Marriage Blessing

Two weeks ago today Jim and I witnessed

 our second daughter and, now son-in-law's marriage in a

private and beautiful ceremony!

(shared with permission)

photo credit; James Hunter

Congratulations!!

and God bless you as you begin life

as husband and wife!

I shared this blessing with them before the ceremony...

This day, unlike any till now

Transforms life with love's marriage vows

Where, what was two at today's start

Is turned to one till death doth part

This day, going forward begins

A journey love is bound to win

As words like 'I' and 'my' and 'me'

Are turned to 'our', 'us' and 'we'

This day of hope and joy and love

Is recorded in Heaven above

A Mystery, second to none

As what was two is turned to one

This day we pray that God will bless

Your life with love's kind happiness

As, come what may of worst or best

Together, love will stand each test

Love, Mom (aka, Janet Martin)

Matthew 19:6
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 

Therefore what God has joined together, 

let man not separate.”

July Love-song

Usually in July, I let readers know when I will be off for

my annual summer break. 

This year the 'break' started a bit earlier than I was prepared for,

and has lasted a bit longer than usual, 

and I will fill in some of the reasons for this in future posts, (hopefully/maybe!)

Life is so full of change-of-plans these days,

but I couldn't let July leave without at least one

July ballad/love song!! 

Eph.5:20

...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Genuine gratitude is more than an occasional word we offer;

 it’s the posture of our lives.

 Gratitude turns us to God over and over again,

 always giving thanks in celebration.

By Winn Collier

It's not very difficult to be thankful in July!

Earth bursts with God's pleasure/providence!

Sing me a song of sweet July

Of blue and white peony sky...

Of wheat fields fringed with Queen Ann's lace...

Sing me a song of summer joys

Of carefree, barefoot girls and boys

As through fleet, sweet childhood they run...

Sing me of lilies full of sun...

Sing me a song of sweet July

Of blue and white peony sky

Of wheat fields fringed with Queen Ann's lace

And highways frilled with wild-bloom grace

Sing me a song of summer joys

Of carefree, barefoot girls and boys

As through fleet, sweet childhood they run.

Sing me of lilies full of sun

...of bronze shores where white waves unfold

Of landscape vistas, green and gold

Of petal-orchestras that spill

Flower-concertos, thrill on thrill

Sing me a sweeping serenade

Of backyards, dark with leafy shade

Where we lay down trade's humble tools

To cool ourselves in shadow-pools

Sing me of summer's gentle pace

Of daybreak's Parental embrace

Of gardens of both soul and soil

Bursting with fruit of faithful toil

Sing me of birds and butterflies

Of supper-bliss, fresh cherry pies

Of sticking noses in a flow'r

Face to face with Glory and Pow'r

Sing me a song of sheer delight

Of senses drenched in sound, scent, sight

Of  expectation, bittersweet

As hellos and farewells compete 

Sing me a song of cricket choirs

Of hummingbirds at Hosta-spires

Of misty morn and dusty dusk

Of fields of corn and shadow-husk

Play me a July melody

Of lavender and chicory 

Of pink milkweed, with monarch brooch  

Of hues hailing August's approach 

  

 Ah, sing me a July love song

Before it succumbs to 'so-long'

Sing me a turquoise ebb and flow

Of holding close while letting go

Janet Martin 

Sing me a turquoise ebb and flow

Of holding close while letting go...

...of bronze shores where white waves unfold

Of landscape vistas, green and gold...

Of petal-orchestras that spill

Flower-concertos, thrill on thrill...

Of supper-bliss, fresh cherry pies...

Sing me a sweeping serenade

Of backyards, dark with leafy shade

Where we lay down trade's humble tools

To cool ourselves in shadow-pools...

Of pink milkweed, with monarch brooch...  

Treasure Hunt of All Treasure Hunts

Eccles.9:18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war...

Prov.4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

and with all thy getting get understanding.

Eph.5:15

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise...

Proverbs 3:13-15

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

the man who acquires understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver,

and her gain is better than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire compares with her.

Prov.6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise!

 It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

 yet it stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest.

What waste, if in the School of Life

We strive, but miss what matters most

If what we glean from student-strife

Is but a heady bit of boast 

What pity, if life's ups and downs

Leave nothing in their lesson-wake

Save a flurry of smiles and frowns

Like trace of crumbs after the cake

Wisdom is forged from a deep mine

Where loss and gain their pains impart 

The chiseling scalpel of Time 

Does not rush Wisdom's work of heart 

What shame, if waiting all our days

Wisdom's Fortune is never won

Because folly flaunts fine arrays

Of Instant Gratification 

What ruin then, if for a bowl

Of pottage we forfeit the prize

Of riches incomparable

Because we fell for folly's lies 

Seek wisdom with each gifted breath

Regard its wealth with high esteem

Learn it in life; learn it in death;

Death of loved one or death of dream 

Get wisdom; no matter the price

Let no mistake or strain impede

Thy service, search or sacrifice

For without wisdom, all is Need

...need to see beyond fancy's flit

To look at life with humbler eyes;

Go to the ant and learn from it

Consider its ways and be wise

Pray, we do not fall for Fool's gold

Or play life like a game of chance

Rather, seek to lay precious hold

Of riches only wisdom grants

Janet Martin   

Ant-classrooms everywhere this year, it seems.

Faith-Booster

In need of a faith-boost?

Today's devotion is a beautiful reminder

of truths that abide, regardless of what may seem!

By Faith" from Praise and Harmony's Resurrecting God CD

Only a Holy God -Praise and Harmony

We walk by faith and not by sight

No need to know or fret or fear

As step by step we trust the Light

Of God's Word to direct and cheer

Faith walks by the way of the cross

For sinless Christ bore mankind's sin

And suffered Mercy's Albatross

This is no minor, trifling thing

Faith walks in the power of prayer

How limited is mortal might

How finite is the thoroughfare

That winds through highs and lows of sight

Our God forgives when we confess

Faith believes and walks in His grace

As far as east is from the west

His love/blood removes transgression's trace

Ah, what more do we need than this;

To have a God who intercedes

Though much may be sadly amiss

We walk by faith because God leads

Among all gods, none are like Thee

Thy words and works beyond compare

Transcending the small part we see  

We walk by faith; faith walks by prayer

Unite our hearts to fear Thy name

Lord, let Thy law be awe's delight 

Until, returned from whence we came

Help us to walk by faith, not sight

Armed with the Spirit's sword, Thy Word

Faith's shield to quench enemy darts

We step into the fray, oh Lord

Open the eyes of our hearts

Janet Martin

Sharing this chapter as well so it may minister to your soul

as it did to mine this morning. 

Ps 86

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;

For I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my [a]life, for I am holy;

You are my God;

Save Your servant who trusts in You!

3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,

For I cry to You all day long.

4 [b]Rejoice the soul of Your servant,

For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,

And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;

And attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,

For You will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;

Nor are there any works like Your works.

9 All nations whom You have made

Shall come and worship before You, O Lord,

And shall glorify Your name.

10 For You are great, and do wondrous things;

You alone are God.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth;

[c]Unite my heart to fear Your name.

12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

And I will glorify Your name forevermore.

13 For great is Your mercy toward me,

And You have delivered my soul from the depths of [d]Sheol.

14 O God, the proud have risen against me,

And a mob of violent men have sought my life,

And have not set You before them.

15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,

Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!

Give Your strength to Your servant,

And save the son of Your maidservant.

17 Show me a sign for good,

That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,

Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

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