Sunday, June 15, 2025

For Each Precious Dad...A Thank-you Prayer

Happy Father's Day!

(and prayers for God to comfort those who are mourning the loss of 'dad' this year)

 My Dad

My children's Dad

My grandchildren's Dad


Thank-you God, for each of them!


Our Father who art in Heaven
You gave us dads here below
To be an earthly reflection
Of the love that You bestow
Dads, so steady, kind and giving
Strength on which his family banks
Working hard to earn a living
Often without praise or thanks

Our Father who art in Heaven
Bless each precious dad today
Make Your face to shine upon them
As they trust you and obey
Grant them strength, wisdom and patience
Let Your Word direct their thought
Cheer these unsuspecting students
As by a child, they are taught

Our Father who art in Heaven
Comfort those who mourn ‘dear dad’
Pour Your unfailing love on them
As they miss who once they had
Then, help us to love and honour
‘Dearest Daddy’ while we may
So we thank You, Heavenly Father
For each precious dad today

© Janet Martin

Num.6:24-26
“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you

    and be gracious to you;
 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”

Saturday, June 14, 2025

These Are Dark Days...



In times like these it would be very easy to fall prey to fear but...

2 Pet.1:3-10
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness 
through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence.
  4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, 
so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,
 now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue;
 and to virtue, knowledge;
  6and to knowledge, self-control; 
and to self-control, perseverance; 
and to perseverance, godliness; 
7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; 
and to brotherly kindness, love.
  8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, 
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive
 in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness,
 having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure.
 For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 
11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom 
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.



These are dark days of doubting God
Of lack of fear and reverence
For He, who through His own shed blood
Purchased mankind's deliverance
From death and hell; sin's penalty
That only Jesus justifies 
He alone sets captive souls free
And fits us for Redemption's Prize

The glory of God, kind and true
Holy, faithful, and rich in love
He helps us love each other too
When days are dark with doubt and dread
And evil's bold and blinded boast
Mocks or disregards the Godhead
Of Father, Son and Holy Ghost 

These are dark days of unbelief
In our Lord's glorious return
When He will triumph over grief
And pain; when this old world will burn
And Faith will will behold all things new
No suffering or forecasts grim
As He who IS Faithful and True 
Unfurls eternity with Him 

Janet Martin

Rev.21:1-8

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 
Also there was no more sea.
  2Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
 from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 
3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
 “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
 and He will dwell with them,
 and they shall be His people. 
God Himself will be with them and be their God.
  4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
 there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. 
There shall be no more pain, 
for the former things have passed away.”

5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” 
And He said [b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

6And He said to me, “It[c] is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes [d]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8But the cowardly, [e]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

If it were not so I would have told you!
Jesus-
John 14:2

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Breath By Breath...


Seeing all the flowers on Sunday at Whistling Gardens
(all photos on this post taken there)
refreshed the enthusiasm of working in my own gardens...
(until I cut through the internet cable with my edger!)
Happily the efficient repair crew has it up and running again!

 Sharing a few more peony photos from Sunday...







***

Each day holds starkly sudden transports
From Time into eternity, for… none knows who
Behooving us to consider things we often don’t!
Each breath, each hour, each step, each grace
Drawing us toward One Universal Certainty.


The other day I read this quote;
‘We often say life is short. Enjoy it!
It would be better to say,
‘Eternity is long. Prepare for it!’



Breath by breath we draw toward
The moment when we meet the Lord
Dear one, tell me, who can afford
To ignore what is certain
Hour by hour we bide our time
Until life’s clock is drained of chime
And death reveals the mystic clime
Veiled by breath’s wafting curtain

Step by step, soul carves its flight
To endless day or endless night
Where none returns from thence, to cite
Its horrors or its wonders
Grace by grace, we face today
Dear one, fall on your knees and pray
For, in each breath eulogies play
And eternity thunders

© Janet Martin


2 Peter 1:12-15
Therefore I will always remind you of these things, 
even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. 
 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body, 
 because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, 
as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ...

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Cage-Rattling Joy...

John 16:33
I have told you these things,
 so that in me you may have peace. 
In this world you will have trouble. 
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”


1 Thess.4:13-18
3 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, 
concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who [b]sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive
 and remain until the coming of the Lord 
will by no means precede those who are [c]asleep. 
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 
And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain
 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 
And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

***
Imagine if we could not comfort one another with God's words from scripture!
Surely, then life would be a hopelessly fearful undertaking,
each day's impending unknowns dark with dread and discouragement!

SO many tragedies could leave us disillusioned,
 our hearts irreparably broken,
Faith would be crushed with despair,
 but for the treasure of sure hope through the shed blood of Christ!

2 Cor.4:7-9 (read the whole tender chapter HERE)
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay 
to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 
8We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed;
 perplexed, but not in despair;
 9persecuted, but not forsaken; 
struck down, but not destroyed.

Where flowers bloom midst dire tides of doom and gloom forecasters spew
Where God's unfailing Word abides; each morning His mercy is new...




Before a fresh burst of unknowns rattles the cage of Time and Place
Where, praise the Lord, faith's stepping stones are set in sands of hope and grace

Where flowers bloom midst dire tides of doom and gloom forecasters spew
Where God's unfailing Word abides; each morning His mercy is new

Where justice will prevail some day so we do not need to despair
Where good or ill, come what yet may, God helps us through each creature-care

Where God, who cares for you and me is greater than faith's crooning foe 
A Very Present Help to we who need His truth and comfort so 

Where we would be deceived without His Word to guide, correct and cheer
And save us from pitfalls of doubt, pride, ignorance, folly and fear 

Where many who have ears are deaf it seems, to thund'ring wonder-storms 
And many who have eyes profess no knowledge of works God performs 

Where all will someday give account to He whose breath of life we draw 
While drinking from a glorious fount of favours that pray, authors awe 

...and courage, to fight the Good Fight, strong, pure and faithful to the end
Armed with the power of God's might and peace thought cannot comprehend

Where, praise the Lord, faith's steppingstones are set in sands of hope and grace
Where joy transcends bursts of unknowns rattling cages of Time and Place

Janet Martin




Monday, June 9, 2025

While My Body Grins and Groans (I want to take nothing for granted)

Recently I have heard more than one person say they don't want to take anything for granted!
I echo this sentiment in today's reflection of birthday celebration weekend.

Ps.90:12
So teach us to number our days, 
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Thank-you God, for

 Fridge-foragers...


Father and son discussions (on the merits of certain hockey players etc.) 😅

Impromptu Sat. afternoon surprise coffee break... thank-you Emily and fam!
(Missed a pic of the delicious raspberry lemon scones, still oven-warm!)


Precious birthday-celebration dinner-guests...
 (my parents)

and Victoria...


 Dear Husband, May I never take you for granted
(too often, sadly, I do!)

esp. your hat-tossing habits 😐😏 which haven't changed
 since mentioned HERE on last year's anniversary poem...



Special sister time...



even more special in a peony garden !
Whistling Gardens near Brantford, ON
(below, a few of fifty+ pics of peonies)






Sister smelling the 'roses' while her hubby
scouts out ice-cream shops on homeward route 😊😂💖


I want to take nothing for granted in life's little Learn and Teach
Where soon each gifted day is planted in a garden out of reach
I want to wonder at God's grandeur; be mesmerized by His grace,
To be fine-tuned to tender splendour till nothing seems common place
Collecting through life's gains and losses, a much gladder gratitude   
Braving love's charge of shouldered crosses by trusting Mercy Renewed 
Contented in the Steadfast Knowing, come what may God never fails
His love is constantly bestowing winds to test and steer faith's sails

I want to take nothing for granted, where blooms briefly beam and nod 
But to be more humbly enchanted by the handiwork of God 
He, who attends both joy and sorrow maintains nature's threaded loom 
I want to live today without tomorrow's borrowed dread and doom 
I want to manifest His Presence in the peace of Letting Go
Where true happiness is, in essence, this; trusting His yes and no
The Author of salvation's plan is faithful, trustworthy and true 

I want to take nothing for granted in life's leap from Him to Him 
Soon morning's newborn ray is slanted westward; soon Today grows dim
While epitaphs that time composes sets gasps in permanent ink
Like a storm of thorns and roses scattered, blood-red and blush-pink 
As breath-by-breath's brimming succession spills life's sacred, fleeting Toll
Wreathed by dust-to-dust's grim profession of death's claim of all but Soul 
So, before my hulled husk is planted in a garden of grave-stones
I want to take nothing for granted while my body grins and groans 

I do not want to take for granted the sheer wonder of it all
Or become dumbly disenchanted just because the petals fall
Or love's smile-and-tear weathered tether snaps; the ties that bind undone
By the Hand that brought us together; nothing new under the sun
Rousing us, Self-heady-prone dreamers to face raw reality
Time's transient flash of  vapour/paper streamers unhinges eternity 
So, while life's precious plot is planted with memories that love makes 
I do not want to take for granted that which God both gives... and takes 

© Janet Martin

I do not want to take for granted the sheer wonder of it all
Or become dumbly disenchanted just because the petals fall...


Thank-you God, for another birthday...


Thank-you for sisters/family and friends
 who showered me with beautiful birthday wishes
and flowers...

I came home yesterday, a bit peony-high
to find a new variety of peony (Dark Eyes) a deep burgundy-red
 at my door, from my friend's garden!
thank-you Kim 💖


I was also sweetly blessed by a begonia-planter 
in memory of the begonias Lucy gave all of us sisters last year,
from my sister Marlene 💗💔


Some flowers in the hue of the flowers Lucy gave us sisters last year
(because the peachy-coloured begonias were sold out)
From my sister Carolyn...we 'watered' them with a few mingled, tender tears;
Love's universal language


I'll admit it was an extra-teary birthday.
I miss Lucy with profound tenderness in times like these
so I took out the book she gave me in place of a card last year...
 






Friday, June 6, 2025

Dear Lucy...Traces


Yesterday I received a pretty card in the mail
from a dear lady Lucy loved, and who loved Lucy
and we met after her death though I felt like I knew her a little
already through Lucy. 
Thank-you M💕

 I have a number of  new
'Lucy-friends' special in ways I could never have imagined;
Priceless traces of a beautiful life!

Job 7:9-10
As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave does not return.
10 He will never come to his house again;
    his place will know him no more.

The above verses impress me like never before,
esp. when I drop in at Lucy's place.
Her girls and husband valiantly
perform the domestic duties of home
and things are still neat and tidy
but their place will never again know Lucy's presence
save in tender traces everywhere.


While I was there the other day watching her grandsons while
Granddaughter went to the dentist I puttered about
 sweeping corners where the wind had blown in some debris,
watering planters etc.
'why are you doing this? queried her oldest grandson 
as I swept in front of an ornamental door...
 and I replied
'I'm sweeping the dirt away, just in case Grammy is watching' 
and we waved up, up
to the big yellow and blue sky
 and shouted 'hi'
and he laughed 
and I cried. 
'and' continued her Grandson turning back to the door,
'what is this door even for?!!'
Then I laughed out loud!
How like many males in my life he sounded;
What is the point of a door that doesn't open and leads nowhere 😂😂😂

(It turned out it inspired play-restaurant as he served me
every favourite food I could think of!)

I miss laughing with Lucy till we cried
over things impossible to explain afterward.
I miss sharing prayer-cares, recipes, gardening joys and tips,
a quick 'cuppa' or hearing her rattle off a poem or a quote 
because her memory was amazing!
Her place is filled with traces of loving care
and many have spilled over to my place too.
Last year she brought me a few plants.

Honeysuckle   


and Dipladenia...

 

Beautiful traces of her love for growing things.

This poem was also inspired in  part by something shared
on my friend's FB memory yesterday ...
(the kind of writing Lucy loved and lived)

“There is a beauty in the fragility of life,
a sweetness to be savored in its fleeting moments of joy.
For it is in the rawness of our experiences,
both the joyful and the sorrowful,
that we truly come alive.
We are not meant to shield ourselves from the pain of life,
but to embrace it fully, to let it shape us, to teach us,
to make us more human.
So do not be afraid to love,
to open your heart to the world,
even if it means risking heartbreak.
For the sweetness of love far outweighs the bitterness of loss.
And when the inevitable pain comes,
find solace in the beauty of the world around you,
in the simple pleasures of life,
in the memories of love and laughter.
For even in the midst of sorrow,
there is still beauty to be found.”
—Louise Erdrich

'For the sweetness of love far outweighs the bitterness of loss. '
Yes.
So on we go, cherishing and considering the bittersweet worth of traces
either forever left behind or being forever left behind!

So worth the joy of love
So worth the air we trace
That teems with tender flickers of
A bygone time and face

So worth the letting go
With tears farewell imparts
To trace the sweetness of hello
That echoes in our hearts

So worth the picture book
That wafts upon the breeze
Where oft we pause to trace the crook
Of precious memories

So worth each tender trace
Love scattered in life’s wake
While we discover ‘all is grace’
While our broken hearts ache

So worth the parting kiss
As Time's 'never enough' 
Begins to teach us sorrow is
So worth the joy of love

...so worth the tears that flow
And God gathers in jars
To trace the night with their halo 
(I think we call them stars) 

© Janet Martin

Ps.56:8
You number my wanderings; 
Put my tears into Your bottle; 
Are they not in Your book?