A Poem About the Tempter and God's Everlasting Arms

Today's post kinda evolved as the morning dissolved...

It began with the passage below- today's Our Daily Bread Scripture reading...

12 For the word of God is living and powerful,

and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing

even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight,

but all things are naked and open to the eyes

of Him to whom we must give account.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest

who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,

but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb.4:12-16

This morning my waking thoughts turned to today's young parents.

Sometimes my heart/prayer groans for those

who are training up future generations;

Teaching us(them) that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,

 we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2:12

Mankind's enemy since the beginning is the Tempter.

Gen.3:1

Now the serpenta was more crafty than any beast of the field

that the LORD God had made.

 And he said to the woman, “Did God really say,...?

He succeeded in deceiving Eve, and Adam also,

and sin entered into the previously perfect world.

where only a perfect sacrifice could wholly redeem sinful humanity, 

And so God, eternally perfect sent His Son/Himself!

'For when we were still without strength,

in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom.5:6

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name,

He gave the right to become children of God—

John 1:11-12

***

I'm in a season of life where children no longer

climb into my lap in the morning, or snuggle up beside me.

In that season, young mothers often find morning devotion-time interrupted! 

I am in a season of life where I can be the child, in a sense,

climbing into my Heavenly Father's lap or snuggling at His side

as I wake up, for reassurance, attention, love and kind affection

 that every child needs!

But ho!! The Tempter is there as well, so it seems!

trying to draw me away from being still

 to ever present distractions and tasks!!

I sat down with a coffee to begin my 'devotions'

then decided I should start the fire first,

then I noticed I should rotate the dry laundry on wooden clothes dryer

with a wet load still waiting...

...then I thought I should fold the dry laundry immediately

 to avoid more wrinkles...

...then, I decided to start another load of laundry

then, I noticed my house plants in the laundry room

were infested with little white gnats that seemed

to be feasting on the insecticidal soap spray 

I treated the plants with a few days ago...

So I snipped off the heavily infested sprigs

 and sprayed the plants and covered them with bags 

to contain things

then I returned to 'my devotions'... 

only to realize as I sat down that

the bird feeders are empty again!!

so I waded through the snow to fill them 

because the hungry birds are fluttering 

in unceasing flocks these snowy days...

...now, back to devotions. oops!

I need to add a log to the fire before it gets too low!!

While downstairs I remember I should take some food out of the freezer

to thaw for tomorrow night's family dinner...

The washer has stopped.

I should switch loads!

'get thee behind me, Satan,' 

My coffee is cold...😑

The tempter still roams earth's summits; young and old, potential prey

Daring us to test truth's limits, taunting 'did God really say...?'

He, an unscrupulous charmer dared to tempt the Son of God

We, without God's word and armour cannot recognize a fraud

...cannot overthrow the liar, cannot discern right from wrong

Cannot purify desire, cannot be holy or strong 

But, greater is He within us who believe God hears our prayer

All who trust the name of Jesus can conquer the Tempter's dare

Can, when doubt and despair cower lean on God's eternal arms

Knowing none can overpower He who frees us from sin's charms  

How commonplace the appearance of love's sacred battlefield

Where God increases assurance/endurance the more that we trust and yield

How comforting is faith's solace; cradled in the arms of He

Who never leaves or forsakes us. What sweeter bliss can there be? 

© Janet Martin 

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Lyrics

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

Leaning, leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

2

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

O how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

3

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

I have peace complete with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!

Author: E. A. Hoffman

Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929) after graduating from Union Seminary in Pennsylvania was ordained in 1868. As a minister he was appointed to the circuit in Napoleon, Ohio in 1872. He worked with the Evangelical Association's publishing arm in Cleveland for eleven years. He served in many chapels and churches in Cleveland and in Grafton in the 1880s, among them Bethel Home for Sailors and Seamen, Chestnut Ridge Union Chapel, Grace Congregational Church and Rockport Congregational Church. In his lifetime he wrote more than 2,000 gospel songs including"Leaning on the everlasting arms" (1894). The fifty song books he edited include Pentecostal Hymns No. 1 and The Evergreen, 1873.

Through Every Prayer

1 Cor.1:18

For the [a]message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

In the past few weeks I am learning anew

the most beautiful and powerful words in the world

'I am praying for you'

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Through every trial of this life where Reason’s reach confounds

God’s goodness and mercy run rife; His providence abounds

How dearer then hope undergirds; His promises are true

How nearer He draws through these words ‘I am praying for you’

Through every up and down we bear we are never alone

God’s power flows through every prayer to comfort sorrow’s groan

For surely, He has borne love’s grief and suffered seeming loss

The price that purchased our peace, He paid upon a cross

Through every valley we pass through we follow where He trod

We trace the blood and tear-stained woo that draws us back to God

He, ever rich in mercy knows each heartache that we bear

He awes/helps us as His power flows through us, through every prayer

Through every test that trouble brings He keeps us in His care

Enfolding us beneath His wings through every earnest prayer

For nothing is too hard for He by Whom all things were made

Through every faith-anointed plea His power is displayed 

© Janet Martin

Isa.53:4

Surely He has borne our griefs 

 carried our sorrows;

 Yet we esteemed Him stricken, 

Smitten by God, 

and afflicted...

Ps.91:4

He will cover you with his feathers, 

and under his wings you will find refuge; 

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Blessing In Disguise

'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. 

For the battle is not yours, but God's.

2 Chron.20:15

On Sunday at Ron's remembrance service

his daughter, powerfully and beautifully sang this song...

Yet Not I But Christ In Me

The battle is the blessing 

Not by trophy’s reward 

But by our hearts confessing 

All honour to the Lord 

How oft the battle pains us 

Yet it is not for naught 

For when life’s struggle drains us 

We find the strength we ought 

Not by our faulty merit 

Do we gain victory 

But by the Holy Spirit 

Christ works through you and me 

If we put on God’s armour 

Then we will be equipped 

To withstand Evil’s Charmer 

And wiles, 'luringly-dipped 

So do not fear the terror 

When foes of faith increase 

But rather fear the error 

If the battle should cease 

Dear Soldier, fight Faith’s rival 

For He who remains true 

The battle is the channel 

That Christ’s power flows through

  

© Janet Martin 

Phil Wickham-Battle Belongs

Free Reign/Rein

 PAD Challenge day 17: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Free (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

When thought breaks bounds of order and is given full, free rein/reign

It finds our greatest weakness glaring like a crack of light

The lure of feeling’s fancy trolls a dark and dangerous vein

Craving's belly growls with an insatiable appetite

When want, the author of Excuse’s Fine Soliloquy

Stamps longing with approval, driving discernment amuck

The mastermind of mayhem, dressed in fool’s-gold finery

Seduces us with images of opulence and luck

When thought, ungoverned roams footloose and feckless as the dust

It leads us into places even angels fear to tread

The idle mind, a playground for the lawlessness of lust

The hunger in its hollow raving mad, though fed and fed

When thought, not taken captive wanders where it should not go

It falls prey to the enemy bent on ruin and loss

Where we all would be finished, but for He who loves us so

And guards thought through subjection to the power of the cross

© Janet Martin

 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world.

 Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God;

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Cor.10:4-5

Power Struggle to Joy

My head and heart know the perfect order

Of how things ought to be done

But oh, it seems my hands and feet

Bear a stubborn will all their own

© Janet Martin

When I was a child we learned this jingle to the tune of Jingle Bells;

J-O-Y, J-O-Y

J-O-Y must be

Jesus first and yourself last

and others in between (repeat)

It's message still whispers to me...often.

Honey or Vinegar?

They have the power

To build or destroy

They can sweeten the hour

Or rob it of joy

With them we bind closely

Or tear apart

The beautiful fellowships

Of the heart

They may leave us cold

Or deeply stirred

The power we hold

In the form of a word

© Janet Martin

Until We Are Weak

Until we are weak, we cannot be strong

Perfect strength is not reserved for the young

But through One whose promises agelessly speak

We cannot be strong until we are weak

His grace is enough for all mortal despair

Our infirmities never exceed His care

Nothing on this earth over-powers His love

For all mortal despair His grace is enough

The darkness is great, it cannot comprehend

A love that has known no beginning or end

Though the Light shines on it, darkness chooses hate

It cannot comprehend; the darkness is great

Love is so abused; often misunderstood

Thus, we are confused when we hear ‘God is good’

Love appeared weak; He answered not, though accused

Often misunderstood; Love is so abused

Love proved its power as the cross bore His blood

The Lion, a Lamb shedding redemption’s flood

From ancient Calvary to present hour

As the cross bore His blood Love proved its power

Until we are weak, what we cannot truly know

Is His perfected strength; He has promised it so

God, give us courage then, to surrender and seek

What we cannot truly know until we are weak

© Janet Martin

 Poetic Bloomings invites us to attempt a Swap Quatrain

The Swap Quatrain was created by Lorraine M. Kanter.

Within the Swap Quatrain each stanza in the poem must be a quatrain (four lines) where the first line is reversed in the fourth line. In addition, line 2 must rhyme with line 1, and line 3 must rhyme with line 4 and so on, BUT not repeat the same rhyming pattern on subsequent stanzas.

Rhyming pattern: AABB, CCDD, and so on.

I Am Strong...

I’m not that strong

The road ahead

Is fraught with the unknown

It seeks to twist

My mind with dread

And turn my joy to stone

I’m not that strong

I cannot hold

The weight of sinful seed

Or with my shallow

will unfold

the strength and hope I need

I’m not that strong

But there is One

Who takes my fumbling thought

And reminds me

that He is strong

even when I’m not

© Janet Martin

…and He said unto me;

My grace is sufficient for thee;

My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Tool

I write and I write and I write
An insatiable appetite
Everywhere, it seems to me
A poem hovers, waiting to be

Can I grasp with humble line
The thought I seek to define?
Twenty-six letters, my tool
A pen-stroke away from the fool

Wisdom and filth are aligned
In the tip of a quill and the mind
What a privilege to hold in my hand
This powerful tool; a pen

Janet~

Here Am I

Maybe it’s just another sunrise
In a sense perhaps that’s what it is
Beautiful wakening of deep skies
But I believe it’s so much more than this
As the glory of a new day hails from high
I hear a mighty Voice say ‘here am I’

Here am I, the Father of compassion
Holding out my offering to you
As the Light rends the dark horizon
Piercing through the veil of somber hue
His power spreads across the morning sky
Flooding the universe, ‘Here am I’

Here am I, with perfect love unfailing
Here am I, the teacher of the sun
Here am I at the glorious unveiling
Of another day of grace for everyone
Look up, look up behold the glowing sky
And the Ruler of the morning, ‘here am I’

Here am I with mercy for a new day
Here am I, oh won’t you follow Me?
Here am I, the one and only true Way
Here am I, God of eternity
Won’t you trust the Painter of the sky?
Oh can’t You hear him saying, ‘here am I’?

Janet~

A Rich Reward

It takes courage to write the words
That perhaps we would never say
It takes courage to love when it hurts
It even takes courage to pray
It takes courage to rise above
The force that begs our retreat
It takes courage to stay and prove
We will not accept defeat

It takes courage to say ‘I was wrong’
It takes courage to make it right
It takes courage to remain strong
In temptation's dangling delight
It takes courage to stick to the truth
When it would be easier to lie
It takes courage to say hello
But more courage to whisper ‘good-bye’

It takes courage to be a man
It takes courage to be yourself
It takes courage to take a stand
Instead of following every one else
It takes courage to do our best
It takes courage to trust the Lord
But if we do we will be blessed
For courage yields a rich reward

Janet~

Companion...........

You’re with us from the moment
We wake up at light of day
Until we’re fast asleep at night
You never go away
Sometimes you drive us crazy
And sometimes you make us sad
You torment and inspire
Leave us lonely, drive us mad

You never seem to go away
And if ever you do
Then we no longer care to live
We’re nothing without you
Sometimes you plague us sorely
And sometimes you comfort too
Our constant in the morning
Until waking hours are through

We never really see you
Yet we see you everywhere
In every little thing we do
We know that you are there
For we become what first you are
By you our hands are taught
Oh, may we keep you good and pure
For action first is Thought

Yes, Thought is with us everywhere
He is both wise and fool
But we can keep Thought healthy
With a very simple tool
To think of Jesus first of all
And other people’s needs
For action is the fruit of Thought
As Thought plants little seeds

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Word Pictures......

There are few things
Which I enjoy better
Than viewing a painting
With the art of a letter
For letters arranged
Turn into a word
And the scenes they create
Leave the senses stirred
There’s nothing comparable
To move me, I find
Like a picture that’s painted
Upon a mind

Janet~

Power

You make us do and say
Things….
To the right or left
The pendulum
Swings
Good and evil both
Have no limits
You are the beginning
Of what we do
With it….
We nurture either one
Or the other
One we indulge
While the other
We smother
Thought
You wield a mighty
Sword
We see its yield
In our deeds
And word

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin