Process of Performance

1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness;

 for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

a humorous look at 'anything is possible if we take baby steps'!!😁

Wherever in the calms or qualms of love and life, my dear

That we may find ourselves one thing remains perfectly clear

That where we are is not the measure of one giant leap

But the effect of step by step appointments that we keep

Our feet follow the fearless fellow simply known as Thought

Good and evil compete where what seems hidden soon is not

Then we should take a closer look at hopes and dreams we prize

The mind can be a crook and tries to trick the heart sometimes

How simple seems the left foot right foot choreography

A virile composition of Great Possibility

Where all that is accomplished, great or small for good or ill

Through step by step repetition makes all things possible

Then the conclusion of the matter when faith feels inept

Is but to trust enough to muster courage step by step

For we are always in the midst of the next tallied sum

Where step by step waits to surprise us at how far we’ve come

© Janet Martin

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional touched on a topic I've been contemplating recently...
the outcome of step-by-step

Scripture Reading; 2 Samuel 12:1-14

In northern Thailand, the Wild Boars youth soccer team decided to explore a cave together. After an hour they turned to go back and found that the entrance to the cave was flooded. Rising water pushed them deeper into the cave, day after day, until they were finally trapped more than two miles (four kilometers) inside. When they were heroically rescued two weeks later, many wondered how they had become so hopelessly trapped. Answer: one step at a time.

In Israel, Nathan confronted David for killing his loyal soldier, Uriah. How did the man “after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) become guilty of murder? One step at a time. David didn’t go from zero to murder in one afternoon. He warmed up to it, over time, as one bad decision bled into others. It started with a second glance that turned into a lustful stare. He abused his kingly power by sending for Bathsheba, then tried to cover up her pregnancy by calling her husband home from the front. When Uriah refused to visit his wife while his comrades were at war, David decided he would have to die.

We may not be guilty of murder or trapped in a cave of our own making, but we’re either moving toward Jesus or toward trouble. Big problems don’t develop overnight. They break upon us gradually, one step at a time.

By Mike Wittmer

People...

 people...

Kind and loving, gentle, grateful

Blind to stumbles, humble, faithful

Happy, pleasant, patient people

Don’t they make you glad?

Critical, uncaring, hateful

Impatient, unkind, ungrateful

Greedy, thoughtless, selfish people

Don’t they make you sad?

© Janet Martin

Anthem of Praise

 This 'song' sort of wrote itself as the Mete-r of Mercy Renewed

mesmerizes man once more...

Oh, thrill of hope’s favour as dawn rends yon shore

Where wonder is waiting to wow us once more

As Mercy, a treasure God’s love so decreed

Will grant us the measure of grace that we need

Oh, blessed assurance for all who believe

This race of endurance bids all to receive

The prize of the promise that none can annul

Salvation through Jesus; sin’s debt paid in full

Then do not despair in the care that must be

But rather prepare for the day that will be

While we, dream-prone dancers oft vexed by faith’s foe

Are emptied of answers to explain our woe

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

The sky is not spilling explanations we seek

Its blossom unfetters soft parchment of pink

In awesome love-letters, not written in ink

Then, oh, how hope quivers to witness day’s birth

Love rushes like rivers from heaven to earth

As Light fells the dark, ancient ways still amaze

Joy swells wonder’s spark into anthems of praise

© Janet Martin

Yesterday afternoon as wonder wowed words speechless I thought of this song...
How Beautiful Heaven must Be

...because the beauties of earth are but faint glimpses only

of what eye has not seen nor ear heard...

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, 

Nor have entered into the heart of man 

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Cor.2:9

Isaiah 65:17
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. 

The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
(So don't bother trying to keep a why-list to ask God;
you'll never remember them anymore!!😇)

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, 

because when he has stood the test, 

he will receive the crown of life 

that God has promised to those who love Him.

Prayer For Pure Perspective

 Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor.

 Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. 

 “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; 

though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.…

Isa. 1:17-19 

"Oh God, make us willing and obedient"

For ears to hear and eyes to see

For souls that pant, my Lord, for Thee

Lest deaf and blind and starved we grope

In vain to find Your Living Hope

For longing keened by your commands

For faith to trust Your nail-scarred hands

For love to take the tender lead

Lest we follow lust, pride or greed

For diligence when dreams distract

Or logic seems to challenge fact

Lord, shine through us, pure and devout

Beyond a shadow of a doubt

Protect us from the evil one

Comfort us with ‘Thy will be done’

For You have washed our sins away

Thank-you. In Jesus’ name we pray

Amen

© Janet Martin

While Looking Forward To...

My friend and I agreed this morning that we love living 

in Canada, where each season fulfills its expectation!

but sometimes 'dreams' can catch us off-guard...

remember this?!

This morning I thought of a dew, oops a few things I'm looking forward to...

To climb a long hill wild with blooms

To lie beneath heaths, summer-blue

Where green has made everything new

After winter’s weathered white plumes

To soak in pools spun by sun-beams

To revel in freshly-tilled dirt

While bright, laundry-laden lines flirt

With warm zephyrs, sassy with dreams

To linger with nary a chill

As the first, faint fingers of light

Tickle silver stars out of sight

With God’s quintessential quill

To rise and shine earlier then

When cold winter’s quarry is freed

To leap like sheared sheep in yon mead

And feel so much younger again

To reach for the stars in bare feet

To sit on the banks of a stream

And reckon that living the dream

Has never tasted quite so sweet

But then I say nay, my dear, nay

I’ll cherish the beautiful now

In every way I know how

Be glad for the gift of today

I’ll climb weathered hills of white plumes

I’ll pause beneath heaths, winter-gray

Where white is soon whispered away

By summer’s fresh sally of blooms

© Janet Martin