Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Morning (or Afternoon) Minuet



I needed to head out before I got this morning's post up...
Better late than never😅💗


I 'adopted' a bit of Anne of Green Gables' logic this morning
as I headed outdoors for my morning 'commune' with
my Heavenly Father...


In Ontario we are accustomed to white landscapes in February
making this year's gray-blue-bronze panoramas seem sort of surreal! 




The music of a new day starts to play upon the air
Earth emerges from beneath the soft surge of morning-tide
Where something like a greeting hymn and something like a prayer
Erases slumber’s eulogy from waking countryside

Hope’s precedence persuades us to face forward and look up
And bids us by the grace of God, once more to hoist faith’s cup
And trust Him for whatever spills to overflow its brim

Then sing to Him, whose love anoints/appoints each virgin steppingstone 
And bow before the one whose perfect will, will lead the way
And worship He who shepherds us through valleys of Unknown 
And trust the Hand that orchestrates each moment of each day

The music of a new day crescendos and fills the sky 
A little like a lilting celestial serenade
Or like a welkin minuet that kindles love's reply
With raised voices, to rejoice in this day the Lord has made 


© Janet Martin

Psalm 5:3
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; 
In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.


Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of Your strength 
and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.
 For You are my fortress, 
my refuge in times of trouble.




Lamentations 3:22-23
English Standard Version

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

What Trustworthy Reason To Rejoice



On this wild and wooly Canadian winter morning...
a love song!

Sweet and sobering Psalm 25 helped inspire this poem.

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
Ps.25:14



What wondrous reason to rejoice
Hope sets my heart ablaze
And beckons me to lift my voice
In hymns of gladdest praise

What awed expectation holds dear
Which He reveals to all who fear

What countless reasons to be glad
In spite of sorrow’s woe
Because of the sorrow God had
Because He loves me/us so

He, whose love is mighty to save
Set my captive soul free
His Son to ransom me

The blood of Jesus washed away
Sin’s curse; nothing else could
Now each day grants a chance to pay
My debt of gratitude

…with joy and hope's trust-worthy praise
Where endless reasons brim
To live a worship hymn

...and never let love's gladness cease
Through wayward wish or whim
To all who trust in Him

© Janet Martin

Psalm 72:19
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
 may all the earth be filled with His glory.
 Amen and amen.




Due to the gale more birds are opting for ground-cover today😂😅


One mourning dove (middle top) is getting his feathers ruffled as he applies his brakes😂😁










Saturday, January 6, 2024

Reproached Reticence or Grand Command

The sunrise the other morning commanded exaltation
to the God of all creation!!







I pause. 
I do not want to taint 
Perfection with my verse
and yet, 
a sense of pink ink thunders, 
as if to immerse
the part of me that poetry 
always gets the best of;
a need to pen 
an awed and meek amen,
to God above
with love. 
Whose wordless eloquence 
never ceases to rouse
an image of glory, before/beneath 
which every poet bows
to pour, with pure intention, 
utterance, 
however flawed
...to heed His invitation 
to exalt 
the name of God

...thus, I approach dawn's burning bush
to hear His Voice resound
With grand command,
'take off thy shoes
for this is holy ground'

© Janet Martin



Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place

and gave Him the name above all names,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.




poem in traditional form...


I pause. I do not want to taint Perfection with my verse
and yet, a sense of pink ink thunders, as if to immerse
the part of me that poetry always gets the best of;
a need to pen an awed and meek amen, to God above
with love. Whose wordless eloquence never ceases to rouse
an image of glory, before/beneath which every poet bows
to pour, with pure intention, utterance, however flawed
...to heed His invitation to exalt the name of God

...thus, I approach dawn's burning bush to hear His Voice resound
With grand command, 'take off thy shoes for this is holy ground'

© Janet Martin


Friday, December 29, 2023

The Greatest God By Far

 



The past week has been entirely lackluster
as far as the weather goes!
I am so glad our joy is not weather-dependent!
Do you ever find yourself laughing, 
agape with sweet joy
as you read God's ancient words and promises, 
ever new
full of grace and truth, 
written for me and you?!

He is the Greatest God by far!
(Why are we so prone to put other gods before Him?!!💔)

The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; 
When I fall, I will arise;
 When I sit in darkness, 
The LORD will be a light to me.

(click link to read the whole glorious chapter)

Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones;

it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.

2Praise the LORD with the harp;

make music to Him with ten strings.

3Sing to Him a new song;

play skillfully with a shout of joy.

4For the word of the LORD is upright,

and all His work is trustworthy.

5The LORD loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of His loving devotion.




Our God is wonderful
The Greatest God by far
He knows and loves and meets us all
Exactly where we are

No secret place exists
Beyond the gaze of He
Who drapes the earth in scarves of mist
And gathers up the sea

He does not shut His eye
As some are wont to think
But fills the scrolls of earth and sky
With inimitable ink

His poetry confounds
None able to ignore
His majesty that knows no bounds
Yet points to so much more

The Lord is good, and knows
Each one that trusts in Him
Though darkness strikes a hostile pose
His Light no depth can dim

Faith marvels at His Word
And feasts upon His grace
A gift, precious and undeserved
To salvage human race

No forgetful God, He
But wonderful and true
His delight, kindness and mercy
To likes of me and you

Oft obstinate and proud
Oft unthankful and vain
He stirs the dust of Heaven’s cloud
And kisses earth with rain

For He is wonderful
The Greatest God by far
He cares and loves to meet us all
Exactly where we are

© Janet Martin



Tuesday, December 19, 2023

This Christmas, As I Come To Gaze (At Thy Nativity)


Recently a message I listened to contained the caution that we, as believers 
should guard against getting caught up in romanticizing the Nativity, 
easily possible when charmed by enchanting figurines... 


Sometimes, in this age of 'progressive thinkers' some so-called believers
assume the 'perks' and promises of salvation, 
God's favors and blessings 
without first entering through the Door 
of true repentance which leads to obedience. 

May we, as we search the scriptures, 
ask God to open the eyes of humbled hearts 
to seek and know the full truth of what we 'most surely believe'...
Today's poem began as I pondered parts of Luke 1.



Dear Jesus,

This Christmas as I come to gaze
At Thy nativity
May no vain thought hinder my praise
Or mar my love for Thee

With childlike faith without dispute
With stubborn will undone
With worship in spirit and truth
May I behold Thy Son

The Saviour of the World, first laid
in lowly feeding trough
Thy holiest of holy Babe
No kingly splendor sought  

That none should envy how You came
nor covet Thy renown 
The King of kings, in mortal frame 
From Heaven's throne, stepped down

Then, as I bring my gift of love
To Thy nativity
Impress on me the shadow of
the cross/Gate of Calvary

Amen~

  Janet Martin



  


Monday, November 20, 2023

Rejoice and Be Glad Kick-off to a New Week

The passage below can't help but kindle holy hope and joy in our hearts!

Ps.130:1-5
Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!
2O Lord, hear my voice;
let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
3If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities,
then who, O Lord, could stand?
4But with You there is forgiveness,
so that You may be feared.
5I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait,
and in His word I put my hope.

***
This month's Sunday School Verse
for grades 1-6 is pretty awesome too!
(Picturing this scene is rather beyond thought's comprehension, isn't it?!!)
Every living thing shouting God's praise!

Rev.5:13
Then I heard every creature in heaven 
and on earth
 and under the earth 
and on the sea, 
and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne 
and to the Lamb
be praise and honor 
and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

The above verse, and
 Saturday night's sunset...




...and a lot of unexpected beauty and joy
 in the middle of love's/duty's muddle...




helped to inspire this poem💝🙏


This is the day the Lord has made
Let joy and gladness brim
As we pick up our tools of trade
To humbly honor Him
Because no matter what we do
However great or small
It is enough when offered to
Our gracious Lord of all

Today unfurls love’s living rooms
Let’s make them fit for kings
Where each season profusely blooms
With joy in simple things
And life’s secret to happiness
Is not for favored few
But for each heart when thankfulness
Runs every corner through

Behold, goodness and mercy’s fount
Its measure, who can trace?
Where none could stand if God would count
Our sins without His grace
But He forgives all who repent
His pardon never fails
Thus, joy and gladness cease lament
As thankfulness prevails

This is the day the Lord has made
By His sovereign command
Majesty's grandeur is displayed
On sky and sea and land
And only a fool dares to boast
In what God grants to we
Who are at best, need’s uttermost
Subjects of love’s decree

Then, in light of God’s faithful love
That, through good times and bad
Replenishes Reason Enough
To rejoice and be glad
Surely hope’s undeterred reply
Is to fill all our days
Not with the bitterness of ‘why’
But with joy’s thankful praise

© Janet Martin

today's tools of trade at my house include
empty jars and apples,
paring knife, peeler, bowls and pots etc.!


The goal?!
Canned apple pie-filling😋😊
Our apple tree receives no extra TLC besides
what the Good Lord grants in sun and rain.
 So whatever I preserve with apples are usually apples I have purchased.
This year (due to lots of rain?)
 our tree has a bumper crop of mostly un-wormy,
what I have dubbed 'play-apples'.
Last week I dried some ...(google how to oven-dry apples)


...and also did my first ever batch of pie-filling!
It is delicious! 
I hope to share the recipe on a future post!

Monday, November 13, 2023

What A Friend We Have In Jesus


No matter who or where we are,
 what we shoulder or what we face...
What a Friend We Have in Jesus!


But I will sing of Your strength 
and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.
 For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.


Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength,
 an ever-present help in times of trouble.



I love you Lord, my Help, the One in whom I put my trust
I love you Lord, my Hope until I shed this garb of dust
I love you Lord, my Joy in grief, my Comforter and Friend
I love Your Word to cheer and keep Faith faithful to the end
I love You for You understand each wordless groan of prayer
I love You, as You walk with me through valleys of despair
I love Your Hand to hold me as life doles its ups and downs
I love You. You console me when anguish my gladness crowns/drowns
I love You, Lord; You are my strength; through You I will endure
I love You, Lord, for I am rich when my spirit is poor
I love You Lord; your grace and mercy pour as I beseech
I love You, for You minister where no one else can reach
I love You Lord; You are my song in the night and the day
I love You. You forgive my sin and wash my guilt away
I love You, Lord; You are my anchor when storms test and toss
I love You; death defeated through the power of the cross
I love You; Lord, You are my peace when fear seeks to prevail
I love You with the love You give; Your love will never fail

© Janet Martin






Saturday, October 28, 2023

With All That God Makes Possible...

Happy final golden weekend of October, 2023


In autumn poetry tugs at the heart at every turn
awakening in us the same awe as it did in poets of old...

Psalm 8

 O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

You have set Your glory

above the heavens.

2From the mouths of children and infants

You have ordained praiseb

on account of Your adversaries,

to silence the enemy and avenger.

3When I behold Your heavens,

the work of Your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which You have set in place—

4what is man that You are mindful of him,

or the son of man that You care for him?

5You made him a little lower than the angels;c

You crowned him with glory and honor.

6You made him ruler of the works of Your hands;

You have placed everything under his feet:d

7all sheep and oxen,

and even the beasts of the field,

8the birds of the air and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

9O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is Your name in all the earth!


If at all possible, allow yourself to pause from pressing care
To rest beneath the golden bough slowly but surely growing bare...



Look at the birds and breathe a prayer of thankfulness to He who tends
The creatures of land, sea and air with mercy’s gracious dividends...



If at all possible, delight in simple sight-and-sound of Leaf
Indulge desire’s appetite with wonders, momentous and brief...





If at all possible, allow yourself to pause from pressing care
To rest beneath the golden bough slowly but surely growing bare
Take time to hum a humble hymn of hope, happiness, peace and love
To take note of the gifts that brim from autumn’s dimming treasure trove

Look at the birds and breathe a prayer of thankfulness to He who tends
The creatures of land, sea and air with mercy’s gracious dividends
Now and then commit to ignore the rigid edict of tick-tock
Enjoy falls fading hues before they strew the yard and street and walk

If at all possible, delight in simple sight-and-sound of Leaf
Indulge desire’s appetite with wonders, momentous and brief
Enjoy the view, autumn-dawn pure; of no two days ever the same
Drawing us to our Farewell Tour back to the Hand from whence we came

Explore moments shucked from a sheaf that spills its grief in russet snow
As soft, the earth is tucked beneath a counterpane of Afterglow
If at all possible, allow Autumn’s glory to steal your breath
Before the gold and scarlet bough bears the stark evidence of death

Oh Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your great name in all the earth
From age to age, You light the wick that kindles worship's awestruck birth
For no mortal can grasp Your ways and thoughts, but should wholly contend 
With all that You make possible, to praise and praise You without end 

© Janet Martin

Explore moments shucked from a sheaf that spills its grief in russet snow
As soft, the earth is tucked beneath a counterpane of Afterglow...



If at all possible, allow Autumn’s glory to steal your breath...
Before the gold and scarlet bough bears the stark evidence of death...