Praise God For Man's First Christmas Gift

Acts 2:38-41

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you

in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

 and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, 

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, 

Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:

This morning in majestic splendour, the heavens declared the glory of God 

and proclaimed the work of His hands...(Ps.19:1)

The God whose love gave us His Son, Jesus, so all who believe in Him

will not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16)

The God who calls all of us to worship, 

not the created, but the Creator! (Rom.1:25)

All who beheld, worshipped one or the other!

Does His work not rouse a hymn of gladness for love's greatest work/gift of all?!!

Praise God for man's first Christmas gift; Jesus, Emmanuel

For the good tidings of great joy, which Is for all people

For promises of old fulfilled; for God's goodness unfurled

In the very first Christmas gift; the Saviour of the world 

Praise God for man's first Christmas joy, uncomprehend when 

Shepherds hastened to see the Baby boy at Bethlehem

Believing without understanding what the angels told

As the ancient redemption promise began to unfold 

Praise God for man's first Christmas hymn; glory to God on high

And on earth peace, goodwill to men,  rang from the midnight sky

 With a message of hope for all who believe in His name

Praise God for the first Christmas gift that faith alone can claim

Praise God for the first Christmas Day; the day of Jesus' birth

 The King of kings and Lord of lords stepped from His throne, to earth 

Praise Him for joy and peace because He conquered death and hell

Praise God for man's first Christmas gift; Jesus, Emmanuel 

Janet Martin

Jesus, Messiah 

Praise God From Whom All Blessing Grows...

This poem has been percolating in my soul for some time 💓🙏

Life is unceasingly busy with beauty/bounty of harvest among other things...

(including, much to our relief, the recovery of our pickup truck,

on Sat. night, after it was stolen from our back yard 

two weeks ago during a family reunion!

It will (happily) be returned in due time.

Thank-you to all who prayed and please continue to pray

 for the poor soul who stole it 😢💔)

Praise God from Whom all blessings grow as earthen wellsprings overflow...

The seed is rent with plume and root,

 the bough is bent with gleaming fruit...

The land, a patchwork counterpane of lush corn fields and gathered grain...

And gold-green sheen of soybean field aflutter with impending yield...

And in yon once-upon-spring-brooks, wild flowers beckon second-looks...

A rambling rush, where sight is awed by aster, teasel, goldenrod

Praise God from Whom all blessings grow as earthen wellsprings overflow

The seed is rent with plume and root, the bough is bent with gleaming fruit

The land, a patchwork counterpane of lush corn fields and gathered grain

And gold-green sheen of soybean field aflutter with impending yield

And in yon once-upon-spring-brooks, wild flowers beckon second-looks

A rambling rush, where sight is awed by aster, teasel, goldenrod

Praise God from Whom all bounty brims; happiness is hope’s harvest hymns

The creature’s quick complaint subdued by unmerited gratitude

As God, rich in mercy and love runs goodness through sod’s treasure trove

For needy likes of you and I whose worship lifts up glad reply

To He who gives us strength for toil as we gather seed’s sumptuous spoil

Or when praise is unlearned, still He pours unearned blessing lavishly

Praise God from Whom all blessings peal. Before whose throne we humbly kneel

To offer soulful stutters to the One who cares for me and you

Who loves to stun our ardent prose with the perfection of the rose

Who challenges the showman’s noise with dripping peachy-sweetest joys

Who strums the hidden parts of earth and orchestrates the art of birth

Who sees our hearts, knows how we are, yet still upends His blessing-jar

Praise God from Whom all blessing grows in reds, pinks, purples, greens, yellows

Each garden plot, (after the heat) a paradisiacal retreat

Each tree-tress like a mandolin breeze-balladeers get tangled in

Each woodland dark and whispering before fall’s stark unraveling

Each bower like a temple where we cannot help but bow in prayer

Each flower a masterpiece, oh, praise God from Whom all blessings grow

Each fruit and veg a five-star score of possibility galore

Each by God wondrously designed; each perfect after their own kind

Praise Him for healthy appetite and praise Him for each tasty bite

Of blessing only He can grant where our duty is to plant

Then trust Him for the compliments of sun and raindrop providence

Content to join the hymn that flows, ‘praise God from whom all blessing grows’

© Janet Martin

Praise God from Whom all blessing grows in reds, pinks, purples, greens, yellows

Each garden plot, (after the heat) a paradisiacal retreat...

Each tree-tress like a mandolin breeze-balladeers get tangled in

Each woodland dark and whispering before fall’s stark unraveling

Each bower like a temple where we cannot help but bow in prayer

Each flower a masterpiece, oh, praise God from Whom all blessings grow

Ps.66:1-5

Make a joyful noise to God,
all the earth!
2Sing the glory of His name;
make His praise glorious.
3Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds!
So great is Your power
that Your enemies cower before You.
4All the earth bows down to You;
they sing praise to You;
they sing praise to Your name.”

Of Steadfast Cheer

 

Happy February!

 The month famous for the day that celebrates 

what we hopefully celebrate every day;

Love!

Morning By Morning-Pat Barret (feat, Mack Brock)

Then do not worry ‘bout today

God is a ‘help me’ prayer away

In every circumstance of need

He will our helpless heart-cry heed

Should sorrow try our happiness

He does not leave us comfortless

Should fear threaten courage to steal

Should faith fall prey to sight’s appeal

Should temptation’s enticing stance

Lure us from promises God grants

Should idle words and prideful thoughts

Turn stepping stones to stumbling blocks

Should hope be inclined to despair

Beneath love’s pressing weight of care

Should Want be wont to disobey

Turning alas, to our own way

Should trust grow weary in the fight

To cling to what is good and right

Or, as we face the enemy

Forget ‘not I, but Christ in me’

Or should confusion author doubt

As to Who life is from, about

Or worship bow to lesser gods

That human natured dust/lust applauds

Should trouble its dark shadow cast

The love of God remains steadfast

In whatever we face today

He is a ‘help me’ prayer away

He is a faithful Friend indeed

A Helper in our time of need

A Father to the fatherless

A God who keeps His promises

Hope’s anchor in the storms of life

Joy’s strength amidst opposing strife

Contentment’s gladness undeterred

In all who delight in His word

Where, though we are the Tempter’s prey

God is a ‘help me’ prayer away

What comfort, kindness, peace to cheer

For God is always 'help me' near  

© Janet Martin

Heb.13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money 

and be content with what you have, 

because God has said,

 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Rom.8:38-39

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, 

nor angels nor principalities nor powers, 

nor things present nor things to come, 

nor height nor depth, 

nor any other created thing, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Greatest God By Far

 

The past week has been entirely lackluster

as far as the weather goes!

I am so glad our joy is not weather-dependent!

Do you ever find yourself laughing, 

agape with sweet joy

as you read God's ancient words and promises, 

ever new

full of grace and truth, 

written for me and you?!

He is the Greatest God by far!

(Why are we so prone to put other gods before Him?!!💔)

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,

Micah 7:8

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; 

When I fall, I will arise;

 When I sit in darkness, 

The LORD will be a light to me.

Psalm 33:1-5 

(click link to read the whole glorious chapter)

Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones;

it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.

2Praise the LORD with the harp;

make music to Him with ten strings.

3Sing to Him a new song;

play skillfully with a shout of joy.

4For the word of the LORD is upright,

and all His work is trustworthy.

5The LORD loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of His loving devotion.

Our God is wonderful

The Greatest God by far

He knows and loves and meets us all

Exactly where we are

No secret place exists

Beyond the gaze of He

Who drapes the earth in scarves of mist

And gathers up the sea

He does not shut His eye

As some are wont to think

But fills the scrolls of earth and sky

With inimitable ink

His poetry confounds

None able to ignore

His majesty that knows no bounds

Yet points to so much more

The Lord is good, and knows

Each one that trusts in Him

Though darkness strikes a hostile pose

His Light no depth can dim

Faith marvels at His Word

And feasts upon His grace

A gift, precious and undeserved

To salvage human race

No forgetful God, He

But wonderful and true

His delight, kindness and mercy

To likes of me and you

Oft obstinate and proud

Oft unthankful and vain

He stirs the dust of Heaven’s cloud

And kisses earth with rain

For He is wonderful

The Greatest God by far

He cares and loves to meet us all

Exactly where we are

© Janet Martin

For His Enduring Mercy...

A Hallelujah Hymn

even if it is the last day of August which makes me kind of sad...

David's hymn of praise for God's enduring mercy in Psalms 136, 

written long before Calvary,

inspired today's hymn, 

written long after Calvary, 

worshiping He whose mercy is everlasting...

Psalm 136:1

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

a few on-the-ground-glimpses of His mercy

before heading back to the garden to harvest

 more mercy-tokens🙏💓

Zinnia-forest...

Caterpillar-study...

Pick of the petal-crop

Wrapping piggy in pastry blankie...m-m-m!

Oh! The excitement when there's a mousie in Janet's housie!!!

I will leave the ending of the tale to your apt imaginations

but it involved a trap😂

To count Thy mercies, Lord, is more than ink can summarize

You woo the light of morn to chase night’s shadows from yon skies

With love that never fails you keep Your promises intact

Happy is the heart that avails itself of this kind fact

Whose will it is, that none should perish, but all would be saved

Forevermore to cherish love’s gift, for the cost you braved

At Calvary, upon a cross, once for all you became

Sin’s final sacrifice, for all who call upon Your name

Mercy for blind accusers, for hearts, hard with unbelief

Mercy for the abusers of love’s brutal, blood-drenched grief

Mercy that spills in flowers to anoint the earth that groans

With the dust that devours the spent hull of skin and bones

But not the Soul; the deathless Soul, whose bearing You decree

And garner, at death’s darksome toll, its holy Entity

Where mercy cannot break its Vow; God is not mocked but keeps

His Word; fulfilling judgment now as Choice its harvest reaps

Beyond the visage of all who approach the solemn goal

That each breath draws us nearer to; the Saviour of the Soul

Whose everlasting mercy pours with comfort and appeal

Whose everlasting love implores with agonizing zeal

Whose will it is that none should die, doomed to the wage of sin

Because He gave Himself to buy the gift of Life, to win

The war, not fought with flesh and blood, but with heart, soul and mind

To love the Lord our God, and leave all other gods behind

Where Mercy meets us where we are with love, not blow for blow

He does not curse, or nurse the scar where once we struck Him, no

But bends to bind hate’s gaping wounds with redemption unmarred/unbarred

He draws us to His bosom with Hands, gentle though nail-scarred

With everlasting mercy, God unfurls before our gaze

A virgin opportunity to honor Him with praise

For His enduring mercy in spite of oft thankless stance

For His enduring mercy that His faithful favor grants

© Janet Martin

Ps,136:26

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.

From The First Moment of Waking...

A phrase from the last paragraph of yesterday's devotion seemed to

say, 'pick me, pick me!!' for today's poem...so I did💖

...and because I SO identify with the battle addressed, 

I am sharing the whole devotion

so you may also be encouraged and edified

From My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

From the first moment of waking

Till the light of day grows dim

May our ‘lifetime in the making’

Be a living worship hymn

As life’s lyrics fill time’s pages

Binding sacred numbered days

May the Author of the ages

Be the purpose of our praise

In the highs and lows of learning

(Something we never outgrow)

May the increase of our yearning

Be for God who loves us so

Then, as we embrace the beauty

Of mercy’s enduring ways

May the common calls of Duty

Compose hymns of thankful praise

From the first moment of waking

Until daylight disappears

May the music we are making

Bring sweet pleasure to God’s ears

From the first moment of waking

May we join the melody

Of a love-song in the making

That will fill eternity

© Janet Martin

Today's devotion continues the sacred topic of prayer...

From the rising of the sun to its going down

 The LORD’s name is to be praised.

Ps.113:3

From The Rising of the Sun...

There Will Be Poetry

 As long as earth unchains a thoroughfare of blossom-laud...

As long as the heavens declare the majesty of God...

(this sunset is from May 2022)

 

...because this year the sunrises and sunsets are obliterated 

by a smoky haze due to the wildfires out west!

The best the skies can muster is a rosy orb...

As long as work can wait because a child has come to play

Before they dash through that old gate that draws the child away...

As long as earth unchains a thoroughfare of blossom-laud

As long as the heavens declare the majesty of God

As long as bowers burst with leaf and flower filigree

After winter’s welcome retreat, there will be poetry

As long as zephyrs pirouette and oceans roll to shore

And dusk authors a silhouette-and-shadow-repertoire

And morning metes mercy renewed and sets a new day free

To stir the heart with gratitude, there will be poetry

As long as work can wait because a child has come to play

Before they dash through that old gate that draws the child away

As long as May rolls over bars as green as green can be

And lilacs burst with perfumed stars there will be poetry

As long as baby birds peep-peep from nests tucked into trees

And seasons sweep from east to west tuning fond memories

As long as joy surprises us with its simplicity

Keeping the child alive in us, there will be poetry

As long as there are gardens to grow happiness and plants 

As long as nature's arboretums burst with radiance 

Overflowing bud-chalices with petal-luxury

That crowns plain dirt with palaces, there will be poetry 

 

As long as dawn is gentle, always new and fresh from God

As long as hearts are humble and kind and constantly awed

By so much to be glad about, as long as we can see

Beyond the brunt of fear and doubt, there will be poetry

As long as thoughts are soft, not hard and embittered by spite

As long as cloud-ships sail aloft and stars dazzle the night

And the music of moments orchestrates a symphony

Of wonder and contentment oh, there will be poetry

As long as there is always something new, like a sunrise

…and, (though not all dreams may come true some do to our surprise)

And, as long as Today runs rife with opportunity

To make the most of love and life, there will be poetry

© Janet Martin

As long as baby birds peep-peep from nests tucked into trees...

(not quite peeping yet!! just freshly hatched!)

Psalm 66:1

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

As long as joy surprises us with its simplicity

Keeping the child alive in us, there will be poetry...