Farewell, dear January...

January has been watered with many a private tear

and strengthened through many a private prayer!

Thank-you, everyone who has been part of this army

of casting our cares on God!

January granted some much needed down-time,

though not totally by choice but due to 

a variety of cold and flu bugs... 

January has given me a start in tackling

some long-procrastinated tasks;

 organizing-purging-cleaning

January has thrilled my snow-loving 'inner child' with heaps of it!!

(good, old-fashioned winter in Ontario)

January always makes me extra-thankful

for warm homes and simple, wholesome food

gathered in glorious summer...

Prepping veg frittata and sweet-potato fries (an air-fryer fav!)

January has blessed me tenderly,

 with many words and mementos of love

from thoughtful friends and family

January is such a wonderful way to begin

a New Year; its slower pace

(if we discipline ourselves to make it so)

grants us opportunities to reflect 

on days/God's faithfulness past

and reevaluate our goals for hope's ahead.

Yesterday Victoria (daughter)

remarked how January flew by!!

yet, Christmas seems so long ago!

I agree!!

Eccles.3:1

To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

so,

Farewell, dear January...

Farewell, sweet January days 

Of earth tucked beneath stars and lace...

Of, 'oh, how can I count the ways'

I love your slower, simpler pace...

Of home-sweet-home contentment's blaze

Of tea-pot where happiness steeps...

Of awnings that command awed gaze

As heavens crown snow-swaddled sweeps

Farewell, sweet January days 

Of earth tucked beneath stars and lace

Of, 'oh, how can I count the ways

I love your slower, simpler pace

Of home-sweet-home contentment's blaze

Of tea-pot where happiness steeps

Of awnings commanding awed gaze

As heavens crown snow-swaddled sweeps

Farewell, dear January lull

The threshold of another year

If the Lord wills, of push and pull

Of laughter's vim and heartache's tear

  Where birth and death will lend life's best;

Love's utter joy and utter grief

Where Abraham's God still will test

Faith's untried measure of belief  

Cheers, January, bittersweet  

While Old Man Winter huffs and blows

We find a comfy window seat

To watch five-star bird-feeder shows

While wiggling toes in cozy socks

And giggling at bickering breeds

Where a flurry of feathers rocks

 Tables replete with supplied needs 

Farewell, fond January hours

Farmer and gardener's respite 

Before a fresh season of flow'rs

And fields to plant, awe and excite 

Farewell, fleet, fickle afternoon

Still twilight's early, easy prey

Before we welcome the glad boon

Of February's 'longer day' 

© Janet Martin

Cheers, January, bittersweet  

While Old Man Winter huffs and blows

We find a comfy window seat

To watch five-star bird-feeder shows...

Oh God, The Giver of Our Days...

Create in me a clean heart, O God; 

and renew a right spirit within me.

Ps.51:10

Yesterday on Facebook, my youngest sister

 shared a treasured memory, from three years ago...

all the more treasured now,

 because never again will we three be together 

on this side of Heaven!

(I'm so thankful someone offered to take a picture of the three of us)

Click HERE for the last pic of the three of us,

on Lucy's last birthday...

(We three were together on my birthday in June as well

but no one thought to take a picture)

From left to right, Marlene, Lucy, Janet

Loss fine-tunes our hearts to the holiness of Today, doesn't it?!

because we are reminded that we never know

 what tomorrow will bring! (or today!)

Oh, how this perspective humbles our thankfulness for...

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, 

neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Oh God, The Keeper of our days

Anoint our lips with hymns of praise

For thy safe-keeping through the night

For mercy, kindling morning light...

Oh God, the Giver of our days

Instill in us a heart of praise

And fill our thought, not with want's trove

But with Thy hope, joy, peace and love

Waken anew, Thy sacred call

To serve Thee from morn to nightfall

Oh God, The Keeper of our days

Anoint our lips with hymns of praise

For thy safe-keeping through the night

For mercy, kindling morning light

For Thy faultless and faithful will

Thy perfect purpose to fulfill

Oh God, the Taker of our days

Instruct us in Your righteous ways

Equip us with Thy armour, Lord

The shield of faith, the Spirit's sword

In labor be our strength and might

In pleasure, be our pure delight

Oh God, the Lender of our days 

Evoke in us believing praise

To trust, rather than understand

The law of love's perfect command

And recognize, with humbler bent 

This Gift of Day that thou hast lent 

Oh God, beholder of our thought

Teach us to treasure what we ought

Where mercies past, in vast amount

Are far too copious to count

Then God, kind Giver of our days

Overflow humbler hearts with praise

In the Name of our almighty and everlasting God,

Amen

© Janet Martin

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Paramount Appraisal...

Phil.2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride,

 but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 

4Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

 but also to the interests of others...

'Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, 

do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.' 

Matt.7:12

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, 

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

A new day scales earth's eastward edge 

Worlds reappear to sight

As God maintains His ancient pledge 

Of seasons, day and night...

***

What are you up to today?

I am only doing childcare one day a week right now

and that day is Wednesdays

so I am enjoying the company of two

eager, affectionate and energetic little boys...

Ah, what we do with where we are and what we have, my dear

Is of far more Importance than at brief glance, may appear

Where train of thought (and sometimes not) turns into words and deeds

And what we say and do turns into potent, scattered seeds

Then, when the sum of it takes root and the shoot is full grown

We bear witness to steadfast truth, 'by fruit the tree is known’

Ah, what we do with here and now is how lifetimes accrue

No turning back, no leaping over present moment’s due

Where no one is forgotten, or of insignificance

No matter who or where we are, action bears consequence

So then, what matters most (because we all will give account)

Is what we do with what brims from time’s invisible fount

Ah, what we do with what may seem to deftly disappear

Is worth a second look because of what remains, my dear

From God’s goodness and mercy, morn’s fresh opportunity

And if we ask, He helps us who-wherever we may be

To do our best with what we have, not what we wish we had

This is the day the Lord has made to rejoice and be glad

…and recognize the value of a Prize we press toward

Where the fruit of the tree effects recompense of reward

For, what we do with what we have will verily become

Something we ought not to ignore; a lifetime’s sacred sum

Does this not stir humbler regard for what we have, before

Life's fruit is gathered into baskets of Forevermore….

© Janet Martin

Regarding Life's 'Musts'

Today's post was inspired, in part,  by a comment Jim (my husband, a truck driver)

 made this morning, as he envisioned another week 

of snowy roads, winter driving etc...

Not in disrespect to my 'I will pray for you'

he simply stated the matter of fact/must;

'all your prayers don't take away the fact that I

still have to face the weather and the highway...'

What a picture of life for all of us!!!

 and what a comfort of love!

When we pray for each other, 'for God to guide and keep'

the prayer does not take away the 'road ahead'

  but suddenly, gloriously 

a miraculous transformation takes place!

We go from this...

to this!!

(oops!! I missed a word in the reference below but

drawing is way too challenging for me to attempt a do-over 😂😐)

also, a glimpse at what happens when I look at the clock and g-a-a-a-asp!

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”;

Life's storms come, and pass

just as one 'must' precedes another!

No matter what we say to someone

we cannot take their 'Must' away.

(Jesus, in Gethsemane, though he pleaded was not spared)

We cannot travel their stretch of highway,

we cannot carry their cross.

We can walk alongside each other and

encourage each other, but we cannot

do each other's 'must'.

How wonderful then, the holy opportunity

free to all, to ask God to help us,

 to hold our hand and to go before us.

We don't have to face life's 'musts' alone!

Oh think about this;

We alone, are responsible for our fellowship with our

Heavenly Father; surely the most sacred 'must' of all.

May we pray, as Jesus in Gethsemane prayed , 'not my will, but Thine!'

Or in the Lord's Prayer, 'Thy will be done'.

Isa.45:2-3 & 5-8

“I will go before you

and level the mountains; 

I will break down the gates of bronze

and cut through the bars of iron.

3I will give you the treasures of darkness

and the riches hidden in secret places,

so that you may know that I am the LORD,

the God of Israel, who calls you by name...

5I am the LORD, and there is no other;

there is no God but Me.

I will equip you for battle,

though you have not known Me,

6so that all may know,

from where the sun rises to where it sets,

that there is none but Me;

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

7I form the light and create the darkness;

I bring prosperity and create calamity.

I, the LORD, do all these things.

8Drip down, O heavens, from above,

and let the skies pour down righteousness.

Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout

and righteousness spring up with it;

I, the LORD, have created it.

Read the whole glorious chapter HERE

***

Life's burdens must be borne

Its highways must be trod

Its holy unknowns must be faced

Either fear or faith-shod

Its mornings must be met

Its tests must be endured

Its tempests must be weathered, pray

Hope's Anchor is secured

Life's deserts must be crossed

Its hurdles must be leapt

Its battles must be won or lost

Promises must be kept

Its choices must be made

Its voices must be heard

Its sorrows must be suffered, for

Love's due is undeterred

Life's lessons must be learned

Through much-mistake accrued 

Its crown of wisdom must be earned

Humble pie must be chewed

And each of us must choose

How we will heed life's call

Whether we will trust or refuse

The God who loves us all 

Life's burdens must be borne

Its highways must be trod

Its unknowns, betwixt morn-to-morn

Never too hard for God 

© Janet Martin 

Being a transport truck driver in the winter

is not for the faint of heart!

Will you pray for their safety and encouragement too?

Isa.45:21-22

...There is no other God but Me,

a righteous God and Savior;

there is none but Me.

22Turn to Me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth;

for I am God,

and there is no other.

'Til the Storm Passes By

Lyrics-Songwriters: Thomas Mosie Lister

… In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face

While the storms howl above me, and there's no hiding place

'Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

… 'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

… Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise

Where the storms never darken the skies

… 'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

Joy Beyond All Compare

Happy Last Weekend of January 2025...already?!!

Last Sunday evening a much belated birthday celebration was enjoyed

(due to many cold and flu postponements)

in honour of the little lad who turned Jim and I into grandparents!

Happy 8th birthday, Grandson

Ps.40:5

Many, O LORD my God, 

are Your wonderful works which You have done; 

And Your thoughts toward us  

cannot be recounted to You in order;

 If I would declare and speak of them, 

they are more than can be numbered.

(find the whole glorious chapter at the end of this post)

The goldfinch doffed of yellow...

 is a dapper fellow still...

Though winter dims bright colour with a layer of brown twill...

The landscape, green and golden...

 or tucked beneath snowy fleece

Is like a priceless painting; a four-season masterpiece...

 

The heavens as they declare God's glory o'er all the world ...

The bud, arousing wonder for miracles, still unfurled

 Stirs in the human heart a hymn that overflows its brink 

To see God in creation is life's sweetest joy, I think...

In living rooms where laughter celebrates a birthday boy...

(before the ruckus, as little sister from across the table contributed a mighty PUFF!!!)

The goldfinch doffed of yellow is a dapper fellow still

Though winter dims bright colour with a layer of brown twill

The landscape, green and golden or tucked beneath snowy fleece

Is like a priceless painting; a four-season masterpiece 

The heavens as they declare God's glory o'er all the world 

The bud, arousing wonder for miracles, still unfurled

 Stirs in the human heart a hymn that overflows its brink 

To see God in creation is life's sweetest joy, I think

How small and trusting is the hand that tugs on mom and dad

Or Gran and Gramps; how suddenly love makes us humbly glad

For things we dare not forget to thank God for every day

Lest love we take for granted is suddenly drawn away

Wakening us to a more purposed response to God's grace

With ears to hear and eyes to see each other, face to face

In living rooms where laughter celebrates a birthday boy

To see God in our loved ones is surely life's dearest joy

Ah, I am wrong. When laughter's song is turned into a prayer

When sorrow tugs are more than hugs as farewells fill the air 

When teardrops fall and all that we can do is lean on He

Who is a Very Present Help in times of misery

For all who are inducted into ranks of those who mourn

He comforts us; and never fails us when hearts are grief-torn

He who knows love's great suffering does not forsake us there

Ah! to see God in sorrow is joy beyond all compare 

Janet Martin

Ah, I am wrong. When laughter's song is turned into a prayer

When sorrow tugs are more than hugs as farewells fill the air...

Ps.40 BSB (Berean Study Bible)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2He lifted me up from the pit of despair,

out of the miry clay;

He set my feet upon a rock,

and made my footsteps firm.

3He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD.

4Blessed is the man

who has made the LORD his trust,

who has not turned to the proud,

nor to those who lapse into falsehood.a

5Many, O LORD my God,

are the wonders You have done,

and the plans You have for us—

none can compare to You—

if I proclaim and declare them,

they are more than I can count.

6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

but my ears You have opened.b

Burnt offerings and sin offerings

You did not require.

7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

it is written about me in the scroll:

8I delight to do Your will, O my God;c

Your law is within my heart.”

9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

behold, I do not seal my lips,

as You, O LORD, do know.

10I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation;

I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness

from the great assembly.

11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me;

Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.

12For evils without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart has failed within me.

13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;

hurry, O LORD, to help me.

14May those who seek my life

be ashamed and confounded;

may those who wish me harm

be repelled and humiliated.

15May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

16May all who seek You

rejoice and be glad in You;

may those who love Your salvation

always say, “The LORD be magnified!”

17But I am poor and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my helper and deliverer;

O my God, do not delay.

Stick your Nose Into a Tulip...(and other simple pleasures)

A week ago my cousin gifted me this midwinter splash of spring...

the initial inspiration for today's poem

For a taste of spring, when it's not!

and other simple pleasures...

Stick your nose into a tulip...

Sip some lemon-spritzed delight...

Page through gardens, picture-perfect

Waiting while the world blooms white...

Take a 'tropical' vacation

Via pages in a book...

Dream a summer celebration/destination

On the bank of frozen brook

Stick your nose into a tulip

Sip some lemon-spritzed delight

Page through gardens, picture-perfect

Waiting while the world blooms white

Take a tropical vacation

Via pages in a book

Dream a summer celebration

On the bank of frozen brook

Make the most of words like 'cozy'

Before tasks of sweat-and-till

Unearth work gloves resting easy

For a little longer, still

Stoke home-fires with thanksgiving

Thank God for warm, fuzzy socks

Say a prayer for people living

Under bridges in a box🙏💔

Be content to sing and putter

Make a decadent dessert

(never mind the extra butter) 😉😅

A few winter treats won't hurt 

Chuckle at the chubby junco

Watch the birds without a clock

Dictating strict marching orders

With nothing but tick and tock

Pour a second 'second coffee'

Mindful of a subtle string

Drawing winter, like a tugboat 

Closer and closer to spring

Tromp/ski through snow-swaddled creation

With an ear tuned to a clime

Where green and violet arrangements

Will emerge in perfect time

Though the sunshine, brief and sallow

Cannot melt the snowy strand

We know soon its warmer yellow  

Will trump Old Man Winter's hand

 So, stick your nose in a tulip

Sip some lemon-sparkly bliss

Page through gardens, picture-perfect

While the sun fine-tunes her kiss

Janet Martin

Pour a second 'second coffee'...

Chuckle at the chubby junco...

Watch the birds without a clock...

Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love - Praise and Harmony

Lyrics 

Song by Keith & Kristyn Getty

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love;

Too vast and astounding to tell.

Forever existing in worlds above,

Now offered and given to all.

Oh fountain of beauty eternal;

The Father, the Spirit, the Son.

Sufficient and endlessly generous:

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

Creation is brimming with thankfulness,

The mountains, exultant they stand;

The seasons rejoice in Your faithfulness,

All life is sustained by Your hand.

You crown every meadow with color;

You paint every shade in the sky;

Each day the dawn wakes as an encore of

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

How great, how sure;

His love endures forevermore.

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

What grace, that You entered our brokenness;

You came in the fullness of time.

How far we had fallen from righteousness,

But not from the mercies of Christ.

Your cross is our door to redemption;

Your death is our fullness of life.

That day, how forgiveness flowed as a flood:

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

How great, how sure;

His love endures forevermore.

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

United in Your resurrection,

You lift us to infinite heights.

Could anything sever or take us from

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

How great, how sure;

His love endures forevermore.

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.