Thursday, April 30, 2020

Some Positive Nevers...


They say never say never...
Depending what it is, good advice,
but there are some nevers
we may cling to fearlessly!
Thankfully.

Time spent with a child is never wasted...
Below, a popular look-at-the-new-day vantage-point that never gets old:)

It's been a busy morning already!

Canning the last of the sausage from a pork order we got yesterday
 reminded me of an occasion earlier this winter when
the financial advisor dropped by to talk about investments, retirement savings, etc.
He was quite intrigued by the heap of bulk sausage on the table,
all the jars being filled etc and wondered what on earth we are doing?!!
When I explained how we pack it in jars,
coldpack it in the canner 
and bring it to a rolling boil then reduce to medium heat and steam for 3 hours
 he with a most bewildered expression asked
'rolling boil, what...is a rolling boil?!!'
He had the same look on his face as I am sure I have as he runs through
phrases such as; asset allocation, index funds, equity, bonds, dividend, capital... 😁😂!

Victoria made a treat for her co-workers...


Something ‘bout new day imparts
Gladness to my heart of hearts
Whether weather gold or gray
God is never far away

…wrapping us in His embrace
Draping destiny with grace
Fitting us to face the task
Whatsoever He may ask
How-so-ever colours blend
Where-so-ever highways bend
Whosoever we may be
He loves uncondit'nally
Never leaving us alone
Never forgetting His own
Never granting worthlessness
Never breaking promises
Never nonchalant or mean
Ever present, though unseen
Never inconsiderate
Never ungracious or late
Never takes a holiday
Never turning us away
Ever tuned to humble prayer
Ever constant in His care
Ever faithful to the end
Ever Everlasting Friend

… Something ‘bout new day imparts
Gladness to my heart of hearts
Whether weather gold or gray
God is never far way

© Janet Martin

Never will I leave you,
Never will I forsake you.
Heb.13:5


Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Planting More Than Seeds...


 We kick up the dust
and scatter seeds of trust!
So another garden-year begins...
(yes! earliest planting is in!)

 Hope looks pretty plain at the onset,
But oh, the bounty and beauty it blooms into!
...all by the grace of the Creator.

Hope is the seed dropped into sod
Where what becomes is up to God

Hope braves the element of Now
Trusting God with the When and How

Hope tends the plot; it tills and plants
To at least give the bloom a chance

Hope does not abuse happiness
Not eats the bread of idleness

Hope drops the seed into the sod
Nay, plants it in the hands of God

© Janet Martin



The Great Law of Love




Ah, moral law what sacred bar whereby life’s wrong and right is proved
Yet, may we never use it to make one feel judged rather than loved

Love in its lesser form neglects to caution, rebuke and advise
It claims to care but views a stumbling fellowman with half-shut eyes

Yet, futile to deal with effect before identifying Cause
Where without love there is no merit in waving a book of laws

Forbid, before noon’s flying colours fold into the close of day
That we with earnest heart do not forget to love enough to pray

Lest while we criticize and point at dust-specks in another’s tries

Forbid we speak of love and yet when push and shove turns into grind
We fail to be its tender proof; not gentle, meek, patient and kind

Then pray at break of day before we face time’s tides that stilly roar
That we above all else seek grace and strive to love each other more

© Janet Martin

Romans 3:19-20, 23-24
  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, 
so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.  
 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; 
rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  
 and all are justified freely by his grace 
through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 13:8-10
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, 
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  
 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, 
You shall not murder, 
You shall not steal, 
You shall not covet,” 
and any other commandment, 
are summed up in this word: 
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  
 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; 
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

the law of love Matt. 22:35-40
 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  
 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  
 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God 
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  
 This is the great and first commandment.  
 And a second is like it: 
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  
On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

 “Do not judge, or you will be judged.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye,
 but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?…

...and if you are not tired of reading
you might enjoy this post 
by
Dr. Alan Snyder 

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

God-given Rite...

Give as you are able
according as the Lord has blessed you...
Deut.16:17

  Never twist justice to benefit a rich man, and never accept bribes. 
For bribes blind the eyes of the wisest and corrupt their decisions. 
Deut.16:19


What counts is not the place or face by rank or rights defined
This is no contest; we are all called to life’s kindred goad
To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind
To love our neighbour as our self and share life’s heavy load

What counts is not the number of amounts as much as this
The measure of the heart; this is the place where giving starts
God sees beneath the outer scarf to what our intent is
And we cannot deceive He who wealth’s ways and means imparts

What counts is not so much the vessel as its harboured sum
This is no contest; we are all called to life’s kindred role
To love God and each other, for soon what is will become
The blip before God strips us of everything but the Soul

© Janet Martin