Tuesday, May 29, 2012

You Love Me





For every vile deceitful thing I am
You love me
For ever doubtful thought of shame
You love me
I offer up my anger and my grief
In tender mercy You behold my unbelief
And You love me

For ever step I walk in Judas’ shoes
You love me
For every tender blessing I refuse
You love me
In recompense for my complaint and greed
Your endless grace provides my humble need
As You love me

For every deed of foolish ignorance
You love me
For every blatant wasted, second chance
You love me
Mercy, compassion, like an ocean roll
To wash the sin-stain from my wretched soul
For You love me

© Janet Martin

 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, 
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Thursday, May 24, 2012

I Know


I do not know…
before the sun
cajoles the western sky
what will befall,
but this I know
the Lord keeps you and I
I do not know 
what waits beyond
the dark and distant hill
but this I know
before me goes
a Father's perfect will
and this I know
the unknown waits
and I, a shell of dust
can simply place
my hand in His
and in His wisdom trust

© Janet Martin
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and do not lean on your own understanding...Prov. 3:5

Awesome Acknowledgements

Oh God, who can paint on an infinite nothing?
Has ever a man brushed his thought on the air?
Who on this earth can arrange the vast heavens?
Or shift nebulosity with naught but a stare?

Who can design, from the seed its fulfillment?
Man can do nothing but what you allot
The fruit of the field, of forest and garden
Blooms by the measure of Creator’s thought

Who teaches the bud of flower to open?
Or tells the tree its season to leaf?
Has ever a man plucked the rain from the heavens?
Or ordered the wind’s velocity to cease?

How fearful the greatness of our dependence
But for a God who loves us so much
That not one pebble escapes His vigilance
Hope and forgiveness exudes every touch

…and He who arranges the colors of heaven
Or stuns man’s babble to quieted awe
Seeks ultimately, intimately, the best for His children
For in Heaven and earth there is none like God

© Janet Martin

No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jer. 10:6

We gathered there...some on the bluff, others down on the beach
each with our own version of  'watching the sun set...'


Thursday Thoughts~

 He walks on water...the Keeper of the storm
Even the wind and the waves obey Him
...how much more then, ought we?
It is only when we come to the end of ourselves
That God can begin…
For all the good it does not do
Sometimes she wonders
What might have been?
Salty tears
A great heart-cleanser

To love is not the same
as being 'in love'
 
Though duty may shorten its leash
It cannot keep the sun from smiling
Or nature from spilling its art
Through my window; nor can it quell
In the busyness of toil
The music of love in my heart
Come sunlight or shadow
Come high tide or low
God IS; ever changeless
Wherever we go
The Rock of Ages is Ageless
I cannot see the way ahead
Its portend or its girth
So I will put my faith instead
In God of Heaven and earth
He leads me
..Sometimes I am too stubborn to follow
He guides me
…sometimes I am too blinded by self to see
He loves me
…sometimes I forget just how much
Until I remember Calvary
Some friends flutter by
Like a butterfly
…and some are a fly in life’s butter
Some stick, not like honey in your hair
But closer than a brother
 Janet~

Softly Touching our Hand

Gold fingers reach from a cloak gently softening
Over serene valley, blue-brimming with mist
Into the meadow, where its humble offering
Is threaded with diamonds of dew-silver kiss
The brook winds its sash across spring's emerald garment
Through pastoral wood-lot and out to the sea
Forgotten ponds burst with songs of the season
Turquoise-jade patches on earth’s rugged knee
Gentle breeze rouses the bird from its slumber
Nature’s choristers fill somnolent space
As over the earth spreads a heavenly wonder
Of unmarred perfection; a new day of grace
Yester's red sun, as it slipped from our visage
Tugged with it the day, into history’s embrace
Now it rises again; yet is not encumbered
With past’s soiled attempts; but a new day of grace
And we turn to the Master-piece dazzling the acre
Where grace has allowed us a dot on time’s sands
Thankfulness rushes through our hearts like pure water
As a new day of mercy softly touches our hands
© Janet Martin
It is not difficult to see His beauty on a morning like this…
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:24

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Trouble Me Not...



Trouble me not; oh fear of tomorrow
Unknown is the visage of future intent
Trouble me not; oh yesterday’s sorrow
Firm is the seal on a moment when spent

Trouble me not; oh guilt that would haunt me
But for the Hands bearing scars in my stead
Trouble me not; though failure would taunt me
But for the Hope as my pardon flows red


Trouble me not; restless oceans of longing
Vain are the futile endeavors of dust
But oh, what fulfillment and peace in belonging
To He in whom we can affix our trust

Trouble me not; Lord, I plead for Your presence
To conquer the demons that quake ‘neath Your gaze
When I am weak God, Your strength is perfected
As I relinquish my will to Your ways

© Janet Martin


 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 
for my power is made perfect in weakness. 
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Cor. 12:9

Because of Him




Because of the grace and the love He has shown
Because of His word that will not pass away
We have a foundation of rare, precious Stone
A blueprint for living as we build day by day

Because of His absolute forgiveness of sin
We are set free from the burden of guilt
No condemnation remains deep within
Redemption impartial flows in His life-blood spilt

Because of His infinite mercy and care
Hope will sustain us in spite of travail
We have a Father who does not despair
His way is perfect; His love will not fail

© Janet Martin

Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you seems to be wise in this world
let him become a fool that he may be wise.

for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
For it is written: He takes the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Cor. 3:18-19

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Do Not Despair


Do not despair
Though grief and care
May bleed our laughter dry
And mortal pain
May seek to drain
The well-spring in our eye

Do not give up
Though pleasure’s cup
Is cracked or sadly scarred
There is an ear
Bent close to hear
The groaning of the heart

Do not dismay
A fairer day
Awaits beyond the vale
As step by step
He lifts us up
In arms that never fail

© Janet Martin

 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10