Benediction and Resolution

I'll Wish I Had Given Him More

I went on a hymn-hunt after the message today

after the man who brought the message shared the lyrics.

Thank-you Richard!

 (also for the last line in this poem)

This benediction to the Old Year is more like a resolve for the New,

To grasp with renewed wonder 

To timeless truths of old 

And satisfy heart-hunger 

With what hands cannot hold 

To sense the thread of moments 

Unravel as they weave 

A sacred recrudescence 

Deigned by Who we believe 

To cling with firm conviction 

To He who does not shift 

And anchor each ambition 

In hope’s unashamed gift 

To not become too weary 

To do the good I/we ought 

But press toward the vic’try 

In a good fight well-fought 

To guard against the anguish 

Of disillusionment 

And not let love’s cause languish 

In selfish discontent 

To trust the Rock of Ages 

Amidst the raging gale 

And hold on to the Pages 

That Last Gasp will unveil 

To pay closer attention 

(lest God forbid, it slips) 

To the gift of redemption 

And Soul-dier it equips 

To not let vain emotion 

Control life’s little lease 

But make love's sole devotion 

Salvation’s Centerpiece 

© Janet Martin 

Joshua 23:11,12
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, 

that ye love the LORD your God…

I'm Glad To Know

 

When focus gets out of fix

and faith gets out of focus

it's time to fix faith's focus!

Yesterday on my walk it felt a bit like peering into the future...

couldn't see very far!

This morning a bit of yesterday's 'future' has unfolded 

bringing with its flurry, for some, celebration, for others, sorrow. 

So it will be until time is fulfilled.

I’m glad I cannot see beneath to thoughts you do not speak 

Or sorrows that yet wait to press their tear upon my cheek 

Or trials to perfect the fledgling Faith authored by he 

Who loves us so He clarifies our authenticity 

The best and worst yet veiled by moments time has not yet spilled 

Through hours not yet come to pass in days not yet fulfilled 

Can entertain our guess and humour fancy’s raving ranks 

But none can see the pieces yet that wait to fill yon blanks 

I’m glad that we can know, He whom by faith we have believed 

Is able to keep that which we commit, by faith achieved 

Where between now and when we meet Then, near or far away

I’m glad to know, that God, not men, will have the final say 

© Janet Martin 

2 Tim.1:12

nevertheless I am not ashamed, 

for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded 

that He is able to keep what I have committed 

to Him until that Day.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

(John 1:1-5)

For Day-to-Day Dancers

 

Where every high is always hinged to possible pitfalls 

And every low is always tinged with hope because of grace 

Where beauty of beginnings juxtaposes yester-halls 

That weave a labyrinth of echoes no finger can trace

Where we all suffer stumbles that make sacred what remains 

Where skin-thin walls are thick enough to keep out curious eyes 

To worlds that spill through meager frames like fenceless fens and plains 

 Where thought is like a footloose fellow full of smiles and sighs 

Where what we learn is never quite enough to close the book 

On lessons that still wait to teach us what only time can 

Where we will always find something to cheer us if we look 

Where things that really matter have not changed since time began 

Where no one can take credit for what God alone designed 

And none of us can edit no matter how hard we try 

Where what we touch of seasons is soon dust-to-dust resigned 

Where we are all far more than meets the ardor of the eye 

Where star-strewn streets and clumsy feet are oddly interknit 

Where longing’s choreography sustains the dreamer’s dance 

And heavy brooms sweep out ballrooms for ballads not yet writ 

Waiting to make their debut on a floor of Second-chance 

© Janet Martin

Something about this morning's snowy 'trek-and spec' sparked this poem...

(maybe part of it started when my foot caught in a big torn seam

 in my snow pants and landed me on my hands and head 

before I knew what hit me)😀

Life's like that sometimes. We're just cruising along

feeling pretty fleet of foot and fancy when...kerplunk!!

Celebration and Contemplation Christmas Poem

Merry White Christmas!!

(getting up early to put on a turkey meant a few hours of quiet reflection)

Sometimes I look at my children and think,

'do you have any idea how MUCH I love you?!!'

Sometimes I wonder if that's what God thinks 

when He looks at His children/us!

'do you have any idea how MUCH I love you?!!'

He certainly did all He could to prove it, didn't He?!!

Now it's up to us how we choose to reply

Fernando Ortega- Joy to the World

Lo, unto us is born the Victor of the grave

Hail, on this blessed morn the One who is mighty to save 

Behold, the hope of man through love that does not fail 

But broke the bond that Eve began, so death cannot prevail 

Sing, for a King IS come, not on royal display 

But lying in a trough among the beasts, upon the hay 

Oh come, and come with haste like the shepherds of old 

Follow the Star unto the place where Humble Faith beholds 

The gift, from God to man, that Bethlehem received 

To set in motion Mercy’s plan that Calvary achieved 

Where crowned with cruel thorns and stripped of dignity 

Beaten amidst hurrahs and scorn then nailed upon a tree 

His suffering, horrible, and as his life-blood flowed 

He paid in full, once and for all the awful debt we owed 

But death could not contain Jesus, the son of God 

A rock could not constrain the Rock of Ages to the sod 

Then sing with renewed joy, the victor of the grave 

Sing, for no power can destroy the One, mighty to save 

Forbid, forbid we hear of what God gave for us 

Then turn a cold and careless ear rejecting Him, Jesus 

Forbid we turn away, choosing His wrath instead 

Of love, who that first Christmas Day knew all that lay ahead 

Lo, unto us is born the Victor of the grave 

Hail, on this blessed morn the One who is mighty to save 

© Janet Martin 

As I listened to the glorious passage below, last night

I was utterly smitten with sorrow for the joy that is rejected by so many.

Rejection is different than being ignored or forgotten.

Rejection is deliberate!

Yet SO many choose to reject the Saviour of the soul,

choose to reject the One a heavenly host of angels heralded,

choose to reject the One who, with limbs nailed to a cross

wept It, (redemption's work) is finished and died for us

so when we die we may live!

Choose to reject Jesus for whatever pleases them instead!

My prayer this morning is that we read this passage in Luke 2

and a new Light dawns in all of us to draw us to Him

in holy adoration!

Luke 2:1-20 NKJV

Christ Born of Mary

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed [a]wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a [b]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. 

Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem- Jim Reeves

Is There Room In Our Hearts For Jesus

Unmodified Worldwide Christmas

Merry Christmas to you from the Martin-house!

Photo credit: Brittany Ruppert

This past year ‘modified’ 

Is a word we all learned 

As plans and events, the world wide 

Were nixed and overturned 

And while patience was tried 

Amidst both smile and frown 

We simply found that ‘modified’ 

Often meant Slowing. Down 

We learned to cherish more 

The freedoms of this land 

And be a lot more thankful for 

A hug or shake of hand 

So, this Christmas, in spite 

Of all we do without 

Nothing can modify the night 

Christmas is all about 

Hope is not modified; 

In form of Baby Boy 

The Saviour of the whole world wide 

Brings everlasting joy 

Then, fill heaven and earth 

With praises far and wide 

God, who ordained our Saviour’s birth 

Is never modified 

For unto us that day 

Was born in Bethlehem 

A Saviour to bring peace, alway 

And goodwill unto men 

© Janet Martin 

Luke 2: 10-11 

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Of Postcards In Our Hearts...

 Something about Christmas probes Past's 'postcard heap'...

I like the postcards in our hearts we leaf through now and then 

After sharper edges and hurts have blurred beneath Time’s pen 

To leave behind a kind of surreal light-and-shadow-show 

Of pictures that the past has framed and filled with Afterglow 

From years soft-strewn beneath the moon like footprints in the snow 

After the weariness of work and wish-wars yields its grasp 

And tucks love’s tattered fragments behind Bygone’s soldered clasp 

It gathers moment-measure into treasured bits of art 

Like a postcard-collection that we carry in the heart 

Of life’s recounted blessings that have lost their sting and smart 

I do not want to stay too long in thought’s strange gallery 

To gaze at portraits not quite like the present used to be 

But now and then I like to run kind whispers softly through 

A sheaf of pictures echo-spun in sun-gold, twilight-blue 

To remind me that what I hold is postcard pigment too 

© Janet Martin

Un-self Esteem

It's kind people that bring out the best in people!

Praying we all have someone kind to be with 

and celebrate with this Christmas,

in spite of a break from traditional gatherings which make us realize

how much we take for granted!

Praying we come out of this Covid-'year' with

 gentler, kinder appreciation for each other, 

not meaner, blinder brother-against-brother!

This poem was partly inspired by a text-conversation yesterday

as we chatted about how gifts dropped on porches, minus smiling faces, hugs etc.

really puts into perspective how much we need physical connection!

Something to be more grateful for in the future!

One thing that remains unaffected by this world's chaos is the heavens!

Aren't you glad?!

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

With loss of what we had, life brings 

Keener esteem for precious things 

It cuts our wish-list down to size 

As we reassess what we prize 

To find that in our dream and quest 

Life’s kind and simple things are best 

Like hands to shake and curls to tease 

And arms that reach and hold and squeeze 

Like sunny smile from little tot 

Or any smile not guessed or thought (like we do with masks) 

Like graces we can trace, kiss, touch 

Like faces that we miss so much 

Like cup of tea shared with a friend 

Like doors (or arms) flung wide to welcome them 

Like tables set for company 

In humble hospitality 

Like longing met with nothing more 

Than laughter, shared while coffees pour 

With loss we become more aware 

To live and love with kinder care 

To make the most of now and here 

Before its moments disappear 

To recognize how blessed we are 

And be more thankful than we were 

© Janet Martin 

some things I miss, gal-pal tea-parties/visits.

(isn't tea-party a delightful word?!)

But I am ever so thankful I can still 

hold and kiss these lively, loud love-sters!

Photo credit for photos below; Brittany Ruppert

My heart goes out in a thousand pieces to their other grandparents who

have not been with them since last Christmas

when this was a year that had some extra-special visits planned

like a 90th birthday party for great-grandma etc.

My heart goes out to health-care workers

who spend many extra hours away from their loved ones

to take care of our loved ones!

And oh, how my heart goes out to shut-ins!

to daughters/families who can't be with mothers/parents in nursing homes etc.

or bring them home for Christmas!!

Let's take time to waken to the wonders within reach!

 

 

"Oh, a picture of my heart!"

I said to Victoria the first time I saw the photo below!

 

Unscripted and Uncensored

I'm so thankful that God can hear the prayers

we struggle to find words for!

I'm so thankful we don't need fancy and fine-art language to

come before the throne of grace!

Worship, wonder and want 

wing their way to Him

when we pray...

Psalm 34:15

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

You Hear Our Prayers

God hears our hearts; we need no eloquence or pre-writ script 

For him to understand the worship and wants we impart 

For it is not through fluency whereby we are equipped 

God hears and sees the treasure and the measure of the heart 

His eyes are on the righteous; his ears open to their pleas 

We do not need to impress Him with artful eloquence 

Into stutters and groanings he pours out His sympathies 

And intercedes on our behalf with Mercy’s diligence 

Unscripted and uncensored is the prayer that God can see

He hears the language of the heart when words fail to express

The intricate details of love and longing's earnest plea

 And bestows His perfect reply with 'wait' or 'no' or 'yes'

© Janet Martin