Showing posts with label work ethic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work ethic. Show all posts

Monday, September 6, 2021

Of the Wonderful Worth of Work

Happy Labour Day!

Every good and perfect gift is from above..
James 1:17
even the humble spud!
Which was the fruit/gift of Saturday's toil!

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

All over our country we can find Help Wanted Ads and Signs! 
Some today, prefer a government cheque and idleness to
the incomparable worth of work!
If we are blessed with health and strength we are fitted for toil!

Some today strongly push an agenda where hard-working
labourers should give the government power over the proceeds
to dole and divvy, with discretion that seems to have rejected God's Word
and is devoid of His pinnacle of wisdom!

There is much in scripture to condemn idleness/laziness
and praise hard work!
Below is only the tip of the iceberg on 
what God's Word teaches about working and idleness.

Eccles.2:24-25 NIV
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink
and find satisfaction in their own toil.
This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?


Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
 that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness 
and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command:
If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness,
not busy at work, but busybodies.

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, 
and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 
so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold,
 it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles,
 and its stone wall was broken down. 
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 
All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Col.3:23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, 
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

The high calling of labour is a call we dare not shirk
To toil for God and 'neighbor' is life's greatest, worthwhile work
For the spoil of our toil, as we try to do our good part 
Will satisfy us with the joyful wealth of thankful heart
Where if we are so able by the health that God so grants
We ought to set the table through the work of our own hands
And give to those who have not because they are sick and poor
And live with the awareness of who we are working for
Then, with glad gratitude work hard and give the Giver laud
A servant in a vineyard whose Master is Holy God

Janet Martin

Monday, January 25, 2021

Monday Morning Reveille



Up and at ‘em
Herd or scat ‘em 
Hug and hold ‘em 
Wash and fold ‘em 
Training, teaching, 
Praying, preaching 
Hurting, hoping 
Seeing, groping 
Running, crawling, 
Flying, falling 
Laughing, crying 
Cheering, sighing 
Dawdlin’, hastin’ 
Time’s a-wastin’ 


Left foot, right foot 
Slipper, work-boot 
Slow or faster 
Let love master 
Sort and tally 
Hill or valley 
Squat or lanky 
Kind or cranky 
Old or younger 
Let sheer wonder 
Thunder, rumble 
Tremble, tumble 
Never grumble 
But be humble 

Winning, losing 
Waking, snoozing 
Seizing, yearning 
Leading, learning 
Lend or borrow 
Joy or sorrow 
Seen or hidden 
Bossed or bidden 
Don’t be lazy 
But keep busy 
Ev’ry season 
Make the reason 
In life’s story 
For God’s glory 

© Janet Martin

For you were bought with a price. 
So glorify God in your body.
1 Cor.6:20

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, 
do all to the glory of God.
1 Cor.10:31

In the same way, let your light shine before others,
 so that they may see your good works 
and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matt.5:16

For from him 
and through him 
and to him are all things. 
To him be glory forever. 
Amen.
Rom.11:36

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; 
whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—
in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 
To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. 
Amen.
1 Pet.4:11










Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Up And At 'Em... Giddyup



 Above lines from the poem Reveille by A.E. Housman
Once in a while I come across a poem that makes me utterly swoon...
This is such a poem!
I can't believe how often the morning-poem I sip with my coffee ties in with present-life! 
Matt started trade-school this week. One of the guys he car-pools with lives on a dairy-farm and he told me this guy chores before they leave at 7:00 a.m. Another of his class-mates works at our neighbor's dairy farm and yesterday he worked an 8 hour day/night at the farm after his school day...
I love a 'lad' who jumps up, not afraid of hard work! 
The last verse of the above poem, words to live by for all of us!

These fields don't look like this because someone stayed in bed...
 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
            A little folding of the hands to rest,”
      Then your poverty will come as a robber
            And your want like an armed man.
Prov.24:33-34

I've kiddingly said more than once sometimes it feels
like the hardest part of my day is going from horizontal to vertical...
as soon as I'm up you couldn't pay me to go back to bed, 
but WOW! while still snuggled there it feels SO good😴




Up and at ‘em, touch them toes down
Pry the lid from life at large
In the belly burns a fire
In the fingertips a forge

Look, oh lyricist of laugh-lines
Time enough is hasting by
Where the orb of early morning
Drinks the darkness from the sky

…where the pink ink of permission
Spills a Holy Signature
From the Author of creation
To the hero and the cur

Sack soon siphoned of its music
Bag of borrowed bric-a-brac
Saddles both beggar and chooser
On time’s one-way no back-track

Days are not a dime a dozen
Time is not a fortune free
Mornings are a gift from heaven
Offered without guarantee

Listen, can you hear the crashes
Where Time’s surf rolls gray-gold-blue
'ere this turf of dust and ashes
Soon collects its ordained due

© Janet Martin


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Creed For All



So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
Neh.4:6



 Busy, busy days...the harvest is ripe!
We work, knowing it is not for naught...


We each were born to do our part
Then, pray we work with all our heart
Not to achieve the praise of man
But to give God the best we can
For man is nothing without He
Who grants His grace and sympathy
So, if we strive to live our days
For Him, He also gets the praise

© Janet Martin

 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Col.3:23

Monday, September 7, 2015

In Praise of Work...Happy Labor Day





Work makes us weary
Oh, but work makes us wise
And fits in the fingers
Of most any size

Work is a blessing
Though sometimes it feels
Like survival’s albatross
Biting our heels

Work is a wonder-full
Wonderful thing
Work makes time worthwhile
And work makes time sing

Work builds a nation
Out of wilderness-stubble
Work is the laughter
In life’s minor trouble

Work is the hub
Of earth’s wheel that God turns
Pity the one
Who its provision spurns

Work is a cure
Idleness, a curse
No matter its title
Work gives a man worth

Pray to God daily
That we do not shirk
The beautiful, beautiful
Blessing of work

© Janet Martin


If you have a job
Thank God for it! 

Have you ever asked a small child to help you? 
Have you noticed how happy and important it makes them feel? 
We are not so much different, are we?:)

My heart aches and breaks for the millions who would give anything and everything just to get up in the morning and go to work!

Work gives us something that a holiday never will!
A holiday is special, only if we have work to return to.

Crank this tune up to celebrate work!!


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Creed for The Life

'On Saturday at Quail Hollow, McIlroy proved just how consistently dominant he has been all this time, launching into the tournament lead with an 11-under par round of 61, breaking his own course record.' USA Today sports
When an interviewer asked Rory 'what now' after Sunday's win, looking ahead to the upcoming tournaments he replied, 'to work as hard as I can and be the best I can be'.
Isn't that a great creed for all of us no matter what we do, wherever we are?

I hope I'm never satisfied
With efforts where I have not tried
And full-applied my utter all
Even when duty's task seems small

I hope I do not disregard
The mundane as a lesser charge
But give the very best I can
Rememb'ring I serve God, not man

Janet

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Work of Art

When my cousin Robb was 17 his love for art and metal inspired him to 'set up shop' in the corner of a shed on my Uncle Oscar's farm. Now twenty-some years later he works at/owns Thak Ironworks, a business that requires extremely hard work, yet provides an outlet for his talent/passion! His work has been sold world-wide...be it high-end armor, railings, gates, range-hoods and other numerous works of art. Below are a few shots of some of his work. Visit his site for more info and pictures.




Time is a sequence of moments 
From life's kind Giver they pour
and what we do with them will be 
what we are remembered for...

Workmanship is something
That shapes our legacy
We would do well to remember this
In whatever that work may be

So forge from the fire of moments
Love's best with hand and heart
For then the end result will be
A beautiful work of art

Janet~ 

Robb, thank-you again for the impromtu interview.

If you are passing through Floradale, Ontario, check it out!

PAD Challenge day 9; write a work poem







Monday, February 16, 2015

Of Learned Pleasure





I admire those who work long after the need to has passed. Read this line here at Raining Iguanas…


They do not watch the clock
Or keep a list of ‘give’
To tally how much is enough
…they simply love to live

They do not think in terms
Of ‘barest minimum’
But lay the ground-work for a world
Of seasons yet to come

No half-hearted attempts
No job too big or small
For they have understood the good
In answering The Call
 
…and from their heart and soul
This pleasure they have learned
Will ever be a greater joy
Than any dollar earned

© Janet Martin

I had the privilege of being raised in a home where the love of work was something we learned from a whistling dad and a singing mother.

The quote in the photo was taught patiently.