The Only Way....

We’re a band of broken pilgrims
On a journey to a place
Where the only way of entry
Is through Christ’s amazing grace
God’s of earth have naught to offer
That can be sustained in death
But the gift of Christ’s forgiveness
Gives us hope through our last breath

All the vain gods of this old world
Have no merit of their own
But our redemption is unfurled
Through Jesus Christ, God’s only Son
This is our God, three in One
Father, Holy Spirit, Son
Father, Holy Spirit, Son

We’re a band of pardoned pilgrims
Our brokenness will cease
In the moment we reach Heaven
And we see the Prince of Peace
No other god would die to save us
Bear the sorrow of the cross
No other god compares to Jesus
And His love….their boast is loss

All the vain gods of this old world
Are but stubble, wood and stone
But the one God of redemption
Reigns supreme on Heaven’s throne
This is our God, three in One
Father, Holy Spirit, Son
Father, Holy Spirit, Son

Janet~

I am the Lord,
And there is none else
There is no God besides me. Isa.45:5

Tekel.....

If God withdrew from our hands
Our longings and our passions
And laid them out across the sands
In true and honest fashion
If He revealed without disguise
Our innermost desires
And spread them out across the skies
To test them with His fires
If every hour of yesterday
Were painted like a story
And set up high in bold display
Where would lie the glory?
If He then asked ‘who is our God’
Would we reply with pleasure?
‘You, God, you’re the only One’
Would it belie our treasure?

Janet~

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Ex.20:3

Tekel; You have been weighed in the scales and found wanting. Daniel 5:27

No Certainties....but God...part two (Song of Adoration)

Oh God, there’s nothing certain
In this world but You
Your Word, your love, Your promises
Are faithful, changeless, true
The things of this existence
Will vanish in a breath
And nothing here will save us
As we close our eyes in death

Oh God, why do we gather
Vain treasures of this earth
Fire, wind and water
Can strip them from our girth
And should we choose to squander
The blessing of this land
Still we cannot wander
Beyond Your gracious hand

Oh God, this world will perish
And all that is therein
So too will all who cherish
The futile spoils of sin
Should fear and doubt molest us
Remind us then, oh Lord
That You do not forget us
This You’ve promised in Your Word

Janet~


But the Lord is with me
Like a mighty warrior. Jer.20:11

For I Am God.......

Nation will rise against nation
Mightiest kingdoms will fall
This is My declaration
For they do not heed My call
The strongest men will crumble
Returning to ashes and dust
Yet My grace is poured out to the humble
And to all who obey and trust

Who else can be likened to Me?
Who can make anything grow?
Can gods formed by hands of a goldsmith
Wash sinners whiter than snow?
Why do you fall to worship
The idols for which you slave?
Or pray to gods of wood and stone
Who have no power to save?

Fear not, My little children
For all that must come to pass
As surely as it is written
These days shall whither as grass
Has ever a God besides me
Profited any man?
The idol formed from the strengthened tree
Is the tree nourished by My hand

For I am God; there’s no other
There is none like me
I am the God of ancient times
And of days that yet will be
Hear ye, oh stubborn nations
What the God of Israel has said,
‘He frustrates the liars tokens
And drives the diviners mad’

I am the Lord, there is none else
There is no god besides me
I form the light and the darkness
Instruct the wind and the sea
My hand stretches over the heavens
What I purpose will be done
For I am the God of Israel
Besides Me there is none

Janet~

Isaiah Ch. 44-46

Remember the former things of old:
For I am God,
There is none else;
I am God.
There is none like Me. Isa.46:9

I bring near My righteousness;
It shall not be far off and
My salvation shall not tarry:
I will place salvation in Zion
for Israel my glory. Isa.46:13

The Word of God......

Man’s words are merely scripts of flesh
Spoken, like the wind
Blowing ‘cross our temporal path
We speak them, blind to blind
Yet in the end our greatest boasts
Are powerless indeed
We cannot change one tick of time
Or crack the planted seed

And though the knowledge of the best
May fill the empty page
Soon its merit will be dust
A flash upon earth’s stage
In crypts of all the by-gone ‘greats’
Their words of wisdom lie
Forgotten soon, their true test waits
In chambers in the sky

But there is a spoken Word
That never fades away
Sharper than a two-edged sword
It tests each word we say
It sees beyond the flapping tongue
Discerning deepest thought
Written for the old and young
By these words man is taught

His Word is holy, sound and just
Powerful and true
Written for these minds of dust
Ancient, yet ever new
His Word is comfort, strength and cheer
Wisdom, judgment, hope
His Word is light unto our feet
As in darkness we grope

From timeless ports His Word remains
A Beacon ‘cross the wave
Breaking hopeless sinner’s chains
His Word has power to save
For all the words that man may pen
There is none to replace
The Word of God, given to men
So we may see His face

Janet~

For the Word of God is quick, powerful
And sharper than any two-edged sword,
Piercing, even to the dividing asunder
Of soul and spirit,
And of the joints and marrow,
And a discerner of the thoughts
And intents of the heart. Heb. 4:12

Heaven and earth shall pass away
But My words shall not pass away. Matt 24:35

In Search of Christmas Day.....

Twas Christmas Eve and all through town the lights blinked red and green,
Snow was softly falling down where naked worlds had been,
Last minute shoppers rushed on home, discarding final lists,
While others packed up and left town to see dear folk they’d missed

Then, as I gazed on up the street I spied a form alone,
He wandered as if searching for something a long time gone,
He paused to view the festive scenes in windows twinkling bright,
Where ‘Merry Xmas’ signs were strung in honor of this night

Then up the silent street He trod, his steps were sad and slow,
Unlike the rush these walks had known a few short hours ago,
Past Santa’s smiling face he walked, past a twinkling Christmas tree,
Up to a window brightly lit where he could stand and see

Inside each person rushed about dreaming of Christmas day,
Dressing up the turkey or tucking last gifts away,
Dreaming of feasts, laughter and gifts, tables o’er-flowing with food
Trees laden down with presents for all, oh, what a holiday mood

Stockings were hung at the fireplace, everything was complete,
The table was set with cookies and milk for Santa’s special treat,
While folk all sang the Christmas carols and talked of Christmas cheer,
The stranger outside the window turned away and wiped a tear

Tis true, he cried, tis awful truth, I see it all too well,
The reason why they choose to cross out that first syllable,
Tis Merry Xmas, that is sure, the baby and Bethlehem’s star
Are simply traditions from the past, so faint and far

They’ve forgotten the ‘Christ’ is what this day is really all about,
That the true meaning is all gone if they choose to cross Him out,
They forget it is Christ, not Santa, that represents Christmas Day,
And in truth it is Merry Xmas if they choose to put him away

He wiped his tears and whispered, I’m sorry but I can’t stay here,
I simply do not feel at home amidst this festive cheer,
I watched him turn with broken heart and slowly walk away,
Twas then I saw the Man was Christ in search of Christmas Day

Janet Martin

Momentary..............

Like that time you stubbed your toe
Or missed the wood when you swung the axe
And you groaned and moaned ‘cause it really hurt
But life is just like that
Remember that face plant into the dirt
When you slid into second base
Those first few moments; how they stung and hurt
As you wiped unbidden tears from your face
But life is just like that
Remember the satisfaction and pride
The elation and joy of success
How the excitement bubbled from deep inside
In a well-spring of happiness
Remember the pleasure of saying thank-you
For the compliments and praise
As a sense of deliverance rolled over you
In a sweet, satisfying haze
But that was yesterday, before the dismay
Of chapters two and three
As you realize the fleeting prize
Of momentary security
Momentary pleasure, momentary pain
Earthly treasure is stored in vain
Momentary victory, momentary defeat
Momentary shadows or sunny retreat
But life is just like that
A sequence of momentary things
Lest we forget, we will never be kings
So we dare not scoff at the one in the dirt
Or brush off another’s misfortune or hurt
We all are simply fellow-men
Part of a much, much greater plan
Than this life of momentary mystery
Tomorrow today will be history
All of its moments, but steppingstones in a sea
Leading to the brink of eternity

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Janet Martin

I posted this poem on my
anotherporch blog and as I posted it
So many parts of Proverbs and Eccles. came to my mind….
Instruction and analysis of these moments……
This thing called Life …………

I decided to post it here with a few verses
Following this heading in my bible

….the conclusion of the matter……
(after writing Proverbs and Ecclesiastes)

Not only was the Teacher wise, but
He also imparted knowledge to the people.
He pondered and searched out and set in order
many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find
just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
The words of the wise are like goads,
Their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails……given by one Shepherd.
Be warned my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end
And much study wearies the body.
Now all has been heard;
Here is the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, keep His commandments
For this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
Including every hidden things,
Whether it is good or evil.

Eccles.12:9-14

Signs.......

We know, as we feel the deepening chill
That winter is coming….and it will
We know as the leaves deck the ground below
That scarlet and green will soon be covered in snow
And we know as the daylight fades too soon
As we gaze at the low amber harvest moon
As we shiver in tall blue shadows cast
That summer and autumn soon are past
We know what is waiting around the bend
By the signs in the air that nature sends
We know before spring breezes play
Winter must come and pass away

But we do not know the day nor the hour
When the Son of Man will return in His power
Someday the stars will fall like snow
And every nation on earth will know
That this is He; the one true God
Returning, like He said He would
And every single knee will bend
As we behold Beginning and End
Today is the day of Grace and Time
But He has given us warnings and signs
And we know as we see His prophecies fulfill
That He is returning…..and He will

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Janet Martin

……the stars will fall from the sky
And the heavenly bodies be shaken,
At that time the Son of Man will appear in the sky
And all the nations of the earth will mourn.
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
Of the sky, with power and great glory…..Matt24:29-30

Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matt.24:42

They Pass Away

What is a book?
Or what is fame?
They are another’s words
And another’s name
That new hit single
Will soon be number one
But where does it go
When its climb is done
It will follow all others
Into decay
For everything in this life
Will pass away

Wreaths on a grave-stone
Clouds in the sky
Blooms on the grapevine
The tear in our eye
The storm in its fury
The calm of the morn
Youth in its beauty
All dies that is born
The bud then the glory
And the slow sad decay
This life and each story
Will pass away

The knowledge of scholars
The wisdom of age
The rise of a nation
May grace this earth’s stage
The dormant fallow
The dell rich and green
The winter and summer
And all in between
The lonely, the lovely
The bright and the gray
Mere drops on a canvas
That will pass away

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Janet Martin

Heaven and earth will pass away,
But My words will never pass away. Matt.24:35

The Other Side of Me

They see the face of a woman’s love
They see the face of a smile
They see the mask that I hold to protect me
Or the sorrow that flows from my eyes
They see the outside and what it reveals
They cannot see what the outside conceals
Behind my mask no one can see
What forms the other side of me

But You see every hidden part
Beyond a surface smile
You know the deepest intent of the heart
You see to my very soul
For there is nothing hid from You
No secret deed that I can do
No mask through which You cannot see
To the other side of me.

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Janet Martin

Hopeless

His golden fields are rich with grain
His store-house over-flows
I see his pleasure ‘neath my pain
My cross beholds his rose
And in my state of discontent
I cry out “Father, why”
In wickedness his field was sown
Yet wealth is Your reply

In tenderness He takes my hand
And lifts my face to Him
“Child, when You don’t understand
When hope and strength grow dim,
I will still be at Your side
Your grandest wealth awaits
The wicked in this world abide
Heedless of their fate.

The sun shines on the just, unjust
The rain on all as well
On he who’s only god is lust
His reward is hell
My child, too soon the Reaper comes
To those who shun My love
Too soon these hopeless fields shall burn
As I My Words shall prove

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Janet Martin

Heart of Hearts

Your lips say that you really do not love me
Your eyes, my dear can never really lie
As blue as the blue sky way up above me
They whisper, I’ll love you until I die

Take away the roses in the garden
Take the song that whispers on the breeze
I toss away the bouquet of your pardon
Without you what joy are one of these?

In my heart of hearts I know the truth, dear
In my heart of hearts there is no lie
I can hear the words you do not speak, dear
They whisper, I’ll love you until I die

In my heart of hearts is where I’ll hold you
In my heart of hearts your heart will be
Perhaps my dear, I never really told you
What a precious love you are to me

In my heart of hearts there is no parting
In my heart of hearts is where you’ll be
In my heart of hearts you are my darling
And no one ever can take that from me

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Janet Martin

Like You Do....

I’ve been given love in my life
I am a daughter, a mother and wife
I’ve been held and held love too
But there’s one thing I know is true
No one knows my deepest need
Hears my heart’s unspoken plea
No one understands like You
And no one loves me like You do

Blue skies, blue eyes, sun or rain
When we’re loved they’re all the same
Slow dance, soft glance, sand or snow
Loving makes each season glow
But in spite of love’s soft touch
From each hand we love so much
There’s one thing I know is true
No one loves me like You do

Soul-mate, so great, two hearts one
Sweetest love I’ve ever known
Love’s arms so warm, heaven smiles
God, you sure must love Your child
Cold night, hard fight, misunderstood
God, you are still great and good
Faithful, Wonderful, love so true
No one loves me like You do

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Janet Martin

God is love. 1 John 4:16

It's a Pretty Good Day

The bill we were waiting for
Came in the mail today
Twice as high as we had
Thought that it would be
The washer is still leaking
Though it had been ‘fixed’
Something still needs tweaking
I’ll try to do it just for kicks….
The sky is proudly sporting
Her winter coat of grey
But I’ve got to admit its still
A pretty good day

The mailman didn’t bring the letter
I’ve been waiting for
There’s a brand new Chevy
Parked at our neighbor next door
The house could use a cleaning
And I could use a nap
It would be nice if I could buy
Energy on tap
But I need to pick up the kids
For their hockey game
Oh yes I’ve got to admit
It’s still a pretty good day

So maybe I don’t like to hear
The truth from time to time
But when it comes from wiser youth
I simply nod and smile
And thank God that they’re healthy
With opinions of their own
Lord knows they’re gonna need them
After they are grown
And I will try to listen well
To all they have to say
God I want to thank you
It's a pretty good day

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Janet Martin

My true story of the day:):)

One Day At A Time

Lord, help me live one day at a time
Too often it seems like this mountain I climb
Grows taller and taller, but I cannot stop
Until I have reached its elusive top

Help me to focus simply on today
All of the morrows are still far away
The path that I view, though now cold with dread
Cannot reveal what truths lie ahead

Help me to trust You, one day at a time
In my feeble strength I never could climb
But if I will trust You to lead the way
I’ll stand on this mountain-top someday

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Janet Martin

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt.6:34

I Believe....

I believe that fishing poles and little boys
Forever will go hand in hand
I believe that my bare toes
Were made for walking in the sand
I believe that little girls and giggles
Never will go out of style
And I believe love’s tender kiss
Is simply heaven in a smile

I believe with every new babe’s birth
Angel feathers drift down from the sky
And I believe that heaven on earth
Is a midnight garden in July
I believe in moments wasted
If they are in sunshine or in love
And I believe that I have tasted
More than my fair share of goodness from above

Oh I believe in many friends
And few that ever really understand
I believe that honor, truth and loyalty
Are the traits of a true man
I believe that I will never know
Just how truly vast and deep
Is the love that God poured out below
Until I touch His hands and feet

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Janet Martin

Can You Take It?

Can you take the fear and turmoil?
All the endless doom and gloom
That the media is spouting
Into every living-room
Do they cloud your mind with worry?
As our misfortunes they proclaim
Can you take the modern prophets
Rising out of moral shame?

Can you take it? All the hatred
For God’s laws and His statutes
Can you take their false assumptions
That there are no absolutes?
Does your anger not consume you
As they lead our youth astray?
Blinding them to holiness
In sad moral decay

Can you take their vain assurance
There is no absolute truth???
And this insanity is swallowed
By mature as well as youth
Has no one ever told them
The words that Jesus said?
I am the Way, the Truth, the Life
Without Me you are dead

I could never, ever take it
If I had no higher power
To assure me we will make it
But no man can no the hour…
Hallelujah, I can take it
All this worry and its strife
By God’s grace I know I’ll make it
He is Truth and He is Life

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Janet Martin

Jesus answered, I am the Way,
The Truth and the Life,
No man comes to the
Father, except through Me. John 14:6

Where Worship Begins

Lord, I know that you desire the beauty of our praise
As we give You the glory for Your high and holy ways
But the music of our lips is void of truth or radiance
If we deny Your will and live in disobedience

We may shout Your wondrous power to the far and distant reaches
Of the earth, from tallest towers to the lone and wind-swept beaches
But alas, if our hearts are cold what dismal consequence
When life is past and You behold our disobedience

So let the praises of our lips simply be a pure result
Of our glorious fellowship of a Maker we exalt
For You are God, a holy God and there is recompense
If we should dare your praise to share without obedience

Take us Lord, and purify each poor and sinful heart
For only You can sanctify or know each hidden part
Teach us how to follow You without pride or pretense
For our worship must begin with our obedience

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Janet Martin

Santa or Jesus

She looked like an angel in her little red coat
A white scarf wrapped snugly and tied at her throat
Snowflakes sparkled in her golden hair
And in her hands she clutched a small teddy-bear
The crowds scurried past her, their thoughts on the morrow
Unaware of the girl and the hint of sorrow
That shone in her eyes as she gazed at the sled
Where-on sat a jolly old man in red

The excited laughter of the children around her
Did not lift the shadow that seemed to surround her
Yet she watched as they climbed on the old man’s knee
To tell what their wants and wishes would be
…in the distance the bells from the tall church steeple
Hailed to the streets still crowded with people
For daylight was fading, but the chill in the air
Went unnoticed by the girl with the teddy-bear

The old man didn’t see her ‘til the noisy crowds dwindled
As they rushed to the warmth of home-fires kindled
Then he beckoned to the sad-faced little girl
Who suddenly looked as if she carried the world
With all of its trouble on her wee shoulders
And he knew he simply HAD to hold her
--to ask her what caused her young heart to grieve
On this greatest of nights, this Christmas Eve

She timidly approached his gift-laden sled
“Come, don’t be afraid” the jolly man said
“It’s your turn now and I think you’ll be
The last child this year to sit on my knee
Come now and tell Santa what troubles you so
For this is the best night of the year, don’t you know?”
Then onto his lap she gratefully snuggled
To tell dear old Santa why her heart was troubled

“Well” she began “It’s like this, you see”
And she paused as she brushed some snow from his knee
Then Santa pulled a big warm blanket around them
As Christmas Eve began to surround them
“Mama says it is Jesus who is the reason
We celebrate Christmas every season
That Santa is a creature of our imagination
Who has nothing to do with this celebration”

Silently Santa watched the snowflakes swirl
As he pondered the words of this little girl
Then in a husky voice he gently said
“You have a very wise mother indeed
Jesus is the reason, don’t you ever forget it
Santa adds the magic, perhaps if you let it
And, my dear little girl, would it surprise you
To know that this Santa loves Jesus too?

For Santa would have no reason to bring
Gifts for the children if not for a King
Who was laid in a manger where wise men from afar
Gave the first Christmas gifts ‘neath Bethlehem’s star
And old Santa’s reindeer flying through the air
Could never even begin to compare
To the host of angels bent low to the earth
To tell the shepherds of Jesus birth

Cause Jesus IS the truth and Santa’s the mystery
The jolly ho ho! in this season’s history
For to Christmas truth Santa’s no stranger
All that I know I learned at the manger
Gifts remind us of hope, peace, love and joy
Such as Heaven gave earth in that baby boy
So my dear little girl, I agree with your mother
Jesus IS the reason, there is no other”

The little girl quietly pondered his words
As she ran her fingers through his frosty beard
When suddenly she clapped her little hands
“I get it” she cried, “I now understand!”
Then a little girls laughter and Santa’s ho ho
Rang our ‘cross the town all covered in snow
And they shouted with joy, “It’s ok to believe
In Jesus and Santa on Christmas Eve!”

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Janet Martin

A light-hearted story in defense of all the
‘daddy and grand-daddy santa’s’
who bring squeals of delight to excited children!
AND STILL LOVE JESUS!!!

Autumn Leaves

Oh, you’re so bold in red and gold
Your scarlet gown is stunning
You tempt the eye of passers-by
With colors so becoming
But as I view your glorious hue
In silence I am grieving
And every year I shed a tear
For I know autumn’s leaving

Down to the ground without a sound
Your splendid dress is dropping
As you begin dismantling
I plead, but there’s no stopping
Til arms of grey in stark array
Our eye no more deceives
Silent and still upon a hill
I watch as autumn leaves

No closing door, no kiss before
Your fast and sure departure
No farewell grand, no waving hand
I wait beneath the arbor
You try to charm with naked arms
The heart that softly grieves
I see the truth, like glorious youth
So too, autumn leaves

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Janet Martin