Save This...or, Hope's Courage

Make Room-Casting Crowns

What inspired today's poem?

A mishap, to a friend/church family member 

who took his family on a long anticipated trip to the other side of the world,

to visit his sister's family for  Christmas, and in the first week broke his leg in two places,

placing him in a hospital four hours away...

please pray that by some miracle he and his wife can join their families for Christmas!

A message of praise from a family in our church-family who has endured

a journey of sickness and the death of a grandchild...

A family in our neighborhood who is learning grueling trust-lessons

SO many sick and suffering in our circle of friends and family...

SO many sorrowing in our neighbourhood and beyond...

So many seeking answers to questions like

'What is truth?'

'God, are you there?'

In deep disappointments that vex well-laid plan

In struggles no mortal evades

In sorrows that teach us to love while we can

Before opportunity fades

In trials we suffer of sickness and pain

Beneath love's long burdens of care

May we find hope's courage we cannot explain

Save this; someone's answer to prayer

Janet 🙏

Matt.7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; 

seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,

 an ever-present help in trouble.

Christmas Happiness and Joy

Cherishing like never before 

Christmas Happiness and Joy

Both the simple...

Basic Shortbread

Shortbread with dark chocolate and instant coffee bits

Shortbread with toasted pecans, dark chocolate and toffee bits

and profound...

1 John 4:9-12

9 This is how God showed his love among us:

 He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us 

and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, 

God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Christmas happiness and joy...

When shortbread, dark chocolate and toffee bits-sweet and toasted pecans and taste buds meet😋

When snowflakes waft, tumble, lilt, sparkle and swirl and the heart feels like a ballerina-twirl/girl

When windows, gold, lamp-lit at eventide frame frosty blue vistas of countryside

When hustle and bustle of shopping and cleaning and cooking don festive attire and meaning

When songs of the season with timeless oblation ring out the glad reason for hope's celebration

Because Jesus Christ, mankind's Saviour was born in a Bethlehem stable on that first Christmas morn

To cheer generations with wonder and love because God knew only His Son was enough

To be sin's last sacrifice, once and for all; Jesus, the name on which every heart may call

To find hope and joy that no sorrow can dim after we have put our faith in Him

© Janet Martin 

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven

Jesus, Only Jesus

Happy Christmas Day- Charlie Pride

To the Weaver of Creature Cares, Some Poem-let Prayers

My friend gave me this book for Christmas.

She cautioned that it might make me shed some tears.

It did. 

But what worthwhile tears they are

as it reminded me of Rom.8:28 again,

'how God works all things together for good

to those who love Him and are called

according to his purpose.'

Sometimes, the troubled parts we see as hues of heartache blend

Are but threads in a Tapestry we cannot comprehend 

How often what may seem like disappointing change of plan

Is but God's intervention anointing the will of man

As from a skein of Mercy's flax He weaves, beyond our ken

Much more than we could think to ask or think to think. Amen  

***

Dear Lord, when I forget in the thick of setbacks and such

To visualize life's shimm'ring thread soft-tumbling through Your Touch 

Help me remember to picture You at the shuttle where

What looks like trouble's tincture is the answer to a prayer

The Weavers Work of Art I only see in part. Lord, then

Create in me a humbler heart of childlike faith, Amen 

***

Lord, when our hope is shaken by dark hues of circumstance 

When one we love is taken or when courage cannot dance

Beneath the weight of waiting and creature cares that life brings

Rather than hope deflating, lift it up on eagle's wings

Because, what tests faith's valour beyond logic's acumen 

May compose the key colour in Your Masterpiece. Amen

© Janet Martin 

Isn't it awesome to remember God knows what we have need of

even before we ask?! 

How His answers go before us all around the world in a wink! 

Matt. 6:8

...your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

His Love Cannot Fail

Hymn: Since Jesus my Savior

Since Jesus my Savior from sin rescued me

Life's pathway shines brighter because I am free

No harn can befall me though foes should assail

My refuge is Jesus, his love cannot fail.

His love cannot fail. His love cannot fail.

There's no one like Jesus, his love cannot fail.

My heart overflows with a wondrous delight

For Jesus is with me by day and by night

His love ever flowing so boundless and free

It never can fail, 'tis for you and for me.

His love cannot fail. His love cannot fail.

There's no one like Jesus, his love cannot fail

There's no one like Jesus to comfort and bless

There's no one like him in the hour of distress

He knows every trial on life's upward way

His love cannot fail, 'tis a joy day by day.

His love cannot fail. His love cannot fail.

There's no one like Jesus, his love cannot fail.

Singers: Altar of Praise Chorale

Words and music: James M. Black

Dear Lucy, I'm Learning Things I Thought I Knew...

Lucy and I loved this song

I'm sending it out to her family, and mine, from both of us.

I remember her telling me she wants to share this song with her children

till it drives them crazy 😅...and I said, 'me too!' 

You Are Loved

We chose to interpret this song as God singing to His children

One of the blogs I subscribe to is Barnstorming, click HERE

after Lucy suggested to me a number of years ago 'that she thinks I would love it'. 

And I do!

OH, one of things that has left a gargantuan hole in my life 

are our sister-soulmate loves and being able to share them with each other.

 How I miss the unexpected surprises of 'you would love this, Janet!

and visa-versa. 

How often I still whisper' you would love this, Lucy'

 though I know she is in a place of unimaginable wonder and beauty

 in the presence of our Beloved Savior-King forever!

On today's post HERE, about grief, 

the author, Emily Gibson, shares some words of timeless wisdom;

'We don’t have control over the amount of time,

 but we do have control over how extensively

 our love for others is heard and spread.'

Barnstorming~

And those words inspired today's poem...

Dear Lucy

I'm learning things I thought I knew before the sudden loss of you

Before I understood how tears can mark days turned to months then years

After what I now realize I thought I did, but didn't, prize

Of time I thought we had until you donned wings to where Time stands still 

 

I thought that you and I would weather the 'joys' of growing old together

Where I would blaze a trail and find you following, not far behind

And in its grin-groan-grunting art we'd keep each other young at heart

I never thought I'd turn to see only frames, where you used to be 

I'm learning, as I vainly rue the things no wishing can undo

To take each opportunity that comes without time's guarantee 

To wear love's second-mile-grade shoes as if I had no time to lose

And not to be unduly vexed, but love/live as if I could be next

I'm learning to revere love's role as I advance toward the goal

(where none of use can see how far from its eternity we are)

But all of us should take to heart the privilege to do our part

To consider our fellowman and love each other while we can

I'm learning to fully embrace the gift of looking at your face

Of cherishing both high and low of holding on and letting go

And never minding quite so much the humour of Father Time's touch

As I learn what I thought I knew, dear Lucy, before missing you

Janet💔

Years ago, the chorus to the song below was a prayer

Lucy and I shared...to live till our children are grown, if God wills!

God willed her/our prayer to be answered.

Moe Bandy Till I'm Too Old To Die Young 1987

And this, straight from the Word of God...

Jer.31:3

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

 I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Overcome With Joy

This past year felt a bit like a blur of one sorrow after another,

Dec. 14 marked eight months since the loss of my neighbour/friend.

Dec. 15, marked one month since my husband's mother passed to her desired rest,

And today, Dec.17, marks three months since I lost one of my beloved sisters, Lucy.

and many lost a friend,

but through deep grief I have time and again been speechlessly

overcome with joy through the comfort of promises from God's word and through

the compassion of so many caring family, friends and neighbours 

leaving in its wake a multitude of kinder, more tender friendships.

As we partake rather than flee from bearing one another's burdens

and so fulfilling the law/love of Christ, (Gal.6:2)

He surprises us with unsurpassed joy 

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice;

at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

Bach: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Lyrics)

Lord, leave me overcome with joy

No words can quite define

No circumstance can quite destroy

Nor sorrow undermine

Lord, as I lift my eyes to Thee

From earth's groaning employ

Remind me that mortality

Precedes eternal joy

Console me with the glorious thought

Of joy still set before

Until a joy I had not sought

Surprises sorrows sore

And fills the longings of my heart

With joy beyond compare

And faith to face the cunning art

Of stumbling block and snare

Permit a humbler joy be born

Upon my bended knee

As I lift up my plea each morn

Then wait expectantly

Amen

~Janet Martin

Joy Inexpressible and Glorious

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.

This year, as I re-glued the weathered letters below back together

and pondered the word Joy, it was not without tears,

realizing how, this year I have discovered

a most holy, indescribable joy plumbed from the depths of

heart-wrenching grief!

For our God, acquainted with grief, 

comforts us with unspeakable joy...

Isa.53:3-6

He is despised and [d]rejected by men,

A Man of [e]sorrows and acquainted with [f]grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our [g]griefs

And carried our [h]sorrows;

Yet we [i]esteemed Him stricken,

[j]Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded[k] for our transgressions,

He was [l]bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes[m] we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord [n]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

(read the whole wondrous chapter HERE)

Joy is the outpouring of God's inpouring!

***

1 Peter 1:8

Though you have not seen him, you love him; 

and even though you do not see him now, 

you believe in him and are filled 

with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

***

Joy is the essence of Hope, hallelujah!

Joy is God's Presence of peace

Joy is believing while not yet receiving

Knowing soon sorrow will cease

Joy is the knowledge that if God is for us

Who can be 'gainst us and win?

Joy is salvation; the soul's separation

From hell and death's curse of sin

Go to, and howl, you rich men full of mis'ry

Joy cannot be bought or sold

Joy is soul's laughter that ripples long after

The glint that delighted earth's hold

Joy is the baby in Bethlehem's manger

The cross where redemption runs rife

Joy is the Saviour who will reign forever

Mankind's resurrection and life

Joy without Jesus is but joy's pale shadow

Fickle as Fantasy's Whim

True joy is Jesus, whose gift of grace frees us

Joy is love's wonder of Him

Joy is the posture of utter surrender

To God, worthy of all praise

Joy is an ocean of unplumbed devotion

Eternity cannot faze

© Janet Martin 

John 17:13

But now I am coming to You;

and I am saying these things while I am in the world, 

so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.

1 John 1:4

We write these things so that our joy may be complete.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. 

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope

 fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, 

so that you may overflow with hope 

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Nehemiah 8:10

Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet,

 and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, 

since today is holy to our Lord. 

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; 

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

 At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee-Carrie Underwood

Lyrics- Henry J. van Dyke

(story of its inspiration HERE)

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
   God of glory, Lord of love;
   Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
   Op’ning to the sun above.
   Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
   Drive the dark of doubt away;
   Giver of immortal gladness,
   Fill us with the light of day!
2. All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
   Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
   Stars and angels sing around Thee,
   Center of unbroken praise.
   Field and forest, vale and mountain,
   Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
   Singing bird and flowing fountain
   Call us to rejoice in Thee.
3. Thou art giving and forgiving,
   Ever blessing, ever blest,
   Wellspring of the joy of living,
   Ocean depth of happy rest!
   Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
   All who live in love are Thine;
   Teach us how to love each other,
   Lift us to the joy divine.
4. Mortals, join the happy chorus,
   Which the morning stars began;
   Father love is reigning o’er us,
   Brother love binds man to man.
   Ever singing, march we onward,
   Victors in the midst of strife,
   Joyful music leads us Sunward
   In the triumph song of life.

The Way to Change the World

We all know spending time with an agreeable and friendly tot or child

 is far more pleasant than to accommodate

 a disagreeable, hard-to-please youngster!

I had the pleasure of the company of

 a most pleasant and agreeable nature yesterday!

soodla! 

(Pennsylvania Dutch word for child splashing and playing in water in a sink)

A pastime as old as time, methinks 😂

The above concept about agreeability applies to people of all ages!

No matter how pleasant our surroundings are,

if we or one we are with is ill-tempered and unthankful

the joy of any experience is altered tremendously!! 

Whether sitting by crackling fire

Or walking through the mead

Or lounging beneath lofty spire

Of leaf-song overhead 

Or sipping cup of fresh-brewed joe

While on a Sunday drive

Or romping in fresh fallen snow

Happy to be alive

Tis not extravagance or style

That makes The Thing enough

Life's greatest beauty is a smile

Its purest pleasure, love

So then, no matter what we do

Whether simple or grand

Delight depends on me and you

Not fortune's sleight of hand 

No matter, dear, how fair or fine

The face or physique's frame

Or what success may underline

The mention of a name

Nothing can ever take the place

Whoever we may be

Of a heart full of love and grace

And kind humility

To make our lives a sure success 

And happier, by far

Depends, not on what we possess

 Or who or where we are

The way to change the world for good

Is this, dear girl and boy

To love each other like we should

Will fill the world with joy

Janet Martin~

A 'Child's' Acknowledgement

Can works save us? No!

Can works prove or disprove God's spirit in us? Yes!

Below, a few excerpts from a chapter that begins with one

of my favourite verses of scripture

(Read the whole glorious chapter HERE)

1 John 3:1-3, 10-11, 16-17

Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, 

that we should be called children of [a]God! 

Therefore the world does not know [b]us, 

because it did not know Him.

 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; 

and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, 

but we know that when He is revealed, 

we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him

 purifies himself, just as He is pure...

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: 

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, 

nor is he who does not love his brother. 

11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,

that we should love one another,..

...16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.

 And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need,

 and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Hope for Everyone-Matt Maher

 Thou Lord, Father of believers 

Draw Thy children to Thy knee

Shield us from worldly deceivers

As we learn to lean on Thee

Guard our hearts from pride's temptation  

Let hope purify love's goal 

Satisfy us with salvation

By the faith that makes us whole 

Make Thy Light in us a beacon 

Of goodness, mercy and love

Thou our Father, we Thy children

Ah, my Lord, it is enough

© Janet Martin 

When Love Was Born