Showing posts with label contentment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contentment. Show all posts

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Of This...

 




If I should dare to wander where the feet of angels fear to tread
And yield to worlds that want unfurls with abandon inside my head
Then, linger where fools stand and stare at faded font of yesterday
Ah! I might miss the bloom of this before its petals drift away

If I with skilled desire should build a bridge that only thought can cross
And boldly woo a rendezvous with what will never be or was
Then vainly pause a bit because pleasure and pain must have its dance
Ah! I might miss the thrill of this, while lost in Fantasy’s romance

If I should long for some lost song because of how it made me feel
Ah! I might miss the hymn of This, where original anthems peal
To interweave with what I grieve bequeathed at birth to dusk-wreathed death
To softly kiss the joy of This as it unravels breath by breath

If I should scorn the brimming morn while hungering for what is not
And feast my eyes upon a prize contrived by idle hands of thought
Ah! I might waste the pleasing taste of sweet, sweet berries on my spoon
And I might miss the bliss of This; a glorious summer afternoon

© Janet Martin





Monday, July 10, 2023

I Am a Master of Excuse

This excerpt from the message below moved me to tears...
Oh! that this would be my true ambition.

Christian contentment
is the direct fruit
of having no higher ambition
than to belong to the Lord
and to be entirely
at His disposal.

Alistair Begg


  


I am a master of excuse and pious coquetry
I fit finely inside replies of I and my and me
I am far, far too readily induced to compensate
For second miles I’d rather not suffer; the cost too great
I rise to meet the day and pray, then forget easily
That I can do all I can do through Christ who strengthens me

For when I repent and believe I am ‘mine own’ no more
But ought to be devoted to the Saviour I adore
And ought to be, with every gifted breath and day, content
Because by grace I have been saved; the temple veil is rent
And I, invited to boldly approach the throne of grace
Will receive grace and mercy to supply each need I face

I am a wretch; yet Christ loves with an everlasting love
By His divine power He fits me for Heaven above
Therefore I have no boast but this; the blood of Jesus Christ
Who broke the curse of sin and death through Himself, sacrificed
For I, a master of excuse, who forgets easily
That I can do all I can do through Christ who strengthens me

© Janet Martin

Gal.2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, 
but Christ lives in me. 
The life I now live in the body, 
I live by faith in the Son of God, 
who loved me and gave himself for me.

Phil.4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Rom.7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! 
Who will deliver me from this body of death? 
 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!








Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Happily Ever After



Write a form poem, and/or...
Write an anti-form poem.

Anyone who knows me well knows I love
the traditional style of form.
However, I do admire those who serve anti-form well!






Sometimes I am so happy
And sometimes oh, so sad
For all the fulfilled wishes
That I never had

Sometimes when I am waiting
For Wish, not granted yet
I retrace Intervention 
 That spared me from regret

Then, when my school of wishes
Swims past my dangling hook
Like sassy, flashy fishes,
I pretend not to look

Happily ever after
I've learned, I'm learning how to prize
The wealth in lilts of laughter
The stars in loved one's eyes
 
Janet Martin








Sunday, August 28, 2022

Dare To Dream But Bear In Mind...


I sat in the garden for a little while this afternoon soaking in the
sights, sounds and smells of fading August...

No longer restless with a dream, but reveling in the bloom!





Dare to dream but bear in mind Dream’s vulnerability
For, it seems life is inclined to vex blind fantasy
Where what we composed in forums with youth still intact
Soon begins to weather foibles and fumbles of fact

Dare to take a leap of faith but be aware of this
Sometimes you will hit the mark! Sometimes you will miss
Sometimes the sweet landing you envision when you jump
Will take you by rude surprise with an uncourtly bump

Dare to hold, hug and embrace but always with this thought
Letting go is juxtaposed with everything we’ve got
Taste today’s sweet laughter; rejoice and be glad because
Everything that is, soon after, becomes what once was

Then the dreamer starts to see what starry eyes once missed
Fantasy will step aside for moments slowly kissed
Where what want composes as youth dons a weathered brow
Becomes about smelling roses blooming here and now

© Janet Martin

 


 

 

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

The Secret to A Heart Content



Day 20 PAD Challenge: For today's prompt, write a six words-challenge poem.
6 words are: Content, Double, Guide, Meet, Pump, Suit

Red-bellied Woodpecker
(he showed up today, after a long absence looking a bit harried, but still beautiful!)

American Robin





How lovely is a heart content
How double-happy its delight
When we meet life, not with lament
But with poetic/ecstatic appetite 

Time is a tour guide, quite gallant
Poised to accommodate pursuit 
The heart is easy to enchant
When contentment has taken root 

A heart content cannot be bought
No pump can run its wellspring dry
Its happiness cannot be caught
Like a bird or a butterfly

I think sometimes we tend to miss
 Its kiss, and complicate its 'yes'
When contentment is simply this;
A heart chock-full of thankfulness 

P-s-s-s-t! keep this between you and me
I don't want to make Them feel bad
But, some folk don't read poetry
Then wonder why they feel so sad

😅

Janet Martin

Some people don't read poetry or bird-watch!
poor dears😉😊





Friday, October 22, 2021

For What His Grace Allots...(and update on my niece)


Life is beautiful (even in the broken)
Is it not the broken that enhances the beauty?!
(see end of post for update on my niece)
Life is not perfect.
Love is far from perfect
we are broken people each in our own personal situations of
'try, try again' to make the best with what we have.
Life's road is full of ruts
It can be easy to get stuck in one without realizing it;
attitudes, habits, etc.
But with each morning comes God's mercies renewed
and fresh grace and opportunity to do the best with what we have.
Futile to look to the neighbors garden wishing for their lot/plot...

(the above is the part I wrote this morning 
before Duty took over and turned it into an evening post)

this little tot is simply peering through the fence to enjoy the view!
So I decided to join her and just enjoy it too💖


futile to peer over the fence to pine for greener lot/plot
and overlook due diligence wishing for what is not
nor is there any common sense on looking back too long
today becomes the recompense tomorrow hinges on

what does it profit you or I to wallow in dismay
what matters now is how we tie up loose ends of Today
before it is too late to make the most of what will be
The Past when twilight bars the gates where today used to be 

the same sun sets and rises on a world of fellowmen 
the whetting stone of life's surprises vexes our ken
where some will bless and some will curse and some will just stand by
for better or for worse each circumstance waits our reply 

sometimes a little stumble jolts us to reality
and helps to keep us humble in the opportunity
where, pray we honor Providence with what His grace allots
rather than peer over the fence and pine for greener plots

Janet Martin

1 Pet. 4:10-11

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 
 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,
 so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 
Amen.

Update on my niece who suffered
multiple injuries in an accident almost 2 weeks ago...
The doctors are amazed at her progress!
Yesterday she was released from Sick Kids
and granted permission to go home for a few days 
before starting rehab next week!
She still tires very easily.
She turns 15 tomorrow!
We are so happy for her to be able to celebrate this
milestone at home with her family!
No visitors allowed (due to Covid-risks)
and prayers for continued healing appreciated! 

We are very thankful for the healing
God's grace has allotted so far!




Wednesday, January 27, 2021

On Finding Fulfillment



Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 
as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 
 since you know that you will receive an inheritance 
from the Lord as a reward. 
It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 
Col.3: 23-24

It's not as much what we are doing
as who we are doing it for
that brings contentment/fulfillment
So it begs the question;
What are we doing for Who?

This gal is working at next Christmas's wish-list...
(only 11 mos. less a day to go!!😊😉)



We all have wish-lists, don't we?!
How far are we willing to go for who?

The ladder to success and happiness 
Is foiled by flaws and failures of the flesh 
Enmeshed in plans and dreams so dearly plied 
Is a force to be reckoned with, called pride 

And no matter how high our hopes might climb 
Or where our dreams may lead if given time 
The chase that we embrace is not enough 
To fill that place God reserved for His Love... 

…to love Him with heart, soul and strength and mind 
So few it seems, life truest success find 
For He does not cater to wish and whim 
The Creator made us to honor Him 

And so, until we do the heart will cry 
And nothing will fulfill or satisfy 
This world will seem a feckless trek to death 
Until we learn to rev’rence ev’ry breath 

And recognize life’s sacred gift from He 
Who lends its lease of brief mortality 
Where we will find fulfillment only when 
We labour for the Lord and not for men

Sooner or later everyone must choose
Who they will serve and thus, who they refuse
If we choose God then all we do will be
An expression of awed humility 

© Janet Martin 





Monday, May 18, 2020

Complete Confidence




Oh Lord, our Father, how uncertain we would ever be
Without the confidence we have by simply trusting Thee
We do not need the answers (much, at times, to our dismay)
But only Lord, to learn to trust thee each step of the way

How often we are torn between the laws of faith and sight
Where what is seen is but the surface of Mercy’s delight
So Lord, we pray that You would let our confidence increase
Lest with fear or impatience we prejudge Your Master peace/piece

How prone we are to groaning from a wilderness of doubt
While Canaan flows with milk and honey, we complain and pout
Forgetting that the Keeper of His Word waits to fulfill
The Plenty of love’s promises according to His will

© Janet Martin


 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt 
into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--
a land flowing with milk and honey.'
Exodus 3:17



Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Perfect Want...


With always lots to tend to in an ever-aging body and mind
 it sometimes leaves this poet’s heart a little frayed with want
for an art that here and there needs more than a haphazard or hurried splash.
I just finished reading the book Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
I love books about people who understand the ‘need’ to write;
how this hunger howls for release and even writing does not always fill it
because so little of what we write seems to come out exactly like we wish!
Still, to everything there is a time and a season
and I want to want to honour the Giver in each season.
 He knows the heart of every single one of us and
He grants grace to proceed and succeed to everyone who asks.

Let our goal then be to seek God first to glorify
for what we seek to please our self will never satisfy 

One of last week's devotions has stayed stuck, hopefully not just in my head...


I never want to live as if I was the first in line
But rather, blend into the place God willed in His design
That always bids us look to interests of fellowman
And love each other humbly, holy ev’ry way we can

I never want to hunger for some self-indulgent Then
But learn to live like Jesus did when He walked among men
The King of kings took on himself the form of servant meek
And taught us with more than mere words to turn the other cheek

I never want to worship ‘the created’ rather than
The One by whom all things were made according to His plan
Thus in this little time I have before death plays its part
Lord, let me want the beauty of a truly tender heart

© Janet Martin



Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Contentment is like a Sweater...

It seems over and over we need to learn and relearn to adapt, then re-adapt, 
to plan then re-plan as circumstance changes 'dance-steps'...
Lord, teach us how in all of this 
to be content.
(written as a reminder when contentment's feathers get a little ruffled and yanked)



Contentment is like a sweater
Cashmere-soft in its embrace
Bigger than the grind we weather
Or the hopes and dreams we chase

Contentment is like heart-laughter
The secret to happiness
Its essence lingers long after
Hold-and- hug cools its caress

Contentment is like a flower
With a bloom that never dies
Splash of colour cheers each hour
Priceless, modest pleasure-prize

Contentment is heaven's rhythm
On earth's rocking-chair of life 
While we bounce and bump unbidden
While want bears the carving knife

Contentment is like home-fires
Warming us while wild winds brood
Satisfying heart’s desires
With genuine gratitude

© Janet Martin

...and now?
I must be content to scrub the porridge pot
because the oatmeal soundly burned 
while I 'purred' about contentment😏 


...and a song I thought of us I called up to Victoria to
'rise and shine and start another hard-work day!'