A Little Lilt of Everlasting Praise

A little end-of-year reflection of thankfulnessand worship that pray, has barely begun! Life is a collection of moment-pixels!Give thanks! I confess its a bit of a Poem-blitz today...a way to keep the wick of gladness trimmed and hope's flame lit, where so much sadness threatens to permanently snuff it, without reminders of why it never can! hallelujah! Thank-you for sin’s redemption paid through the blood of Your SonThank-you for full forgiveness for the wrongs that we have doneThank-you for Your sweet promise as confession’s sorrows pourWhen You forgive our sins, God, You remember them no moreThank-you for the Lamp of Your Word to light the path of lifeBecause the throughway to Your throne is full of grief and strifeThank-you that we have access where the temple’s veil is rentTo come to You, not through a priest but through Your covenantThank-you that what this world can never give, You will supplyYour wellsprings of goodness and love will never drain or dryThank-you for more than we deserve because You love us soAnd nothing here is greater than the grace that You bestowThank-you for the true beauty of hope’s unmerited worthTo crown the countless beauties lavishing heavens and earthThank-you for what creation spills before our wond’ring eyesThank-you for what salvation seals, revealed in paradiseThank-you for holy purpose in what would be commonplaceBut love turns into worship’s joyful gratitude for graceThank-you for the gift of Today; where no two are the sameThank-you that You hear everyone who calls upon Your nameThank-you that You abide and that You work for our goodAnd that what we confide in You is always understoodThank-you for eyes to see and ears to hear, thought to recallYour precious promises and bounty's blessings great and smallFor feet to walk and hands to tend to tasks or fold in prayerThank-you that whatever we ask, we know you hear and careThank-you for friends and family, for home, sweet home and suchFor faces in our memory, we can no longer touchFor Your faithful companionship as we take up our crossFor the gain of your comfort in the pain of our lossThank-you that You are with us thus we are never aloneThank-you, for every stumbling block, there is a stepping stoneThank-you for food to eat and clothes to wear and work to doThank-you that You are absolute, omnipotent and trueThank-you for what we learn through the bitter rue of mistakesTo humble wisdom's crown we earn as pride’s countenance breaksThank-you for gardens out-of-doors or on a windowsillThank-you for pups and kittens, for the birds that flit and trillThank-you for the raincloud that pours Your answer to our pleaFor the wee baby that restores joy in humanityThank-you for soft sunshine that warms away cold winter’s gloomThank-you for seeds instilled with miracles of bud and bloomThank-you for toil’s gracious reward of slumber, sound and deepThank-you for vital vim restored after a good night’s sleepThank-you for a pricked conscience to rebuke the erring mindFor the refuge of perfect peace that all who trust will findFor Your green pastures and still waters, when courage obeysFor Your goodness and mercy to follow us all our daysThank-you God for your faithfulness transcending time and placeFor hymns made possible because You love vile, human raceThank-you, oh God, that nothing is impossible with YouNo matter what, there is nothing too hard for You to doThank-you that You have proven by what death’s tomb could not stayYour power and Your glory and Your Kingdom now for ayeNo army you can defeat You and no evil overthrowFor You have overcome the world, in spite of trouble’s woeAnd all who repent and believe, fight a most worthwhile fightFor You will be the One they/we see when faith is turned to sightThank-you that You are slow to anger, abounding in loveAnd for your patient kindness as You chasten and reproveThank-you for living hope to spur us onward until weTogether with You Lord, thank you through all eternity © Janet Martin :1-5Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.