March Morning Mural

The deep blue dome of dark recedes

As worlds around us reappear...

Dawn makes landfall...

The pigeon-coloured wooden frill

That crowns yon hill primed for first greens...

The fence where finch and robin trill

High warbling scales beyond our means...

The puddles, like art strewn on lanes

Capturing glints of trees and sky

The decoupage of spent refrains

Snared where choirs of leaf-song lie...

The deep blue dome of dark recedes

As worlds around us reappear

Dawn makes landfall; unveils the reeds

Knee-deep in platinum veneer

The fence where finch and robin trill

High warbling scales beyond our means

The pigeon-coloured wooden frill

That crowns yon hill primed for first greens

The puddles, like art strewn on lanes

Capturing glints of trees and sky

The decoupage of spent refrains

Snared where choirs of leaf-song lie

Beneath the vigil of a breeze

The eulogies of poet’s pen

Cloud-coursers scudding welkin seas

As night becomes today again

…the deep blue dome of dark recedes

The transformation that it brings

Tunes us to the Mercy that heeds

Our needs; Fear frets, faith sings and sings

© Janet Martin

Neh.9:5

“Stand up and bless the Lord your God

Forever and ever!

“Blessed be Your glorious name,

Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

Stand up and Bless the Lord

This Very Special Day

'I think I will have a muffin this morning', I said to Victoria 

as I put on another pot of coffee, 'since it is such a special day'.

Both of us had workdays cancelled because of school closures 

due to freezing rain this morning

This is a special day

The way the wind roars through

The ups and downs that crown

Life’s little lilt of

Me-and-you

How soft and swift the gift

Of Today is undone

By fingers, gossamer

And lowered masts on

Twilight’s galleon

Life’s leap from rocking cradle

To the still and silent grave

Does not leave us a hint

Of how much time 

Between we have

So, let’s not miss the melody

Of ‘us’, a ballad, sweet

And dance where paper ballrooms

Briefly pause

Beneath our feet

Time is a tender thief

Sometimes its wooing way

Could whisper us to sleep

Before we thank God for

This very special day

© Janet Martin

Impossibility's Absolute

We in North America still have the freedom to free access to God's Word.

May we NEVER take this richest blessing for granted!

Lest, by not knowing what we do not know

(found only in Holy Scriptures)

we lose our way and ultimately faith's inheritance!

Heb.11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him:

 for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,

 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste--

sweeter than honey in my mouth!

Psalm 119:127
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, 

even the purest gold.

Psalm 119:96-98

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit.

 97Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. 

98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,

 for they are always with me.…

Hard to have God’s guidance if we do not know His Word

Hard to have faith’s confidence and courage undeterred

Hard to be obedient and have our conscience pricked

If we do not have his Word to urge, exhort, convict

Hard to do our best without The Best Counsel to train

Hard to have our hope fixed without God’s Word to sustain

Hard to keep in perfect peace the mind, without His pow’r

To calm fear within the storm and light life’s darkest hour

Hard to be as thankful as we ought to surely be

To He who broke death’s sentence with Truth that sets us free

Hard to be as holy, humble, kind, obedient

As we ought, without His Word to counter human bent

Hard to know the goodness and the mercy of our God

If at best we give Him but a cold, courteous nod

If at worst He does not cross the mind or heart at all

Hard to find a lifeline when death’s dire shadows fall

Hard to lay up treasure, not on earth, without His Word

To count more precious than pure gold, love never heard

Hard to find a faith-hold/foothold that will not falter or fail

Or a sure foundation against which naught can prevail

Hard to taste joy inexpressible in its delight

His Word, sweeter than honey, judgments altogether right

Hard to love God first and then our neighbor as our self

If His Word is but a Book on some forgotten shelf

© Janet Martin

The word 'hard' in this poem translates to 'impossible'

Proverbs 30:6
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Revelation 22:18
I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book:

 If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy,

 God will take away his share in the tree of life 

and the holy city, which are described in this book.

1 Pet.8:7-9

so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, 

which perishes even though refined by fire—

may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; 

and though you do not see Him now, 

you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

9now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, 

the salvation of your souls.…

More Contemplations on Love

Love, be glorious as a sunrise

Beauty void of vanity...

Love, be glorious as a sunrise

Beauty void of vanity

Newness in spite of spent ages

Hope's gentle humility

Love, be lovely as a flower

Broken bud to beaming laud

Blooming where our feet are planted

Giving all glory to God

Love, be like a ship, seaworthy

Fit to weather stormy gale

Trust the Captain for the journey

He is good and will not fail

Love, be like a lilting fountain

Love be like a joyful song

Love be like the One who suffered

Though He committed no wrong

Love, be like a fearless soldier

Love, be like a warrior’s shield

Like a vineyard or an orchard

Gleaming with opulent yield

Love, be sobriety's laughter

Not the wino's loosened tongue

Be a role model, trustworthy

A kind mother to the young

Love, be like a mighty ocean

Love, be like a little seed

Stun us with the potent power

Of small scattered word and deed

Love, be like an earnest offering

On the altar of today

Labour not for acquisitions

That in death will fade away

Love, do not become disheartened

When the call would cast thee down

Remember the One who showed us

First the cross and then the crown

© Janet Martin

Phil.2:1-4

Therefore if you have any encouragement 

from being united with Christ, 

if any comfort from his love,

 if any common sharing in the Spirit,

 if any tenderness and compassion, 

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, 

having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 

  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

  not looking to your own interests 

but each of you to the interests of the others.

Today Spring has Come True...

*Where nature's hidden hold 

Begins to drip and spill

As sweetest wealth of Maple Gold

Gives young and old a thrill... 

 Find your tasty Maple 'treasures' and treats here!

Winding Road Maple Products

I didn't have the opportunity to post a first day of spring poem yesterday

so let's celebrate its arrival today!

And though we know somewhere

The last snowfall still taunts

With bolder happiness we dare

To dream of flowered haunts...

We revel in the afternoon

Of leafless gold, sun-kissed...

Today spring has come true

The sun climbs a blue hill

Strewing a golden residue

To earth, still stark and chill

And though we know somewhere

The last snowfall still taunts

With bolder happiness we dare

To dream of flowered haunts

The robin sings for rain

Bird-warbling hails the morn

Across the melt-and-mud terrain

The killdeer’s cry is borne

…and though the bud’s cocoon

Is a clenched, maroon fist

We revel in the afternoon

Of leafless gold, sun-kissed

*Where nature's hidden hold 

Begins to drip and spill

As sweetest wealth of Maple Gold

Gives young and old a thrill  

 

A promised land of green

Starts to break winter's spell

Where once a whitewashed world had been

And frigid shadows fell

We sense time’s discipline

That no hand can undo

And smile the smile of youth again

For Today Spring came true

© Janet Martin

Oh, Glorious Pangs of Love

So many of us have loved ones not within arms or quick car-ride's reach...

Oh, what a gift to love enough to suffer its glorious pangs!

Our grand-kiddos other set of grandparents live an airplane flight away

so needless to say, they suffer the kind of pangs

possible only by beautiful love!

We miss our Nova Scotia family too💕

The 'other gramma' has become a dear friend of mine

so this poem was inspired by the Afterward of her recent visit💖💘

(Pics used with permission. photo credit: Emily Curry)

Oh, glorious pangs of love

No sorrow is so sweet

The heart is like a treasure trove

As smiles and tears compete

Where, though our paths may part

It holds in its embrace

Love’s everlasting works of art

That nothing can erase

Oh, glorious pangs of love

What tender weight to bear

The bitter-sweetest banter of

Echoes upon the air

Where once upon a day

The joy of you and me

Became what none can steal away

A cherished memory

Oh, glorious pangs of love

May we all be so blessed

As to never get quite enough

Time with those we love best

Then, though farewells must be

As you and I must part

May memory’s kind company

Soothe sorrow’s stinging smart

How oft it warms my heart

To picture God above

And how He too must ache and smart

With glorious pangs of love

While counting down The Toll

That draws us through the Door

Where He unveils love’s sweetest goal

Together Evermore

© Janet Martin

Let It Be...(an easier-said-than-done-outpouring)

This weekend Grandsonny and granddaughter

experienced the joy of lending a helping hand...

(work before play 😄)

and reaping some delightful rewards!

 

...the happiness of Maple-taffy-cone sweet thank-yous 

Where can you get a sweet thank-you treat too?!! Here!

Winding Road Maple Products

...the thrill of a ride in Grandpa's big truck

We are all children in a sense, earning a recompense of reward...

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue,

 but in deed and in truth.

After a few recent devotions and yesterday's message

 I have once again been soundly challenged

 to weigh my love in the scales of His Word and choices I make

 to see if my love for God and fellowman is found wanting!

Lord, let it be Thy love for me that satisfies my want and need

Lord, let it be my love for Thee that shines Thy light in word and deed

Lord, let the witness of Thy love be more than Sunday morning rite

Lord, let the fruit of the tree prove Thy love to be my chief delight

Lord, let it be my faith in Thee (not what I see) that keeps me strong

And let my humble honor be to help a fellowman along

And let my joy forever spring from a Fount that cannot run dry

Thy love, Lord exceeds everything that my thought attempts to descry

Lord, let it be Thy love for me that crowns the motive of my will

And let the light of Thy love be like a city set on a hill

Lord, let goodness and mercy be a messenger in hands and feet

Thy love for me, my love for Thee to make life’s journey to Thee sweet

Lord, let it be my hope in Thee that reminds me how great thou art

Remind me of love’s sympathy that broke Thy body and Thy heart

Then, as I see Thy love for me let nothing hide Thy lovely face

The backdrop of a bloodstained tree, forbid, some lesser loves replace

Lord, though the storms of life increase, Lord bid the demons of dread flee

For thou wilt keep in perfect peace, the mind that is transfixed on Thee

And let it be Thy love for me that grants the courage to proceed

And let it be my love for Thee that helps a fellowman in need

© Janet Martin

No one can help everyone but we who are blessed to have

can all help someone who does not have!!

Love's Sweet Assurance

I enjoy watching golf, partly because it's so easy

to get emotionally connected to the highs and lows

of those little white balls and the drivers behind them...

I also find so many metaphors for life in the game

with its challenging courses, 

the exhilaration of an eagle, 

and the frustration of the bogie

What a competition it was last week

 for all who participated in the Players Championship 

finally completed on Monday!

And of course, tears at both ends of the emotional spectrum;

Anhirban Lahiri's tears of disappointment in loss...

and Cameron Smith's tears of joy in victory!

(Big hug from mom)

Cameron Smith, when interviewed, told reporters that the

joy of the win is secondary to the joy of being able to see

his mom and sister face to face for the first time in two years

due to covid restrictions.(he now lives in Florida)

 (smiles and tears from girlfriend, sister and mother)

His mother and sister flew in from Australia a few hours earlier

to share what turned out to be a celebration with the Champion!

Isn't it wonderful to have love's sweet assurance no matter 

what the results of a day's effort brings?

Love shares in both highs and lows of life💓💔

Here's to all our personal 'Sawgrass 17th holes' 

We are all in a Challenge with very grave stakes...

Imagine if we put the time and passion/effort into training like top athletes do!

And for the victor, oh the joy of that face to face meeting at last!

This life of highs and lows composes opportunity

To help us stop to smell the roses midst adversity

To let our words and meditation honor He who grants

His gift of grace, salvation, to the sinner who repents

This life of hope and heartache is a course of down-and-up

One copes with loss and heartbreak while one hoists the winner’s cup

But all of us are equal in the eyes of He who holds

Soul’s very sacred sequel to Time’s very temp’ral molds

This life of want and wonder thunders with faith’s wait-and-see

Time’s little haunt of hunger harbours immortality

Where the gift of salvation is no temporary prize

But seals our vindication through Lamb’s blood that justifies

This life of Good misunderstood and dreams never come true

Could drive us to despair and would faith’s quest for Best undo

Without love's sweet assurance proclaimed by Jesus, our Lord

All who run with endurance will receive Endless Reward

© Janet Martin

Heb.12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, 

scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, 

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Blessed Assurance