Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Time's Wise, Worthwhile and Most Beautiful Redemption

Ephesians 5:15-16

Pay careful attention, then, 
to how you walk,
 not as unwise but as wise,
redeeming the time, 
because the days are evil.

A wet garden stroll this morning
with coffee and camera in hand 
(naturally 😊)


Larkspur 

Sunflower

rain-bent geranium

Daylily

Hosta

Dipladenia

Petunia

Hollyhock

Honeysuckle


Can there be a wiser way
To redeem time’s hours
Than to spend a summer’s day
Communing with flow’rs

Than for half an afternoon
Stop to smell the roses
Awed at petal-poem boon
Only God composes

Than to gaze at Queen Ann’s lace
Studying its stitches
Than to reverently trace
Detail that bewitches

Than be sweetly stunned to find
Myriad masterpieces
Then, be more worship inclined
As wonder increases

Can there be a better way
To relieve love’s duty
Than to pause, a summer’s day
In God-gardened beauty

Can there be a purer laud
Than in bloom bent bow'r
Than to grasp a glimpse of God
Smiling in each flower 

Sh-h-h! Can you hear wisdom woo
Gloriously granted?
To be like a flower too
And bloom where we're planted 

© Janet Martin



Monday, July 15, 2024

A Prayer of Renewal of Mind/ Refuel of Faith

Happy New Week to you...
Off the top, a prayer request once again for my sister-in-law Karen,
in hospital struggling with illness. 
Please pray for the medical team and a correct diagnosis and treatment!
Please pray for Karen and her family's strength and encouragement! 

Please also pray for wisdom to know how to bring comfort
took the life of a wife and mother in our community!
Please pray for their comfort as well 💔
that they may know
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 
Ps.34:18






Today's prayer-poem is shared, ultimately
as a reminder and encouragement
 to fight the good fight, 
to finish the race,  
to keep the faith. 
to prize the crown of righteousness, 
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 
will award to me (and you) on that day—
and not only to me, (and you)
but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

A few favorite songs to begin a new week on!




 




Lord, you are altogether wonderful and worthy of
Desire’s dearest, deepest plea of devotion and love
Though the spirit is willing, Lord, you know the flesh is weak
And prone to pride, untoward and too pitiful to speak

But You are rich in mercy, Lord, a patient Father-Friend
You forgive us when we are truly sorry and repent
Then make my life an open book with nothing left to hide
Strip me of looking back, like Lot’s wife, and rid me of pride

Unfold the secret/stubborn strongholds of my heart, Lord, lay them bare
Like sacrifices on an altar of penitent prayer
Help me to love my neighbor as myself, with no holds barred
And be a faithful laborer even when toil/love is hard

When popular opinion and wild applause sways the crowd
And religion becomes defiled, disobedient, proud
Remind me of the consequences still waiting to be
Of love’s final recompense and its grave longevity

Lord, you are altogether wonderful and worthy of
Love’s unreserved commitment to go over and above
Required regulations as an antidote for guilt
Rather than emulations of Your lifeblood freely spilt

Lord, there is much to do; help me with true humility
To give my life to You as once You gave Your life for me
To count each earthly loss as gain in an eternal crown
And to take up the cross of faith until You lay it down

Your Word, a gushing fountain that will quench Want, through and through
Your faithful goodness and mercy, always more than enough 
To satisfy us in the morning with unfailing love
 
Lord, let us covet shamelessly the prayers of fellow-saints
Of fellow-warriors, till we transcend creature-complaints
Till Sight tenderly traces enduring faith's glory, when
We, who with unveiled faces are transformed at last, amen

© Janet Martin

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh 
I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.




Friday, July 12, 2024

To The Likes of Us


Each day is a little like a flower
that unfolds, blooms and fades, so fast!
A little like summer flowers, which
is why I am sharing another flower-garden meander today,
because this garden will not stay this way for long!







I like picturing God at daybreak,
with a watering can in his Hand
showering the earth with goodness and mercy!
Does that image fill you with
hope, joy and peace too?






Lowered to the likes of we
Through star-studded canopy
Rushing night’s dazzling veneer
Till its tea-lights disappear
God, so rich in mercy grants
A new day filled with fresh chance

To track records, vile and grim
As we disregarded Him
While we craved the fading fruits
Of this world’s grave-doomed pursuits
God so rich in love bestows
Daybreak, like a dew-kissed rose

Above our wayward bent
He unfolds a blush-gold tent
Grace affords to likes of we
Unmarred opportunity
Fills thoroughfares, still untrod
Lowered from the Hand of God

Thus, may the likes of us be
Thankful, with humility
Earth and sky thunders with Him
Where goodness and mercy brim
From God, patient, kind and true
To the likes of me and you

© Janet Martin

Isa.40:6-8
(read the whole glorious chapter HERE)

A voice says, “Cry out!”

And I asked, “What should I cry out?”

“All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory like the flowers of the field.

7The grass withers and the flowers fall

when the breath of the LORD blows on them;

indeed, the people are grass.

8The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever.”e


Thursday, July 11, 2024

The Good and Perfect 'Changeless'



James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.

The cup that holds life’s sparkle of delight
Praise God, still spills to gladden taste and touch...



The innocence of tot, eager to learn
The priceless charge of we who teach and train...
(Helping gramma make *Lemon-raspberry-blueberry muffins)
Recipe at the bottom of this post



Grandson is learning,an egg beater is not as easy as gramma made it look 😊💖



Forever, licking the bowl is the best part of helping


well, almost!

The sweeping lyrics of soft summer rain...
(I hope the corn rows recover  from some 
VERY sweeping, not always soft, 
remnant of hurricane Beryl 'lyrics', yesterday!)


Mingled warble of songbirds, free of care...


The happy, smile-reward of ‘dishes done’


The unspeakable awe of lilies fair




And fine vesture of fields, wildflower-spun





The best things in life do not change, in spite
Of rise and fall of centuries and such
The cup that holds life’s sparkle of delight
Praise God, still spills to gladden taste and touch

The innocence of tot, eager to learn
The priceless charge of we who teach and train
God’s tutelage, that we could never earn
The sweeping lyrics of soft summer rain

Mingled warble of songbirds, free of care
The happy, smile-reward of ‘dishes done’
The unspeakable awe of lilies fair
And fine vesture of fields, wildflower-spun

Each new day, rife with opportunity
A little like an ephemeral raft
Where the pleasure of pleasant company
Grants echo-measure to treasure long aft

The value of kindness, however small
To cheer someone. The joy of home, sweet home
A haven in a world of beck and call
To which, eager and thankfully we come

Sound slumber’s elixir, coffee, hot, black
The grace whereby we weather the ways of
Today; something we can never have back
Then, make the precious best of live-to-love

Because the best things time cannot estrange
No shifting shadow, God, whose mercies brim
In steadfast faithfulness, through constant change
Still, every good, perfect gift comes from Him

The pure contentment of a thankful heart
The happiness of words like ‘us’ and ‘we’
Each season, showcasing majestic art
By the author of perfect poetry

The thrill of a good book, good food, good friend 
Good morning dear, wherever you may be
We have a God whose goodness knows no end
 Trustworthy throughout all eternity 

© Janet Martin

This is how the book George Muller of Bristol ends;
the changelessness of truth makes its treasured text timeless 


and here is the above mentioned recipe

Janet's Raspberry-Blueberry Lemon Muffins

(originally they were going to be only Raspberry-lemon.
 but while Gramma had her back turned
half of the raspberries mysteriously disappeared!) 😂😉

21/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar (or less)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 cup butter (or 3/4 cup butter and 2 tbsp. olive oil)
zest of one lemon
3/4 cup milk
squeeze in juice of 1/2 lemon
2 eggs
 1 tsp. vanilla 
1 cup each, frozen or fresh
raspberries and blueberries
slivered almond garnish, optional

Combine flour, sugar and baking powder in large bowl.
cut in butter peices till crumbly.
reserve 3/4 cup of crumbs for topping.
set aside.
Combine milk, eggs and vanilla
Add to dry ingredients, and lemon zest, 
and stir only till moistened.
gently fold in fruit.
Spoon into muffin cups.
Sprinkle with reserved crumbs (and slivered almonds)
Bake approx. 30 min. or till firm whe touched at 350 F
Yield: 12 large or 18 medium muffins


Tuesday, July 9, 2024

The Secret to True Success and Wealth




In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God
John 1:1

In the eyes of the world George Muller died, 
a very poor man.


In the eyes of God, George Muller's earthen vessel
left behind a legacy overflowing with treasure...

God's Word heard, believed, received and obeyed,
holds the secret to true success, to true riches!

Rom.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!

Pray we believe and receive His inheritance!

Eph.1:17-21
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, 
so that you may know him better. 
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order 
that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
 the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 
That power is the same as the mighty strength 
20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead 
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, 
and every name that is invoked, 
not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Today's poem was first inspired by 
today's Scripture reading from 2 Cor, 4 & 5


click links for glorious passages from God's Word

The Word of God IS spoken; faith’s token of delight
God’s Word to be both beacon and bulwark , our defence
God’s Word, Judge and Redeemer, faithful Forever Friend

© Janet Martin

2 Pet. 1:3-4
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, 
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
  4by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, 
that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, 
having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Monday, July 8, 2024

A Rare and Gleaming God-send; Today

Wild flowers drive wonder wild with worship...
or, is it worship wild with wonder??

Thank-you, thank-you!!
Dear God and dear property-owner 💖🙏


On my way home from lunch with my mother-in-law today
I stopped at this field, which I glimpsed as we 'flew' by yesterday...

Nothing can steal the thunder of wonder awakened by
God’s word and handiwork bursting with earnest ‘Here AM I’







A rare and gleaming God-send rends the air and wends its way
To where we are to raise the bar of recompense's prey
Where what is past is cast in Bygone’s everlasting wake
Where every morn mercy reborn grants every breath we take
Where beckoning, response and reckoning subtly become
Without a shadow of a doubt, a lifetime’s sacred sum

Ah, what more can we ask for than the anchor of the soul
Than God’s unreserved fervency of love enough for all
Than knowing He is able; faith’s foothold stable, secure
In awesome promises He gave to stave the Tempter’s lure
He leads us, not into temptation but to holiness
Guiding the meek and seeking into paths of righteousness

Nothing can steal the thunder of wonder awakened by
God’s word and handiwork bursting with earnest ‘Here AM I’
God, give us ears to hear till it is You for which we yearn
And it is You that others see through faith’s humble return
Where a great cloud of witnesses lavishes sky and sod
And we, once proud have bowed in eternal worship to God

A rare and gleaming God-send rends the air and wends its way
To where we are; let’s raise the bar of recompense Today
For, what is past is cast in Bygone’s everlasting wake
But, every morn mercy reborn grants every breath we take
Where beckoning, response and reckoning subtly become
Without a shadow of a doubt, true worship’s sacred sum

© Janet Martin




Yesterday our worship service was opened with Psalm 89

Here are a few glorious excerpts-

11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
    you founded the world and all that is in it...

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
    and by your favor you exalt our horn.[d]
18 Indeed, our shield[e] belongs to the Lord,
    our king to the Holy One of Israel.