Prelude to Summer's Swansong

The lamplight circle is full of flowers

But oh, I know its glow

Will soon relinquish summer’s hours

To leaf-tempests, then snow

The heart of a dreamer is full of summer

But oh, something tells me

A swansong waits to fill a stage

Where summer used to be

The night tiptoes in where daylight is laughing

But oh, he comes so soon

While we are busy autographing

Postcard-afternoons

Come, my darling, let’s dance ere the curtain

Falls and this season is past

I’m not a prophet, but I am quite certain

Nothing this good can last

© Janet Martin

We are having such a beautiful 'Goldilocks' summer...not too cold and not too hot...just right!

Since the boys I babysit are on a week of vacation it was a good time to tackle lots of jobs! Yesterday while working in the garden I noticed this sunflower among its deeper-hued peers. We are enjoying it as a center-piece...

The 'Re's of Reading God's Word

When we read the Word of God we are

Refreshed,

Renewed,

Reminded,

Rebuked,

Rewarded,

Reassured,

Refined,

Replenished,

Reinforced,

Restored,

Rest-assured

…remembering as we

Repented and believed, we

Received the gift of

Redemption and we

Rejoice

© Janet Martin

More Than a Circuit of Sunsets...

Day rises

Then sets

With its triumph,

Regrets

Where fear and faith contend

Night falls

Away

And Time begets

Another day, my friend

God gives

And takes

Heart sings

And aches

Pride breaks the golden rule

But God

Who loves

Us so

Abides

His grace forgives this fool

Man’s mortal

Thread

Of heart

And head

As we shed blood and tears

Fills

The embrace

Of One

Whose grace

Is greater than our years

The roof

Of sky

Amazes

Eyes

Where we, fixed on earth’s sod

Should not

Forget

Time’s transient

Thread

Is held in hands of God

© Janet Martin

 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…Eph. 1:5-7

Your Today and My Today...

Your today and my today

Though borne in common frame

Beneath a common sky

On common ground are not the same

We each must bear our share of care

What good is it to pine

Or pin our wishes on the air

Of vain fantasy’s vine

For your today and my today

Both joy and trouble shod

So different and yet alike

Are a kind gift from God

We each with varied busyness

Within time’s common name

In all its common differences

Should keep one thing the same

…in your today and my today

Lived out on common sod

In all we think and do and say

We ought to honor God

© Janet Martin

Wouldn't we all get along better if we focused on what God desires instead of what we want?

 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.…Col.3:23-24

 

God Cares

Problems can be roads to spiritual growth that good times will never provide.
We stand the tallest and the strongest
on our knees
before
God.

(Dr. Charles Stanley)

God cares and pleads for us to cast upon Him all our care

No pious platitudes, His Word; nothing He cannot bear

God cares: daily He succors us. Praise be to Holy God

No other god can sanctify the sinner through his blood

God cares; the earth and all therein belongs to Him thus we

Can trust The Great Caretaker for those things we cannot see

God cares; He does not overlook our unbelief and pride

But once for all He sent His Son; on our behalf He died

How could it be a God who sends His Son for us forgets?

God cares; His promises abide where pain and grief besets

He does not leave us comfortless; He hears our humble prayers

And answers in His timing: how He loves us, how God cares

© Janet Martin

 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Ps. 55:22

 
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Ps 68:19

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jer. 32:27 

One of my favorite songs...

God Will

God will walk with me
down streets where no one else will walk
God will talk with me
of things that no one else will talk

When no one else will walk
and no one else will talk
when no one will
God will

God will share with me
the little worries no one knows are there
God will care for me
whenever there is no one else to care

When no one will be there
and no one else will share
when no one will
God will

God will think of me
when friends forget and fail to understand
God will strengthen me
when I am weak and need a helping hand

When no one understands
or lends a helping hand
When no one will
God will
when no one will
God will