices, 

As in obeying the voice of the LORD? 

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

 And to heed than the fat of rams.

1 Sa.15:22

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it,

and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work,

this one will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25

The law of liberty is not freedom/permission to

do what we prefer, but rather to trust God (who) works all things for good

to those who love Him are called according to His purpose (not ours)

Rom.8:28

John 13:17

If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Romans 2:13

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God,

but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

Luke 11:28

But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

1 Peter 3:14

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.

“Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

James 1:22

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.

Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

The path to the house has been cleared so we can get to the front door!

The path of righteousness has been cleared too, not by a shovel

but by a Shepherd 🙏 

To walk in paths of righteousness we first must trust the Shepherd's lead

And acknowledge the selfishness, that hinders true humility

That frustrates full surrender to He who knows and supplies our need

His love, faithful, tender and true secures the law of liberty

He cannot keep in perfect peace, the mind that is not stayed on Him

Who prefers rather, to appease the ways of want with willful pride

And cater to the nature that justifies stubborn wish and whim

Rather than honour the Creator who is able/faithful to provide

The Way, The Truth, the Life is not a 'pick-your-flavour-of-the-day'

His commands are not optional, but He gives us freedom to choose

To accept the duty of man; fear God, keep His commands, obey

He, who authored salvation's plan and paid its price. Or to refuse

With God all things are possible; why are we so deceived by sight?

Making logic more credible than He who rules seas, tempest-tossed

And numbers stars; who through His word grants wisdom to know wrong from right

A Shepherd who is undeterred and leaves the fold to seek the lost

To walk in paths of righteousness we first must trust the Shepherd's lead

And recognize that selfishness approves the wayward ways of sin

We first must bow in thankful wonder before He who fills our need

Who rent the temple's veil with thunder so that all may enter in

So that all may find sweet rest for souls that once were lost, like sheep

For all who trust the Lord are blessed; who make His law their chief delight  

So that we need not fear the vales that wind through Unknowns, dark and deep

The Shepherd, whose love never fails leads us till faith is turned to sight

© Janet Martin

Psalm 95:6-7

O come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

For He is our God,

and we are the people of His pasture,

the sheep under His care.

Better-Awareness

Sometimes we misunderstand things because we don't wait for the finished picture!

It takes time for an Artist to complete His (or, as below, her) work

Better to be patient in waiting

Than impatient and settling for far less than God would grant...

After she completed the swing set I thought she was done,

and I praised her drawing but, after she studied it briefly she returned to it.

Something seemed wanting.

Then she added grass, sky, clouds and people!

A much prettier picture than I was ready to settle for 💝

Better to be reprimanded than to flourish in deceit

To obey is better than the pomp and show of sacrifice

Better to be bowed in bearing, washing fellow-traveler's feet

Than to be proud and uncaring; always counting giving's price

Better to be poor and gentle than world-wealthy and unkind

Better to be robbed and beaten, than to be the one that steals

Better to walk by faith daily, than coast through life, seeing-blind 

Better to be led through fire than to trust in how one feels 

Better to be mocked and hated than applauded for sin's fruit 

Better this, to suffer wrongly than to live without a care 

Better to be wild with hunger than succeed in greed's pursuit

Better, tossed by trouble's tempest than smooth sailing without prayer 

Better to be God's-grace strengthened than to never know its need

Better to grow wise in waiting, than a fool, soon gratified 

Better to trust in the Lord than lean on Logic's shaky reed/lead 

Better to be stumble-humbled than poised on tight-ropes of pride  

© Janet Martin

Proverbs 15:17

Better a dish of vegetables where there is love 

than a fattened ox with hatred.

Proverbs 17:1

Better a dry morsel in quietness 

than a house full of feasting with strife.

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better one handful with tranquility 

than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

Not every aftermath  is instantly visible

as outlined HERE 

but without a doubt,

we reap what we sow! 

Deut.10:12-21 BSB

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you

but to fear the LORD your God

by walking in all His ways, to love Him,

to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

13and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD

that I am giving you this day for your own good?

14Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens,

even the highest heavens,

and the earth and everything in it.

15Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them.

And He has chosen you, their descendants after them,

above all the peoples, even to this day.

16Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.

17For the LORD your God is God of gods

and Lord of lords,

the great, mighty, and awesome God,

showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.

18He executes justice for the fatherless and widow,

and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.

19So you also must love the foreigner,

since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

20You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him.

Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.

21He is your praise and He is your God,

who has done for you these great and awesome wonders

that your eyes have seen.

Conditional Unashamed-ness

Psalm 25:2

In You, my God, I trust. 

Do not let me be put to shame; 

do not let my enemies exult over me.

Psalm 71:1

In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; 

let me never be put to shame.

When I asked my grandchildren yesterday if they want to eat lunch inside or outside

in unison they disagreed, so after some fruitless attempts at coming to an agreement,

 I suggested best two out of three draw! They enthusiastically agreed,

until it was over! all three draws were 'inside'. 

Aw, said Grandson, let's just ignore it and eat outside!' 

I reminded him a deal is a deal, 

and quite futile if we don't stick to the conditions.

Then I was struck with the thought of how often I read God's 'deal'

and respond a bit like Grandson...aw, let's just do it my way,

 ignoring His conditions. 

Oh God, thank-you for your mercies, new every morning!

...and what a gorgeous July morning in rural Ontario!

If I would not be put to shame

Lord, let me not seek wealth or fame

But find my joy in Jesus’ Name

The Saviour of the soul

You are the giver of life’s breath

You are the deliverer from death

The Maker of heaven and earth

Faith in You makes me whole

…and keeps me from the tempter’s snare

And guards me from depths of despair

As I confide in You in prayer

And lean upon Your word

That leads in paths of righteousness

For Your name’s sake; so You may bless

Each step with peace and holiness

Through mercies undeterred

If I would live the life I should

So You may work all things for good

Because I love You; pray I would

Never my own god be

…foolish and wise in my own eyes

Often distracted from the Prize

Of Your high calling, by the lies

Of pride, fear, vanity

There is a way that seemeth right

But leads to death, if I delight

Not in You, Lord, but walk by sight

Where distractions run rife

If I would not be put to shame

Lord, let me Your goodness proclaim

And fix my hope in Jesus’ Name

The Way, The Truth, the Life

© Janet Martin

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing 

Prov.18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

 The righteous run to it and are safe.

Psalm 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 

my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; 

my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, 

and my high tower.

Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:

and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Isaiah 33:6

He will be the sure foundation for your times, 

a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. 

The fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure.

It is not possible to trust someone we don't know;

to put our faith in a stranger.

If we are ignorant of the morals and principles

of someone we cannot put our confidence in them.

This, above all, applies to our relationship with God

The only way to grow our love for Him enough to truly trust Him

is to know what He stands for,

 is to know Him through His Word.

To pray that He will open the eyes of our hearts

1 Cor.15:57-58

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I came across this poem this morning;

a fitting reminder for 'lads' of all ages!

...and here is the rest of the poem about Aunt Jane 😂

Happiness Masterpiece

Today's post is inspired in part by Rom. 8 and 

 in part by the final chapters of George Mueller of Bristol

(what a testimony his life was/is to the faithfulness of God)

Sometimes we, in our human natured bent want the result/reward

without paying the price of the prize!

we want a fit physique without the workout and exercise.

We want the blessing of obedience without the obedience

The answer to prayer without the praying/waiting/trusting

We want wisdom without the learning/earning

We want harvest without the planting-pruning-growing...

We live in a society where we have easy access to SO much,

to provide instant gratification!

We no longer need to wait and hope we hear our favorite song

we can binge-listen-watch-read-eat-drink, you name it!

It's really quite alarming!

And instead of satisfying the 'beast'

it seems to have the opposite effect! 

Romans 8:5,9

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; 

but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit…

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: 

thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

No Friend Like Jesus

Sometimes we, in our human bent forget the whole duty of man

Sometimes we become discontent when circumstance provokes the plan

Oh Lord, our gracious God, You care, when faith is overcome with sight 

When we are tempted to despair, Lord, pierce the darkness with your Light 

Sometimes we do not find because we do not seek humility  

Because we do not wholly yield to He who WAS, IS, and WILL BE

The lowliness and holiness of Jesus Christ, is plain to see

Upon a cross He sacrificed Himself to set doomed sinners free 

Sometimes when we don't understand, response does not befit the saint

Instead of keeping love's/God's command we wallow in thankless complaint 

Oh Lord, our gracious God, forgive our often very erring ways

When evidence by how we live does not reflect believer's praise 

Sometimes we, in our human bent fall prey to carnal attitude

Instead of worship we lament; grumbling replaces gratitude

Oh Lord, our gracious God, you see our hearts and love us, nonetheless 

Each morning You hold out the key to true and perfect happiness

The spirit is willing; the flesh is prone to want and reason blurred

Instead of earnest prayer we mesh with logic not found in Your Word

Oh Lord, our gracious God increase sorrow until Your joy complete

Makes happiness a masterpiece of Marys washing/kissing Jesus' feet 

© Janet Martin

Luke 7:36-50

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.

 And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 

37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, 

when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, 

brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 

38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; 

and she began to wash His feet with her tears, 

and wiped them with the hair of her head; 

and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, 

he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, 

would know who and what manner of woman this is

 who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him,

 “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.

 One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay,

 he freely forgave them both. 

Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 

44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?

 I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,

 but she has washed My feet with her tears 

and wiped them with the hair of her head. 

45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman 

has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 

46 You did not anoint My head with oil, 

but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. 

But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves,

 “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman,

 “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Never Too Young (or old) To Learn

Sweetheart helping/learning to make butter tarts!

I generally am treated to 100% sweetness by this little gal

but 'rumor' has it there's another side that sometimes isn't quite so!😂😅🙏

Sometimes, when 'training up' children, an extra-firm hand is required;

A hand that let's them know that no tantrum will change the expectation for obedience!

It is vital that a child learns as early as able, 

to recognize and respect/obey authority!

Sometimes, we as God's children need that firm Hand too.

How easily we (like children) are prone to ignore 

and disrespect/disobey His Supreme Authority!

We, like little children, can be as sweet as pie (or butter tarts) when all goes well!

But what about those other times, when wills clash?!

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, 

you are slaves to the one you obey, 

whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, 

or to obedience leading to righteousness?

The quest to please ourselves, it seems, comes very naturally

Rousing a wrestling match between Self and authority

We are not born to want to yield to edicts not our own

The master of our lives revealed by what our deeds make known

The quest to please ourselves is something that is never taught

Human nature is always king over empires of thought

The living proof of love’s touchstone demonstrates without fail

Who resides on the heart’s veiled throne; choice, its own tattle-tale

The quest to please ourselves is not uncommon or bizarre

Until we yield our will to God, love is a tug-of-war

Until we love Him first, we will not find true joy because

The quest to please ourselves is cursed with the worst part of us (sin)

We all have faced the giant in the valley of love tried

We all have been defiant, self-reliant, blind with pride

But, pray, we all have borne the blow that brought us to our knees

And slew the masquerading foe, impossible to please

And pray our quests have been condensed till only One prevails

Treasured with humble confidence/reverence in God who never fails

And pray that when we are beguiled to prize some lesser goal

He reminds us, we are His child; the Saviour of the Soul

© Janet Martin

Eph.3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 

above all that we ask or think,

 according to the power that works in us, 

 to Him be glory in the church 

by Christ Jesus to all generations,

 forever and ever. 

Amen.

so, here's to that universal classroom of

'never too old to learn' or to forgive, or repent,

and confess our sins and try-try-again!

Below, an inspiring excerpt from the life story of

George Mueller of Bristow...

Forbid Folly To Interject

Daniel 9:4-5&8-9

4And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said,

 “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy 

with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 

5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, 

we have done wickedly and rebelled, 

even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. ...

8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, 

and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, 

though we have rebelled against Him...

2 Cor.7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation,

not to be regretted;

but the sorrow of the world produces death.

***

Why, oh why does human nature so easily forget

to trust our trustworthy Heavenly Father?!

Why are we so prone to want so much less

than He is waiting to lavish us with?!

Why are we so easily blinded by circumstance

rather than enlightened by His promises?!

Oh Lord, grant us godly sorrow that leads to repentance!

again and again!

***

I am reading through the book of Daniel and am always moved by the account

of Daniel after the decree that none should pray to anyone but

King Darius and anyone who does will be put to death...

Dan.6:10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.

 And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, 

he knelt down on his knees three times that day, 

and prayed and gave thanks before his God,

 as was his custom since early days...

Oh, that we may dare to be a Daniel too;

to be un-swayed in our devotion to God

no matter what or who attempts some sad

folly to interject and redirect our worship !

Today's post is also influenced by yesterday's devotion

from My Utmost for His Highest...

Forbid folly to interject and redirect my gaze from He

Whose goodness grants deliverance from hell’s hopeless eternity

Whose grace (a gift) bridges the rift that gaped with sin’s unholy strife

Whose mercy gave His Son to brave the death that wrought eternal life

Whose blood redeems and washes clean each one who repents and believes

Whose joy complete, so rich and sweet, only godly sorrow achieves

Whose righteousness, when we confess turns scarlet sins to snowy white

Whose love anoints all He appoints with His divine power and might

Whose law is peace, though wars increase, whose Light no darkest dark can dim

Forbid folly to interject and redirect my gaze from Him

But, let me seek with motive meek, a heart like Daniel, bold and true

Then, humbly bring, my God and King, faithful and thankful praise to You

© Janet Martin

Dare to be a Daniel

Freedom's Price is Steep

If only we only took time

to humbly and kindly love

If only we lived as if we believed

That what God/love gives is enough

***

Until we change our ways to God's ways, 

war will not change its ways

***

I have shared these excerpts from Peter Marshall's Sermon

The American Dream, a few times before

But truth is timeless!

The phrase below could just as well be read 'we in Canada' 😥🙏

Freedom’s price is steep where after-effects run deep; their loss, our gain

Freedom is never free, but a hard-fought and blood-wrought cross of pain

Love, the greatest command never fails; but kingdoms rise and fall

When leaders turn away and disobey God who is Lord of all

The Author and Authority of love is long-suff’ring and kind

Without Him we are a pathetic case of blind leading the blind

The wisdom of this world is sensual, demonic and of little worth

True hope and help is found in One alone; Maker of Heav’n and earth

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

Freedom will fail. Travail of war will scream, blood red, dread’s streams unwind

God’s light shines on great darkness; a darkness that does not comprehend

The love of He who sets us free; whose death purchased life without end

If only we would take to heart the wage of disobedience

And would fear God, and love His Word, not treat Him with indifference

For ‘unto us a child was born, One whose kingdom will never cease

His Name, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace

Freedom’s price is steep where after-effects run deep; His loss, our gain

Freedom is never free; His cost, a love-wrought, blood-bought cross of pain

Love, the greatest command never fails; great nations rise and fall

And will until all fear and believe in He who is Lord of all

© Janet Martin

Isa. 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, 

Counsellor, 

The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, 

The Prince of Peace.

More timeless truth from Jeremiah 

Who is wise and understanding among you?

 Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

  14But if you have bitter envy and [h]self-seeking in your hearts, 

do not boast and lie against the truth. 

15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

  16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, 

gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, 

without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace 

by those who make peace. 

James 3:13-18