Winter Worship and Wonder (a sonnet)

Fresh flakes of snow fell while we were asleep

And draped the earth in a dazzle of stars

Now it is hard for summer-hearts to keep

The joy of winter from breaking through bars

...intended to keep splendid scenes of green

Within thought’s reach (while winds cut like a knife)

To buoy hope through days and months between

Trees robbed of leaves and buds primed with new life

For something about white delight instills

Our sense of sight with kind humility

As the Author of awe always fulfills

And exceeds fanciful expectancy

His Masterpieces startle hearts with cheer

Wonder and worship smile from ear to ear

© Janet Martin

 Yes, I've shared the song below many times...

It is one of my favorite winter-welcome and prelude to Christmas carols!

Morning Mantra

 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

Rushing from rose-ravished fathoms

From a far-off faithful fount

Rolls a rich and rousing anthem

Of blessing too rife to count

Waning dark dons celebration

Unveiled deeps and sweeps applaud

Through hope’s renewed invitation  

Streams the mercy of our God

Far above faulty perception

Compassion and love ally

Gushing from heaven’s perfection

To the likes of you and I

Shed the dread that breeds derision

Look instead into God’s face

Wooing us from worry’s prison

To the glory of His grace

© Janet Martin

"Thanks is faith turned inside out"

Pastor Jeff Schreve

from article The Joy of Thanks-living

and how did I find the above post?
From this blog...Journeys with God;
another worth-your-while 'pause-place'

Masterpiece of Master Peace

 Last night the wheels fell off the peace-and-goodwill bus for a little...

in a blur of lost tempers and misunderstood personalities that

might never be fully understood this side of Heaven😐 

(aren't you humbly thankful if we confess our sins 

He is faithful and just to forgive our sin

and cleanse us from all unrighteousness?!(1 John 1:9)

As we let those words sink and sink in 

meek gratitude renders

hope renewed

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble.

 But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

In this world where fear and sorrow

Molds a masterpiece of care

What is our hope for tomorrow

To defend us from despair

In this world where toil and trouble

Unfurls hobbles of dismay

What buoys and cups time’s bubble

Bobbing toward Judgement Day

In this world where want and waiting

Tries the fealty of us all

What crushes the taunting, hating

Head of evil’s dreadful gall

In this masterpiece of mayhem

In this world of sin and strife

What in the midst of confusion

Is the bulwark in our life

What keeps our eyes fixed on heaven

In this world of blame and shame

Ah this! Knowing we are forgiven

Is the Master Peace we claim

Knowing that nothing can ever

Overthrow Salvation’s Name

Yesterday today forever

Jesus Christ abides the same

Knowing, glorious, victorious

Waves the banner of release

In the cleansing blood of Jesus

All will find love’s Master Peace

© Janet Martin

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just 

to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

Gifts Beyond My Reach to Give...

There are some gifts beyond our power to give...

No matter how much we wish we could

our part is but to pray we would all seek and find!

My dear, this Christmas if I could my gift to you would be

The assurance that comes from trust in more than we can see

The peace that passes understanding in this world of woe

Or joy unspeakable grounded in grace whereby we go

I’d like if you could unwrap hope to carry in your heart

To help you cope no matter what, its priceless work of art

Would draw you like a brilliant star when life is dark and cold

To seek and follow from afar like the wise men of old

My dear, I’d find the Perfect Gift and we would call it Love

And then no matter what life brings this gift would be enough

When disappointment dashes dreams or scars you in the fight

This love would minister to you like an angel of light

My dear, this Christmas if I could I’d bring these gifts to you

And pray that they would cheer life's way with courage kind and true

But these are gifts that you must seek and never can receive

Until your faith has made you whole with two words, I believe

© Janet Martin

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Ephesians 2:8

A Something-to-Remember Sonnet on A Stormy Church-cancelled Sunday Morn...

 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Gal.6:7

We reap what we sow, but we never see the full impact of the harvest!

Many who follow reap what we sow as well...

We leave behind, with grit of daily grind

Strewed on time’s path, the aftermath of choice

In ebb and flow of yes and no entwined

Where death may steal our breath, but not our voice

As consequence and recompense reply

Though you and I lie stilled in Bygone's glade

They grapple with the apple of hope’s eye

And wrestle on a trestle that we laid

This thus should stir in us a sacred quest

To consider more than the score of Now

For what seems small soon falls prey to the test

That tries the ties that bind us to time’s plow

Where what we sow will grow, then while we sleep

Beneath earth’s sash of dust and ash, they reap

© Janet Martin