Cadence of Conversation...

A young man who started attending our church recently 

was killed suddenly yesterday afternoon! 

Oh, how our hearts ache for his sorrowing loved ones.

What were the last words they exchanged, I wonder

as I try to remember mine to my loved ones 

should we not meet again this side of heaven?!

...and oh, how precious the memories that ring with the cadence of conversation and laughter!

a birthday tea with friends...

hubby and brother-in-law solving the world's problems;-)

supper ...

sisters...

Cadence of conversation mingles with the noise of life

It draws us into mutual worlds of kindred joys and strife

Filling the gap between us with chatter’s sweet melody

Like little brooks that sparkle from the meadow to the sea

In coffee-shops, on sidewalks or along a crowded beach

Around the supper table flows the fellowship of speech

And oft we never give its interchange much thought at all

Tossing words back and forth like a weightless, colorful ball

Cadence of conversation, how its common beauty cheers

We share our weight of creature cares, our hopes and dreams and fears

And little do we think about the possibility

That what we say might be the final words from you or me

How precious is the sound that creates common ground and such

Where we meet in the middle as talking and list’ning touch

Then, as we think about it we should always keep in mind

That what we say will someday spill in echoes left behind

…and not, until the voice is gone from us forevermore

Do we so dearly crave what we took for granted before

When we, without much thought at all would share our griefs and joys

…cadence of conversation mingled with life’s background noise

© Janet Martin

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
 but only what is helpful for building up the one in need
and bringing grace to those who listen.

Now-and-Here or Here-and-Now

 This morning's here-and-now was quite messy, sticky and noisy!!!

this afternoon, thanks to naps the here-and-now is quieter and a little tidier!

...and a lot less cute😊

The best we have with which to serve, in present-essence streams

The past is made of seasons cast, morrow, of hopes and dreams

But here-and-now unveils the prow of opportunity

And darling, what becomes of it is up to you and me

Each circumstance is but a chance to drink from mercy’s fount

Each day a gift that God will sift (we all will give account)

Failure, full of excuse would be a noose that stifles cheer

But for God’s grace to help us face the charge of now-and-here

The Loom that grants the bloom that plants the seeds of daily grind

With give and take soon fills the wake of ages left behind

Then how imperative to give the best we have, my dear

For life becomes its total sum with simple Now-and-Here

Whatever spills in thrills or ills wafts on the winds of change

To fill a mold that none can hold and twilight will estrange

The best we have with which to serve we dare not overlook

Lest then somehow we miss the wow here-and-now overtook

Give thanks; the ranks that march to no-repeat beats of tick-tock

Fall prey to Yore behind a door that no one can unlock

Where sphere to sphere the now-and-here like bubbles, bob then burst

And what just was is not because it is in was immersed

Time’s laden trays that we appraise can dish out quite a mess

Wasted somehow if here-and-now never finds happiness

For we are fixed in present, twixt where past and future streams

Here-and-now existent, yet dependent on both, it seems

Dear me and you; all that we do deserves our humble best

Each now-and-here soon disappears to its eternal rest

Then would that we with word and deed the Lord of life applaud

And revere now-and-here for what it is; a gift from God

© Janet Martin

As We Trust And Obey...

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority,
because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.
Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no benefit to you.

Heb.13:17

This verse was mentioned as we prayed for our church leaders in Sunday School and I thought 

about how leaders watch over/parent their church family in a way like moms and dads watch and pray and are vigilant about their son's and daughter's health...physical, emotional and spiritual!

My nephew was baptized on Sunday. 
We rejoice on such occasions and thank God!

But we also know the master of temptation is still on the prowl
 seeking those he may devour and the real fight has just begun!
May we all be faithfully prayerful for each other
that we may be godly in an ungodly world! 

I wrote the first two stanzas of the poem below before the kiddos arrived,

Sometimes its hard to pick up on the same train of thought 6 hours
and a morning of work and play between ...

...as I try to re-collect my thoughts while they nap😊

 Lord willing it is still close to what it started out to be...

Now on the verge of day a splurge of gold and blush emerge

To rush the height of heavens through and brush the night away

The mercies we depend upon renew love’s tender urge

No matter what today may hold to trust God, and obey

For we are in a fight against dark princes of the air

Soul-thirsty demons wait to take captive mind, heart and hand

Ah, without God to help us who the enemy could bear

And without His full armour who can evil’s war withstand

“Come all you who are heavy-laden. I will give you rest”

Compassion’s invitation is extended to us all

And if our God is for us we can overcome the test

Fear will not have dominion no matter what may befall

…where on the verge of dawn a splurge of color melts the dark

To rush the heights of heaven through and usher in new day

The mercies we depend upon renewed as we embark

To run the race, armed with God’s grace as we trust and obey

© Janet Martin

...and on this note I better skedaddle!

We are having a 'last summer-like day on this first day of October so I better

make good use of it and dig out the rest of those spuds!

I hope your are having a special Happy October 1st!

Somehow A Heart...

 Cleaning out vegetable and flower gardens

is always bittersweet...

and part of my heart always seems to go with it.

 ...but I'm not pulling out all the veggies yet, until the threat of killer-frost

 so we can keep on enjoying fresh-from the garden rainbow-suppers!

oops, I was so excited to eat it when it was cooked I forgot to take a picture...

so picture a plate with chicken and veggie stir-fry, 

red tomato slices, green and red lettuce, 

white feta cheese and bits of wholewheat wrap.

Yum!

Somehow a heart repairs its wounds

And makes the bearer of it smile

When bud has borne its parting blooms

We mourn its plumes a little while

Then bind the season that we had

With brand new reasons to be glad

Somehow a heart restores its loss

With more of what first made it sing

For sorrow is love’s albatross

But love runs rife with life’s fresh fling

Where hearts hold threads that interlace

Both launching pad and resting place

Somehow a heart resists farewell

Where moments like links in a chain

Hinge to a fringe that tolls a bell

That tugs somewhere hard to explain

And yet, we cannot be too sad

Because of the good times we had

Somehow a heart resigns its ache

To burst with both bitter and sweet

Where the mercies of give and take

Will sometimes make it skip a beat

And wonder as its pieces fall

That there is a heart left at all

 (repeat first stanza at the end, optional)

Somehow a heart repairs its wounds

And makes the bearer of it smile

When bud has borne its parting blooms

We mourn its plumes a little while

Then bind the season that we had

With brand new reasons to be glad

© Janet Martin

oh!  you're still feeling a little peckish?
 how about one of the Apple-oatmeal muffins that Victoria made!