When, In All This World...

We are bearing a universal cross.

We mourn for suffering and loss of life the world over, 

due to COVID 19.

Let's face it; we're all family.

How about a great big group prayer-hug?! 

Father in Heaven we adore You

Father in Heaven teach

us to trust You for no one

 is ever out of Your reach

Let faith be our Beacon

when sore tempests roll

Dear Father in Heaven

Let faith in Thee make us whole

In Thy Name we pray,

Amen

 2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, 

that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, 

by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

When, in all this world of wonder, have we ever felt like this?

Bound by kindred hurt and hunger to love’s hug and tug and kiss

When have we, though still oceans, countries and continents apart

Ever felt this closely knitted; sister-brother, heart-to- heart

When in all this world of trouble have we ever faced as one

The awareness of a bubble floating fragile ‘neath the sun

Where the blue dot we inhabit holds love's means to bridge each rift

(We are all indebted creatures to the Giver of life’s gift)

When in all this world of sorrow have we let love intercede

Pulling to the same tomorrow for a universal need

What gathers us more completely in a world of us and you

Than when we suffer together and then help each other through

© Janet Martin

In Spite of All This...

Right now the future looks foreboding 

in spite of all that is being done to keep things rolling!

 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation.

 But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

But in spite of it…

Mercy still lights the wick

Hung high above earth’s globe

Though fear cuts to the quick

Faith grasps the Healer’s robe

Though hurt and heartache sear

Hope hoists its hallowed flare

The Comforter is here

He speaks to us in prayer

Where holy fear seems lost

Or sadly comatose

Love does not count the cost

But holds His darlings close

Amidst the shattered dreams

And in the darkest hour

Through broken fissures streams

His glory and His power

His strength sustains the loss

Not to shoulder despair

And failure’s albatross

But full surrender’s dare

Where human nature doubts

Humility beholds

The little seed that spouts

With what God’s grace unfolds

Awake, awake, He cries

Where dead conscience applauds

Deceit, corruption, lies

And worships other gods

As His heart bleeds and breaks

As His tears are unfurled

He will let what it takes

To wake a slumbering world

In spite of hate and scorn

His promises still stand

His mercy lights the morn

His rains water the land

His goodness still prevails

Salvation is still free

Through That which never fails

His love for you and me

© Janet Martin

time to re-share a favorite hymn 

in loving memory of Kenny Rogers who passed away on Saturday.

Babies are born and people still die

no matter what else is happening

We mourn

We rejoice! 

these are the climaxes of love!

Trouble's Shining Hour

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

 He was with God in the beginning.  

 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴

 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  

 The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.

The world groans beneath threats of doom and forecasts of despair

These days were written in God’s Word, we, beckoned to prepare

The Light that goes before us will not waver or grow dim

Lift up your voice in joyful chorus of worship to Him

The law of night to day steadfastly stays its ordained course

For none can sway the mind of God or move His Hand by force

Then lean on He who does not change like shifting shadows will

While all the words of prophecy unfold, pass and fulfill

Man’s deduction and rhetoric composed by what ‘they say’

Serves often to consume us when we ought to pray and pray

Dear Father, rich in mercy bearing witness to our plight

Make this the Shining Hour when some turn from dark to Light

For not in good but troubled times, we see our frailty

How without You, hope is a sad state of futility

So, Father up in heaven, let us hear your tender woo

And pray its Shining Hour draws our hearts and minds to You

© Janet Martin

 If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God.

 If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,

 to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. 

Amen.

1 Pet.4:11

Consolation for Care-bearers

Whatever we are bearing...He cares!

Whether we are care-givers of a suffering loved one,

whether we are the suffering loved one,

whether we are caretakers 

or care-worn...

God cares!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

 

This place of grace and grief and pain

This cradle filled with care

Portrays God’s mercy once again

Where morning hoists its flare

And trust, unable to explain

Love’s wherefore, bows in prayer

How oft our spirits quake with fear

Where beyond our control

God’s thoughts and ways arouse the tear

That vexes heart and soul

As we like blind men strain to hear

‘Thy faith has made thee whole’

From east to west daylight’s pizzazz

Begets what dusk will fell

What waits to test our cheeky jazz

Ah, none of us can tell

Where we are all as needy as

The woman at the well

Where God, so rich in mercy cares

Belief is filled with awe

For He does not ignore our prayers

But beckons us to draw

Living Water where naught compares  

With His word's perfect law

© Janet Martin

 Mark 10:51-52

And Jesus answered and said unto him, 
What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? 
The blind man said unto him, 
Lord, that I might receive my sight.

 And Jesus said unto him, 
Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.
 And immediately he received his sight,
 and followed Jesus in the way.

In Des Leavah/In This Life (a Pennsylvania Dutch Poem)

 I have not written a poem in my 'mudda-tsoong'/'mother-tongue' for a few years 😊

side-note; spell-check went completely NUTS as I typed this😁

In des leavah veadt ma ivrich

Un uft ganz katz oof gadult

So feel es ma net begrivah

So feel kshengt un so feel shuldt

In des leavah full mit droovel

Veaht a lot yisht rum gesowd

Gvicht tsu shveah fa heartz un boogel

Von ma net da goot Gott drowd

In des leavah fiind ma immah

Feel, so feel fa dank-fouwa sie

Immah hut ebbah’s feel shlimmah

Ach, ma set mae dank-bouwa sie

In des leaveh set ma beveada

Fa froh sie mitt vos ma hutt

Un alles shuunsht yisht tsu-fon-drowa

Tsu da goot un lieblich Gott

© Janet Martin

(English translation)

In this life we get worked up

And often really short on patience

So much that we cannot grasp

So much gifted, so much debt

In this life full of trouble

There’s a lot of rushing around

Weight too heavy for heart and back

If we do not good God trust

In this life we always find

Much, so much to be thankful for

Always someone is far worse off

Oh, we should be more thankful

In this life we should try

To be glad with what we have

And everything else just entrust

To a good and loving God

© Janet Martin

...and a song for fun!