As You Taught Us About Love....

You healed the sick and reached to the weak
We spit on your face and we smote your cheek
You pointed out the Way to Canaan Land
We drove the nails through Your out-stretched Hand
As You taught us about love
As You taught us about love

You cried because we could not see the Way
We stopped our ears at what You had to say
You showed us where our treasure bears no loss
We laughed and scorned and nailed You to the cross
As You taught us about love
As You taught us about love

You saw our sinful, dark and hopeless state
We returned Your love with cruel hate
Yet with Your last breath aloud You cried
“It is finished” then You died
As You taught us about love
As You taught us about love

You offered everything on our behalf
While we stood there and jeered and laughed
You saw the debt that we could never pay
We simply stared as Your life ebbed away
As you taught us about love
As You taught us about love……

…..as the veil in the temple was torn in two
As the earth trembled and mountains too
As the graves of Your people opened wide
Death was defeated in the Crucified
And the power of Your love
And the power of Your love

Lord, my feeble praises wilt Thou yet receive
You said You would save us if we just believe
I bow at Your feet unworthy to be there
You raise me up; accept my humble prayer
As You teach me about love
As You teach me about love

Janet~

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—John 1:12

Absolutely Everything......

What can I add to what God has done for me?
Absolutely nothing
What can I do besides believe?
Absolutely nothing
What can take the place of His love?
Absolutely nothing
What else can seal my hope above?
Absolutely nothing
What can I do to detract from His grace?
Absolutely nothing
What can I give my sin-stains to erase?
Absolutely nothing

What can I gain from believing in Him?
Absolutely everything
What can I lose by turning from Him?
Absolutely everything
What can I give to show my love for Him?
Absolutely everything
What will it cost me to live for Him?
Absolutely everything
What must I do to receive favor from Him?
Absolutely nothing
What did He give to show His love for men?
Absolutely everything

Janet~

For God so loved the world
That He gave His only begotten Son
That whosoever believes on him should not perish
But have everlasting life. John 3:16


1 John 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Such is His Love......

He lay across this barren void
A wondrous galaxy
Of planet, star and asteroid
Of earth and sky and sea
Yet, in spite of all creation
He blew upon the dust
And formed in His own image, man
Such is His love……. for us

To man He gave a garden fair
And every living thing
He released to mankind’s care
Each herb and beast and wing
And as He looked upon the earth
He said ‘it’s good’ because
His hand had placed in all His worth
Such is His love…… for us

He gazed upon the groaning masses
Scarred by sin’s dark seed
As every generation passes
Deeper grows their need
Until Heaven could not contain
His perfect love because
He knew where mankind would remain
Such is His love…..for us

Upon a cold and loveless tree
He gave His only Son
Perfect love for all to see
As He cried, ‘It is done’
Within the power of His blood
We are clean because
He is the spotless Son of God…..
Such is His love……for us

For us……the shells of wretched loss
He gave His very best
Sinless Lamb upon a cross
For our great sinfulness
And now as generations roll
His hope endures because
His blood sanctifies the soul
Such is His love…..for us
Janet~


For God sent not His Son in to the world
To condemn the world,
But that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17

Heavenly Gift

Last night I knelt before your altar
Laid upon its silent stone
The thing that I would not relinquish
Knowing it was not my own
And I cried, oh God, please take it
Not my will, but Yours be done
Take my stubborn heart and make it
More and more like Your dear Son

As I opened up my fingers
And released my foolish pride
I could feel His Presence linger
Like a dove close at my side
While I slept His peace surrounded
God, I did not understand
But when I awoke I found it
A gift returned within my hand

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Janet Martin


The life I live in the body
I live by faith in the Son of God
who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal.2:20

I Was Wrong

I thought I could get along without you
I thought I’d be fine on my own
So I tried not to think about you
Or the love that you had shown
I thought I knew what I needed
I would write a new love song
But there’s nothing to do but admit it
You were right, I was wrong

Cho. Cause I need you like the air that I breathe
I need you, not just your memory
I need you, oh there’s no other way
I need you in my life to stay

I thought in time my guilt would fade
Along with your memory
I’d forget about the sacrifice you made
So I could be set free
I thought I would get over you
The memory of love’s song
And I could live without loving you
But now I know; I was wrong

Cho. Cause I need you like a flower needs the sun
I need you in my every day
I need you Lord, I need you, I was wrong
I need You in my life to stay

And I need you like the air that I breathe
I need you to be the life in me
I need you forever, Lord I believe
I need You, I need you to be
The life in me
Eternally
I need you, I need you

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Janet Martin

What Am i Missing?

I visit the sick, I give to the poor
I love my neighbor who lives next door
I smile to the glum, lend a hand to the weak
And if I remember I carefully speak
So why am I not dancing, and over-joyed
Instead of enhancing a gaping void

In my vain quest I then paste on a smile
I won’t stop to rest as I walk the third mile
I try to spread cheer to a brother in sorrow
I share a sad tear, say I’ll visit tomorrow
I drop off some flowers and breathe a quick prayer
Why do I still feel a cloud of despair?

I climb a high mountain and sing to the Lord
Ah, surely this effort will glean a reward
I fast for a day and I tithe every week
Where is my pay in the joy I still seek?
What am I missing Lord what can it be?
In the stillness his Voice is heard, ‘you’re missing Me’

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Janet Martin

It is possible to exhaust ourselves
By doing all the right things for
All the wrong reasons.

If I give all I posses to the poor
and surrender my body to the flames
but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor.13:3

God is love.1 John 4:16

Sometimes....

Sometimes it seems to take a cross to make your servant strong,
Sometimes it seems to take a loss to help me sing Your song,
Sometimes it takes a higher hill to bring me close to you,
Whatever it is, I’ll trust Your will, I know You’ll see me through

Sometimes it seems to take the rain so I can see the sun,
Sometimes it takes the bitter pain to melt my heart of stone,
Sometimes it takes a tempest soar to make me hold Your hand,
To make me trust a little more though I don’t understand

Sometimes it takes great sacrifice to find the wealth I own,
And only when we pay its price Your deepest love is shown
It sometimes takes a walk through fire to bring a clearer shine,
It sometimes takes the bog and mire to find Your strength divine

Whatever it be through flood or flame or through the valley low,
Your love for me will be the same for You have promised so,
And though it sometimes takes a tear to help Your servant see,
Tis then I glimpse a love so dear; the love You have for me

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

No Battle Scar

I stood at the gate, one I well knew about,
Since my youth I’d been taught how to get in or stay out,
When suddenly there appeared on the last stepping-stone
The most glorious Being I’d ever laid eyes on,
As His eyes beheld mine, both wonder and fear
Surged through my body, for ‘twas certainly clear
That this indeed was Christ the Lord!
And I was drawn to my knees as in His presence I bowed,
His compassion and kindness so brilliantly shone
Down on that moment on the last stepping-stone

Then I lifted my head as I beheld His glory,
And I timidly said, “I believe the great story!
I believe that you love me and died for my sin,
And only through your blood will I ever get in
To the heavenly kingdom and the bliss that awaits
All who pass through these bright pearly gates”,
I professed my devotion, gratitude and love,
My desire to be in His kingdom above,
I thanked Him for being my precious Savior,
And hoped in His sight, that I would find favor

Then long was the silence, there was pain in His look,
As He lifted His eyes from a most wondrous book,
There was sorrow in His gaze, and a tear in His smile,
He spoke with tenderness, as to a little child,
And His words made me drop my head in shame,
“There is hope”, He said, “For all who call on my name,
For I am the Way, the Truth and Life,
I am your freedom and victory in strife,
Now you’ve laid down your armor, released from life’s war,
But where, precious one, are your battle scars?

Where is the record of the second mile?
You wearily trod, because you were My child,
And someone needed a faithful friend,
A hand to hold so they could stand,
Where is the suffering? A soldier’s price,
If you love me, then where is your sacrifice?
No mark of labor on your hands,
No wounds, no scars, no prison bands,
No dark hour where only I knew
The battle you fought as I carried you


Where is the sleepless night as you prayed?
For all the lost souls who carelessly strayed,
Where is the day where you hungrily fed?
From my living Word as your daily bread,
Where is that moment when you humbly laid down?
The pleasures of this life for a much richer crown,
If you are my child, as you say you are
Then surely there must be at least one battle scar,
To prove love’s measure, to show love’s price,
The mark of a soldier’s sacrifice,

Then there was silence. How could I reply?
No battle scar for the One who had died!
Not only for me, but for each living soul,
Yet I’d been unwilling to yield Him my whole!
No battle scar for His love so great!
On this last stepping-stone it was now too late,
Too late to go back and to show Him again
That for His sacrifice, how truly thankful I am!
Too late, too late! I wept as He spoke,
Then suddenly, thankfully—I awoke!
Copyright 2008 Janet Martin

Therefore, endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ; No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life,
That he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
(2 Tim.2:3-4)

Let Us Never Forget

Row upon row of little, white crosses
With heat and snow each season passes
Silent reminders like white infantry
Who lies beneath, only God can see
Symbols of freedom, oh, bow your head
Remember their sacrifice, let us never forget

Their battle is past, the chilling horror
But I gaze on these crosses with heart of sorrow
As I ponder the cost, the sacrifice
So many lives lost, oh what a price
For this thing we call freedom, I bow my head
Remembering its sorrow, let us never forget

The only new thing in life, they say
Is the history forgotten in a dim yesterday
So remember now the blood-stained field
Unspeakable horror, remember and kneel
Thank God for freedom, bought with blood shed
Lest we should repeat it, LET US NEVER FORGET

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Janet Martin

Freedom Song (part one)

Up the somber, tree-lined street
The steady stream of solemn ranks are led,
As sun-beams dance to the drummer’s beat
Filtering through the branches overhead
Beyond the tears and past the trees
The music of a small child’s laughter swells
Stark contrast to the infantry
Bowing ‘neath the tolling of the bells

Then, as the bag-pipe sound exalts
The melody of sweet Amazing Grace
The banner-covered coffin halts
For it has reached its final resting place
The last note fades, the cannon flies
Echoing across a distant shore
But none as stirring as the mother’s cries
“There’s no ‘free’ in freedom anymore

Put down your banners, lay down your guns
My sweet baby boy has died
Tributes, salutes, many battles won
Won’t bring him back” she cried
“Take away all the roses for nothing will be
Like it ever was before
The price of freedom is too hard for me
There’s no ‘free’ in freedom anymore”

Freedom has taken my boy from my door
There's no 'free' in freedom anymore
Free is not like it was before
There's no free in freedom anymore,
No, there's no free in freedom anymore.

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin