Thursday, August 20, 2020

For Soul-diers and Prayer-warriors...



Dreams break; the heart harbours its shards and in hope’s tender aftermath
We learn to carry on where dawn carves out a fresh and gleaming path
For change of plans is part of man’s allotment; we are not in charge
One greater than Want’s meager scope is at the helm of mortal barge

Wills clash; the battleground upon which many silent wars are waged
Appears quite nondescript even while crucial forces are engaged
On terrain strewn with ash of fears while faith is hewn from humble tears
As Mercy stands its ground and Mortal yields to He who commandeers

Time flies; pelf-prizes once fought for have lost their luster; thank-you Lord
But oh, how hard the reckoning of damage no one can afford
While we, still works in progress learn, in the matrix of tick and tock
That truth will never change no matter how much we argue and balk

Grace frees; oh God, without it who could bear the waves of consequence
The rift that Was is bridged by Love and Your gift of deliverance
Where once we too were blinded by the view with foolish vanity
Before the blow that forges faith and fathers true humility
 
 Dreams break; but by God's grace we learn to make the best of what remains
Wills clash; but praise the Lord, the battlefield is strewn with broken chains
Time flies; the prize worth fighting for waits when we pass through death's dark door
Grace frees; now we stand taller on our knees equipped to win this war

© Janet Martin

 Colossians 3:1-4


Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Read the whole glorious chapter HERE 


A Call to Prayer


Wednesday, August 19, 2020

If You Hate God...

 Here was a man...

 

 



If you hate God because of man what good will that do you?
It is not man we reckon with when our days are through
If you deny His rightful place/praise because of loss and pain
And look down on His higher ways, what do you hope to gain?

If you choose to ignore the truth it does not change its Fact
Your hate and unbelief keeps His justice and love intact
If you hate God because you see the brokenness of man
Take a long look at Calvary; explain that, if you can


©Janet Martin
 
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believes in Him
will not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world
but that the world through him might be saved.
 
John 3:16-17


 

The Real Covid-test



This 'Covid-test' we are all caught in
is certainly showing us what happens 
when Fear takes the reign/reins!
God help us!

When Fear governs
Havoc ensues!
When Faith anchors
Hope renews

 My Faith Looks Up To Thee

 

 



Fear wreaks havoc
Faith grants peace
Fear takes captive
While Faith frees

Fear clings wildly
Faith lets go
Faith yields wonder
Fear yields woe

Faith is God-fixed
Fear, a noose
Faith or fear
Which will we choose?

Fear will hobble
Faith IS shod
Fear seeks reasons
Faith trusts God

© Janet Martin
 
What is the worst/best thing that can happen
to the household of faith?!!
Death then Heaven
 
 “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  
He freed me from all my fears.”
 
  “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, 
so that he will lift you up in his own good time.  
Leave all your worries with him, 
because he cares for you.” 
 
 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
 
 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
 but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

 

 

Before We Seek Solutions...

 

 
 
 
Before we seek solutions, may we be careful to seek Him first.
Our Daily Bread


Before we rush headlong into the nearest ‘next’ from Mercy’s throne
Before we try to bear the care that vexes visage with Unknown
Before the door to Evermore swings open once then shut for aye
Before we seek solutions to all this and more, may we first pray

Before the bloom that flourishes is stooped and withered with old age
Before our ways are set like stones cemented into Bygone’s stage
Before we waste our precious time lamenting what none can undo
May we with humble heart seek Him; each morning His mercies are new

Before we see God's promises fulfilled we must first yield and trust
Before the silver cord is severed and Soul’s husk returns to dust
Remember Your Creator, Mediator between He and man
Before the evil days draw nigh and tricks perception with a plan


© Janet Martin
 
Our Daily Bread Devotion and the devotion from the book
Springs in the Valley shared the same topic today; trust!