Paramount Appraisal...

Phil.2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride,

 but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 

4Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

 but also to the interests of others...

'Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, 

do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.' 

Matt.7:12

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, 

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

A new day scales earth's eastward edge 

Worlds reappear to sight

As God maintains His ancient pledge 

Of seasons, day and night...

***

What are you up to today?

I am only doing childcare one day a week right now

and that day is Wednesdays

so I am enjoying the company of two

eager, affectionate and energetic little boys...

Ah, what we do with where we are and what we have, my dear

Is of far more Importance than at brief glance, may appear

Where train of thought (and sometimes not) turns into words and deeds

And what we say and do turns into potent, scattered seeds

Then, when the sum of it takes root and the shoot is full grown

We bear witness to steadfast truth, 'by fruit the tree is known’

Ah, what we do with here and now is how lifetimes accrue

No turning back, no leaping over present moment’s due

Where no one is forgotten, or of insignificance

No matter who or where we are, action bears consequence

So then, what matters most (because we all will give account)

Is what we do with what brims from time’s invisible fount

Ah, what we do with what may seem to deftly disappear

Is worth a second look because of what remains, my dear

From God’s goodness and mercy, morn’s fresh opportunity

And if we ask, He helps us who-wherever we may be

To do our best with what we have, not what we wish we had

This is the day the Lord has made to rejoice and be glad

…and recognize the value of a Prize we press toward

Where the fruit of the tree effects recompense of reward

For, what we do with what we have will verily become

Something we ought not to ignore; a lifetime’s sacred sum

Does this not stir humbler regard for what we have, before

Life's fruit is gathered into baskets of Forevermore….

© Janet Martin

Regarding Life's 'Musts'

Today's post was inspired, in part,  by a comment Jim (my husband, a truck driver)

 made this morning, as he envisioned another week 

of snowy roads, winter driving etc...

Not in disrespect to my 'I will pray for you'

he simply stated the matter of fact/must;

'all your prayers don't take away the fact that I

still have to face the weather and the highway...'

What a picture of life for all of us!!!

 and what a comfort of love!

When we pray for each other, 'for God to guide and keep'

the prayer does not take away the 'road ahead'

  but suddenly, gloriously 

a miraculous transformation takes place!

We go from this...

to this!!

(oops!! I missed a word in the reference below but

drawing is way too challenging for me to attempt a do-over 😂😐)

also, a glimpse at what happens when I look at the clock and g-a-a-a-asp!

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”;

Life's storms come, and pass

just as one 'must' precedes another!

No matter what we say to someone

we cannot take their 'Must' away.

(Jesus, in Gethsemane, though he pleaded was not spared)

We cannot travel their stretch of highway,

we cannot carry their cross.

We can walk alongside each other and

encourage each other, but we cannot

do each other's 'must'.

How wonderful then, the holy opportunity

free to all, to ask God to help us,

 to hold our hand and to go before us.

We don't have to face life's 'musts' alone!

Oh think about this;

We alone, are responsible for our fellowship with our

Heavenly Father; surely the most sacred 'must' of all.

May we pray, as Jesus in Gethsemane prayed , 'not my will, but Thine!'

Or in the Lord's Prayer, 'Thy will be done'.

Isa.45:2-3 & 5-8

“I will go before you

and level the mountains; 

I will break down the gates of bronze

and cut through the bars of iron.

3I will give you the treasures of darkness

and the riches hidden in secret places,

so that you may know that I am the LORD,

the God of Israel, who calls you by name...

5I am the LORD, and there is no other;

there is no God but Me.

I will equip you for battle,

though you have not known Me,

6so that all may know,

from where the sun rises to where it sets,

that there is none but Me;

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

7I form the light and create the darkness;

I bring prosperity and create calamity.

I, the LORD, do all these things.

8Drip down, O heavens, from above,

and let the skies pour down righteousness.

Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout

and righteousness spring up with it;

I, the LORD, have created it.

Read the whole glorious chapter HERE

***

Life's burdens must be borne

Its highways must be trod

Its holy unknowns must be faced

Either fear or faith-shod

Its mornings must be met

Its tests must be endured

Its tempests must be weathered, pray

Hope's Anchor is secured

Life's deserts must be crossed

Its hurdles must be leapt

Its battles must be won or lost

Promises must be kept

Its choices must be made

Its voices must be heard

Its sorrows must be suffered, for

Love's due is undeterred

Life's lessons must be learned

Through much-mistake accrued 

Its crown of wisdom must be earned

Humble pie must be chewed

And each of us must choose

How we will heed life's call

Whether we will trust or refuse

The God who loves us all 

Life's burdens must be borne

Its highways must be trod

Its unknowns, betwixt morn-to-morn

Never too hard for God 

© Janet Martin 

Being a transport truck driver in the winter

is not for the faint of heart!

Will you pray for their safety and encouragement too?

Isa.45:21-22

...There is no other God but Me,

a righteous God and Savior;

there is none but Me.

22Turn to Me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth;

for I am God,

and there is no other.

'Til the Storm Passes By

Lyrics-Songwriters: Thomas Mosie Lister

… In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face

While the storms howl above me, and there's no hiding place

'Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

… 'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

… Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise

Where the storms never darken the skies

… 'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

Pondering the Possible,

Then we could be far more carefree, while we weather what we must...

It is holiday weekend in Ontario...for some...

non-farmers-wedding caterers/florists, gardeners, etc 😅

I'm about to finish some tasks I couldn't complete yesterday...

canning yellow bean salad and zucchini relish

( if you are in the neighborhood and would like either yellow beans or

zucchini, send me a message. they can be yours free for the picking)

What if we would have more gardens where we would linger to pray...

(rather than simply SWEAT and toil?! 

It was a sweltering garden week!!)

What if, in the face of insult we would be patient and kind

Giving grace, rather than revolt, when we are vengeance inclined

What if we would have more gardens where we would linger to pray

Before rushing hard and headlong into a new workaday

What if we would plant more flowers rather than sowing wild oats

Using youth to redeem hours wisely before harvest gloats  

What if we considered lilies and He who weaves their fine cloak

What if we would be more willing to believe the words He spoke?

(Then we could be far more carefree, while we weather what we must

Knowing Who is able 'ere we lower our yoke of dust)

What if we were far more giving than taking more than we should

What if our goal for living was another's greater good

What if life's most fruitful labor was unfeigned humility

Loving God first, then our neighbour; what a heaven, earth would be

© Janet Martin

A few excerpts from the profound part Sermon on the Mount

below, passages from Matt.6

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.

 If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets,

 as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. 

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 so that your giving may be in secret. 

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you...

...“And why do you worry about clothes? 

See how the flowers of the field grow. 

They do not labor or spin. 

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today

 and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ 

or ‘What shall we drink?’ 

or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

32 For the pagans run after all these things, 

and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well. 

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

 Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Before The Tree and the Fruit... (or, It May Seem Small in the Planting)

One choice may seem so small, for good or bad,

but small things amassed become something much bigger;

grains of sand make a shore,

drops of water an ocean,

moments, a lifetime.

Choice, repeated becomes a habit!

Our 'habits' become our lives...

Day by day,

verse by verse, 

chapter by chapter 

we read through the Bible

and are spoken to and taught by God, 

or not!

Prayer by prayer 

we learn to worship Him 

and trust Him a little more, 

or not...

What are we going to do Today, 

with our pocket full of moment-seeds

dropping from the Hand of goodness and mercy

to the soil of the soul?

(Where, even in reaping, we are planting!)

I'm about to head out to plant some marigold among the tomatoes,

in hopes of deterring tomato worms!

1 Cor. 1:4-9

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God

 which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 

5 that you were enriched in everything by Him 

in all [a]utterance and all knowledge, 

6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed [b]in you, 

7 so that you come short in no gift, 

eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

8 who will also confirm you to the end, 

that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called 

into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isn't verse 9 an awesome verse to begin a new week on?

To remind us to make the most of every opportunity?!

It may seem minute, the measure of a moment, thought or seed

But the value of life’s treasure is measured by word and deed

Where Choice bears a holy onus in each little ‘yes’ or ‘no’

Where no one can trick the promise that we will reap what we sow

It may seem inconsequential; as, partakers of God’s grace

We, oft thoughtlessly unthankful, give the Giver second place

Not with preconceived intention but, as bridles are cut loose

Without forceful intervention interfering with excuse

It may seem so small, where choices gape with opportunity

Be careful, for Reply voices far more than first glance may see

And no matter how we defend lack of honor with excuse

The fruit of seed cannot pretend; what we plant, seed will produce

It may seem so very common; left foot, right foot, slumber, wake

Sometimes we forget that Someone grants each gifted breath we take

Sometimes, then we are not prayerful, humble and obedient

Sometimes then, we are not careful with the seeds God’s goodness lent

It may not seem very dire, crucial or imperative

What or who attunes desire, what we choose to keep or give

Who we worship in the granting of love and longing’s pursuit

It may seem small in the planting, before the tree and the fruit

© Janet Martin

Day by Day

The Poorest of the Poor or Beggars by Choice

It's one thing to read the beginning of Romans 12,

but quite another to live it! Don't you agree? 

Therefore I urge you, brothers, (meaning every believer)

 on account of God’s mercy,

 to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, 

which is your spiritual service of worship.

 2Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

 Then you will be able to test and approve 

what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: 

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, 

but think of yourself with sober judgment,

 according to the measure of faith God has given you...

Oh, so many perfectly, good reasons can tempt us to

dwell more on the temporal than the eternal!

If we could see for a moment what lies beyond the bit we see...

...not one of us would hesitate to prepare today for eternity; 

one glimpse (of either Heaven or hell)

would be enough to convince us completely!

The Gate of Final Breath (unlike the gates in the picture below) 

leaves no loop holes or gaps through which one might escape/return

 

To ignore or decline or disregard God’s still small voice

Turns us, often quite unawares, into beggars by choice

The poorest of the poor; no joy, hope or peace for the soul

No one to trust with all our hearts, no faith to make us whole

No touch to heal our blindness, no Comforter for our grief

No Father to reply when we cry ‘help my unbelief’

No all-sufficient grace to be our strength when we are weak

No fear of He who keeps account of idle words we speak

As destitute in spirit as blind beggars on the street

Without a Friend to bind Want’s wounds and help us to our feet

Knowing that He is able to do far more than we think

No anchor in life’s storms, no Living Water we can drink

No assurance of everlasting life after we die

No confidence or courage when we look death in the eye

No humble gratitude to He who paid the debt we owed

No gladness (other than what favor’s circumstance bestowed)

No power greater than the shadow of might man may boast

No sweet hour of prayer to cheer us when we need it most

No whisper of encouragement to combat dark despair

No Word to light our path, no one on whom to cast our care

No reason for love’s sacrifices, beyond what we can see

No joy still set before us when we shed mortality

No glory at the Finish Line, no Victor’s sweet reward

No crown to lay before God’s throne, no ‘Worthy are You, Lord’

No promise that defeats the grave, no treasure, Heavenly

No doubtless proclamation of ‘Greater is He in me’

No armor to equip us so we can fight the Good Fight

No happiness that transcends trouble with holy delight

No self-denying, death-defying purpose-passion-plea

No pleasure at the right hand of God for eternity

No one to do through us what we on our own, cannot do

No chosen, precious Cornerstone unshakeable and true

To build upon; no refuge in the shadow of His wing

No higher call to satisfy our present suffering

No Salvation’s deliverance from wrath to come, for sin

No escape from the poverty we chose, in place of Him

When we ignore, decline or disregard God’s still, small Voice

We turn ourselves, oft unawares, to doomed beggars, by choice

© Janet Martin

sometimes we refer to beauty here as 'glimpses of paradise' ...

...but God tells us differently: 

1 Cor.2:9

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, 

Nor have entered into the heart of man 

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Wishing you blessed encouragement at the beginning of a new week

on account of God's mercies,..

a life holy and pleasing to God

A few more Sunday evening drive show/car-stoppers!!

The air was dense with purple fragrance! 

We Are Either Blessed or Cursed...

Daily we are blessed or cursed

by what/who we most dearly love/serve💓💔

What/who on life's highway will claim our passion today?!!🙏

SO many choices but only two masters!

And we all, by the voice of choice, serve only one

Matt.6:24

“No one can serve two masters.

Either you will hate the one and love the other,

or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money.

Jesus~

***

We are either blessed or cursed by what keens hunger and thirst

By the guests Thought entertains, by the quests desire unchains

By the reasons we confess in our search for happiness

By the voice that choice augments in courses of consequence

We are either cursed or blessed by replies by love professed

By the merits we applaud pertaining to self or God

By the setting of the goal, either for flesh or the soul

By what purpose primes pursuit that in time, turns into fruit

By what pleasure we employ by how we measure true joy

But what character we mold by what principles we hold

By how we view circumstance whether by design or chance

By the armor that we wear wrought by human hands or prayer

By what fuels hope or dread by who rules in heart and head

By what matter cheers or grieves by what faith or sight believes

By what edicts we endear, by what Author we revere

By what promotes worst or best we are either cursed or blessed

By what keens hunger and thirst we are either blessed or cursed

© Janet Martin

Acts 26:28-29

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

29And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, 

but also all who hear me today, 

might become both almost and altogether such as I am,

 except for these chains.”

Almost Persuaded 

Matt.5:1-12

And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up on a mountain,

 and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 

2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the [a]earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, 

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, 

for great is your reward in heaven,

 for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

A Beautiful Life-Jim Reeves

Today's prayer: 

Lord, grant us wisdom, 

from your Word

through Your Spirit

so we may treasure 

Spiritual Blessings

over material blessings.

Amen

Perfect Satisfaction (because we all seek to be satisfied)

Every life is a testament, not only

of how much God loves us,

but of how much we love Him!

Photo:  Yesterday's Bake-Apple Crumble Tarts and Scottish Coconut and Jam Tarts

Today's bake (plan): Butter tarts!

I am currently working at a 'tart buffet' as part of a meal

next Wednesday evening 

for all our youth, junior youth and kid's zone ministry leaders at church; approx. 50!

Isn't it a wonderful blessing to be able to serve those who serve others

with a delicious 'encouragement/appreciation' meal once a month?!

BTW!! this was not my initial reaction of 'love'! (insert blush)

My first thought, I am ashamed to say was 'why? all this work/fuss etc.

 when they could all grab a bite before their meeting?!!

It would be SO much easier...

There are so many things faulty with the above attitude😓

hence, the need for confession.

Then to top it off,  I was thoroughly convicted by a conversation from/with

 an ancient Brother Lawrence from the 1600's!

I ordered this little book to tag on a few dollars 

so I would qualify for free shipping!

I am only on the second conversation and have been utterly

encouraged and convicted/corrected in my often carnal tendencies...

We all seek to be satisfied

The world, a big buffet

Of tempting fruit cajoling pride

With ‘did God really say?’

So much to see and touch and taste

What vast fields Choice deploys

Soon yielding either worth or waste

In Want’s pursuit of joys

What fickle ventures we afford

What futile wish and whim

We chase, until we love the Lord

And yield our hearts/lives to Him

Then, come what may, bitter or sweet

When love for God prevails

We find a life of joy complete

Because love never fails

We all seek to be satisfied

God’s grace, a grand buffet

Of hope the world cannot provide

Or ever take away

The more we love the Lord, the less

We want of lesser things

As we embrace/enjoy the happiness

Only loving God brings

© Janet Martin

1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow

 with love for one another and for everyone else, 

just as our love for you overflows,

Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: 

that your love may abound more and more

 in knowledge and depth of insight,

Last night as our youngest daughter's little

'blue bug' puttered away I prayed a special blessing on her and all the

fellow-workers who serve/minister to our precious youth!

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We are obligated to thank God for you all the time,

 brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, 

and your love for one another is increasing.

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus 

to live in a way that is pleasing to God,

 just as you have received from us. 

This is how you already live, 

so you should do so all the more.

For Today's Roses (still taking shape)

Some days life is a lovely maze of roses and butterflies.

And some days are more like thorn pricks and bee stings.

No matter what kind of day we are having,

only we are responsible for how we reply...

(Yes! This sunny stretch is turning my thoughts gardenward😀💖)

Wishing you a rose-giddy weekend!

Dawn unfolds like a butterfly alighting on earth’s supine pose

Once more courage and faith ally, to try the bud that holds the rose

Where, dust of trust pulses with dreams and wholesome opportunity

Where, though circumstance sets the scene, reply is up to you and me

Where we are always young enough to do the good we ought, to pray

To take and make the most of love before life’s flower falls away

And speak the kind and gentle word and live to give rather than get

And keep our focus undeterred, on Due Season not rendered yet

Then, not grow weary in the good we ought to do, ere reaping starts

And, when love is misunderstood, to answer with forgiving hearts

Then we will never lack for joy, but always find fresh ways to gape

At buds beginning to deploy today’s roses still taking shape

© Janet Martin

Gal.6:9

And let us not grow weary while doing good,

 for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Yesterday was pleasant on the southside deck...

Today temps have plummeted to more seasonal settings