So We Do Not Lose Heart

The previous poem was on change of heart; this one is about not losing heart!
so much suffering and loss in this little life, but we do not lose heart
if we fix our eyes not on the seen but what is unseen!

2 Cor.4:16-18

 So we do not lose heart. 

Though our outer self^[a] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory

 beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen 

but to the things that are unseen. 

For the things that are seen are transient, (temporal)

but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Lord, in this world that oft unfurls a lariat of dread

And takes us captive, not with hope but with fear’s lies instead

Protect us with a shield of faith from evil’s venom dart

Let Your full armour keep us brave so we do not lose heart

Temptation tosses glossy lures to draw us from You, Lord

And we would all fall prey, for sure, without Your Spirit-sword

Remind us whether aged or youth to re-evaluate

Lest we forget the belt of truth or righteousness’ breastplate

There is a battle that takes place where only You can see

Its warriors would fail without your grace and sympathy

But we are strong if we put on the whole armour of You

Though the world scorns, forgive them Lord, they know not what they do

How readily doubt’s gaping pit looms, filled with emptiness

How easily our feet would slip without your promises

How thankfully we cling to what we see though but in part

For we know what you say is true, thus we do not lose heart

© Janet Martin

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the powers of this world’s darkness,

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,

 you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,

with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 Ephesians 6:10-17

Taste-tests, Recipe-tests, and Faith-tests

 

Yesterday's bean-cooking and bagging for the freezer made me crave a good batch of chili

so I tried the recipe on the kidney beans bag for something different.

We didn't care for the the cinnamon flavour.

I also added green beans for more veggies which 

didn't impress some of my 'supper-kins' much.

They love green beans...but could have done without them in their chili!

Green beans is one of my fav veggies so I thought they added a nice touch😀

My kids often tease me and say I turn everything I eat into a salad.

I prefer everything I eat on salad! yum!

This was a simple salad of romaine lettuce, thinly sliced cabbage and toasted sesame seeds.

With chili it needed no dressing though some used their favorite bottled variety.

I enjoy watching cooking shows...esp. the ones filmed in places like Italy...

 

...but no matter how much they mix and stir and sip and taste and rave and m-m-m!

I can't smell or taste a thing!

I can imagine what the air might smell like in a vineyard, sun-steeped and musky,

or the aromas as they sear and season,

or the flavours as they taste-test to see if it is good!

But that's it...I can only imagine.

So it is with everything in life;

until we experience it we guess at what it might be like.

Have you ever wished you could make someone taste something because you love it, 

but they refuse, certain they will not like it! 

And until they have a change of heart pleading is vain!

...and there it is; the change of heart which we cannot force.

So too then, for all who have not 'tasted to see that the Lord is good,'

we pray for that sacred eternity-altering change of heart.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; 

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34:8

We cannot force love or belief

The heart must first concede

To the small voice that stirs the chief

Of choice to sense its need

For hope and faith and humble trust

Mere Must cannot achieve

No matter how we kick the dust

Where death does not deceive

The thread of numbered centuries

Unfurls a world of ‘should’

Wise is the one who tastes and sees

That God alone is good

…for He is love; all goodness starts

With He who is its Source

Belief begins with change of heart

…a choice that none can force

Then pray, before it is too late

That one and all will choose

To taste what naught can imitate

And none should dare refuse

Yes, pray before it is too late

We taste more than enough

Not from a laden dinner plate

But God's redeeming love

 

© Janet Martin

To be filled with awe and wonder
At the love of God for man
Satisfies howling heart-hunger
Like nothing in this world can



 

Mercy's Undertow

 

Ah, we parade across graves filled with dust of bygone days

That gathered in the skin of grin and groans well-seasoned ways

That pulsed with life beneath hope’s oriflamme of grace and truth

That drew new feet to dreamer’s shoes once worn by yester’s youth

Before the tug of tick and tock drew them with hug and blow

To where we are today, pray, tuned to Mercy’s undertow

The seeds we scatter as we go will bear fruit in due time

Past, present, future’s fibril intricately intertwined

Where we can never sever consequence from choice and deed

As sure enough and soon enough the fruit will prove the seed

Where only fools assume somehow the harvest will not show

Our fear and love or lack thereof to Mercy’s undertow

How often our goals reflect more than we first perceive

As motive proves who we respect and who we live to please

Then this behooves us now and then to re-evaluate

What leads to what and in the end, its manifold estate

As Hello begets fare-thee-well, hold begets letting go

Last breath begets what yet waits beyond Mercy’s undertow

© Janet Martin

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end; 

 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lam.22-23 

In Spite Of How We Are

Recently a parent shared how they had to withhold something their child loved to teach

the consequence of disobedience/disrespect.

Sometimes a parent’s love and compassion for a child permits a bit of ‘suffering’

to remind them of mom or dad’s authority.

 Poor, poor child who is left to his or her own will!!

We discipline our children because we love them, not out of vengeance or mean spirit.

So, don’t you think our Heavenly Father, who gave the best He had for us,

 because He loves us SO much and wants to reach or teach us

sometimes ‘takes back’ something that He simply lent to us in the first place?

How will we respond; with trust, humility and repentance or anger and rebellion?

The way we are will always need reminders; we forget

That what we have is lent; our human bent so quick to fret

And it is hard, too hard to trust if we have not received

The promise God has given us for all who have believed

If we have never bowed proud heads and cried ‘ Father, forgive’

If we have never heeded Mercy’s pleading ‘look and live’

If we have never felt hope's fountain overflow-and flow
With peace that passes understanding for our cup of woe

If we have not relinquished our will to One divine

Who works for our good through His mysterious design

If we have never (metaphorically) kissed Jesus’ feet

If we have never cried ‘how sweet Your words, dear Lord, how sweet’

If we have never been reminded in some deep, dark vale

That God is Light and God is love and He will never fail

In spite of how we are, His mercy is renewed each day

His grace will be sufficient if we let Him lead the way

© Janet Martin