Like a Butterfly...(or, Beneath a Beaming Breadth of Sky)

How sacredly grief keens awareness 

to the preciousness of 

what we sometimes call Ordinary.

How it stuns us, as we realize 

it is Love!

and, what we once considered 'little things' 

are in reality the big things;

the hymn of touch, 

a smile, a hug, a card, a bloom,

a handshake, 'hello', a child, a chick,

an autumn afternoon,

a cup of tea, a meal and 'small-talk' shared, 

a breath-prayer, a holy pause

to marvel at God's infinite supply of mercies 

and then to thank Him, because

no matter what was or will be

He loves and cares for you and me 

***

It's so hard to accurately describe the beauty

of compassion from family, neighbors and friends;

 how your/their tender love strangely sweetens 

sorrow's most bitter parts

Thank-you to each and every one of you

as you remind/teach me anew

 1 Cor. 13:13

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.

***

Love never fails;

it turns heart-wrenching loss

into a startling gift

we would never choose

or know;

a gift, God-breathed to heal

grief's brutal wounds

as love's tears flow...

***

Ps.147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

***

Isa.52:7

How beautiful on the mountains (or in a barnyard) 

are the feet of those who bring good news, 

who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, 

who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 

“Your God reigns!”

These youngsters (blurred to protect privacy)

 overflowed with sympathy, questions and conversation

at the farm where I buy our fresh-as-they-come eggs

(often they run to gather them, still warm with the touch of God!)

SO many gentle moments to cherish...

Beneath a beaming breadth of sky

Life feels like a cheek, kissed

As Time wafts, like a butterfly

To bygone’s croft of mist

As joy and sorrow’s interplay

Composes Bittersweet

Arrangements, strewn like petal-fray

That flutters to the street

Where Fleeting Footfalls thrum and fade

Through seasons come, to pass

Like subtle arpeggios played

On keys of breeze and grass

Where children romp, their innocence

Cradles oblivion

To the brute strength of mere moments

Ever-so-deftly spun

Like threads, into a work of art

As tears and laughter meld

Love’s precious glints of heart-to-heart

That we so briefly held

Beneath a beaming breadth of sky

Where Today/lifetimes seem/s so small

As we waft like a butterfly

Toward Dusk’s shadow fall

Beneath a beaming breadth of sky

By faith we humbly hear

God, kindly whisper, 'here am I

To catch each falling tear'

© Janet Martin

My neighbour, walking from her house to mine, bringing last night's supper 💝

and last but not least

this morning's kind reminder devotion from the book

Springs in the Valley by Mrs. Chas E. Cowman

It's Not What But Who You Know...

Do you know He who delights us with awe, indescribable

Gold and crimson candelabras splashed on vistas, autumnal...

Heavens, wild with glints of glory where faith waits sight's recompense

Earth’s sin-ruined Eden roaring with Relentless Evidence...

This quote “It’s not what you know but who you know”

was mentioned the other day during my Old Stone Farm House visit;

in regard, to how good connections can be invaluable when undertaking a project!

It's so beneficial to know 'the right person who knows the right person for the job' etc.!

When Jesus came to this earth He was fully human and fully God

and no matter who we know, no matter how great and talented

and helpful, it never can compare to knowing He

 who gifts and grants our abilities and talents,

and who worked the greatest work of all; our soul-salvation!

Do you know Him; 

the Saviour of the soul,

the King of kings 

and Lord of Lords?

Do you long to know Him better?

I do, and we can, each time we open His Word

and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us!

Eph.1:17-21

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the glorious Father, may give you (us) the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation,

 so that you (we) may know him better. 

18 I pray that the eyes of your (our) heart/s may be enlightened 

in order that you (we) may know the hope to which he has called you, (us)

the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength 

20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead 

and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 

21 far above all rule and authority, 

power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, 

not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

“THAT'S MY KING!” EXTENDED VERSION - S. M LOCKRIDGE 1970's

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

and we have seen his glory,

glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Do you know the One who orders earth’s four-season carousel

He who rends night’s starry heavens with daybreak, unstoppable

He who instills seed-sized kernels with bounty of harvest-hymn

He who created and knows us with a love that will not dim

Do you know He who delights us with awe, indescribable

Gold and crimson candelabras splashed on vistas, autumnal

Heavens, wild with glints of glory where faith waits sight's recompense

Earth’s sin-ruined Eden roaring with Relentless Evidence

Do you know He who so loved us that He bore the sinner’s rod

He who paid our debt with His blood; the begotten Son of God

He who shattered Satan’s scheming, bridging death and hell’s dark rift

The Light of the world who longs for all to receive His grace-gift

Do you know the One who grants us strength beyond all human scope

He who is to every mortal, unchanging, immortal hope

He whose mercy none can fathom, whose compassion none can drain

He whose loving kindness forgives, over and over again

Do You know Him; I AM, who is without beginning or end

Builder and Ruler of Zion desires to be our Friend

He who stuns the eye with seeing and the ear with nature’s lay

He who melts hard hearts, embittered by the troubles of the day

Do you know Him, love Him, trust Him, fear , revere, His Holy Word

To You long to know Him better with devotion undeterred

Do you fix your eyes on a prize beyond this brief, (grief) broken world

For someday on clouds of Heaven, all will see I AM unfurled

© Janet Martin

It was one of those so-beautiful-it-hurt sunrises ...

Wonder-Thunder

 

That I should have 

the benefit

Of strolling beneath 

lofty trees

With eyes to see

 the height of it

And ears to hear 

the sighing breeze

And ink to spell

 the sight of it

And thought to fill 

with wonder’s verve

And drink in 

the delight of it

Is so much more than

 I deserve

© Janet Martin

Tangible Reminders (of Who God Is)

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

who daily bears our burdens.

Psalm 68:19

Sometimes when we pass through seasons of (prayer)-discouragement,

God convicts and comforts us 

with tangible reminders of who He is; 

Faithful 

As surely as nature displays his faithfulness

in every season,

so too is His perfect timing in our lives!

These two poems by Edgar A. Guest remind us to take a breath

...and Behold!

The birthplace of today runs rife

(In spite of weight of care)

With much to make this little life

A lovely thing to bear

Beauty’s showcase is marvelous

Winter-spring-summer-fall

Makes it impossible to miss

The One who wills it all

The budded branch bursts into song

The tresses of its hymn

A shelter for the feathered throng

The nests in lofty limb

A masterpiece of petals spills

From frilly lily-loom

River-ribbons wind between hills

At night star-gardens bloom

…and as the afternoon unwinds

To twilight’s vestibules

The Artist of dusk’s murals finds

Constant originals

Beneath a canopy of sky

Oft aweing mortal gaze

We go; God sees the low and high

Of every trail we blaze

…and beckons us to trust the love

That moves His mighty Hand

In ways that grants grand glimpses of

Who none can understand

© Janet Martin

…and as the afternoon unwinds

To twilight’s vestibules

The Artist of dusk’s murals finds

Constant originals...

The budded branch bursts into song...

The tresses of its hymn

A shelter for the feathered throng

The nests in lofty limb...

1 John 5:14

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 

that if we ask anything according to his will, 

he hears us.

Does It Not (Bid Thought to Marvel)

 Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed?

 

Grace and peace to you from God our Father 

and the Lord Jesus Christ,

 4 who gave himself for our sins 

to rescue us from the present evil age, 

according to the will of our God and Father, 

5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

Gal.1:3-5

Does it not bid thought to marvel

He who knew no sin became

Sin's sacrifice for all people

To redeem us through His Name

Does it not stir adoration 

For He whose blood was out-poured

Once for all, the soul's salvation

Wrought, through Jesus Christ the Lord

Does it not stun contemplation

That the Son of God should be

Humbled to death's meanest station

On a cross for all to see

Crushed beneath the weight He carries

Sinless, bearing all our sins

For we, beneficiaries

Of His holy sufferings 

Does it not undo vainglory

To view hate's presumptuousness

While love, clothed in bloodshed, gory

Wove faith's robes of righteousness

Does it not renew surrender

Does it not steal our breath

To behold the soul's Defender 

Obedient unto death

Look, where love's manifestation

Suffered voluntarily  

Does it not stir adoration

From the likes of you and me

Jesus Christ gave Himself for us

Bearing Pardon's Albatross 

So that we we may be victorious

Through the power of the cross

Does it not bid thought to marvel

At the hope the cross affords

Through sin's sacrifice so royal-

King of Kings and Lord of lords

   © Janet Martin

Nothing But the Blood of Jesus

Wonderful Merciful Saviour

A Meek Appeal

“I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh

and give you a heart of flesh. 

And I will put my Spirit within you . . . 

and you shall be my people, 

and I will be your God”

 (Ezekiel 36:26–28).

Something for Thee

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

Forgive my apathy

My soul, not wholly awed

Forgetful, where a blood-drenched tree

Extolled the Lamb of God

Forgive my wayward eye

From Cal’vry’s silhouette

Where grief does not compose a cry

Of true repentance yet

Forgive my easy loss

Of sorrow for my sin

Forbid, I gaze upon the cross

Yet bar the Door within

Forgive my errant whim

Desires, prone to pride

Unshaken, as I gaze on Him

With Self, not yet denied

Forgive my lack of zeal

For Your sufficient grace

Draw me back to the cross to feel

Your blood drops on my face

Forbid that I should bow

O Christ, beneath thy Blood

Only to return to sin’s slough

Like a pig to the mud

Remove my heart of stone

Break through my ache of skin

With renewed awe for You alone

Who takes away my sin

Forgive me when I seek

The willing ways of men 

Lord, enter in where flesh is weak

And make me strong again 

© Janet Martin

Nearer, Still Nearer

Rad Glory

I began this poem at sunrise...

then the day took over...

Off to a local meat shop first thing,

to take advantage of their annual sausage sale...

stopping for a few photos along the way...

...then grandchildren came for a while to entertain gramma😂💖

What is it about a gate/fence/barrier that instantly draws curiosity

of all ages, even babies?!!

 

Grand daughter borrows gramma's sunglasses for a better look at the clouds...

It all started when she spotted the one on the first photo,

 a billowy, pillow-y one and wished she could jump in it

Now, after the last round of sausage is on to steam,

(Yes! I water-bath-can sausage!)

back to what began almost today-ago 😅

Where the heavens are flung

With profound clarity

A Voice of universal tongue

Declares God’s majesty

His awesome evidence

(That only fools deny)

Thunders with untold testaments

From earth and sea and sky

…to confound creature boast

To humble human hearts

As wonder wows Want’s uttermost

With what God’s hand imparts

Hark! Ere the dark of night

Dissolves, the morning rings

With feathered, unfettered delight

From choristers with wings

Both mighty and minute

Astonish and enthrall

Until only fools dare dispute

The One who authored all

Creation stuns the eye

And kindles joyful due

To join the throngs of earth and sky

With songs of worship too

Buds, primed with petaled proof

Pulse with glorious laud

While sorry fool still holds aloof

The rad glory of God

© Janet Martin

 (Using the word 'rad' today, in its most sacred sense!)

WORDS RELATED TO RAD -DICTIONARY.COM

astonishing, astounding, awesome, breathtaking,

 fantastic, incredible, marvelous, outrageous,

 phenomenal, remarkable, spectacular, superb,

 terrific, unbelievable, far out, groovy, neat, 

offbeat, unorthodox, wonderful

Psalm 14:1

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; 

there is no one who does good.

For All The World To See

 

From divine providence

And unplumbed majesty

God spills unrivaled excellence

For all the world to see

The wonder that yet waits

Evades our eyes and ears

Save, through a gap in pearly gates

Where glory’s glimpse appears

Before dumbfounded gaze

God flings His artistry

The firmaments declare His praise

For all the world to see

     Let's pause, because the earth

And sky profusely brim

With creation's marvelous mirth

In evidence of Him

...and it would be a shame

To rush negligently

Where all creation shouts His Name

For all the world to see

© Janet Martin

Psalm 148:13

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is lifted up;
        his majesty transcends earth and heaven.

An Enveloping Grandeur

 This day flew by in a flurry of beauty and duty...

spending as much time as possible outside on a perfect fall day!

Romans 1:20

 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—

his eternal power and divine nature—

have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, 

so that people are without excuse.

Neighbours cutting corn...

The hum of a harvester is one of my favorite fall tunes!

First grape harvest...at last!

(After years of waiting, eight grapes😅!!)

A striking chord of color takes the countryside by storm

Like an autumnal orchestra delighted to perform

What a terrific montage nature’s conductor untwists

Generous virtuoso of choirs and soloists

As planting season’s hope rings with harvest hymn’s crescendo

And fills heights, deeps and slopes with visual arpeggio

An enchanting ensemble of crimson, scarlet and gold

Ignites each woodland candle before it turns dark and cold

Where glory-hallelujah meets us from The Hand that gives

With beauty that depletes the poet’s pen of adjectives

And thankfulness is at a loss for words; the creature knows

That we are so unworthy of the goodness God bestows

A sacred exaltation is unfurled in autumn’s blaze

The wonders of creation never ceasing to amaze

Ah, how can we be quiet when the whole earth shouts His name

In an unrivaled riot of panoramas aflame

Where only fools do not join in, declaring ‘it is good’

God’s divine nature clearly seen and clearly understood

…where aspen halos shimmer like lampposts along the lane

Where silver poplars glimmer against backdrops blue with rain

Where hemlock, oak and mountain ash, willow and maple tree

Spill green and bronze and garnet splash to autumn’s symphony

Evoking in its splendor a most tender beckoning

An enveloping grandeur bidding everyone to sing

© Janet Martin

...and last but not least a big pan full of black beans!

I hope to try the above recipe tomorrow

substituting black beans for corn