The Way It Is...

 

Here I Am Lord-Daniel O'Donnell

From Charles Spurgeon's Sermon- How To Please God

(I shared the below excerpt recently but resharing it because

of its profound apparentness)

 

Modern Theology...takes man from what is Written to what is thought.

It does not allow the sovereign Authority of Revelation and in disallowing that

their very foundations are removed, and much of the abounding vice of this day is

the direct result of this abounding unbelief in God, this

philosophical mistrust in Infinite Wisdom

The plush hush of first light covers the earth with birth of day 

The raven tress of night is gathered up and brushed away 

Sight is regaled with beauty midst the brokenness of This; 

The ever never-changing duty to The Way It Is 

The Way It Is, is partly circumstance and part reply 

A tug of war twixt defiance and humble ‘here am I’ 

A battle between logic and obedience and trust 

Before the Soul is siphoned from time’s toll of dust-to-dust 

Arrogance and atheism result in anarchy 

The lawlessness of Godlessness, its awful tragedy 

Where, hidden in The Way It Is, trembles The Way Toward 

Where consequence of carelessness no creature can afford 

From eastward brink expands the pink proof of mercy renewed 

Love beckons us to come and drink hope’s ink with gratitude 

Where, ever in the Way It Is, founts of love and light brim 

With God’s abiding faithfulness to guide us back to Him 

© Janet Martin 

Deut, 31:6

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, 

for the Lord your God goes with you; 

he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

What If, After All The Laughter...

No laughing matter if...

What if, after all the laughter...

all the flowers that we held...

What if after all the laughter, 

All the flowers that we held 

We have nothing left that matters 

When our fleeting frame is felled 

What if, after so much pardoned 

After precious mem’ries made 

We depart with heart still hardened 

Never trusted, never prayed 

What if, after we have tasted 

Mercy-upon-mercy poured 

We have ultimately wasted 

The Gift that we just ignored 

(The Gift offered by the Lord)

What if we are not forgiven 

What if we never receive 

The inheritance of Heaven 

Because we did not believe 

What if, after all the laughter

And tears, as time took its toll

We did not yield to the Author

Of Salvation for the soul

© Janet Martin 

Every so often I listen to this powerful song...

Almost Persuaded- Josh Turner

....and often I weep for cold shoulders turned away

from The Gift

Eph.2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; 

but he that believeth not shall be damned.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, 

he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins 

and purify us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:16

for God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten son

that whosoever believes in Him

will not perish but have everlasting life

Why does it matter so much if our name is not written

in the Book of Life??

Rev.20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. 

The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 

12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. 

The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, 

and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, 

and each person was judged according to what they had done. 

14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. 

The lake of fire is the second death. 

15Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life 

was thrown into the lake of fire.

Who Knows Who or What Waits...

I'm hoping/picturing when the nose of the Journey is pointed homeward tonight

the house will be spic-and-span,

but most of us have learned that our morning Maybe

 is subject to change of plan

Who knew a pile of dirty dishes can surprise us with a bit of beauty!

The Bygone-brush is dripping as we speak/read!!

And tonight, the whole world over, as we all survey our personal Portrait of Today

not one single picture will be exactly alike!

By God's grace then let's make courtesy, kindness and thankfulness the Beauty

each 'painting' has in common

Around the corner or across the street 

Who knows who or what waits our gait to greet 

Will it be stem-full-of-thorns, or the rose 

Will it be a kiss or punch in the nose 

The day at hand sits on time’s window sill 

Who knows who or what waits its frame to fill 

Darling, the colours that drip, splash and run 

Turn into works of art, never undone 

From the fine mingling of was-is-will be 

Who knows who or what waits to shape hist’ry 

Aptly, the hour is emptied and set 

Etching forever its brief pirouette 

While we work with what we somewhat expect 

Who knows who or what waits to interject 

But as each beck and call fills in the blanks 

Pray that above all, it resonates thanks 

© Janet Martin 

Eph.5:20

...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,

 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Of Firsts and Finals

Why is it that we He who is above all

and astonishes us to no end with wonders great and small

 Shepherd of My Soul

He does not ask more from us than that which He first provides 

He never bids us go but where His faithfulness presides 

He guides all those who seek Him first before footsteps advance 

Knowing our God is always greater than the circumstance 

He loves us, how He loves us while we learn love’s costly price 

Of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice 

For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak unless 

We first seek the kingdom of God and this; His righteousness 

Obedience is better than sacrifice, says the Lord 

Happy are they who trust in Him and delight in his Word 

Forbid we dare to barter till we boldly disobey 

The Author of Salvation who has first and final say 

Finally, be strong in the Lord, the power of His might 

First put on His full armour to be equipped for the fight 

So that we can discern between truth and almost-truth, cursed 

That deceives us into thinking our ‘happiness’ comes first 

© Janet Martin

1 Pet.5:5-7

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. 

Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,

 that He may exalt you in due time,

  7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

The Gravity of Seeds

 

We all want a healthy harvest but wanting isn't enough;

to harvest what we hope for takes the long, hard work of Love

Hang in there, fellow field-hands!

Proverbs 16:2

All a man's ways are pure in his own eyes, 

but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

Through dad's life he proved the deed/'seed'

above was far more than 'getting in mother-in-law's good books.

His life is a legacy of helpfulness.

And isn't it ironic how even in harvest time 

we are planting and watering.

Gal.6:9

 Let us not become weary in doing good, 

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Sometimes we are so weary and tempted to despair, but God is faithful...

2 Thess. 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you 

and guard you from the evil one

Prayer for Today.

"Lord, let us sense the seeds we strew

and recognize the recompense

when harvest time comes due,

In Thy Name we pray

Amen

It matters, for we scatter seeds 

Through every high and low 

Where words and prayers and fruit of deeds 

At Harvest Time will show 

It matters, what we think upon 

Where, who we choose to serve 

Will either make us weak or strong 

When life throws us a curve 

It matters, how we proceed thus 

Trailblazers of a kind 

For little feet that follow us 

Not very far behind 

It matters, what we say and do 

The ‘why’ of yes and no 

Like little seeds we strew and strew 

That grow and grow and grow

It matters; Every. Single. Day

No matter where life leads

Its ups and downs will soon display

The gravity of seeds

It matters. No one can mock God

The hand reaps what it sows

Where what seems hidden in time's sod

The harvest will expose

© Janet Martin 

Proverbs 20:11
Even a young man is known by his actions--

whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Matthew 7:20
So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Perfect Wings

Soon the bud will unfold

soon the gray will be gold

soon the cocoon of why

will free the butterfly

oh, for all the woe and hunger this life wills

it does not stopper the fount that spills 

with thrills of its sweetest loveliest things

like babies and flowers and butterfly wings!

It trembles like a butterfly 

Unfurling perfect wings 

From a cocoon of sod and sky 

Like day breaks through night’s strings 

To meadows decked in seasoned sweeps 

Of pink, white, green and gold 

It shimmers, glimmers, laughs and weeps 

As its colours unfold 

It trundles down the country lane 

And rolls across the shore 

It sparkles in each drop of rain 

It fills the bud with More 

It flits through fingertips and stars 

It drips and roars and spins 

A deluge from unstoppered jars 

Pouring out groans and grins 

It tries the patience of the young 

It tests time’s wizened ways 

A strange essence of pictures hung 

Just beyond our gaze 

It wafts, as soft as snowflakes fall 

Then sets its steps in stone 

Where, after it has decked earth’s hall 

No legions can dethrone 

It keeps us all on common ground 

Momentous mystery 

Where tick by tock it is unwound 

In what yet waits to be 

Where what yet waits to be is not 

Shadows and tangled strings 

It is the promises of God 

Unfurling Perfect Wings 

© Janet Martin 

Psalm 63:7
For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.

Stepping Stones

 

Each Step I Take

How futile, if we walk by faith 

To peer ahead too far 

But ask the Lord to lead the way 

Exactly where we are 

To place our plans and hopes and dreams 

Into the Hands of He 

Who always tenderly esteems 

His best for you and me 

To entrust to His Righteous sake 

Each dread, fear, wish and whim 

And strive, with every step we take 

To walk, by faith, in Him

Beneath our footsteps, one by one

God sets each stepping stone

Faith feels for it and forges on

Faith never walks alone 

© Janet Martin

For we live by faith, 

not by sight.

2 Cor.5:7

Adagio Composers

Mondays, especially gray ones, especially during lockdowns

 can feel a bit heavy some weeks, 

but it takes the ebb and flow of high and low 

to compose Masterpiece Adagios.

We are still in the middle of what could will be

a Masterpiece, if we put our faith in the 

Forever Faultless, Faithful Keeper of fumbling 'composers'!

Where highs and lows compete 

With shores that disappear

Where Today spreads a music sheet 

Replete with Now and Here

Where love and longing spark 

A strange adagio 

Like waves that roll across the heart 

In soulful ebb and flow 

Where darksome, daily grind 

And laughter, silver-teal 

Will fill the bars soon left behind

With symphonies, surreal 

Where what we have and hold 

Is soon the wafting fray 

Of melodies that fill the old 

-en world of yesterday 

Where swift, soft moments splay 

Gilt lilt of high and low 

To compose with notes of today 

Morrow’s adagio 

© Janet Martin 

Adagios

This morning's Daily Bread Devotion Bible Reading-

Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to [a]be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your [b]keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall [c]preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve[d] your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.