If We But Ask

No matter how much we brace ourselves for what we might face we are fitted only as we need it!

Sometimes it's comforting to visualize His nail-scarred Hand 

reaching down to hold our so-small hand as we reach up...

It's also comforting to visualize those same hands 

enfolding the rebel/prodigal/atheist as we pray!

(For we still live in the day of grace)

The Hand that lowers twilight’s bars

Then fades yon fathoms filled with stars

As daybreak like a weightless tide

Unfolds the muffled countryside

That tells the season by the shell

That cloaks the woodland, field and dell

And steals the wand’ring, wond’ring gaze

With nature’s invincible ways

That Hand that grants the benison

Whereby plant and harvest is done

That guides the earth’s orbit of teal

That spins upon The Potter’s wheel

That shapes with rise and set of sun

The legacy where said-and-done

When we are stripped down to bare clod

Are too small to shake fists at God

The Hand that weathers mortal glove

By the sheer joy and grief of love

That lends all that He gives and takes

In this go-round of sacred stakes

And instills shoal of dust-to-dust

With soul’s indelible Must

Where none, with rebel set of heart

Can shuck That which sets us apart

This Hand that does not slip or fail

That tunes the wind that fills the sail

That vexes vanity’s intent

And perplexes want’s prideful bent

Has scars left there by hate fulfilled

As He made Heaven possible

This Hand that fits us for trust’s task

Will hold our hand, if we but ask

© Janet Martin

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,

 Do not fear; I will help you.

Isa.41:13

 

 

We Could Focus On Fear Or...Faith

Let's face it; there are real, legitimate fears but it is futile to make them our focus.
Rather we should take them to God and plead on their behalf!

We could focus on fear that feels like it finds footholds in our gut

We could tremble and sink into doubt and despair’s engulfing rut

When we feel like a vessel lost or leaves tossed on a reckless gale

We could focus on fear or cling to promises that cannot fail

We could focus on what we see rather than Evidence Unseen

Self-pity could cry ‘woe is me’ and pine for ‘not-mine’ pastures green

Unknown, like a blood-thirsty beast could seem to stalk us like doomed prey

And we could be a sorry feast or cling to He who knows/IS The Way

We could focus on what we wish when God’s love leaves our spirits stung

To wrest from faith the size of it; to test the prattle of the tongue

We could focus on fear that paralyzes like a viper’s sting

Or we could fold fear into prayer and just trust God in everything

© Janet Martin

Hope, Courage's Candle...

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.

Isa.40:31

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable 

to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:1

Hope fords the streams where dreams have died

It forges faith from yielded fear

Where morning spills Time’s virgin tide

It bids us to be of good cheer

And where we reach but cannot see

Hope whispers through the pining air

And beckons us to trust in He

Who keeps us in His tender care

Hope puts its arms around our dread

And ushers step-by-stepping stone

Where no one knows what lies ahead

Hope is God’s hand over our own

And as we rise to meet the day

Where night becomes a molten sea

Hope is a Voice that seems to say

Be of good cheer and trust in Me

Hope helps us look toward The Prize

Though trouble takes no holiday

As sure as the spark upward flies

Hope holds a lifeline through the fray

And where the ash of days gone by

Can sting our eyes with founded fear

Hope lifts courage’s candle high

And beckons still, ‘be of good cheer’

© Janet Martin

Thankfulness...

Thankful...

 Thankfulness...

Leaves us breathless with sheer wonder

Grants us courage to proceed

Where God’s flawless displays thunder

Where nature’s pure pigments bleed

Wakes within us humble worship

Binds despair with hope’s kind gauze

Where an elemental courtship

Tugs us twixt will be and was

Hugs us with the arms of Jesus

Soothes the wounds of woe and dread

Gives us kind and tender reasons

To be filled with peace instead

Confounds us where explanation

Falls inept because of awe

Gratitude’s evaluation

Cannot perceive Mercy’s law

Makes us meeker, not self-seeking

Teaches us to hold, not clench

Makes us mind the words we’re speaking

Thirst for waters love can quench

Keeps us from becoming greedy

Thankfulness helps us admit

We are altogether needy

Recipients of grace; that’s it

© Janet Martin

For This Roller-coaster of Experience and Emotion...

 What a roller-coaster weekend this was...

funeral, wedding, wonderful worship service, family thanksgiving dinner/ celebrations

where hearts grief-tender sought and found comfort 

in the unfailing kindness of fellow believers and God's Word.

 The verse below was shared yesterday morning at our worship service 

by a mother whose daughter donated one of her kidneys to a little boy this week.

Ron Seabrooke (whose funeral was on Saturday) was also a dear friend of their family...

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--

how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32

...and then this verse by our dear brother Richard Haverkamp 
who reminded us we did not lose 'our pastor'! 
We lost 'one of our dear pastors'. 
We thankfully have a team who will by God's direction and grace carry on!

Someone shared this verse of comfort and exhortation;
 Heb.13:7-8
 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. 
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What glorious reminders to give thanks in spite of all we do not understand.

Yes, you know how it is…the ups and downs of love and life

Can lead us into temptation to live in doubt or fear

The could and might of Possibility that wields its knife

Would be too hard to bear without God’s promises to cheer

How could we face tomorrow and the sorrow that yet waits

Without the Hope of He who was, is and ever will be

The faithfulness of God who swings wide morning’s gleaming gates

Will not leave or forsake we who need Him so desperately

…then we press on, though reason leaves our answers full of holes

In the how-why of He whose thoughts and ways test mortal trust

Still, we know He who gave His only Son to save our souls

Will never leave us comfortless in come what may and must

…and we are filled with humble, hopeful, joyful gratitude

Although we cannot see the way, His mercies never cease

Where we would fall prey to despair our courage is renewed

As surrender’s great mystery bestows strength, hope and peace

Yes, you know how it is …the highs and lows, high-fives and blows

Unfurls a roller-coaster ride of both pleasure and pain

Where heart-broken farewells are hinged to handshakes and hellos

To fill us with hope’s thankfulness that words cannot explain

© Janet Martin