Let's Just Be Friends...

“A new command I give you: Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

 These two youngsters are still learning the art of friendship; 

one minute its hug-you love, the next its hit-and-shove.

But they are babies and simply 'acting their age'

I've seen similar 'action' whether in body or language 

from we who are 'old enough to know better!'

 

...for there is always more to It Than that which meets the eye

Where judgment’s quick analysis cannot the full descry

So before we ignore the More that Mercy’s love defends

Let’s put our arms around each other and let’s just be friends

Let he or she who has not sinned be bold enough to stand

Aha! See there is no one who is fit to raise a hand

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

Then let’s not be so quick to shed a fellow-trav’ler’s blood

Let’s just be friends and then instead of condemnation’s slight

The love of God in us will fit us for life's soul-full fight

Instead of fist-a-cuff His love will change hearts, hard and blind

And turn fear into courage because words are soft and kind

© Janet Martin

inspired by a moment yesterday when I oh, so dearly wish I would have kept my mouth shut!

Joy's Awesome Alloy; Emmanuel, 'God With Us'

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: 

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isa.7:14

 

What joy we find through Jesus

Too great to fully tell

Abiding Hope; ‘God with us’

 What love! Emmanuel

God with us and God for us

In Him love will not fail

Though the world wars against us

God’s promise will prevail

Never alone; His Spirit

To comfort, guide, reprove

And all who humbly hear it

Find peace and joy and love

What joy for all believers

Nothing can take the place

Of Hope we find in Jesus

Through love’s redeeming grace

Then sing! None can replace Him

Let earth and heaven blend

As hearts and voices praise Him

In worship without end

© Janet Martin

December Decoupage

 This morning at first glance it seemed the Painter's tray

 was filled with colors like drab, dreary, bleak...

 ...but on closer look. wow! look at all those colors in this decoupage!

and glass-rhinestone garnished trees!

 ...feathered sketches

The splurge of snow that fell the other day becomes a sea

Of puddle-mirrors; a gray shawl is tossed across the lea

The sodden leaves, like russet decoupage pressed to earth’s heart

Soft-stirs the downcast gaze with Beauty’s undefeated art

Where the easel that holds the canvas that unfolds each while

Always showcases Something that reflects the Painter’s smile

To rouse within the nature of our very human ways

A glorious sense of wonder and a humble hymn of praise

© Janet Martin

But, if we are feeling a little 'gray' here's why! (click link)

Commemoration AND Expectation!

I began a load of laundry and other house-holdish chores when rat-a-tat-tat, 

somewhere beneath my ribs and in my head a song began to beg Existence!

Night's noose of dread and weariness is cut loose by Morning's Star!

Hallelujah!

 

Rejoice, hope's celebration

Is more than we can see

Sacred commemoration

Joined with expectancy

Hope, heaven’s holy hunger

Hope, hunger’s holy prayer

It fills the heart with wonder

In spite of earthy care

It keeps us looking forward

Whilst still remembering

It mingles joy with sorrow

And paupers with a King

Come join the celebration

Where hope, true joy imparts

The candle of the nation

Resides in human hearts

As Love convicts the sinner

Yet sets its captive free

For Love sent a deliverer

To ransom you and me

So now Commemoration

And Expectation meet

In joyful celebration

Before we kiss Love’s feet

© Janet Martin

With Faces Turned From Fear...Advent Hymn

And I’m telling you: When we dash one person’s light — we dash a world of light,

 because we tend to pass on our pain, instead of passing the peace.

Ann Voskamp

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: 

for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; 

he also is become my salvation.

Isa.12:2

...and here Hope begins!

The Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” 

perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

While Israel would have sung the song in expectation of Christ’s first coming,
the church now sings the song in commemoration of that first coming
and in expectation of the second coming in the future. 

excerpt from What is Advent

With faces turned from fear

To Bethlehem they sped

There shepherds beheld Hope so dear

Laid in a manger-bed

With faces turned from fear

Repentance and belief

Bestow the joy of Jesus here

To comfort pain-shame-grief

With faces turned from fear

To Bethlehem we turn

Where hope abides to gently cheer

And grant what none can earn

With faces turned from fear

Toward Hope’s glorious Light

Salvation sweetens sorrow's tear

Until faith becomes sight  

With faces turned from fear

Though evil’s army seethes

It cannot conquer Peace so near

That Hope in God bequeaths

With faces turned from fear

Toward Hope’s glorious Door

‘til Jesus Christ will re-appear

And reign forevermore

© Janet Martin