By God's Grace And For His Glory

I think we are learning there is still
SO much to learn through what we are learning!
Turning our eyes to Jesus like never quite before and seeing ourselves like never before...
prone to wander...in fear, anxiety, doubt, want, pride, selfishness, etc...

By God’s grace and for His glory Pray that we will learn to live

Not for foolish self’s mad dash of worry-riddled take and give

But with mercy as our mentor and with Heaven as our goal

Pray that we are meek contenders for the prize claimed by the soul

By the witness of forefathers by the same faith that was tried

By the storms that strew and shatter monuments of deadly pride

By yielding, not to the Doubter but to perfect promises

By the Inner, not the outer to secure true happiness

Pray that we learn to be kinder than we were in yester-days

Sometimes loss is the reminder that we need to reappraise

Reappraise mindset’s direction lest some flaw we overlook

No one is above correction or the Master’s pruning hook

By God’s grace and for His glory pray that we make this our quest

Soon the pages to the story we are writing will be pressed

Into Past’s vast recollection where pray, we have learned to live

With a more thankful reflection which God’s grace and glory give

© Janet Martin

Thus, Today

Song for Today...

Tomorrow’s sorrows none can bear on shoulders of today

It robs us of the strength to bear what soon will pass away

The mind directs our feet and hands to do the best we can

‘To fear God and keep His commands is the duty of man’

Thus today holds more than enough to keep us occupied

Before the shadow of its glove dissolves on eventide

Yesterday is too far away to ever touch again

All that once was, was once today’s blip of pleasure and pain

Thus who dares squander wonder’s This with worry or regret

 Longing for what no longer is or roads not taken yet

Thus today grants us just enough to fit us for the task

Before its gift of work-play-love-pray falls prey to the past

Today is all we ever have to climb time’s sacred flight

Suspended between worlds engraved and starry, starry night

A step-by-step endurance race while tick by tock unwinds

A breath-by-breath intricate lace of grace moment-designed

Thus today is the perfect size to fit into a prayer

Before twilight gathers good-byes to fade into thin air

© Janet Martin

 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: 

Fear God, and keep his commandments:

 for this is the whole duty of man.

Eccles.12:13

Heaven; death, pain, fear and sickness free!
Has this hope not taken on a sweeter realization as we miss
face-to-face fellowship with each other ?!

Love-awed

 We, though socially distant

are still beautifully drawn together by One...

Let's learn to live love-awed!

No ‘me’,

Only us

No ‘my’,

Only ours

This is the living

That humbly empowers

As ‘we’

Altogether

Acknowledge,

Love-awed

Nothing is impossible

By the grace of God

© Janet Martin

Twixt Stones and Stars...

It is Palm Sunday Weekend!

Last evening the bow that God first placed in the heavens after the flood

felt like a tangible reminder of I AM with us!

We touch the heavens with our eyes

Tangle with frames of paradise

And lest the stones cry out, we praise

The God of love’s mysterious ways

The tears that weep from yonder skies

Fill pockets deep inside our eyes

Where grief and joy its fountains probe

And drench the hemline of Hope’s robe

...while stars and stones spar deep within

The soul’s scarred carriage of frail skin

We fear, we pray, we mourn, we laugh

And cling to Mercy’s rod and staff

...with hope that will not lead to shame

Fixed on Love’s everlasting name

We praise when we are vaunt to doubt,

Lest God forbid, the stones cry out

That mustard seed of faith we crave

Will be enough to help us brave

This interlude twixt stones and stars

Till deathless soul breaks through yon bars

© Janet Martin

Praise Him with joy's salutation

Praise Him with fear

Praise the Author of salvation

With a tear

Praise Him from the highest mountain

from the deep vale

For Love's Goodness everlasting

will not fail 

Praise Him with anthems of gladness

Praise Him with groan

Praise Him with prayers borne of sadness

We are not alone

 © Janet Martin

  

The Triumphal Entry
(Zechariah 9:9-13; Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19)

28After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34“The Lord needs it,” they answered. 35Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.

36As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road. 37And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

38“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”c

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”d

39But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”

40“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
(Isaiah 29:1-16)

41As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. 43For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.e ”

Faith's Daily Charge

And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Heb.11:6 

Yes, the new day that cleanly breaks

Will soon be marred by our mistakes

But the new day that gently dawns

Is from the grace that Mercy spawns

For this new day the Lord has made

Is like a gift at our feet laid

Where we have the important bit

To rejoice and be glad in it

© Janet Martin