Thursday, December 8, 2016

Hallmark of a Life Well lived





The hallmark of a life well lived
For all that we may strive to be
Is he and she who daily gives
Their best in honest ministry

No quest for fame or fortune, they
With humble and earnest esteem
Commit to give their best each day
No matter how small it may seem

Thus, with purpose they heed life’s call
Knowing love is its own reward;
And that there is no task too small
To serve as honor to its Lord

© Janet Martin

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

Poem-summons



My sister called me yesterday to see if I had ever heard of this poet: Grace Noll Crowell
As I read her bio this morning these words jibed with the soul of this word warrior...
"That quickened and awakened the desire to write poetry again." 

SO many things quicken that desire in me 
but none more than God's glorious handiwork.

A quickened wakening
Deep in the breast
A soul-sweet aching
Laden with request
A surging Urge like
A summons God-wrought
Beckoning word from
Soft stirring of thought

A roar that cannot
Be silenced or heard
Cupped in a vessel
Of hunger and word
Warrior-like wrestles
With whispers and then
Triumph that lauds
Its applause from a pen

Storm of devotion
Breaks barriers of fear
Want is an ocean
The page is a pier
Pacification
As thought is set free
Propitiation
In poetry

© Janet Martin


Whatever Else
by Grace Noll Crowell

Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing:
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Stop; Pause Because...






Stop; pause because the world is full of a-a-h-s and o-o-h-s and such
And if we do not pause to look again, we miss too much
God’s glory-touch is etched against the colors of the day
Where backdrops to our o-o-h-s and ah-h-s are blush-blue-gold and gray
Stop; pause where awe is manifested in love-notes we find
To compose melodies which play the harp-strings of the mind

So pause, because we cannot see the myriad of joys
Waiting for sweet discovery amidst life’s busy noise
The puddle is a mirror and a masterpiece of sky
The sidewalk is a canvas where loosed leaf of autumn lies
The child is full of why, the wild with winds unfettered jest
The dark is full of lullaby, the dawn with mercy’s Best

Stop; pause, because the world is full of awe if we but look
Perfection in a flake of snow, reflection in a brook
A wonderland of miracles too manifold for phrase
Are waiting for the likes of us to honor it with praise
To find among the hum-drum beat of Duty’s stringent laws
God-reasons to be joyful if we take the time to pause

© Janet Martin


 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."




 

Part of a Work of Heart



We are all part of the 'music' of life...some instruments are played front and center,
others add the beautiful background music
(below, the window in the church that hosted The Scott Woods Band on Saturday night)
(Someone used their gift masterfully to create this window!)

It’s easy to get caught up in a ‘me’ mind-set and then
Forget that we are part of something bigger; fellowmen
A small piece in a picture that, if we all do our part
Will turn life’s mundane day-to-day into a work of art

The mind is like a powerhouse that parents schemes and dreams
And produces from its gamut what our heart esteems
Then what we thought was hid is not, for touch and taste reveals
The truth about the worlds we play on ivory-cast reels

Thought is the bud that unfolds deed; a weed or lovely bloom
It feeds on selfish greed or others’ needs; a shuttered room
That cannot, will not keep secret what fills its thoroughfare
For sooner or later action proves what was nurtured there

The more we think of others, oh, the less we dwell on ‘me’
We all are one among the masses of humanity
Fitted with expectation; not for self-important plan
But gifted with what God granted to bless our fellowman

It’s easy to get caught up in a ‘me’ mind-set and then
Forget that we are part of something bigger; fellowmen
A small piece in a picture that, if we all do our part
Will turn life’s common say-and-do into God's work of heart

© Janet Martin

On Saturday night we had the pleasure of being blessed by Scott Woods and band. Their gifts of music, tap-dancing and singing were appreciated by all, 
However,
Multiple-award winning Scott Woods and company do not perform simply for entertainment. 
The proceeds of his shows have raised over 2.5 million dollars to help fellowmen.
 Scott Woods travels world-wide. 
I am honored to have the poem In Search of Christmas Day as part of this year's Christmas-show.
Cd's can be purchased at  http://www.scottwoods.ca/

We were invited to take photos only and to please not record anything.Check out his website for 'toe-tapping-teasers'.

 below,... the end of a flip he did all-the-while fiddling
This guy can fiddle with a toilet plunger!
...or a clothing hanger and numerous other 'bows'

His mother (on the keyboard) still plays home-shows. 
She officially retired two years ago after more than fifty years with the band, started by her husband Merv. Scott's sister Kendra plays various instruments including accordion...
(below, Scott balanced on a barrel and rolled across the stage while playing) 

...on his back in the bridge position!
His youngest band members are talented musicians, singers and dancers...

Be sure to check out a show near you!

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Only By The Grace Of God





The weight of want and woe can forego hope and trust, oh my
The rush and push of love and life can drain the dream-well dry
Time’s have and hold of growing old unravels gold and gray
While we depend on God to defend us with grace Today

The colors of the season spill at will; we pause and gape
With wonder at the way a year falls prey to past’s landscape
Where the best we can hope for in the rise and set of sun
Is grace of God to grant us what we need to carry on

The world groans in the throes of unabated consequence
The sky like heaven’s rose unfolds mercy and imminence
And it is not too late to try once more to do the right
Where only grace of God can fully fit us for the fight

The clock’s tock-talk of moments melds those moments into years
Its walk of life rife with detours and setbacks, strife and fears
The juxtapose of past and future hinges to Now’s gates   
Where only by the grace of God the rod of justice waits

© Janet Martin