Reflection's of The Reason For The Season

Snagged some writing time (between dishes) while these munchkins napped...

 (Blurred to respect privacy of non-family members)

This poem was written to refocus on what's important

instead of on what's not done yet!

Let the love of Jesus kindle kindness to each one we meet

Let the joy of Jesus anchor us where cares and prayers compete

Let the hope of Jesus shield our hearts and minds from despair’s woe

Let the peace of Jesus keep us from returning blow for blow

Let the light of Jesus banish doom and gloom with mercy's grace

Let the truth of Jesus vanquish doubt without a shadow's trace

Let the remembrance of Jesus birth in us a song renewed

As the Reason for the season fills our hearts with gratitude

© Janet Martin

It Simply Takes a Spark...

 You are the light of the world.

 A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

 Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

 In the same way, let your light shine before others,

 that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 Matt 5:14-16

Oh, isn’t it amazing

It simply takes a spark

A tiny candle blazing

To pierce the dark

And eyes turn to its Beacon

However small or large

A lighthouse on life’s ocean

For mortal barge

 Ah, pure and perfect halo

Sweet hope-anointed ray

Like a light in the window

To show the way

Then let Love be within us

A pure and gentle flame  

To shine the light of Jesus

And praise His name

© Janet Martin

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

 He was with God in the beginning.  

 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  

 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5 

Let's Get Real!

PAD Challenge day 20: For today’s prompt, write a light poem.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. 

Instead, they set it on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

 In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matt.5:15-16

This monument in the Port of Sydney, struck a powerful chord when we visited last year.

Let's pray for passion to reach and help the needy in the chilling storms of life!

None of us can do it all but all of us can do something!

this photo was taken at the Sydney Merchant Mariner's Memorial.

Yes. Let’s get real. The way we feel should strike a kindred cord

For we all bear the brunt of love and longing’s two-edged sword

Then let’s be honest with each other; that which disappears

Hones and reshapes us with the carving knife of days and years

Where what we hold of moment gold soon falls prey to past’s knell

(For He who gives has the authority to take as well)

Then let’s get real and focus on the way we ought to live

And recognize that what we have God lent to us to give

For we are called to love each other and make this our aim

To shine the Light of Him through us and glorify His name

Yes. Let’s get real where Want’s appeal is never satisfied

Let’s lay up treasure far beyond this frond of dust and pride

Let’s make it our mission to focus on love’s reply

And pray to God to help us when our longing runs awry

Where we are altogether first-time travelers of Time

And none of us can see beyond this Very Present Clime/climb

Where pray then, all together, tethered by hope’s heart and soul

Let’s live to help each other as we press toward The Goal

For we are called to shine our light through good deeds, Self-denied

So that our Father up in Heaven may be glorified

© Janet Martin

Sun/Son-Light!

I wasn't going to write today, because...well, (excuses:) but then the sun came out 

and we Ontario-ans have seen very few days of sun since the beginning of November!

(wow! my windows are dirty;-)

It makes the heart leap for joy and reminded me of another Son-light...how it does too!

John 1:4
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

See the light that breaks through eons

From a lowly manger bed

To the cross, through grave to Heaven

Age to age, His Light has led

Pure and true, it never wavers

Generations trust its ray

Jesus Christ, man’s only Saviour

Melts the dark and shows The Way

From the torture of the pardon

To the rending of the veil

Through victorious resurrection

Streams the Light that will not fail

Hallelujah, though we suffer

Though grief's tears our sight may dim

Still, His Light will never waver

On the Way that leads to Him

© Janet Martin

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

Brighter Than The Break of Day...

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Cor. 5:7

 Have you noticed? 'break of day' is happening a wee bit earlier than it did a few weeks ago...yay!!

The Light that draws the veil of night from city streets and countryside

Is more than golden bloom that breaks the bud of morning open wide

It streams beyond the scope of sight to where hope sets its hungry stare

And beams its never-failing Light through life-appointments of despair

Earth’s art that reappears where darkness hid its loveliness from view

Is like the heart, once dark with fears after the Light of faith shines through

Then, though we do not know what high or low this ergo might bequeath

Our passage through life's picture show is cupped in Light above, beneath

‘Great peace have they who love God’s law’; with trembling might faith grasps a rope

That tolls a bell; for fear is hell but heaven anchors holy hope

Then, from the belfry of God’s grace a song of peace and purpose peals

His law is love; ah, human race is cradled in a law that heals

His Light is brighter than the light that breaks the dark of night with day

It beams beyond the scope of sight where students of faith learn to pray

And dialogue peppered with words like ‘if’ and ‘when’ and ‘hopefully’

Feels through the fog to find the Lamp that lights the way we cannot see

© Janet Martin

" Still don't know much. 

They did ultrasound last night and more blood work 

so hopefully when the Dr comes this morning we may know something."

...above message from my sister-in-law Karen, this morning who is still waiting as Dr.s try to 'fix' the condition that caused a great scare on the week-end.
(her body now rejects the blood-thinner she has been on for years)

Please continue to pray for her, 

for the doctors,

and for the family, Dave, Josh and Krista and Jessica

Lighthouse...

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God;
he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations
of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deut.7:9

Inept, the cold hard comfort of things pressed against our skin

Where flesh and blood appointments test the walls of worlds within

Time’s atrium of common care, of choice and consequence

Would be too much for man to bear but for Hope’s confidence

As strife runs rife and tests faith with its rival; fear and doubt

While life is but the wherewithal to who life is about

And all we have to lean on is the Word of God, my love

But if we humbly trust His Truth His Word will be enough

…to carry us from here to where there is no grief or pain

Beyond the cold, hard comfort of Things that cannot sustain

Where darkness would obliterate save for a Light within

God’s promises to navigate the way that leads to Him

© Janet Martin