Of Weathered 'Would'

 

Weathered wood flaunts fresh foliage...

just as weathered 'would' unfolds fresh faith!

We try to turn the other cheek

To think twice, thrice before we speak

To make the most of More with less

To simplify our happiness

When life holds up to trembling lips

Its Cup of Joy, we savour sips

Where delight and despair compete

To cull a vintage, bittersweet

We work to win a well-earned rest

With good intent we strive for Best

We pray, we till time’s teeming sod

We plant, we wait; no ‘late’ with God

We wage wars twixt wonder and want

We struggle with faith’s feathered font

We try, but every now and then

We trip and need to try again

Inhale deeply, then exhale, slow

One foot forward, ah, here we go

Not crippled by Discipline's rod

But bolstered by the grace of God

From weathered wood/would fresh bud is borne

From Bygone's bloody bars, new morn

From slip and trip's face-planted low

We learn the little that we know

© Janet Martin

Phil.3:12-14

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; 

but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, 

forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Wisdom's Magnum Opus

 

'We should not ask whether 'The Thing' on its own is Good or Bad,

 Dad would caution us when teaching discernment,

 'because a Thing/action is always hinged to where it leads. 

After the ripple effect is studied you will have your answer

about whether a Thing is good or bad.'

Have I always heeded Wisdom's Magnum Opus?

Sadly, no. Sometimes I allow the sparkle of the splash to blind me!

Ripple-effects of recompense

Should cause us to be ‘ware

And consider the consequence

Action is bound to bear

Discernment delves deeper than mere

-ly breadth of pebble-throw

It contemplates the scope and sphere

Of how far ripples flow

Love looks beyond the present-tense

And sparkle of the splash

To where ripples of recompense

Are surely bound to wash

The path to Aftermath is scarred

By vain apology

Because of ripples that we barred

From our periphery

© Janet Martin

The Futility of 'Should'

 

Sore foot (mentioned here) feeling much better today after

reaping the rewards of folly...

And turning 'should' into

'did' put There, a pair of shoes to wear

while splitting wood.

Jim split this pile for me.

(because when I get the axe stuck 

in a stubborn piece of firewood

it's quite a performance to un-stuck it!😟)

Oh! nothing like a picture to make us notice things...

 I should sweep 😐!!

Good choice or bad 

Well, aren’t you glad 

Each time you choose the good? 

Where oft trouble 

Is the rubble 

Of ignoring ‘Should’ 

Why is it 

That we resist it; 

Wisdom’s greater good 

Learning after 

Reckless laughter 

The shrewdness of Should 

Stumbles, tumbles, 

Fumbles, humble 

This foolhardy brood 

…long the lesson 

of confessin’ 

Disregarded Should 

What good are 

These super-star- 

Sidekicks of Could and Would 

If we never 

Take it further 

Wisdom’s whispered ‘should’ 

Good intention

The invention

Of many a 'should'

Just imagine

What attainment

If we only would

© Janet Martin 

Should on its own has never accomplished a Thing!

What's on your Should-list?

(because we all have one...or should)😉

Battening down the Heart-hatches

 

Wisdom prepares for the storm before the storm.

Before the storm grows harsher still 

And tests the arciform of will 

With what seems anything but love 

Thy very perfect love to prove 

Before the harder heartaches press 

Against temporal palaces 

To try its happiness with rains 

To see if anything remains 

Lord, keen the Creature to your care 

The would-be pride to humble prayer 

Equip, through fellowship, this worm 

Bucking surrender’s cruciform 

So when the storm grows harsher still 

And tests the arciform of will 

Then, though life's ills may still increase

Trust will keep us in perfect peace

© Janet Martin

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 

whose mind is stayed on thee: 

because he trusteth in thee.

Isa.26:3

Who is wise and understanding among you? 

Let them show it by their good life, 

by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all

 pure; 

then peace-loving, 

considerate, 

submissive,

 full of mercy 

and good fruit, 

impartial

 and sincere.

James 3:17

Because of Soul-diers in Training

Because we are training a whole new generation of Soul-diers

we ought to give earnest heed to what we teach and the resources/

Real Source we trust!

 

 

 After a bit of a domestic 'kerfuffle' 😛

(because the end of Eph.5:33 is not a suggestion)

and after coming to a peaceful understanding

I am re-linking to the article 

I think so very worth our reading-while

regardless what our political views are!

Read it here

(Because the Symptom that causes Downfall is universal!)

 

It seems these days man casts aside without much thought at all
The Truth that sets us free to which all are accountable
Ignorance dares to spit at God and trust in what they see
While blaming Him for consequence of cold, bold apathy

These days Stupidity masquerades as intelligence
Discernment has no Foothold therefore cannot influence
The high regard we ought to give to Wisdom, most deny
(Though it is nothing new to exchange the Truth for a lie)

Adam and Eve in Eden doubted God and were deceived
Desire saw the fruit looked good to eat, and disbelieved
And conceived sin; and sin when it is finished brings forth death
These days it seems that few revere that Gate of Final Breath

These days it seems the masses deem Goodness without a Source
As if the pinnacle of This was Some Thing/king they enforce
Not knowing God chose foolish things to shame the worldly-wise
the weak to shame the strong; He loves the things that they despise

These days the epidemic of Soul-sickness rages wild
Without diagnosis; without fear of God reconciled
Where hope is a delusion and justice a mockery
The Obvious ignored by those who praise depravity



1 Cor.1:20-21 BSB


Where is the wise man? 

Where is the scribe? 

Where is the philosopher of this age? 

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, 

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Anchor Midst Confusion

Sure are a lot of opinions flying about these days 

enough to 'ferhoodle'/bemuddle the best of minds

if we are ignorant or indifferent to what God says!

a brief flare of sunshine before clouds and rain

maintained the weather forecaster's credibility😊

For the word of God is living and powerful, 

and sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, 

and of joints and marrow, 

and is a discerner of the thoughts 

and intents of the heart.

Heb.4:12

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
 through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises,
so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,
 now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:3-4

Then bid we of lowly estate embraced by Love Supreme

Take up the holy cross of faith with reverent esteem

Though round about, ah, we would doubt, if sight was our guide

And we would fail without A Faultless Compass to preside

Where God so gave the world his Word for both elder and youth

So more than opinion will ground and root us in the Truth

The logic of the mind is tainted by what it perceives

If man’s knowledge is unacquainted with God, it deceives

Pity prideful misunderstanding of love without flaw

Where man’s erring comprehension cannot grasp its Perfect Law

Oh, Holy, holy, holy, God anoints the earth with rain

As lowly, lowly, lowly mankind drinks and drinks again

His cup of mercy overflows, nursing this dying breed

Love’s nail-and thorn-scarred grace bestows the flower to the seed

Where need is mankind’s common ground no matter who or where

And no one is too fit or fine without His Word and prayer

Where sun and rain maintains the garden, field and orchard slope

And Fellowship with God maintains the faith that maintains hope

…then bid we of lowly estate embraced by Love Supreme

 Do nothing for empty conceit but most humbly esteem

The value of each other as Love’s most entrusted Charge

Before we reach the Shore where Soul disembarks from its barge

Where God so loved the world He gave His word to show the way

And anchor us ‘midst the confusion of what people say

© Janet Martin

 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

 but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Phil.2:3

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

fear the LORD and shun evil.

Prov.3:7

He answered, "'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.'"

Luke 10:27

More Than A Weather Warning

 For the past week the red 'BE ALERT' caution bar has flared continuously

 on the weather network with storm and temperature warnings!

 Imagine if the blue sky flashed with red warning-bars
 or a stop watch to let us know the The Day and The Hour!

But 'no man knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in Heaven or the Son himself.

Only the Father knows!'

Matt.24:36

Be alert, stay on your guard

The hurt and work of life is hard

Pay earnest heed to what you hear

The Word of God is truth, my dear

A solid Rock on which to rest

For time is delicate at best

Vapour of mist that disappears

Into the blue of yesteryears

So be alert, in deed and thought

For the end comes when we think not

© Janet Martin

The Word of God is filled with loving and earnest caution 

for us to be alert

kinda like 'whether warnings'; whether we are paying attention to what matters most!

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matt 26:41

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. 

Matt.24:42

So be on your guard! Remember that for three years

 I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Acts 20:31

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Heb.2:1

My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

Prov.3:21

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Luke 21:36

Exercise in Futility

 One of hubby's often used lines when explaining something is

'it's not that complicated!'...this phrase, I have found to be true in a lot of situations!

Yes, it's not that complicated. It's hard to trust a Stranger!

Oh, pray the Author of flowers is no stranger to us! 

Futile to plead for guidance Lord

But never read Your Word

Futile to find true hope and peace

In One never adored

Futile to look for confidence

Beyond earth’s dust-mist bar

Without awareness and belief

Dear Lord, in who you are

© Janet Martin

 Matthew 22:29 

Jesus answered and said to them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, …

 Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

James 5:13
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray.

 Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

Because Of How Little We Know...

Books filled with knowledge tell us only so much

Life’s day-to-day college hinged to time’s cooled touch

Where retrospect’s cast can put on quite a show

And re-impact us with how little we know

…where we, well-acquainted with years full of ‘learn’

Depend on hindsight for the wisdom we earn

Trip-slip, fumble-stumble yields experience

Teaching us to live-love with more reverence/patience

…and not take for granted that we will behold

The seeds that we planted turn from green to gold

And always remember, by God’s grace we go

Then trust Him because of how little we know

© Janet Martin

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Prov.3:5-6

A re-run because its message is needful every day!