Monday, February 3, 2020

Evaluating The Bare Facts


 So much to tempt the palette on life's buffet!
How does one choose?!
Ah, yes! By who one serves.

Joshua 24:14
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: 
and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, 
and in Egypt; 
and serve ye the LORD.

STUNNING sky-show to start the day/week!




Fitness, fashion, food, fame, riches
What is our pursuit?
Choice is like the thread that stitches
Action to the fruit

Passion, penance, prudence, pleasure
Ah, what potent seed
Motive unfolds into measure
Of our word and deed

Fancy’s folly, worship’s wonder
What do we applaud?
One last breath will cast asunder
Everything but God

© Janet Martin




Saturday, February 1, 2020

Forge On, Fellow-Follower


Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, 
before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say,
 "I find no pleasure in them"--
Eccles.12:1



Christians are under attack worldwide but forge on, fellow-follower of Jesus,
if God is for us who can be against us?! Rom.8:31

Forge on, the framework of today will fill with what we do and say
The things that test this rebel clay nobody can foresee
But take heart, all who trust the name of He who bore our guilt and shame
In spite of what heretics claim; God WAS, IS and WILL BE

His Word, infallible and sure will keep the believer secure
And help the runner to endure the race until the end
Do not despair, the oaths of they who do not follow or obey
Are in fear of the judgement day, so pray and pray, my friend

Forge on, dear fellow-follower of He who is Deliverer
Defender and the succour-er of all who by faith, trust
Be not afraid, love will not fail no matter what storms may assail
Until death lowers the dark veil that returns dust to dust

…forge on, the flesh that cups the soul where none but God maintains control
Will not escape the sacred goal (not even atheists)
Remember, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him, wow,
Then we should pay attention now, ere Silver Cord untwists 
 

© Janet Martin



Remember him--before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
 before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
Eccles.12:6

Braving Beauty (with a pen)



Malcolm Guite expresses perfectly in the video and poem above what many of us feel...

Sometimes the poet feels inept to walk where former poets stepped
To paint with meager ink and pen the beauty of life’s loves again
For how, when masters of the art have stunned the bottom of the heart
Can I be brave enough to try to pen the prose of earth and sky
But even as I contemplate the reasons I should deviate
From trampled paths of profound speech I cannot quell the urge to reach
Toward what begs to be retold to we not here in days of old
Where perhaps one with fledgling wings will feel the joy a poem brings
And fear will hear hope whisper ‘try’ as trust propels her to the sky
Where all of this would never be without the bliss of poetry
To cheer the way not bound to sod that ultimately leads to God

© Janet Martin

Friday, January 31, 2020

Of Intimate Enclosures




The intimate enclosure of the earth beneath the sky
Where walked the sons and daughters of ages before our Time
Evokes in us a kinship with the seasons that sweep by
As we take our turn at being drawn to nature’s rhyme

…to drink the potent nectar from Moment’s gossamer bloom
To be inebriated by sheer wonder’s thund’rous hush
While we are overtaken by a Presence in the room
As He walks in the garden unimpressed by man’s mad rush

…where if we want to make the most of our numbered days
We should take off our shoes to watch pink ribbons thread the sky
The holy ground we stand on ought to tremble with meek praise
As we worship the One who grants entrance to you and I

Pause, while dusk’s apricot gauze drapes the window to the world
Be overwhelmed with beauty as we sense His hand brush by
For we, awed witnesses behold God’s masterpiece unfurled
To intimate enclosures of the earth beneath the sky

© Janet Martin



Prayer For The Day/Way...

So much sorrow and sickness.
So much spiritual darkness.
So much more comfort, healing and Light
So much more God!

This compilation of song was posted yesterday!
Gorgeous glimpse of Someday Soon!


...in the meantime Dear Heavenly Father,


Make our moments wild with wonder
Help us seek the good and true
Where Your evidences thunder
Where our callow senses plunder
Fill our hearts with love for You

Today is a road not taken,
Yet; but it beams with Your grace
Thus let brave trust reawaken
Promises, pure and unshaken
Nothing in this world can replace

Teach us to trust without doubting
Then, come whatsoever may
In spite of atheist’s spouting
Lies; let their pitiful touting
Spill into tender prayers we pray

Let love suffer longer, kinder
Without second thought or regret
Make mercy’s proof a reminder
When faith feels dumber and blinder
It is not turned into sight yet

Make our motives meeker, purer
My, but mankind’s want can run wild
Guide us, make our footsteps surer
Our hope of Heaven securer
Through You, our Father, we, Your child

© Janet Martin



this song has a special preciousness to it; it was played at Ron's funeral.
Click link on Ron's name for more on that)
My oh my, how we at WBC and beyond miss him! 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet.1:3