To Be or Not To Be...Content

The Unknown groans with highs and lows...

it is up to each one of us to choose 

whether we will be content in whatever state we are!

Phil.4:11

Not that I speak in regard to need, 

for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear what you are about to suffer...

Be faithful even unto death, 

and I will give you the crown of life.

The birds can be so happy one minute then...

...along comes this troublesome trial to a bird's life!

and all is a flurry of feathers as they flee to the safety of bushes

When trouble comes we can choose to be a frantic flurry of feathers

or Be still and know that He (God) is (still) God.

 Ps.46:10

To be or not to be, (regardless of lessons God grants)

Content to house the trinity of faith and hope and love

To not be tossed about by winds of change and circumstance

That foster fear and doubt; not peace this world knows nothing of

To be or not to be, (in spite of fresh, popular trends)

Convinced of what is right because God really did so say

Not being double-minded, to please beloved peers and friends

But by God’s commands guided to humbly trust and obey

To be or not to be (because faith’s prize comes with a price)

Wary of logic that seems wise but its way leads to death

To trust the Lord with all our heart, not Reason’s ready vice

To do our willing part to serve Him with each gifted breath

To be or not to be (no matter what the cost demands)

Content, for God grants liberally according to His will

To prove faith, whether built on solid rock or sinking sands

To believe He who pardons guilt and bids the storm be still

To be or not to be (whatever tests both smile and frown)

Content, without controversy, because God’s Word is true

To all who love His appearing He has reserved a crown

To let this be faith’s cheering quest is the best we can do

The Unknown groans with highs and lows and everyone must choose

Either the comfort God bestows, or this world's cheerless chase

Thus, till this little life is spent we accept or refuse

To be, or not to be content in the peace of God's grace

Janet Martin

I'd rather have Jesus by Jim Reeves with Lyrics

Free For the Asking

1 Sa.7:12

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.

 He named it Ebenezer,[a] saying, 

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.

”Read full chapter

1 Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help.

Ps.27:14

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage,

 And He shall strengthen your heart; 

Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Some of the 'sparkle' of joy this Christmas season, feels a bit tarnished

as we think of so many loved ones who are missing loved ones,

then we lift each of them by name to Jesus, our everlasting Helper, 

 Comforter and great joy!

His help, comfort and joy are free for the asking and believing/receiving!

and beyond compare.

What kind comfort to pray

To He who knows all things

Whose Presence is our Help/hope and Stay

Whatever today brings

To wait upon the Lord

May test our patience sore

While discovering the reward

Of trusting all the more

Then, as we trust, our love

Refined through bitter test

Begins to shine the glory of

The One who loves us best

***

God helps us if we ask

He helps us work and rest

And fulfill life's most common task

With zeal, contentment-blessed

He helps us when we lie

On a sick bed; He hears

The whimper of the heart-wept cry

The language of our tears

He helps us, young or old

And bids us, come what may

To discover riches untold

As we trust and obey

When we don't understand

Then yield to dread's alarms

He lifts us with His faithful Hand

To lean upon His arms

What sacred liberty

To ask, and then rely

Upon the Higher Thought of He

Who does not rush reply

Our help in ages past

 Our Rock of Ages still

Our Cornerstone to hold steadfast

Faith, anchored in God's will

Janet Martin

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Rock of Ages

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Author: Robert Robinson (1758); Alterer: Martin Madan (1760)

1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing;

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

streams of mercy, never ceasing,

call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

sung by flaming tongues above;

praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

mount of God’s unchanging love!

2 Here I raise my Ebenezer;

hither by thy help I’m come;

and I hope, by thy good pleasure,

safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

wandering from the fold of God;

he, to rescue me from danger,

interposed his precious blood.

3 O to grace how great a debtor

daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love;

here’s my heart; O take and seal it;

seal it for thy courts above.

The Inexhaustible 'More' of God's Word

2025 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 8

For the 2025 November PAD Chapbook Challenge, 

poets write a poem a day in the month of November. 

Day 8 is to write a more poem...

Ps.139:17-18

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, 

they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

As I puttered about the house, doing Saturday tasks

like muffin-making...

...I listened to the beautiful funeral message for Cecil Shoemaker,

(someone with close ties to many people we know)

who passed in the blink of an eye, from Time into Eternity.

In my own grief-journey I often marvel 

at the sweetness of joy to comfort sorrow,

as the death of a loved one who has received

the gift of salvation when they put their faith in Jesus,

transports them to the presence of God. 

What joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet.1:8

fills the aching void!

I am so thankful for the Word of God

filled with truths that will never fail!

Every Christian, regardless of denomination

turns to the same Word of God

to be taught and encouraged etc. 

Because...

What hope the Word of God secures

In a world plagued with sin

What peace the Word of God assures

To all who trust in Him

What grace the Word of God proclaims

To save the deathless soul

And spare us from eternal flames

As endless ages roll 

What joy the Word of God bestows

To all who love his law

What wealth of wisdom overflows

What height and depth of awe

What truth the Word of God makes known

To calm confusion's gale 

Truth's Everlasting Cornerstone

Will never shift or fail

What might the Word of God instills

With power from on high

All He has promised He fulfills

His decrees never lie

What help the Word of God supplies

What answer to our prayers

Enough to know He hears our cries

Enough to know He cares

What worth the Word of God unveils

We cannot comprehend

Love and mercy that never fails

Purpose no one can bend

What cheer the Word of God imparts

He comforts us. Amen

Bringing courage to fainting hearts

To strengthen faith again 

God's Word is a light to the world

A beacon undeterred 

The path of righteousness unfurled

Through the light of His Word 

God's word is faithful to correct

Exhort, safeguard and guide

 Oh, pray that we do not reject

 His Presence to preside 

What love the Word of God confirms

Proved through salvation's price

What merciful, relentless terms

Succeeds His sacrifice

What life the Word of God commands

What confidence in death

To rest assured within the Hands 

Who hold/made Heaven and earth

What praise the word of God inspires

He paid salvation's cost

Because He utterly desires

That not one soul be lost

What more and more the Word of God

Reveals to all who seek

His holy, just judgment, unflawed

To satisfy the meek

The more we seek the more we find

Humbler, purer delight

As God equips heart, soul and mind 

To walk by faith, not sight

Janet Martin

1 Pet.1:22-25

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth 

[i]through the Spirit in [j]sincere love of the brethren,

 love one another fervently with a pure heart, 

23 having been born again, not of [k]corruptible seed but [l]incorruptible,

 through the word of God which lives and abides [m]forever, 

24 because

“All flesh is as grass,

And all [n]the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the [o]word of the Lord endures forever.”

To Be Obedient and True...

My oldest grandson is having a life-lesson

in what it means to give his fears to God

and trust Him when he is afraid!

After a tragic accident the other week claimed the life of both parents

of a family they were/are quite closely connected with

he expressed his fears this morning, as he and his siblings are preparing

to spend the day at our house to give our daughter and husband a day to themselves

to be refreshed a bit during this season of grief...

'but what if you get in a car crash?'

They explained to him they will do their part to drive carefully

and then we need to trust in God and not live in fear.

To trust God is faith's first step of obedience,

as we trust Him for our salvation!

Through faith's reverence for God's Word/promises

His love for us grows our love for Him! 

My prayer is for my grandson to begin discovering

God's joy and peace in his childhood, 

as he learns to trust because none of us can see

what lies ahead!

To be obedient and true to God whose commands never shift

Would be impossible to do without love for His glorious gift

Through Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life to break the curse of sin

And, all who repent and believe, receive His divine pow'r within

To be obedient and true wreaks havoc with our stubborn/fearful will

Until we yield without holds to He who alone can joy fulfill

Then as we walk by faith not sight, trusting, knowing God will provide

His law will be our chief delight and Self more readily denied 

To be obedient and true to God's commands is to secure

The riches of His promises through tests faith is bound to endure

Because we, without tragedy and loss would not find wealth untold; 

The proven character of faith, more precious by far, than much gold

To be obedient and true, to seek God and His Kingdom first

Would seem a thankless thing to do while idolizing/idealizing goals, sin-cursed

But, when we repent and believe, we receive faith's glorious goal

That none but God's grace can achieve or grant; salvation for the soul 

We all like sheep have gone astray and turned from our Shepherd, the Lord

Who died upon a cross to pay a debt that no one could/can afford

Like a Lamb led to slaughter He bore the chastisement we deserve 

Oh, pray faith's eloquence will be obedience without reserve 

Janet Martin

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man,

 He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

 who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, 

scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Isaiah 53:11

After the anguish of His soul, 

He will see the light of life and be satisfied. 

By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, 

and He will bear their iniquities.

Eph.2:1-10

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

  2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and

 of the ruler of the power of the air, 

the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

  3All of us also lived among them at one time, 

fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. 

Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 

5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.

 It is by grace you have been saved! 

6And God raised us up with Christ 

and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

  7in order that in the coming ages 

He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, 

demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9not by works, so that no one can boast. 

10For we are God’s workmanship,

 created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

 which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Not Only For a Chosen Few -Hallelujah!

This post, though rather solemn,

because of its sacred subject,

 includes a hallelujah chorus

that is bound to bring a smile to your day! 

1 Tim.2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, 

intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

  2for kings and all those in authority—

so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives 

in all godliness and dignity.

  3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

  4who wants everyone to be saved 

and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

... though bodies die and are returned to dust

The ransomed soul, secure will fly

To He who holds faith's trust 

(higher than the vees of honking geese that tug at heartstrings

as we view their flight from earth's holy ground)

Not only for a chosen few

Did God our Savior, give

His Son to break sin's curse, so through

His death we all may live

...forevermore, though bodies die

And are returned to dust

The ransomed soul, secure will fly

To He who holds faith's trust 

So then, do not lose heart, my friend

Where evil forces wage

For what we see is not the end

But simply sets the stage

For what no mortal can conceive

Of things God has prepared

For all who love Him, and believe

The promises He shared 

Hope Thou in God, and praise His name

Trust His word and obey

No matter what the world may claim

In contrast to God's way

He is faithful and true; His Word

Comforts the part we see

Till that which none have seen or heard

Becomes reality 

Not only for a chosen few

But for all human race

God sent His Son to save us through

His blood-bought gift of grace

And all who believe and confess

That  'He alone is Lord'

Are heirs of all the promises

He tells us in His Word

Janet Martin

God's Word is not simply for a chosen few

but for all of fumbling, stumbling humanity!

It brings light to darkness,

joy to grief

hope to heartache

faith to fear

Hallelujah!! 

Yes, no matter how fumbling and stumbling,

let's keep the hallelujahs rolling!

Mr Bean singing like an angel

1 Cor.2:6-10

Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—

but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God,

a which He destined for our glory before time began.

8None of the rulers of this age understood it.

For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

  9Rather, as it is written:

“No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no heart has imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love Him.”b

10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.

Hope In Spite of Hardship And A Hug for the Hurting...

All the comforts of this world

cannot replace the comforts of the Soul,

wherewith Faith is cheered!

All the wonders of the world

cannot eclipse the wonder of His Word,

whereby Faith is taught!

All the wealth of this world

cannot compare to the riches of His grace;

Faith's inheritance!

***

1 Cor.13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

There is SO much more to this life than what/who meets the eye!

(like potato-diggers or flowers)

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.

***

Sometimes, when hardships come some doubt God

and his existence.

In the verses below David reflects, first on Joseph

who was sold as a slave, thrown into prison,

through false allegations,

before eventually being released

and given a place of highest honour!

Until the time that his word came to pass,

The word of the Lord tested him

Ps.105:19

...and then, also on the Israelites 

and God's faithful provision for them

in spite of their complaining and ungratefulness !

But (the Israelites) lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,

And tested God in the desert.

And He gave them their request,

But sent leanness into their soul.

Ps.106:14-15

Yesterday I visited a friend who recently moved into hospice.

She knows her time on this earth is almost over,

Yet,

Her room seemed filled with Hope's Palpable Presence; Peace! 

Through Christ's shed blood and her confession of faith,

when she repented and believed,

'in the valley of the shadow of death she fears no evil

for the Shepherd is with her; His rod and staff comfort her...'

(Still, please pray for her and her family!!)

In spite of this, these are hard days 😭🙏

Dear 'S' 💓

Johnny Cash - If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven

Oh God, help us desire You and trust in You

with all our heart 

and not lean on our own understanding,

lest you satisfy our hands with things we see

and send a leanness of soul! 

What awful dread to live, not led

By He who satisfies the Soul

To think and be, by what we see

Rather than faith that makes us whole

What utter loss, to scorn the cross

And settle for this wicked world

To count for naught, salvation wrought

Through Jesus' blood-bought grace unfurled 

What sad effect if we reject

Glad, Living Hope, through faith in He

Who, in death's hour preempts its pow'r

With life, for all eternity

But oh, what peace and joy increase

As we release the part we brave

To Jesus Christ who sacrificed

Himself to overthrow the grave

Janet Martin 

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, 

and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, 

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, 

the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

On Conditional Promises

We all desire a beautiful life,

as glorious as a chocolate-cherry hibiscus in full bloom!

But there are certain conditions necessary for flowers to

bloom profusely, such as adequate sun and rain!

So too,  there are conditions when it comes to a truly, beautiful life

 rich with spiritual blessings; 

the beauty of true hope, joy and peace

Each of the preciously comforting promises below, 

(a few of many)  are conditional;

God's part contingent on our response to Him,

reserved for all who fear God and keep His commandments. (Eccles.12:13)

Ps.145:18

The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call out to Him in truth.

Ps.103:17-18

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

18To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

Rom.8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,

who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Rom.8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Matt7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,

but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

John 14:15-17

“If you love Me, [d]keep My commandments. 

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, 

that He may abide with you forever— 

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,

 because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; 

but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

In light of promises such as these, a prayer,

(because God sees my heart and who/what I most truly worship)

Without His help and righteousness, my faith is impossible to please Him! 

Lord, help me do my part to trust You and obey

Then You will satisfy my heart and hear me when I pray 

The comfort You instill grants joy and peace divine

Impossible to know, until I yield my will to Thine

You are the God of hope; there is none besides Thee

Without You, Want is doomed to grope in faithless misery

But with You, come what may, Your promises abide

To all who trust You and obey You faithfully provide

And satisfy our need beyond our wildest ken

You hear our prayers and intercede with perfect love. Amen  

Janet Martin

Rom15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My camera is on its last gasp!

I'm so thankful it worked well enough to capture

this beauty before it fades

Take Time Out For Jesus 

Because True Love Must Suffer Long...

“In every temptation we face and every trial we endure,

both Satan and God are active, and they have opposite designs, opposite purposes.

God is always proving your faith and your obedience in every temptation and trial.

And Satan is always seeking to destroy your faith and undermine your obedience

in every temptation and trial.”

—John Piper

Rom.8:6

For to be carnally minded is death;

 but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

God had one Son without sin,

but none without sorrow

J.R. Miller

Love suffers long...1 Cor.13:4

For this midweek, midmonth morning, a prayer.

Happy (or not) Mid-July! 

Dear Lord, waken our wanting to veiled blessings burdens bear

Expose the carnal taunting of the tempter’s cunning snare

By Thy own life, remind us how true love must suffer long

How before and behind us, your Hand on us makes us strong

Let Your Word be our buffer in a world vile and untrue

Through all that love must suffer, shape us to be more like You

As You bless those who mourn with comfort of courage renewed

As You infuse hearts, sorrow-worn with humbler gratitude

Surely goodness and mercy will not fail us all our days

Surely, through sorrow, You instill love’s purer joy and praise

Surely, through self-denial You bestow riches untold

Surely, through each new trial some new blessing You unfold

Dear Lord, help us humbly receive the gifts You long to give

Guard us against lies that deceive; show us how we should live

Then help us walk by faith, not sight; in weakness make us strong

As Your law becomes our delight and love’s suff’ring, our song

© Janet Martin

another soul-cheering reminder from the book pictured HERE 

The Beatitudes

Matt.5:3-12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the [a]earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, 

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, 

for great is your reward in heaven, 

for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Hope, What a Precious Word

Without hope all we need is lost! with hope (in God) all we need is found!

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 

Ps.42:5

Today's poem is inspired in part by the above verse, 

and in part by our message yesterday morning from Ps.23

as God ministered to His flock through the preaching of His Word.

As we hope in Him our good Shepherd restores our souls! 

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for...Heb.11:1

Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all.

 Who hopes for what he can already see? 

 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Hope-what a precious word; 'hope thou in God' Amen

Hope, the substance that keeps faith stirred to trust the more, and then

With strength and joy restored, hope in God sings and sings

For they that wait upon the Lord will mount on eagle's wings

A Shepherd to the soul; when cares and sorrows press

Hope cheers us on toward a goal only faith can possess

Where wayward paths increase and fattened feelings taunt

Hope eclipses desire with peace and cries 'I shall not want'

A Comforter and Friend; unyielding, in the fray

Hope arms and anchors; does not bend to 'did God really say?

But with glad confidence beneath His rod reproved/behooved

Hope replies 'God is my defense and I will not be moved''

A Rock that does not shift through howling gales of change

Hope anchors us, lest we should drift and let sight, faith estrange

As God tests wish and whim with patience-honing ways

Take up hope's cross and follow Him with persevering praise

Effort and rest, in sync; seeking God's kingdom first

As the deer pants for brooks to drink, Hope in God slakes faith's thirst

And never disappoints; His gift of grace enough

Hope is the goodness that anoints faith with mercy's great love

© Janet Martin

Eph.2:4-5

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ

 (by grace you have been saved),...

I'd Rather Have Jesus - Amos Raber (ALASKA)

For Whatever Today Holds (our whole life through)

John 21:1-14

1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias,a Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples.

 He made Himself known in this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,b 

Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, 

and two other disciples were together.

  3Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.”

“We will go with you,” they said. 

So they went out and got into the boat, 

but caught nothing that night.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore,

 but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.

  5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” 

So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in 

because of the great number of fish.

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” 

As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment

 (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.

  8The other disciples came ashore in the boat. 

They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, 

only about a hundred yards.c

9When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.

10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 

11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. 

It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.

12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. 

None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” 

They knew it was the Lord.

  13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, 

and He did the same with the fish.

14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples

 after He was raised from the dead.

***

Don't you love this story?! 

Recently a few of my devotions have pointed to the richness of its details!

How dreary the disciple's return to hum-drum life must have seemed,

 in light of the past three years spent with Jesus! 

How discouraged they must have been after a night of  'fruitless/fishless' net-casting!

but Jesus cared about them in their common tasks, calling from the shore!

(Calling them 'children like a tender-loving Daddy/Abba-Father)

 Not only did He meet them there but had gone ahead of them to prepare a fire,

 knowing there would be fish! 

They didn't recognize Him right away

but oh, the joy when they did!

What a beautiful picture for present-day

disciples and fishermen to cherish and draw encouragement from!  

I captured the delight of this fisherman on the weekend!

This joyful moment followed the frustration of the loss of a lure

after his line snagged and broke,

and he needed to mend it and cast again!

Wherever we are,

whatever today holds, 

let us not lose heart

for the One who overcame the world is with us!

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, 

so that in me you may have peace.

 In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

He cares for us; and does not leave us to fend on our own

God never sends us out to ‘fish’ or fight faith’s fights alone

But takes a tender int’rest in our labours here on earth

For no task is too commonplace when filled with love’s great worth

He comes to us; no matter where the call of duty lies

He does not leave us comfortless to feast on futile sighs

But cheers us onward, for His grace will always be enough

To bear us up beneath love’s charge with hope and joy and love

He comforts us; into grief’s valley streams of mercy pour

When we are heavy-laden, look He beckons from the shore

To 'come'; no matter who we are He loves us all the same

His Spirit ministers to all who call upon His name

He carries us; like a Shepherd He tends His precious flock

And lifts us to His bosom when we are too weak to walk

His love will never fail, each morning His mercy is new

To fit us for whatever today holds, our whole life through

© Janet Martin

This song kept going through my mind on the weekend as

I marveled at the way trees grow out of rocks!!

Sweetly Resting (In the Rifted Rock)