Awesome Advocate

Jim called a few minutes ago while I was 'finessing' this post

with a cool little reminder of God's goodness, mercy and faithfulness

to wherever we are; even shoveling manure! 

He had just finished cleaning out his trailer with a less

than ideal fork because someone 'borrowed' his good one...

the manure was deep and heavy and

he felt extremely oppressed by despair, fatigue and fuming frustration!

Then his phone dinged; it was the verse of the day;

1 Peter 5: 6-8

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, 

so that in due time He may exalt you. 

7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 

8Be sober-minded and alert. 

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, 

seeking someone to devour.…

And it completely changed his focus!

He decided to call and see if by any chance

I was marveling over the morning in poem...😄

The scorner only sees a sky

Where Mercy's fountains brim

To fill the framework of the eye

With Outer Fringe of Him

And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
    how faint the whisper we hear of him!
    Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

Job 26:14

Emblazoned on the heavens, Mercy authorizes dawn 

As dark with gold is riven by a Hand we cannot see 

And from a sacred Ledger, one more page of time is drawn 

To keep the pledge God made to Noah and his family 

‘As long as earth remains… the day and night will never cease’ 

As long as grace sustains the channels of time’s fleeting lease 

We, beneath this divine allotment are all called by Him 

Though He is oft forgotten in the thick of common need 

While celestial inkwells with His Advocation brim 

Where God is ever-faithful in all that He has decreed 

Then ought we not with humble yearning seek to keep our ‘yes’ 

To He who is not slack concerning all His promises 

This precious interlude between the cradle and the grave 

Where tokens of mercy renewed each morning floods the air 

Is far more than The Thinning Dark as night is turned to day 

It is the Ark still open for all to heed and prepare 

Where recompense to our response is drawing very near 

…the extent of Souled audience far more than we appear 

© Janet Martin

Mercies New Every Morning Matt Redman

Imagine That!

Inspired by this golden nugget...

This lovely gem came out of a box of Kleenex my sister gave to me;

She had opened up the end of the box carefully, pulled out the stack of Kleenexes

slid poems, quotes, humorous stories etc. in the folds between the Kleenex, 

then put it all back inside the box and re-glued the side shut.

Voila! a great, sweet, long-enjoyed gift

I only take a  Kleenex from that box

to 'treat' myself.

The above snippet was last night's treat after feeling a little down after

some recent headlines and much quick commentary;

some not so very kind.

Imagine if in place of slights and bites and prejudice 

We simply treated others like we would, they treated us 

Imagine if, (because we have not walked in their worn shoes) 

We didn’t form conclusions based on our own point of views 

Imagine if we weren’t so quick to pick up Judgement’s rod 

But simply loved and left the repercussions up to God 

Imagine if we chose to grant the benefit of doubt 

And sought only good thoughts and strove to sweep all others out 

Imagine if we would be courteous, with cheerful face 

And valued one another with encouragement and grace 

Imagine if we only reached out with a Servant’s touch 

Instead of criticism, or of back-stabbing and such 

Imagine what a wonderful world this would start to be 

If I began to treat you like I hope you would treat me 

Imagine if, for no other sake but our fellowman 

We shouldered our ‘rise ’n shine’ and pursued our ‘plan’ 

Imagine, if we reined in scornful words, sarcastic quips 

And everywhere we turned were helping hands and smiling lips 

Imagine what a sweeter, kinder old world this would be 

If by God’s grace I loved you like I hope you will love me 

© Janet Martin 

The Golden Rule

Matt.7:12

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, 

do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

A Love Poem (for parents)

 We celebrated Mom's birthday yesterday, a little late...

I tucked this poem in her card and hope

she will read between the lines...

for things words wouldn't will.

Sometimes the heart is full of art that cannot find a way 

To spell in ink the things we think but don’t know how to say 

’I love you’, ‘I am sorry’, ‘thank-you for all that you do’ 

Seem far too small to convey all that I would like it to 

The things we learn where living’s no-return is running rife 

Often humbles opinion with stumbles and facts of life 

But we are not so quick to pick up stones in self-defense 

As we begin to gather in the sheaves of recompense 

The past is a vast book we should look at, but not retrace 

Except to see with clarity the goodness of God’s grace 

And where we lack the perfect knack to spell our utter thanks 

We trust in love to be enough to fill in all the blanks 

© Janet Martin

“‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

Num.6:24-26

This Is November

Last Post and Rouse

"This is November; the month to remember 

All those who fought for ‘true North strong and free’ "

What a blessing to be able to

cherish life's loveliness-es in a country where we are free to do so!

Free (covid-restrictions aside) to come and go as we please!

This freedom comes at a great price!

Lest We Forget

This is the season of silver-silk haloes 

Crowning milkweed in gauzy silhouettes 

Landscapes a-glimmer with stubble and furrows 

Shadows soft-stenciled like penciled vignettes 

This is the season of silence. Leaf-laughter 

Snuffed like a flicker from each woodland wick 

Now our senses are drawn to a rafter 

Now blue, now gray, now Day cut to the quick 

This is the season of tender surrender 

Baring of secrets that full foliage kept 

Doffed of the flower but never the splendor 

Where leaf-confetti is scattered and swept 

This is the season of Nature’s stark beauty 

Before heavens unfurl winter’s oriflamme 

Flinging white featherdown o’er town and country 

Muffling the brittle ballad of Autumn

This is the season of brook song refurbished 

Gone to seed thistle-weed-parachute flight 

Caught on a current of sunbeams, dusk-burnished 

Glint of gold gossamer soon lost to sight 

This is the season of Collected Treasure

Bloom dappled meadow, an echo of Thought

Playing back pictures of picnic-lunch pleasure 

Crooning a postlude of  'forget-me-not'

This is November; the month to remember 

All those who fought for ‘true North strong and free’ 

This is November; the last glowing ember 

On a hearth kindled with Expectancy 

© Janet Martin

An Oldie to remind us there is 

No 'Free' in Freedom

Somber and steady up a tree-lined street

A stream of solemn soldier-ranks are led,

As sun-beams dance to the drummer’s beat

Filtering through the branches overhead

Beyond the tears and past the arc of trees

The music of a small child’s laughter swells

Stark contrast to the mourning infantry

Bowing beneath the tolling of the bells

Then, as the weeping bag-pipe song exalts

The melody of sweet Amazing Grace

Then, as the banner-covered coffin halts

For it has reached its final resting place

Then, as the last note fades the cannon flies

Its echo fills the air from shore to shore

Yet pales in the wake of a mother’s cries

“There is no ‘free’ in freedom anymore

Put down your banners, lay down your guns

My sweet baby boy has died

Tributes, salutes, many battles won

Won’t bring him back” she cried

“Take away all the roses for nothing will be

Like it ever was before

The price of freedom is too hard for me

There is no ‘free’ in freedom anymore”

Freedom (part two)

Upon Golgotha’s rocky skull-strewn trail

A teaming, screaming throng of hatred surged

Swarming around a form blood-bathed and pale

Upon a place called Calvary they converged

Wild, wild with rage wages hate’s vicious roar

No one remains to defend Love unbound

Stark contrast to the cheers and praise before

Where palm-tree branches waved and decked the ground

Then as the violent blows of steel on steel

Accentuates the horror on the hill

Then, as they drive in hatred nail by nail

Against Love’s cries of ‘Father, not My will’

Then, as they praised and raised Life’s blood-stained cross

In victory, death’s maddened thousands roar

As Mary, his mother weeps for her loss

“There is no ‘free’ in freedom anymore

Take away your hammers, lay down your swords

My dear precious son has died”

As the lightning flashed and the thunder roared

There at His feet she cried

“Take away all your hatred, your jeers and chanting

For you have slain my Lord

Take away all your weapons and cease your ranting

There is no ‘free’ in freedom anymore”

There is no ‘free’ in freedom, Love pays a price

Where hellish horrors run

There is no ‘free’ in freedom, its sacrifice

Save in Christ, is never done

There is no ‘free’ in freedom, red the river

That flows on its behalf

There is no 'free' in freedom; its signature

A blood-stained autograph

© Janet Martin

Prayer-power

 

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession 

and thanksgiving be made for all people— 

1 Tim.2:1

last week's list just keeps growing!!

Did you feel God’s arms surround you with an ineffable peace? 

When the cry of my heart found you did your weight of worry cease? 

Did you sense Someone far greater step beneath your heavy load? 

Did you meet with your Creator on fear’s dark Jericho Road? 

Did you wonder at the whisper that seemed to come from thin air? 

Did you recognize your Master as He ministered through prayer? 

Did you feel His arms around you as you struggled up faith’s hill? 

When the cry of my heart found you, did He whisper ‘peace be still’? 

© Janet Martin

Our Father who art in Heaven

Grant us the courage to pray 

Thy Will be done

And faith to trust Your reply

For Thine is the Kingdom,

The power and

the glory,

 forever and ever,

Amen

One of my favorite renditions of this song!

Peace, Be Still

One Awesome God

 

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, 

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

What a hallelujah hymn the heavens played this morning!!

"And so, once more Mercy’s compassion spills and fills the sky 

And holds back Heaven’s legions for the sake of you and I "

Today's Daily Bread Devotion,

The Triumph of Forgiveness

inspired today's poem with this line;

"There’s One whose arms are open wide to receive us 

when we acknowledge our wrongs and seek His forgiveness. "

There's One whose arms are open wide to welcome seekers in 

Where forgiveness is not denied when we confess our sin 

Where redemption and mercy meld in love’s atoning claim 

And salvation is not withheld from all who trust His name 

There's One who cannot bear quite yet, to seal Time’s Day of Grace 

And rend the veil twixt here and There when all will see His face 

For God so loved the world that He gave His Beloved Son 

To pay sin’s gruesome penalty for each and everyone 

There's One whose perfect will it is that none should be cast out 

When faith beholds the promises that many scorn and doubt 

And so, once more Mercy’s compassion spills and fills the sky 

And holds back Heaven’s legions for the sake of you and I 

© Janet Martin 

1 Tim.2:1-6

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession 

and thanksgiving be made for all people— 

2for kings and all those in authority, 

that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, 

the man Christ Jesus,

 6who gave himself as a ransom for all people. 

There Is a Fountain

Settling the Doubt-Duel (With No Doubt About It)

Can you pick figs from thistles?

Matt.7:16

There is no doubt about it; By our fruits we are known 

Can we pick figs from thistles; or pluck grapes from a stone 

There is no doubt about it; we reap the seed we sow 

God is not mocked; and it is He who said that it is so 

There is no doubt about it; time is a transient toll 

And none can know the hour that shucks body from the soul 

There is no doubt about it; the tricks that we employ 

If we are apart from the Vine will never yield full joy 

There is no doubt about it; we fight an enemy 

Not flesh and blood but evil forces that we cannot see 

There is no doubt about it; Someday, the recompense 

Of Faith, the substance of our hope before the evidence 

There is no doubt about it; we prefer kiss to kick 

And comfort’s pretty flower to conviction’s thorny prick 

There is no doubt about it; we are a broken breed 

Dependent on God’s mercy to supply our daily need 

There is no doubt about it; waiting is hard to bear 

But oh, how oft its anguish authors our most humble prayer 

There is no doubt about it; in the fist-a-cuffs of life 

We start to seek a city better than this world of strife 

There is no doubt about it; the Lord gives and He takes

And we are called to bless His name for He makes no mistakes

For there's no doubt about it; we come with empty hands

And we can carry nothing past this cast of sea-swept sands

There is no doubt about it; the greatest of these, love 

No other power can eclipse or ever be enough 

There is no doubt about it; if we seek God, we find 

His peace, past understanding to guard our heart and mind

There is no doubt about it; no matter what we face 

If we believe, will never be beyond God's realm of grace 

There is no doubt about it; after life’s race, my friend 

A crown of righteousness awaits all faithful to the end 

© Janet Martin

God Is Love. Love is not God

Declaring the end from the beginning, 

And from ancient times things that are not yet done, 

Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

Isa.46:10

His Love Cannot Fail...

Love does not annul the law.

Love is the fulfillment of the law.

Seems sometimes like we live in a world

that wants the fruit of righteousness 

without the righteousness

...wants the blessing of obedience

without the obedience

...wants the love of God

without the law of God

"well, I believe in a God of love"

said someone defending an immoral life-style.

God is love. Love is not God 

Love does not wrong-doing applaud 

Love is patient and Love is kind 

And true love keeps God’s decrees first in mind 

God is love. Love cannot lie 

Or wink at sin with easy eye 

Love does not defend negligence 

Or ignore blatant disobedience 

God’s love and grace are absolute 

His holiness, none can refute 

His love grants no excuse for pride 

Through Love’s/God’s righteousness man is justified 

God, author of salvation gave 

His Son the soul of man to save 

Love does not seek the wants of ‘me’ 

But is the pinnacle of true humility 

Love leaves no room for jealousy 

It honours God’s authority 

Love does not carelessly approve 

Of counterfeits masquerading as love 

Love is preeminent and just 

His confidence worthy of trust 

For love is noble, sincere, true 

Love needs not fear what a mere man may do 

Love fulfills; it does not annul 

The law and prophecy, faithful 

Love is the Perfect Judge because 

He, the perfect example proved love’s laws 

God is love. Love is not God 

Lest we love’s purity defraud 

We ought to repent of our sins 

And find the only place/grace where love begins 

© Janet Martin 

Love has no 'gray' areas...

Heb.13:4

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; 

but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, 

for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 

9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,”

 “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] 

and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command:

 “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. 

Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:8-13