Of Great Privilege

It is no small thing

This privilege we are given

To approach the throne of grace

And God of earth and Heaven

To make our wants and wishes known

And claim His victory as our own

It is no mere thought

That we can freely call

Upon the Name of Christ the Lord

Creator of us all

That He who formed us from the dust

May be the One in whom we trust

When we beckon to Him

It is no casual place

That we approach with love and shame

To kneel in His embrace

But by His holy Blood-drops spilt

He vanquishes our debt of guilt

It is no small thing

This little word called prayer

As He makes intercession

For those groans we cannot bear

And there He lavishes on us

The hope we find in Him, JESUS!

© Janet Martin

 Pray without ceasing; 1 Thess. 5:17

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. Romans 8:26

Four Easter Tankas

The Tanka is a Japanese poem of five lines. The first and third are composed of five syllables, and the others seven. In Japanese, tanka is often written in one straight line, but in English and other languages, we usually divide the lines into the five syllabic units: 5-7-5-7-7.

Poetic Bloomings Prompt: tanka poem

While I chose my pride

He chose three nails and a cross

A spear in his side

While rivers of holy blood

Poured in streams of redemption

***

While I stood with them

Scoffing to hide my just fear

He gave perfect love

As He bowed His thorn-crowned Head

Declaring, ‘it is finished’

 ***

While I stood condemned

Jesus signed my redemption

With His sacred blood

And now all who will believe

May have everlasting life…

***

(I was going to stop here, but how can I? One more tanka of humble grateful praise)

Sing hallelujah

Lift your voice in joyful praise

Christ reigns forever

This King calls us His children

All we must do is believe

~Janet Martin~

100% Crazy

The way you unzip my heart

with your half-grin words

the way you undo my will

in an almost perfect hurt

the way you touch me

from a thousand miles away

drives me 100% crazy

every day

the way you lure me

with vowels and consonants

holding me captive

without resistance

because the seduction of poetry

will have its way

and drive me 100 % crazy

every day

what perfect torment

of soul you have stirred

in the inexplicable haunting of

unwritten word

for Muse oft elusive

will have her way

and drive me 100% crazy

every day

J~

Poetics Aside Prompt: 100%....something

A Couple of Blues Songs

Housewife Blues

Mama always said that there’d be days like this

Oh, mama always said that there’s be days like this

But ‘dis dog days been so doggone long, I think that’s all there is

Chil’runs got my van and they got my money too

Oh, them chil’run’s got my van and they got my money too

But they brung the van back with an empty tank, what is a mom to do?

Sonny, grab a pail, the roof’s begun to leak

Oh, sonny grab a pail ‘cause the roof’s begun to leak

But we’ll be fine, a little laughter and wine, until sunshine next week

Got me some lovin’ and I got me some singin’ to do

Got me some prayin’ and got me some thankin’ too

The Lord never leaves us, we’re gonna make it through

Blues Song

he flew in on a horse with one bad knee

naw, he rode in on a dragon from the sea

and everyone wondered who this man could be

he stole the heart of every maid in town

no, he stole the will of every girl around

while every man began to hunt him down

his words were brilliant like a halo-wreath

his words were smooth as honey-buttered breath  

but when he smiled he had maggots in his teeth

sally, don’t chase those lies of  azure blue

he’s a’gonna break your spirit if you do

‘cause nothin’s gonna last that’s too good to be true

he flew out of town on the end of a loaded gun

no, he rode out of town on the fist’s of every man’s son

and when they put him down oh, you shoulda’ seen him run

Janet~

NaPoWriMO Prompt: Write a blues song

A Royal Wedding

Image Source:  wordincarnate.wordpress.com

Behold: look yonder

See what breaks the ramparts of the sky

As golden thunder

Sends the stars in showers from on high

Behold; who comes

In royalty on heaven’s mercy seat

With angel legions at his side

Winged creatures at His feet

Behold; what sounds

What fills the air with roar of rushing water?

And who descends

With glory rare in search of Zion’s daughter?

Behold; behold

It is the Lord. Behold the Bridegroom comes

As hallelujah fills the air

His bride is coming home

Behold the Love

He sees her there in linens bright and clean

Behold the blood

That cleansed Her where vile sin-stains once had been

Behold the song

That rends the earth; behold the great I AM

‘Blessed are those invited to

The wedding of the Lamb’

© Janet Martin

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
"Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
both great and small!"

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.

8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)

9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Rev. 19: 5-9

NaPoWriMo Prompt : write an

Epithalamium

(wedding poem)

No Apologies Necessary

You will never apologize to me

For taking my heart

One small piece at a time

Love expands hearts, I suppose

Because no matter how many pieces you take

There is always a little left

And I know you will never apologize

For the way you twist those remaining pieces

Inside-out

…but that’s okay

If you never apologize to me

I never apologized to my mother either

© Janet~

For Poetics Aside Prompt: Apologies or not

I'm Sorry, Dear Sir

Poetic Aside Prompt: An Apology or Un-apology.

I’m sorry, dearest sir
but you seem quite unaware
of the dangerous stir
in the atmosphere
and you seem oblivious
to my sudden attraction
Kind sir, may I offer
an explanation?

My dear sir, I’m sorry

but it is not your hair
though it is quite attractive, I agree
and the thing that is causing my open-mouth stare
is not your fine physicality
Your eyes are a striking and breath-taking blue
and I'll admit your face is quite handsome too
Your jeans, I am sure are a quality brand
but today I am drawn to that thing in your hand
and the scent that startled me as you strode by
rousing a wild, dangerous insanity
so unless you care to finish what you have begun
I suggest you hang on to your coffee and run!

Janet

Gleaming or Looming

The day looms before us

We know not its sands

Its mystery unfolded

From Heavenly hands

Shall we approach it

With trembling and fear

Or with the assurance

That our God is near?

The day gleams before us

What comfort to know

That God watches o’er us

Wherever we go

© Janet Martin

The unknown has the potential to fill us with fear...

...or hope. Which will it be for us today?

Does the unknown loom or gleam?

  So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10