Showing posts with label redemption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label redemption. Show all posts

Monday, November 6, 2023

Getting to the Root of the Problem...

 PAD Challenge day 3: For today’s prompt, write a problem poem. 

Below an excerpt from Peter Marshall's sermon-
Keeper of the Springs
(and this was in the 1940's!!)



One cannot fix a problem until one pinpoints the source
But one ought to note symptoms that should trouble you and I
For epidemic-proportion-populace on a course
Of Ignorance to Truth, where empty churches testify
A somber lack of reverence and interest and care
For the Great Certainty for which we all ought to prepare

...and so tis no small wonder that things go from bad to worse
 In laws of twisted logic of confusion gone berserk
Where right is wrong and wrong is right and God, a name they curse
And well-intended master-plans of Fix-it just don't work
In a world doomed to madness as they seek but cannot find
Hope's everlasting gladness that yields joy and peace of mind 

When truth is seen as lies and lies are heralded as truth
It is because the Word of God is trodden underfoot
Then darkened understanding errs and bears pitiful proof;
Denial of the problem that yields problematic fruit
And gross incomprehension of the sad state we are in;
Because they/we do not recognize the root problem of sin 

The problem is not war or poverty, but hate and greed
A proud and unrepentant heart, thinking, utterly flawed
A negligent apathy to sin's subtle, deadly seed
In seeking first this world rather than the kingdom of God
Where empty churches gape and children/people traipse toward a Goal
Ignorant of Love's problem-solving Saviour of the Soul 

Sad problem this; too many homes where God's Word has no place
And homes where the Bible is but a book upon a shelf
Ignoring that apart from God, there is no saving grace
Apart from the Vine the branch is a Dead Thing by itself
Revealing that the culprit in this problem's quandary
Until we surrender to God, is always you and me 

© Janet Martin

Rom.1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, 
because it is the power of God 
that brings salvation to everyone who believes: 
first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 
17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[e
just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[f]

So many do not know
or believe or care
about the day of redemption 
and reckoning drawing near...

Malachi 4:1-3
The Day of the LORD

1“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, 
when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble;
 the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,”
 says the LORD of Hosts.
 “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

2“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness 
will rise with healing in its wings,a 
and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
  3Then you will trample the wicked, f
or they will be ashes under the soles of your feet 
on the day I am preparing,” 
says the LORD of Hosts.




Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Does It Not (Bid Thought to Marvel)


 


Grace and peace to you from God our Father 
and the Lord Jesus Christ,
 4 who gave himself for our sins 
to rescue us from the present evil age, 
according to the will of our God and Father, 
5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 
Gal.1:3-5


Does it not bid thought to marvel
He who knew no sin became
Sin's sacrifice for all people
To redeem us through His Name

Does it not stir adoration 
For He whose blood was out-poured
Once for all, the soul's salvation
Wrought, through Jesus Christ the Lord

Does it not stun contemplation
That the Son of God should be
Humbled to death's meanest station
On a cross for all to see

Crushed beneath the weight He carries
Sinless, bearing all our sins
For we, beneficiaries
Of His holy sufferings 

Does it not undo vainglory
To view hate's presumptuousness
While love, clothed in bloodshed, gory
Wove faith's robes of righteousness

Does it not renew surrender
Does it not steal our breath
To behold the soul's Defender 
Obedient unto death

Look, where love's manifestation
Suffered voluntarily  
Does it not stir adoration
From the likes of you and me

Jesus Christ gave Himself for us
Bearing Pardon's Albatross 
So that we we may be victorious
Through the power of the cross

Does it not bid thought to marvel
At the hope the cross affords
Through sin's sacrifice so royal-
King of Kings and Lord of lords

   © Janet Martin















Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Redemption-wrought Renewal


Surely all the suffering of sorrow, sickness, loss
would get the best of us without God's comfort through the cross
Praise Him; the best this life affords is free to one and all
Salvation through the sacrifice that saves us from The Fall
and breaks the curse of death and hell the hour we believe
renewing faith's hope day by day, through life yet to receive

John 3:16 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world 
that He gave His only begotten Son,
 that whoever believes in Him 
should not perish 
but have everlasting life.


2 Cor.4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. 
Even though our outward man is perishing, 
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 
 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 
 while we do not look at the things which are seen, 
but at the things which are not seen. 
For the things which are seen are temporary, 
but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Renewed day by day
Where challenges we face
Would draw hope’s anchored joy away
Without God’s love and grace
Without His promises
To cheer our mortal clay
Without His perfect no and yes
To comfort as we pray
Without the confidence
Of Him, in full control
Without Calvary’s Providence
To save the deathless soul

...till the dark glass between
Faith and Sight melts away
The glory of what/Who is Unseen
Renews us day by day

© Janet Martin






Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Like a Love Song...


This morning's Old and New Testament readings
impresses on the reader the sacred sanctity of shed blood!




 ...for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ 

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, 
but rather that a [c]tumult was rising, 
he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 
“I am innocent of the blood of this [d]just Person. You see to it.”
25 And all the people answered and said, 
“His blood be on us and on our children.”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; 
and when he had [e]scourged Jesus, 
he delivered Him to be crucified.

***

Redemption streams 
for every sin
...repented of!!

God's promises
not slack concerning
...obedient love

***

God is not mocked
By grace we go
While ever reaping
What we sow

***

One grain of pride
Is enough to tumble
A lofty tower
ninety-nine percent humble

***

When we open the door to
What Leads to Sin
We let a host
of demons in

***

God's law does not author confusion
and chaos' increase
God's laws author order, holiness,
righteousness and peace

***


Like a love song from lips and lives
Like a tree bearing wholesome (holy) fruit
Like a fountain from which joy thrives
Through surrender’s stream-nourished root

May faithful, fervent worship spill
From hearts, ceaselessly awed by You
Because, oh God, we know Your will
Is ever trustworthy and true

Our times are in Your righteous hands
And in far higher thoughts and ways
Than human nature’s quick demands
That undermine repentant praise

You grant each day, mercy engraved
Then, bless the greatest name of all
The name whereby mankind is saved
From the curse wrought by Adam’s fall

Sinless and undefiled You bore
Sin’s pardon for all human race
Sin that is remembered no more
As we repent and receive grace

Then, as we believe in Your Word
To undergird, exhort and thrill
May, like a love song, undeterred
Obedient, true worship spill

© Janet Martin

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Lord, When I Think About Your Love or Awed Impetus



 




Lord, when I think about Your love
And what it bid of You
May it revive awed impetus
To be faithful and true
Thou, King of kings and Lord of lords
Author of earth and sky
Led like a lamb ‘neath slaughter’s swords
On a cross lifted high

Lord, when I think about Your Son
Who died so I could live
Who, during His crucifixion
Cried out, ‘Father, forgive’
I pray that Your love would pour through
My redeemed edifice
To amaze, humble and renew
Devotion’s impetus

Lord, when I think about Your love
The Lamb that took my place
I cannot comprehend the trove
The spills grace upon grace
Or the breadth of Thy treasury
From which mercies abound
To satisfy each earthly plea
With purpose heaven-crowned

Lord, when I think about your love
Words fail to intercede
Redemption’s ‘Infinite Enough’
Supplies infinite need
Where blood drenched altars made of stone
Could never satisfy
What only Christ’s blood could atone
The sins of you and I

Lord, when I think about the breath
That rent the temple's veil
And broke the curse that authored death
All other wonders pale
The love that frees, and bought for us
Not punishment, but Prize
The blood of Jesus wrought for us
The right to Paradise

Lord, when I think of who You sent
Spite’s sword falls from my hand
Redemption seals a covenant
I cannot understand
You gave Your Son to take my place
Though You know me full well
Still, I receive grace upon grace
Instead of death and hell

© Janet Martin

John 1:16-17
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
 17For the law was given through Moses;
 grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 


Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Brutal Truth

 

Lest we become complacent...
This poem was inspired again in part
 by an excerpt from the story of George Mueller...






Proverbs 28:13-17 KJV
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
 But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Oh, the gravity of its depravity
The enormity of its deformity
The awfulness of its unlawfulness
As it dominates within
The subtleness of its brutal-ness
The evilness of vain promises
Of lies disguised, idolized and prized
This is the truth about sin

The pelf of stubborn selfishness
The stealth of Satan’s deadly steps
The guile of a vile, downward spiral
A wolf dressed in sheep skin
Danger and dire consequence
The liar daring providence
Unholy, rebellious ignorance
Mocker, smooth talker; sin

Hunger and thirst hopelessly cursed
Excuses soothed, me-first immersed
Self-righteous drivel at its worst
Pride’s beguiled, unbridled din
Deception’s uncontested will
Desire never quite fulfilled
Defilement, sensuous and skilled
Beware, oh, beware of sin

Unrepentance unrecognized
Hell’s curb appeal hailed, unapprised
Blind leading blind, applause-imbibed
Deaf to the toll within
Brutal refutal of wisdom astute
Pitiful, poisonous, ravenous root
Half-obedience-corrupted fruit
Horrible horror of sin

© Janet Martin

Romans 5:12-20

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the [e]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many [f]offenses resulted in justification. 17For if by the one man’s [g]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

18Therefore, as through [h]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one[i] Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

On Conquering Futility


If we as gardeners only focus on what isn't growing or blooming
the way we had hoped or planned for,
we would miss what is!
So too in the garden of Life!


It's been years since I've grown snow-on-the-mountain flowers
and it's the first time for larkspur, 
(which could be why I am sharing SO many larkspur-shots)😅
 thanks to some seeds given to me
last Christmas from one of my gardener-friends.
I am delighting in their splendor! 
however, I thought the larkspur would be taller than the snow-on-the-mountain 
so the tiered flower-garden isn't quite what I had pictured,
but we enjoy what grew rather than what didn't...
like the straw-flower seeds I planted behind the marigold.


This sunflower below, as it grew larger began to obstruct the passage and the view in the arbor...

so I snipped it off for a centerpiece!




Here's to each of us to making the most of Today's 'garden'.!

Futile to wallow in regret
That no thought can undo
Better to focus on the Yet
Now runs its fingers through

Futile to pine for what once was
Leave Bygone on its shelf
And focus on what Is because
No day repeats itself

Futile to wish for what is not
With longing and lament
Better to give the best we’ve got
Before Today is spent

Futile to waste away in want
Better to kneel in prayer
And ask God to vanquish the taunt
Of defeat and despair

Futile to bear yesterday’s loss
Or surf Past’s frozen tide
Better to take up today’s cross
And trust God to provide

© Janet Martin

“‎"The best of men are just men at best.― Alistair Begg











Wednesday, April 13, 2022

How To Know What Love Is...


1 John 3:16-20

This is how we know what love is: 
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
 And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need
 but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth 
and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 
20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, 
and he knows everything.

(version 1)




When through ancient age/page we travel
When our hearts are wholly gripped
As we trace and humbly marvel
And embrace redemption’s script
As the grace that wrought salvation
Stuns us with love’s magnitude
Mercy’s divine transformation
Turns despair to gratitude

Draws the heart, no longer hardened
(Though this world with horrors groans)
To the cross where sin is pardoned
To the One whose death atones
All who come without excuses
All who repent and believe
Not one sinner, He refuses
His forgiveness to receive

Look! Behold Hope’s holy horror
At Love’s body, bathed in blood
At the Healer’s Hands, nail-burrowed
From Him spews redemption’s flood
Hark! He cries, by all forsaken
Behold! Now He bows His head
Look! He dies, the skies are shaken
As the graves give up their dead

But Death was a fated rival
I AM no grave could constrain
Jesus Christ arose triumphal
Over sin and death; amen
This is how we know what love is
Jesus Christ laid down his life
Love does not forget its promise
Wrought through Heaven's sacrifice

This is joy; to be forgiven
Love's broken body, life’s bread
Where, still through all earth from Heaven
Runs redemption’s scarlet thread
This is hope’s unflinching anchor
Though time’s troubled tempests roll
Hallelujah what a Savior
This is faith that makes us whole
Hallelujah, what a Savior
Jesus, Savior of the soul


© Janet Martin



Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Beyond Comprehension (John 3:16)


For today's prompt (the first Two-for-Tuesday prompt of the month),
write a make sense poem and/or don't make sense poem.




You loved the world so much You gave your Son; for none could earn
Enough to pay sin's ransom; what can I give in return?
For whatever I think of in the name of love seems small
Compared to what You gave; sinless, You came and gave Your all

No matter how I ponder it I cannot comprehend
Such height and depth and breadth of love all sinners to defend
The cross you bore, the bloody gore to redeem human race
Defies all explanation except one; amazing grace
 
...and all that You ask in return, redemption to receive
Is faith to take what none can earn; to repent and believe
Thus, surely it makes sense, in the light of eternity
That I should trust love so immense, that You would die for me

© Janet Martin

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
 but that the world through him might be saved.


Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Relentless Gladness or For The Sake of Souls Still Lost

Psalm 51:7

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; 
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

(whiter than snow?!! Can you imagine it?)
We are in a snow-white world today in Ontario!
Well, on closer scrutiny, white that dons hues of blues and golds!
Gorgeous!




“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. 
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; 
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isa.1:18

This world is so full of madness, evil scheme and rebel pride
Yet, through grace, relentless gladness of faith, hope and love abide
For greater is He within us than the meanness of the age
We have victory in Jesus even while vile battles rage

Come, let us reason together whether young, old, rich or poor
Take the yoke that mercy tethers to the Hand, scarred and secure
He who walked in Eden’s Garden where guilt sought to hide away
Will still sorry sinner pardon; harden not your heart today

Though our stains of sin are scarlet he will wash us white as snow
Break the chain that binds the harlot to the chamber of the foe
This is no trite invitation when Christ calls, ‘come unto Me’
The seal of the soul's salvation drenched the cross of Calvary

Yet with grace-empowered patience God restrains the trumpet sound
And the face-to-face acquaintance of His own gathered around
For this world so full of madness, suffering and trouble-tossed
He delays That Day of Gladness, for the sake of souls still lost

Faith is fitted for the hour, not by the power of man
But by He who did not cower when confronted with Love's Plan/hate's clan
He did not claim the advantage of equality with God
But beheld beyond death's vantage, its defeat and triumph's laud


© Janet Martin



Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Oh, That We All Would...

Inspired in part by Luke 7
It was so neat; Luke 7 was yesterday's Dec. 7th reading
and this portion of that chapter was also part of last night's small group study!
Oh, that we all would identify with the woman
 in this beautiful account of Jesus' love for sinners...
Luke 7:36-50
When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”




‘Your faith has saved you, go in peace’
Oh, that we all would hear
Love’s blessed verdict of release
As joy fills sorrow’s tear
As we receive forgiveness from
The One who knew no sin
But calls to everybody ‘come’
A new life to begin

Oh, that we all would hear Him say
‘Your sins have been forgiv’n’
To feel guilt’s shackles fall away
Replaced by hope of heav’n
No longer who we once had been
As we confess sin’s score
God washes our rap sheet clean
Rememb’ring it no more

Oh, that we all would be transformed
By the gift faith receives
Through Jesus Christ, of death unarmed
The hour one believes
The gift of God, eternal life
Where once sin’s wage condemned
His peace prevails amidst the strife
By His promises hemmed

Oh, that we all will hear some day
‘Well done!’ and this because
We all would find The Only Way
The Truth, The Life; Jesus
Oh, that we all would be a part
Of hope and joy’s increase
As God transforms the human heart
With righteousness and peace

Oh, that we all would wash His feet
With tears of gratitude
Not trembling at the Judgement Seat
Save with wonder renewed
Oh, that we all would cling to this;
 Redemption's gift, so good
'Your faith has saved you, go in peace'
Oh, but that we all would 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Because Of His Mercy...

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 
so that, having been justified by his grace, 
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

You are invited to join us as we worship on Good Friday

and Easter Sunday!


Harmonica players have a special place in my heart
so I chose this version of a favorite hymn for this post


 



Does mercy not make worth the while of ‘smile and try again’
For mercy meets us in each mile it metes, of joy and pain
Life’s flight of forward measured mien would be a fear-filled Must
Without love’s merciful Unseen to anchor hope and trust

Oh Lord, increase faith’s sacred claim, as we press to the Prize
Let Your Name be the only name our worship magnifies
Let the sword of the Spirit (which is your Word) be our might
For by your mercy, we are brought/bought from darkness into Light

May the mercy that you have shown fill us and overflow
From vessels made of skin and bone, so everyone may know
That You loved us so much you sent Your Son to pay the price
So that no one may perish but all have eternal life

Because of your mercy oh Lord our faith is not in vain
By Your mercy grace has restored mankind to You again
The deceiver, the enemy of God is overthrown
Once and for all you shed Your blood sin’s verdict to atone

Your sacrifice has washed away the need for bull and ram
For blood of beast could never pay, only a perfect Lamb
So by the mercy of the One who beheld Calvary
I AM became the scapegoat for the likes of you and me

Oh, let the wonder of such love give weary souls a lift
God loves each one of us so much He still holds out His Gift
Of ‘all who believe will not perish but will be forgiv’n
And receive everlasting life; not death and hell, but Heav’n

Mercy holds wide the door; the Ark of Safety is not sealed
Look up, do not ignore the stripes whereby mankind is healed
Whereby Hope is an anchor though life's storms may surge and toss
Mercy secures faith’s armour in the power of the cross

© Janet Martin

Isa.53:4-6
Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; 
yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.
 6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; 
and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.…

...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
 by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us
 through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 
 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,
 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience 
and having our bodies washed with pure water. 
 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 
 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 
 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, 
but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


Tuesday, March 30, 2021

To God Be The Glory Forever

 To God Be The Glory



To God be the glory
He did not withhold
The wonderful story
The cross would unfold
From death’s scene, so gory
From grief’s gloomy knell
Christ rose in victory
Over death and hell

To God be the glory
Death did not prevail
For sinners so sorry
His blood will not fail
Faithful to the finish
He suffered the cost
Nothing could diminish
His love for the lost

To God be the Glory
His beloved Son
Fulfilled His Love Story
With ‘Thy will be done’
Knowing Mercy’s offer
Would make scoffers laugh
Yet willing to suffer
On scorner’s behalf

To God be the glory
Whatever we face
Is not without mercy
From love’s nail-scarred grace
Whatever the sorrow
We must suffer through
To God be the glory
For He suffered too

To God be the glory
All who have believed
Will share in the Victory
That Jesus achieved
Through Redemption’s story
Of Never Again
To God be the glory
Forever, amen

© Janet Martin

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Ah, This Is Faith



Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb.10:23



We do not have the eyes to see the ins and outs of doubt and dread
We cannot know the high and low of ways and means that lie ahead
That happiness of Mercy’s ‘yes’ is but the prelude to its ‘no’
Ah, this is life, where joy and strife run rife through grace whereby we go

Sometimes we strain to seize the rose forgetting beauty’s brutal stem
And he who suffered painful blows beneath its thorny diadem
How mercy bore without reproach, the horror of Golgotha’s tree
He did not choose to use His throne to refuse God’s authority

For this is love, the author of each sacrifice we choose to make
Without reproach, but simply for the glory of the Giver’s sake
Who offered to give all He had to prove the Father’s love for we
Who could not bridge the awful gap between God and humanity

Then pray, today our goal would be to wholly, humbly honour He
Jesus, who did not despise us, though He could behold Calvary
The brutal blows, the blood-bathed woes before His triumph over death
Then pray today our goal would be to praise His name with every breath

...for this is hope, to know in Whom we have believed and fully trust
In He whose sacrifice achieved once and for all, redemption's cost
Ah, this is faith to hold fast to the truth that His Word has made known
Until we touch the scars that tell how death and hell were overthrown 


© Janet Martin