Optimizing, Upgrading and Downsizing

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession 
and thanksgiving be made for all people—   
for kings and all those in authority, 
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  
This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved 
and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  
 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,   
who gave himself as a ransom for all people. 
This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.   
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—
I am telling the truth, I am not lying—
and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, 
lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

2 Tim.2:1-8

I am sharing the scripture reading from today's Daily Bread Devotion 

as a springboard to the New Year!

Thank-you dear reader, for stopping on this porch and my prayer this year is that 

each of us may grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 

 2 Pet.3:18

Below is my traditional New Year's Greeting...

a card my grandparent's received years ago.

 

What if instead of fearing, doubting

Arguing, debating, shouting

Slandering, boasting, back-biting

Worrying, badgering, fighting

Fretting, betting, wishing, wanting

Warring, criticizing, taunting

Belittling and berating

Jumping to conclusions, hating

Moping, grumbling, heckling, pining

Gloating, preening, undermining

Imagining what someone said

What if instead
we just prayed

© Janet Martin

Happy New Year

Note; sometimes the written word can be misunderstood or confusing.
If I post something that requires correction please do not hesitate to contact me!

Some Worth-(our)-While Resolutions...

 The photo collage below is from a summer front-porch sit at my sister's house!
(see first line of poem below:)
The view was second to none! and the company/fellowship was pretty nice too!
Here's to keeping some simpler, sweeter resolutions in 2020!

 
Happy Last Day of 2019!

 Here's to some totally within reach transformations that might not be quite as quickly visible

as those that took place overnight!

This year, let’s sit upon a porch though this seems like a thing of yore

(Because most of us seem too hurried just to linger anymore)

Just to rave at waves of colour weaving oceans through the sky

Or to marvel at the measure of a moment flitting by

Let’s close our eyes and wander back to simpler, ampler days and years

Or ponder present pleasantries before its pleasure disappears

Let’s pray more for our friends and neighbours, family both far and near

Or rock and talk about the weather or a hymn that we hold dear

Let’s try to pause without a worry about where we ought to be

Let’s learn to linger over pages filled with nature’s poetry

Let’s be awed, struck with wordless wonder as the sun sets in the west

And put down handheld distractions (lest we deem God’s art second best)

Let’s make a firm four-season promise to spend more time far less stressed

For the author of earth’s beauty offers endless ways to be impressed

The flower of an hour soon lies lifeless where spent ages drift

Let’s not let it slip through our fingers without regard for its gift

Let’s make a resolution to be more at ease with fellowman

And strive to please the Giver of all that He grants, the best we can

And let’s with kind, earnest endeavor bind love’s wounds with mercy’s kiss

To heal the heart and bridge the gap twixt what once was with what yet is

Let’s remember that we never know what a day, (nay, an hour) may cast

Let’s make real the cliché to live each day as if it were our last

Let’s picture this world as the foothills in full view of heaven’s gates

Then this will help us keep the focus when we would forget what waits

Let’s be more careful with the air full of echoes that soon will teach

Let’s be aware of the awesome blessing of loved ones still within reach

Let’s treat each other as if we never know if we will meet once more

Let’s make life worth the living by giving without once keeping score

Let’s sip our seasons slowly, wholly humbled by hope’s holy ground

Lest we miss out on what is right before us waiting to be found

Let’s turn the other cheek; not waste our precious whiles seeking revenge

Let’s fill our thoughts with thankfulness that spills out in ten thousand glad amens

© Janet Martin

...on this note I'm off to linger over pages filled with nature's fresh snowfall poetry!

Because We Find Ourselves In Need...

 Here we are!

Two sleeps away from Christmas Day!

Here we are; where the raised bar that lowered day by day

Has handed out and gathered in whilst winnowing away

Where we had stood a year before and marveled at the pace

Of highs and lows that ope and close the rose of granted grace

That unfolds in its petals the mettle of mortal woe

As happiness of holding close turns into letting go

Where here we are, a little kind and wiser than before

Because we find ourselves in need of God a little more

Because we start to glimpse the brevity of numbered days

Swept up like dust beneath a broom of subtle, seasoned ways

And we begin to recognize in all we cannot see

The sacred beauty in the prize of Opportunity

Where here we are; the bar dusk lowered melts in pink and gold

To offer from Past’s molded cast Time’s newness to our hold

Where wishes that were granted are implanted with request

As gratitude and worship learn to trust God for His best

© Janet Martin

Wishing you true joy as we dwell on the Reason for the Season!

 
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, 

having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Soon Simply Memories...

Simply Memories...

some we savour and try to slow down 

and some we shoo away with a mop and broom as fast as we can!

What a start to the year! 

We celebrated with a flood of family and friends...and water!

 It was a most memorable New Year's Eve indeed!

Monday night's downpour turned what started as a relaxed evening into a race against a river!

 What a nightmare!

... from approx. 2-3:30 a.m. was the worst;

after everyone left we realized the water that was rushing in through the floor drain was picking up speed, and gaining on the sump pump, and the lower part of the basement was going to overflow which meant the whole basement would be flooded so Jim and I lugged pails and pails and pails of water up the steps, pouring it out the window...
we felt like sailors trying to keep the ship afloat!
But it was worth the effort and finally the gush released some of the pressure and the pump is keeping up so far; yes, it is STILL running in.

Now we need to call Mr. Fix It to get to the 'root' of the problem!

...around midnight the men are trying to attach all the hoses 

we can find to take the water as far from the house as possible!

The red quilt was a bit of a dam to channel it into the lower basement to where the pump is.

Well, I can't wait til this whole 'event' is simply part of 'remember when?'

How soft and swift time’s daily gift

Of bend-and-lift unwinds

The color wheel that sets adrift

The pictures in our minds

How smooth and suave, morn’s pink and mauve

And high noon’s sun-lit bars

Slip, like a crimson disc far-off

Into a vault of stars

How tried and true time’s sky-wide blue

Grows dim and disappears

Always adding a new day to

One’s view of yester-years

How shadow-lined our frames of mind

Fill wall-less galleries

With pictures of days left behind

Simply called Memories

© Janet Martin

Because Some Days We Miss and Happy New Year

 Take a bow

Here's to a year 

of making the most 

of Now and Here

this picture is my New Year's Tradition;

A picture of a greeting card my grandparents received many years ago.

 

Because some days we miss, it seems

A blip of busyness and dreams

Before they meld to misty reams

On sentimental seas

Because some days we miss so much

A perfect blend of taste and touch

That hastes through have and hold and such

Into fond memories

Oh, stippled stairs of hugs and prayers

Of love-you, miss-you, tugs and cares

Of tending-spending-mending flares

That fade on dusky west

To reignite upon the east

Because some days we miss the Feast

That begs the beauty from a beast

That roars with toil and test

….and teaches us the crucial art

Of life’s most elemental part

Love challenges both hand and heart

With hunger and hooray

And reminds us to humbly peer

Into the nimble Now and Here

Because some days we miss more, dear

After they slip away

© Janet Martin