Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humility. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2024

When Best Intentions Run Awry


This didn't go as planned!


To Grand sonny's 7 yr. old logic it made perfect sense to take a stick
 and whack the snow and ice out of this little china bird-feeder,
completely unaware that Gramma received it for Christmas
 from a family she did childcare for, 
and who thoughtfully picked out this bird and tea lover's gift .
Gramma, (as she came upon the scene of Grandson 
beating the feeder to bits after 'it was broken anyway' 
and before she heard the explanation that caused 
what appeared to be radical unreason!!) 
did not react as patiently as she should have, ahem!!
And then Gramma apologized for her quick and quite annoyed reaction,
and gave him a little 'explanation' on why she treasured it
and on respecting people's things. πŸ˜“πŸ˜…
Grandsonny was very sorryπŸ’”πŸ’—
It reminded me of how we all sometimes are part of best intention run amuck.
He was simply going to get rid of the iceπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‡
but, no matter how well-intended the objective
 if, when all is said and done
we leave someone wounded/broken or in retrospect realize
our intentions were misguided,
 we owe repentance and apology to whom it is due
however noble our initial intentions were!
The above episode may seem like a pale example,
but the principle  is the same, 
no matter what the details of the issue.
As we mature we realize even compassion can make mistakes.
Sometimes love can get a bit tangled in that fine line 
between sinner and sin!
Oh God, help us all (Whether leader or laity)
 to be humble enough always, to stand corrected!
Would that we be sorry when we should!
God is faithful to help us pick up the pieces,
and move forward by His grace,
for His glory!

Sometimes our best intentions run awry
The good-we-would misses the mark we sought
And every earnest explanation ‘why’
Cannot suffice to fix the wrong it wrought

Sometimes stumbles can test the ‘humblest’ heart
Surprising Self with startling clarity
When Noble Reason errs, (if but in part)
Wreaking havoc from flawed integrity

Fumbles can foster brutal wake-up calls
With jolts intended to open our eyes
Because no one is above pride’s pitfalls
Or too superior to apologize

Then, sometimes all it takes to get along
Rather than justify the cause so much
Is to say ‘I am sorry, I was wrong’
Then let forgiveness work its healing touch

Sometimes our best intentions run askew
The good-we-would leaves shambles in its wake
And every explanation will not do
Other than owning up to love’s mistake

© Janet Martin

Dear Lord, remind us, rather than stooping to sling stones,
to bow humbled hearts before you in prayer for one another!

John 8:2-11
Now [a]early in the morning He came again into the temple, 
and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.
 And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him,
 “Teacher, [b]this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
 5 Now [c]Moses, in the law, commanded us [d]that such should be stoned. 
But what do You [e]say?” 
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.
 But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, [f]as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He [g]raised Himself up and said to them,
 “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 
9 Then those who heard it, being[h] convicted by their conscience, went out one by one,
 beginning with the oldest even to the last. 
And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up [i]and saw no one but the woman, 
He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers [j]of yours? 
Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; 
go [k]and sin no more.”

Monday, June 26, 2023

Gratitude-Quest...



Sometimes love's realities/cruelties/crosses
could wake excuses that could make us bitter...
Oh my Lord, may it never be!!





Lest by bitterness betaken
Lest by prideful boast or greed
Lord, each day let me awaken
To Your mercy for my need
Lest in my pursuits of gladness
I, by reason of a fool
Miss Your goodness, for the madness
Of Want without rod or rule

Lest I trade eternal treasure
And the blessing You bestow
For the very temp’ral pleasure
Of a temporary show
Lord, each day let me awaken
To renewed awareness of
Hope’s sweet confidence unshaken
Anchored in grace, truth, and love

Lest, by my impatient nature
I demand what is not mine
Puffing up my puny stature
In the face of Grace Divine
Lest, by some distorted notion
I perceive rather than trust
And redirect my devotion
From You to idols/merchants of dust

Lest the lure of the beholding
Blinds me to Faith’s surety
Lest the pace of grace unfolding
Heaven, is too hard for me
Lord, each day let me awaken
So that I am overtaken
With nothing, but gratitude

© Janet Martin

Psalm 107:15&31

Oh, that men would give thanks
 to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works
 to the children of men!



Thursday, January 19, 2023

Earth's Beginning of Heaven's Eternity


Every so often I love to crank up this song...
it brings a sense of Heaven to earth!

Worship: Earth's beginning to Heaven's Eternity

I Love You Lord



I want to want not anything, save that which teaches me
To sing devotion’s worship hymn with true humility
Lest selfishness and pride take root and vanity applauds
I want to guard against choice fruit offered to lesser gods

How easily a thought can stray from where it ought to be
Fixed on faith’s Confidante and Stay secured at Calvary
To jars of clay, refined through care, hope’s priceless treasure spills
Nothing in this world can compare to what God’s light instills

For what have I of worth to bring save what is given me
To tune devotion’s offering with awed sincerity
To lift a gift of sober joy like a most valued gem
To He who alone doth destroy the shackles that condemn

Oh, help me when I falter Lord, to walk by faith not sight
To lean upon your faultless word to guide my thought aright
For what we have in common ought to gentle fellowmen
Thy sure and sacred summons to Soul’s everlasting Then

Lord, you know all the secrets of each thoughts and heart in full
Help us not to forget to who we are accountable
And live, not for the praise of man but with humility
Begin, in every way we can, worship’s eternity

© Janet Martin

Create in me a clean heart, O God; 
and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10







Monday, September 5, 2022

Life; a Rollercoaster Poster

Happy Labour Day!
(Here's hoping mine will soon taste like tomato soup, salsa etc.! )


For this Labour Day I chose these two passages below to remind us to
serve with gladness while letting patience have its perfect work!
SO much easier said than done!!

Psalm 100:2
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, [a]all you lands!
2Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and [b]not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

James1:4
... let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Oh! The labor pains of patience
before we are perfectly complete and lacking nothingπŸ™πŸ˜₯πŸ’”πŸ™

Jim's patience is being tested right out of the gates this week!
His high hopes for Happy Labour Day 
 have already taken a plunge; truck troubles
changing 'early start' to 'turn back' !! πŸ˜“

If life had to be portrayed with one image 
it would have to be a roller-coaster, right?!
(an image used in yesterday morning's message at WBC)
We can go from being on top of the world to a spiraling plunge in an instant!
and SO many unexpected twists, turns and tunnels!
Aren't you thankful God is steadfast, changeless and faithful no matter what?!




The ups and downs and smiles and frowns of love and life persist
The ebb and flow of boon and blow and high and low repeat
The perfect work of patience lurks at every turn and twist
To teach us how to reach and bow and ‘wash each other’s feet’

Where faith and fear, laughter and tears, dismay and cheers conflict
Where serving God with humble laud makes every task esteemed
Where thick and thin of loss and win and groan and grin’s edict
In due time earns wisdom’s returns in ways we never dreamed

The fruit of toil and root of spoil in close proximity
Tests vim and verve and who we serve; The Apple of our eye
With age-old art reveals the heart with startling clarity
No trick or fence thwarts consequence; no truth can ever lie

Hope and defeat clash and compete; bittersweet battleground
Love’s push and pull not beautiful when felled in broken dreams
Where faith refined appears unkind, where bold doubters abound
Where ‘to serve God with gladness’ is madness to most, it seems

Where ups and downs and smiles and frowns of love and life repeat
Where ebb and flow of boon and blow and highs and lows persist
To teach us how to reach and bow and ‘wash each other’s feet’
The perfect work of patience holds refined gold in its fist

Do not despair; the work of prayer is oft invisible
While we who see in part and He who sees the heart entreat  
Until the awesome consummation of Love's Miracle 
So brutally refined, bows heart, soul and mind at God's feet 

© Janet Martin







Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Heaven-bent...

 





Not so enlightened, as to be
Careless with hope’s security
Not so engrossed in earthliness  
I do not prize faith's promises
Not so prosperous I forget
The hungry poor who have no bread
Not so successful as to slide
Into subtle pitfalls of pride
Not so consumed with avarice 
I snub salvation's purchase-price
Not so ingenious I ignore
The One who said ‘I am the Door’
Not so comfortable that I
Am loathe to bid this world good-bye
Not so intent on things below
I have no heaven-wealth to show
No living proof, by quiet deed
Of compassion for those in need
No legacy of self outpoured
As evidence of Christ as Lord
No desire to be poor enough
To treasure most His grace and love
And count all worldly gain as loss
To marvel daily at the cross
To keep in mind, earth's lease is lent
And live each moment, heaven-bent  

© Janet Martin

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, 
strive for the things above, 
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
 2Set your minds on things above,
 not on earthly things. 

Col.3:1-2




Saturday, April 23, 2022

Wonder-full Compulsion! Plus Butter Tart Recipe πŸ˜‹

Sometimes the ho-hums of housework
would not feel like an honor to perform
until we look beyond it's faΓ§ade 
to love,
and glimpse the face of God






For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:
that if One died for all, then all died;
and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves,
but for Him who died for them and rose again.

2 Cor.5:14-15





Compelled by love for He who gave His all, oh let it be
Drawn with desire to put on dear Christ’s humility
For God so loved the world He gave His Son to pay sin’s debt
He rent the bondage of the grave, oh may we ne’er forget

Compelled by love, to honor He who to self-will did die
To offer ourselves to be love’s penitent reply
Where more than Call of Duty bids us bear life’s yoke and rod
With the unhidden beauty of a heart yielded to/exalting God

Compelled by love, first for our God and then for fellowman
Oh, blissful state as we applaud, through servanthood, His plan
Where love did not demand from us the recompense for sin
But rather gave his Son Jesus, His gift of grace to win

Compelled by love, ah, as we contemplate the sacrifice
What higher call could captivate or be worth greater price
Life’s meekest merit never fails; He who is Love supplies
His Spirit's strength as faith prevails and strains toward the Prize

© Janet Martin

Doesn't love's beauty always sweeten the duty?! Aren't you glad?

...some small  'sweetness-es'
sometimes come in the form of
Warm Butter Tart!


Oh!! I'm sorry. Would you like one too?
Here is the best recipe I know!
My mother's...









Monday, February 28, 2022

Today's Holy Ground

When The Greatest Commandment is disregarded
then everything else that follows falls out of place.

(Matt.22:36-40
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
 This is the first and greatest commandment. 
 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”)


Mercy unveils its token
Across the land and sea
A new morning has broken
Holy, holy, holy

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul; 
He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.


The love that pardons sinners
Where truth and grace abound
Wakens pardoned believers
To today’s holy ground

The hope wrought through redemption
As trouble’s billows break
Sweetens, with awed perception
Each holy breath we take

He, who for our transgression
Bore hate’s hostility
Teaches, through His subjection

Mercy unveils its token
Across the land and sea
A new morning has broken
Holy, holy, holy

No other God can conquer
And bid the darkness flee
Nor satisfy want’s hunger
With holy fealty

The strength of rebels falters
When fixed on this world’s mess
Nothing supplants or altars
God’s holy righteousness

This love, above all scandals
That no brute can confound
Bids us take off pride’s sandals
On today's holy ground

By grace we are forgiven
And so unworthy of
Earth’s small foretaste of Heaven
God’s holy, holy love

Oh, come let us adore Him
Let humble praise resound
God sees who bows before Him  
On today's holy ground

© Janet Martin



This poem was inspired in part by our message yesterday!






Thursday, January 6, 2022

Lord, It's Hard To Be Humble

 

Sunday morning's message
esp. the part between 45-50+ minutes in,
really sparked a mental contemplation/conviction 
on my attitude; pride/humility/obedience/rebellion and
on how easily I want to become wise in my own eyes...

How brave am I?
How humble am I?
How true am I really?
Can I sing this song honestly without reserve?!!



The lack of true humility breeds wicked arrogance
It fuels fatal vanity and rebel’s recompense
It does not bend the knee or bow the head, strong in the Lord
But relies on logic instead of feeding on God’s Word

The fruit of true humility is generous and sweet
It watches for the enemy that preys on its defeat
Pride is a sly pretender full of destruction's death-sway
It resists full surrender to the Potter of the clay

The want of true humility, love’s bravest sacrifice
Grants no exceptions of me-me to reconcile its price
But obeys the greatest command; God first, then fellowman
It prays, not with phrase well in hand, but like the publican

The proof of true humility does not confuse or shout
Obedient sincerity leaves little room for doubt
Oh God, how often easily my best intentions slip
God, hone honest humility with honest fellowship

The feat of true humility is a long enterprise
How ever on guard I/we should be to root out all disguise
Because my/our very heart of hearts the God of gods can see
And only true love for Him imparts true humility

© Janet Martin

Rom.3:23
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Prov.6:16-19
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him:
 A[b] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.





Friday, November 12, 2021

In Case Joy Should Falter...


Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
 Everything under heaven belongs to me.

This poem was inspired after reading Job chapters 38 through 41
Stupendous! Wow!
and what can we do but echo Job's reply 
at the beginning of chapter 42
 (if ever we stoop to doubt)
 "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know."

“Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,
Job 38:12

Hope hoists it hymns on morning’s scrims as love its vow renews...


To place our prayers into the hands that laid earth’s cornerstone
To know He cares and sifts the sands that mete each steppingstone
To see each season’s treasure trove spill into hill and dale
Grants us reason enough to trust the love that cannot fail

To recognize that our eyes see but the fringe of He
Who paints the skies and cuts to size the proud waves of the sea
Who authors birth and tunes the earth’s orbit around the sun
Who puts his worth in human dearth through death’s curse fought and won

To lean on He whose majesty we cannot comprehend
Yet yearns to be to you and me an everlasting Friend
To touch His robe that fills the globe with glory none can dim
Instills earth’s road with Heaven’s goad as time draws us to Him

To have God’s Word, truth undeterred midst mortal fallacies
To guide and gird and keep souls stirred with hope through centuries
To know that He will always be at faith’s meek beck and call
Grants you and me security, whatever may befall

Hope hoists it hymns on morning’s scrims as love its vow renews
Where Mercy brims and nothing dims or thwarts the Giver’s views/dues
Where come what may no hand can sway what His will has decreed
Where when we pray, He leads the way, ah, what more do we need

© Janet Martin

Rejoice in the Lord always,
and again I say, rejoice
Phil.4:4

Who is our fount of joy?




Sunday, August 1, 2021

Ultimate Joy


Today we are have a family reunion/ 90th birthday party for my husband's mother.
It looks like there is the potential for a lot of rain to fall in that time frame.
How often in life do we pray for sun but rain is sent instead?
Yet, if we pray 'Thy will be done' He helps us, dry or wet!









My kiddos that come during the week LOVE a good rain-shower
because it always brings sweet splashing puddles.
This week it poured while toddler wailed and tugged my hand because she wanted to play outside.
But the thunder rolled and lightning flashed and Janet did not relent.
Little One, in the moment, did not understand why. 
A bit like us toddlers sometimes, with our Heavenly Father, isn't it?

Heavenly Father, help us to remember You know best!
Help us to...
 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 To him be glory both now and forever!
 Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

...and not to throw toddler-tantrums when we don't get
what we want when we want it!


We pray for sunshine but if rain is Thy reply
Lord, help us to give thanks and not to fret with futile ‘why’

We pray that we would be a lamp your love shines through
Reflecting, in humility, the love we have for You

Then, whether loss or gain, wish granted or denied
We pray dear Lord, in sun or rain, You will be glorified

We pray for grace to meet the day with hearts at rest
As our joy is made complete in knowing You know best

© Janet Martin

A blessed day of rest and worship
to you and yours!
Oh! and Happy AugustπŸ’•




The author of this hymn is living testimony of its words
Here is a link to her story.

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Our Greatest Achievement (pride-weak or humility strong)


A quote, retained from my growing up years;
Humility is a hard thing to achieve;
The moment we think we have it we've lost it! πŸ˜‰


One of my dearest, humbling happiness-es is peering deep
into the delicate perfection of a flower ...



In today's world, happiness,
not holiness seems touted as
our greatest goal/achievement or 'right'!
Pride, not humility is hailed as 'hero'!

It is impossible to be proud and holy!
It is impossible to be proud and truly happy!

Below is Holy Scripture's 'tip' of this topic!

...but as He who called you is holy, 
you also be holy in all your conduct, 
 because it is written,
 “Be holy, for I am holy.”

A man's pride will bring him low, 
but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

James 4:6
But he gives us more grace.
That is why Scripture says
: “God opposes the proud 
but shows favor to the humble.”

Prov.6:16-19
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him:
A[b] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

(I've discovered when I do a Bible word search on 'happy'
most often it is translated into 'blessed')

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, 
who has not turned to the proud, 
nor to those who lapse into falsehood.


We, since Eden's calamity
Have struggled with temptation's bent
The Word, that WAS, IS and WILL BE
No mortal twist can circumvent

We are without excuse because
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
Is steadfast in Love's changeless laws
No Author of confusion, He

Holiness is our highest Call
Not happiness, as some may claim
 Defiant pride precedes the fall
That leads to destruction and shame

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
So many dare to disregard  
As if the cross of Calvary
Was but a charm or a postcard

The way to destruction is broad
Death's dark and downward jaunt seems bright
While the devil who detests God

The deceiver is sly and vile
No one is too precious to spare
His mission, seeking to beguile
Those not yet on hell's thoroughfare

God's truth and love will never shift
He is just, trustworthy and kind
When we receive salvation's gift
He opens eyes that once were blind

Then call on Him in humble awe
Before pride makes a mockery
Of He who IS Love's Perfect Law
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

Seek holiness without reserve
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
Waits to reward as we deserve;
Earned through pride or humility

Janet Martin

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Defying Depths of Despair



Psalm 37:7-8
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.


Often when I am tempted to despair 
(and there seem to be SO many reasons these days )
 I think of Marilla Cuthbert's words to Anne,
"To despair is to turn your back on God"
Marilla Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables



The depths of dark despair are always there, where we might stray 
If we mistrust the care of He to whom we ought to pray 

If we beg for deliverance but do not change our ways 
If we gratify ignorance with flattery’s vain praise 

If we do not obey the law that perfect love decreed 
If we, not overcome with awe, do not find what we need 

If we while knowing better still continue thus to err 
And do not make an effort to be wiser than we were 

If we, severely stubborn in our human-natured bent 
Do not let goodness govern our intimate intent 

We will be monsters, no matter how ‘normal’ the faΓ§ade 
If we do not acknowledge our lack and trust in God 

If we, so broken at our best do not rest and rely 
Without agendas, on the One who so loves you and I
 
If we do not yield heart and soul, to He who will provide 
Our joy will never be made whole; we must be rid of pride 

Or depths of dark despair will try to overtake the Light 
If we do not first trust the Care that fits us for the fight 

© Janet Martin

 

 

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Height of Perfection

 

There is

a point

in life

when we

become

so

very

small

When we

with

humble

wonderment

at last

are

thank-you

tall

 

© Janet Martin

 

Friday, December 18, 2020

Thirst Quencher


Sometimes despondency is due to the evil one seeking to destroy
but sometimes it is due to sin robbing us of love's pure joy...

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. 
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.



So that we may have life, and have it more abundantly 
More than a forward-facing flight of ‘what might yet still be’ 
So that we may have life I AM became a man to show 
The Way we ought to live and love so that all men may know 

So that we may have life beyond this blip of you-and-I 
From this world to the next He came man’s Access to supply 
While we were still dead in our sins Life came and died for us 
Providing full redemption through His perfect Son, Jesus 

So that we may have life and have it more abundantly 
More than a grin-and-bear-it strife of what-must-be-must-be 
For I AM came and through His name our frames, though drought assails 
Will be well-watered gardens, like a spring that never fails 

The more abundant life is not a pampered gaiety
Not for the faint of heart or those who hate humility
Oh Lord, restore in us once more the image of Your Son
So we, with joy draw water from the spring of Salvation

So that we may have life, and have it more abundantly 
More than a forward-facing flight of timed futility
So that we may have life I AM became a man to show 
The Way we ought to live so love's well-springs will overflow 

© Janet Martin

The evil one burdens us with what isn't.
the righteous One frees us and fills us with joy through Who IS!!


On this glorious morning in this joyous season
though not a Christmas carol, the song below certainly could be



To be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters do not fail
does not happen by ourselves 
but is contingent upon a sacred 'If' 


Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The [e]pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your [f]darkness shall be as the noonday.
11The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

A Christmas Goodie!







Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Mission Manifesto

 

Lord, let the Certainty of what we know
guide us through all we do not!





We stand so small beneath the tall outpouring of the sky 
Ah, what is man that God, who spreads yon span knows you and I 
And loves us still, and bids us trust in His unfailing care 
While round about the world seems bound with doubt, hate and despair 

In kind humility to bind the wounds of our foe 
For if we simply love our own, we mimic pagan spec 
Ah, who can stay afloat with hate’s millstone tied round the neck 

And who are we, if God loves us that He should spare the rod 
Lest by omission we perceive his blessing on our pride 

His sinless Son to suffer unto death our souls to save 
Because His love will be enough to supply our need 

Lord, grant us wisdom through your Word to see through evil’s lies 
Lead us not into temptation; deliver us from vice 
And thought’s unrighteousness into love’s law of sacrifice 

© Janet Martin 


Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]


5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.


9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!