Anchor Midst Confusion

Sure are a lot of opinions flying about these days 

enough to 'ferhoodle'/bemuddle the best of minds

if we are ignorant or indifferent to what God says!

a brief flare of sunshine before clouds and rain

maintained the weather forecaster's credibility😊

For the word of God is living and powerful, 

and sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, 

and of joints and marrow, 

and is a discerner of the thoughts 

and intents of the heart.

Heb.4:12

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
 through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises,
so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,
 now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:3-4

Then bid we of lowly estate embraced by Love Supreme

Take up the holy cross of faith with reverent esteem

Though round about, ah, we would doubt, if sight was our guide

And we would fail without A Faultless Compass to preside

Where God so gave the world his Word for both elder and youth

So more than opinion will ground and root us in the Truth

The logic of the mind is tainted by what it perceives

If man’s knowledge is unacquainted with God, it deceives

Pity prideful misunderstanding of love without flaw

Where man’s erring comprehension cannot grasp its Perfect Law

Oh, Holy, holy, holy, God anoints the earth with rain

As lowly, lowly, lowly mankind drinks and drinks again

His cup of mercy overflows, nursing this dying breed

Love’s nail-and thorn-scarred grace bestows the flower to the seed

Where need is mankind’s common ground no matter who or where

And no one is too fit or fine without His Word and prayer

Where sun and rain maintains the garden, field and orchard slope

And Fellowship with God maintains the faith that maintains hope

…then bid we of lowly estate embraced by Love Supreme

 Do nothing for empty conceit but most humbly esteem

The value of each other as Love’s most entrusted Charge

Before we reach the Shore where Soul disembarks from its barge

Where God so loved the world He gave His word to show the way

And anchor us ‘midst the confusion of what people say

© Janet Martin

 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

 but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Phil.2:3

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

fear the LORD and shun evil.

Prov.3:7

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul

 and with all your strength 

and with all your mind'; 

and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke 10:27

The Tender Risk

 This morning I had in my inbox a poem written by my niece

for a history assignment;

a strong piece of writing in Reverse Poem and well done!

It tempted me to attempt this form I had long forgotten.

In much shorter version.

 (also forgot how challenging it is;

the trick to keep one line flowing

into the next...)

So much to celebrate… and grieve

With what we suffer to achieve

And weave love’s longing, bittersweet

As hunger and fullness compete

To penetrate with piercing ploy

The climax of sorrow with joy

To fragmentalize and finesse

The highs and lows of happiness

Where what we have and hold is but

Slow loss that waits to sheer and gut

The heart that dares to trust enough

To take the tender risk to love

Again

© Janet Martin

Again

To take the tender risk to love

The heart that dares to trust enough

Slow loss that waits to sheer and gut

Where what we have and hold is but

The highs and lows of Happiness

To fragmentalize and finesse

The climax of sorrow with joy

To penetrate with piercing ploy

As hunger and fullness compete

And weave love’s longing bittersweet

With what we suffer to achieve

So much to celebrate… and grieve

© Janet Martin

 Even in laughter the heart may ache, 

and rejoicing may end in grief.

Poverbs 14:13

A Blessing For The Heroes/Warriors of Covid-19

 (note: Although the poet wrote 

'don't despair if you must face them all alone'

I think it meant when we have no other person at our side.

Because with God we never face anything alone!)

 
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, 

who always leads us triumphantly 

as captives in Christ and through us 

spreads everywhere the fragrance 

of the knowledge of Him.

God bless you as we pray our way through days we will not miss

(Except in ways we never gave enough kind praise, till this)

God bless you as we make the best of what is not the worst

(Unless we turn our backs on Him, in bitterness immersed)

God bless you as we learn to trust more than we had before

And come to know in spite of woe His grace is always more

God bless you in the second miles nobody keeps count of

Proving on knees, highways, halls, aisles, the greatest of these, Love

God bless you as we weather, all together, day by day

The trouble that, while it is passing, teaches us to pray
God bless you as we weather all together, push and shove,
The trouble that, while it is testing, teaches us to love

© Janet Martin

Did They Feel This Way Too?

 Sometimes something happens to jolt we,

 following sure as can be, in the tracks of generations passed/past.

(I'm sure there will be more on the specifics as they unfold)

We are a few days half-past April already!

And lets face it...we who are well on our way

to getting old, Lord willing, got there with far more haste

then ever we imagined!

This poem began yesterday while pushing tots on the swing...

this mindless 'task' sometimes opens the door to sentimental ruminating.

Same swings, different tots as many who once squealed with joy

 fly from the swing

into the world of school-days
(and beyond!!)

and new youngsters take a seat

only to find that all too soon

they will fly way too!

Then my mind leaps forward to those who were a lifetime ahead of me...

Were they as stunned as we

To see time’s reel collect

Faint flickers of imagery

Nothing can resurrect

Did they suffer the roar

Of love’s un-tethered twinge

Soft-startled at the subtle door

That swings on silent hinge

Did they, while we were green

At watching decades fold

Marvel at the short breadth between

The young and very old

...and then with tender bent

Did they pore over stars

Of thankfulness for mercies lent

Of grief turned into scars

Did they with humble tears

Suddenly realize

How swift the distance disappears

Twixt reaching and the prize

Did they, then stooped and gray

Worn by a wave of mist

Feel as we do, awed by the way

A lifetime can untwist

The grave's cold greeting waits
To collect silenced yen
While God flings wide dawn's gleaming gates
...and here we go again

© Janet Martin 

 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

...and a song for every age!

....and Trust

Short and sweet before kiddos arrive! 

(Childcare is 2 days a week for now and early starts)

So much we do not understand

But this one thing we must;

To readjust our attitude

With gratitude

And trust

© Janet Martin

Pleasures Forevermore

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 

pleasure forevermore

oh pray that we will find

fullness of joy as You employ 

the power of the mind

pleasure forevermore

where Your abundance feeds

hunger and thirst both blessed and cursed

with fundamental needs

pleasure forevermore

oh God, help us discern

in what we love, the offshoot of 

the fruit of its return 

pleasure forevermore

Lord, be the joy we seek

so much to choose in tempting hues

to make the strong man weak

forbid we chase the wind

 lured by an empty roar

 But help us stand at Your right hand

for pleasures evermore

© Janet Martin

An Itty-Bitty Poem about an Itty-Bitty...Potting 'Shed'

So what can a headboard be instead ? (see this post)

An itty-bitty potting-shed

© Janet Martin

Little potting sheds 

are such delightful nooks

Where dreams take shape 

inspired by

other people's gardens

or pictures in books

A grown-up girl's playhouse

To putter and hum

and see, with God's help, of course

What dreams and seeds

 will become!

(since an actual potting-shed is not in the near-future plans
this allows me a little play-corner in the garage)