Order of Priorities

2 Thess.3:1-5

...pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly 

and be held in honor, just as it was with you.

  2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men;

 for not everyone holds to the faith.

  3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you 

and guard you from the evil one.a 

4And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing 

and will continue to do what we command. 

5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

***

Day breaks; responsibility rouses mankind from slumber’s cot...

I began this poem last Saturday, as I juggled demands

where 'cares (and duties) of this world tug and weigh'...

On Monday I stayed with my (ever-growing-frailer) mother-in-law as she listened

to the funeral message as another of her dear friends

was laid to rest; a 93 yr. old mother of 13! 

(side note; my mother-in-law will turn 93, if the Lord wills, on Aug.2)

During the funeral service

one of the ministers shared a story he read about a farmer

who was building a new milk house.

When the building inspector asked to see his permit he confessed that he forgot to get one.

The Inspector asked him if he remembered to order gravel. 'yes' said the farmer.

And cement? again, the farmer answered yes. And did you remember to

line up help for this project, the inspector pressed.

Yes, said the farmer once more.

 Then the inspector said to him,

Now I know, you did not forget to get a building permit.

You just didn't deem it important!

The minister was seeking to impress on the listener

the importance of recognizing what is truly important and preparing for it; 

preparing the Soul to meet God is life's most dire urgency

for no one knows when 'dust-to-dust’s mandate will appease'

all earthly priorities.

What is important to us we remember!

What is important to us takes its place in our order of priorities!

Below, a few beautiful paragraphs from the book

George Muller of Bristol 

The order of priorities is sometimes hard to reconcile

So many tasks of ‘me first, please’, where weeds abound and flowers smile

Where happiness and heartache meet and mingle in the human breast

Where weariness and work compete and put will power to the test

Where souls to tend and bills to pay keep us on our knees and toes

Where cares of this world tug and weigh and what yet waits God only knows

The order of priorities reveals the hierarchy within

Where a most sacred diocese exists beneath our cloak of skin

No matter who or where we are, God sees the hearts of you and me

Where who we worship sets the bar for what will take priority

And, holy is the consequence of what is just as it appears

As precedence yields evidence by what Priority reveres

Day breaks; responsibility rouses mankind from slumber’s cot

Where instantly Priority beckons in the throne-room of Thought

Oh Lord, how great Thou art; oh, guard us from the evil one today

Let Thy word in our minds and hearts equip us to trust and obey

Before this boon of beckoning, dust-to-dust’s mandate will appease

And then will be the reckoning for order of priorities

© Janet Martin

2 Pet.1:3-9

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness

 through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. 

4Through 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.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue;

 and to virtue, knowledge;

  6and to knowledge, self-control; 

and to self-control, perseverance; 

and to perseverance, godliness;

  7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; 

and to brotherly kindness, love.

  8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, 

they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive

 in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, 

having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, 

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Yesterday I spent a while tackling

 'where weeds were abounding!

(and flowers smiling!)

To Be the Oldest Sister/Daughter

(Belated) Happy Birthday, Emily 💝🙏🙏

Because it's never really 'belated' to celebrate those we love!

We finally had a chance to celebrate our oldest daughter's birthday, 

on Sat. evening two weeks after the official date! 

This poem was written for her and for 

my oldest sister who turned 60 a week ago!

We who are blessed to have an older sister to follow

 can easily take a lot for granted!! 

We also had an opportunity to try out Jim's/Grandpa's birthday present from his grandchildren;

an oldie game, croquet! lots of laughter from all 

(except the two year old who was soon comforted with a swing ride)

To be the oldest sister bears a charge she does not choose

Of feet anointed with a fine pair of trailblazer-shoes

The familial ground-breaker, whereby younger sisters gauge

Unspoken preparation for wars time and nature wage

The oldest sister shoulders an unalterable yoke

While younger sisters walk on luxury of ground she broke

Keeping a wary watch for firsts that steadfastly commence

Where time insists on countless reluctant relinquishments

Mother's first little helper and daddy's second sweetheart

First to test many waters that life is bound to impart

First scholar, first teenager, first to leave the nest called 'home'

First to face every new season of what is yet to come

To be the oldest sister, is to first weather the tide

That wakens her to winds of change, with gaze, less starry-eyed 

Than once-upon-more-youthful-years, soon strewn upon a wake 

That each sister behind her, Lord-willing, is bound to take 

God bless you, Oldest Sister/daughter, may His hope keep joy unfazed 

And grant you faith and courage where new trails wait to be blazed

Ere younger sisters follow where once first your footsteps fell 

God bless and keep you as you step into a new year's swell

© Janet Martin

 

 

Sweet Summer (part 1)

 Welcome, sweet summer!

Ps.19: part of verses 4 and 6

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun...

...nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Sweet summer, with so much to love we hardly know where to begin…

Where heady scent of fresh-mown hay hangs heavy on dawn’s dewy hush/brush...

Where countless hues of green imbue the rolling view, leafy and lush...

I love the calm after a storm, thunders through twilight like a train

Leaving behind a dazzling world, adorned with jewelry of rain...

Sweet summer, with so much to love, each day feels like precious fling

As earth and its fulness thereof begins to laugh, and leap and sing

Where heady scent of fresh-mown hay hangs heavy on dawn’s dewy hush/brush

Where countless hues of green imbue the rolling view, leafy and lush

Sweet summer’s thoroughfare is frilled with flowers, wonderful and wild

The garden bears the eager, carefree, banter of a bare foot child

Tree canopies cast cooling pools of shadow play across the yard

Against the wall behind the house, handsome hollyhocks stand on guard

I love the calm after a storm, thunders through twilight like a train

Leaving behind a dazzling world, adorned with jewelry of rain

I love the caroling of songbirds welcoming the day, still dark

I love the sounds of children playing in the splash pad at the park

In sweet summer we slow our pace lest we miss beauty to behold

Where duty’s never-ending chase runs through joys that never grow old

Beneath the arbor lavished with fragrant, purple wisteria-sigh

Through puddles on the laneway, strewn like mirror-fragments, full of sky

Sweet summer, with so much to touch and taste and smell and see and do

Ah, ‘what is man?’ we cry to He who runs awe’s happy wonder through

With strawberry and cherry bliss pleasing palates of everyone

With wheat fields billowing like oceans turning gold beneath the sun

Sweet summertime, when life is like a gift we open every morn

Its misty wrapping melts like butter over gleaming fields of corn

And we are glad with simple things like picnic basket’s smorgasbord

A pleasure fit for queens and kings, that everybody can afford

Sweet summer, tugging us between task and basking in pools of shade

Content with a good book and glass of iced coffee or lemonade

Where days flit by like butterflies, where school doors close and scholars grin

Sweet summer, with so much to love we hardly know where to begin…

© Janet Martin

Sweet summertime, when life is like a gift we open every morn

Its misty wrapping melts like butter over gleaming fields of corn...

Beneath the arbor lavished with fragrant, purple wisteria-sigh...

With wheat fields billowing like oceans turning gold beneath the sun...

Sacred Summons

I was going to write a first day of summer celebration poem

but instead today's (first) poem, turned into a sacred summons poem, 

After this morning's scripture reading. 1 Cor. 4.

1 Cor.4: 4-7

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.

 It is the Lord who judges me. 

 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; 

wait until the Lord comes. 

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness 

and will expose the motives of the heart.

 At that time each will receive their praise from God.

 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself 

and Apollos for your benefit, 

so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying,

 “Do not go beyond what is written.” 

Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower 

of one of us over against the other. 

 For who makes you different from anyone else? 

What do you have that you did not receive? 

And if you did receive it, 

why do you boast as though you did not?

Sermon to Self (and others); 

Imagine

what a glimpse

 of heaven

earth would be

If  I, (we all) gave

all I, (we) could,

mindful always

 of He, The Giver

Who gave His Best/All

for you and me

John 3:16

For God so loved the world 

that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him 

should not perish but have everlasting life.

Last night these ominous clouds...

...turned into a much needed shower! 🙏

With what we have

With what we seek

With heart and soul and mind

May He who gave/gives

Make us more meek

More humble, faithful, kind

With what we know

And what we learn

With deeper gratitude

May goodness flow

With tender turn

From God's mercy renewed 

With how we live

And how we love

May worship's fountain brim

With praise we give

To God above

For all that comes from Him 

With all we have

With every breath

May we  proclaim the One

Who robbed the grave

Who conquered death

Through Jesus Christ, his Son

Worthy is He

Mighty to save

May hallelujahs brim

Eternally,

For all we have,

We have received from Him 

Holy, holy

Life's charge of grace

May we never forget

The love of He

Who took our place

To pay the sinner's debt

Forbid that we

Once wand'ring sheep

Ignore how we should live

Then, miserly

Connive to keep

What God gives us to give 

© Janet Martin

Jude 1:25

To the only wise God our Saviour, 

be glory and majesty, 

dominion and power, 

both now and ever. 

Amen.

The first shower was not enough

to justify 'excuses',

so soon my little neighbor 'helper' and I resumed

our egg hunt!

Potato bug egg hunt, that is 😠

(not quite as delightful as the Easter-kind 😂)

on that note, I'm off to the garden this morning, to resume the task!

God Knows ...

No matter who or where we are

no matter what the circumstance, and why,

God knows...

Isa.26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace, 

Whose mind is stayed on You, 

Because he trusts in You.

What lies ahead we cannot see

Between vistas of retrospect

And the unknown, by faith go we

Enough to know God will direct...

The recompense of joy, still veiled

Where mercy overflows

The grace that love has never failed

For humankind, God knows

The care that kindles earnest prayer

The Want desire foregoes

Lest in its gain, it sets a snare

For fellowman, God knows

The darling of Thought’s hopes and dreams

The hunger of the soul

The example Ideal esteems

The motive and the goal

The altar and the sacrifice

The Voice/voice that choice obeys

The reasoning behind the price

Love, or lack thereof pays

The things we can and cannot change

That bear blessing or curse

The secrets that we rearrange

For better or for worse

The battle cries that faith endures

Idols, faith overthrows

The pardon salvation secures

Through Christ alone, God knows

The needs only He satisfies

To comfort creature woes

And carry us toward faith's Prize

After faith's fight, God knows 

Enough, enough, the soul-dier cries

And turns to face faith's foes

Enough to know that God supplies

Enough to know, God knows

© Janet Martin

2 Tim.1:12

For this reason I also suffer these things; 

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.

2 Tim.2:19

Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:

 “The Lord knows those who are His,”b 

and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

I Know Whom I Have Believed

Love Song to the Creator

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord,

Who daily loads us with benefits,

The God of our salvation! Selah

I love the Author of the rose

Of budded fount that overflows

With finest petal filigree

Of delicate, detailed design

Where masterpieces, great and small

Spill in copious free-for-all

Like volumes full of poetry

Where God penned every perfect line

The sweet and juicy happiness

Of strawberry delicious-yes...

I love the beauty of the earth

And sky; how beholding gives birth

To gladness for the thoughts and ways

Of He, no mind can comprehend...

I love the glory God reveals

Where creation’s cupola peals

In reply to finch, lark and wren

(or robin)

In rolling vistas that amaze...

In gardens as they showcase He

Who instills seed with majesty...

I love the joy that God bestows

Through art only He can compose

The thundercloud, tree silhouette

The innocence of pup and child

The sweet and juicy happiness

Of strawberry delicious-yes

The grandeur of sunrise and set

To run wonder’s awed worship wild

I love the glory God reveals

Where creation’s cupola peals

In reply to finch, lark and wren

In rolling vistas that amaze

In gardens as they showcase He

Who instills seed with majesty

And beckons poets, once again

To spill a humble hymn of praise

I love the Author of the rose

Of budded fount that overflows

With finest petal filigree

Of delicate, detailed design

Where masterpieces, great and small

Spill in copious free-for-all

Like volumes full of poetry

Where God penned every perfect line

I love the beauty of the earth

And sky; how beholding gives birth

To gladness for the thoughts and ways

Of He, no mind can comprehend

Of Providence that never wanes

Of love unfathomed, that sustains

Goodness and mercy all our days

Hope’s anchor, faithful to the end

© Janet Martin

I love the beauty of the earth

And sky; 

...how beholding gives birth

To gladness for the thoughts and ways

Of He, no mind can comprehend...

1 Cor.1:26-31

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.

 Not many of you were wise by human standards;

 not many were influential;

not many were of noble birth. 

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; 

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—

and the things that are not—

to nullify the things that are, 

29 so that no one may boast before him. 

30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, 

who has become for us wisdom from God—

that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

31 Therefore, as it is written: 

“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[d]