Like Next of Kin...

Last night's supper; roasted vegetables, pulled pork and coleslaw!
(Buns, not pictured, were available for those who preferred pulled pork on a bun.)
 
I love the happiness that happens at meal-time when everyone is hungry!
Oh, how much we have to be thankful for! It reminds us of what we are here for, right?!
Not to over-indulge if we are blessed enough to entertain that thought...
but to live soberly and righteously in the present age/world,
where to whom much is given much will be required.
(For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.
It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, 
and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 
as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.…
Titus 2:11-13

The chords of a love song the Lord composed and wove within

Makes all of us together feel kind of like next of kin

For though we are like strangers living continents apart

We have so much in common in the matters of the heart

Man’s struggle to survive is this world’s universal quest

Where we all need each other to succeed and be our best

God gives to some to give to those who have no bread to share

(No one is more or less deserving of Mercy’s kind care )

My dear, we are all fearfully and wonderfully made

Though shapes, shades, sizes vary as the bloom that gilds the glade

We, oh, so very diff’rent are so much the same as well

Where hope-hurt-hunger-wonder tolls a keen and kindred bell

We all face challenges, oh yes, this is the way of life

We all need to kneel at the cross to gain eternal life

We all want to be loved; we all need to learn how to love

And all who trust the hand of God will find his grace enough

Who doesn’t like a hearty feast of food and fellowship

Who doesn’t need a hand to hold so our feet won’t slip

And who of us forever finds contentment all alone

Where there is so much more to us than forms of skin and bone

Time takes its toll until all that is left of you and me

Is living soul; for none can annul immortality

Then pray we make our calling sure in He who gave His all

Today is the day of salvation; pray we heed His call

Let’s live as though we’ve met before on some shore left behind

Make a collective effort to be more gracious and kind

Let’s live out the Great Love Song that our dear Lord wove within

So when we meet on yonder shore we’ll feel like next of kin

© Janet Martin

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

On Sunday our church family enjoyed a meal cooked by kind, willing people

to be enjoyed along with an opportunity to help fund

a week of kid's camp in Eucuador!

When we got the report this week that thanks to the funds raised we/they

are able to bring many kids to camp,

suddenly Ecuadorians felt a bit like family!

Of Large Estate

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

keep watch at the door of my lips.

Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing

or take part in works of wickedness

with men who do iniquity;

let me not feast on their delicacies.

Let the righteous man strike me;

let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion.

It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it.

For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked. 

Psalm 141:3-5 

Lord, set a watch before, behind

With measure sound and stout

That large estate of heart and mind

So volatile without

For as a man thinks so he is

The mouth speaks from the heart

These establish the genesis

Of all that we impart

Then help us to hunger and thirst

After Your righteousness

Though spirit wills the flesh is cursed

With inherent weakness

....where pride always precedes the fall 

As we prove with vain jest

That without Your love we are all

Deplorable at best

Make us unwise in our own eyes

Forbid we walk by sight  

Help us to humbly recognize

How much we need your Light

…and how we need a watch designed

By Whom all things are known

The large estate of heart and mind

So cunning on its own

© Janet Martin

 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

Prov.3:7

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:...

Prov.23:7

 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil?

 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matt.12:34

The Perfect Want...

With always lots to tend to in an ever-aging body and mind
 it sometimes leaves this poet’s heart a little frayed with want
for an art that here and there needs more than a haphazard or hurried splash.

I just finished reading the book Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
I love books about people who understand the ‘need’ to write;
how this hunger howls for release and even writing does not always fill it
because so little of what we write seems to come out exactly like we wish!
Still, to everything there is a time and a season
and I want to want to honour the Giver in each season.
 He knows the heart of every single one of us and
He grants grace to proceed and succeed to everyone who asks.

Let our goal then be to seek God first to glorify

for what we seek to please our self will never satisfy 

One of last week's devotions has stayed stuck, hopefully not just in my head...

I never want to live as if I was the first in line

But rather, blend into the place God willed in His design

That always bids us look to interests of fellowman

And love each other humbly, holy ev’ry way we can

I never want to hunger for some self-indulgent Then

But learn to live like Jesus did when He walked among men

The King of kings took on himself the form of servant meek

And taught us with more than mere words to turn the other cheek

I never want to worship ‘the created’ rather than

The One by whom all things were made according to His plan

Thus in this little time I have before death plays its part

Lord, let me want the beauty of a truly tender heart

© Janet Martin

To Do Or Not To Do...

  We can not truly qualify 

until we feel unqualified

The mastermind of weak excuse

Can always find fine reasons to

Think someone else could better fill

The shoes needed to walk uphill

…and as far as that other task

Surely there’s someone else to ask

Rather than bother 'poor old me'

Not eloquent as he or she

Ah, surely God can understand

Why I decline to lend a hand

Or take a flying leap of trust

Because I hate the taste of dust

Don’t think too ill of me, I plead

If I’m not fit to fill this need

Forgive me if I seem to prove

A lack of faith, goodness or love

I never was as fit as they

Who seem equipped for come-what-may

So please, choose one more qualified

I hate the sting of injured pride

Then deep within I hear a voice

Child, I am not pleased with your choice

For only when you yield your heart

Can I become the greater part

Unless you swallow fear and pride

You will remain unqualified

Until you recognize your need

My grace can never intercede

© Janet Martin

It's hard to choose only a few verses out of such a great story as that of Moses!

Ex.4:10-13
 (click the link for the whole passage!)

  Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, 

neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant.

 I am slow of speech and tongue.”

 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? 

Who makes them deaf or mute? 

Who gives them sight or makes them blind? 

Is it not I, the Lord?  

 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”...

Monday Morning Mantra/Supplication

This poem is raised to the Creator and Keeper of heaven and earth...

Lord, today lead love’s mission

And guard our flight of thought

Let hope not lose its vision

No matter what our lot

Help us weigh ‘good intention'

In the scale of Thy Word

Lest foibles of invention

Would leave discernment blurred

Lord, guide us through the meadows

Or valleys dark with test

Let us not hide in shadows

Of guilt and shame confessed

But beam through us Thy light, Lord

For all the world to see

And train our faith, not sight Lord

To meekly wait on Thee

Lord, kind Thy love that watches

Our blind and worried ways

Lord, while impatience pushes

You wait for our praise

To temper in pride’s bearing

A heart of gratitude

To prove Thy faithful caring

As self-will is subdued

Lord, let us cling like children

To Mercy’s nail-scarred Hand

And trust Divine Decision

When we don’t understand

Lord, keen Thy whisper in us

Until first impulse bows

And trusts Thee for the purpose

In what Thy love allows

Amen

© Janet Martin

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,
so that in due time He may exalt you.
 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7