Darling May, Farewell

In Ontario, May goes from bare...

...to burgeoning with bloom

from warm hats and coats ...

...to sundresses and splash-pads

(May 31)

...and last but not least

from no baby to

sweet, sweet baby boy

( 14 hours old)

(never mind the baby! 'what's that, mommy?!'

Concerned Big Brother wants to know😊💖)

Almost 3 weeks old

Farewell, (almost) most beloved month of all!!

To release you is akin to farewell’s final embrace

A sense of fallen blossom-stars wafting in outer space

This reluctant relinquishment of what no one can keep

Always makes me regret the fact that sometimes we must sleep

…while buds begin to bulge then burst because they cannot stay

The Miracle waiting to steal our baited breath away

While isle upon isle undergoes, with sunny zephyr-kiss

A steady and unprejudicial metamorphosis

To let you go is always bittersweet, my love, because

You never leave the world as stark and sullen as it was

Beneath your touch creation thrives, sparse shadow-filigree

Grows deep and dark…a picnic blanket tossed beneath each tree

Expectancy and wonder, like silence and thunder meld

The earth is like a canvas with no verdant hue withheld

Where we all become dancers in spirit if not footloose

In a ballroom refurbished with a fresh coat of chartreuse

Each furrow is replenished with seed-sized symbols of trust

While we are wildly torn between duty and wanderlust

Because something about the way you arrange green and blue

Makes us want to experience every angle of you

Forgive me if I linger with my arms around your scent

For my thought aches with echoes; mementos of love well-spent

And I could not bear to let go, darling May afternoon

But for the impending hello of darling, darling June

© Janet Martin

Flower-Fountain of Joy

Praise God from whom all flowers flow;

from whom all bloom-bells peal...

From woodland founts and garden-dirt gushes earth’s lushest green

The miracle of birth restores vistas where death had been

We who are captured by the woo where beauty’s fountain brims

Are overcome with joy renewed by age-old petal-hymns

A gala fit for kings and queens unfolds before our gaze

Inviting beggars to partake of lily-laden trays

We do. With hearts agape with praise for nature’s flower-fount

As joy marvels at masterpieces too profuse to count

Praise God from whom all flowers flow; from whom all bloom-bells peal

He threads bud-looms with periwinkle, rose, Solomon’s seal

The beauty of creation from unnumbered fountains spills

Joy bows in adoration to the One who clothes the hills

The tall grass sways and plays a shimmer-soft arpeggio

How long we waited for the lays of wispy ebb and flow

For curlicues of rainbow hues from umber vaults of sod

Joy knows no bounds but turns into exaltation to God

© Janet Martin

The tall grass sways and plays a shimmer-soft arpeggio...

Matt.6:27-34

And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto [a]the measure of his life?

28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;

they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you,

that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is,

and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek;

for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow:

for the morrow will be anxious for itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Heaven-bent...

 

Not so enlightened, as to be

Careless with hope’s security

Not so engrossed in earthliness  

I do not prize faith's promises

Not so prosperous I forget

The hungry poor who have no bread

Not so successful as to slide

Into subtle pitfalls of pride

Not so consumed with avarice 

I snub salvation's purchase-price

Not so ingenious I ignore

The One who said ‘I am the Door’

Not so comfortable that I

Am loathe to bid this world good-bye

Not so intent on things below

I have no heaven-wealth to show

No living proof, by quiet deed

Of compassion for those in need

No legacy of self outpoured

As evidence of Christ as Lord

No desire to be poor enough

To treasure most His grace and love

And count all worldly gain as loss

To marvel daily at the cross

To keep in mind, earth's lease is lent

And live each moment, heaven-bent  

© Janet Martin

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, 

strive for the things above, 

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

 2Set your minds on things above,

 not on earthly things. 

Col.3:1-2

Where Your Treasure Is

Immaculate Impressions

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, 

as though God were making an appeal through us; 

we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be [j]sin in our behalf, 

so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Cor.5:20-21

The Anchor of hope’s diligence nods and the heavens laugh

With mercy’s renewed evidence in daybreak’s autograph

We, as ambassadors for He, whose pardon reconciles

If clothed in Christ's humility, will recognize God’s smiles

Morning’s podium broods with beckoning to human race

Come, taste and see the goodness and compassion of His grace

We as ambassadors for He whose kindness perseveres

If tuned to Christ's tenacity, will recognize God’s tears

Trouble’s relentless ways and means resumes its Dreaded Must

Temptation’s primal hunger keens needles threaded with dust/trust

We, as ambassadors for He in whose Word we rejoice

If yielded to Christ's Sovereignty, will recognize God’s voice

The Giver of love’s grin and groan reignites heaven’s wick

Where stumbling block and stepping stone cuts courage to the quick

We, as ambassadors for He who is First in Command

If armed with Christ's security, will recognize God’s Hand

© Janet Martin

A good gardening day seems to be unfolding!

An opportunity to do the late-season planting.

Thank-you, Lord!

Pondering Anew

While the bud bursts into blossom

In winter’s green aftermath...

After all the rain yesterday earth is a-glimmer with every shade of green imaginable!!

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty (A Cappella)

In spite of being hammered by last week's storm

David was still able to release this song this morning!

A beauty!

It reminded me once again  instead of

slipping into the trap of trying to bear my cares alone

I need to 'ponder anew what the Almighty can do!'

(lyrics to the hymn below)

Psalm 126:3

The LORD has done great things for us; 

We are joyful.

Pondering anew God’s glory

Creator of heav’n and earth

Author of love’s greatest story

Of redemption and rebirth

Pondering His mercy, awesome

Compassion withholds His wrath

While the bud bursts into blossom

In winter’s green aftermath

Pondering anew His kindness

Providing hope for the soul

Where sight alone leads to blindness

Where faith alone makes us whole

Pondering anew His goodness

Would that I would not forget

To trust Him and not the fruitless

-ness of worry and regret

Pondering anew His wonder

Beyond comprehension’s claim

Where the earth and heavens thunder

With the grandeur of his Name

Pondering anew His faithful

Promises that will not fail

Makes me, wholly, humbly grateful

For the blood that rent the veil

Pondering anew God’s power

Architect of galaxies

Garners glimpses in each flower

Of divine intricacies

Pondering anew, salvation

Wrought through Jesus, God’s own Son

Renews humble dedication 

For the race His grace has won 

Pondering anew, Redemption

And the horrors He endured

Draws my wander-prone attention

To the joy the cross secured

© Janet Martin

Joel 2:21
Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, 

for the LORD has done great things.

Praise to the Lord! the Almighty, the King of creation!

Author: Joachim Neander (1680);

  Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!

Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,

join me in glad adoration.

2 Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;

sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!

Have you not seen all that is needful has been

sent by his gracious ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;

surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

if with his love he befriends you.

4 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.

Let the Amen sound from his people again;

gladly forever adore him.

Poem of Comfort When We Mourn the Death of a Child

But Jesus said, 

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me:

for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Matt.19:14

Jesus Friend of little Children/Jesus loves Me

Keith and Kristyn Getty

 

Safe from earth’s pain and grief

Safe from its fear and fraud

Safe from its snares of unbelief

Safe in the arms of God

Safe from man’s violence

Safe from horrors of war

Safe from corruption’s consequence

Safe, safe forevermore

Safe from hunger’s distress

Safe from time’s trouble-trove

Safe from hatred’s unhappiness

Safe in the arms of love

© Janet Martin

Sacred, Fleeting Season

Suddenly, as I worked on this post, I couldn't stop weeping

for all the precious children of the world!

(How often it is the innocent who suffer

where innocence untaught 

grows up not knowing 

what they know not)

How sacred is the virgin soil

Of childhood's innocence ...

It is no mere coincidence that a child loves to hear about Jesus!

Every child in my childcare has shown me unbridled delight as we pause

before lunch to thank God for our food with this little prayer

God is great, God is good

Let us thank Him for our food

By His hands we all are fed

Thank-you Lord, for daily bread

Amen

From wide-eyed curiosity of a one-year old to eventually joining in,

 their faces beam with pure joy from pure hearts

as we thank God!

(and oh, the glorious conversations this little prayer sparks💗🙏)

On the inside cover of  a vintage version of The Pilgrim's Progress

 is this certificate of acknowledgement to honor the recipient of the reward.

Imagine if we still handed out such noble literature in our public schools

 as rewards to students!

Today students in this system,  

as tender as 5 years old 

(if the teacher chooses to comply)

are taught/groomed to dispute the indisputable...

He created them male and female, 

and blessed them 

and called them Mankind 

in the day they were created. 

Gen.5:2

Matthew 19:4

Jesus answered, "Have you not read that from the beginning 

the Creator 'made them male and female,'

Mark 10:6

However, from the beginning of creation,

 'God made them male and female.'

...and we wonder at the chaos and confusion of this age?!!

where by and large, the world has turned its back on God?!!

and ignores His everlasting Word?!!

Where defiled hearts defile innocence?!!

Evil as surely as good 

recognizes the sacred, fleeting season of childhood!

How sacred is the virgin soil

Of childhood's innocence  

How terribly accountable

Each one who tills and plants

Where evil as surely as Good

Recognizes this truth;

The fleeting season of childhood 

Soon sheds its tender youth

How then, we ought to sift the seeds 

That fall, so they will sprout 

A goodly crop, to choke the weeds

Of heresy and doubt 

Before planting time, brief and fair

Slips from the supple limb   

Remember the Creator, ere

They find no joy in Him

Janet Martin

"H-m-m! He's got one too!"

exclaimed Innocent Granddaughter at her observation

during little boy's diaper-change.

"Just like my baby brother!"

'Yes' I replied.

'that means he's a boy! 

If you 'got one' you're a boy!

If you don't, you are a girl!

God made it that simple and easy to figure out

and don't ever let anyone tell you any different!'

(Believe it or not, these unthinkable conversations are important today!!)

Eccles. 12 NASB

Remember God in Your Youth

12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, 

before the evil days come and the years approach 

when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”

; 2 before the sun and the light,

 the moon and the stars are darkened, 

and clouds return after the rain; 

3 on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, 

and strong men are bent over, 

the grinders stop working because they are few, 

and those who look through [a]windows grow [b]dim; 

4 and the doors on the street are shut 

as the sound of the grinding mill is low, 

and one will arise at the sound of the bird, 

and all the daughters of song will [c]sing softly. 

5 Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place 

and of terrors on the road; 

the almond tree blossoms, 

the grasshopper drags itself along, 

and the caper berry is ineffective. 

For man goes to his eternal home 

while the mourners move around in the street. 

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [d]broken 

and the golden bowl is crushed, 

the pitcher by the spring is shattered 

and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 

7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, 

and the [e]spirit will return to God who gave it. 

8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”

9 In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge;

 and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11 The words of the wise are like [f]goads, 

and masters of these collections are like driven nails; 

they are given by one Shepherd. 

12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: 

the [g]writing of many books is endless, 

and excessive study is [h]wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: 

fear God and keep His commandments, 

because this applies to every person. 

14 For God will bring every act to judgment, 

everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Faith's Perfect Plea

Psalm 38:21

LORD, do not forsake me;

do not be far from me, my God.

Psalm 94:22

But the LORD is my defence;

and my God is the rock of my refuge.

Abide With Me-Audrey Assad

Savior, Lead Me Lest I Stray

Do not forsake me, Lord

But be my fortress tall

Sin wields a decorated sword

And winks while victims fall

Do not forsake my prayer

Lest from the fold I stray

Lest, wise in mine own eyes I dare

To trust in mine own way

Help me hold dear love's laws

Lest I love’s proof discard

Lest presumption of grace should cause

Me to let down my guard

Do not forsake me, lest

I lose the faith to cope

Where cares besiege and vices test

The hardiness of hope

Do not forsake me in

Sorrow, lest I despair

Nor in my joy lest I should sin

And turn my heart elsewhere

…and I would dare to flee

The rock of my defense

Thy Wing whose feathers cover me

Where enemies commence

Do not forsake me, Lord

I need Thy constant voice

Lest I am lured from Thy True Word

By a buffet of choice

Do not forsake me then

Because the flesh is weak

And I am only strongest when

Your Spirit bids me 'seek'

The foe is wily, oh

I know that I would fall

Prey to pitfalls of pride-fear-woe 

Without You, Lord of all

How impuissant I

Left by myself would be 

Lord, bend thine ear to hear faith's cry

Oh, do not forsake me

Amen

© Janet Martin

Inspired in part by this:

Like a Fresh-baked Loaf of Bread

 

I took the above video yesterday morning!

(I saw a flash of orange from the Baltimore Oriole-chorister)

He sang and sang and sang!!

It cheered my heart so, where tears could wash away all joy!

SO much sorrow in this sinful, broken world.

But, The Living Bread sustains when nothing else can...

(full chapter below)

Today begs to be tasted like a fresh-baked loaf of bread

Still warm from welkin ovens wafting somewhere overhead 

To savor wholesome/holy flavors of fresh favors, mercy-wrought

To break it gently, bite by bite, not scarfed down without thought 

To recognize with meek surprise, our place, then to give thanks

Where we, the subjects of God's grace ought never to pull ranks

But take and eat with humble recognition of Enough

And not to grumble at the greatest mission of all; love

The loaf that sits before us at daybreak soon disappears

The platter is so full of hands seizing laughter and tears

Where always without fail, morning's freshly-baked loaf becomes

An empty plate where pray, we stay to linger over crumbs

...oho, we rise each morning to Mercy's refurbished tray

Today begs to be tasted like a fresh-baked Bread-buffet...

Janet Martin

lingering over breakfast crumbs💓

 

Smile of satisfaction! 

(what a challenge for us older 'children' to respond like this!)

Full chapter Psalm 66

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer

nor his mercy from me

Psalm 66:20

He hears our prayers!

What a wonder.

 

Sacred Summons To Today

It may look like simply swing pushing/riding

(and we are all so excited and delighted to have a new playset

after the old one blew away!)

Why did it blow away?!

Big storm and no anchors.

(that's a poem/parable for another post)😅

Swing pushing by Janet would simply be years and years, 

and thousands upon thousands

of fleeting swing-pushes but for one thing....

Prayer.

Prayer takes the mundane and makes it sacred!

Prayer reaches far beyond the present push!

Each and every child, as they are pushed are prayed for

as well as their parents!

I pray for strength, grace and wisdom

 in parenting and marriages

that they/we may be faithful through thick and thin

one day at a time, by God's grace!

(because marriage and parenting is love's

most beautiful Hard!)

The first tot in my childcare

is renting a house this summer and our son 

is living in it as well.

One young man (who has since moved to Nova Scotia) is getting married.

One is getting his G1 shortly...

...and all of them are growing up/grew up so fast!!

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Psalm 118:24

God bless and guide you in today's push and pull

whatever/wherever that may be...

The night’s dark veil is rent

And to the land and sea

Returns the sacred fundament

Of opportunity

Slumber grants its reward

Of ambition renewed

Come then and let us serve the Lord

With praise and gratitude

He loves us oh, so dear

And draws dawn’s door ajar

Where no one knows how far or near

To Seeing Him we are

Therefore, none can afford

To cast a careless eye

Where His kind mercy has restored

Dawn’s lantern to the sky

Before its colors fade

Before ‘has’ turns to ‘had’

Behold the day the Lord has made

To rejoice and be glad

In the vineyard of grace

How sweet is His employ

Because no matter what we face

The fruit of grace is joy

Then, though life’s thorns may prick

Where oft we weep and groan

The Hand that lights the morning wick

Cradles each stepping stone

…and fits us for the task

He tenders to today

Forbid that we neglect to ask

Him for help to obey

A sacred summons spills

Across the land and sea

Grace reverberates and refills

Day's opportunity 

© Janet Martin

A Rich Canvas (of God's Flawless Poetry)

Where Mercy's faithful essence renews more than barren limb

He cheers us with His presence as we place our trust in Him...

Green deepens, a rich canvas for nature’s calligraphy

The land is young; it dances with God’s flawless poetry

Where wonder, like an elixir reminds the careworn heart

To trust in the Creator of earth’s unparalleled art

This life, so full of care would be too hard to bear, but for

The Lord’s unrivaled majesty only proud fools ignore

Where Mercy's faithful essence renews more than barren limb

He cheers us with His presence as we place our trust in Him

Hunger and heartache’s Texas vexes worlds beneath our skin

The belly of the whale perplexes well-laid schemes of sin

Where all we have is lent; God gives and takes, for He is Lord

Where spring is like a bower bent with hope and grace restored

Vales deepen; a rich canvas for faith's meek and fervent plea

Though spirits groan, hope dances as God spills pure poetry

Where a whole world of wonder waits to tune faith's ears and eyes

To trust in He who tends the gates/straits that lead to paradise

© Janet Martin

Psalm 138

I will praise You with my whole heart;

Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name

For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

And made me bold with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,

When they hear the words of Your mouth.

5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

For great is the glory of the Lord.

6 Though the Lord is on high,

Yet He regards the lowly;

But the proud He knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;

You will stretch out Your hand

Against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand will save me.

8 The Lord will [a]perfect that which concerns me;

Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

 The Old Cross Road (click link to listen) 

James Rowe 1920

1. There are many paths through this world of sin,
   But there’s only one I shall travel in;
   ’Tis the old Cross Road, or the way called “Straight”—
   There is just one way to the pearly gate.
   • Refrain:
     There is just one way to the pearly gate,
     To the crown of life and the friends who wait;
     ’Tis the old Cross Road, or the way called “Straight”—
     There is just one way to the pearly gate.
2. There are some who sneer at the old Cross Road,
   At the pearly gate and the soul’s abode;
   Yet I mind them not, but, with happy song
   And assurance sweet, still I press along.
3. Others risk their souls on some new-made way,
   Thinking they will come to the gate someday;
   Oh, may they find out, ere their lives are done,
   That the old Cross Road is the only one.