The Devil is a Sportsman...

The devil loves a challenge; yes, and decorates the sin

Where with his lariat of lust might draw his victims in

Or with the boast of busyness or with the idle mind

For lust of eye and flesh, or pride of life can deftly bind

The best of good intentions to the worst outcome of all

Too wrapped in Self-attention to surrender to God’s call

The devil sets a snare where weakness eyes temptation’s tray

And all who dare to live without God’s armor will fall prey

There is no halfway in between; no one can serve two Gods

And evidence is always seen where Choice outweighs facades

Then pray that the confession of our faith will shed the old

As the new man seeks treasure greater than silver and gold

The devil knows that pleasure for the moment will appease

The guilt, and gloats as longing yields to evil’s expertise

Where what seemed good at first did not supply true happiness

Hunger and thirst is cursed until it craves God's Righteousness

Then as we trust Him and obey His power is unfurled

Greater is He within us than He that is in the world

© Janet Martin

A Mighty Force Invincible

Because of this love we often do things

we would never have chosen to do on our own

and we leave undone the things we once wanted to do.

Love is as strong as death when it once gets full possession of a person

 it will completely carry them away 

and love to God is indeed a mighty force …

Charles Spurgeon

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19

 The poem below was inspired by the above wonder-full 

worth-your-well-spent-while message!

Lord, you know what we love the most and why we choose the things we do

You know that we are prone to boast; Lord, let our boast be love for You

For we do not love without cause; Your love came first and set man free

Then let earth resound with applause of death to self through love for Thee

Let love not fill its due (a pew) and mingle with the Sunday crowd

Then rush to Monday’s work-to-do and blush to speak your name out loud

But let us shout our claim to love (Your name) let hearts be overcome

To live with joy, not shame, because of what Your Love has saved us from

Let us enlist in love’s pure force and serve the Captain of the Soul

Nothing can veer love’s corps off course as we march God-ward to its goal

Then, with eyes set on Recompense let love suffer long and be kind

Let not one shred of evidence of the ‘old man’ remain behind

Let love completely carry us; a mighty force, invincible

We love because You first loved us; oh, glorious, flawless principle

Then, forbid we, once having heard should still shy like a skulking fool

No bone is broken by sheer word of unbelief’s cold ridicule

Lord, loose that sacred fire-storm that vanquishes all fear and doubt

Let love’s compelling force reform our utter being inside out

So that someday with heaven’s throngs in everlasting sweet accord

We’ll sing for aye the victor’s song ‘we love You, Lord, we love You, Lord

© Janet Martin

How I Love You, Little Tot

How I love you, little tot

Helpful to the point of not

Laden with the best of cares

Trucks, books, dolls and teddy-bears

How I love you, little child

Driving joy and patience wild

My, but you are small and smart

Darling, trusting, pure in heart

How I love you, little one

With each rise and set of sun

You follow with run and play

Every child of Yesterday

How I love you, precious dear

You’ll grow up too soon, I fear

Gracious Lord, please hear my prayers

Hold my hand as I hold theirs

© Janet Martin

Daily Sufficiency

I had the post ready to go at sunrise, but no internet! 

 

From the vault where starred deep dims

Morning’s oath of mercy brims

Brands the beck and call of days

With hope’s everlasting ways

Dream and duty’s darling spur

Tests the best of him and her

Wrests from beneath hope’s ribbed cage

Love and laughter’s healing wage

Rise and shine for it is dawn

Pray a prayer and carry on

God’s mercy is undeterred

Grace sufficient is His Word

© Janet Martin

Like a Flower...

 
1 Peter 1:24
For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field;

 the grass withers and the flowers fall,

James 1:10
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, 

because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

Job 14:2
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; 

like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

 This time  of year always re-reminds me of how man's days are like a flower...

Soon dust will claim its Must once more

In every bud and bloom it bore

And just like flowers flare-fade-fall

We too will answer Maker’s Call

Dusk garners in Time’s daily death

We fuss, and draw its gifted breath

Then live, laugh, love, and pray, my dear

All that we have is now and here

Who can the scythe of Time evade

Who can escape the reaper’s blade

Who can the wrath of God endure

So, make salvation’s calling sure

..for who knows when death’s bell will toll

When dust will claim all but the soul

When we will falter like a flow’r

On the altar of Final Hour

© Janet Martin