Let's Get Real!

PAD Challenge day 20: For today’s prompt, write a light poem.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. 

Instead, they set it on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

 In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matt.5:15-16

This monument in the Port of Sydney, struck a powerful chord when we visited last year.

Let's pray for passion to reach and help the needy in the chilling storms of life!

None of us can do it all but all of us can do something!

this photo was taken at the Sydney Merchant Mariner's Memorial.

Yes. Let’s get real. The way we feel should strike a kindred cord

For we all bear the brunt of love and longing’s two-edged sword

Then let’s be honest with each other; that which disappears

Hones and reshapes us with the carving knife of days and years

Where what we hold of moment gold soon falls prey to past’s knell

(For He who gives has the authority to take as well)

Then let’s get real and focus on the way we ought to live

And recognize that what we have God lent to us to give

For we are called to love each other and make this our aim

To shine the Light of Him through us and glorify His name

Yes. Let’s get real where Want’s appeal is never satisfied

Let’s lay up treasure far beyond this frond of dust and pride

Let’s make it our mission to focus on love’s reply

And pray to God to help us when our longing runs awry

Where we are altogether first-time travelers of Time

And none of us can see beyond this Very Present Clime/climb

Where pray then, all together, tethered by hope’s heart and soul

Let’s live to help each other as we press toward The Goal

For we are called to shine our light through good deeds, Self-denied

So that our Father up in Heaven may be glorified

© Janet Martin

Contentment is like a Sweater...

It seems over and over we need to learn and relearn to adapt, then re-adapt, 

to plan then re-plan as circumstance changes 'dance-steps'...

Lord, teach us how in all of this 

to be content.
(written as a reminder when contentment's feathers get a little ruffled and yanked)

Contentment is like a sweater

Cashmere-soft in its embrace

Bigger than the grind we weather

Or the hopes and dreams we chase

Contentment is like heart-laughter

The secret to happiness

Its essence lingers long after

Hold-and- hug cools its caress

Contentment is like a flower

With a bloom that never dies

Splash of colour cheers each hour

Priceless, modest pleasure-prize

Contentment is heaven's rhythm

On earth's rocking-chair of life 

While we bounce and bump unbidden

While want bears the carving knife

Contentment is like home-fires

Warming us while wild winds brood

Satisfying heart’s desires

With genuine gratitude

© Janet Martin

...and now?

I must be content to scrub the porridge pot

because the oatmeal soundly burned 

while I 'purred' about contentment😏 

...and a song I thought of us I called up to Victoria to

'rise and shine and start another hard-work day!'

Love's Kind Command

PAD Challenge 19: Today is our third Two-for-Tuesday prompt day. 

Pick one prompt for your poem today, or write a poem for each prompt, 

or write one poem that works with both. Today’s prompts are:

1. Write a protagonist poem, and/or…
2. Write an antagonist poem.

 We are wired to like to know...

God's love commands us to trust.

How can we learn to trust?

First we need to learn to listen to the still small voice,

then we need to learn to surrender our will/obey

only then will we be able to trust.

We could not but for mercy’s Hand

Face what not one of us can see

Lord, help us trust love's kind command

To all disciples, ‘follow me’

There is an enemy that lurks

And seeks to thwart and lead astray

He distracts us from righteous works

With what at first glance seems okay

Lust rules with want and taunts with fear

Unlike the Love that sets us free

And guides our step, comforts our tear

And whispers gently ‘follow me’

Then like the twelve, teach us to trust

And heed love’s call to ‘follow me’

For we can do all things we must

Through Christ who strengthens faithfully

© Janet Martin

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

  Phil.4:13

  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Matt 4:19

Before The Music Fades

PAD Challenge day 18: For today’s prompt, write a music poem. 

 I had the pleasure of hearing the K-W symphony perform this past weekend...

Here's bit of a blurry glimpse as the musicians took their places...

(obviously no cameras allowed after it begins)

Music reminds me we are all part of a great orchestra!

Arise, the day is dawning

Time does not skip a beat

The Maestro of the morning

Unfolds a music sheet

Where notes of joy and sorrow

Compose a veiled array

As the drum roll of morrow

Becomes the break of day

Come; take your place of honor

The Leader of the band

Is a Flawless Conductor

So focus on His Hand

For we hear but a section

But He who whets the dawn

Will blend into perfection

Our noise with His baton

Hark, on the dark horizon

A prelude starts to play

Pink flush frays the plush ribbon

That held earth’s stage at bay

Then, as the curtain rises

Into the firmament

Hope, in all shapes and sizes

Picks up its instrument

Ah, soul-sacred concerto

Of both ballad and dirge

While tick-tock metes the tempo

As anthems ebb and surge

Pray  that far more than Duty

Tunes blues and serenades

So we can hear the beauty

Before the music fades

© Janet Martin

 1 Chronicles 16:23
Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Proclaim His salvation day after day.

Romans 15:11
And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

Free Access

 PAD Challenge day 17: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Free (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, 

because he will save his people from their sins."

Matt 1:21

Zach Williams...
It was an honor performing #ThereWasJesus at the 2019 #CMAAwards with Dolly Parton! 

Listen to the rest of the album here: https://ZachWilliams.lnk.to/RescueSto...

Because the price was paid

By Christ at Calvary

We may approach with confidence

The one who set us free

Despair is like a noose

Of unbelief in He

Who cut the chains to Hades loose

And set the captive set free

Free to pass through The Door

To the Most Holy Place

Never by what or who we are;

It is a gift of grace

Because the price was paid

By Christ at Calvary

Where restitution has been made

Therefore access is free

© Janet Martin

 Romans 5:1-5

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, 

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand; 

and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, 

because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, 

because God has poured out His love into our hearts 

through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.