Honour-bound!

This poem was inspired by the closing remarks in a letter we received last week...

"The grand purpose of our lives is not that we...
(and they expressed their heart's desire which for privacy I cannot share)

—it is that God would use us to reflect his glory—may He accomplish this in all of us!"


Amen!
This perfect purpose keeps us grounded
no matter who or where we are
no matter what we do.

 Nature, decked in snow-glory is rousing hymns of awe and praise this morning!

No matter where we find ourselves in doing what we do

Whether it is a hard knock walk or prayers and dreams come true

Whether we gain peopled applause or labour without laud

We are created for one cause; to bring glory to God

The best and worst of ‘blessed and cursed’ does not affect the charge

One purpose binds us as all aboard time’s elemental barge

Where pray, we muster more than an obligatory nod

For ultimately we were born to bring glory to God

Then in the thick or thin of it;

The kick-caress, groan-grin of it

It helps us keep chins up a bit

If we remember this;

No matter what of loss or gain

Or flying high or cross of pain

Its albatross is not in vain

For where these are God IS

So then no matter who we are or where, or what we do

None of us are exempt from the purpose we are called to

Where in pursuit of hard-fought goals we will be mercy-awed

If we commit with heart and soul to bring glory to God

Ah, yes, his ways are higher than thought’s gaze can comprehend

And though our heart’s desire must oft learn to wait and bend

We will not languish in despair beneath love’s testing rod

If we make our wish and prayer to bring glory to God

© Janet Martin

 “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Celebrating Steppingstones

Let’s celebrate today;

Hope’s charger heaped anew

Let's fill the frame of come-what-may

With best-that-we-can-do

Let’s make the most of love

Before That Gavel falls

And dust and ashes fill a trove

Of echo-tattooed halls

Let’s use what mercy loans

With prayerful, careful thought

And recognize time’s stepping-stones

For all that they are not

…not aimless aftermath

Of want’s abandoned whim

This gift from God forges the path

That draws us back to Him

Where He never forsakes

Us, for He loves us so

Let’s use today to celebrate

His grace whereby we go

Let’s trust without reserve

God keeps His promises

And does not give what we deserve

Mercy delights to bless

Before it is too late

To cherish what is gone

Let’s use today to celebrate

Another steppingstone

© Janet Martin

 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Phil.4:13

Hope-Mercy's Meanwhile...

Hope is so intricately interwoven with faith it's hard to separate the two...

I have things I wish for but until the wish turns into purposed hope 

there is little chance of the wish ever being more than fickle fancy.

There's a big difference between

'I wish for a trip to Europe' and 'I hope for a trip to Europe'! 😊 

In the Meanwhile, like a less-than-graceful ballerina,
I balance on Now's bit of broken beautiful

and bring glory to the Giver!

Hope holds a world of ambition and advent

It fuels purpose to pursue a goal

It dares to dream without discontentment

It wears the wish without want’s gaping hole

Hope feels its way through those rooms without windows

It finds the ray of light piercing the dark

It dares to dance in a ballroom of shadows

It kindles courage if but with a spark

Hope hears the whispers of God in faith’s orbit

It does not fret when ‘Not Yet’ leads its charge

It dares to nibble at the dangling carrot

and waits, while learning to live and love large

Hope cheers us onward without force or menace

It is the phoenix that bolsters these bones

It teaches us to take that which confronts us

And turn broken bricks into stepping stones

Hope is a hug when life feels hard to handle

It hails from heaven with beauty’s bravo

Hope is the flame that flickers on a candle

No matter how hard conflicting gales blow

Hope does not wallow without rhyme or reason

It does not drift without eyes on a goal

Hope is a flower without stem or season

It is a garden that blooms in the soul

© Janet Martin

 Isaiah 40:31 
 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
they will run and not grow weary, 
they will walk and not be faint.

Today-List (or To-do List)

 This is the day the LORD has made; 

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Vivid blue and gold beginnings are thinning...

Let's make today the best we can, okay?

To honour the Giver of its gift!

Today list, or today's to-do list...

...to make its quest to give my best

To tasks both great and small

And bear in mind not far behind

A youngster’s footsteps fall

To recognize with patient eyes

The time it takes to learn

To humbly host and make the most

Of what will not return

To not give up but seize the cup

That brims with grace and light

To trust the One who draws the sun

From morn to noon to night

To make love’s care a living prayer

To make the prayer a hymn

To choose the right, fight the good fight

Until today grows dim

To see God’s art with thankful heart

And praise him for His works

To seek His Hand to help me stand

Where deceit’s army lurks

To keep my eyes fixed on a prize

Beyond death's camouflage

To keep hope sure and motive pure

To hate pride's decoupage

To tune this barge to heed the charge

To love God first, then man

And not to fret about the 'yet'

In some tomorrow-span

But to propose to smell the rose

Before its petals drift

And treat today in such a way

That we honour its gift

© Janet Martin

 
Psalm 106:2
Who can describe the mighty acts of the LORD or fully proclaim His praise?

Today's Unprecedented Worth

For this is the love of God, 

that we keep his commandments: 

and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world, 

even our faith.

1 John 5:3-4 

We have not taken out very many Christmas decorations yet but

we have set up the Nativity scene to remind us to celebrate 

(hopefully daily)  mankind's Joy to the world

 The thrill never grows old, 

of watching little ones gaze at the figurines 

and delight to hold them, esp. Baby Jesus!

what joy, in spite of our mistakes

upon earth's eastward skyline breaks

Compassion and courage reborn

God's mercy, renewed every morn

Now pales beneath the Master’s hand

The deep that snuffed the sweep that spanned

Our wond’ring gaze with mercy’s ways

And hope that highlights mankind’s days

With purpose greater than the test

To serve love’s sacrificial Best

Now beckons from earth’s eastward brim

With birth of day (a gift from Him)

An urge of wonder stirred and spurred

By He whose Word is not deterred

While proud fools ridicule the grave

And Name of He who came to save

Now unfolds from the love of He

Who authored This with ‘let there be’

A charge, larger than mortal death

As wonder steals our gifted breath

And bids us look straight in the eye

Of Excuse’s pathetic lie

Now burgeons from faith’s beaming berth

This life’s unprecedented worth

Grace hoists Honour’s uncomely tray

Believe, surrender, trust, obey

Until wonder fulfills its law

And kindles constant humble awe

As, step by step and hand in Hand

We, armed with Comfort’s kind command

(‘They are not grievous’ God has said)

Now we proceed with hope, not dread

And fix our eyes beyond time’s fold

Upon a Prize earth cannot hold

© Janet Martin