Of Divine Architecture

Trusting our faithful God is sometimes easier said than done, isn't it?!

Trusting Him in all our hard unknowns!

Yesterday my friend whose family is searching for a new home to move to 

as the deadline in their current rental approaches (Feb.), 

said this as they continuously entrust to God this desperate need;

'we know that something will work out, 

even if it isn't necessarily our dream.'

I have been pondering her words  'even if it isn't necessarily our dream.'

No one's dream includes the stress of home-seeking,

 sudden loss of a loved one,

or debilitating injuries or sickness of body or mind,

or broken marriages and friendships.

Trouble and tragedy are part of this sin-cursed world.

And how would we ever learn true and full surrender to

our all-sufficient Heavenly Father's love and grace

without sorrow and suffering;

Our Heavenly Father, who left His throne

knowing what lay before Him!

He was homeless, hated, rejected, spat upon, beaten,

misjudged, mistreated and crucified,

though he was guiltless of any sin!

He did not send a substitute to pardon humanity

but gave Himself to suffer redemption's brutal cost!

He alone brings true comfort and joy.

Through him alone sorrow and sickness are healed

whether on earth or in Heaven.

Ah, holy Christmas season as we

celebrate, marvel and meditate

on the glad tidings of great joy 

which was, will be and ever IS

to all people!

Luke 2:1-11

Then the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy 

which will be to all people.

11For there is born to you this day in the city of David

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

***

When our castle of dreams tumbles

God is there to catch the pieces

if we let Him and to help us forward

as we learn to humbly yield and trust

 the Divine Architect with what appears broken

***

Sorrow makes us so much more thankful for/aware of joy!

Today's joy included 

an early morning visit from my sister-in-law

who came bearing a beautiful poinsettia-gift 

...cookie-baking with my neighbours

because school buses were canceled,

Delighting in the snowy scenes through their windows

and mine...

There is no path to What Once Was of former 'days of glory'

Futile to rue the day because of a twist in life's/love's story

Where oft on tender plots of joy, grief's bitter battle wages

As death crumples, like crushed decoys, love's hope and dream-filled pages

Ah, who of us is wise enough to know God's kind intentions 

Or understand the blueprint of His love's Divine Dimensions  

The Builder and Maker of earth and Heaven, who can measure

Or know the height and depth and girth of Mercy's architecture 

It is not ours to mastermind the means of our Creator

Enough to know that He is kind, love's reckoning far greater

Than panoramic dust-to-dust's volatile stance of seasons

Enough to know that we can trust His all-wise perfect Reasons 

Janet Martin

Flawless Outpouring...

Heb.11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

What terrible misconceptions we believe,

what deadly mistakes we make

without faith...

'Wow', I commented the other day

'even in the thick of sorrow

other cares don't take a holiday!!'

Aren't you thankful God invites us to cast our care on Him

because He cares for us?!!

1 Pet.5:7

Humble yourselves, therefore,

 under God’s mighty hand,

 so that in due time He may exalt you.

 7Cast all your anxiety on Him,

 because He cares for you.

Ps.55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be [b]moved.

Even in the thick of sorrow

Creature care still finds its way

We are not made for tomorrow

God is faithful...for Today

Like a song flawlessly outpoured

The heavens declare, loud and clear

The glory of our loving Lord...

Not by goodness and grace devoid

God’s evidence shouts loud and clear

To keep Hope’s Creature overjoyed

Though Teacher vexes faith’s veneer

Where often sterling Wish is tried

Lest Want protects pride’s stumbling blocks

Lest Self is not humbly denied

Lest sight, not faith is how Boast walks/talks

…while longing’s nameless legions wage

A tug of war twixt fear and trust

And we are apt to prize the cage

Rather than Soul, veiled by frail dust

Not by God’s providence bereft

Nor by His Righteous Eye ignored

From the fissure in Mercy’s cleft

Today is flawlessly outpoured

Like the Lord’s love song undeterred

Hope soars once more, on eagle’s wings

No jot or tittle of God’s Word

Forgot; faith lifts Her voice and sings

For nothing is impossible

With God; then, what more do we need

Than worship, while the miracle

Matures, within faith’s mustard seed

Like a song flawlessly outpoured

The heavens declare, loud and clear

The glory of our loving Lord

Whose favour vexes faith's veneer 

Whose mercy, flawlessly outpoured

Fills frames with faithfulness renewed

God unfailingly keeps His Word

Then sing, with joyful gratitude 

© Janet Martin

Isa. 40:28-31

(read the whole glorious chapter HERE)

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary;

His understanding is beyond searching out.

29He gives power to the faint

and increases the strength of the weak.

30Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall.

31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength;

they will mount up with wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not faint.

Love's Rare Romance

Life is full of trouble and sorrow; joy's startling sweetener!

Sometimes when asked what my favourite Bible verse is

I hardly know which to choose but without a doubt

the verses below (first taught to me as a child by my mother)

rank near the top;

whispered many times as I encounter life's

tug-of-warring-whys-and-no's 

The first part of Prov.3

but esp. verses 5-6 and in my older age also verse 7

Without trouble we would never learn trust.

Without trust we never know true joy and peace

***

Taste the fervor of the hour

Make the most of every flow’r...

Life runs rife with highs and lows

Joy and strife of thorn and rose

Bow before its Lord and pray

Then rise up and seize the day

Taste the fervor of the hour

Make the most of every flow’r

Bear the brunt of fading grass

Everything comes, but to pass

Trace the tender timbre of

Every splendor, every love

Linger where the waning light

Tucks the day beneath goodnight

…cradled in the keeping of

Unfailing goodness and love

While the days-to-years run rife

With laughter and tears of life

Darling, with so much amiss

In the thick of that and this

It takes more than we possess

To muster/master true happiness/holiness

While season to season flows

While reason staggers 'neath blows

While change is a constant rod

Bow before life’s changeless God

Trust in Him with all your heart

Dust to dust sees but in part

But God never leads astray

Bow before him oft, and pray

For the likes of me and you

Have so much to learn, tis true

Pray, we find love's rare romance

Only trust in the Lord grants

Pray we find faith's treasured Must

Sorrow's/trouble's silver lining; trust 

Pray before we start each day

We bow before God and pray

© Janet Martin

Take Time To Be Holy

Did You Think to Pray?

Let Me Live...

To Find Fullness of Life/Love or Faith's Resolution (By the Grace of God)

This poem is a tall 'order'/prayer

but with God, nothing is impossible!

 By His 'grace upon grace' I/we go,

pray, for His glory alone!

Earth and sky shout His evidence!

Oh, what a crying shame

If I should place faith's confidence

In any other Name

John 1:16 

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

This poem is written in first person 

because it immediately became more convicting

than the less direct 'we' and 'our' approach! 

No side-stepping the 'issue' today! 😅🙏

Some goals to strive toward...

To find fullness of life/love that only self-forgetting yields

To bear the yoke of prayerful hope in harvest-heavy fields

To be humbly encouraged by faith’s cloud of witnesses

To not lose heart; enough to be heirs of God’s promises

To take my cross and follow Him with heart, soul, strength and mind

To fix my eyes on Jesus who is trustworthy and kind

To make my great ambition more than this world can afford

To hold no longing dearer than to gain Heaven’s reward

To recognize ‘the whole duty of man’ and to reply

With unwavering confidence and courage, ‘Here am I’

To value, more than anything the wisdom from God’s Word

To teach, rebuke, correct and train, equip and undergird

To transform heart’s desires as the Lord is my delight

To commit to nothing but what is worthy and upright

To find in every common place, rare jewels for joy’s crown

To fret not, though the wicked prosper, God will cut them down

To stay my mind on He who will keep it in perfect peace

To be still and know He is God who giveth the increase

And though I do not understand His higher thoughts and ways

To be forever thankful He is worthy of all praise

And if I stumble, if I fall, where sight and faith compete

To take the Hand grace offers and to get back on my feet

To count for joy, the trial whereby faith must be refined

To make the love I boast more patient, pure, gentle and kind

To be an honored vessel wherein God has placed His light

To endure hardness as a soldier fitted for the fight

To find fullness of life/love by pouring out my love/life for He

Who poured Love's lifeblood on the cross to save a wretch like me

© Janet Martin

Ps.37

Do not fret because of those who are evil

or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,

but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,

but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,

and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:

Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,

they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses will be destroyed.

23 The Lord makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him;

24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be a blessing.[b]

27 Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the Lord loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[c];

the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29 The righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,

and their tongues speak what is just.

31 The law of their God is in their hearts;

their feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

intent on putting them to death;

33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Hope in the Lord

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

a future awaits those who seek peace.[d]

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;

there will be no future[e] for the wicked.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him

Never Too Young (or old) To Learn

Sweetheart helping/learning to make butter tarts!

I generally am treated to 100% sweetness by this little gal

but 'rumor' has it there's another side that sometimes isn't quite so!😂😅🙏

Sometimes, when 'training up' children, an extra-firm hand is required;

A hand that let's them know that no tantrum will change the expectation for obedience!

It is vital that a child learns as early as able, 

to recognize and respect/obey authority!

Sometimes, we as God's children need that firm Hand too.

How easily we (like children) are prone to ignore 

and disrespect/disobey His Supreme Authority!

We, like little children, can be as sweet as pie (or butter tarts) when all goes well!

But what about those other times, when wills clash?!

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, 

you are slaves to the one you obey, 

whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, 

or to obedience leading to righteousness?

The quest to please ourselves, it seems, comes very naturally

Rousing a wrestling match between Self and authority

We are not born to want to yield to edicts not our own

The master of our lives revealed by what our deeds make known

The quest to please ourselves is something that is never taught

Human nature is always king over empires of thought

The living proof of love’s touchstone demonstrates without fail

Who resides on the heart’s veiled throne; choice, its own tattle-tale

The quest to please ourselves is not uncommon or bizarre

Until we yield our will to God, love is a tug-of-war

Until we love Him first, we will not find true joy because

The quest to please ourselves is cursed with the worst part of us (sin)

We all have faced the giant in the valley of love tried

We all have been defiant, self-reliant, blind with pride

But, pray, we all have borne the blow that brought us to our knees

And slew the masquerading foe, impossible to please

And pray our quests have been condensed till only One prevails

Treasured with humble confidence/reverence in God who never fails

And pray that when we are beguiled to prize some lesser goal

He reminds us, we are His child; the Saviour of the Soul

© Janet Martin

Eph.3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 

above all that we ask or think,

 according to the power that works in us, 

 to Him be glory in the church 

by Christ Jesus to all generations,

 forever and ever. 

Amen.

so, here's to that universal classroom of

'never too old to learn' or to forgive, or repent,

and confess our sins and try-try-again!

Below, an inspiring excerpt from the life story of

George Mueller of Bristow...

Like a Constant Gift

Last night it began to snow!

It felt like a gift from God, as if He was saying,

'See? I am covering the dirty, old year with

a fresh, new unsoiled slate!

Heb.13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Happy 2024!

As the old year ends and the new begins 

may our sole/soul resolve be 

a more complete surrender to 

God's full authority

Sometimes we are guilty of wanting God's way, our way. 

We want Him to yield to our will, not we to His!

All The Way My Saviour Leads Me

The past is irreversible, its seasons set in stone

The future is invincible when faced through Christ alone

The present, like a constant gift of opportunity

Furnishes where all life is lived; in Now’s benignity

Anxiety for what might be is certain to destroy

Faith’s confident humility that leads to peace and joy

What has been none can modify, but what is and will be

Is like a constant gift, thereby/whereby God proves His fealty

Goodness and mercy’s rich supply sustains surrendered hearts

No greater gain can satisfy than that which grace imparts

Thus, as God lays the old to rest, as New is ushered in

Once more hope hoists its humble quest to give/live our best for Him

Sometimes the state our Saviour saved us from, slips our minds

How arrogant, we then become, when mortal motive blinds

Us to the Light that spans the rift and keeps faith undeterred

Each promise like a constant gift to all who trust His word

© Janet Martin

Malachi 4:2

But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;

Not Here or There or That or This

Sometimes I spend a lot of misdirected

though well-intended energy on trying to

find God's purpose for me

when, as today's devotion reminded me,

all He wants is my surrendered willingness.

This was such a comfort to me as I try to decide 

whether to get back into childcare again or not!

I am having such a hard time trying to figure out what is best...

but whether I do or do not, has nothing to do with his purpose for me,

  if the object of my devotion each day is Him!

If my attitude is 

'Behold the handmaid of the Lord;

 be it unto me according to thy word'

Luke 1:38

(Is that verse not a challenge easier said/read than done?!!)

 Not the choice but the motive behind the choice

 reveals the voice I am listening to!

A sobering scale on which to weigh/pray each decision and desire,

because financial security and creature comforts

 are not God's purpose, 

(though, oh, how human nature wishes it would be!!)

but rather treasure of eternal value...unglamorous in the gaining!

John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through Him.

John 6:28-29
Then they inquired, "What must we do to perform the works of God?"

Jesus replied, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent."

2 Pet.3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

 Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,

 but everyone to come to repentance.

***

Not whether we go here or there or work at this or that

The purpose of God’s call will follow where we hang our hat

His focus not the title of the duty or the task

But of a heart surrendered to whatever He will ask

Not in lofty ambition or pursuit of noble quest

But in humble contrition to obey without protest

The medium of labor but the scaffolding whereby

The love for God and neighbor stirs/spurs the tenure of reply

The purpose of God is not there or here or that or this

His purpose always begins where the mark is hard to miss

Right here and now, with you and me, however vague or dim

His purpose is fulfilled as we relinquish all for Him

© Janet Martin

The Rich Young Man- Matt.19:16-28

(Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30)

16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired,

 “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”

17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?”e Jesus replied.

 “There is only One who is good. 

If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” the man asked.

Jesus answered, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, 

do not steal, do not bear false witness, 

19honor your father and mother, 

and love your neighbor as yourself.’f”

20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven. 

Then come, follow Me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, 

because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you,

it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

  24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

 than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, 

“Who then can be saved?”

26Jesus looked at them and said, 

“With man this is impossible, 

but with God all things are possible.”

27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. 

What then will there be for us?”

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things,

g when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, 

you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones,

 judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife

h or children or fields for the sake of My name 

will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

  30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Earth's Beginning of Heaven's Eternity

Every so often I love to crank up this song...

it brings a sense of Heaven to earth!

Worship: Earth's beginning to Heaven's Eternity

I Love You Lord

I want to want not anything, save that which teaches me

To sing devotion’s worship hymn with true humility

Lest selfishness and pride take root and vanity applauds

I want to guard against choice fruit offered to lesser gods

How easily a thought can stray from where it ought to be

Fixed on faith’s Confidante and Stay secured at Calvary

To jars of clay, refined through care, hope’s priceless treasure spills

Nothing in this world can compare to what God’s light instills

For what have I of worth to bring save what is given me

To tune devotion’s offering with awed sincerity

To lift a gift of sober joy like a most valued gem

To He who alone doth destroy the shackles that condemn

Oh, help me when I falter Lord, to walk by faith not sight

To lean upon your faultless word to guide my thought aright

For what we have in common ought to gentle fellowmen

Thy sure and sacred summons to Soul’s everlasting Then

Lord, you know all the secrets of each thoughts and heart in full

Help us not to forget to who we are accountable

And live, not for the praise of man but with humility

Begin, in every way we can, worship’s eternity

© Janet Martin

Create in me a clean heart, O God; 

and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Not a Once-and-Done Thing-Surrender

 

This poem was inspired in part by a conversation with a friend yesterday,

who has suffered some severe disappointments in the past few years 

and what appears to the naked eye, to be setbacks

resulting in trying physical and financial challenges!

But, I was so struck by the beauty of her spirit of surrender to God's will

as she spoke about joys she is discovering through her walk by faith, not sight.

Not easy by any stretch, but real! and a reminder for all of us

to yield and trust rather than fret and doubt!

On our own journeys (my own journey) of surrender,

 I pray, Oh Lord, for more

'trust with all my heart rather than leaning on my own understanding'!

Ah surrender, you are not once and done, but pray

with each surrender we demolish another stumbling block to full surrender!

Only Trust Him-Alan Jackson

The joy of surrender, oh, how can it be

Relinquishing want’s anxious hold

To trust in the Lord, where, though faith cannot see

It rests in the truths He has told

The peace of surrender, oh, how is it so

To yield amidst trouble’s travail

To the kind assurance God’s word will bestow

To know that He will never fail

The heart of surrender, oh, sweet, sweet release

To commit/submit to God’s perfect will

To find in the place of my pining, His peace

As storms of selfish struggle still

The bliss of surrender, unreserved and true

The beauty of bowing, undone

Allowing God’s Spirit to will and to do

The work He has barely begun

© Janet Martin

I remember my grandmother reminding me

'surrender is only a battle if we put up a fight'.

Utterly impacted; oh, that it could be

That the love of God would work

 love’s miracle in me!

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; 

trust in Him, and He will do it.

Prov.3:1-8

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments;

2for they will add length to your days,

years and peace to your life.

3Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regard

in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

7Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your bodyb

and refreshment to your bones.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms-Alan Jackson

Reminder to Remember

Recently I heard this comment (quoted loosely);

The saddest life of all is giving our all 

to something that turns out in the end,

to be completely and utterly worthless/meaningless.

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes

 ponders the meaning of life, finds great wealth 

and tastes every heart's desire

only to come to this awesome conclusion 

after realizing everything in this world is ultimately vanity...

Eccles.12:13-14

Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

The beauty of the earth is a glimpse-of-Heaven backdrop

to the brutality of the battle of wills

between man and God/God and man

(This reminder to remember was written to myself

and anyone else who can relate to the battle of want

between what is temporal and what is eternal)

...also a bit of a continuance along the lines of thought

that inspired yesterday's poem

 

Sometimes the guise of lesser prizes we are yearning for

Can blind us to the binding gait of those who’ve gone before

The price we are willing to pay, sometimes not worth the cost

For something that will fade away in death, forever lost

Sometimes we grapple with apples of want’s eye, and we miss

The treasure that transcends the pleasure of This transient kiss

For time's measure of moments melts like snowflakes in the sun

While warp and weft of seasons weaves and unravels as one

Sometimes the diamond in our dreams is not as it appears

The pinnacle doffed of its gleam as its procurement nears

The glamor of achievement and the clamor of applause

A trophy of bereavement on ashes of futile cause

God, help us to remember you behold and know our need

Help us note and surrender gloating gods of pride and greed

Help us guard against pitfalls decked in visual appeal

And help us not to put our trust in what we think and feel

God, open our heart’s eyes as we seek and search Your Word

So, stepping-stones and stumbling blocks are not confused and blurred

Remind us, not one jot or tittle is hidden from You

And all will give account when this little lifetime is through

God, keep our eyes upon a prize beyond all mortal ken

For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, amen

Help us put on Your whole armor, with humble, sacred breath

Lest we stray to a way that seems right, but its end is death

© Janet Martin

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.