Reflection's of The Reason For The Season

Snagged some writing time (between dishes) while these munchkins napped...

 (Blurred to respect privacy of non-family members)

This poem was written to refocus on what's important

instead of on what's not done yet!

Let the love of Jesus kindle kindness to each one we meet

Let the joy of Jesus anchor us where cares and prayers compete

Let the hope of Jesus shield our hearts and minds from despair’s woe

Let the peace of Jesus keep us from returning blow for blow

Let the light of Jesus banish doom and gloom with mercy's grace

Let the truth of Jesus vanquish doubt without a shadow's trace

Let the remembrance of Jesus birth in us a song renewed

As the Reason for the season fills our hearts with gratitude

© Janet Martin

Masterpiece of Master Peace

 Last night the wheels fell off the peace-and-goodwill bus for a little...

in a blur of lost tempers and misunderstood personalities that

might never be fully understood this side of Heaven😐 

(aren't you humbly thankful if we confess our sins 

He is faithful and just to forgive our sin

and cleanse us from all unrighteousness?!(1 John 1:9)

As we let those words sink and sink in 

meek gratitude renders

hope renewed

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble.

 But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

In this world where fear and sorrow

Molds a masterpiece of care

What is our hope for tomorrow

To defend us from despair

In this world where toil and trouble

Unfurls hobbles of dismay

What buoys and cups time’s bubble

Bobbing toward Judgement Day

In this world where want and waiting

Tries the fealty of us all

What crushes the taunting, hating

Head of evil’s dreadful gall

In this masterpiece of mayhem

In this world of sin and strife

What in the midst of confusion

Is the bulwark in our life

What keeps our eyes fixed on heaven

In this world of blame and shame

Ah this! Knowing we are forgiven

Is the Master Peace we claim

Knowing that nothing can ever

Overthrow Salvation’s Name

Yesterday today forever

Jesus Christ abides the same

Knowing, glorious, victorious

Waves the banner of release

In the cleansing blood of Jesus

All will find love’s Master Peace

© Janet Martin

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just 

to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

Gifts Beyond My Reach to Give...

There are some gifts beyond our power to give...

No matter how much we wish we could

our part is but to pray we would all seek and find!

My dear, this Christmas if I could my gift to you would be

The assurance that comes from trust in more than we can see

The peace that passes understanding in this world of woe

Or joy unspeakable grounded in grace whereby we go

I’d like if you could unwrap hope to carry in your heart

To help you cope no matter what, its priceless work of art

Would draw you like a brilliant star when life is dark and cold

To seek and follow from afar like the wise men of old

My dear, I’d find the Perfect Gift and we would call it Love

And then no matter what life brings this gift would be enough

When disappointment dashes dreams or scars you in the fight

This love would minister to you like an angel of light

My dear, this Christmas if I could I’d bring these gifts to you

And pray that they would cheer life's way with courage kind and true

But these are gifts that you must seek and never can receive

Until your faith has made you whole with two words, I believe

© Janet Martin

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Ephesians 2:8

For This Roller-coaster of Experience and Emotion...

 What a roller-coaster weekend this was...

funeral, wedding, wonderful worship service, family thanksgiving dinner/ celebrations

where hearts grief-tender sought and found comfort 

in the unfailing kindness of fellow believers and God's Word.

 The verse below was shared yesterday morning at our worship service 

by a mother whose daughter donated one of her kidneys to a little boy this week.

Ron Seabrooke (whose funeral was on Saturday) was also a dear friend of their family...

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--

how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32

...and then this verse by our dear brother Richard Haverkamp 
who reminded us we did not lose 'our pastor'! 
We lost 'one of our dear pastors'. 
We thankfully have a team who will by God's direction and grace carry on!

Someone shared this verse of comfort and exhortation;
 Heb.13:7-8
 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. 
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What glorious reminders to give thanks in spite of all we do not understand.

Yes, you know how it is…the ups and downs of love and life

Can lead us into temptation to live in doubt or fear

The could and might of Possibility that wields its knife

Would be too hard to bear without God’s promises to cheer

How could we face tomorrow and the sorrow that yet waits

Without the Hope of He who was, is and ever will be

The faithfulness of God who swings wide morning’s gleaming gates

Will not leave or forsake we who need Him so desperately

…then we press on, though reason leaves our answers full of holes

In the how-why of He whose thoughts and ways test mortal trust

Still, we know He who gave His only Son to save our souls

Will never leave us comfortless in come what may and must

…and we are filled with humble, hopeful, joyful gratitude

Although we cannot see the way, His mercies never cease

Where we would fall prey to despair our courage is renewed

As surrender’s great mystery bestows strength, hope and peace

Yes, you know how it is …the highs and lows, high-fives and blows

Unfurls a roller-coaster ride of both pleasure and pain

Where heart-broken farewells are hinged to handshakes and hellos

To fill us with hope’s thankfulness that words cannot explain

© Janet Martin

Holding Fast...to Faith

Thomas Aquinas Quote:
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.
 To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

The cares of life could kill us without faith’s kind confidence

Though ‘substance of things hoped for’ wears no concrete evidence

And cannot satisfy the eye with tactile clarity

Still, truth abides, a steadfast guide faith feels but cannot see

Nothing is greater than our God from whence all blessings pour

Though elephants of Unbelief are too large to ignore

Still, faith clings to The Evidence Unseen that none can steal

While prodigals stoke sorrows that this old world cannot heal

Life’s skein of joy and grief threads longing’s loom with prayer-scarred strings

They weave through parts that tug at hearts and hugs and tear-stained things

To comfort us when words and touch are like salt in a cut

And love alone is not enough to rectify Doubt’s ‘but’…

Where we would all be lost but for the faith to Just Believe

And let the Holy Spirit His profound purpose achieve

And we would all need evidence to prove what none can see

Without repentance and a heart of meek humility

Where care of life would kill us without God’s kind confidence

For ‘substance of things hoped for’ grants no concrete evidence

It will not satisfy the doubting eye with clarity

But waits until faith holds fast to what only God can see

© Janet Martin