Of First Receiving ...

John 4:24

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him 

must worship in spirit and truth.”

If we were nothing more than what we could achieve

 by our own merit, we at best, would be pitiful.

Every opportunity we make the most of

 is possible only by abilities first God-granted.

The athlete, the artist, the architect,

the scholar, the teacher, the laborer, 

the business magnate, the journalist, the preacher etc.

pursues, performs, accomplishes and excels, 

only through the grace of first receiving

the gifts of health and strength, 

of intellect and perception, etc.

Because of these mercies/provisions/blessings we, 

not by our own merit but by the grace of God,

ought not hide in fear, but with constant courage 

each day ask God to make us a vessel He pours through.

 Then, whatever we get right is to His glory

and whatever we get wrong is to our refinement

as we keep learning, no matter who or how old we are.

so, no matter how great (like winning the World Series, 

(oops!! like trying to win the World Series)

 or small (like preserving pumpkins) 

we owe our best to He from whom we have first received  

So, no matter 

how great or small

The task at 

present seems

We owe our 

Very Best of All

To He who 

grants the means

To seize each 

opportunity

With noble 

intention

Because of who 

grants you and me

Ability. 

Amen

Janet Martin

Matt.6:9-13

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread.

 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

[a]For Yours is the kingdom

and the power 

and the glory forever. 

Amen.

Rock of Ages Cleft For Me

Of New Throughway

November PAD Challenge begins! For today’s prompt, write a new day poem.

okay, I wrote the above line yesterday but
 its New joined to age-old throngs, before I could get to the prompt!

So, a day later a new, New Today offers up its page of grace, 

 ...for some it will be a stage for celebration

(Congratulations to the Houston Astros for winning their first World Series Champion title!)

...for others a page bearing tears of disappointment

(no words needed)

Ah, laid beneath delinquent feet

Yon sweep of star-deep pales until

Redemption’s carpet gilds the street

And tints colorless field and hill

We, bonded to the old turn to

The New Today that time deploys

Where time insists upon its due

And runs it through with sorrow-joys

Earth’s boulevard, starred with the tears

Of grief and laughter’s testament

Hinges to scads of yester-years

A sphere of unmarred filament

Ah, here and now offers a dance

On tides where heavens ebb and flow

And dark relents to grant new chance

To prove the gratitude we owe

© Janet Martin

Time's Treasure Hunt

Time’s road won’t always go the way

We wish that it would turn

But in each twist-and-half-kissed splay

We find something to learn

Time’s hill won’t bow to our design

While on and up we plod

But in its hope-faith-trust incline

We find the hand of God

Time’s valleys may not disappear

Where winds howl and annoy

But in the hardship of its tear

We find the heart of joy

Time’s highway runs through gray and gold

Each mile soon left behind

Where, in each twist-turn-have-hold fold

Today is all we'll find

© Janet Martin

While we shook and picked apples...

...we listened to the Jays world-series dreams take a major nose-dive!!!

(we strung a l-o-o-o-n-g cord out to plug in the radio;)

Kevin Pillar has wowed the crowd with spectacular plays but here he says it for all of us:)

image source

...but that doesn't mean we won't be here cheering him/them on today. 

Go Toronto Blue Jays!!!

Happy to be A Bystander:)

Today's YDP poem sparked a vivid recollection...

 In the far, far, right outfield

School-girl stands shivering with dread

while the late May-sun beats hot upon

her honey-colored head

Ball-glove droops at her side

Fear stifles creative thought

While batter-up pounds the plate

Scanning the outfield for a 'weak-spot'

Crack, goes the bat and sure enough

with devilish cheer that leather-sphere fell

in front of Girl With Outstretched Prayers

to be rescued by the bell

Janet:)

We are cheering on our Toronto Blue Jays 

I for one am a far happier ball-fan than player:)

This picture was taken on the day I officially resigned from anything baseball 

besides watching and cheering 

after a family-game miscommunication, 

when I said 'NO' and he thought I said 'THROW"!!