Dear Pretty Pleasure

This morning's 1-minute Bible Love Notes  devotion focused on a topic that has filled a train of thought  going round and round in my head recently! 

Thank-you Gayle 'for drawing us closer to Jesus one minute at a time!'

I've listened to this message many times because it encourages us to be diligent and wise! 

Dear Pretty Pleasure...

You steal, with bold appeal, attention’s appetite to fill

Where taste and look and listen are always eager to thrill

Be careful, some enjoyments seemingly harmless at first

Drop little seeds that grow into a fruit flagrantly cursed

The root of evil oftentimes disguised by pleasure’s vim

Flaunts little lies to lure our eyes from attributes of Him

And not until the sting of consequence startles our gaze

Do we become aware of Temptation’s ingenious ways

…of tearing down while we were busy being quite at ease

With the compliance to senses always eager to please

Where human nature does not care to pay a pretty price

For something that purchases nothing… but humble sacrifice

Popular opinion based only upon Opinion’s sum  

Begets from dregs of blind belief a horrendous outcome

My dear, my precious, dearest child, pray God to draw your eyes

To look into His word to ever keep you truly wise

Our God, a kind forgiver forgives the mistakes we make

He does not leave us helpless or hopeless; but for our sakes

He gave His word, His perfect word that will not pass away

But guards and guides us with pure truth toward the Judgement Day

© Janet Martin

Simply Learning

Little did the work-soiled farmer who stopped in the middle of a very busy day

realize what a portrait of daddy-love he 'painted'; 

...sitting in a wooden rocker beside his 4 yr. old birthday girl

at lunch yesterday, opening gifts and reading cards.

 (his 'looking back' will hopefully hold dear these precious moments)

Little 3 yr. old Girl, so excited to be invited was very proud of the gift she brought to give...

(she really wanted to keep it!)

(...but those are always the best gifts to give, aren't they; the ones we wish we could keep!)

When the party was over she asked if she could run up-stairs one last time so I followed her up and heard her say to the tea-set now arranged on the Birthday Girl's bed.

"good-bye, tea-party dishes. I will miss you"

I try hard not to look back and wish for things I cannot change. 

Its a good thing to be able to forgive ourselves and others for fumbles then let go and move on,

 hopefully with a nugget of wisdom and grace retained as 'reward'!

Looking back can be a lesson in reproach and raw regret

If we overlook the reason; we were simply learning yet

And those trip-and-fumble follies would be hallmarks of disgrace

If a headlong stumble handed only mud upon the face

Looking back can be a lesson in humility and love

For if we are truly honest there is evidence to prove

We are all-together students of desire’s scars and dreams

Where the days of Simply Learning are not over yet, it seems

Looking back can be a lesson in forgiveness at its best

Then, when its kind grace is granted we have courage for the rest

Where earth’s School of Life is filled with first-time-for-this fellowmen

And we all are Simply Learning (let’s all just be kinder then)

Looking back can be a lesson in learning to look ahead

And be very, Very mindful of this now-moment instead

So when its thread falls behind us; stitches none can rearrange

Then its looking back won’t bind us to the Things we cannot change

© Janet Martin

 Let your eyes look forward;

fix your gaze straight ahead...

Prov.4:25

Desire, Without Second Thought...Oh!!!

 This morning to someone who slept in I suggested turning in a little earlier at night remarking,

"I know it feels nice at the time but it often is not worth it in the morning" 

and I was struck how this applies to most things that please first glance or natural inclination...

and we all have something/things we struggle with at some point/points!

Face value often-times betrays

Seducing us in wily ways

For gaze is eager to indulge

On pleasantries sight will divulge

And as we covet its delight

Oh, soon we yearn to try a bite

Then when we try a bite we earn

The consequence of its return

So we should discern (not with eyes)

If what we desire is wise

This training ground for what remains

Tests want and will with subtle chains

Beware; lest fare that freedom craves

Is that which in the end enslaves

For Vice appears so nice, oh my,

In colours pleasing to the eye

As Endeavor is caught off guard

Sound Choice seems just a bit too hard

Charmed by the teasing, pleasing form

That takes a ling’ring look by storm

Deception cons Want with decoys

First glance perceives as promised joys

Desire without second thought

Ah, what disaster it has brought

Where face-value often betrays

Seducing us with wily ways

As what appeared so nice before

Is the costume Temptation wore

And gaze was eager to indulge

The pleasantries it might divulge

© Janet Martin

 Do not love the world or anything in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—

is not from the Father but from the world.  

The world is passing away along with its desires, 

but whoever does the will of God remains forever. 

1 John 2:15-17

Worth our while just to listen to the first sentence in the video below!

(of course, then hopefully we are 'tempted' to listen to the rest!
Isn't good Temptation The BEST!!?)