Like a Lovely Treasure Hunt

John 15:11
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you 

and your joy may be complete.

John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. 

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

It's the time of year when blog posts and poems don't have any fixed schedule!!
Right now I'm waiting for zucchini date nut loaves to finish baking...
oops!! just checked them and they're done! (recipe below)

 

 I began this poem yesterday before heading out to a

belated birthday tea with some friends I used to do childcare for...

inspiring this line; Thank God for little boys and girls; 

for cups of tea with cake-slice bliss...

(I intentionally didn't take my camera with me but thoroughly regretted it)

Enjoying leftovers today and treasuring the memories !

this was last weekend's slice of cake bliss 😋

Black Currant Cake

To search for simple joys each day is like a lovely treasure hunt...

Like rooster at daybreak that crows to rally us with raucous noise...

Like bud that always without fail bears handiwork, second to none

Who can instill the seed with bread,...

Who but God can turn every head to marvel at His evidence...

To search for simple joys each day is like a lovely treasure hunt

To keep discouragement at bay and touch the hem of God’s garment

The weight of love’s workaday cares, or circumstance, heavy with ‘why’

Without the One who hears our prayers, would drain life’s cup of gladness dry

Thank-you dear Lord, for the sweet joy and peace that comes from trusting You

Content to know none can destroy Your promises, faithful and true

This world reels and groans with unknowns, yet overflows with simple joys

Like rooster at daybreak that crows to rally us with raucous noise

Like bud that always without fail bears handiwork, second to none

Like night as it grows pale and wears blue and blush scarf, then brooch of sun

And as daylight grows dim dusk splays a gold and coral masterpiece

As heaven’s declarations brim with praise for He who does not cease

Goodness and mercy’s glory-days are not reserved for Select Few

God loves to amaze us with ways that mere mortal cannot outdo

Who can instill the seed with bread, or offer death’s deliverance

Who but God can turn every head to marvel at His evidence

Who else can crown Bygone’s vast ‘Had’ with Holy Ground of a new day

For us to rejoice and be glad for simple joys along life’s way

Like fresh baked pies, cookies or tarts, like curious little girls and boys

Who find the soft spot in our hearts and tickle us with simple joys

Of innocence and grins and curls, dimples and freckled nose to kiss

Thank God for little boys and girls; for cups of tea with cake-slice bliss

For colour-kindled laundry lines and gardens bursting at sod-seams

For honey-suckle and grape vines, for happiness of hopes and dreams

Praise God from whom all blessings pour in mercies where sorrows run rife

While making us more thankful for the simple joys of love and life

Like strength to tackle to-do lists and pause to smell the posies too

Like lying beneath vistas of cumulus cloud and boundless blue

Like being humbly overcome with gratitude; joy’s sweetest sum

Evoked by things like clumsy bumblebees, covered in pollen crumbs

© Janet Martin

Like fresh baked pies,...

colour-kindled laundry lines 

and gardens bursting at sod-seams

For honey-suckle and grape vines,

and the recipe for;

Janet's Date-nut Zucchini Bread

3 eggs (room temp)

1 cup oil

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

11/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups shredded zucchini

11/2 cups all purp. flour 

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

(OR 2 cups all purpose flour)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup chopped dates

Beat eggs then add sugars, oil and vanilla.

stir in zucchini

Sift and add dry ingred.

Do not overmix.

Last stri in nuts and dates.

Line 2 loaf pans with parchment paper

(or grease them but I find they get a bit dark on the bottom

 more easily without paper.)

Divide batter evenly

garnish with a few more nuts if you like

bake at 350F till firm to touch

(between 45-55 min.)

cool and enjoy.

These loaves freeze well which is why I usually make a double batch

Time Never Feels Quite Long Enough

When it comes to love

Time never feels quite long enough

A rare everyone-home evening on the weekend;

when time never feels nearly long enough 

Time never feels quite long enough, it often seems to me

These precious days we dearly love fly by, don’t you agree

How beautiful and terrible the tug of heartstrings ache

Where hello soon bears farewell hugs in Loving’s give and take

Time never feels quite long enough where love and laughter meld

To keepsakes in a treasure-trove of echoes fondly held

Where sometimes, in love’s sentimental joy and sorrow-wake

We grow reluctant to count candles on a birthday cake

Where children seem to hurry so to run sweet childhood through

And we try not to worry oh, while growing older too 

Where dawn is soon dusk's blue tableau where shadow steeples sprawl

And holding turns to letting go while smiles brim and tears fall 

Time never feels quite long enough in the fine company

Of ‘perfectly imperfect’ love of friends and family

Which makes me hunger for Love’s timeless bliss still set before

Up yonder where no parting is, in Love’s Forevermore

Time always only gives and takes today, no more, no less

Its intangible ocean breaks our hearts with happiness

While teaching us through pray-push-shove, when it comes to farewell

Time never feels quite long enough for all love wants to tell

© Janet Martin

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

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

to sorrowing neighbors; 3 months yesterday, since a tragic accident

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

As the deer pants for water, Lord let our souls thirst for You

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.

(2 Tim.4:7-8)

A few favorite songs to begin a new week on!

Wonderful, Merciful Saviour

Take my Life and Let It Be

 

Take Time to Be Holy

I Need Thee Every Hour

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

As the deer pants for water, Lord let our souls thirst for You

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

Galatians 2:20

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.

I Know Whom I Have Believed

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

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