Ageless, Down Through the Ages Rings

This song was written by Fanny J. Crosby
(my favourite hymn-writer)

Ageless, down through the ages rings

Glad tidings of goodwill

Christ Jesus, born in Bethlehem

Abides with mankind still

Ageless, down through the ages peals

Sound hope’s redemptive cheer

Christ Jesus is our Saviour still

Pray all this message hear

Ageless, down through the ages flows

Mankind’s triumphant joy

The love that Jesus Christ bestows

And nothing can destroy

Oh, do not let this story die

But its glory retell

Of Jesus and the grace whereby

Mankind is saved from hell

Ageless, down through the ages rings

The gladdest Truth unfurled

Of Jesus, Heaven’s King of kings

The Saviour of the world

© Janet Martin

 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isa. 9:6-7 

Another favourite hymn written by Fanny J. Crosby

Friendlier Somehow

As we were sitting down to supper suddenly it was lights out... 

The gale had blown down a hydro wire somewhere...it was a warm candle-light,

easy-going scrabble and soft laughter evening

A cold rain pelts the windowpane

The waning afternoon a train

Thundering through the stricken arc

Of tree limbs, hungry, stiff and stark

Where suddenly the fireside

Is friendlier at eventide

The tempest tugs the dark beneath

The bullied edge of hill and heath

As lights of home beam like a smile

Through gales raging, vexatious, vile

Where suddenly each face we see

Is love’s coveted luxury

For home is friendlier somehow

When dark is deep and wild winds howl

And we are more blessed than we thought

With hands to hold, soup in a pot

And while we list to tempests blow

Home’s friendliness humbles us so

© Janet Martin

After Dark

He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

Isa.50:4 

Like a weightless waterfall

Gold pours over black

Like a faithful miracle

From hope’s bivouac

Like an ocean without shores

Dawn dissolves the deep

Unveiling earth’s corridors

Enshrouded in sleep

Like a gift from gracious God

Mercy meets its mark

Where a waking world applauds

Morning after dark

© Janet Martin

For a while the morning remained dark, then softly like a weightless waterfall...a faithful miracle! Thank-you, Jesus. (Imagine if the day stayed black, how doleful our toil!)

 Such fantastic lighting whereby to tackle to-do lists!

Given the Chance...or Given the Gift?

Straggle, shuffle, haste or lag

Empty-handed, heavy bag,

Happy, huffy, grumpy, sad

Tell me, which are you?

Morning flings its door ajar

And no matter who we are

Stumble, fumble, touch-a-star

We have life to do

Big blue sky or rainy gray

Work-work-work or pause to play, 

Weighted by time's come-what-may

Or free as a lark

Mouth of grin or fierce-some frown

Rich or poor or up or down

Stiffly starched or wrinkled gown

Day will soon be dark

Pick a flower, trample it

Hurry, scurry, loaf a bit

Supple stride or simple sit

Endure or abscond

Choose to pray or live to crave

Will we be servant or slave

Where Today is all we have?

…how will we respond?

© Janet Martin

Let's live to see

what's right in front

of you and me

and if given the chance

Let's not forget how to sing

or dance

...even in the rain 

yesterday Victoria, her friend and I watched this movie:)
Have you been singin' in the rain lately?

In Life To Come...

God is not dead, come join the song that hope alone can sing

For His name is Emmanuel; God with us, Christ the King

And no one can afford to miss this gift, Jesus, He came

So we can be saved from our sin by power through His Name

Glad legions in the sky declared the birth of Christ the Lord

The shepherds sped to Bethlehem to see what they had heard

We, without seeing yet believe; believe that we will see

In life to come, the full proof of the love that sets us free

For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son

To triumph over sin’s curse, death; love wept, Thy will be done

Surrendering; what awful price precipitated Hope

As He became the sacrifice, and we heirs to His home

God is not dead; come join the song that first the shepherds heard

‘For unto you is born this day a Saviour, Christ, the Lord’

Ah, no one can afford to miss this gift of hope and love

Where we, without seeing believe what life in death will prove

© Janet Martin

Wishing you a singing Sunday!