First and Foremost

The Birth of Jesus

…But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:…

Matt.1:20-22

(The Title Page in this video has an error: it should say Matt Mayer instead of Matt Redman)

To He who lends dawn’s mystery

And bids night’s awning dim

He bids that our love should be

First and foremost for Him

God sent His Son to earth to move

And change the world.  Jesus

Through lowly birth and death would prove

How great His love for us

Upon a donkey mile on mile

His mother Mary rode

To Bethlehem; heavy with Child

To search for night’s abode

No room was found to lay her head

Only a stable’s floor

Only a manger for the bed

Of Jesus Christ, the Lord

Holy, most holy King of kings

Stepped from His throne to be

For all mankind, The Offering

That sets doomed sinners free

They gave to Him the name Jesus

According to God’s Word

And faithful through the ages, still

The heart of man is stirred

No greater story ever told

It is not finished yet

Until the prophecies of old

Unfold all that He said

From He who lends dawn’s mystery

And bids night’s awning dim

He commands our love to be

First and foremost for Him

© Janet Martin

The Greatest Commandment

…“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.…

 Matt.22:36-38

Happy First Day of Winter (or Happy-days-will-start-to-get-longer)

In keeping with The Times, the rain outside the window is trying hard to turn into snow.

Last night's rain dissolved the last clinging traces of white,

So after all that snow we've had, we're back to Dreaming of a White Christmas!

Happy Winter Begins!

Season of boots

Coats, mitts and hats

And smoke and soot,

And fireside naps

And steaming mugs

And ice and snow

And sweater-hugs

And cold gales, oh,

And dazzling sweeps

Of green forgot

And shoveled heaps

Of you know what

And fuzzy socks

And small-print books

And crisp, brisk walks

And pillow-nooks

And scrabble-boards

And poetry

Some without words

Like stars set free

To tumble-twirl

In soundless lilt

And tuck the world

Beneath down-quilt

The barren tree

A work of art

Its melody

A tug-of-heart

The dormant lea

A Master Peace

The cup of tea

A sweet release

Season of grays

And fresh-baked Yum

Of humble praise

For Home-warm-home

Of breath-cloud b-r-r-r

And frost-starred glass

Of winter, shiver-

Come-to-pass

© Janet Martin

Christmas Blessing for our Beloved School-bus Drivers

Lord, for these plainclothes Angels

We know through wave and nod

We pray a special blessing to

These ranks that few applaud

Their charge, most Precious Cargo

The dearest in the world

Full of the noise and joys of youth

Our darling boys and girls

They suffer driver fury

And honks and glares and such

But moms and dads can set their clocks

By the big yellow bus

And we are oh, so thankful

For this early-rising fleet

Of common-looking angels

Driving up and down our streets

Lord, grant them joy and patience

For this brave-hearted task

And keep your hand upon the wheel

Lord, in Thy name we ask

Amen

© Janet Martin

Sky-art (No Charge!)

 The past few mornings, after many gray day-breaks, have been totally wow-some!

The skyline stretches

Where whispers unfold

Stark raven sketches

On canvas red-gold

Rivers of colour

Burgeon, brim and spill

Over yon border

Across vale and hill

Dream-lands grow dormant

Dim; then disappear

Lost in a torrent

Of soft pink veneer

Hearts burst with wonder

Eyes gape, wide with awe

Praising the author

Of Time’s lofty law

Of His grace extended

Of love’s fortitude

Of blunder amended

With Mercy renewed

…of glory adorning

Earth’s sliver of sod

Of skies charged with morning

And hope charged with God

© Janet Martin

(this passage never loses its beauty)

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end; 

 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lam.3:22-23

Photograph

My fondest form of treasured torture is reliving through pictures...

Every year at Christmas, for the families whose children I cared for

I make a photo memento of some sort.

This involves going through all the photos and the feelings they inspire...

in one word; Bittersweet! 

I've had a lot of kiddos pass through my arms to that Forever-place in my heart!

 Photos are my tangible treasure of days gone by!

Warning; this video will induce love's best proof; tears!

But it is exactly how I feel as I go through a years worth of photos!

A photograph, I think is one of life’s most lovely things

It draws our thoughts toward a face or place held in the heart

A smiling piece of paper, yet, what happiness it brings

A bit of you still next to me when we are far apart

A photograph preserves the echo we would soon forget

It keeps one’s youth intact while Time insists upon its ‘say’

And long after The Way We Were has cast its silhouette

A photograph encapsulates fond frames of yesterday

A photograph can make us laugh or shed love’s tender tear

We press its page against the tugging ache of Having Held

And look a little closer at the glorious Now and Here

Before we feel the Winnowing where hug and hollow meld

A photograph keeps those who’ve gone The Way We Will nearby

Sentimental memento that is dearer than before

And though perhaps it rouses Sorrow’s tear within the eye

It reminds us to cherish what we hold a little more

Ah, photograph, sweet photograph, a card with double edge

You remind us of time’s fleet feet and soldered ties that bind

Yet, on the other hand you help us reaffirm the pledge

To savour the full flavour of what soon is left behind

© Janet Martin