Because We Are So Loved...

Though freedom and prosperity seem destined for disaster,

we in North America are still ever-so-richly blessed by both!

Then, why do we bicker so? 

Why do we complain?

Is it because we overlook 

the Love that should sustain

From He who gave His Son to save 

our souls from hell's eternal grave?!

Can I hear a hallelujah?!

Endless Hallelujah Matt Redman

Because we are so loved we ought to dearly love our fellowman

Jesus, our great Example proved and taught love's perfect Master Plan

With humble heart that glows with joy to be the servant of a King

As with the gifts that grace deploys, we honour Him in everything

Because we are so loved in spite of less than faithful gratitude

God, rich in mercy, melts the night; His compassion kindly renewed

Then it behooves us to be kind; not blind to one another’s need

Lest His goodness is undermined as we serve gods of lust and greed

Because we are so loved we do not need to wallow in dread’s fear

The patina that gilds the view is but façade’s shallow veneer

No height nor depth, nor life nor death, nor other power can prevail

To separate us from the love God promises will never fail

Then, because God so loves the world (He gave His Son to pay our debt)

We ought to live with fist uncurled, ready to forgive and forget

To frolic like a well-fed calf, to till the soil of soul and sod

With hope; to work, pray, sing and laugh because we are so loved by God

© Janet Martin

Malachi 4:2 NIV

But for you who revere my name, 

the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. 

And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution 

or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

  For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

 neither angels nor demons,[k] 

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Small But Mighty

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;

 and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. 

For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

James 3:9-10

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father,

and with it we curse human beings,

who have been made in God’s likeness.

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.

My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Chit-chat with friends over tea is one of life's sweetest luxuries...

Words are such powerful little vessels, 

They build up

and tear down

They can be tugboats

or torpedoes 

They can be an arm across a shoulder

or a punch on the nose

They can be sharp as thorns

or like a pretty rose...

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, 

be acceptable in thy sight, 

O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Words can be exchanged so swiftly

Tender touch or verbal spear

Meet their mark to spark a tempest

Or to pacify and cheer

None the human tongue can bridle

Like a tidal wave, words pour

As out of the heart’s abundance

The mouth spills its treasure-store

Hurting, healing, cursing, blessing

Someday we will give account

For the deluge that comes spewing

From a small but mighty fount

© Janet Martin

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, 

they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Matt.12:36

Harvest Homily

Today's harvest has the potential of

turning me beet red! 😄

I planted beets and boy!! did I get beets!

(looks like a few woody ones)

At least it's a literal beet red!

Some harvests have the potential of turning us beet red

but not with beet juice😡😆

We might think we can twist fate’s arm

And trick the hand of recompense

But some things we cannot out-charm

Action will equal consequence

Where what we sow is what we reap

The seed cannot its fruit estrange

Then close and careful vigil keep

We cannot trick what cannot change

The seeds that fill us with regret

If we repent God will forgive

Though consequence will still beset

He helps us through each day we live

We might think we can twist God’s arm

And plant some seeds that will not grow

Consequence is immune to charm

The seed it is, the fruit will show

© Janet Martin

Galatians 6:7 ESV 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

  

Beautiful Renewal

We couldn't see what was on the other side of this bridge!!

Turns out it was a soccer and baseball field😐

We couldn't see what was on the other side of yesterday's election!

Turns out, more of the same!😐

We cannot see what waits on the other side of Time/life!

How that turns out depends on Who we choose to serve/obey here!

Man is NOT our hope! Hallelujah.

We do not need to become bitter or live in fear or defeat!

For what is seen is temporal but what is unseen is eternal!

So once more, the verse I shared the other day;

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Though outwardly we are wasting away, 

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us

 an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 

18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,

 since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Cor. 4:16-18

From here to there sight cannot tell

What waits to fill the gap between

But because This is temporal

We fix our eyes on the Unseen

Lord, help us choose to be thankful

For Who we know will never fail

Where what is seen is temporal

And what is not, You will unveil

Therefore, then we do not lose heart

Though outwardly we waste away

The confidence that You impart

Renews our spirits day by day

© Janet Martin

Here we are, diverse cultures fixed, as believers in Christ, on the Solid Rock!

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

Whom Shall I Fear-David Wesley

God Will Take Care of You

Wonder-World -Wealthy

Psalm 40:4-8

Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,

And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works

Which You have done;

And Your thoughts toward us

Cannot be recounted to You in order;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered.

6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;

My ears You have opened.

Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

7Then I said, “Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8I delight to do Your will, O my God,

And Your law is within my heart.”

How Great Thou Art-Chris Rice

 (because Awesome Wonder makes life wonder-full)

Wonder rewards its heritor with wealth a-hundred-fold

A well-spring without barriers to joyfully behold

It fills the world with pleasure to enrapture and confound

A vault of hidden treasure overflowing all around

Some wonder we behold with eyes and some with humbled heart

As we begin to recognize its vault of ageless art

Its wealth, not in showcases filled with ‘look but do not touch’

But spilled from friendly faces, wisdom’s fount, seasons and such

Wonder waits to be tasted at each turn, it seems to me

Thus, Time should not be wasted in indulgent vanity

But rather, with each breath exalt the Giver of today

Because at every turn Death also stalks its primal prey

Wonder is worship’s uttermost; nothing can take its place

It strips proprietors of boast in its selfless embrace

And lifts the drooping spirit as it fills us with surprise

And gifts us with the merit of love’s selfless paradise

As high as heavens pathless hills and deep as deepest sea

A world of still impending thrills, unfurled epiphany

A grand buffet that beckons, its fulfilling feast beguiles 

Where The Creator reckons mortal appetites, and smiles

Pride goes before the fall and strangles wonder that would be

It caters to a call of covetous idolatry

And leaves a sense of joy amiss, its bliss a bitter fraud

But Wonder’s perfect happiness reveals a glimpse of God

Wonder wakens awareness, not to pelf of miser’s lure

But to unrivaled rareness of wealth coin cannot procure

Wonder wears threads of duty but, like autumn’s orchard bent

It yields the fruit of beauty in a heart sweetly content

© Janet Martin

As We All Are

The ending of the movie Stranger in Town

contains a speech with relevant reminders to all of us

all these decades later...

Stranger in Town Final Speech

(click on at 1:50 if you are in a hurry😉)

Politics is a topic that can lead to fiery discussion

and differing opinions!

Pray, more than anything we pray for our leaders

at every level for they are far more than representatives

of a political party.

They are living souls

As we all are!

“There are no ordinary people.

You have never talked with a mere mortal.”

C.S. Lewis

Meanwhile, we all are dearly loved

by the One who made us

'whether little girl with little curl'

or Leader for the better or worse

of the country he/she serves.

Prime-minister/president/political party bashing has never served to build

or heal and though today's voter's options seem sadly lacking

it is not a reflection of one man/one party, but rather of

 the nation's moral compass.

A country is not its prime-minister/president.

It is the people; you, me and every other

extra-ordinary human being we meet on a daily basis!

Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them 

as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?

On Monday Canada goes to the polls to vote for Prime-minister

either a new one or more of the same,

but it is a dark time for many voters because

When a nation stops calling on

The One True God

We get what we deserve.

Oh God, help the future of the nations...

...for we are more than flesh and blood,

Than hands and feet

and lovely face

We are the handiwork of God

Therefore no one

is commonplace

All precious in the sight or He

Whether private

or super-star

He created mortality

With tender love

as we all are

Then pray, this common Bond of love

Not hate, advises

And controls

Both citizen and head of state

Are chariots of

deathless souls

Therefore, in spite of all we lack

Not one of us 

are very far

From giving up and giving back

To He who loves

As we all are

Then lest, because of mortal bent

We forget, we should

Think again

Our love for God is evident

by how we love

our fellowman

Janet Martin~ 

For here we have no continuing city, 

but we seek the one to come. Heb.13:14

Beautiful Life Because...

Yet Not I, But Christ in Me

 

By the grace of God I am what I am, 

and his grace toward me was not in vain. 

On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, 

though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

 (1 Corinthians 15:10) ESV

Farther Along-Brad Paisley

Last night I felt weary to the bone and kind of discouraged

When I called Jim he wondered what's up?

When I filled him in on some of life's/love's concerns he said

'so that's why you sound disheartened!

The word stuck. Disheartened.

So much need, needing weary willing workers to say 'yes!'

This morning's Daily Bread Devotion scripture

also spoke to the disheartened!

Disappointment, discouragement 

and grave concern for the future are nothing new!

Our God, the same yesterday, today and forever declares still,

'This people I have formed for Myself;

They shall declare My praise.'

Isa.43:21

Ah, pray above all else, we are part of This/His people.

May we trust him for strength and wisdom

 to be diligent and true!

2 Cor.4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Though outwardly we are wasting away, 

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

17 For our light and momentary troubles 

are achieving for us an eternal glory 

that far outweighs them all.

 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, 

but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal.

Because Time is not on our side

But its kind Giver IS,

Because, though trust is often tried

God keeps his promises

Because His mercy is renewed

In spite of mortal ways

We have, with unplumbed gratitude

Cause to declare His praise

 Because His goodness will not fail

In spite of all that does

Because His justice will prevail

Above all other gods

Because He WAS, IS and WILL BE

No matter what some claim

We, with joyful fidelity

Honor and praise His name

Because we know that we are known

By the fruits that we bear

Because God is not mocked, we groan

But not in vain despair

Because He hears the prayers that lace

Word's inefficiency

  His gentle voice replies, My grace

Is sufficient for thee

Because He rewards those who seek

And serve Him, heart and soul

Because He strengthens us when weak

With faith that makes us whole

Because of this Hope will not dim

 As love trusts and obeys

 Because, He knows who follows Him

By who declares His praise

Janet Martin

Good and Gracious King-City Alight

The Doxology by Anthem Lights and Selah

Joy-Quest #2

The Poet constantly finds him/herself torn between

the beauty of duty...

and the duty of beauty

Beauty preserved in poetry to relive and re-love !

Through showrooms diamond-dazzled crowned with boundless majesty

The way from here to There runs through Creation's gallery

Where work would often blind us if we didn't find a way

To pull the cart behind while finding joy in today

The earth is filled with glory spilling from the Artist's brush

We, all part of His story should not fret so much, or rush

Where people can perplex us and trouble will have its say

Still, let's not let it vex us but focus on joy today

The art of celebration does not need to wait until

Morrow's special occasions our cups of joy to fill

But rolling like a mist-kissed sea in generous re-lease

Dawn grants fresh opportunity to find joy's masterpiece

The more we try to teach the heart to make the most of Now

The more we cannot learn the art of keeping score, somehow

While being humbly grateful for bread, buttered on one side

We find a heaping plateful of Yet, waiting to be tried

Morning-glory unstoppered rolls through showrooms, diamond-glazed 

The way from here to There should leave us joyfully amazed

Where work could often blind us if beauty would not astound

As joy gently reminds us to just pause and look around 

Janet Martin~

Today's 'joy-ride' swept by 

and the poem I roughly drafted this morning...

...is now a vesper hymn

Dishes washed, 

tea waiting to be tasted