Defying Depths of Despair

Psalm 37:7-8

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

Do not fret—it only causes harm.

Often when I am tempted to despair 

(and there seem to be SO many reasons these days )

 I think of Marilla Cuthbert's words to Anne,

"To despair is to turn your back on God"

Marilla Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables

(at the 3:)) minute point in this clip)

The depths of dark despair are always there, where we might stray 

If we mistrust the care of He to whom we ought to pray 

If we beg for deliverance but do not change our ways 

If we gratify ignorance with flattery’s vain praise 

If we do not obey the law that perfect love decreed 

If we, not overcome with awe, do not find what we need 

If we while knowing better still continue thus to err 

And do not make an effort to be wiser than we were 

If we, severely stubborn in our human-natured bent 

Do not let goodness govern our intimate intent 

We will be monsters, no matter how ‘normal’ the façade 

If we do not acknowledge our lack and trust in God 

If we, so broken at our best do not rest and rely 

Without agendas, on the One who so loves you and I

 

If we do not yield heart and soul, to He who will provide 

Our joy will never be made whole; we must be rid of pride 

Or depths of dark despair will try to overtake the Light 

If we do not first trust the Care that fits us for the fight 

© Janet Martin

 

 

On Finding Fulfillment

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 

as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 

 since you know that you will receive an inheritance 

from the Lord as a reward. 

It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

Col.3: 23-24

It's not as much what we are doing

as who we are doing it for

that brings contentment/fulfillment

So it begs the question;

What are we doing for Who?

This gal is working at next Christmas's wish-list...

(only 11 mos. less a day to go!!😊😉)

We all have wish-lists, don't we?!

How far are we willing to go for who?

The ladder to success and happiness 

Is foiled by flaws and failures of the flesh 

Enmeshed in plans and dreams so dearly plied 

Is a force to be reckoned with, called pride 

And no matter how high our hopes might climb 

Or where our dreams may lead if given time 

The chase that we embrace is not enough 

To fill that place God reserved for His Love... 

…to love Him with heart, soul and strength and mind 

So few it seems, life truest success find 

For He does not cater to wish and whim 

The Creator made us to honor Him 

And so, until we do the heart will cry 

And nothing will fulfill or satisfy 

This world will seem a feckless trek to death 

Until we learn to rev’rence ev’ry breath 

And recognize life’s sacred gift from He 

Who lends its lease of brief mortality 

Where we will find fulfillment only when 

We labour for the Lord and not for men

Sooner or later everyone must choose

Who they will serve and thus, who they refuse

If we choose God then all we do will be

An expression of awed humility 

© Janet Martin 

Don't Wait for Wonder

Cherishing the word cozy today

while I pray for drivers to be safe!

(Victoria just made it home after being sent home early!

Wow! Was I relieved to see her! And wow, was she relieved too)

The feeding station has been flooded with feather-flurry all morning

Don’t wait for wonder; look and see 

For surely, purely poetry 

Brims from a beauty-giddy fount 

In glints too manifold to count 

Like petals from a blossom-tree 

Don’t wait for wishes to come true 

Let Mercy’s Meanwhile run us through 

With wonder-wild astonishment 

To smile away longing’s lament 

And make us humbly thankful too 

Don’t wait for what already is 

Of giggle, snuggle, hug and kiss 

For if we look beyond today 

To pine for morrow’s might or may 

How much of here and now we miss 

Don’t wait for wonder’s sweet surprise 

While plundering a sea of sighs 

But take the time to look and see 

To touch the hand of Majesty 

And gaze into the Giver’s eyes 

Don't fall for some far-off decoy

But cherish words like 'girl and 'boy'

For far too soon the picture fades

Into floats in phantom parades

That echo with yesterday's joy

© Janet Martin 

Cherish words like girl and boy...and COZY!

Inside Out

 

There is no question as to why our North American nations are in trouble.

Pray, God's people, pray!

2 Chron. 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, 

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, 

and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Cor.11:27-31

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner 

will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 

 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 

 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ

 eat and drink judgment on themselves. 

 That is why many among you are weak and sick, 

and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Repentance is the only resolution...

to acknowledge sin and confess

I'm looking forward to spring when buds begins to break and bear/bare their bloom!

All fruit and flower comes from the inside out!

What happens on the inside, you can bet without a doubt 

Will soon show on the outside; of what we are all about 

To deal with sickness-symptoms, without getting at the root 

Is like putting a big band aid on an infected foot 

To try to fix the problems that plague us we need to start 

Where good or bad begins within the human-natured heart 

How often we point at the proof of need with loud lament 

But to address the issue is like chipping at cement 

Unless we recognize the place where all true change begins 

And first repent and believe in He who forgives our sins 

A band aid hides the ugly truth but cannot cleanse the bod 

A nation cannot heal until man’s heart is right with God 

Futile to try to fix a foible from the outside in 

For in the heart is where the troubles of this world begin 

For sin, like an aggressive weed soon overtakes the whole 

Lust, conceit, pride, fear, hatred, greed, the seed of sinful soul 

And when its buds bear fruit, no words are needed to explain 

Thus, without starting at the root, best efforts are in vain 

Repentance is the only resolution; to confess 

Then God will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness 

And only then, after we bow before the Lord of all 

Are we prepared to be a vessel fitted for His call 

For Who is on the inside, you can know without a doubt 

Will soon show on the outside; of Who we are all about 

© Janet Martin

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! 

You clean the outside of the cup and dish, 

but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,

so that the outside may become clean as well.

Matt.23:25-26

So Many Reasons To Rejoice

 Grace and Peace to you from God, Our Father

Fernando Ortega

2 Peter 1:2-4

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

 3as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

 through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

 4by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,

 that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,

 having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Lord, you never lie, Your mercy each morn 

Is fresh as a flow’r from bud’s bower borne 

Your Word, a Rock upon which we can stand 

While the clock winds down Time’s seasons of sand 

We will rejoice in today, made by You 

No matter what, You are Faithful and True 

You never move while empires rise and fall 

No one can overthrow Ruler of all 

Justice and goodness establish Your throne 

No matter what, Lord, Thy will, will be done 

You are our glory, our strength and our shield 

Since by faith, Your righteousness was revealed 

Lord, though the world groans in sorrow’s travail 

You never falter, Your love does not fail 

Even the wind and waves heed your command 

Heaven and earth are secured in your hand 

Whom shall we honor, Lord, Whom shall we fear? 

No other God do we humbly revere 

Lord, you never lie, then remind and renew 

Thy righteous precepts, trustworthy and true 

While here we bear birth and death’s in-between 

Fix our faith on hope’s glorious Unseen 

Lord, you invite all to, ‘come unto Thee’ 

Forbid we settle for something we see 

Let us forever be utterly awed 

For there is none other like You, oh God 

Even though Eden's entrance-way is sealed 

Creation glories with glimpses revealed 

Time is a scroll unfolding prophecy 

For as You told it, Lord, so it will be 

Then let us put on a garment of praise 

Worship the One who has numbered our days 

He who wove us in our sweet mother’s womb 

 He who broke sin's curse and shrugged off the tomb 

Let us forever rejoice in the Lord 

No matter what, we can trust in His Word 

© Janet Martin 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    love and faithfulness go before you.
 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
 They rejoice in your name all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
 For you are their glory and strength,...

Psalm 89:14-17

though all else changes...never God!

The Times, They Are A-Changin'-Rory Feek 

Monday Morning Reveille

Reveille

Up and at ‘em

Herd or scat ‘em 

Hug and hold ‘em 

Wash and fold ‘em 

Training, teaching, 

Praying, preaching 

Hurting, hoping 

Seeing, groping 

Running, crawling, 

Flying, falling 

Laughing, crying 

Cheering, sighing 

Dawdlin’, hastin’ 

Time’s a-wastin’ 

Left foot, right foot 

Slipper, work-boot 

Slow or faster 

Let love master 

Sort and tally 

Hill or valley 

Squat or lanky 

Kind or cranky 

Old or younger 

Let sheer wonder 

Thunder, rumble 

Tremble, tumble 

Never grumble 

But be humble 

Winning, losing 

Waking, snoozing 

Seizing, yearning 

Leading, learning 

Lend or borrow 

Joy or sorrow 

Seen or hidden 

Bossed or bidden 

Don’t be lazy 

But keep busy 

Ev’ry season 

Make the reason 

In life’s story 

For God’s glory 

© Janet Martin

For you were bought with a price. 

So glorify God in your body.

1 Cor.6:20

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, 

do all to the glory of God.

1 Cor.10:31

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

 so that they may see your good works 

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matt.5:16

For from him 

and through him 

and to him are all things. 

To him be glory forever. 

Amen.

Rom.11:36

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; 

whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—

in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. 

Amen.

1 Pet.4:11

Bit 'o Dusk Doggerel

I love the earth asleep beneath a sweep of snow and shadows cast ...

I love the earth asleep beneath a sweep of snow and shadows cast 

How daybreak’s oriflamme is lowered on dusk’s flagpole at half-mast 

And how wow is the only word that seems to fit the frame of mind 

As we behold gold blurred with blue turned into today left behind 

© Janet Martin

Daughter cooking dinner means time for a bitty dusk-ditty...or two💗

I love the way the heart feels snuggled 'neath a heap of down-duvets 

And earth is like a painting swaddled before our very gaze 

And dusk is like a dark blue blanket tossed across worlds lost from view 

And somehow as we stand and watch it we become a bit lost too 

© Janet Martin

Someday, Forevermore or Bond of Freedom

(for we who share the bond of freedom in Christ)

For now we are apart but someday

worshippers will sing together forever and ever!

This first song is very fitting for the times we are in

(worth the while to read the translation)

Simon & Max Khorolskiy - Не грусти, не рыдай

FILL MY CUP, LORD | THE LIVING STONES QUARTET

 

Glorify Thy Name

 

1 Thess.4:16-18

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, 

with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, 

and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

After that, we who are still alive and are left 

will be caught up together with them 

in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 

And so we will be with the Lord forever. 

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

From sea to sea and shore to shore we who believe are bound 

By a sweet and communal cord of common, holy ground 

The blood that washes sinners clean and sets the cursed soul free 

Is Mercy’s universal vein that binds God’s family 

Salvation, wrought through Jesus Christ is our saving faith 

His death, to pay the debtor’s price no offering could erase 

For blood of bulls and rams could not atone and justify 

Only a Perfect Lamb, the Son of God could satisfy 

And by His outpoured blood we are unified far and wide 

To be the family of God; His pure and spotless bride 

Not by our works (lest we would boast) but by the grace of He 

Who gave his uttermost upon the cross of Calvary 

From sea to sea and shore to shore, while onward ages roll 

A beautiful, mutual yoke binds soul to soul to soul 

Of we who are freed from death’s sting through He came to save 

Because He died and rose again, Christ has conquered the grave 

Jesus fulfilled salvation’s plan, His name above all names 

Has given to the soul of man, hope, without guilt’s past claims 

Redemption is the joy we share, His love the song we sing 

In universal praise and prayer to Jesus Christ our King 

© Janet Martin