Showing posts with label unknown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unknown. Show all posts

Thursday, January 12, 2023

We Will Go Forth (and a few more Thursday Thoughts)


We cannot outlive the Unknown
or challenges we face 
But look, each moment's steppingstone
is anchored in God's grace

Faith's substance of things we hope for
will someday rend the veil
Revealing the complete splendor
Of love that did not fail

***
The sunless stretch continues...
not sure what happened to last week's forecast for this week's yellow...


It could certainly have the potential to dampen our spirits if we let it!
But...

If we would fixate on the weather we might be quite glum
It's been a dose of dreary, drippy, damp, sunless ho-hum
But love and life are so much more than covers of a book
So much of what is written is hidden until we look!
Then as we turn the pages where God's goodness overflows
We find ourselves quite speechless, awed by blessings He bestows 

***


Seeds are so very, very small
Sometimes we doubt their clout
And dare to wonder where they fall
...until they start to sprout 

Seeds look like nothing much at first
Mere crumbs, mundane and mute
But from the crumb, when it has burst
Comes all manner of fruit 

Seeds seem to be too slight and slow    
To hold much harm or good
But as the sprout begins to grow
Seed's clout is understood 


***

Our worlds are often mirrored in the shimmer of a tear
Or lightened by the laughter of someone we love so dear
Or sweetened by the banter of a breeze, a child, a bird
Or brightened by the candle of a kind and gentle word
Hard knocks are often softened by a handshake and a smile
Making the world that shimmers in a tear, so worth its isle/while

***

Tick-tock tempo laps the shoreline of  a winter afternoon 
Like the summer-blue momentum of lake-lyrics lazy tune 
Like a breeze undresses tresses of its leaf-shaped souvenirs 
Tick-tock tempo falls and rises until winter disappears

***  
This morning's foggy shroud inspired the beginning of this poem...


We will go forth then, you and I
The view of what yet waits withheld
Like a masterpiece made of sky
Vaulted above the mist-veiled veldt
While the clocks unrelenting toll
Unfurls and collects, synchronized
In breath-sized billows as they roll
Through hopes salvaged from dreams capsized
Undoing what we thought we knew
With sudden, foreign points of view

We will go forth because, my dear
No choice awaits but to proceed
Faith spurs us on and spars with fear
As scars forge wisdom’s crown and creed
Where delight, like a diamond stud
Dazzles dark backdrops of dismay
Where hope, like an unbroken bud
Reminds us of blooms held at bay
Cheering us on as vast unknowns
Unfold flowers and steppingstones

We will go forth but not alone
Goodness and mercy follow still
Where thoroughfares of grin-and-groan
Are never all down or uphill
The valley where shadows are cast
Like creases in a color-world
While the Master pieces the Past
With present grace on grace unfurled
His able Hands cradle the sky
We will go forth thence, you and I

© Janet Martin

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Cor.5:7

Thursday, June 23, 2022

To Know Makes All the Difference (for the Unknown)

Who knows what Come-what-may waits to unfold today...
(well!! one unknown unfolded already;
 An unexpected day off due to two sick tots)

Here are a few fond frames of yesterday




Side note on photo below: while we 'swang' we sang every song we could think of...
including what might be the longest version of Old MacDonald's Farm ever known 😂




The Knowing keeps dark deeps of Come-What-May in tender check
Morning unmoors the bark of Day with renewed call and beck
Where none can see what waits to be, but He who spreads the skies
Where no sudden calamity His will can compromise
(or, where no sudden calamities can take Him by surprise)

His promises are like a bulwark where dread’s fathoms roll
To know God keeps his every Word comforts the fainting soul



© Janet Martin

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.





  

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

What Ifs Versus What Is...


He who promised is faithful.
Heb.10:23

A flower isn't a flower until the bud unfolds the bloom!
What Is in bloom now?
Peonies in the flower garden!
And the Flower of What Is, in life...



The ‘what ifs’ of regret cannot undo what has been done
Where What Is sets time’s tables with fresh favors, mercy-spun
What if instead of wishing for what no wish can undo
We make the most of what is within reach of me and you
God’s mercy new each morning and His all-sufficient grace
Forgiveness for repentance, and His Word to gird our faith

What if instead of fretting and forgetting favours wrought
We focus on remembering What Is, with grateful thought
What if we trusted He who will our every need supply
Where What Is always hinges to far more than meets the eye
Far more goodness and mercy than mortal can comprehend
And love that has no boundaries of beginning or end

The ‘what ifs’ of yesterday and tomorrow borrow care
Today is overflowing with what is enough to bear
What if we take what is, in spite of so much that is not
And humbly honor He who gives us everything we've got
His everlasting promises, His love that will not fail
His wind beneath our wings, His anchor in the galling gale

The ‘what ifs’ of regret are futile; this new day set free
Is brimming with what is waiting for us to ‘taste and see’
What if we love God first and our neighbour next because
What is still most important has always been these two laws
Then what if we rely on He who is in full control
And simply love Him with all of our heart and mind and soul

© Janet Martin

Not all 'what ifs' are 'if onlys'
Sometimes What If is the spark that kindles the dream/bud before the flower!

Originally, the second line in this poem was
'Where What Is sets time’s tables with fresh battles to be won'
but the more I pondered (though the battles are real and often grueling)
the battlefield is cradled in His mercy!
His redemption is complete!
His loving kindness faithful!

Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the Lord is good: 
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Phil.4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, 
whatever is true, 
whatever is noble, 
whatever is right, 
whatever is pure, 
whatever is lovely, 
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.




Monday, January 17, 2022

To We Caught in the Tempo/Tempest (of Unknowns)

 


We Ontario-ans are caught in the tempo of a tempest this morning!
oops! I better fill the feeders...


Done!
The feeders are in an absolute Feather-FLURRY 
of finches, sparrows and juncos this morning!!
mostly gold-finches!


(they definitely prefers sunflower seeds to the deluxe mixed blend!)

What we have seen we know exists...

like the road and the vista beyond...


Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;
 blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29

We cannot see into the unknown 
but The One who loves us beyond measure can!

Life’s unknowns loom in highs and lows so vast and deep and wide
The love and grace that God bestows exceeds its teeming tide
Goodness and mercy follow we who are a-travelling
Toward the hill and hollow of Unknowns unraveling

This life runs rife with minuets composed of circumstance
An arrangement of pirouettes and stumbles in the dance
On music sheets we call Today, notes tremble, spill and twirl
Heartbeats in a brand-new ballet, ‘Yet’s’ ensembles unfurl

Unknown's unwritten lyrics juxtapose with poems penned
How subtly the syllables of highs and lows co-wend
Where we, caught in the tempo/tempest of rhythms that rise and fall
Grasp only small mementos of the fullness of it all

Sometimes God sends a soloist when we prayed for a band
Sometimes as the Unknown untwists we do not understand 
The Maestro who is teaching us to trust His loving lead 
His mercy reaching far beyond what logic can concede

This life is a momentous merge of Knowns to Unknown knit
God knows, as highs and lows converge, the perfecting of it
Where grace and goodness mentor we learning the steps and scales
To a Masterpiece Melody of love that never fails


© Janet Martin

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, 
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; 
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 
through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death,
 nor life, 
nor angels, 
nor principalities, 
nor powers, 
nor things present, 
nor things to come,
Nor height,
 nor depth, 
nor any other creature, 
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.





Sunday, March 14, 2021

Faith's Opportunity

Last Sunday our speaker reminded us 
that 'every challenge is an opportunity'.
How will we respond?



2 Cor.12:9
 “My grace is sufficient for you, 
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”


Each season of life
runs rife with reasons
to trust God's Sovereignty 
The weight of what
yet waits is but
faith's opportunity

The weight of what yet waits grants opportunity for faith or fear
The Unknown, like an ocean that we cannot see or hear
Rolls in across the sands of time, revealing, breath by breath
The way that waves of day to day run rife with life and death

Spring, summer, autumn, winter, like a season-carousel
Spin round and round, on stomping grounds of hello and farewell
The weight of what yet waits to rush through gates barring Until
Keens senses to advances of its immense escadrille

Nobody knows what morrow holds, of joy or sorrow’s toll
Where Dust-to-dust must learn to trust the Keeper of the soul
Then, as we reconcile the Whiles that What-if contemplates
God walks with us and eases thus, the weight of what yet waits

All that we do not understand, oh God, help us to yield
Into Your nail-scarred Hands until Your purpose is revealed
For though we cannot see beyond the moment that we face
The weight of what yet waits is never greater than Your grace

© Janet Martin

Sunday, December 27, 2020

I'm Glad To Know

 

When focus gets out of fix
and faith gets out of focus
it's time to fix faith's focus!


Yesterday on my walk it felt a bit like peering into the future...
couldn't see very far!


This morning a bit of yesterday's 'future' has unfolded 
bringing with its flurry, for some, celebration, for others, sorrow. 
So it will be until time is fulfilled.


I’m glad I cannot see beneath to thoughts you do not speak 
Or sorrows that yet wait to press their tear upon my cheek 
Or trials to perfect the fledgling Faith authored by he 
Who loves us so He clarifies our authenticity 

The best and worst yet veiled by moments time has not yet spilled 
Through hours not yet come to pass in days not yet fulfilled 
Can entertain our guess and humour fancy’s raving ranks 
But none can see the pieces yet that wait to fill yon blanks 

I’m glad that we can know, He whom by faith we have believed 
Is able to keep that which we commit, by faith achieved 
Where between now and when we meet Then, near or far away
I’m glad to know, that God, not men, will have the final say 

© Janet Martin 

2 Tim.1:12
nevertheless I am not ashamed, 
for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded 
that He is able to keep what I have committed 
to Him until that Day.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
(John 1:1-5)




Sunday, November 1, 2020

Of Living's Ways


The dark days of November are upon us! 
If it wasn't for God's mercy 'new every morning'
if it wasn't for his faithful forgiveness
His promises since The Beginning, The Word
we would all be doomed to dark despair.

Take heart, fellow believers, the darkest days of living's ways
run through the light and righteousness of God.



Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, 
and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

1Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

2For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.

3Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it....see more


Hello Rainy first day of November!

October's thrills with all its colour-induced oohs and aahs
joins the cast where all Is becomes Was.


The door to Bygone’s corridors is barred 
The ebb and flow of hard and rosy days 
Slips to the place where only echoes guard 
The happiness and hurt of living’s ways 

What waits to spill through gates of dawn, none knows 
What tint and tenure pours then melds into 
Shadowlands of abandoned highs and lows 
Where only trains of thought can rumble through 

The way we are due to the aftermath 
Of choice and circumstance, is poised upon 
The entrance-way to an unbroken path 
That renewed mercy metes in every dawn 

…to lavish living’s ways with faithful grace 
That helps us face survivals of regret 
That run through God’s immutable embrace 
To author hope for roads not taken yet 

© Janet Martin 


- Keith & Kristyn Getty






Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Honour-bound...


 As we witness the proof of God's mercy renewed
(aka morning) what frames our first thoughts; faith or fear?


Matt never knows what his mom will say as he heads out the door to work
usually it's 'I hope you have a good day!' or something like it.
This morning for some reason I was moved with the words that inspired today's poem;
"I hope you have a day filled with the honour of serving God"
He replied with his usual morning dialogue of least-words-required "uh-huh" 😊
Doesn't it transform our outlook when honour, not duty drives us?!

I heard this stunning song written in 1855 by Harriet B. Stowe
 for the first time only recently!!



From eastward fringe
Dawn’s faint first tinge
Expands until darkness dissolves
As Unknown wafts
In gleaming lofts
While what is constantly evolves

Involving us
In fret and fuss
Of all that comes along to pass
Where none can will
What time will spill
In heaven-to-earth’s hour-glass

Where fear and dread
Can weigh like lead
If we forget to trust in He
Who knows full well
What time will tell
And when the end of This will be

We are not bound
By sight and sound
As hostages of Duty’s law
But by God’s grace
To human race
We may serve with honour and awe

Recipients of
The greatest love
Mere mortal cannot comprehend
While unknown groans
Where skin and bones
Harbours a deathless dividend

Thus, we press on
Behold the dawn!
That testifies Mercy renewed
As grace imparts
And moves our hearts
To serve with humble gratitude

© Janet Martin


 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
Lam.3:22-23  





Monday, March 23, 2020

Trustworthy and True


Most of us in this area are inconvenienced rather than suffering...
With limited supplies at the grocery stores
and with social distancing due to COVID-19

...but grand-sonny after a week at home has had ENOUGH 
of no seeing his friends at Sunday School or other 
church programs, no play-dates. 
Even the library is closed.
Twice yesterday he referred to the 'the wost day evoh!' 
Cheer up Grand-sonny!
We are all learning to appreciate more with less!
And what sometimes seems like 'the wost' is often teaching us The Best.
Big hugs and prayers to all the moms and dads
navigating these uncertain times!
Treasure the gift of extra together-time that we often wish for
in those too-busy days

(p.s. Grand-sonny's 'wost day' remark provoked after they dropped a baby-swing off
on one of his best friends porches but they couldn't stay)

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Rev. 21:5

It's a new week. 
For whatever lies ahead that we know not, this we do;
Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together 
for the good of those who love Him, 
who are called according to His purpose.

Dusk's bare bones...


are mantled in white this morning...


To find the courage for the fight
To fit us for the charge
Bids us believe in more than sight
The battle is the Lord’s

From surrender flows strength and pow’r
Such as we never knew
He ushers to the darkest hour
Words trustworthy and true

To find comfort in suffering
We first must yield our will
Beneath the shelter of His wing
He whispers ‘peace, be still’

For there the howling enemy
Cannot invade the heart
And there faith sets the captive free
And shields us from fear’s dart

For they who kill the body, love
Cannot destroy the Soul
And only death will fully prove
The glory of the goal

Thus, we find courage for the fight
Thus, hope will not grow dim
As we believe in more than sight
As we believe in Him

As we believe in Him we seize
Words trustworthy and true
Where only His voice can appease
Fear for what man will do

© Janet Martin