Of Highs and Lows (aka as Life's Arpeggio)

Life is full of highs and lows...

High; a wonderful time at a ladies Christmas brunch on Saturday morning

Low; extremely high winds on Saturday afternoon destroyed our play-center/swing-set

this loss is small in scale compared to the destruction of the tornadoes in Kentucky

but its disappointing all the same!

Another glorious sunrise!

'The highs and lows of life compose a soulful melody

The deeps that spawn lavender dawn are steeped in mystery'

The highs and lows of life compose a soulful melody

The deeps that spawn lavender dawn are steeped in mystery

Life’s gain and loss an albatross of mingled joy and strife

As seasons surge and moments merge into a song of life

The stroke is swift that snuffs the gift from morning’s gleaming wick

The string that tunes spring afternoons is soon cut to the quick

And a new page becomes the stage for faith’s arpeggio

Where He who grants its song and dance will never let us go

Look up; the cup that overflows with highs and lows is held

With utter care and God knows where and how each drop will meld

Like notes, into the rush and woo of holding and release

Each rise and fall and beck and call part of life's Masterpiece

© Janet Martin

...and in our lows we are reminded in Luke 12:22-31

Do Not Worry

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, 

what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 

24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn;

 yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 

25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]?

 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. 

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

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

and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,

 how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 

29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 

30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, 

and your Father knows that you need them. 

31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

tots looking at the birds...

'They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn;

 yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! '

Have a wonder-full day!

Tell Me, What Good Can a Good Thought Do (without God)?

A few Good Songs to start a New Week on...

Promises-Matt Boswell & Matt Papa

  

O, Worship the Risen Christ-Matt Boswell & Matt Papa

Goodness of God Rhett Walker

 

'Think good thoughts' and 'think positive thoughts'

are becoming popular phrases in this age!

Please tell me what good can a good thought do

without God?

(without yielding thought to prayer)

James 1:16-18

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,

 that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

Tell me, what good can good thought do

When we are down and out

If Good Thought is not first thought through

To Who ‘Good’ is about

Good thought is good but cannot turn

The tables of despair

To hope if we rebel and spurn

Good thought turned into prayer

For if the Good Thinker refutes

Goodness by Goodness blessed

Mortal’s inferior substitutes

Are pitiful at best

Dare we with atheistic bent

Omit the Name whereby

Goodness, mercy and love prevent

What law would justify

Ah, what is thought (both good and ill)

But our utter need

To submit to the Perfect Will

Of God to intercede

Good or positive thoughts alone

Are like trying to fly

While we, manacled to a stone

Are leaping for the sky

Tell me, what good is Good Thought’s sum

Without the power of

The One all Goodness proceeds from

God’s Never-failing Love

Therefore, the goodness Mind suggests

Flows not from mortal aught

But from God's grace that manifests

His love in noble thought

Tell me, what good are good thoughts when

By True Goodness bereft

Bids a façade without God, then

Is any goodness left? 

© Janet Martin

Lots more 'goodness' where these verses came from:

God's Word

You are good, and do good; 

teach me Your statutes. 

Psalm 119:68

You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, 

and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, 

and gave them water for their thirst. 

Nehemiah 9:20

Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; 

turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. 

Psalm 69:16

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; 

and He knows those who trust in Him. 

Nahum 1:7

No one is good but One, 

that is, God. 

Mark 10:18

He loves righteousness and justice; 

the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 

Psalm 33:5

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; 

blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 

Psalm 34:8

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 

For the Lord is good; 

His mercy is everlasting. 

Psalm 100:4-5

Oh, how great is Your goodness, 

which You have laid up for those who fear You, 

which You have prepared for those who trust in You 

in the presence of the sons of men! 

You shall hide them in the secret place

 of Your presence from the plots of man; 

You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion 

from the strife of tongues. 

Psalm 31:19-20

In Case Joy Should Falter...

Who has a claim against me that I must pay?

 Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Job 41:11

This poem was inspired after reading Job chapters 38 through 41

Stupendous! Wow!

and what can we do but echo Job's reply 

at the beginning of chapter 42

 (if ever we stoop to doubt)

 "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know."

“Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,

Job 38:12

Hope hoists it hymns on morning’s scrims as love its vow renews...

To place our prayers into the hands that laid earth’s cornerstone

To know He cares and sifts the sands that mete each steppingstone

To see each season’s treasure trove spill into hill and dale

Grants us reason enough to trust the love that cannot fail

To recognize that our eyes see but the fringe of He

Who paints the skies and cuts to size the proud waves of the sea

Who authors birth and tunes the earth’s orbit around the sun

Who puts his worth in human dearth through death’s curse fought and won

To lean on He whose majesty we cannot comprehend

Yet yearns to be to you and me an everlasting Friend

To touch His robe that fills the globe with glory none can dim

Instills earth’s road with Heaven’s goad as time draws us to Him

To have God’s Word, truth undeterred midst mortal fallacies

To guide and gird and keep souls stirred with hope through centuries

To know that He will always be at faith’s meek beck and call

Grants you and me security, whatever may befall

Hope hoists it hymns on morning’s scrims as love its vow renews

Where Mercy brims and nothing dims or thwarts the Giver’s views/dues

Where come what may no hand can sway what His will has decreed

Where when we pray, He leads the way, ah, what more do we need

© Janet Martin

Rejoice in the Lord always,

and again I say, rejoice

Phil.4:4

Who is our fount of joy?

Jesus, Only Jesus!

A Morning/Today Mantra

Sometimes it easy to drag yesterday's baggage into New-day/Today!

Sometimes it hard to cast all our care upon Him, 

for He cares for you/us...1 Peter 5:7

and leave them there!

And proceed with renewed ambition in what... 

He has shown you/us, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you/us?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your/our God.

Micah 6:8

Dawn’s door, once more has swung ajar

Eyes turn toward the east

Where mercy spreads on welkin bar

A lavish beauty-feast

And bids the sojourner of care

To trust the Artist of the air

Soon pink ink pales, gold fringes fade

Blue heavens crown the world

As this new day the Lord has made

Is furthermore unfurled

Where His hand cups each stepping stone

Poised on the crux of The Unknown

Then, pray we cast our cares on He

Who cares for one and all

May we with renewed fervency

Proceed and heed His call

To act justly with loving laud

And to walk humbly with our God

© Janet Martin

Well, it's off to the races graces once more!

Last night's finish-line, 

midst much background action-attraction-distraction-music...

...boasted fresh applesauce, finally!

On my need-to-do list all week!

Trustworthy and True

On Sunday morning our message was from

Rev. 21 &22

Mortal minds grappled with unfathomable design and dimension!

But this morning, as mercy ushered in new day

I sensed glimpses of a Holy City, 

a New Jerusalem descending

in incomprehensible glory!!

Beauty rends night’s crepuscule

Mercy steals the show

Ethereal ribbons and tulle

Tint time’s undertow

Longing and fulfillment clash

On earth’s eastward sill

Heaven flings ajar its sash

Molten foretastes spill

To gild worlds of wood and stone

With glints from Yon Clime

Till the veil of the Unknown

Lowers one last time

…beauty rends night’s crepuscule

God hears our cries

Granting to love’s push and pull

Glimpses of The Prize

© Janet Martin

Rev.21:1-5

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”

[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, 

and there was no longer any sea. 

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

 “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.

 They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. 

There will be no more death’[b] 

or mourning 

or crying 

or pain, 

for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said,

 “I am making everything new!”

 Then he said, “Write this down, 

for these words are trustworthy and true.”

(are the words Trustworthy and True not two of the

most wonderful words we can cling to?!!)

Believer's Blessing

Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

Under His Wings

No matter what befalls

Where trouble's thralls increase

You answer the believer's calls

With hope and joy and peace

This world is full of woe

Fear's forces never cease

But no power can overthrow

Your hope and joy and peace

The soul that trusts in You

From worry, finds release

As you run the believer through

With hope and joy and peace

Janet Martin

Faithful One

From Gentle Hands

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made

A gift we dare not waste

Wrapped in blush tulle then gently laid

Beneath our touch and taste

Sometimes the highs and lows of love

Can cause us to mistreat

The Gentle Hands that tip Time’s trove

With treasure, bittersweet

To track-records of sad disgrace

He does not yet repay

Nor does He turn away his face

But grants another day

Where miracles are sometimes veiled

In merits, hard to see

And prayers that look as if they’ve failed

Are answered faithfully

Where what we want may not agree

With the needs He supplies

Goodness and mercy’s Mystery

Finesse faith’s hard-fought Prize

This is the day God helps us bear

A gift of thorn and rose

Then pray we trust Him with whate’er

His gentle Hand bestows

...and may we in return reply

Not with selfish demands

But open up our bit of sky

With kind and gentle hands

© Janet Martin

Pass Me Not Oh, Gentle Saviour

Oh, Gentle Shepherd

Take My Hand and Lead Me

My God, Where Shall I Wend My Flight

The Choreographer of Life (makes no mistake)

 

A man’s heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps.

Prov. 16:9

Let's admit it; we cannot begin

to understand the One who directs our steps

His timing seems anything but perfect at times, doesn't it?!

All of Our Tomorrows

Time’s momentum of seasons spills to tenderly compose

A steady sequence of quadrilles that keeps us on our toes

The Choreographer of Days, so oft misunderstood

Works through His higher thoughts and ways for our utter good

How often faith’s footwork is tried with grim complexity

Because He is not satisfied with mediocrity

The Choreographer of Moments metes with kind intent

The order of our steps in spite of Dreamer’s argument

A seed thunders with wonders clad in unimpressive hull

Where eye and logic blunders when governed by visual

The Choreographer of summer’s stunning colour-show

Is the same Choreographer when winter’s cold gales blow

Some dancers seem to glide with ease across time’s no return

Some stumble unsure of the piece that He insists they learn

The Choreographer of Seasons sees beyond the dance

Our best, always His Reason for the sequences He grants

Sometimes we judge love based on basis of experience

Rather than trusting He who died for death’s deliverance

So, when His timing seems so wrong, remember, though hearts break

The Choreographer of Life’s Love Song makes no mistake

© Janet Martin

The Master's Touch

(update: I wrote this poem yesterday to send with a meal for my sister!

They are planning a wedding for Friday 

while her husband's beloved oldest brother is on his deathbed. 

During last night God rescued him from his suffering)

Rest in peace, Murrell.

So much beauty midst broken

So much joy midst sorrow

So much broken midst beauty

So much sorrow midst joy

So much more God

 above, beneath and through it all!

Touch us, oh Lord, with beauty’s chords

Where nature’s orchestra enthralls

Lift our eyes unto the hills

To hear creation’s madrigals

Unto the flowers of the field

Unto the fledglings of the air

Unto heaven’s vast music sheet

Where thy great glory is declared

 

Touch us, oh Lord, with mercy’s chords

When waves of sorrow wash the soul

Let not despair consume our hearts

But grant us faith to make us whole

As from your everlasting word

Love’s melody of hope resounds

Then, even in the dark of night

A hymn of humble joy abounds

 

Touch us, oh Lord, with love’s pure chords

In songs of grace and sympathy

Let earth be longing’s pale prelude

To heaven’s perfect harmony

Then open up our eyes and ears

Until the only Strings we clutch

Through The Unseen, wakes evidence

That tunes us to The Master’s Touch

 

© Janet Martin

...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Eph.5:19

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?

Psalm 121:1

Behold Our God

Ultimate Joy

Today we are have a family reunion/ 90th birthday party for my husband's mother.

It looks like there is the potential for a lot of rain to fall in that time frame.

How often in life do we pray for sun but rain is sent instead?

Yet, if we pray 'Thy will be done' He helps us, dry or wet!

My kiddos that come during the week LOVE a good rain-shower

because it always brings sweet splashing puddles.

This week it poured while toddler wailed and tugged my hand because she wanted to play outside.

But the thunder rolled and lightning flashed and Janet did not relent.

Little One, in the moment, did not understand why. 

A bit like us toddlers sometimes, with our Heavenly Father, isn't it?

Heavenly Father, help us to remember You know best!

Help us to...

 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 To him be glory both now and forever!

 Amen.

2 Peter 3:18

...and not to throw toddler-tantrums when we don't get

what we want when we want it!

We pray for sunshine but if rain is Thy reply

Lord, help us to give thanks and not to fret with futile ‘why’

We pray that we would be a lamp your love shines through

Reflecting, in humility, the love we have for You

Then, whether loss or gain, wish granted or denied

We pray dear Lord, in sun or rain, You will be glorified

We pray for grace to meet the day with hearts at rest

As our joy is made complete in knowing You know best

© Janet Martin

A blessed day of rest and worship

to you and yours!

Oh! and Happy August💕

God Hath Not Promised Skies Always Blue...

The author of this hymn is living testimony of its words

Here is a link to her story.

The Story of Annie Johnson Flint

One Day/Step At A Time

This poem kinda progressed as the morning unfolded

stunning me afresh with the need to

Only Trust Him

We would wear ourselves weary with worry, 

but for what good?!

Oh Lord God, rich in mercy, help us trust You 

like we should

Help us to look longer at the lily's attire 

Until fear and pride turn into worship's pure fire

My little 'longer look' at lilies this morning

while pouring out my heart to their Creator/Clothier 

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory 

was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:27

Life grants us one day at a time

Then leave to God tomorrow’s dread

For on this ever-present climb

We cannot leap back or ahead

Futile to fret the ‘Yet’ none sees

Where fear and faith ever compete

Better to get down on our knees

And pour our cares at Mercy’s feet

For as we yield, we learn to trust

And as we trust we learn to yield

The love of God is not unjust

He clothes the lilies of the field

God grants us one day at a time

A step-by-gifted-step ascent

He holds the ladder as we climb

Where all we have and hold is lent

Then as we soften our grip

And cling to nothing but His Word

We start to taste the fellowship

That waits in heaven, undeterred

God ministers in 'breath-by-breath'

His purposes, oft unrevealed

While he finetunes the strings of faith 

He clothes the lilies of the field

How flippant is our finest boast

And all that mortal may applaud

How foolish to propose a toast

Blind to the faithfulness of God

Grace grants us one day at a time

Oh, pray that our goal will be

To give God glory as we climb

From time into eternity

© Janet Martin

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The [b]help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 43:5

The World tells us to reach within ourselves!

The Word tells us to reach out to God and trust...

in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God 

and the Word was God.

John 1:1

Conquering Worry's 'What-if'

The dark of night is borne away

and swallowed in the light of day

The dark of life is like this too

If we trust God to see us through

Worry’s ‘what if’ robs us of peace

It crushes us with constant care

And fuels the futile increase

Of anxiety and despair

Worry’ s ’what if’, by God’s kind grace

Through faith’s unfeigned humility

Will help us find our rightful place

Leaning on God on bended knee

Worry’s ‘what if’ is mercy-blind

To He who knows and sees our need

Only a heart fully resigned

Can find the courage to proceed

Worry’s ‘what if’ is hard to bear

It robs us of strength for today

Until we place its burden where

God helps us to trust and obey

Worry’s ‘what if’ is like a noose

That snuffs life’s light with dread’s dark rope

Until we cut agendas loose

And humbly cling to Living Hope

© Janet Martin

And we know that in all things God works for the good 

of those who love him,

who[i] have been called according to his purpose.

Rom.8:28

This verse is not a blanket statement to all humanity; 

but it is a promise to all who love God

and are called according to his purpose!

Pray then, that we confess our sin/pride 

to He who is faithful and just

 to forgive our sins and cleanse us 

from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Pray our whole Soul-goal is the first and greatest command

and the second like it...

“’Love the Lord your God 

with all your heart 

and with all your soul 

and with all your strength 

and with all your mind’ 

and,

 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

The Eloquence of Groans...

Hear my cry, oh God...

God hears our hearts

No fluent art

of speech required where

He intercedes

and heeds the groaning pleas

we utter there

Sometimes we know not

how to pray

where reason cannot reach

when godless verdict

has its say

and horror stuns our speech

But, woe to pride

The One who died

to pay sin’s debt we owed

makes no mistake;

Forbid we shake

a fist at loving God

…who hears our hearts;

Mercy imparts

A kind and listening ear

when our prayer

is but a groan

embodied in a tear

© Janet Martin

Rom.8;26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: 

for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: 

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us 

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Divine Design (updated)

.(here is the update mentioned this morning)

Last night my nephew's 19 mo. old son went missing

on their farm.

His body was recovered today in a manure pump.

Please pray for strength and comfort

for my brother Stuart and their family and

esp. for my nephew and his wife, Charles and Andrea!

I will say of the LORD, 

“He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:2

Psalm 18:2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. 

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield,

 and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 94:22

But the LORD has been my stronghold,

and my God is my rock of refuge.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

No matter what designs the must of trials we pass through

In Thee oh, Lord we place our trust; our refuge is in You

With gaping wounds of heart and soul, beneath the blows of loss

We plead for faith to make us whole by looking at the cross

For when life’s cup of joy is marred by sorrow’s agony

You reach with Hands redemption-scarred; our refuge is in Thee

The places that once brimmed with love and laughter’s harmony

Are full of tears, our visage dimmed with groaning sympathy

To Thee oh, Lord we pour our prayer; when understanding fails

Help us to place our burden where Your faithfulness prevails

To lean upon your promises for they are kind and true

No matter what designs the test, our refuge is in You

© Janet Martin

 

Under The Umbrella of God's Care

Today's poem was partly inspired by my morning prayer as I asked God to please spread

His care like an umbrella over me and the kiddos that others entrust to my care...

The verge of what will be soon merges with all that has been

Whether valleys shadowed with death or pleasant pastures green...

While the kiddos play or 'help'...

... I sometimes find things to putter about with...

Pinch me! I feel like I just bedded down the gardens,

and though this may be a bit premature, (because yes,

 I do see the snowflakes in next week's forecast)

I just can't resist the urge to merge with garden-dirt a bit

(because the neighbors got a dog, we sorta did too😀)

(Yesterday morning while I was working in the kitchen I heard a clatter in the laundry room.

apparently the back door did not latch properly

after I hung out the laundry and this dog made himself at home without knocking😂

Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, 

and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. 

This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

Eccles.2:24

Ah, here we are, not very far from learning’s next affair

But always underneath the kind umbrella of God’s care

Because showers of blessing come in every shape and size

Some welcomed with wide open arms, some hard to recognize

We never know what waits to show its face with smile or tear

But oh, the more we trust, the less each of us has to fear

God, we are prone to groan beneath the weight of ‘what might be’

Help us to learn to lean on you with faith’s humility

The gold of beaming rampart unfolds like a work of art

From the grail of God’s mercy to the cup of human heart

Where, here we are, not very far from Love's unfailing Hand

All that we need to do is reach and He will help us stand

The verge of what will be soon merges with all that has been

Whether valleys shadowed with death or pleasant pastures green

We kick the dust of want and must; it rises but to fall

God's grace spreads like an umbrella over one and all

© Janet Martin

The gold of gleaming rampart 

unfolds like a work of art...