Of Faith's Fortune...

The world wails/groans for a saviour,

for real hope and assurance,

seeking something/someone trustworthy to put their faith in...

while rejecting the Saviour of the world,

Whose hope and assurance

can only be received through faith!

'Ah, but I cannot have such faith!' do we say?

and yet, is Faith not displayed each time

we plant a seed, believing it will grow?!!

God did His part.

He gave us a Saviour,

but before we have access to

 the riches of His grace

we must do our part;

to repent and believe!

To repent is

to turn from our ways to His way!

To believe is...what a mystery belief is

only possible through faith!

and faith is only possible when we cease to doubt!!

Then, oh what true hope, joy and peace,

come by faith;

what knowledge and understanding

come to all who fear Him and love His name! 

Ps.111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:

a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

his praise endureth forever

Ps.112:1

Praise ye the Lord.

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord,

that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Ps.115:1&11,13,17&18

Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, 

but unto Thy name give glory,

for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake...

Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord:

 he is their help and their shield.

He will bless them that fear the Lord,

both small and great.

The dead praise not the Lord,

nor any that go down into silence.

but we will bless the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

 Praise the Lord.

Beyond the tent that tames the sun

And hosts heavens of stars

Beneath the depths of the ocean,

The breath that breaks night's bars...

Beyond earth and its fullness of

Flower, forest and mead...

Beyond the tent that tames the sun

And hosts heavens of stars

Beneath the depths of the ocean,

The breadth/breath that breaks night's bars

Beyond earth and its fullness of

Flower, forest and mead

And seasons that unfold above

The silence of the dead

Is God, the faithful God of all

The God who damns and saves

The God whose name both great and small

Are called to fear and praise 

The God who is Lion and Lamb

Whose divine Word is chief

The God who is the great I AM

And helps our unbelief

 

...whose greatest commandment is love

The love that He imparts

Without exception, in spite of

The dregs of human hearts

He forgives us, if we confess

He saves, if we believe

Faithful in all He promises

And only faith receives

Then, when faith begins to take root

Our hymns to God increase

The life, once dead, is rich with fruit

Of hope and joy and peace

In all who believe in is Name

Life's rivers are unfurled

Through He whose glory we proclaim

'The Saviour of the world' 

Janet Martin

John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:

 ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

David Crowder Band - Because He Lives (Lyrics)

 

Many reject Him because they cannot understand Him.

We cannot possibly begin to comprehend

the depths of his love, but He gave us a glimpse

of its extension on the cross of Calvary!

Rom.11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches 

both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

 How unsearchable are His judgments 

and His ways past finding out!

Everyone who comes to Him, 

comes, not by understanding,

but by faith.

Are you afraid!

Are you discouraged?

Have you done your part

so God can do His?

Have you prayed 'Lord, I believe

help thou mine unbelief?'

There is no fairyland waiting after death!

God through his Son, made a way that all may come to Him

and all who truly believe will pass from death to life-

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word 

and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life 

and will not come under judgment. 

Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

John 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, 

because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Reason to Rejoice

Today's poem was inspired in part by joy and in part by sorrow...

Joy because God is compassionate and full of mercy

Ps.145:8-9

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9The Lord is good to all,

And His tender mercies are over all His works.

..and sorrow, because its easy to forget

and live self-indulgently, rather than with 

sacred urgency for all who do not know or believe 

Today's Scripture reading began with this verse;

 Heb.4:1

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us 

of entering into his rest, 

any of you should seem to come short of it.

(Read the whole solemn and comforting chapter HERE)

A new day!

What a gift of grace

Every day overflows with a 

fresh feast of highs and lows/thorn and rose

with no two days alike,

inviting us, each morning to the sweet anticipation of

moment buds unfolding reasons to rejoice!

One sweet reason for me today 

is my Cherry-Chocolate Latte Hibiscus, blooming profusely!

A birthday gift from a fellow flower-loving friend a few years ago.

(isn't its name deliciously fitting?!!)

For my debt of unuttered praise for grace and mercy, new again

For lack of awe for He whose ways transcend, yet tends Want’s pride-prone ken

For my oft apathetic love to He whose love none can descry

To the all-wise Creator of galaxies cupping earth and sky

For my debt of devotion paid to deities of carnal claim

Rather than to the One who made this day to glorify His name

For a balance, when weighed, that tips in favor of this world, not He

Who pours the sand of time that slips through frames filled with eternity

For ambition and noble thought, not ordered by sweet hour of prayer

For good intentions, oft forgot in the furnace where passions flare

For turning blind eyes and deaf ears to my Saviour’s unfettered grief

For every precious soul that sneers at Calvary in unbelief

For my debt of sin, unconfessed, for treasure held without a nod

In Your direction, richly blessed, yet thankless/trustless oft, forgive me, God

For my debt of worship I owe, to God who forgives and forgets

I pray, may glad praise overflow; grace rends shackles forged from regrets

Where faith and fantasy compete, Today, Lord, help me hear your Voice

As I lay my debt at Your feet, and rise with Reason to rejoice

© Janet Martin

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

The Wayside Cross

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

Bat Not Thine Eye Lash at Thy Guilt...or, Earnest Plea

Reading through the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah kindles

much sober reflection and speechless awe

for the sure judgment and the abounding love and mercy of God

Bat not thine eye lash at thy guilt

Brush not at sin, like lint on sleeves

Shrug not thy shoulders at blood spilt

To save everyone who believes

Rush not, bold-faced, into the day

Without reckoning He who grants

The morn its light; bow down and pray

For temptation’s deliverance

Mock not, nor take in vain the Name

Above all names; but chastely fear

The One, whereby prophets proclaim

‘Look up, redemption draweth near’

Let not imagination rule

In rebel disobedience

Refuse the logic of the fool

Approach today with reverence

Lest, poorly and blindly content

With pomp and show of Noble Thought

Thy deathless soul reaps hell’s lament/torment

Because God called but ‘you would not’

The gods of this world cannot hear

Thy futile prayers when troubles groan

Fall on thy knees, repent, revere

The God of gods and God alone

Do not deceive thyself, but pray

For faith, to tremble at His Word

For love, devoted to obey

He whose decrees are undeterred

Bat not thy eye at the grave rift

Each soul must ford ‘neath death’s cold knife

Repent, believe, receive God’s gift

Forgiveness and eternal life

© Janet Martin

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I Am a Master of Excuse

This excerpt from the message below moved me to tears...

Oh! that this would be my true ambition.

Christian contentment

is the direct fruit

of having no higher ambition

than to belong to the Lord

and to be entirely

at His disposal.

Alistair Begg

The Secret of Contentment

  

I am a master of excuse and pious coquetry

I fit finely inside replies of I and my and me

I am far, far too readily induced to compensate

For second miles I’d rather not suffer; the cost too great

I rise to meet the day and pray, then forget easily

That I can do all I can do through Christ who strengthens me

For when I repent and believe I am ‘mine own’ no more

But ought to be devoted to the Saviour I adore

And ought to be, with every gifted breath and day, content

Because by grace I have been saved; the temple veil is rent

And I, invited to boldly approach the throne of grace

Will receive grace and mercy to supply each need I face

I am a wretch; yet Christ loves with an everlasting love

By His divine power He fits me for Heaven above

Therefore I have no boast but this; the blood of Jesus Christ

Who broke the curse of sin and death through Himself, sacrificed

For I, a master of excuse, who forgets easily

That I can do all I can do through Christ who strengthens me

© Janet Martin

Gal.2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, 

but Christ lives in me. 

The life I now live in the body, 

I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Phil.4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Rom.7:24-25

O wretched man that I am! 

Who will deliver me from this body of death? 

 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Should I, Because of Stubborn Pride (protect a favoured sin)

 Here's My Heart, Lord

Should I, because of stubborn pride, protect a favoured sin,

Unwilling to admit Idolatry. Oh God, I pray

That You would rend rebellion’s veil in this temple of skin

As repentance rouses renewed devotion to obey

Oh Lord, Enlighten the eyes of my heart, transfixed by these;

The knowledge of hope’s calling and the glory of your grace

Protect me from the tempter that taunts me to ‘take mine ease’

Trading redemption’s riches for the enemy’s embrace

Smite me with grief if I defy your goodness with my greed

If I should set a stumbling block before my fellowman

Remind me of Your lifeblood poured out to supply Soul's need 

And open the eyes of my heart to Your wonder again

Oh, do not let me covet what can never satisfy

Do not let me mouth half-confession’s vain and pious prayer

Lord, let the truth of you undo the lacquer of the lie

That glosses over pitfalls that are waiting to ensnare

Should I, because of stubborn pride, protect a favoured sin,

Lord, open up my eyes to weigh sin’s wages with Your gift

Then would You rend rebellion’s veil in this temple of skin

And help me give more earnest heed to Your Word, lest I drift…

© Janet Martin

Inspired in part by Eph.1 NKJV

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Redemption in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and [b]prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, [c]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[d] is the [e]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your [f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality[g] and [h]power and [i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

A Meek Appeal

“I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh

and give you a heart of flesh. 

And I will put my Spirit within you . . . 

and you shall be my people, 

and I will be your God”

 (Ezekiel 36:26–28).

Something for Thee

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

Forgive my apathy

My soul, not wholly awed

Forgetful, where a blood-drenched tree

Extolled the Lamb of God

Forgive my wayward eye

From Cal’vry’s silhouette

Where grief does not compose a cry

Of true repentance yet

Forgive my easy loss

Of sorrow for my sin

Forbid, I gaze upon the cross

Yet bar the Door within

Forgive my errant whim

Desires, prone to pride

Unshaken, as I gaze on Him

With Self, not yet denied

Forgive my lack of zeal

For Your sufficient grace

Draw me back to the cross to feel

Your blood drops on my face

Forbid that I should bow

O Christ, beneath thy Blood

Only to return to sin’s slough

Like a pig to the mud

Remove my heart of stone

Break through my ache of skin

With renewed awe for You alone

Who takes away my sin

Forgive me when I seek

The willing ways of men 

Lord, enter in where flesh is weak

And make me strong again 

© Janet Martin

Nearer, Still Nearer

Brutal Truth

 

Lest we become complacent...

This poem was inspired again in part

 by an excerpt from the story of George Mueller...

Proverbs 28:13-17 KJV

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:

 But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Oh, the gravity of its depravity

The enormity of its deformity

The awfulness of its unlawfulness

As it dominates within

The subtleness of its brutal-ness

The evilness of vain promises

Of lies disguised, idolized and prized

This is the truth about sin

The pelf of stubborn selfishness

The stealth of Satan’s deadly steps

The guile of a vile, downward spiral

A wolf dressed in sheep skin

Danger and dire consequence

The liar daring providence

Unholy, rebellious ignorance

Mocker, smooth talker; sin

Hunger and thirst hopelessly cursed

Excuses soothed, me-first immersed

Self-righteous drivel at its worst

Pride’s beguiled, unbridled din

Deception’s uncontested will

Desire never quite fulfilled

Defilement, sensuous and skilled

Beware, oh, beware of sin

Unrepentance unrecognized

Hell’s curb appeal hailed, unapprised

Blind leading blind, applause-imbibed

Deaf to the toll within

Brutal refutal of wisdom astute

Pitiful, poisonous, ravenous root

Half-obedience-corrupted fruit

Horrible horror of sin

© Janet Martin

Romans 5:12-20

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the [e]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many [f]offenses resulted in justification. 17For if by the one man’s [g]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

18Therefore, as through [h]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one[i] Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Where Still The Call To All Remains...

 Inspired in part by Luke 3

Unto Us-Living Stones Quartet

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing- Phil Wickham

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matt.3:1

And all people will see God’s salvation.

Luke 3:6

Truth’s Voice cries in the wilderness ‘prepare’ for He who will return

The advent of His holiness trembles in hearts that wait and yearn

Where still the call to all remains, ‘repent, ‘be baptized’, ‘come, adore’

Before the Lord winnows the grains from chaff on Judgment’s threshing floor

Faith bows before Him in reply, whose feet we are not fit to kiss

Whose appearing will fill the sky; no foretold oracle amiss

Whose example still fills the Word, whose Truth will never shift or sway

Whose Spirit abides, undeterred to all who trust Him and obey

The advent of the Lord’s return burns in hearts fixed beyond time’s strife

While Mercy pleads where unfaith spurns the Only Way, the Truth, The Life

As believers become the voice that cries in holy urgency

Because belief becomes the choice that becomes soul’s eternity

Hark! Where the angels praised his birth, they will fill up the sky again

As the Lord of Heaven and earth returns forevermore to reign

Where the God of Deliverance tarries because so many doubt

And do not grasp the recompense of what God's gift is all about

Truth’s Voice cries in the wilderness ‘prepare’ for He who will return

The advent of His holiness trembles in hearts that wait and yearn

Where still the call to all remains, ‘repent, ‘be baptized’, ‘come, adore’

Before the Lord winnows the grains from chaff on Judgment’s threshing floor

© Janet Martin

He Shall Reign Forevermore

Someone posted the suggestion on Facebook to read a chapter of Luke every day till Christmas Eve to read the whole book of Luke and his account of the whole life of Jesus!

So, before I go to bed I will try to read a chapter of Luke until Christmas.

I might not have a poem for every chapter but wow!

so much wonder in the Word to kindle inspiration, rejoicing and Hope!

Inside Out

 

There is no question as to why our North American nations are in trouble.

Pray, God's people, pray!

2 Chron. 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, 

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, 

and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Cor.11:27-31

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner 

will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 

 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 

 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ

 eat and drink judgment on themselves. 

 That is why many among you are weak and sick, 

and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Repentance is the only resolution...

to acknowledge sin and confess

I'm looking forward to spring when buds begins to break and bear/bare their bloom!

All fruit and flower comes from the inside out!

What happens on the inside, you can bet without a doubt 

Will soon show on the outside; of what we are all about 

To deal with sickness-symptoms, without getting at the root 

Is like putting a big band aid on an infected foot 

To try to fix the problems that plague us we need to start 

Where good or bad begins within the human-natured heart 

How often we point at the proof of need with loud lament 

But to address the issue is like chipping at cement 

Unless we recognize the place where all true change begins 

And first repent and believe in He who forgives our sins 

A band aid hides the ugly truth but cannot cleanse the bod 

A nation cannot heal until man’s heart is right with God 

Futile to try to fix a foible from the outside in 

For in the heart is where the troubles of this world begin 

For sin, like an aggressive weed soon overtakes the whole 

Lust, conceit, pride, fear, hatred, greed, the seed of sinful soul 

And when its buds bear fruit, no words are needed to explain 

Thus, without starting at the root, best efforts are in vain 

Repentance is the only resolution; to confess 

Then God will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness 

And only then, after we bow before the Lord of all 

Are we prepared to be a vessel fitted for His call 

For Who is on the inside, you can know without a doubt 

Will soon show on the outside; of Who we are all about 

© Janet Martin

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! 

You clean the outside of the cup and dish, 

but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,

so that the outside may become clean as well.

Matt.23:25-26

Of Hard Heart-knocks...

Let's overthrow evil today with
the one and only name whereby man can be saved; Jesus!

Acts 4:11-12
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 

 Salvation exists in no one else,

For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,
because He will save His people from their sins."

 

I saw a man...Johnny Cash 

 

 

It's hard to trust enough to pray for hard knocks to get ours or a loved ones

 'drifting attention/devotion' back on track...

Sometimes it takes a hard heart-knock for God to get our ears to hear
Because sometimes we balk at what we sense He longs to commandeer 

But, as a mother hen who draws her wings around her chicks, He yearns
To draw His children close; lest one be lost among life’s twists and turns

Behold, what love compels the One who stokes the night with one more Day
And leaves the Ninety-nine to search for the sheep that have gone astray
And like the father who beheld his long-lost son come from afar
When we are still a long way off He runs to meet us where we are

Sometimes we are deceived because we doubt when we ought to believe
Pride goes before the fall that arrogance and stubbornness achieve
But God, so rich in mercy does not leave us without hope and grace
He bends with gentle hands outstretched, if we reach up in humble faith

A Deadly Foe roams to and fro, seeking to draw eyes from The Prize
Without pity he sets a snare and decorates his lair with lies
And many fall prey to enticements, lured by Pleasure’s poisoned charm
Only God’s Word a lamp to light the way, can direct us from harm

Blessed are those who thirst and hunger after righteousness and truth
And blessed are the pure in heart; the meek will inherit the earth
Then, though sometimes the hard, heart-knock seems harsh, Love’s ways and means are just
And He will do what must be done to get the erring one to trust

© Janet Martin 

19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline.  Therefore be earnest and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev.3:19-20