Make Today a Celebration

Inspired in part by King Solomon's Prayer of Dedication in 1 Kings 8:22-61

below, a small excerpt (click link above for full chapter)

1 Kings 8:56-61

“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised.

 Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 

57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; 

may he never leave us nor forsake us. 

58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him 

and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 

59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord,

 be near to the Lord our God day and night, 

that he may uphold the cause of his servant 

and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need,

 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know 

that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 

61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, 

to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

It was also inspired in part by Isa.26

simply entitled a Song of Praise

May today, for each of us be a reverent hymn of praise

to He who is the same God today as in the days of old

and will ever be!

Father, We Praise Thee

Make today a celebration

Pour from forms of mortal dust

Reverence and adoration

For God, holy, true and just

He, whose glory beyond telling

Transcends heaven's highest parts

Yet He comes and makes His dwelling

In temples of human hearts

Praise Him where ten thousand reasons

Barely skims His majesty

He who twirls time’s reel of seasons

Lowered twixt eternity

Praise Him for His mighty power

Staying judgment’s righteous wrath

Until the appointed hour

When not one will scorn nor laugh

Make today a dedication

Of Self, humbly sacrificed

For there is no condemnation

For all they/we who are in Christ

Who do not walk in ways worldly

But according to God’s word

Strive to be a servant, wholly

With devotion undeterred

Make today a celebration

Ringing with authentic praise

To the Author of creation

For the wonder of His ways

He, who rich in mercy hears us

As we cast on Him our cares

He whose love unfailing cheers us

Though life’s pilgrimage of prayers

He whose judgements will not falter

By Him everything was made

He who witnesses the altar

Where worship's off'ring is laid 

Raise unrivaled adoration

Let praise, like an ocean roll

In a hymn of celebration

To the Saviour of the Soul

© Janet Martin

To the only wise God our Saviour, 

be glory and majesty, 

dominion and power, 

both now and ever. 

Amen.

Jude 1:25

The Best News the World's Ever Heard

 

This poem was inspired in part by this message

and in part by a broken heart for those

who don't know or simply don't care about

The Best News the World's Ever Heard

"Isn't this the best news the world's ever heard?!!"

Alistair Begg from the message/link below

Dealing with difficult people-Alistair Begg

Here is the best news that the world’s ever heard

Sealed in sacred script of God’s eternal word

In Him is the life, and that life is the Light

That shines in the darkness to give faith insight

To guide and direct, to rebuke and advise

To keen our conscience, lest sin blinds our eyes

To reprove excuses for commands we shirk

To train and equip us for every good work

To walk in a manner worthy of the call

From He who shed his own lifeblood once for all

So, all who believe in Him will never die

Saved from the curse wrought through the serpent’s first lie

Here is the best news that this world’s ever heard

Hope anchored in truth of God’s eternal word

His counsel to help us to trust and obey

To guard us from pitfalls on charming display

Because the law of the Lord is love’s delight

Awe’s sweet meditation by day and by night

To quicken the prayer for bold scorners that laugh

In the face of He who will sift them like chaff

When the day of grace that runs wild through each breath

Is severed as life’s silver cord yields to death

And it is to late to be suddenly stirred

By salvation’s best news this world’s ever heard

© Janet Martin

Psalm 1 KJV

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

 nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; 

and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, 

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither;

 and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: 

but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Such is Perhaps

I've come to the conclusion that love and life

are a fine mingling of disappointment and delight!

Torrential down-pours to and from Pennsylvania

 hampered/dampened what would have been even more spectacular views,

on our weekend getaway to attend our nephew's wedding!

Dodging the timing of the wipers to capture the *perfect shot became a bit of a game...

*(I quickly gave up on 'perfect' and simply hoped for a few unblurry shots)😅

But Saturday was less wet than forecasted 

so we didn't get drenched in the morning while doing touristy things

 nor in the afternoon did guests get drenched. 

The wedding was beautiful!

This beautiful couple have already been through some deeply refining disappointments

requiring dream-rearranging...(shot blurred for privacy sake)

Weather-disappointments are a part of life and overall

rather small on the scale of disappointments!

And God's handiwork is stunning, even in the rain!

(both literally and metaphorically)

Sometimes dreams don't turn out how we imagine/anticipate!

But if we place our dreams into God's hands

 perhaps, no, surely He will use the disappointment

to deepen our awareness and appreciation for

the myriad of mercies we are showered with daily! 

Dreamworlds collapse; Such is ‘perhaps’

…perhaps life’s bitter-sweetest means

Of teaching us to hope and trust

In more than destiny of dreams

Perhaps to help us hone the heart

To kinder, meeker give-and-take

Because we know the stinging smart

That ‘perhaps’ can leave in its wake

...to make us more aware of how

We wield the onus of replies

Where perhaps ‘perhaps’ is the ‘wow’

Still wearing broken-dream disguise

...while we weather warpaths of wish

Vexed by detours, potholes, barred gates

Perhaps we should remember this;

 Perhaps something far better waits

© Janet Martin

Life's disappointments develop and test

the mettle of our character.

Everyone is hunky-dory when life goes the way we like, right?

When it doesn't...ah! what then?!

1 Thess.5:18

...in everything give thanks; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

A lot of our deepest disappointments are only fully witnessed

by He who truly loves and cares!

Thank-you, faithful Heavenly Father🙏

He Whispers To Me

Legacy of Faithfulness

No matter who we are or whatever our call,

both practically and spiritually,

it takes a lifetime to leave behind

a legacy of faithfulness.

Is faithfulness scarred by many a blow/wound?

Yes. But faithfulness is both gauntlet and goal!

Its achievement possible only through persistent perseverance.

Persistent perseverance only truly possible through many-a-prayer

and the sacred awareness of the giver of our abilities and its charge!

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; 

He cannot deny Himself.

2 Tim.2:13

(click link to the whole glorious chapter on guidelines for faithfulness)

Whether carpenter, housewife, spouse, 

preacher, poet, parent, 

teacher, butcher, baker,

truckdriver, candlestick maker, you-name-it...

faithfulness is never an overnight success!

My carpenter good naturedly allowed me to take his picture 

and said he doesn't mind if I use it on today's post...

He has just started his own business and is hoping, 

task by task to leave behind

a legacy of faithful care to his calling.

Below is his business card if you live in the area

and are looking for someone to do a home-project!

 

(With so many carpenters in my family & friend circle its hard to choose who to ask!!)

but while Shawn (family friend) was trying to decide whether to take this leap of faith

and go on his own we promised him if he does, 

we will give him this bathroom to do😊

A legacy of faithfulness is not hastily wrought

It cannot be accomplished by the high of noble thought

The reeling rush of feeling as it meets matters of fact

Cannot be counted on to keep meek faithfulness intact

A legacy of faithfulness does not attract applause

As it weathers the thick and thin of Is becoming Was

No one grand leap of faith is faithfulness, over and done

But step by step and day by day its legacy is won

A legacy of faithfulness perseveres, come what may

In its steadfast commitment to love, honor and obey

Through ebb and flow of high and low, faithfulness grins and groans

While learning the footwork/knee-work of stumbling blocks and stepping stones

A legacy of faithfulness, forged from prayers, smiles and tears

Awakes awareness of how moments are the sum of years

And years become far more than numbers on a birthday cake

Years are the culmination of what meted moments make

A legacy of faithfulness takes a lifetime to fill

Where today, always center stage gathers its scenes until

Life’s summary of seasons has collected in its sway

The very best of reasons to live/give our best each day

No matter who, or what we do, or where, we share this lot;

The onus of a legacy of faithfulness, or not

Where it is futile to despair; but rather bear in mind

The beauty/duty of this moment and how we leave it behind

A legacy of faithfulness is not impossible

He who is faithful helps us, like a daily miracle

By His sufficient grace we go, entrusting to His keep

Life's legacy of faithfulness; till faith's last flying leap 

© Janet Martin

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Rapt Gaze/Praise

This is the day the Lord has made'

we will rejoice and be glad in it

Psalm 118:24

It's a brisk frost-embossed world this morning...

enough to drive wonder mad!

Granted to you and I, a gift to unwrap with rapt gaze/praise

To rouse replenished worship for mercy’s unwearied ways

Earth and sky like a smorgasbord groaning with beauty’s feast

Reminds us that life is far more than debt to duty’s beast

This is the day the Lord has made; tis by His grace we go

And mankind is never betrayed by He who loves us so

But trustworthy and true He helps us each step of the way

All you and I are called to do is trust Him, and obey

No melancholy mandate this, no grin-and-bear-it grind

For He who keeps His promises is merciful and kind

Where a parade of proofs displayed drives rapt gaze/praise wonder-mad

In this new day the Lord has made to rejoice and be glad

© Janet Martin

 

 

Eternal Good News, Eternal God

 

O taste and see that the LORD is good: 

blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. 

Psalm 34:8

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

 and His truth endureth to all generations.

 Psalm 100:5

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; 

and He knoweth them that trust in Him. 

Nahum 1:7

The LORD is good to all;

 and his tender mercies are over all His works.

 Psalm 145:9

He is an awesome Creator...

Grackle cackle over snack-le😂

 Robin Redbreast, photographed below, looks about as impressed as the photographer

with the cold rain-snow splashes...

Creation is budding and singing in spite of the nose-dived temperatures!

One small glimpse of a great God's faithfulness! 

He is a Heavenly Father, Anchor, Author, Helper, Friend

He is love, without beginning, Everlasting, without end

He is Perfect in His purpose, Confidante and Counsellor

He is patient. His compassion like an ocean with no shore

He is a steadfast Companion, Savior, Shepherd undeterred

An Infallible Example, gentle, humble. He is Word

He is Changeless, Wondrous, Warrior, Merciful, Misunderstood

He is Mighty and Majestic, Powerful, and Always Good

He is an awesome Creator, Mediator, Righteous Judge

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He is Truth that will not budge

He is Omnipotent, Sovereign, Supreme, Divine, Deity

The Same as when first He uttered earth and heaven’s Let There Be

He is joy and peace, His grace is a gift no law can undo

He is Life Eternal purchased as His death, death overthrew

He is the Healer of nations, He is the Hope of the soul

He is Alpha and Omega, Absolute, in Full Control

He is worthy of all power, wisdom, honor, glory, praise

Where were we when first he laid the foundation of numbered days?

Where were we when He, all-knowing groaned to see salvation’s price

When in the garden of Eden, He slayed sin’s first sacrifice

He is the Risen Redeemer, King of kings and Lord of lords

He, like a Lamb led to slaughter crushed the dominion of swords

He is holy, hallelujah, nothing and no one transcends

The glory of a love story that faith’s every breath defends

He never leaves or forsakes us, He keeps all his promises

He hears the prayers of the righteous; He forgives if we confess 

He is never late or lazy; from His fullness blessings pour 

Trust Him, for from, through and for him are all things forevermore  

He is mortal's lifelong Good News; no woe can His joy erase 

He is faithful, aren't you thankful for the gospel of His grace

He is the call all will answer; His summons none can evade

Have you bowed, believed and thanked Him for the sinner's debt He paid?

 

Some still doubt and dare to trample underfoot the Son of Him

Some still hate and do not tremble at the mention of His Name

Some reject, despise, refuse Him, choosing what demons applaud

Some believe, receive, and love Him for He is the One True God

© Janet Martin

Embarking-On-a-New Day-or-Week Prayer

Aren't you thankful for rich legacies preserved 

either in books or by modern technology?!!

 One of my 'dearest friends' I never met,

(or spoke to, though his messages often spoke to me,)

 passed away last week...

Does this phrase ring tenderly in your ears too, 

as we mourn the precious passing of a faithful Pastor/preacher?

"Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him"

Dr. Charles Stanley~

Below, a touching tribute to Dr. Charles Stanley by In Touch Ministries

His Way Mine

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.

We are not all preachers or pastors but all believers are ministers of God's Word.

This morning's poem is a prayer, that barely skims the surface of my heart's cry,

as I seek to try to do my part to

"Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him"

I'm so thankful for God's Word and for faithful fellow-believers

as we never get too old to learn, 

(often through stumbles and fumbles/mistakes)

Dear Lord, I pray, lead me today in paths of righteousness

And let Thy everlasting way my sole/soul’s objective be

Protect me from promiscuous pitfalls of idleness

But bid humility commit to love and honor Thee

Search me and know my heart, try me, and know each fruit-fraught thought

And see if there be any wicked way in me to purge

Lord, the spirit is willing but the fickle flesh is not

Oh, let Thy law instilling me dissect desire’s urge

Whatever I achieve today (always, but by Thy grace)

Help me obey and leave in Thy kind care the consequence

Help me to trust Thy Word; worldly logic is blind and base

Remind me of the undeterred reply of recompense

Dear Lord, I pray for all who seek to daily follow Thee

Help us to turn the other cheek and not to wrath give way

Vengeance is Thine; Lord Thou art just; beyond the bit we see

Awaits the Prize for all who trust, endure, believe, obey

Dear Lord, as I embark upon this new Today once more

How merciful Thou art; kindle my heart with awe again

Lest I neglect to do the part You created me for

To love Thee first and then my neighbor as myself. Amen

© Janet Martin

Psalm 139:23-24 KJV

Search me, O God, and know my heart: 

Try me, and know my thoughts: 

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

 And lead me in the way everlasting.

(the same prayer in the 'we/us' version)

Dear Lord, we pray, lead us today in paths of righteousness

And let Thy everlasting way our sole/soul’s objective be

Protect us from promiscuous pitfalls of idleness

But bid humility commit to love and honor Thee

Search us and know our hearts, try us, and know each fruit-fraught thought

And see if there be any wicked way in us to purge

Lord, the spirit is willing but the fickle flesh is not

Oh, let Thy law instilling us dissect desire’s urge

Whatever we achieve today (always, but by Thy grace)

Help us obey and leave in thy kind care the consequence

Help us to trust Your Word; worldly logic is blind and base

Remind us of the undeterred reply of recompense

Dear Lord, we pray for all who seek to daily follow Thee

Help us to turn the other cheek and not to wrath give way

Vengeance is Thine; Lord Thou art just; beyond the bit we see

Awaits the Prize for all who trust, endure, believe, obey

Dear Lord, as we embark upon this new Today once more

How merciful Thou art; kindle our hearts with awe again

Lest we neglect to do the part You created us for

To love Thee first and then our neighbor as ourselves. Amen

© Janet Martin

Mercy-bespoke...

Today's poem was inspired in part by the surprise of a pretty sunrise, 

where I had mentally prepared for a rainy start to today, 

and the lusty robin heralding new morning and maybe forecasted rain too 😅💖

Also by the sudden conviction that we all should want to wonder more

 at our Creator whose morning/mercy never misses its mark!

...and, mercy bespoke??

yes! not the way man orders it 

but the way God orders it, perfectly, undeservedly!

The gilt-edged grace-pledged morning spills

From molten molds, mercy-bespoke

To draw the dark from dells and rills

And hills and fields like a plush cloak

Tugged from yon verge’s frameless clime

Unveiling vistas perched like art

On pedestals as old as time

To strike sheer wonder to the heart

For He, whose faithfulness remains

In spite of recreant reply

God’s covenant of old sustains

Renewal, filling earth and sky

Where you and I are not forgot

Caught between what was and will be

On a fresh threshold, mercy-wrought

On the verge of eternity

Where none can see how near or far

We are to The Sunrise That Flings

One Final Gilt-edged Gate Ajar

To draw the soul on welkin wings

Beyond this Bar of Burdened Must

And trust, not for the faint of heart

Where gilt-edged daybreak cheers tear-dust

With mercy-bespoke works of art

While we weather four-season’s wraith

The tether round wings not yet spanned

Where warp and weft of hope and faith

Confounds the ground whereon we stand

Feathering from the soul, the shroud

That fickle fools dote on and laud

Forgetting the fate of the proud

On That Morning that unveils God

…where gilt-edged, grace-pledged morn extends

The great divide, where heavens brim

With glimpses of He who befriends

The creature who confides in Him

Where, without fail He fills the dark

Psalm nineteen thundered thoroughfare

Awakens the trill of the lark

Kindles anew, devotion’s prayer

Where often we misunderstand

The Faithful Hand that tips the grail

That pours across the slumb’ring land

Ethereal sands that rend night’s veil

Where, on Creation’s Pedestal

Once more He plants love’s Living Proof

An every-morn Original

That only fools dare hold aloof

© Janet Martin

Lam.3:21-26-31-33

his I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I hope in Him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him.

26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly

For the salvation of the Lord...

For the Lord will not cast off forever.

32 Though He causes grief,

Yet He will show compassion

According to the multitude of His mercies.

33 For He does not afflict [i]willingly,

Nor grieve the children of men.

I've shared this song many times because I love to listen to it

in the morning when I rise...I hope you do too🙏💓

Give Me Jesus