Hooray For Dear, Old-fashioned Things...

This poem/post is a week's worth of 'snaring' midst

much to do, such as spring cleaning, painting, plus

grandparenting pleasures and much more.

Here is a glimpse of this poem's unfolding...

(starting with a good, 'old-fashioned' unchangeable truth)

 Ps.90:2

Before the mountains were born  or you brought forth the whole world, 

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Thank God for fond, old-fashioned joys to treasure like fine art

For precious little girls and boys, carefree and pure in heart...

For picnic-parties...

Janet! What do you see?! called my next-door sweetie

 (her utterly-adorable smile hearted for privacy)

as she watched me take a picture of???...

and I drew her attention to the 'pretty pink trees!' or

The blushing hush as dusk tucks down earth's edge with heaven's sheen...

For bingo games (midst snooze) 😂😁 

As the next generation learns to read, spell, win and lose...

I like old-fashioned things, like pups...

Recently I was introduced by two eager youngsters,

 to their family's newest, heart-stealing member!

( No-o-oo!! I wailed, while laughing and completely smitten,

as I visualized all my garden footwear, gloves etc.

 disappearing from outside my back door...)

 and kittens...(a Saturday morning visitor! 

Child and kitty equally unsure of each other) 😍

Give me old-fashioned telephones with corkscrew-curly cords...

For warm handshakes

 and big, bear-hugs...

Hooray for dear old-fashioned things that stand the test of time

For the rapture a Baby brings, for silly nursery-rhyme

For warm handshakes and big, bear-hugs and pleasure of a poem

For laughter, loose tooth, lady bugs and cherished home-sweet-home

Thank God for fond, old-fashioned joys to treasure like fine art

For precious little girls and boys, carefree and pure in heart

For tasks galore, for coffee-breaks, for cup o' tea with friends

For learning to do what it takes with whatever life sends

For picnic-parties, taking turns, for bingo games (midst snooze) 😂😁 

As the next generation learns to read, spell, win and lose

For poufy clouds and baby chicks, for fresh mem'ries to trace 

For April's bag of weather-tricks to tame gardening 'race'

 

Give me the good, old-fashioned cheer of soulful, simple things

Of eyes to see and ears to hear Free-for-alls, fit for kings 

The blushing hush as dusk tucks down earth's edge with heaven's sheen

Spring's rushing, gushing brook, first brown, then gentle silver-green

I love life's sweet, old-fashioned things to kindle gratitude  

How morning after morning flings ajar mercy renewed  

The annual unbridled hymn of happiness that wakes

With every bud that starts to brim with every breath spring takes

...the aroma of grass and trees, rain-drenched and sunbeam-kissed

The awe of seed-sized ecstasies/majesties/mysteries only God can untwist

The gauzy bluesy-purple sheer soft-tossed where earth meets sky

Love's heartstrings that bind sisters near and death cannot untie

 

The trials we would never choose to teach us about prayer

The age-old ebb and flow that woos seasons from here to there 

While Time exacts its changeless ways with much it will estrange

While we learn to turn wants to praise for He who does not change 

I like old-fashioned things, like pups and kittens, bread  and cheese 

I like daisies and butter-cups, unchanged through centuries

I like the way the whole world greens after warm April show'rs 

While Housewife sings as she spring cleans and dreams of May's fair flow'rs

Give me the old-fashioned Foundation, Faith. Hope. Love. And then

To the Author of creation ascribe all praise. Amen

For nothing in this big old world is bigger, better than

He by whose hand time is unfurled ever since Time began 

I love the grand, old-fashioned hues of sunrise and sunset  

How mankind flocks to gaze at views only God can beget

And how He grants to every day, some beauty to behold

To cheer us on life's learning way of growing humbly old 

Give me old-fashioned telephones with corkscrew-curly cords

And books, fat with delicious poems and bread of wholesome words

Of truth, preserved on pages, pertinent as when first penned

Reaching across the ages like a dear and timeless friend 

Give me old-fashioned Sunday morning church; pews filled with tots

A pansy-planter for the porch; pools of forget-me-nots

Give me respect for good, old ways; like six works days, one rest  

Because the good in good old days is still healthy and best/blessed 

...and no matter what progress brings to try to steal the show

Hooray for dear old-fashioned things God alone can bestow

Like freckled noses, curly heads, or thrill of cows set free

After winter, to romp in meads as green as green can be... 

Janet Martin

I like the way the whole world greens after warm April show'rs...

 

While Housewife sings as she spring cleans and dreams of May's fair flow'rs

For poufy clouds...(still sneezing out a few flurries!)

and baby chicks...

Redemption's Reveille or Worship's Masterpiece

A role of highest honour and accountability

is the focus of today's post

Eph.4:1-3

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner

worthy of the calling you have received:

2with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another in love,

3and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit

through the bond of peace.

2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling,

not because of our works, but by His own purpose

and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

1 Peter 1:15

But just as He who called you is holy, 

so be holy in all you do,

1 Corinthians 1:9

God, who has called you into fellowship

 with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ,

 as though God were making His appeal through us. 

We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

ABOVE ALL by Michael W Smith Lyrics

When we believe, we then receive a most high, holy call

Through fellowship with Jesus Christ who died for one and all

And rose again; He conquered death and broke the curse of sin

To save all who answer His call and put their faith in Him

With the gift of God's grace, granted through His Son, Jesus Christ;

We are redeemed; forgiven through His body sacrificed 

When we reckon redemption's cost; where sinless blood ran rife

To wash away the wage of sin with everlasting life

...then, as we rise in newness, from the hour we believed

A high and holy calling crowns the freedom Christ achieved

For we, the workmanship of God, purchased with a great price

Are urged to yield our bodies as a living sacrifice 

Created in His image, for good works that He ordained 

For us to walk in paths of righteousness; like soldiers trained

To suffer hardship and endure all things for Jesus' name

To refrain from entangling in affairs, worldly and vain

 

God, rich in mercy, loves us; by his grace we have been saved

And justified by faith in He who our penalty braved 

Then God forbid we turn again, when cleansed by Jesus' blood

Like a dog to its vomit or a washed pig to the mud   

But pray, each day we look to He who gave His all, and then

With awed attention/devotion heed his high and holy call. Amen

We are ambassadors of Christ, His armour all we need

To thwart deception's darts and proclaim Christ is Lord indeed!

Hark! Where the morning breaks, the ring of Redemption's Reveille 

Resounds, and peals through hearts and souls tuned humbly to God's will

Where faithful soldier fitted with the armour of the Lord

Arise, fully committed to God's calling, through His Word

...to hail the One whose government and justice will not cease

In spirit and in truth to fulfill worship's Masterpiece/Master Peace

Willing to surrender until each Want is wholly awed

And walking in a manner worthy of the call of God 

Janet Martin

All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

 

 

A Monday Morning Prayer (to rekindle Sunday Morning's Flare)

Ps.90:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

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

A prayer to rekindle the flare/flame

that leaps in our bosom while sitting in a Sunday morning service

beneath the glorious sound of the gospel, and the praising of God's Name

 but that Monday morning can quickly snuff with 'stuff' 

if we do not guard the hearth of the heart! 

It is a wet but warmer (at last) morning in Ontario...

'Stuff' to do is good and healthy! as long as we keep a holy/eternal perspective...

Lord, help us as we seek the truths Thy holy word imparts

Lest hope and exhortation ring hollow in ears and hearts

In all our ways, pray we submit to Thee with humble trust

Thou art full of compassion for Thou knowest we are dust

Lord, lead us as we strive to enter at the narrow gate

The broad way hosts those who choose to walk by sight, not by faith

Remind us of the treasure that we have in jars of clay

Then order our steps that we may delight in Thy way

Lord, cheer, rebuke, convict, constrain, according to Thy Word

And help us give more earnest heed to the things we have heard

To tune us to pitfalls and snares where wish and want can be

Constant with cares that keep our minds from being stayed on Thee

Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us

From evil; where a world of reasons bids us fret and fuss

But Thy surpassing power is eternal and enough

You comfort us from wellsprings of goodness, mercy and love

Lord, try all lesser boasts until our boast is Christ alone

Until our goal is serving/praising Thee for kindness Thou hast shown

At Calvary; Lord, then let us take up faith’s cross with joy

For grace that Thou alone supplies and no foe can destroy

Lord, heal us as we kiss Thy wounds whereby our own are healed

And satisfy us with Thy love, where once vain wants appealed

And let thy Spirit shed abroad Thy love in our hearts

So, all may see the light that Thy glory alone imparts

Amen

Janet Martin

In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found) - Adrienne Liesching | LYRIC VIDEO

What Gladness This!!

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Ps.63:3

2 Cor.5: 14-15

14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:

that if One died for all, then all died;

15and He died for all, that those who live should live

no longer for themselves,

but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Today's poem is inspired in part

as I ponder the tragic futility of war, hatred and spite,

and partly as I contemplate this stunningly poignant poem

To a Siberian Woodsman by Wendell Berry

It is spring...

Birds sing...

Buds break...

Heaven breaths hope

 to a broken world

drenched with shed blood and tears

and heartache...

The love of God is greater than all hate since time began

Greater is He in us than all armies of earth unfurled

Evil torments the part we see, but what profit has man

If, for the price-tag of his soul he acquires the whole world

What comfort this; when confronted with heinous hate of man

The love of God is greater than all hate since time began

The love of God equips us to endure, with power from

The One who sinless, bore our sins; who made heaven and earth

Who, though falsely accused, like a sheep before shearers, dumb

He answered not a word but was obedient to death

Take heart, when hate wields wicked blows, with schemes, vile and impure

The everlasting love of God equips us to endure

The love of God compels us to love the unlovable

To turn the other cheek rather than return blow for blow

To be a vessel instilled with redemption’s miracle

Empowered by hope, joy and peace this world cannot bestow

Then when we face the brunt of hate, cruel and contemptible

The love of God compels us to love the unlovable

For once we too were dead in sin; foolish, enslaved, deceived

Before the loving kindness of God opened up our eyes

And we beheld His wounds we caused and we were deeply grieved

And then repented and believed in Christ who justifies

Thus, when we witness arrogance of hate, greed, spite and pride

The love of God makes possible love vast and deep and wide

The love of God makes possible, what otherwise would be

Impossible. Love is God's evidence none can descry

Incomprehensible, inexplicable Mystery

No one has seen and yet only a fool dares to deny 

What gladness this; no matter what hatred may desecrate

The love of God is greater and able to compensate 

Janet Martin

Rom.8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine

 or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For Your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”g

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

 through Him who loved us. 38

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor principalities, 

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

39neither height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God

 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Titus 3:1-8

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities,

 to be obedient and ready for every good work,

  2to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, 

showing full consideration to everyone.

3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, 

and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—

living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

  5He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, 

but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birtha and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

  6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 

7so that, having been justified by His grace, 

we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 

8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, 

so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. 

These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

'When unfaithful to His love we are readily seduced

by every temptation,

Without his love in our hearts we become

victims to other loves, 

which lead us into idolatry,

plunge us into hurtful lusts,

and poison the wells of our joy.

We must either be enthralled 

by the surpassing love of Jesus,

or we shall be fascinated by the world's deceits...'

Charles Spurgeon~ 

From the message My Restorer found HERE

April (Nature's Tug-of-war)

A nod to nature's tug-of-war aka April... 

The first week of April has flooded us with rain,

 frosted us with snow

and favoured us with sunshine!

 This German saying sums April up in seven words!

 “April, April, der macht was er will” 

Translation; April, April, you do what you will

A few April frames from the first eight days...

The wind wafts, warm, through open pane and ushers in a scent of rain-

drenched grass and trees; where little lakes embellish the sodden landscape

and ditches gush and overflow with runoff from the melted snow

And robins fat with sass and cheer proclaim that spring and worms are here

The gale howls, cold, laden with sleet that pelts on windowpane and street

And decks yesterday's barren sweeps with tardy tantrums winter keeps

To vex hope's sanguine eagerness, and deck the boughs of barren tress 

With a fresh coat of 'the white stuff' while birds curl into balls of fluff

The breeze banters, and birdsong swells with the gladness of Christmas bells

As hints of green begin to seep through thatch-hued pastures, half asleep 

Where the ballad of hurried brook draws us toward its curve and crook

For pleasure in simplicities like picnic lunch of bread and cheese

The zesty zephyr's charm and cheek rouses strange rounds of hide and seek 

We zip up coats, then take them off; the shade is cold, the sun is hot 

One day we work outdoors, the next our list of chores is weather-vexed 

So we put on the kettle then tackle our indoor tasks again 

The sunrise is a treat for all who heed dawn's early wake up call 

The south deck, on a sunny day affords a tropic getaway 

Surely even the Grinch is drawn to turn a cartwheel on the lawn

As bulbs burst with first, favourite frills of crocuses and daffodils    

Hello and hail the yellow land and smile, sweet pale face soon sun-tanned 

Come, clap your hands and do not fret when the forecast is cold and wet

For we've known April long enough to expect both genteel and gruff

One day a wild cat's flying fur, the next a pussy-willow's purr 

April, you are one of a kind; a woman, apt to change her mind

A school boy full of countless pranks, a kiss that kindles kindest thanks

A vault of unplumbed green and gold each drop of rain helps to unfold

While patience is put to the test, while we wait out spring's yearly jest 

The welkin clock that dwindles down life's pittance of laughter and frown

Will melt lament's prevailing cause with phrases like 'winter that was' 

For always, April seems to find a foothold in lanes flower-lined 

Reviving dell and garden plot with violet and forget-me-not 

Janet Martin

Equipped to Endure...

It is wise and good as we wake, to yield to God our everything 

Then to put on His armour before we face what today will bring...

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake

Ps.23:1-3

I sense a collective groan from spring-hungry Ontarians this morning...

(unless you're a maple syrup producer!)

We are SO ready for green pastures!

so THIS is what was in yesterday's captivating clouds!

...and golden-dusk shadow-play

and green pastures and still waters!

It is not for the faint of heart to climb time’s winding flight of air

Not knowing what may try the part that smarts with holy groans of prayer

There is no certainty but this; the loving faithfulness of He

Whose promises span the abyss twixt Today and eternity

It is not for the faint of faith to brave daybreak’s virgin release

Not knowing what may try the grace whereby we find true joy and peace

But this we know; God keeps His word with love beyond perception’s ken

His Sovereignty is undeterred and works for our good. Amen

It is not for logic to judge God by façades of creature care

While the deceiver tries to budge hope’s anchor with doubt and despair

God’s Word abides; Truth does not shift like rolling waves or shadowed glade

Arise; embrace the gleaming gift of this new day the Lord has made

Arise and know it is for us He keeps His covenant of old

No need to fear or fret and fuss for He is in perfect control

His suit of armour is enough to equip us to stand and fight

For this we know; faith, hope and love pierce death’s darkness with life and light

It is not for the faint of heart to wonder where today's 'stair' leads

What peace to know God will impart the means to know faith's dues and needs 

Lord, give us ears to hear need's cries and eyes to see beyond Self's world 

Then find, to faith's humble surprise unspeakable treasure/wonder unfurled 

Janet Martin

Someday, by the grace of God we will look and marvel...

so THIS is what those clouds held/veiled! 

It's Not An Easy Road

“The Lord Is My Shepherd” | Sermon by Charles Spurgeon | Psalm 23:1

A sermon rich with reminders and challenges;

One quote esp. caught my ear since we are praying, trusting 

and waiting on the Master to provide a fulltime teaching pastor

 for our church/flock at WBC.

'When we look to the pastor but not to the Master,

the Master says, 'They are looking to the wrong person

so they shall get nothing.' But, when we look to the Master

He often supplies our needs through the pastor."