Dear Lucy, I Am Sixty Now or Dear Lucy, Beyond Time's Temporary Rift

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, 

to receive glory and honor and power,

 for You created all things; 

by Your will they exist and were created.”

Thank You Lord, for family and friends

and for your example of how

we ought to love one another! 

In the past month+ to say

I have been generously, thoughtfully, preciously 

showered with love from family, friends and neighbours

is an understatement!

You all have made turning 60 (on June 7th) feel like such an honour! (which it is)

Cake by Baking Me Happy!

Last night my family (parents, siblings and spouses) celebrated this milestone!

 It takes time in a large, busy family to find a day where everyone is free! 

Family celebrations always re-impact me with fresh awareness 

of how deeply I love my family! (and how deeply I/we miss Lucy) 

Oh Lucy dear, I am sixty

Remember how we used to dream

Of trying to age gracefully

Treating each stage with kind esteem?!

Life's milestones seem to emphasize

How swift a decade disappears 

Where it seems that Time's Chariot flies

Faster and faster through the years 

...and makes us more humbly aware

Of love's immeasurable score

And how we have no time to spare

In loving one another more

...and recognizing every day

Is a grace-granted gift from He

Who is faithful, come what-yet-may

On our way to Eternity 

Where you got there ahead of us

But we are close behind. Amen

To gather and behold Jesus

Forever together again 

A soulful love-song steals my breath

Where strains of Heaven and earth meld

As we traverse the vale of death

Its final bend and breadth withheld 

Oh grave, where is thy victory

Oh death, where is Thy sting, Thy knife

Praise God, because of Calvary 

Death is a steppingstone to life

...for all who repent and believe

In He who paid the debt we owed

Where else we would endlessly grieve

And hope would be a hollow goad

Dear Lucy, I am sixty now

But you have passed from numbered days

To where no tears or pain will bow

The Countenance of endless praise 

Till then, Lord, help me hope and trust

Because the best is yet to come

As ash to ash and dust to dust

Transports the Soul to Home, Sweet Home 

Until Time's countdown is complete

Help me treat each day as a gift

To be revered until we meet

Beyond Time's Temporary rift 

Janet Martin

Below, a little look at birthday blessings (and maybe inspiration)

 if you're looking to bless someone on their birthday!

A friends-lunch to celebrate Now

and remember 'then'...

Soo many thoughtful gifts and cards, hugs, texts etc.

(below 60 flowers, 60 treats and 60 Scripture verses!!)

Ignite coffee roasted by one of my nephews!

Charcuterie board below, made by another nephew's son!

Want one? Check out the stand at

6981 Wellington Rd 9, R.R.#2 Moorefield 

Nothing Ordinary

The book of Ecclesiastes cuts man's days down to size!

A very thought-provoking read, often vexing as he dissects

the good and evil of life.

(written by King Solomon, the son of King David.)

His conclusion at the end of the book, I've shared below today's poem

Being found among the living today

is an extra-ordinary privilege!

Let's make it count!

I've come to a conclusion as I watch the seasons turn

And marvel at the fusion of future, present and past

Of some days fair and merry and some hard with much to learn

There's nothing ordinary in life's sun and shadow cast

Where what we dare to boast of, soon falls prey to dust and ash

How loss of what we most love teaches the most about love

Where 'nothing new under the sun' can make a mighty splash

But tis how far the ripples run we should be wary of

Where no one is born better than another, nor dies so

We, all in this together should be more patient and kind

Because we all are very loved by He whose favors flow 

There's nothing ordinary about mornings, mercy-lined

I've come to the conclusion that we of the human race

Are authors of confusion in the case of true success 

And winning, so we carry all we can with haggard pace/chase 

There's nothing ordinary about 'simple' happiness

...and living with intention not to get caught in the fray

Of fretting/getting and contention for what never seems enough

One thing has become very clear, come-whatever-yet-may 

There's nothing ordinary, dear, regarding life and love 

Janet Martin

Eccles.12:8-13

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,

“All is vanity.”

The Whole Duty of Man

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, 

he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out

 and set[c] in order many proverbs. 

10 The Preacher sought to find [d]acceptable words; 

and what was written was upright—words of truth. 

11 The words of the wise are like goads, 

and the words of [e]scholars are like well-driven nails, 

given by one Shepherd. 

12 And further, my son, be admonished by these.

Of making many books there is no end, 

and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil.

A World of Summer Wonder Waits...

Ps.24:1 

The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, 

The world and those who dwell therein.

Dawn bursts through gates of summer day, and what does its first light unveil?

A fresh and burgeoning buffet of summer-beauty, fleet and frail...

A world of summer-wonder waits to woo replies of awed applause

Before its blitz of blooms abates, let's feast our eyes on God because

The earth and its fulness thereof belongs to Him, yet He delights

In overflowing founts of love to thrill us with scents, sounds and sights

Dawn bursts through gates of summer day, and what does its first light unveil?

A fresh and burgeoning buffet of summer-beauty, fleet and frail

Beckoning us to slow our stride while hastening from here to there

To open eyes, ears and hearts wide to handiwork beyond compare   

...because the world of summer soon slips from earth's sill of dust and dew

Its blue and yellow afternoon fades and loses its petals too

So, as dawn flings ajar yon gates, let's walk slow enough to be awed 

Where summer's world of wonder waits for us to feast our eyes on God

Janet Martin 

Reason to Rejoice in Truth

Every single person in the world,

no matter how 'together' they may seem,

has struggles, fears, disappointments and sorrows!

The verse below is as true now as the day

it was God-breathed to humankind! 

Ps.146:5

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Phil Wickham - Living Hope (Lyrics)

Praise God; the power of the cross, no foe can overthrow

Nor ever annul Redemption’s inestimable worth

No matter what the argument, tis by God’s grace we go

His breath of life fills our lungs, His glory fills the earth

Praise God; though generations come and go, His Word abides

Faith’s Lighthouse and hope’s anchor in a world of pagan noise

What confidence and peace as Want its agony confides

His Word ministers to our souls and kindles countless joys

Praise God; His goodness and mercy, no tragedy can quell

Though the father of lies tries any guise to guard sin’s wage

Faith fixes eyes beyond Time and sight’s fleeting citadel

To a Prize where God’s love will reign from age to age to age

So, praise Him now with every breath He grants, and do not faint

For His sufficient grace sustains a tow’r of strength within

Then, whatever today demands, proceed without complaint

Servants of righteousness and truth rather than slaves to sin

Praise God, the power of the cross cannot be overthrown

His promises cannot be broken or His purpose swayed

He reaches down and sets in place each grace-laid Steppingstone

So, rejoice in the Lord for this new day that He has made

Janet Martin

Gladness of Heart

Wishing each of you a heart glad day!

This is what 

I have observed to be good: 

that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink 

and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun

 during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, 

and the ability to enjoy them,

 to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, 

because God keeps them occupied 

with gladness of heart.

Eccles.5:18-20

My 'happy toil' these days includes a lot of hours in the garden and lawn-mowing!

Which I love, in spite of weed-potato-bug-rock-picking, hoeing, staking, pruning,

 endless edging and beating sun during the day or mosquito company in the evening, etc.

Gardening isn't all bench sitting and slow strolling but it better be part of it!! 

Plus, the reward of rest at day's end is ever so deeply sweeter! 

A garden framed by gold-ing wheat and open sky feels like holy ground

Wherever in the world we live

Whatever today may impart

Lord, because of the hope you give

Console/delight us with gladness of heart

To everything a season, Lord

Some days are happy, some are sad

But each day is made by Your Word

To rejoice in it, and be glad

For all that matters most, abides

Through sickness, health, plenty or need

Your hear, whatever faith confides

In groans, knowing You intercede 

Goodness and mercy follow us

Through all our days, until we dwell

Forever with You in Your house

This bids our hearts with gladness swell

...wherever we wake, work and sleep

Whatever today's dues impart

Because of promises You keep

We go forth with gladness of heart 

Where days of life at best are few

Where strength for toil and bread to eat

Humbles the heart with gladness true

For the joy of the Lord is sweet 

Janet Martin 

Gold-ing wheat draws photographers to try to capture its ambience.

This photographer has an adoring fan...

Moment-Heirs

 

Thank you God, you give us each day, 

not dumped in one lump sum, but released in moments...

Moments, so that midst life's musts 

we can take a moment or three to pause...

to peer through petal-panes...

to sip a cuppa beauty-bliss

to 'book' a flight (and vacation vicariously)

Before it slips away; today

Leaving no telling trace behind

Of footprints in the hardened clay

Of scenes of yesterday, be kind 

How subtle is the sum/thrum of life

Borne on unbridled tides of air

Like coursing rivers, running rife

With ways to spend life’s moment-fare

How soft today's moments arrange

Memento-molds, invaluable

How swift morrow’s moments estrange

Us from moments, still malleable

…let’s pray, before it is too late

To reach for what none can erase

That God would help us sense the weight

Of moments as they fall in place

The scenes of yesterday are set

Its disbursement of moments through

Once more God grants today's fresh Yet

To heirs of moments, wet with dew

Janet Martin

Ps.103:15-17

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
 For the wind passes over it, and it is [b]gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,