Joy-Athletes

Inspired in part by Luke 6

(such a rich chapter! so hard to choose just a few thoughts)

There's no getting around it; God knows our hearts!

Whether what we do is to glorify Him first through loving our neighbour as our self

or whether we live to look after personal interests first!

Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the 'Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.'

He taught us that it is always lawful to do good on any day of the week.

While, not voiding the command in Exodus 20:8-11  

to take a day of rest unto the Lord;

' Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; 

but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord God;

in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, 

your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle,

 or the sojourner who is within your gates;

 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,

 the sea, and all that is in them, 

and rested the seventh day; 

therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.'

In Luke 6 He went on to remind them/us 

of the faithfulness of God to sacrificial and suffering believers.

He encourages believers/followers to

 'leap for joy, for great is the reward in Heaven'.

Luke 6:23

So let's all be athletes and 'leap for joy'!!

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee- Carrie Underwood

Oh, leap for joy

The baby boy

In Bethlehem became

Redemption’s Lamb

God’s gift to man;

Salvation through His name

Trust in the One

Who gave His Son

The war o’er death to win

Faithful and just

He forgives us

As we confess our sin

Rejoice in He

Who sets us free

From dread of death and hell

The wonders of

Redeeming love

Is more than tongue can tell

Then join the song

The angel throng

Began so long ago

Peace and goodwill

To sweetly fill

Hearts dark with Eden's woe

And let life be

A melody

Of love’s lovely increase

As we applaud

The gift of God

Of righteousness and peace

Joy to the world

Mercy unfurled

Hope’s banner, blood red, oh

Yet by God’s grace

Sin is erased

And washed as white as snow

The doleful knell

Of would-be hell

Is quelled; let love applaud

And leap for joy

That baby Boy

Restored man’s way to God

Then let each heart

Become the part

That cradles Heaven’s boy

As we revere

God’s gift so dear

And sing with endless joy

© Janet Martin

Pre-Winter Wind-Storm

 While we put on the tea kettle...

The wind gnaws at window sashes

Growls like a dog with a bone

Hurls and swirls russet leaf-ashes

Plastering autumn’s gravestone

Bidding stragglers to take cover

Underneath awnings that drip

With tears of a jilted lover

Burned by tamed flames of friendship

Turning ruddy, countenances

Sallow, for lack of sun’s kiss

Jeering like a rogue that dances

As if nothing was amiss

Raking treetop’s naked tresses

Shaking hatches battened down

Hoisting the hemlines of dresses

Making modest matrons frown

Where the heart like a wild stallion

Pounds like hoofs on rib-caged turf

Conscious of wraithlike rebellion’s

Rising, rolling, roaring surf

Boisterous, good-for-nothing rebel

Rattles doors with cold, hard fact

While we put on the tea kettle

And pray the roof stays intact

© Janet Martin

Jim just called to make sure I've 'battened down the hatches'!!

the ominous moan of this morning is turning into 

growling gusto...

Universal Invitation to Peace

Inspired in part by Luke 4&5

as well as week two of advent and the theme of Peace

Matt.5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

For they shall be called sons of God.

I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day-Johnny Cash

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Cor.9:15

Healer- Casting Crowns

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest.

Matt. 11:28

Come with gladness and receive Him

Come with faith and be made whole

Lest by rejection we grieve Him

Healer of body and soul

Come, ye weary worn, care-laden

Come elder and children all

Come, young fellow and fair maiden

Heed The Great Physician’s call

Lest sin remains unforgiven

(Deathly debt none can defend)

Lest we, worldly-wisdom driven

Forfeit Heaven in the end

Lest hell’s hopeless haunting breaks us

As we wander to and fro

Lest the tempter’s taunting takes us

Where no thought or feet should go

Come, lest Lofty Dream deceives us

Come, though scorning skeptics laugh

Follow He who never leaves us

But pleads on the Soul’s behalf

We are crippled, blind and broken

Without God’s peace to console

Until we hear these words spoken

Friend, your faith has made you whole

Let the Prince of Peace deliver

Hearts, bitter and cynical

Like an arrow in His quiver

Let love work faith’s miracle

Forsake debate and believe Him

Lest doubt’s dark demons increase

Trust His promise and receive Him

Author of hope, joy and peace

© Janet Martin

When Jesus saw their faith, he said,

 “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 5:20

Where Still The Call To All Remains...

 Inspired in part by Luke 3

Unto Us-Living Stones Quartet

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing- Phil Wickham

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matt.3:1

And all people will see God’s salvation.

Luke 3:6

Truth’s Voice cries in the wilderness ‘prepare’ for He who will return

The advent of His holiness trembles in hearts that wait and yearn

Where still the call to all remains, ‘repent, ‘be baptized’, ‘come, adore’

Before the Lord winnows the grains from chaff on Judgment’s threshing floor

Faith bows before Him in reply, whose feet we are not fit to kiss

Whose appearing will fill the sky; no foretold oracle amiss

Whose example still fills the Word, whose Truth will never shift or sway

Whose Spirit abides, undeterred to all who trust Him and obey

The advent of the Lord’s return burns in hearts fixed beyond time’s strife

While Mercy pleads where unfaith spurns the Only Way, the Truth, The Life

As believers become the voice that cries in holy urgency

Because belief becomes the choice that becomes soul’s eternity

Hark! Where the angels praised his birth, they will fill up the sky again

As the Lord of Heaven and earth returns forevermore to reign

Where the God of Deliverance tarries because so many doubt

And do not grasp the recompense of what God's gift is all about

Truth’s Voice cries in the wilderness ‘prepare’ for He who will return

The advent of His holiness trembles in hearts that wait and yearn

Where still the call to all remains, ‘repent, ‘be baptized’, ‘come, adore’

Before the Lord winnows the grains from chaff on Judgment’s threshing floor

© Janet Martin

He Shall Reign Forevermore

Someone posted the suggestion on Facebook to read a chapter of Luke every day till Christmas Eve to read the whole book of Luke and his account of the whole life of Jesus!

So, before I go to bed I will try to read a chapter of Luke until Christmas.

I might not have a poem for every chapter but wow!

so much wonder in the Word to kindle inspiration, rejoicing and Hope!

Caught Marveling

And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isa.6:3

While I was pushing tot on the swing yesterday

just before dark,

God trailed His glory on sky and sod...

On parchment of sod, sky and sea

God’s glory is extolled

Four seasons filled with majesty

Time’s manuscripts unfold

Without shadow of wondering

The seed beneath the snow

Cradles the quiet thundering

Of birth and spring’s hello

The Creator of nature’s waltz

Grants but a glimpsed prelude

Of He who earth and sky exalts

And we, with gratitude

The beauty of the Lord abounds

With all but Fringe unseen

Until that day when He confounds

With no dark glass between

Praise He whose beauty births delight

Yet is but Sight's small crumb/sum

That whets Hope’s howling appetite

With The Best Yet to Come

© Janet Martin

Come, One and All and Gather Round

This post is inspired in part by Luke 2

 Light of the Stable-Selah

Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem -Jeremy Camp

  

Make Room

If covid has proven anything it's that we all need

the glad tidings of great joy/grace through Jesus!

We have been challenged and most of us likely disappointed

at times at responses and attitudes of our fellow-travelers

(in this journey of life) 

during the ongoing ripple-effects of this pandemic,

making the account of Jesus birth and childhood in Luke 2 

especially meaningful and vital this year!

Luke 2:10-11

And the angel said unto them, 

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 

which shall be to all people

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David 

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

1 John 3:10

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Come, one and all and gather round

Love’s wonder to behold

Glad tidings of great joy abound

For people young and old

For Jesus, though the King of kings

Did not despise God’s call

Or flee Calvary's sufferings

To be Saviour of all

Come one and all and gather round

The manger where He lay

Jesus, not royal robed and crowned

But on a bed of hay

Come bow your head and shed a tear

Of both sorrow and joy

Behold Majesty’s meek veneer

In Mary’s Baby Boy

Come, one and all and gather near

Lest morrow is too late

The message of God’s love is clear

Destiny more than fate

For whoever believes in Him

Eternal life will gain

Death’s verdict without God is grim

And life, hopeless and vain

Come, one and all and gather round

To celebrate with joy

The hope for man, none can confound

And nothing can destroy

Come one and all, hail and adore

The Gift angels applaud

For this is more than ancient lore

This is the love/Son of God

© Janet Martin

Joy to the World- John Berry

This morning's Daily Bread Devotion

 includes this precious passage of scripture from

1 John 2:28-3:10

The Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, 

that [a]when He appears, we may have confidence 

and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 

29 If you know that He is righteous, 

you know that everyone who practices righteousness 

is born of Him.

The Command to Love

3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,

 that we should be called children of [b]God! 

Therefore the world does not know [c]us, 

because it did not know Him. 

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; 

and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, 

but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, 

for we shall see Him as He is. 

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, 

and sin is lawlessness. 

5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, 

and in Him there is no sin. 

6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. 

Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. 

He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, 

for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, 

because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: 

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, 

nor is he who does not love his brother.

Advent Aria (for modern-day 'Marys')

 Inspired in part by Luke 1 

John 1:6-9

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, 

that all through him might believe. 

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

9 That[b] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Love is the Light that pierces the darkness

Crowning our cares with courage, not despair

Love is God’s presence in us, lest harshness

Of this old world would be too hard to bear

Mercy extends Hope’s pure consolation

Not in some Thing that at death’s door will dim

Through generation unto generation

Love is the Light that draws people to Him

Joy to the world, magnify mercy’s author

Bethlehem cradled God’s humanity

For Jew and Gentile, love sent a Saviour

Let the world cry then ‘be it unto me’

Let us like Mary, with utter surrender

Trust in He who we know will never fail

Love is mankind’s death-defying Defender

Love is the Light that rent the temple’s veil

Love fills the womb of Time with God's kindness

Love conceives and gives birth to daily grace

Love is the healer of faith's would-be blindness

Love is the seeking soul's sweet resting place

Blessed is He, the Lord God of Israel

Love is the hand that sacrifice will scar

Love is the gift of good news to all people

Love is the Light of the Bright Morning Star

Love is the keeper of Hope’s expectation

Someday all people will look up and see

Glory’s appearing, the God of salvation

Ending the advent of all prophecy

Fulfillment finished at His second coming

As Heaven descends to earth’s broken world

Where Love still waits for lost people still roaming

Love is the Light of the gospel unfurled

© Janet Martin

A Little Ditty on Life's Itty Bitty

The cake was the least of the feast on Friday night

as we fellowshipped and fostered deeper friendships.

Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

I almost said 'no, thank-you' when asked to host

some ladies from church that I didn't know very well.

I thought I didn't really have time to prepare properly

(plus a whole plethora of unfounded fears)

but I said 'yes' and I'm so glad I did!

 We had such a sweet, fabulous evening

it made me wonder what loss of joy and blessing

I have amassed by doubting God's sufficient grace 

then replying 'no' to opportunity!

But the main concern in our yeses and no's...

(because sometimes 'no' is okay)

...is, Who we are doing What for

1 Cor.10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, 

or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. 

If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, 

to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever.

Touchdown on time’s tabard

Life’s glance on its dirt

Flies like a spark, upward

Hope clinging to hurt

Like snowflakes to lashes

Life’s flicker of fuss

Fosters dust and ashes

And soul’s exodus

Where Who we did What for

Whether great or small

Will prove with pure fervor

Who we loved most of all

© Janet Martin