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.

Rules of Relinquishment...and a few recipes!

Sermon to me-self😐 

Sometimes, even though being busy is a blessing, 

I miss some things that didn't happen this year...

(Somehow the end of August always feels like the end of summer)

...am very happy with all the 'summer' sealed in jars though!

This is Veggie Soup, Salsa(recipe below) 

and Marinara Sauce(new fav!)

Don’t hold too tight; put up a fight but only where it counts

The law and order of life’s rites of passage do not shift

Be humbly grateful for the mist that falls from Mercy’s founts

For every single day, to one and all is but a gift

Don’t mourn too long sweet summer’s song of days bound into sheaf

Or hunger for much younger feet and lips, to dance and sing

Don’t hate the pace of meeker grace, or face refined by grief

For kinder those near winter than those who’ve known only Spring

Don’t ache for what Time takes but rather praise God for its More

No matter whether rich or poor, Time treats each one the same

It never leaves us younger than we were the day before

And when our numbered days are spent we go from whence we came

Don't wallow in regret but set your eyes toward what waits

And where the clock ran out on dreams that never did come true

Don't cry, but try to cherish fully life's present estates

Because before we know it This will fall prey to time too

© Janet Martin

Salsa Recipe

20-24 cups peeled chopped tomatoes(scald tomatoes for easy peeling)

8 cups chopped green peppers(or green and red mixed)

6 cups chopped onion

1 jalapeño pepper (remove seeds for milder salsa)

1 garlic bulb

2 tbsp. salt

1-1/3 cups white vinegar

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar (optional)

Chop tomatoes and green peppers by hand

Coarsely chop onions with food processor

Section and peel garlic cloves 

(quick way to peel them is to press clove hard with a glass and peeling falls away)

Chop garlic and jalapeño finely in food processor or slap-chopper

Mix all ingred.and bring to boil slowly to avoid burning.

Simmer for two hours or until thick.

(1-369ML can of tomato paste helps to thicken it more quickly)

Put in jars then into canner. Bring to boil and steam for 15 min.

Tug of Time...

The color of New Season starts where old shades fade and fray

The tug of time entangles hearts where threads dangle and sway

Its shuttle weaves, with day-to-day’s morning to eventide   

A tapestry of far-off leas where fond farewells reside

The final destiny of dancing feet draws nearer, oh

The tug of time is bittersweet; soft kiss and bitter blow

And no one is immune to winds that tune the green-leaf hymn

Where touch of noon to noon soon siphons summer from the limb

The ebb and flow of new today-dreams beckons and beguiles

The tug of time lassos its prey with love-lessons and smiles

Yet always on the fringe of Celebration's gifts galore

Is a searing Sensation that there must be Something More

Its funambulist teases us with joys that steal our breath

Where tug of time always eases us toward its latest death

It etches laugh-lines to the face, oft traced with tender tear

And keens us to a time and place beyond the Now and Here

The color of New Season starts where erstwhile colors end

The tug of time draws us toward More than four seasons, friend

Then, wise the one who holds out hands and lets Time’s strands fall free

For a clenched fist can’t cup the mist that weaves a memory

© Janet Martin

 Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Ps.90:12

Chance to Dance...?

God is a Perfect Dance-partner. 

With His arms around us He'll catch us when we fall, every time!

Looks like we'll be dancin' the Salsa for a day or two😏

Wings of wonder

Weight of woe

Which will be the ‘way we go’?

Trust or worry

Faith or fear

It is up to us, my dear

Circumstance

Is but The Chance

To drag our feet,
Or dance

© Janet Martin

Serious Cause For Hope or Fear

 Man looks on the outside (and some of what we see is perfect in all its imperfection)

 The Lord looks at the heart 1 Sam.16:7
(and some of what he sees is perfect because of His perfection)

Lord, you see deep down inside

Every hurt, fear, hunger, pride

Insecurity, despair

Every evil tempter’s dare

Idle whim, lofty ideal

How we think and how we feel

What we harbour, forgive, prize

Who we worship/idolize

Loneliness, remorse, regret,

Secret sorrow, weakness, yet

You never waver a bit

Loving us in spite of it

Knowing every little lie

Every selfish tear and sigh

Every battle, every foe

Every single want and woe

Every trip, slip, stumble, fall

Rendered in Thought’s hallowed hall

You see hearts tender or hard

Ignorance, hate, disregard,

Love, compassion, sympathy

Thankfulness, humility

Every foible and mistake

Still You will never forsake

Lord, you behold naked truth

Who could stand, aged and youth

For nothing is hid from you

All we think or say and do

Lord, if thou wert Judge alone

Who could bear life’s care and groan

If Love laid no bridge betwixt

Joy and hope could not exist

There would be no steppingstone

To the prayer-room at Your throne

Lord, You see inside, tis true

Pray You see a bit of You

© Janet Martin

I couldn't sleep last night for a while...(Tormentor and Teacher at odds)

until I focused on the fact that we see only the outside 

but the Lord knows the heart

(for better or worse)

and loves and forgives us all!

As far as the east is from the west so far does He remove our sins from us!

All we need to do is call on Him!

^" as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

  As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.  

For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust...

Ps.103:12-14 ESV