Goodbye July...

Hello all! 

I couldn't bear to wait till August to return,

simply so we can share 

sweet July's goodbye-grief together

Wheat fields wax gold, 

disappear...

Sun-diamonds stud sky-blue lake...

 

Pond is full of silver splash...

Garden goodness overflows...

How am I going to find my cucumber row under this squash plant jungle?!!

It looked like ample room when I planted those teeny seeds!!

And we have a little tomato plant forest as well!

Hard to believe it was this a month and a half ago!

Corn grows tall, a wall of green

Blocking panoramic scene...

(from now till corn harvest we will be

the Little House in the big (corn) Woods)

Every single field around us is tall corn

back view

side view

front view

So, we search for nearer thrills

Zinnias bloom on windowsills...

Wheat fields wax gold, disappear

Cricket chirp catches our ear

Sun-diamonds stud sky-blue lake

July’s goodbye stokes love’s ache

Shade tree beckons, cool retreat

Hairdo wilts in midday-heat

Tot sports popsicle mustache

Pond is full of silver splash

Freckles flourish, as does rose

Garden goodness overflows

Happiness hurts, torn between

What is, will be and has been

Dawn is dew-drenched, dusty-sweet

Want is quenched where waves wash feet

Wildflower profusion spills

Through ditches in rainbow rills

Footloose wonder scales new heights

Heady with July-delights

Bloom sports brooch of butterfly

Summer hearts brace for goodbye

Corn grows tall, a wall of green

Blocking panoramic scene

So, we search for nearer thrills

Zinnias bloom on windowsills

Sunflower beams, we beam back

Queen Ann flaunts lace bric-a-brac

July always feels so brief

Parting is love’s sweetest grief

Thunder rumbles, clouds release

Plush percussion masterpiece

Forging from hello, a bell

Tolling, heavy with farewell

Goodbye July, rest beneath

Summer’s glorious, floral wreath

Goodbye July, we would cry

But for August standing nigh

...a carpet of cricket-shirr

Ripples like a harbinger

Bearing August's bronze Baton

Over wheat fields, here and gone 

© Janet Martin

Sunflower beams, we beam back...

Queen Ann flaunts lace bric-a-brac...

Dawn is dew-drenched, dusty-sweet

Want is quenched where waves wash feet...

Goodbye July, rest beneath

Summer’s glorious, floral wreath...

Hymn of Hope

We are living in very dark days of prophecy being fulfilled

but hope, joy and peace abides...

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you;

My peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled;

do not be afraid.

John 15:18

If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.

Acts 14:22

strengthening the souls of the disciples

and encouraging them to continue in the faith.

"We must endure many hardships

to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

Romans 8:37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

through Him who loved us.

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do thy will;

for thou art my God:

thy spirit is good;

lead me into the land of uprightness.

Matthew 7:21

Not every one that saith unto me,

, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

1 John 2:17

The world is passing away, along with its desires;

but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

***

Praying we turn to, flee to and lean on 

God's Word for comfort and assurance!

Praying we dare to stand strong

like Daniel of old,

in the face of opposition! 

For powerful summer reading I highly recommend

the book of Daniel!

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, 

but My words will never pass away....

The Creator of Heaven and earth is faithful in all He has said

This world is full of noise and joys, grief, trouble, sorrow’s tears

Lord, give us ears to hear Your voice and faith to transcend fears

Your Word is truth; Lord, help us seek to hide it in our hearts

To strengthen us when we are weak, to thwart the Tempter’s darts

To help us to be modern-day apostles; faithful, true

Enough to know that nothing is impossible with You

Who tunes the wondrous universe yet knows us all full-well

Because you died to break sin’s curse and conquer death and hell

This world is charged with choice and consequence, regret and grace

Lord, tune us to the gross offence of love we oft misplace

Lord, forgive us our debt, of neglect and ingratitude

Help us commit not to forget your kind mercies renewed

Each morning, then to live to worship You through word and deed

Enough to know that You forgive, You gird, You intercede

And nothing is too hard for You; Comforter, Father, Friend

Your Word alone equips us to be faithful to the end

This world and all in it will pass away; never Your Word

Like armour that fits perfectly; the soldier/soul-dier undeterred

Able to face ferocious foe with holy confidence

The loving grace whereby we go, faith’s refuge and defense

Because we are victorious, though days are dark with death

Enough to know Who goes before us till our dying breath

When faith’s veil will be rent, and time’s dim glass that we peer through

Is shattered; Lord, keep us obedient, steadfast and true

This world is full of fleeting boasters, proud, corrupt and blind

Lord, pray we strive to love You most, with heart, soul, strength and mind

To wholly trust you as we offer up Self, sacrificed

Glad for the gospel’s sake to suffer for the cause of Christ

Because You suffered in our stead to draw mankind to You

Enough to know what You have said You are able to do

And greater, so much greater is Your Inner Voice unfurled

Than all the human natures of the armies of this world

© Janet Martin

Ps.94:22

But the Lord is my defence; 

and my God is the rock of my refuge.

Rock of Ages 

 

On this rather somber and hopeful note

I am taking my annual blogging break until the end of July.

See you in August, Lord willing!

Like a Lovely Treasure Hunt

John 15:11
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you 

and your joy may be complete.

John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. 

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

It's the time of year when blog posts and poems don't have any fixed schedule!!
Right now I'm waiting for zucchini date nut loaves to finish baking...
oops!! just checked them and they're done! (recipe below)

 

 I began this poem yesterday before heading out to a

belated birthday tea with some friends I used to do childcare for...

inspiring this line; Thank God for little boys and girls; 

for cups of tea with cake-slice bliss...

(I intentionally didn't take my camera with me but thoroughly regretted it)

Enjoying leftovers today and treasuring the memories !

this was last weekend's slice of cake bliss 😋

Black Currant Cake

To search for simple joys each day is like a lovely treasure hunt...

Like rooster at daybreak that crows to rally us with raucous noise...

Like bud that always without fail bears handiwork, second to none

Who can instill the seed with bread,...

Who but God can turn every head to marvel at His evidence...

To search for simple joys each day is like a lovely treasure hunt

To keep discouragement at bay and touch the hem of God’s garment

The weight of love’s workaday cares, or circumstance, heavy with ‘why’

Without the One who hears our prayers, would drain life’s cup of gladness dry

Thank-you dear Lord, for the sweet joy and peace that comes from trusting You

Content to know none can destroy Your promises, faithful and true

This world reels and groans with unknowns, yet overflows with simple joys

Like rooster at daybreak that crows to rally us with raucous noise

Like bud that always without fail bears handiwork, second to none

Like night as it grows pale and wears blue and blush scarf, then brooch of sun

And as daylight grows dim dusk splays a gold and coral masterpiece

As heaven’s declarations brim with praise for He who does not cease

Goodness and mercy’s glory-days are not reserved for Select Few

God loves to amaze us with ways that mere mortal cannot outdo

Who can instill the seed with bread, or offer death’s deliverance

Who but God can turn every head to marvel at His evidence

Who else can crown Bygone’s vast ‘Had’ with Holy Ground of a new day

For us to rejoice and be glad for simple joys along life’s way

Like fresh baked pies, cookies or tarts, like curious little girls and boys

Who find the soft spot in our hearts and tickle us with simple joys

Of innocence and grins and curls, dimples and freckled nose to kiss

Thank God for little boys and girls; for cups of tea with cake-slice bliss

For colour-kindled laundry lines and gardens bursting at sod-seams

For honey-suckle and grape vines, for happiness of hopes and dreams

Praise God from whom all blessings pour in mercies where sorrows run rife

While making us more thankful for the simple joys of love and life

Like strength to tackle to-do lists and pause to smell the posies too

Like lying beneath vistas of cumulus cloud and boundless blue

Like being humbly overcome with gratitude; joy’s sweetest sum

Evoked by things like clumsy bumblebees, covered in pollen crumbs

© Janet Martin

Like fresh baked pies,...

colour-kindled laundry lines 

and gardens bursting at sod-seams

For honey-suckle and grape vines,

and the recipe for;

Janet's Date-nut Zucchini Bread

3 eggs (room temp)

1 cup oil

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

11/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups shredded zucchini

11/2 cups all purp. flour 

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

(OR 2 cups all purpose flour)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup chopped dates

Beat eggs then add sugars, oil and vanilla.

stir in zucchini

Sift and add dry ingred.

Do not overmix.

Last stri in nuts and dates.

Line 2 loaf pans with parchment paper

(or grease them but I find they get a bit dark on the bottom

 more easily without paper.)

Divide batter evenly

garnish with a few more nuts if you like

bake at 350F till firm to touch

(between 45-55 min.)

cool and enjoy.

These loaves freeze well which is why I usually make a double batch

Time Never Feels Quite Long Enough

When it comes to love

Time never feels quite long enough

A rare everyone-home evening on the weekend;

when time never feels nearly long enough 

Time never feels quite long enough, it often seems to me

These precious days we dearly love fly by, don’t you agree

How beautiful and terrible the tug of heartstrings ache

Where hello soon bears farewell hugs in Loving’s give and take

Time never feels quite long enough where love and laughter meld

To keepsakes in a treasure-trove of echoes fondly held

Where sometimes, in love’s sentimental joy and sorrow-wake

We grow reluctant to count candles on a birthday cake

Where children seem to hurry so to run sweet childhood through

And we try not to worry oh, while growing older too 

Where dawn is soon dusk's blue tableau where shadow steeples sprawl

And holding turns to letting go while smiles brim and tears fall 

Time never feels quite long enough in the fine company

Of ‘perfectly imperfect’ love of friends and family

Which makes me hunger for Love’s timeless bliss still set before

Up yonder where no parting is, in Love’s Forevermore

Time always only gives and takes today, no more, no less

Its intangible ocean breaks our hearts with happiness

While teaching us through pray-push-shove, when it comes to farewell

Time never feels quite long enough for all love wants to tell

© Janet Martin

Time's Wise, Worthwhile and Most Beautiful Redemption

Ephesians 5:15-16

Pay careful attention, then, 

to how you walk,

 not as unwise but as wise,

redeeming the time, 

because the days are evil.

A wet garden stroll this morning

with coffee and camera in hand 

(naturally 😊)

Larkspur 

Sunflower

rain-bent geranium

Daylily

Hosta

Dipladenia

Petunia

Hollyhock

Honeysuckle

Can there be a wiser way

To redeem time’s hours

Than to spend a summer’s day

Communing with flow’rs

Than for half an afternoon

Stop to smell the roses

Awed at petal-poem boon

Only God composes

Than to gaze at Queen Ann’s lace

Studying its stitches

Than to reverently trace

Detail that bewitches

Than be sweetly stunned to find

Myriad masterpieces

Then, be more worship inclined

As wonder increases

Can there be a better way

To relieve love’s duty

Than to pause, a summer’s day

In God-gardened beauty

Can there be a purer laud

Than in bloom bent bow'r

Than to grasp a glimpse of God

Smiling in each flower 

Sh-h-h! Can you hear wisdom woo

Gloriously granted?

To be like a flower too

And bloom where we're planted 

© Janet Martin