Beholding Beauty (or its Prelude)

I originally entitled this poem

This Broken World Could Drown Joy

then, just after posting it something like a bud

broke inside of me

resulting in adding the photo below,

another verse as the ending

and changing the title.

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken...

The beautiful words of this hymn are so fitting for the days we are in

Sometimes I struggle with a sense of insecurity

(no longer guilt, because I have committed to embracing my calling)

but still, in a world war-ravaged and hurting...Poetry?!!

Yes, by the grace of God, yes!

Because worship is beautiful 

and timely, always!

And Poetry is the culmination of

beauty and worship

when pursued with passion to

glorify its Giver!

"This is the law of being

That links the threefold chain:

The life we give to beauty

Returns to us again."

From Earth Voices

by Bliss Carmen

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross- Mercy Me

Many are the woes of the wicked,

but the Lord’s unfailing love

surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:10-11

This broken world could drown joy

Beneath dread’s sullen wave

Despair could be an envoy

That bears us to the grave

Beauty could go unheeded

Beneath brute, crushing blows

And worship’s fount depleted

By glaring needs and woes

We could fall prey to reasons

To hate rather than love

And stumble/grumble through time’s seasons

Without ever enough

But beauty is not cheated

By evil’s intercourse

And joy is undefeated

If we have found its Source

Truth's Hope becomes an anchor

That nothing overthrows

The thorns that pierced our Saviour

Bloom with redemption’s rose

This world would turn us dour

And drown all hope of joy

If it could overpower

What nothing can destroy

‘Unless the seed is broken

It cannot bring forth fruit’

Praise God, joy is the token

As faith and love take root

After the darkness, morning

After bud-breakers part

Joy beholds God adorning

The thorn-scars of the heart

© Janet Martin

Brenda's post 

Something Beautiful in a Broken World

helped me corral today's thoughts into poem.

And caused me to open my book

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson

To God be all the glory!

Below are a few excerpts  from Adorning the Dark

that spoke to me personally...

March Melody/Medley

This poem began percolating on the first day of March

while I watched the birdies celebrate with unbridled abandon

before the next day turned the bird bath back to a skating rink

They do look a bit shivery though, don't you think?

March kindles in its coming dreamlands of sun-drenched delight

It sparks a sense of celebration to worlds tucked in white

We start to hear an orchestra as tempos ebb and flow

While poetry of petals trembles beneath drifts of snow

March stirs in winter-frazzled hearts spring-hunger’s hope renewed

And reignites the flame that harvest-weariness subdued

As once again thoughts turn toward the flow’r and fruit of seeds

Duets of plant-and-prayer that God would supply our needs

March teases our emotions as temperatures dip and soar

One day it kisses faces that it froze the day before 

While we, of past experience, embrace this yearly spar

Because we hear the songs of spring within its tug-of-war

March matrons pummel pillows heaped on Old Man Winter’s cot

They free a feather-frolic to a world tenderly caught

Between the throes of winter and the crocuses of spring

We smile because we know what time will most assuredly bring

...soft pussy-willow kittens, fragrant violet-starlight, strewn

Farewell to toques and mittens, hello, yellow afternoon

Pretty pink tulip chalice, in a palace fit for queens

As white on white yields to earth's brightest hues of spring's first greens 

March wakes in us a sanguine splurge of soon-emerging thrills

Like brooks bursting with babble, like hills strewn with daffodils

Like gardens ringing with reintroductions of bare feet

Like robins singing in the raindrops dancing on the street

March makes us gently gladder for fine weather yet to come

As Old Man Winter’s numbered days are dwindling one by one

We feel warm welcomes grasp our souls, we glimpse rose-gilded gates

Beneath earth’s blanket full of holes, spring’s world of wonder waits

© Janet Martin

March wakes in us a sanguine splurge of soon-emerging thrills

Like brooks bursting with babble,

We feel warm welcomes grasp our souls, we glimpse rose-gilded gates

Beneath earth’s blanket full of holes, spring’s world of wonder waits

Sweet Little Girl

With permission from her mommy,

sharing a picture of Birthday Girl! 

Last night after she left  my intent was to make a little 

mommy's helper (or Janet's helper) apron,

which led to a tiny apron for Dolly

as well as a book-bag and dolly-blanket!

Her delight is the sweetest thank-you I could ever wish for💝

This morning she saw a picture of a donut and she remarked

"I like donuts!"

which inspired the birthday treat...

Sputniks/Timbits! (recipe at the end of this post)

The sparkle of a sunbeam

The blush of summer’s rose

The pleasure of a daydream

Goodnight-kiss on the nose

The gladness of a giggle

The treasure of a pearl

The best of all things beautiful

Is you, sweet little girl

The joy of June in winter

The awe of innocence

Your pure and carefree chatter

Teaches the heart to dance

You fill the world with Happy

Rainbows and stars unfurl

In the delightful company

Of you, sweet little girl

...a frilly, bitty bum-kin

A silly-me-oh-my

Princess without a pumpkin

A pretty butterfly

Tea-party guest of honor

A ballerina twirl

Life is such a charming wonder

With you, sweet little girl

You bring a bit of heaven

To earth; you make hope sing

And each day worth the living

With the loveliness you bring

You are a darling angel

Halo of hugs and curls

We are most blessed and so grateful

For you, sweet little girls

© Janet Martin

A frilly-'bitty' bum-kin...

Princess without a pumpkin...

Sputnik Recipe 

  

When People Fight...

Today's Daily Bread scripture reading

evoked tears, of both sorrow and joy!

Sorrow, because we seem to be a world at war with each other;

Family against family

brother against brother in the church.

citizens against the government

country against country,

Joy, because of the everlasting richness, rightness

and faithfulness of God and His Word!

The end is near.

Hallelujah!

Today's Scripture reading;

1 Pet.4:7-11

The end of all things is near. 

Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

 8 Above all, love each other deeply, 

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

 as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 

Amen.

All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name

When people fight, we lose sight of the bigger picture, oh

The power and the glory of the One who loves us so

He came to die so you and I, when we have run life’s race

Are saved from death and hell because He saved us by His grace

When people fight, we lose sight of our universal need

Repentance and deliverance from sin’s inherent seed

Through Jesus Christ, sin’s sacrifice, once and for all became

Salvation that cannot be found in any other Name

When people fight, we lose sight of the love that Jesus taught

In anger’s spew we forget to take captive every thought

Or seek a city yet to come, from Calvary unfurled

And therefore, we do not wage war with weapons of this world

When people fight we lose sight of Redemption’s crimson tide

The Lamb we led, with thorn-crowned head that we all crucified

Cried out,’ Father, forgive them for they know not what they do’

Oh God, forgive us when we miss the big picture of You

Forbid we meet you Jesus, with Your blood still on our Hands

Because we didn't repent and obey love's Great Commands

Forbid we, without thought of how we ought to love and live

Reject You, Son of God who came to redeem and forgive   

© Janet Martin

How true, oh, how true we are seeing Jesus' warning: Matt. 10:34-39

Christ Brings Division

34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. 

I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

35For I have come to ‘set[j] a man against his father

, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 

37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

  39He who finds his life will lose it, 

and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

morning by morning above the chaos

the heavens declare the glory of God

and the skies proclaim the work of His hands!

Ps.19:1

Battle Hymn

In The Sweet By and By

With hearts groaning with prayer for those caught in the evils of war

this poem became an outpouring for all of us 

in the battle against right and wrong!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

The battle between wrong and right

Is constant and acute

We need the Lord’s armor to fight

And bear the Spirit’s fruit

Mankind is prone to selfish pride

To rebel to God’s rule

To win the fight we must decide

To be wise or a fool

To despise wisdom’s Holy Grail

Is to embrace deceit

No matter what fools boast or hail

Their end will be defeat

Only by the kind grace of God

And for His glory we

By faith and with feet gospel-shod

Will win the victory

Take heart; Truth cannot be undone

The fight that faith affords

Bids us take up our cross and run

The battle is the Lord’s

Hold fast to the sound words of He

Who does not change or fail

For the Lord’s honour and glory

His army will prevail

In the name of the Lord we pray

In His Name we are strong

In His Name we approach the day

Of everlasting song

Lay down thy sword; take up the cross

Beyond this world’s façade

Though what may now appear as loss

Is the glory of God

Follow the way He has prepared

A Banquet has been spread

To honor He who was not spared

But crushed the Serpent’s head

Earth’s suffering is not in vain

But the sacred prelude

To Triumph’s everlasting reign

And enemy subdued

© Janet Martin

Eph.6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

  11Put on the whole armor of God, 

that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,

 against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age,

 against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, 

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 

and having done all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

 having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

  16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you 

will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

17And take the helmet of salvation, 

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

  18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

 being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 

19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, 

that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

  20for which I am an ambassador in chains; 

that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

February Flashback and Farewell

 Of boot-hat-mitten weariness...

Of frigid, drifted sweeps/deeps of snow...

Of shovel-muscles, honed and buff...

Of cozy book-nooks...

Of scrabble games always in play...

Of sills filled with convoys of toys...(but little boy did NOT like the word share)😅

Of warm, south-facing window-spas...

Worlds tucked in white or blush and green...

Farewell, dear fellow-friend and foe

Of frigid, drifted sweeps/deeps of snow

Of days stretched longer into dusk

Of gales, surly-burly and brusque

Of cozy book-nooks by the fire

Of gardens only dreams acquire

Of boot-hat-mitten weariness

Of kitten-soft sun-cheeriness

Of shovel-muscles, honed and buff

Of swirly, sparkly feather-fluff

Of hot-choc-marshmallow mustache

Of gramma-horse toboggan-dash

Of scrabble games always in play

Of sledding hills of numbered day

Of lone reed like a pencil-sketch

Of wishes for a milder stretch

Of warm, south-facing window-spas

Of outdoor task-lists still on pause

Of sills filled with convoys of toys

Of thrills of beauty’s spartan poise

Of senses smitten, torn between

Worlds tucked in white or blush and green

Of icicles starting to slip

Of maple-sap’s darling first drip

Of straining for first signs of spring

Of bittersweet relinquishing

Of learning not to haste the way

Of seasons, but to taste today

Before the hour dons the knell

That bends the bower with farewell

© Janet Martin

A few more Feb. flashbacks...

Carrot Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Today's Holy Ground

When The Greatest Commandment is disregarded

then everything else that follows falls out of place.

(Matt.22:36-40

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

 This is the first and greatest commandment. 

 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”)

Mercy unveils its token

Across the land and sea

A new morning has broken

Holy, holy, holy

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul; 

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

The love that pardons sinners

Where truth and grace abound

Wakens pardoned believers

To today’s holy ground

The hope wrought through redemption

As trouble’s billows break

Sweetens, with awed perception

Each holy breath we take

He, who for our transgression

Bore hate’s hostility

Teaches, through His subjection

Holy humility

Mercy unveils its token

Across the land and sea

A new morning has broken

Holy, holy, holy

No other God can conquer

And bid the darkness flee

Nor satisfy want’s hunger

With holy fealty

The strength of rebels falters

When fixed on this world’s mess

Nothing supplants or altars

God’s holy righteousness

This love, above all scandals

That no brute can confound

Bids us take off pride’s sandals

On today's holy ground

By grace we are forgiven

And so unworthy of

Earth’s small foretaste of Heaven

God’s holy, holy love

Oh, come let us adore Him

Let humble praise resound

God sees who bows before Him  

On today's holy ground

© Janet Martin

Here's My Heart, Lord

This poem was inspired in part by our message yesterday!

How Marvelous, How Wonderful

Opinion Pole

 

Without God’s Word I think the soul

Would be a big opinion pole

No law of love to temper ire

Or tame the wild flames of desire

No example of Self denied

To rebuke mortal’s stubborn pride

No image of love’s nail-scarred grace

To set us in our humble place

No wisdom, better far than gold

No vast depth of riches untold

No sin to earnestly confess

No higher call than happiness

No Christ-keen conscience thus to heed

No faith that God supplies our need

No trustworthy compass to guide

No Presence to comfort or chide

Without God’s Word the deathless soul

Is a sad, lost opinion pole

© Janet Martin

Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!