Hope, What a Precious Word

Without hope all we need is lost! with hope (in God) all we need is found!

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 

Ps.42:5

Today's poem is inspired in part by the above verse, 

and in part by our message yesterday morning from Ps.23

as God ministered to His flock through the preaching of His Word.

As we hope in Him our good Shepherd restores our souls! 

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for...Heb.11:1

Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all.

 Who hopes for what he can already see? 

 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Hope-what a precious word; 'hope thou in God' Amen

Hope, the substance that keeps faith stirred to trust the more, and then

With strength and joy restored, hope in God sings and sings

For they that wait upon the Lord will mount on eagle's wings

A Shepherd to the soul; when cares and sorrows press

Hope cheers us on toward a goal only faith can possess

Where wayward paths increase and fattened feelings taunt

Hope eclipses desire with peace and cries 'I shall not want'

A Comforter and Friend; unyielding, in the fray

Hope arms and anchors; does not bend to 'did God really say?

But with glad confidence beneath His rod reproved/behooved

Hope replies 'God is my defense and I will not be moved''

A Rock that does not shift through howling gales of change

Hope anchors us, lest we should drift and let sight, faith estrange

As God tests wish and whim with patience-honing ways

Take up hope's cross and follow Him with persevering praise

Effort and rest, in sync; seeking God's kingdom first

As the deer pants for brooks to drink, Hope in God slakes faith's thirst

And never disappoints; His gift of grace enough

Hope is the goodness that anoints faith with mercy's great love

© Janet Martin

Eph.2:4-5

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ

 (by grace you have been saved),...

I'd Rather Have Jesus - Amos Raber (ALASKA)

Sweet, Sweet July Song (or Summer)

I began this poem on the last day of June

each stanza beginning with 'Sweet Summer'

but, the door closed on June before

I had a chance to completely corral verve into verse

so, instead there was born a sweet July song

with some June-strains woven through it...

a sit-back-and-savour summer-weekend siesta

kind of song!

Happy First Weekend of July 2025!

Sweet July/summer sweeps through living’s rooms

In whispers of wisteria plumes...

In bright bursts of myriad blooms

So lovely to behold...

She tap-dances in drops of rain...

And splashes puddles on the lane...

And waves a wand through fields of grain

Transforming green...

... to gold

Sweet July sighs in grassy bars...

And spills to window-sills in jars

Filled with pleasure unfurled...

She glories in sun-beaming kiss

Grins in lip-smacking berry-bliss...

Sweet July, sets cerulean skies

Above a glimpse of Paradise...

From arbours red with rose...

Sweet July spills a patchwork quilt

Across landscapes,

Sweet July sings in welkin brooks

She steals the dreamer's picture books

Contentment feasts on glorious nooks

Of Glad Reality 

Like cornfields flushed with robust stalks 

Like the delight of twilight walks

With carefree company ...

Sweet July sweeps through living’s rooms

In whispers of wisteria plumes

In bright bursts of myriad blooms

So lovely to behold

She tap-dances in drops of rain

And splashes shadows on the lane

And waves a wand through fields of grain

Transforming green to gold

Sweet July sighs in grassy bars

She dazzles pastures with dew-stars

And spills to window-sills in jars

Filled with pleasure unfurled

She glories in sun-beaming kiss

Grins in lip-smacking berry-bliss

Whilst comforting what is amiss

In this broken-down world

Sweet July smiles to you and me

From isles where wells of ink flow free

With one-of-a-kind poetry

Only God can compose

From wisp ‘o willow serenade

From cool, beckoning pools of shade

From hues prominently displayed

From arbours red with rose

Sweet July sways in leafy limbs

And plays a plethora of hymns

For July is a fount that brims

With perfect, purest praise

From oriole, song-sparrow, lark

 From fireflies, dazzling the dark

From children laughing at the park

Happy for summer days

Sweet July, sets cerulean skies

Above a glimpse of Paradise

She spreads picnics for butterflies

And busy/buzzy honey-bees

She strews ballrooms where bare feet dash

Through childhood's fleeting spark and splash

While we, with echo's dust and ash

Forge precious memories  

Sweet July sings in welkin brooks

She steals the dreamer's picture books

Contentment feasts on glorious nooks

Of Glad Reality 

Like the friendship of hollyhocks

Like cornfields flushed with robust stalks 

 Like the delight of twilight walks

With carefree company 

 

Sweet July spills a patchwork quilt

Across landscapes, wildflower-gilt

Wonder erects a temple, built

For worship's awed esteem 

The seed begins to burst with fruit

Thrilling the gardener with loot;

Onions, peas, carrots and beet-root

Heaven-on-earth cuisine

Sweet July slips through afternoons

An invisible minstrel, she croons

Ageless, page-less green ballad-tunes

Strummed on ten-thousand  strings

She overflows the heart with joys

And meadow-pond with laughing boys

The Belle of Summertime deploys

Happiness fit for kings  

Sweet July bids us walk by sight

And taste her fare of pure delight

And satisfy Want’s appetite

With slow and steamy hours

Where no one can afford to make

Less than the most of give and take

Where every day is like a cake

Decorated with flowers

...and dusk is like a getaway

From Duty's Musts of middle-day

Where gardens are a place to pray

And thank-God for July

For fields where farmers reap its hold

For Masterpieces, manifold 

As His handiwork is extolled 

From land and sea and sky

Janet Martin

The seed begins to burst with fruit

Thrilling the gardener with loot;

Onions, peas, carrots and beet-root...

Heaven-on-earth cuisine...

...and dusk is like a getaway

From Duty's Musts of middle-day

Where gardens are a place to pray

And thank-God for July...

Altar Call or (Of Living, Sacrificed)

Because the dust we stir is far more than a splash of echo-ash...

as we dash through numbered days

Rom.12:1

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, 

by the mercies of God, to present your bodies 

as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, 

which is your spiritual service of worship.

Rev.14:7

He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory,

 because the hour of his judgment has come. 

Worship him who made the heavens, 

the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Rom.2:6-8

 6God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”a

 7To those who by perseverance in doing good

 seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.

 8But for those who are self-seeking 

and who reject the truth and follow wickedness,

 there will be wrath and anger.

The altar upon which we lay love’s living sacrifice

Blushes with hush of breaking day...

The altar upon which we lay love’s living sacrifice

Blushes with hush of breaking day and love’s impending price

Where it is easy to ignore its uncommanding pose

As we burst through dawn’s gaping door, laden with joys and woes

The altar upon which Choice proves who and what we love most

Because God loves us, pray, behooves us to examine boast

Where dust we stir with hopes and dreams and duty’s beck and call

Is far more than a sweep that gleams with season’s rise and fall

The altar upon which we place the living proof of love

Is gifted to us by God’s grace who fits us with enough

To worship Him, with heart and soul (where once this world enticed)

He helps us bear the sacred toll of living, sacrificed

The altar upon which we live is heaped with word and deed

Therefore, we always ought to give its off’ring earnest heed

In light of God’s sacrifice laid upon a cross, and then

To bow before the Lord who made Heaven and earth. Amen

© Janet Martin

Speechless Solace...

How thankful I am to know God hears love's prayer-tears...

for my family, for my church-family and for my country!

Love's concern for family, friends and actually, universal fellowman is beyond comprehension 

because, as the great Scottish Poet Robbie/Rabbie Burns' father would caution him

 'we are headed, not to the grave but through the grave'...

and his mother, poor in worldly wealth all her life, was deeply concerned 

that Robbie would not become money-rich through his gift of poetry 

lest he falls into the snare of putting his trust in money rather than God!' 

(from the book The Wind That Shakes The Barley)

It is Canada Day but this morning my prayer cannot find words

 to adequately express thoughts and longings for this gorgeous plot of geography 

called Canada; a beautiful country founded in Christian faith 

and rich with Christian heritage. 

A country full of beautiful people called Canadians!

I'm thankful, God hears love's cries of the heart for a country 

whose foundation is crumbling because the Cornerstone is rejected!

***

Today's poem is inspired in part by part of my devotion this morning

from the paragraphs below by one of my all-time favourite authors; 

James Russel Miller

as well as from meditating on Sunday morning's message 

from the passage of Scripture from from Eph. 1;1-14

Not through the fluency of words most eloquently wrought

God hears our hearts; His own heart stirred by unutt'rable thought

As He reciprocates; not with audible answers heard

But through unfailing promises found in His faithful Word

He hears our prayers; the tears that rend the fabric of our souls 

The groan of earnest sentiment that heaves and aches and rolls

As we cry out for God to bless all who hunger and thirst

For the Strait Path of Righteousness through this old world, sin-cursed  

Where we are pressed on every side by idle apathy

Where accolades for greed and pride disdain humility

Where, until/unless we lean on God's knee and every groan outpour

We drift like a ship, lost at sea without hope of a shore

God lays His ear close to our tears; He hears each wordless plea 

He comforts us; and gently cheers us with His company 

Then, faith's Spiritual Treasure, is a blessing beyond ken

Poured out by God's good pleasure through His perfect will. Amen 

Janet Martin

How utterly incomparable is the place at God's feet, 

as we pour out to Him our heart-hunger and soul-yearnings,

 then comforted by the thought that

 'He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly

 above all that we ask or think'!

 Eph.3:20

Alan Jackson - What A Friend We have In Jesus [with lyrics]

 

For Whatever Today Holds (our whole life through)

John 21:1-14

1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias,a Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples.

 He made Himself known in this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,b 

Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, 

and two other disciples were together.

  3Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.”

“We will go with you,” they said. 

So they went out and got into the boat, 

but caught nothing that night.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore,

 but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.

  5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” 

So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in 

because of the great number of fish.

7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” 

As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment

 (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.

  8The other disciples came ashore in the boat. 

They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, 

only about a hundred yards.c

9When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.

10Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 

11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. 

It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.

12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. 

None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” 

They knew it was the Lord.

  13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, 

and He did the same with the fish.

14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples

 after He was raised from the dead.

***

Don't you love this story?! 

Recently a few of my devotions have pointed to the richness of its details!

How dreary the disciple's return to hum-drum life must have seemed,

 in light of the past three years spent with Jesus! 

How discouraged they must have been after a night of  'fruitless/fishless' net-casting!

but Jesus cared about them in their common tasks, calling from the shore!

(Calling them 'children like a tender-loving Daddy/Abba-Father)

 Not only did He meet them there but had gone ahead of them to prepare a fire,

 knowing there would be fish! 

They didn't recognize Him right away

but oh, the joy when they did!

What a beautiful picture for present-day

disciples and fishermen to cherish and draw encouragement from!  

I captured the delight of this fisherman on the weekend!

This joyful moment followed the frustration of the loss of a lure

after his line snagged and broke,

and he needed to mend it and cast again!

Wherever we are,

whatever today holds, 

let us not lose heart

for the One who overcame the world is with us!

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, 

so that in me you may have peace.

 In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

He cares for us; and does not leave us to fend on our own

God never sends us out to ‘fish’ or fight faith’s fights alone

But takes a tender int’rest in our labours here on earth

For no task is too commonplace when filled with love’s great worth

He comes to us; no matter where the call of duty lies

He does not leave us comfortless to feast on futile sighs

But cheers us onward, for His grace will always be enough

To bear us up beneath love’s charge with hope and joy and love

He comforts us; into grief’s valley streams of mercy pour

When we are heavy-laden, look He beckons from the shore

To 'come'; no matter who we are He loves us all the same

His Spirit ministers to all who call upon His name

He carries us; like a Shepherd He tends His precious flock

And lifts us to His bosom when we are too weak to walk

His love will never fail, each morning His mercy is new

To fit us for whatever today holds, our whole life through

© Janet Martin

This song kept going through my mind on the weekend as

I marveled at the way trees grow out of rocks!!

Sweetly Resting (In the Rifted Rock)

Marriage, Oh Holy Union...

Yesterday we attended my nephew's wedding!

A beautiful and precious time to reflect on our own

rather 'weathered' marriages compared to the new bride and groom

and also of a Great Marriage yet to come!

What a Day That Will Be

Marriage, oh, holy union unlike any other bond

When God takes two and makes them one; a Mystery beyond

The straining comprehension of the likes of you and I

Yet granting glimpses of a wedding banquet by and by

Marriage, oh, holy, holy promise until death doth part

A covenant written, not on parchment but on God's heart

Thus, what He joins together cannot on earth be 'undone'

For man cannot annul what God has turned from two to one

Marriage, oh, holy picture of love's union yet to be

Of a marriage that will not end for all eternity

When sounds of many waters and mighty thunder proclaim

'Praise God, all ye that fear Him and have believed in His Name'

Marriage, oh holy binding of one woman and one man

The beauty of love beaming with the pleasure of God's plan

As He awaits the hour when prophecy will subside

As Jesus comes to gather in his arms the Church, His bride

© Janet Martin

Rev.19:6-9

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude,

 as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying,

 “Alleluia! For the[a] Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, 

for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 

and His wife has made herself ready.”

 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, 

for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write:

 ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” 

And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

In the Light of Letting Go...

Ps.145:10-14

The Lord is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All your works praise you, Lord;

your faithful people extol you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might,

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

and faithful in all he does.[c]

14 The Lord upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down...

(Read the whole glorious chapter HERE)

The road to life's highlights runs

rife with anticipation

The road from;

with fond memories

We spent a special weekend with some old and some new friends;

a weekend eagerly anticipated for some weeks then BLINK! and it's over!

Whether its outings, or a simple meal or seasons, 

as gifts of earthly pleasure slip through our bearing

as we touch, taste and treasure, while ever growing older 

we learn to expect and even cherish

the bittersweet pangs of letting go

that are bound to follow the embrace!

These bittersweet pangs hide in beaming pink peony-pom-poms,

...soon felled

in growing children and grandchildren

and in every fond fellowship/relationship God grants 

with people or nature!

Love imparts in profound measure, both pleasure and pain!

...like the pleasure of anticipating ice-cream

to celebrate the first day of summer

before the pain of disappointment.

Sorry guys!

The ice-cream shop is closed!

(we were informed of the closure ahead of this photo but

had to make sure) 😅

to respect privacy I won't share the kind of photos from the weekend

 most people most enjoy...of people!

but here are a few other pleasure-treasures.

Blue-heron dusk primping-routine

Canada geese on a leisurely paddle...

Sunset 

'ride' on The Big Chute (photo is the the boat ahead of us)

The chute is lowered into the water till boat/boats are properly boarded

then the chute via cables lifts the boats over the highway 

and lowers them into the water on the other side!

Summer's fresco

White Falls...

...and a poem-memento to remember to treasure what we hold

all the more because of the letting go! 

Love imparts in profound measure, portions of pleasure and pain  

As hearts overflow with treasure only farewells can sustain

Nothing in life lasts forever; tears and laughter ebb and flow

  As we learn to love with fervor, 

in the light of letting go

 Brave the fleeting bliss of flowers in spite of the kiss that waits

 Like a seal on Bygone's Bowers brimming with Delight's licked plates 

Let the music of love's moments rush the soul with holy 'ooh'    

For Love spills a sweeter cadence 

in the light of letting go

Love imparts with raw precision climaxes of joy and grief 

Suturing heartache's incision, bud by bud and leaf by leaf 

Meanwhile drawing ever nearer Heaven's reassuring glow 

While love's holding grows much dearer 

in the light of letting go  

© Janet Martin

I went in search of an oldie hymn (Lyrics below)

 this morning as I pondered the weekend and shed some tears

and prayed some prayers esp. for my brother-in-law and also friends 

who have bid (some very unexpected) farewells to their spouses in the past year,

and are suffering love's ultimate earthly letting go, 

no longer able share both love's profound pleasure or pain!!

Parting Hand

Author Anonymous

1 My dearest friends, in bonds of love,

Our hearts in sweetest union prove;

Your friendship's like a drawing band,

Yet we must take the parting hand.

Your presence sweet, your union dear,

Your words delightful to my ear;

And when I see that we must part,

You draw like cords around my heart.

2 How sweet the hours have passed away,

When we have met to sing and pray;

How loath I've been to leave the place

Where Jesus shows His smiling face.

Oh, could I stay with friends so kind,

How would it cheer my struggling mind!

But duty makes me understand

That we must take the parting hand.

3 And since it is God's holy will,

We must be parted for awhile,

In sweet submission all in one,

We'll say, "Our Father's will be done."

Dear fellow youth in Christian ties,

Who seek for mansions in the skies,

Fight on, you'll win the happy shore,

Where parting hands are known no more.

4 How oft I've seen the flowing tears,

And heard you tell your hopes and fears;

Your hearts with love have seemed to flame,

Which makes me hope we'll meet again.

Ye mourning souls, in sad surprise,

Jesus remembers all your cries;

Oh, taste His grace, in all that land

We'll no more take the parting hand.