Showing posts with label Ann Voskamp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ann Voskamp. Show all posts

Friday, September 2, 2022

Where Faith's Unfinished Business Groans...


Waiting is the sacrament of the tender surrender,
the art of a soul growing large.

Most of us are waiting on something aren't we!
 Lifting up love's herculean cry of
'how long, oh Lord?!'
Till 'they' truly see only You reflected in me?
Till I truly live 'I love You most, Lord!
Till we are the parent with outstretched arms welcoming Prodigal home!
Till thanksgiving becomes thanks living!
Till we surrender the why to 'Thy will be done'
Till we see you face to face!

I have been waiting, and waiting and waiting for the dahlia blooms!!
The bud seems reluctant to unfold...


What parables are preached in a garden's waiting rooms...


The Creator's perfect timing will unfold the full flower!


(maybe the flower shows a bit of this world's wear and tear but it's blooming!!)


So take heart, keep praying and waiting
not in idle restlessness but in humble, loving labor for our Lord!
(what sweet promises we find in His Word as we 'wait')

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, 
and he shall strengthen thine heart: 
wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

Man looks upon the outward but the Lord looks on the heart
What sacred consolation to know He sees, not in part
But witnesses the whole where faith's unfinished business groans
Where 'not my will but Thine' tests motives dressed in skin and bones

...where human nature is a creature not given to wait
How swift and suave the atheist of worry wars with faith
God, grant to we, still waiting, surrender's humble reply
Rather than vexed debating of its wherefore or its why

Lord, You alone maintain the law that unfolds full bloom's art
Lord, pray the gain of 'wait' is awe; not closed buds torn apart
Where half-petals are strewn because impatience seized control
Rather than trusting as You try the faith that makes us whole

Janet Martin🙏💔 

Matt.8:26
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” 
Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, 
and there was a great calm.

I haven't shared this song in a while!
I love it.
The words with the melody
bring such sweet consolation, don't they?💗




Tuesday, May 25, 2021

May Medley


Today's somewhat tardy poem muddled its way through
a myriad of chores, errands and such...
(such as just now, chasing washed winter coats that blew off the line
 in this wildly windy, dusty, hot afternoon!
We really need rain!

An early morning
grocery-greenhouse run left me still looking for a few things 
I was unable to get on round one...
Muffins over-baked

 midst food-prep;
Greek salad fixings and veggies for quickie-lunches-to-go


 
...midst putting supper in the crockpot 


...midst phone calls
trying to find a greenhouse not sold out of stevia!
I found one 😊

The coral dahlia below winked at me in one greenhouse (easing the disappointment) 
while I was told regretfully, they were sold out of stevia.

May is always a busy month but may we never lose focus on what truly matters
 midst the mayhem...

Take time to take pleasure in its quick offerings, like lilacs 


and Solomon's seal...

May we make our May day's count for more than numbers ticked off
on a calendar!

May we seek to count our blessings rather than complain or stare
At life’s holes that gape with questions that shape meekness into prayer

May we not miss The Big Picture, intent on what seems amiss
May we learn to trust the Teacher, knowing life is more than This

May we do what we are able through He who helps and equips
And keeps our footing stable in a hand that never slips

May we vow to make now matter as if God was plain to see
May we try to serve our Master with love and humility

May we sense amidst the muddle of struggle and suffering
Someone greater than the trouble that this world is sure to bring

May we bear each other’s burden rather than dodge Duty’s Call
May we learn to truly love the One who loves us above all

© Janet Martin



1 Cor.10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.

The song below echoes the message in Ann Voskamp's post today!
If you read this could you pray for Ann?!!
She has been through so much lately!




Thursday, January 28, 2021

Knowing Death is Definite

Due to an act of X-treme Stupity I'm 'smitten with sittin' today
because of a sore foot.
(in case you are wondering why another poem is written😏)

Inspired, in part by today's post by Ann Voskamp

"For nothing is nothing, darling 
No matter how small it seems"





 
This photos were sent to me yesterday after they left
taken by 'mom' unbeknownst to me😄
(Photo credit: B. H. mom of tots)


Knowing Death is definite- 
ly pending, ending time and grace 
Does it make us want to make some- 
-thing of all we touch and trace 
For nothing is nothing, darling 
No matter how small it seems 
And no one knows how much living 
Is left on the loom of dreams 

Does it makes us want to savour 
The full flavor of Today 
Labour with love’s renewed fervor 
Before one is called away 
Does it make the bitter better 
Knowing that 'this too shall pass' 
Knowing death is definite 
-ly Somewhere in life’s hour-glass 

Does it bid us garnish turmoil 
With the goodness of a smile 
And get soft and sweetly smitten 
By this ver’ precarious While 
Does it make us don warm mittens 
And make angels in the snow 
Before our names are written 
In some tear-rimmed afterglow 

Knowing Death is Definite 
-ly pending, ending all of us 
How in the world are we getting 
Ready for our exodus 
Does it draw us (in what sometimes 
Feels like small significance) 
Into the Moment-ous music
Of a Very Sacred Dance 

© Janet Martin


“100 per cent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased. ”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Monday, August 10, 2020

All Part of the Pack That Yearns...for Happiness

 Inspired in part, by this: How To Show Up in Beirut as the Hands of Jesus


Need gapes at every turn; will we cast a blind eye
We, all part of the pack that yearns for love and food-supply
No one beneath, above; more deserving or less
Of that which bequeaths love; the common ground of happiness
The Golden Rule, my dear, thus everyone should heed
To feed the poor and dry the tear and minister to need

…need gapes at every turn; will we cast a blind eye
We, all part of the pack that yearns for love and food-supply…

© Janet Martin

 

 The Golden Rule; Matthew 7:12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,

 On a personal note:

(I'm struggling to learn the new format of blogger's dashboard,
far more phone than desk-top computer friendly!!)
so if things come up a little wonky, 
apparently what shows on my screen is not always what shows on a phone screen!

Thursday, February 27, 2020

A Hellish and Heavenly Reality...


  

There is a battle that exists twixt apathy and righteousness
It is not fought with swords or fists but with response to holiness
To disregard God may appear of little consequence, at first
How subtle is the arsenal of disobedience, death-cursed
No red flags wave, no caution lights warn us of second thoughts to give

Oh, ye of woven dust to dust, dost thou not feel God’s fingerprint
Oh we, students of lust or trust, do we not see time’s meager stint
If God would part the veil to grant a breath-breadth-glimpse above, beneath
How we would all grow deathly pale to witness weeping;gnashing teeth
One glimpse of heaven’s rich reward would confirm This is holy ground

And we would not despise the rod but beg to be tried and refined
To keep us from being deceived by a buffet of blinded sight
Rather, keened to eternity that lurks like a thief in the night
And not be seduced by displays of poisoned peaches, honey-dipped
But prepare for that Certain Day when body from the Soul is stripped

How thin the veil of skin that separates man from his Maker, God
How unalterable The Choice when dust and ash succumbs to sod
Wake up; wake up, all ye who slumber while the Groom is drawing nigh
Then pray we ponder somberly the soul-goal we are headed for

© Janet Martin



Thursday, November 2, 2017

Cut Down To Size

Love lives given. 



Sometimes it is supper waiting
Because someone had to work late
Sometimes it is nothing more than
Fresh baked cookies on a plate
It might look quite dull and common;
Laundry after dark so you
Have clean 'undies' in the morning
And a sock (if you’re lucky, two)

It might be a poem, oh but,
You think that’s a waste of paper?!
Well, then it might be as simple
As getting back up to set the coffee-maker
Or a dash to grab the phone be
-fore the answering machine comes on
…even though you miss the part when
I try to tell you where I ran from

Oft it travels incognito
Many a kitchen-mile, oh my
While it tidies, scrubs, wipes, whispers
Prayers into soup, muffins, pie
While it learns to learn a lesson
That it thought was taught before
While it sleeps with one ear open
Until it has heard the door

While it works for nothing more than
Hearing full-fledged laughter ring
As they sit a little longer
Before heading out again
While it makes the most of moments
Lest in haste it wastes pure gold
It is quite a thing to reckon
With echoes felled from its hold

It is second cups of ‘listening’
Even when to-do lists bark
It is voiced in humble taking
Out the garbage after dark
It might look like mundane nothing
In a lot of people’s eyes
But I hope you know it, darling
It is love cut down to size

© Janet Martin



Tuesday, January 5, 2016

A Life Full of Reasons...





Wiggle each finger
Count all your toes
Be sure to remember
Eyes, ears, mouth and nose
A tongue for talking
And tasting too,
A back that won’t break
When you tie your shoes
Tickly tummy,
Bendy elbows and knees
Then don’t forget
To thank God for these


Consider the lilies
How perfect each cup
Feel the breeze teasing
Your face tilted up
Marvel at oceans
Cupped softly aloft
In heaven’s blue eons
Where galaxies waft
Touch, taste, treasure
And don’t forget
To thank God always
For all of it

Laughter; what music
And sorrow, what proof
Of having been gifted
With life’s best; true love
Oh my, awesome tally
Oh my, the heart sings
As we count the blessings
Of everyday things
Turn this way, then that
Tell me, what do you see?
Is it a life full of reasons
To live thankfully?

© Janet Martin

This past year in my Sunday School Class we did an 'A Thousand Gifts' challenge,
In no time at all a class of less than ten had over two thousand named 'gifts'. 
Can we count each finger ? they asked
There is nothing too small to be counted, we all agreed...

Today Ann reminds us, 'what's hard brings us together' so even then
there it is;  reasons to be grateful!

 We only enter into the full life -- into sozo --- if our faith gives thanks.
Ann Voskamp