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

Lest in the Thick of Here and Now...

Ps.18:1-2

I love You, O LORD, my strength.

2The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold.

3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

so shall I be saved from my enemies.

Is it not a wonderful thing,

To know as we kneel/bow to pray

we are essentially slipping our hand

into God's hand?!

God, by Whom all things were made

and are lent save Him alone!!

He is eternal.

Does this not bring fresh courage 

to face today?!

Lest in the quick of (circum) stance

Or in the thick of sight

We overlook the One who grants

The armour for the fight

The refuge from the foe

The rock that will not move

The blood-bought grace whereby we go

The greatest of these; love

The Life, from death's curse raised

The Saviour of the soul

The Name most worthy to be praised

Who makes the broken whole

Whose will is undeterred

Who keeps his promises

Who leads us by his righteous Word

In paths of righteousness

Who is holy and just

Who forgives confessed sin

Who is faithful (knows we are dust)

Who bids us trust in Him

Who keeps in perfect peace

Hearts and minds on Him stayed

Whose purposes will never cease

Whose joy is unafraid 

The Way, the Truth, the Life

Creator of all things

(Though doubt and argument run rife

Against the King of kings)

Who IS love without end

Supremacy unfazed

Whose thoughts no thought can comprehend

Nor understand His ways

Oh, lest with faithless glance

We haste to meet the day

Lest in the quick of circumstance

We never pause to pray

Let us first humbly bow

And seek Love's kind command

Lest in the thick of Here and Now

We miss His outstretched Hand   

© Janet Martin

I Need Thee Every Hour

Did You Think to Pray?

What Will Our Answer Be? (To the greatest question of all)

We all answer this greatest question of all!!

Not with our lips, but with our lives.

What is our answer when Jesus asks us like He asked Peter,

Do you love Me?

When the Lord, the righteous Judge appears,

Is our greatest goal hearing these most precious words, "Well Done"?

Well done, not to earn salvation, but as a proclamation of love

and eternal thanksgiving to God, who so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten Son, so all who believe in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life! John 3:16

Well Done

  

Let Me Live

He looked at me, and loved me as He tenderly implored

Will you love this fleeting world most, or will you love the Lord?

How far will you go, how much will you sacrifice for me

Or is the price of love too great in spite of Calvary?

Do you hold treasures of this world too dear to give away?

Is it to much for Me to ask you to trust and obey?

He looks at you and loves you as He beckons for reply

Do you love me? or do you seek this world to satisfy?

Is its treasure and pleasure dearer than the cross I bore

To break the curse of Satan; do you love him or me more?

Is this mist of existence worth denial’s endless rue?

Or will you love me because of my love, faithful and true?

He looks at us and loves us still imploring tenderly

When you and I reply, pray what will our answer be?

Will we be like the rich young ruler; by vain riches lured

Will we forfeit eternally, the Life His death secured

Or will we join faith’s cloud of witnesses who still believed

In spite of precious promises their sight never received?

When you and I reply, pray what will our answer be?

He looks at us and loves us still imploring tenderly

© Janet Martin

Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.

 “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, 

you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 

you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[d]”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.

 “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, 

and you will have treasure in heaven. 

Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. 

He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,

 “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. 

But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God!

 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 

than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other,

 “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,

 but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters 

or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel

 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: 

homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—

along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Love's Rare Romance

Life is full of trouble and sorrow; joy's startling sweetener!

Sometimes when asked what my favourite Bible verse is

I hardly know which to choose but without a doubt

the verses below (first taught to me as a child by my mother)

rank near the top;

whispered many times as I encounter life's

tug-of-warring-whys-and-no's 

The first part of Prov.3

but esp. verses 5-6 and in my older age also verse 7

Without trouble we would never learn trust.

Without trust we never know true joy and peace

***

Taste the fervor of the hour

Make the most of every flow’r...

Life runs rife with highs and lows

Joy and strife of thorn and rose

Bow before its Lord and pray

Then rise up and seize the day

Taste the fervor of the hour

Make the most of every flow’r

Bear the brunt of fading grass

Everything comes, but to pass

Trace the tender timbre of

Every splendor, every love

Linger where the waning light

Tucks the day beneath goodnight

…cradled in the keeping of

Unfailing goodness and love

While the days-to-years run rife

With laughter and tears of life

Darling, with so much amiss

In the thick of that and this

It takes more than we possess

To muster/master true happiness/holiness

While season to season flows

While reason staggers 'neath blows

While change is a constant rod

Bow before life’s changeless God

Trust in Him with all your heart

Dust to dust sees but in part

But God never leads astray

Bow before him oft, and pray

For the likes of me and you

Have so much to learn, tis true

Pray, we find love's rare romance

Only trust in the Lord grants

Pray we find faith's treasured Must

Sorrow's/trouble's silver lining; trust 

Pray before we start each day

We bow before God and pray

© Janet Martin

Take Time To Be Holy

Did You Think to Pray?

Let Me Live...

On Living Life to the Max

Today's poem-a-day prompt from Robert Lee Brewer @ Writer's Digest;

For today's prompt, write a maximum poem...

We never know what a day will bring

so let's live each one to the max!

 These past few evenings have been spent

 in the barn next door...

It reminded me of a song from my youth..

esp. this line

'it's nice to think about it, maybe even visit,

but I wonder, could I live there anymore'.

because

Farming is very serious business these days,

and not for the faint of heart.

Charley Pride -- Wonder Could I Live There Anymore

let's live life to

its precious max,

work hard, love kindly,

run, relax

push, pull, pray, play

smile, sing, give thanks

make the most of

spring-green creek banks 

pick buttercups

plant seeds, sip tea

engage in

real-time poetry 

aware of the

far-reaching way

of deeds we do 

and words we say

where finding joy

is no secret 

the more we give

the more we get

where happiness

holds out its key

...to make the most

of you and me

so, let's live life

to its lent max

the same up front

as behind backs

© Janet Martin

Col.3:23

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

A Prayer (as I prepare to face the day)

Oh! The precious, purifying, perplexing,

pressing, peace-pursuing, power-instilling

cross in prayer...

 

Above, Aug. 6 devotion from My Utmost For His Highest

by Oswald Chambers

Some days, for some reason it takes more discipline

 to corral a galloping stampede of thoughts , duties and desires, into quiet prayer...

This morning I struggled to find new words for old pleas of well-worn repetition!

Then I remembered 'he knows my needs before I ask'

better than I do, and supplies them!

He understands what it takes to fortify my fumbling stutters of faith 

Hallelujah and thank You, Lord

Ps.90:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

 In Jesus' Name, I Pray

Our Father, who art in Heaven

Ever hallowed by Thy name

By Thy grace I am forgiven

Free from guilt’s defeat and shame

Today, Lord, I pray, remind me

Of the love that will not fail

For Thy light, before, behind me

For Thy purpose to prevail

For protection and direction

For Thy Word within my heart

To perfect my meditation

For, how wonderful Thou art

For more faith and not more answers

For Thy rod, lest my feet slip

For more love toward my neighbor

For Thy armor to equip

For gladness for Thy salvation

To satisfy all my days

Lead me not into temptation

But anoint each breath with praise

Grant me strength for toil’s demanding

Yet, make me weak so I lean

Not upon my understanding

But upon Thy arm unseen

Let Thy law be my desire

Let Thy Word be my delight

Let Thy promises inspire

Hope no trial can requite

Let Thy goodness full of mercy

Follow me through all my days

Let me be hungry and thirsty

For Thy righteousness, always

Satisfy my 'poor in spirit'

With Thy everlasting love

When I cry, O Lord, You hear it

Let this knowledge be enough

To instill me with Thy comfort

To cast all my cares on Thee

Till we gather at a banquet

In Heaven’s eternity

Lord, my Lord, so many wander

Like lost sheep, hearts hard and numb

Pray, before Thou bidst them yonder

They will hear Thy voice, and ‘come’

To still waters and green pastures

To the joy faith will receive

Freed from sin’s death-cursed disaster

As they repent and believe

Lord, by Thy humble example

Pray, may all who follow You

Not cause another to stumble

By the things we say and do

But by the grace Thou hast given

Let faith, hope, and love proclaim

Our Father, who art in heaven

Ever hallowed be Thy Name

For Thine is the kingdom,

The power and glory

Forever and ever,

Amen

© Janet Martin

Matt.6:5-13

And when you pray, you shall not be like the [b]hypocrites.

 For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets,

 that they may be seen by men. 

Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

6But you, when you pray, go into your room, 

and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;

 and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [c]openly.

  7And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. 

For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8“Therefore do not be like them. 

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

  9In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

[d]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 

Amen.

Of Real-Time Poetry (and learning to read it)

The end of the old year and the beginning of the new 

have seen very little sunshine in our area!

 Celebrating happiness in today's post! 

Hopefully, it will be like a splash of sunshine in spite of the weather!

The 7-day forecast coming up has yellow in it. yay!

I want to be impacted by the thunder of the clock

I want to be distracted by fallen leaves on the walk 

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

The hard-pressed quest for happiness can sometimes overlook

The day’s unbridled loveliness in Real Time’s poem-book

Of beauty borne on loved one’s voice, of gladness turned to prayer

Of cherishing the charge of choice with conscientious care

Of birthday boy, wild with pure joy of turning sweet, sweet six

Still unbothered by life’s employ of moment-metered tricks

And diehard quests for happiness where happiness runs free

In the strange font of noise and mess of Real Time poetry

Of little girl who tugs the hand of honored smiles run wild 

(Surely there is nothing so grand as hand-in-hand-with-child)

Where Real-Time poetry can mete no sweeter happiness

Than tugs and hugs and dancing feet and pretty princess dress

Time’s wizened ways, where yesterdays accumulate, become

A surreal haze charged with displays of Real-Time’s soldered Sum

Where change mingled with changelessness teaches us as we age

In hard-pressed quests for happiness, to treasure every page/stage

The changelessness of change adapts to every size and shape

And draws dreamland’s fantastic mats out from beneath rapt gape

Reminding us not to get caught up in fond fantasy

Lest we miss the momentous jot of Real-Time Poetry

The quest for happiness is like a thief that steals the show

While buds turn into leaf and hold turns into letting go

While happiness fills coffers with lyrics that spill and brim

When love becomes the author and when life becomes a hymn

Happiness makes the most of now and here’s imperfect ‘yes’

It takes in stride both smile and tear with humbled thankfulness

Not overcome with yearning for what simply cannot be

Happiness is in learning to read Real-time Poetry

I want to be impacted by the thunder of the clock

I want to be distracted by fallen leaves on the walk 

I wanted be dumfounded no matter which way I look

By poetry unbounded in life's Real-Time Poem Book

© Janet Martin

I learned the first song as a little girl at school!

Happiness is the Lord

Happy Days are Here Again

The Happiness of Having You

 

If You're Happy and You Know It

Light of Eternity

 Gorgeous break of day...

May we proceed in the Light of eternity!

John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, 

that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

As we navigate nuances of what has never been

As we exchange what we bear witness to, for the Unseen

As we begin another day on life’s highway, pray we

Proceed with conscience keen in the light of eternity

As we face what is waiting let the grace of God instill

More than futile debating, but dependence on His will

The taper of today is like a candle on the sea

A sallow halo hinged to the light of eternity

As we draw closer to the shore where only souls dismount

And we approach the solemn bar where we will give account

Help us, oh God to trek this sod with awed solemnity

Until hope’s flame is snuffed by the Light of eternity

  

© Janet Martin

Contentment is like a Sweater...

It seems over and over we need to learn and relearn to adapt, then re-adapt, 

to plan then re-plan as circumstance changes 'dance-steps'...

Lord, teach us how in all of this 

to be content.
(written as a reminder when contentment's feathers get a little ruffled and yanked)

Contentment is like a sweater

Cashmere-soft in its embrace

Bigger than the grind we weather

Or the hopes and dreams we chase

Contentment is like heart-laughter

The secret to happiness

Its essence lingers long after

Hold-and- hug cools its caress

Contentment is like a flower

With a bloom that never dies

Splash of colour cheers each hour

Priceless, modest pleasure-prize

Contentment is heaven's rhythm

On earth's rocking-chair of life 

While we bounce and bump unbidden

While want bears the carving knife

Contentment is like home-fires

Warming us while wild winds brood

Satisfying heart’s desires

With genuine gratitude

© Janet Martin

...and now?

I must be content to scrub the porridge pot

because the oatmeal soundly burned 

while I 'purred' about contentment😏 

...and a song I thought of us I called up to Victoria to

'rise and shine and start another hard-work day!'