We Thank Thee...

 Praise the LORD. 

How good it is to sing praises to our God, 

how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Ps.147:1

A Few Yesterday Thank-you Moments in photo...

"Do you like my new shoes?" she asked, beaming with pride. "I put them on all by myself!"

For these common ties that bind us

To the day with task’s demand

For Thy faithfulness behind us

And Thy faithfulness at hand

For Thy mercies, new each morning

Since man’s downfall sired need

For dawn’s fresh ‘hello’ returning

Where we planted yester’s seed

For the goodness of a Father

Who so loves this human race

Patiently to each You offer

For guilt’s deadly impasse, grace

For Thy never-ending Presence

For Thy never-failing care

For Thy never-needless lessons

To teach us to trust Thee more

For Thy fount of wondrous blessing

‘Who can count Thy loving ways?’

Precious Lord of earth and Heaven

We thank Thee and give Thee praise, Amen

© Janet Martin

One of my most-listened-to songs because it applies to every single day...

 

Below is a 'Thanksgiving' song 

but for some reason as I plant and dig I find myself humming it over and over

Bull-fight (or Something Like It)...or, Art of Discovery

Waiting for the first little ones to arrive...

Two weeks ago one of the dads said his son's highlight at Janet's house is good food
...and finding worms!
 (more on that if you click this link)

Last week his son was delighted to inform me that they have worms at their house too!

What have you been delighted to discover recently?

Yesterday I 'discovered' the thrill of seeing a real bluebird for the first time in my life!

 I wonder what we will discover today on our way to The Prize worth fighting for!

 Hopefully it will amount to a little more than this...

The Prize worth fighting for is veiled with time’s regale of days

Regale of days stirs sight and insight with discovery

Discovery is rife with joy and disappointment’s ways

And disappointment’s ways teach us grace and humility

Grace and humility keep greed and jealousy at bay

Ah, greed and jealousy are like a noose about the heart

The heart, ‘oh, who can know it’; wild bull in a jar of clay

A jar of clay The Potter longs to make a work of art

A work of art in spite of how our nature tends to be

Our nature tends to be self-based; self wants and wants more-more

‘More’ comes in many forms; but none as praise-worthy as He

Who keeps our gaze transfixed upon the Prize worth fighting for

The Prize worth striving for is veiled with time’s regale of days…

© Janet Martin

 Pressing Toward the Goal
…Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. 

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. 

All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. 

And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.…

Phil.3:13-15

 Yet you, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isa.64:8

To Bless and Keep

It is a prayer repeated daily

Because we so need it daily

...that God would bless and keep! 

  

This is one of those poems that can be read through as one poem 

or pick a verse 

for a quick rhyme-kick;-)

Before this day is swept away

Into the archives of the mind

Where echoes of its tendered love

Rise from ashes of daily grind

Before the doors on eastward shores

Swing wide then fade to midday blue

Above the noise that life employs

Of plans to make and work to do

Before we stare agape at air

That holds the lair where seasons sleep

Let’s bow beneath dawn’s baited breath

And implore God to bless and keep

This skin and bone that hours hone

With grin and groaning’s up and down

Soon learns the truth; suave, slick, fair youth

Falls prey to age’s hoary crown

…while we smiled, beguiled, like a child

By lollipops and laughing eyes

We licked Time's spoons and danced to tunes

That led too soon, to meek surprise

...no good, no good to mourn the ‘should-

Have, could-have, would-have’s trampled sweep

But with bowed head, to pray instead

For gracious God to bless and keep

Some days are rough, some slip silk-soft

Where pictures waft on Bygone’s breeze

How swift time’s gifted moments drift

From fingertips to memories

Dawn’s gold and gray that tips yon tray

Where come-what-may looms like thick fog

Is not some fluke kiss or rebuke

Tossed to us like bones to a dog

God grants His grace to human race

Where proud and meek till the same heap

And all may plea on humble knee

For His mercy to bless and keep

© Janet Martin

Ageless Anthem...

It stirs the flagging spirit, oh,

God’s Truth is never wrong

It lifts the downcast heart with hope

And fills the dark with song

Those surreal scenes from days of old

Unfold in wond’ring eyes

The tidings that the angels told

Still hold redemption’s prize

“For unto us was born that day

A Savior, Christ the Lord”

In Bethlehem’s manger was laid

A gift none can afford

…as Word became flesh then became

A bleeding sacrifice

Righteousness wore the sinner’s shame

And bore salvation’s price

What spilled in angel’s song, then tears

Though years and ages roll

Abides with us, comforts our fears

And still saves sinner’s soul

Jesus gladdens sad spirits, oh

His truth is never wrong

Love lifts the downcast heart with hope

And fills the dark with song

Those surreal scenes from ancient hills

Still tell the Saviour’s birth

The gift of Bethlehem still spills

In peace, goodwill to earth

For unto us was born that night

Heaven’s joy to the world

Jesus, the Way, The Truth, The Life

To mortal strife unfurled

…someday the skies will flare once more

Someday all hearts will burn

As we, like those shepherds of yore

Look up, at Christ’s return

…and what some deemed a farfetched tale

Will see The Living Word

As every tribe and tongue will hail

Jesus, Jesus as Lord

© Janet Martin

Ongoing Objective...

 Gorgeous awning opens new day...

Each day we live we ought to give

In all we do with all we have

The best we can where test and plan

Go hand in hand into the grave

Each day we wake we ought to take

This gift that pours from Mercy’s Grail

Remembering in everything

God’s Love allows, He will not fail

Each day we face is by God’s grace

Not one escapes his tender view

Then pray that we live heedfully

In all we say and all we do

For each new day that comes our way

In all we cannot know, we know

This is the day the Lord has made

And by His Providence we go

© Janet Martin

“No children today so I need to make this day count”, 

I remarked to Victoria as I surveyed a mental to-do list.

I was sharply rebuked by my words before they were out of my mouth.

Pray we strive to make every day count for each day is a gracious gift from God!