The Journey of a Moment

From moments
to memories...
God, remind us of this
so it will be a pleasure
to reminisce

From moments
to memories
God, open our eyes
to the value of moments
so we may be wise

From moments
to memories
Both joy and regret
God help us remember
But teach us to forget...

Janet Martin~

If we refuse to redeem time wisely
It is possible
for breadth of thistledown
to crush us...

Memories

They adorn phantom stages

They breathe on night’s breeze

Turning invisible pages

Into memories

 

As we weep on a coffin

I thank God for these

For they comfort us often

They are memories

Parting can be heart-rending

But through grief’s agonies

We have the tender blessing

Of memories

Now we hold a moment

How precious are these

Seeds; for they grow into

Memories

© Janet Martin

Let's make today
a good memory!

Counting Lessons

We could count our sorrows

But tell me, what would we gain?

For the blessing of tomorrow

Often sprouts within the rain

So we should count our blessings

For we cannot really know

The depth of their conception

Or the Stream from whence they flow

© Janet Martin

The sun smiles in puddle-mirrors

After a Rainy Night in June...

The woods, veiled  in the distance

Crowns the border of the land

The earth; refreshed and glistening

‘Neath the Giver’s gracious hand

Where pastures, parched and pleading

Longed for nectar, pure, divine

Emerald fields ripple with promise

Replenished by heaven’s wine

The heart, veiled with the body

And the body, fresh from sleep

Have relinquished yester’ sorrow

For it is not ours to keep

But the hour pleads with Promise

And we dare not dance in vain

So we drink the Spirit’s nectar

Replenished by holy rain

The border of the hour

Is a phantom consciousness

Yet we recognize the Power

Whereby it is lent to us

The known, veiled in the distance

By a mist of vast unknown

Draws our hearts from fear’s resistance

To the footstool of His throne

© Janet Martin

His Word to the believer

Is what rain is to the earth

This is the day the Lord has made,

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:24  

Rainy Night in June

Tonight the screen is heavy
with  warm,silver tears of June
The wind weeps; melancholy
a low and mournful tune
over the darkened pasture
and through my rain-swept heart
where I hold you to me, darling
while we are far apart

Tonight the sky is a hollow
without border, base or breadth
Its blackness seems to swallow
The wee, winsome drop of earth
Tonight I cannot hold back
the tears that fall like rain
And so I hold you closer
Until we will meet again

I feel your soothing whisper
Cool the longing on my skin
I hear our tumbled music
Soothe the aching deep within
I taste our salty teardrops
As they sweep thought's vague rampart
Oh, who knew that an ocean
Could be held within a heart?

J~

Thank-you for Calvary

Jesus said, “It is finished.” John 19:30

When I think of my weakness

And how lost I would be

I cry thank-you Jesus

For Calvary

When I think of my wretchedness

And my vast need

I cry thank-you Jesus

For Calvary

When doubt and despair

Seek to over-whelm me

I cry thank-you Jesus

For Calvary

When I see myself

Bound for eternity

I cry thank-you Jesus

For Calvary

© Janet Martin

 When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 1 Cor. 11: 24-26

Right on Time

You guide the seed on the wind, Lord

You see the place where it rests

Give us discernment of mind, Lord

Help us to plant our best

You teach the seed how to grow, Lord

We simply water and wait

There is much we do not know, Lord

But we know you are never late

© Janet Martin

Perfect Order

The vibrant bloom is drooping

And my pulse is charged with grief

As I see the quiet workings

Of a stealthy, subtle thief

As sure as spring turns into summer

And the summer turns to fall

Is the fair and fleeting favor

Of life’s youthful madrigal

Soon its eager glow is ravaged

By the pilferage of time

Soon the bud of blossomed beauty

Succumbs to the season’s rhyme

And the flower weeps its petals

Back to earth from whence it came

Leaving nothing but its memory

And the whisper of its name

Yes, the vibrant bloom is drooping

Man cannot dissuade the course

Or design of nature’s order

Nor the Hand beneath its force

To everything there is a season

And a time for every plan

We cannot thwart God’s perfect reason

For we are simply…man

© Janet Martin

I noticed that the peonies are beginning to die and something akin to grief stirred in me to realize another year of peonies is quickly passing...

Eccles. 3:1-8

Isa.55:8-13 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire

  and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”