Love's Metamorphosis

Trembling 

We seek you

And 

trembling 

we find you

And 

trembling, 

we give you away

Who knew that love in its beautiful Hunger could fulfill someone this way?

 Blindly we seek you and blindly we find you and blindly we give you away

Who knew that love in its beautiful blindness could restore true sight this way?

 Broken, 

we seek you

And broken, 

we find you

And broken, 

still, still 

you increase

Who knew 

that love

In its 

Beautiful 

breaking

Creates a 

Masterpiece?

© Janet Martin

These days there's a lot of talk about 'finding ourselves, being true to ourselves, following what WE want' but it flies in the face of what Jesus taught...He didn't say find yourself, but deny yourself ...

 Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

 Luke 9:23

In Memory of Nathan Cirillo and all who pay the ultimate price for our freedom

 Image Source


Free to lie beneath the tree
and dream our dreams, in spite of tears
we walk the streets and splash through parks
where autumn gleams then disappears

Free to laugh the laughter of
the unafraid, while others die
to protect the country they love,
and thus protect both you and I

God, forgive when we forget
Freedom comes at such a price
Comfort us in this, our grief
of love's ultimate sacrifice

Janet~

More Than Tears

  

May I be moved

To more than tears

As I think
of Jesus Christ

Love left Heaven

To become

For my sin,

Sacrifice

May I be moved

To more than awe

Jesus,
As I contemplate

Your Perfection

Bathed in red

Pleading for

My hopeless state

May I be moved

To more than this;

Recognition
Of my need

As His blood

And righteousness

Defends Adam’s

Sin-cursed seed

May I be moved

Beyond myself

Lips, fingers
And footsteps shod

With touch-wonder

As I live

Every day

To serve my God

© Janet Martin

What Makes a Successful Marriage?

 

 Image Source

For all the words written, repeated and referenced

For all the books gathering dust on our shelves

Marriage must be a constant endeavor

To put the other before ourselves

‘Easier said than done’, that’s a promise

It seems that Self is a dominant voice

Subtle and always eager to be noticed

Willing to be our soothing first choice

Two become one but with two opinions

Two become one in new love immersed

and Marriage will be a beautiful union

Only if each puts the other first

Alone it is hard to apply resolution
The tie that binds two hearts near and dear
Must be secured by a Third divine portion
God will enable us to persevere

© Janet Martin

Love-lessons in marriage are endless! On Monday hubby and I, Lord willing, will celebrate 25 years of learning! The analysis of what I have learned is this;

Two selfish people= disaster.   

One selfish person= abuse.  

No selfishness= Happy marriage
(or instead of no selfishness perhaps simply; each seeking selflessness)

We have experienced seasons in each of these categories.

About Love...

Love gives and gives

It does not pause

To tally up the cost

But pours without

Reserve because

Love is what matters most

Love keeps no score

It does not fuss

Nor does it fret or boast

We love because

God so loved us

And that’s what matters most

Love is the only

Thing we have

Of everlasting worth

It is a servant

Never slave

A heaven-glimpse on earth

 Love gives and gives

It does not pause

To tally up the price

It gives no thought

To self because

To love is sacrifice

© Janet Martin

This Year It's Up to Us

This year, oh God

Please help us

Help us all to see

Beyond our own desires

To our neighbor’s poverty

And this year God, oh help us

To do more than simply say

‘I should do more’

But let this be

Our prayer in every day

…this year God

Oh, help us

To see far beyond our greed

And give us love, enough to care

About our neighbor’s need

And this year God oh let us

Never dare to be excused

Because of things

We want to buy

While a poor child is refused

Help us to remember

To do good

Lord, in Your name

For when it comes to hunger

Rich or poor, it feels the same

© Janet Martin

 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,"
but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? James 2:16

The Truth About Lying

Poetics Aside prompt: Write a poem illuminating how it feels to stand up for what is right in the face of adversity in the workplace.

Honor or money
Which will it be?
For I can fool others
But I can never fool me

The plaque on the wall
Will mock me with truth
If I succeed through a lie
What truth could not do

I want to look myself
Straight in the eye
Not blush because
All I see is a lie

Money can never
Buy out regret
Or clear the conscience
Of its debt

Bills will keep coming
Words slip with ease
But guilt is an albatross
Money cannot appease

To suffer the truth
Or spill pretense?
To keep my job
At honor's expense?

What can we say
To our children and youth
If we choose to lie
Then try to teach truth?

The cost of a lie
Is hidden from view
To keep a lie covered
Requires at least two

God forbid
I should lie so much
That I no longer feel
Reproach's touch

A lie is a shackle
Of misery
But the truth will always
Set you free

Money or sacrifice?
Fortune or trust?
Riches in heaven?
Or treasures of dust?

Guilt or peace?
Honor or shame
What will they remember
When someone speaks my name?

Today we live
Tomorrow we die
Nothing is worth
The price of a lie

Janet Martin

Making Love

 

...There

On the floor

Where the full moon

Spills

 A silver aureole

I lie

Staring out

At the night

A big black hole

Where ‘good-bye,

I love you’

Whispers from the phone

The miles morph

Between us

And we are not alone

Sometimes making love

Comes with a great price

But the true language of love

Is sacrifice

© Janet Martin

Who We Are...

Who we are is not proven

By words, sweet and tender

But its truth is spoken

By what we surrender

Who we are is not stated

By wealth of great price

But its truth is meted

By what we sacrifice

Who we are is not shared

By prideful boast

But its truth is declared

By what we serve most

Who we are is distinguished

By One above

As truth bears witness

By what we most love

© Janet Martin

What we love most is formed by whom we love most…

Irrefutable Proof

Love speaks

A universal language

And though hugs and kisses are nice

It declares

Its truest passion

In one word;

Sacrifice

© Janet Martin

What we make and take time for proves where our loves lie…

Aren’t you glad He took time for us?

 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 

 After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.

Isa. 53:10-11

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross