Unanswered Prayer? No, Never...

Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace,

 who through the blood of the eternal covenant

 brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, 

that great Shepherd of the sheep, 

 equip you with every good thing to do His will. 

And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight

 through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

 Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more

 than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, forever and ever.

 Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we continually thank God because, 

when you received the word of God that you heard from us, 

you accepted it not as the word of men,

 but as it truly is, the word of God, 

which is also now at work in you who believe.

Another day of grace bursts from Mercy's fount unfathomed...

Make prayer thy life-work’s precedence

Call on the Lord with diligence

And leave to Him the consequence

Of faith and hope and love

Though dust and ash may seem the fruit

Of hours-long divine pursuit

The will of God is absolute

His promises enough

Do not despair, whatever be

Recall once more, Gethsemane

With yielded heart pray earnestly

‘Not my will, Lord, but thine’

Then be not blinded by thy sight

Trust in the Lord; fight the good fight

Walk humbly and do what is right

And let thy light so shine

God’s thoughts and ways are higher than

The deepest discernment of man

What seems impossible He can

And in perfect time, will 

Then pray, humbly, unceasingly

Whatever outcome seems to be

God is at work in you and me

His purpose/pleasure to fulfill

Unanswered prayer? no never, though

The answers we sought/thought, do not show

God's reply refines what we know; 

His love prevails, so then

Repent, believe, trust and obey

His word is truth, both yea and nay

He will not forsake us, thus pray

'Thy will be done. Amen'

Janet Martin

Phil.2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do

for His good pleasure/purpose.

CityAlight - Your Will Be Done (Lyric Video

Have Thine Own Way, Lord - acapella with lyrics

Everyone is Welcome (in Mercy's Throne-room)

Recently a friend remarked to me,

' It seems, the older we grow the more we pray'

Yes! I replied, and it seems to me,

 the more we pray the less our words!

God knows our hearts 

so He knows exactly what we need

and exactly when we need it!

What peace this knowledge brings!

Sweet Hour of Prayer with Lyrics by Alan Jackson

No fancy phrase demanded

No verbose agility

No reserved rank or status

Or exclusive pedigree

No exam or diploma

Or prerequisites to meet

To cry to God in Heaven

Or to fall before His feet 

No interview or survey

Before we can qualify

To enter Mercy's Throne Room 

Through the door of creature cry 

No uniform required

No strict format to appease

To lift our heart to Heaven

As we pour out praise and pleas 

...and seek Hope's sacred solace

With surrendered heart and soul

Reaching to touch the hemline

Of the One who makes us whole

No pious prose is needed

Nor grand phraseology 

A groan is interceded

When cried in humility   

...and everyone is welcome

To believe and call on He

Who beyond comprehension

Ever cares for you and me 

Janet Martin

1 Pet.5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, 

so that in due time He may exalt you. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him, 

because He cares for you.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; 

He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

 Look at the birds of the air: 

They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not much more valuable than they? 

 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Psalm 116:1-2
I love the LORD, 

for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. 

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

 I will call on Him as long as I live.

Psalm 28:6
Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 

and His ears are inclined to their prayer. 

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Just As I Am with Lyrics by Alan Jackson

Fernando Ortega Pass Me Not With Lyrics

The Fruit of 'Ought' or With Harvest-hope in Mind

These flowers are still available from  Countryview Greenhouse

near the 'Alma' end of Well. Cty. RD 8,

in case your looking to tuck a bit of colour into a corner or border!

(bedding plants are 1/2 price!!)

***

Heb. 2:1

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed 

to the things which we have heard,

lest at any time we should let them slip.

Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end,

that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Rom.8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 4:11

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

James 4:17

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do

and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Every farmer or gardener knows which seeds ought to be planted

 for a specific fruit to harvest...

Only if we sow as we ought

and tend as we ought

 can we hope as we ought.

Due to ample rain

gardens and fields in our part of Ontario

are beginning to burgeon with

fruit of harvest-hope!

and flowers!!

Sometimes we cannot reap because we do not sow to God

The yield of fruit for which we weep, we seek from fallow sod

The answered prayer for which we plead, cannot bear what we ask

Because we have not sown its seed or tended to its task 

Sometimes the good we ought to do we do not, but ignore

Obedience, and cater to a roaming lion's roar

Rather than giving earnest heed to the things we have heard

And confessing a thought or deed contrary to God's Word

When we approach the throne of grace, where faith finds hope and cheer

Until we see Him face to face; pray first for ears to hear

The still small Voice of He who does not err in His reply

Or bless unconfessed sin, because He so loves you and I 

Sometimes we know the Very Thing we ought to repent of;

The barrier to which we cling with stubborn, selfish love

Because we lack humility, or sorrow for our part

That drew Jesus to Calvary and broke His Father's heart  

Sometimes the 'fruit' for which I plead can never be, until

I recognize, then sow the seed of love's surrendered will

And toil, and till and tend faith's field with humble diligence

Until God's grants the promised yield of love's obedience 

Praise God from whom goodness and love flow without flaw or fail   

Praise Him that He is mindful of man's trouble and travail

Praise He who is faithful and true, compassionate and kind

He helps us sow as we ought to, with harvest-hope in mind

Janet Martin 

Today's poem was kindled/convicted largely by today's devotion...

Care-cure

Matt.11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~Jesus

1 Pet.5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,

 that He may exalt you in due time, 

7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Matt.6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about its own things. 

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~Jesus

Today's devotion was a timely command and reminder for me!

Maybe it will be for you as well...

Whether personally, 

or in our immediate families, 

or extended family,

or friend-'family' or church-family, 

or community-'family'

there are immense cares and needs, aren't there?!

There is a cure for care

In a world trouble-torn

There is a steadfast solace where

Courage can be reborn

There is a cure for care

(for care is bound to be)

And we all need a refuge where

Fear and dread’s shadows flee

When disappointments sting

When pain and loss oppress

When body and soul suffering

Afflict hope’s happiness

There is a cure for care

Where faith and mercy meet

God bids us come to Him in prayer

And lay them at his feet

His feet, scarred with prints of

The cross of Calvary

He beckons with unfailing/undying love

‘Come, cast your cares on Me

My all-sufficient grace

Will prove faithful and true

Through every creature-care you face

Because I care for you

Pour out your humble plea

Each burden that you bear

Until, with joy you taste and see

There is a cure for care

Janet Martin

Oh Lord, how we need Your guidance,

Your provision and Your perfect will to work in us;

in every resisting, erring, selfish, doubtful, impatient part

work your wonder in our hearts!

Near to the Heart of God

JIM REEVES HAVE THINE OWN WAY LORD 

As We, Want's Cases Plead

Lord, where we err

 in our thinking, 

teaching, serving, 

seeking, worshipping, 

reveal it unto us!

Lord, wherever

 and in whatever circumstance

 we find ourselves today, 

you care for us!

Lord, a deeper fear 

and thus love for thee, 

work in us

Thou, Holiest of holies 

and Best of the best

***

Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: 

heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—

if indeed we suffer with Him, 

so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ 

not only to believe in Him,

 but also to suffer for Him,

James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, 

when you encounter trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your faith

 develops perseverance.

Acts 5:41

So they departed from the presence of the council, 

rejoicing that they were counted worthy

 to suffer shame for His name.

A bud is but the waiting room

of the unfolded Flower...

A prayer is like a bud; it's bloom 

awaits its perfect hour

Last week my neighbor-tots eagerly bent over buds

While I reminded them; 'no picking!'

Yesterday they 'visited' me while I was working.

suddenly shrieks of delight were heard!

The buds had turned into flowers!

Oft we want answered prayer

Without full-yielded hearts

In our logic, oft we err

Where trust its test imparts

Oft we want finest fruits

Without Love's pruning rod

 To tear away at sinful roots/shoots

That choke the Word of God 

Oft we defend the cure

Without probing the cause

Until motive is wholly pure

Without self-serving flaws/clause

Oft we want faith's reward

Without faith's suffering

As witnesses for Christ, out-poured

Like a drink-offering 

Lord, show us where we err

As we, Want's cases plead

Teach us to trust as you prepare

Faith's fallow ground, for seed  

Janet Martin

Philippians 2:17
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering

 on the sacrifice and service of your faith, 

I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Speechless Solace...

How thankful I am to know God hears love's prayer-tears...

for my family, for my church-family and for my country!

Love's concern for family, friends and actually, universal fellowman is beyond comprehension 

because, as the great Scottish Poet Robbie/Rabbie Burns' father would caution him

 'we are headed, not to the grave but through the grave'...

and his mother, poor in worldly wealth all her life, was deeply concerned 

that Robbie would not become money-rich through his gift of poetry 

lest he falls into the snare of putting his trust in money rather than God!' 

(from the book The Wind That Shakes The Barley)

It is Canada Day but this morning my prayer cannot find words

 to adequately express thoughts and longings for this gorgeous plot of geography 

called Canada; a beautiful country founded in Christian faith 

and rich with Christian heritage. 

A country full of beautiful people called Canadians!

I'm thankful, God hears love's cries of the heart for a country 

whose foundation is crumbling because the Cornerstone is rejected!

***

Today's poem is inspired in part by part of my devotion this morning

from the paragraphs below by one of my all-time favourite authors; 

James Russel Miller

as well as from meditating on Sunday morning's message 

from the passage of Scripture from from Eph. 1;1-14

Not through the fluency of words most eloquently wrought

God hears our hearts; His own heart stirred by unutt'rable thought

As He reciprocates; not with audible answers heard

But through unfailing promises found in His faithful Word

He hears our prayers; the tears that rend the fabric of our souls 

The groan of earnest sentiment that heaves and aches and rolls

As we cry out for God to bless all who hunger and thirst

For the Strait Path of Righteousness through this old world, sin-cursed  

Where we are pressed on every side by idle apathy

Where accolades for greed and pride disdain humility

Where, until/unless we lean on God's knee and every groan outpour

We drift like a ship, lost at sea without hope of a shore

God lays His ear close to our tears; He hears each wordless plea 

He comforts us; and gently cheers us with His company 

Then, faith's Spiritual Treasure, is a blessing beyond ken

Poured out by God's good pleasure through His perfect will. Amen 

Janet Martin

How utterly incomparable is the place at God's feet, 

as we pour out to Him our heart-hunger and soul-yearnings,

 then comforted by the thought that

 'He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly

 above all that we ask or think'!

 Eph.3:20

Alan Jackson - What A Friend We have In Jesus [with lyrics]

 

Faith's Sacred Enrollment

Through what lies behind

we are being prepared

for what lies ahead!

***

Regret has but one merit;

to learn from it

***

God cares for each of us beyond our wildest comprehension;

and invites us to cast our cares on Him!

Why do I/we often attempt to shoulder care

as if He didn't care?!!

***

What great fun and frustration, as we cheer on

our favourite teams, for better or worse!

When we put our faith in God

we become part of a 'team'

whose 'Coach' puts us through drills we often don't recognize

unless/until they produce His desire's sacred result;

a more humbly prayerful people.

Oh Lord, we give thee thanks

Whatever comes our way

May circumstance unveil the ranks

That teaches us to pray

...that tutors hope and trust

Though sorrow's throes increase

As we surrender what we must

You fill us with your peace

Lord, nothing is too hard

For You to will and do

Where the deceiver preys, you guard

The heart, humble and true

And should we stumble, still

You do not turn away

But with the shards of broken will

You teach us how to pray

Oh Lord, kindly renew

Our courage through your love

Help us to wholly lean on You

The wellspring of Enough 

For we know no true loss

Whatever comes our way

As long as You command/commend the cross 

That teaches us to pray

To wallow in regret

Is futile; Lord, pray we

Will learn from the mistakes that set

More sorry sights on Thee 

Forgiver of our sin

Help us as You prepare

The sacred drills faith enrolls in; 

Today's lessons in prayer

Our faith ought never be

In throne-rooms of this world

Lord, open eyes of faith to see

Your mighty Hand unfurled

Then, as a soldier/soul-dier true

Whatever comes our way

 Help us to put our trust in You

Who teaches us to pray

Your strength, through weakness gleams

In grief, Your comfort cheers

From the ash-heaps of broken dreams

We cry; Your kindness hears

And bends to bind the ill

That comes through creature care

That tests us with love's best until

We lean on You in prayer

 

 © Janet Martin 

Prov.3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

 and he shall direct thy paths.

Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright 

Save This...or, Hope's Courage

Make Room-Casting Crowns

What inspired today's poem?

A mishap, to a friend/church family member 

who took his family on a long anticipated trip to the other side of the world,

to visit his sister's family for  Christmas, and in the first week broke his leg in two places,

placing him in a hospital four hours away...

please pray that by some miracle he and his wife can join their families for Christmas!

A message of praise from a family in our church-family who has endured

a journey of sickness and the death of a grandchild...

A family in our neighborhood who is learning grueling trust-lessons

SO many sick and suffering in our circle of friends and family...

SO many sorrowing in our neighbourhood and beyond...

So many seeking answers to questions like

'What is truth?'

'God, are you there?'

In deep disappointments that vex well-laid plan

In struggles no mortal evades

In sorrows that teach us to love while we can

Before opportunity fades

In trials we suffer of sickness and pain

Beneath love's long burdens of care

May we find hope's courage we cannot explain

Save this; someone's answer to prayer

Janet 🙏

Matt.7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; 

seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,

 an ever-present help in trouble.

Prayer Changes Things

 Autumn morning awesomeness!

Psalm 36:7

How precious is Your loving devotion, O God,

that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!

Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with His feathers;

under His wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.

Prayer changes things. Amen

God, with each groan we bring

Gathers us like a Mother Hen

Beneath His Shelt’ring Wing

His gentle feathers warm us when

The gales of sorrow sting

Because hope that is seen

Is not hope, we learn trust

Because a dark glass bides between

Birth and death’s sacred Must

God tries the part content to lean

On acumen of dust

Because love never fails

Because God, who IS love

Orchestrates the law that prevails

With Eternal Enough

Love wills the tempest that assails

Faith's evidence to prove

Because our great God reigns

With love beyond compare

No matter what, His grace sustains

Us through life’s creature-care

Though all else fail, still He remains

To shelter from despair

Because His word is true

Faith has no cause to fear

Because God cares for me and you

We can ‘be of good cheer’

All He has promised, He will do

Prayer draws His Promise near

Praise God, prayer changes things

Surrender’s sweet release

Beneath the feathers of His wings

Faith finds hope, joy and peace

Then, pray whatever today brings

May humble prayers increase

© Janet Martin

1 John 5:14-15

14And this is the confidence that we have before Him: 

If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 

15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,

 we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; 

He hears their cry and saves them.