Stick your Nose Into a Tulip...(and other simple pleasures)

A week ago my cousin gifted me this midwinter splash of spring...

the initial inspiration for today's poem

For a taste of spring, when it's not!

and other simple pleasures...

Stick your nose into a tulip...

Sip some lemon-spritzed delight...

Page through gardens, picture-perfect

Waiting while the world blooms white...

Take a 'tropical' vacation

Via pages in a book...

Dream a summer celebration/destination

On the bank of frozen brook

Stick your nose into a tulip

Sip some lemon-spritzed delight

Page through gardens, picture-perfect

Waiting while the world blooms white

Take a tropical vacation

Via pages in a book

Dream a summer celebration

On the bank of frozen brook

Make the most of words like 'cozy'

Before tasks of sweat-and-till

Unearth work gloves resting easy

For a little longer, still

Stoke home-fires with thanksgiving

Thank God for warm, fuzzy socks

Say a prayer for people living

Under bridges in a box🙏💔

Be content to sing and putter

Make a decadent dessert

(never mind the extra butter) 😉😅

A few winter treats won't hurt 

Chuckle at the chubby junco

Watch the birds without a clock

Dictating strict marching orders

With nothing but tick and tock

Pour a second 'second coffee'

Mindful of a subtle string

Drawing winter, like a tugboat 

Closer and closer to spring

Tromp/ski through snow-swaddled creation

With an ear tuned to a clime

Where green and violet arrangements

Will emerge in perfect time

Though the sunshine, brief and sallow

Cannot melt the snowy strand

We know soon its warmer yellow  

Will trump Old Man Winter's hand

 So, stick your nose in a tulip

Sip some lemon-sparkly bliss

Page through gardens, picture-perfect

While the sun fine-tunes her kiss

Janet Martin

Pour a second 'second coffee'...

Chuckle at the chubby junco...

Watch the birds without a clock...

Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love - Praise and Harmony

Lyrics 

Song by Keith & Kristyn Getty

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love;

Too vast and astounding to tell.

Forever existing in worlds above,

Now offered and given to all.

Oh fountain of beauty eternal;

The Father, the Spirit, the Son.

Sufficient and endlessly generous:

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

Creation is brimming with thankfulness,

The mountains, exultant they stand;

The seasons rejoice in Your faithfulness,

All life is sustained by Your hand.

You crown every meadow with color;

You paint every shade in the sky;

Each day the dawn wakes as an encore of

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

How great, how sure;

His love endures forevermore.

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

What grace, that You entered our brokenness;

You came in the fullness of time.

How far we had fallen from righteousness,

But not from the mercies of Christ.

Your cross is our door to redemption;

Your death is our fullness of life.

That day, how forgiveness flowed as a flood:

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

How great, how sure;

His love endures forevermore.

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

United in Your resurrection,

You lift us to infinite heights.

Could anything sever or take us from

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

How great, how sure;

His love endures forevermore.

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love.

White as Snow or Triumph's Reservoir

Genesis 15:1

...Fear not,  Abram, (Janet, and all who believe.)

I am Thy Shield and Thy exceeding great reward.

Prayer is the greatest power-source in the universe.

Why do we so often settle for something/someone less

than the Best?!! 

Through God's Word and humble prayer we, through Him,

become who He created us to be

We will never be all we or others wish us to be...

Until/unless we have been crucified with Christ and

'it is no longer I but Christ in me'

then we can be infinitely more

 than thought humanly possible,

not to please people,

but, by and to the honour and glory of God!

The 'more' Christ works in us

may never be applauded by the masses

or perhaps, often times, even noticed...

Such as

The private victory over temptation,

The bridled tongue, 

The second mile,

The altar of sacrifice,

The yielded will, (oft-repeated)

The peace that God alone grants

to all who fear Him and seek/strive 

to live in obedience to His commandments...

The sacred fulfillment of 'Love one another'

The joy, gloriously, mysteriously complete

though we sorrow/suffer,

The power to truly and completely forgive!

...but God knows

and keeps a precious record

of our earthly relationship with Him,

until, some day when we will see Him face to face;

Jesus Christ, our salvation, who through His shed blood,

though our sins were like scarlet

He washed us white as snow!

Isa.1:16-20

Wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;

stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.[a]

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good things of the land;

20 but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Read the whole dire chapter HERE

***

Imagine if snow was scarlet, like sin, instead of white, like redemption!!!

How glorious its whiteness suddenly seems! 🙏

When the groan of Intercession yields no dramatic reply

When our sorrowful confession does not move the earth and sky

When the evidence of Seeing challenges Faith's Things Hoped For

'Christ in us', instills faith's being with whispers to trust Him more

God, whose faithfulness and justice vexes logic's rationale  

Will fulfill his every promise; never slack or forgetful 

He beholds The Precious Many, ignorant of Calvary 

(It is not his will that any should perish eternally)

Love, beyond all comprehension bore death's cross in our stead 

God, rich in mercy's compassion, gave His Own to pay sin's debt

He is ever interceding, for all who call on the Lord

He, both shield and faith's exceeding, everlasting great reward, 

Love, beyond all comprehension holds eternity at bay

Love, whose scarlet intervention washes sin's cursed stains away

White as snow, Redemption's River courses, bridging death's dark rift 

Would that all would trust the Giver of Salvation's sacred gift

 

Then, though groans of Intercession yield no visible reply

When our sorrowful confession does not move the earth and sky

When the evidence of needing challenges Faith's Things Hoped For

'Christ in us', transforms faith's pleading into Triumph's Reservoir 

© Janet Martin 

Blessed be the Fountain of Blood (Lyrics Only)

Alan Jackson-Blessed Assurance (Lyrics)

Faith's Sacred Enrollment

Through what lies behind

we are being prepared

for what lies ahead!

***

Regret has but one merit;

to learn from it

***

God cares for each of us beyond our wildest comprehension;

and invites us to cast our cares on Him!

Why do I/we often attempt to shoulder care

as if He didn't care?!!

***

What great fun and frustration, as we cheer on

our favourite teams, for better or worse!

When we put our faith in God

we become part of a 'team'

whose 'Coach' puts us through drills we often don't recognize

unless/until they produce His desire's sacred result;

a more humbly prayerful people.

Oh Lord, we give thee thanks

Whatever comes our way

May circumstance unveil the ranks

That teaches us to pray

...that tutors hope and trust

Though sorrow's throes increase

As we surrender what we must

You fill us with your peace

Lord, nothing is too hard

For You to will and do

Where the deceiver preys, you guard

The heart, humble and true

And should we stumble, still

You do not turn away

But with the shards of broken will

You teach us how to pray

Oh Lord, kindly renew

Our courage through your love

Help us to wholly lean on You

The wellspring of Enough 

For we know no true loss

Whatever comes our way

As long as You command/commend the cross 

That teaches us to pray

To wallow in regret

Is futile; Lord, pray we

Will learn from the mistakes that set

More sorry sights on Thee 

Forgiver of our sin

Help us as You prepare

The sacred drills faith enrolls in; 

Today's lessons in prayer

Our faith ought never be

In throne-rooms of this world

Lord, open eyes of faith to see

Your mighty Hand unfurled

Then, as a soldier/soul-dier true

Whatever comes our way

 Help us to put our trust in You

Who teaches us to pray

Your strength, through weakness gleams

In grief, Your comfort cheers

From the ash-heaps of broken dreams

We cry; Your kindness hears

And bends to bind the ill

That comes through creature care

That tests us with love's best until

We lean on You in prayer

 

 © Janet Martin 

Prov.3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

 and he shall direct thy paths.

Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright 

Monday Morning/Every Morning Prayer and Praise...

Lam.3:22-24

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

Quicken us, Lord, with Your Spirit, with wealth of Thy wisdom

Lest we would, for some earth-trinket forfeit Heaven's Kingdom

Lest through the love of an idol we lose Intercession

Lest the tongue we do not bridle hinders sin's confession

Lest by breaking one commandment we offend all others

Lest, by errant understanding we cause stumbling brothers

Lest pride's vile infatuation blinds us to faith's calling

Lest the deceiver's temptation binds us to down-falling

Lest greed becomes the go-getter breeding selfish living

Forging from blessing a fetter rather than thanksgiving

Lest we lose this life by loving Self's death-doomed direction

Lest we forget choices proving who consumes Affection

Lest we choose, when life is ended,( sooner than expected)

Compensation we befriended by Who we neglected/rejected

Quicken us Lord, with Your Spirit's steadfast, sweetest pleasure

Lest we value more the merit of earth's fleeting treasure

© Janet Martin 

***  

Mercy, new each morning

What more do we need

To grace our sojourning

To cheer word and deed

To bolster hope's yearning

To secure faith's sail

Mercy, new each morning

Love that will not fail

© Janet Martin 

***

Lord, You know what today/this week will bring

And what its charges will entail

Lord, there is no chink in Your wing

The armour You forge will not fail

Lord, with truth and humility

Let our light shine forth, and then

Through each good deed may others see

You, and glorify You. Amen

© Janet Martin 

***

Christ the True and Better (Lyric Video) - Matt Boswell & Matt Papa

Sorrow's Sweet Surprise

I came across this photo of us sisters in much care-freer childhood days...

From left to right...

Marlene, Carolyn, Cheryl, Lucy and Janet 💝

Because today marks four months since Lucy's death,

it also marks four months of God's abiding comfort and strength,

and four months of being drawn ever nearer to His

everlasting love...

I'm sharing today and tomorrow's devotion 

from the book Consolation by Mrs. Chas E. Cowman

because they minister profoundly to all who are traveling

through trouble and sorrow...

I shared the verses below on yesterday's post but I didn't 'unpack' them...

Matt. 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles,

so that we can comfort those in any trouble

with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Often in ways we would not choose

When love unfolds grief's solemn hues

We find, in sorrow's somber length

The God of all comfort and strength

Often, when disappointments test

The hopes and dreams now laid to rest

We find in sorrow's bitter tear

The God of all comfort is near

And often when (lest we despair)

We pour out broken hearts in prayer 

We find to sorrow's sweet surprise

The God of all comfort replies

We find  'no longer I, but Christ'

As hopes and dreams are sacrificed

We find, as sorrow bows the head 

The God of all comfort instead 

Whose compassion is new each morn

Who comforts mourners, sorrow-worn

Through troubles we would never choose

God ministers with Heaven's hues

© Janet Martin 

And a BIG P.S.

Prayer updates!

Remember the people you prayed for HERE

and HERE?

Our friends had a wonderful trip in spite of the initial disappointment;

not as originally planned but in place of original plans 💖🙏

...and thanks be to God,

 the family who was looking for a home has found one!

Thank-you all for your help and prayers!

Like Raindrops on a Garden

Roses in waiting...

A few glimpses at today's inspiration

Thanks to devotions from the book Consolation

 mentioned HERE

Matt. 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

 who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

***

Forbid sorrow's tears should harden the plot where thought's power flows

But like raindrops on a garden, let it grow compassion's rose

Let their sacred torrent soften the places not tender yet

Let it seep to deeps that often we ignore, secrete, forget 

Forbid grief to blind perception as love's bitter dregs we taste

Or to wallow in depression like a garden laid to waste

But to shoulder sorrow's anguish like a soldier of the cross

Rather than flounder or languish in a labyrinth of loss

Forbid sorrow's reason reckons, only earth-side's view, so dim

Never hearing He who beckons mourners to call/fall upon Him

Never growing in Grief's Garden anything but hopeless gloom

Letting sorrow's teardrops harden the plot where roses would/could/should bloom 

Our Father, up in Heaven, hallowed be Thy perfect Name

Pray, through sorrow we are driven to the One from whence we came

Pray, through grief our eyes are opened to Time's Very Fleeting Nod

Till our grip on earth is loosened by a tighter hold on God 

Who can understand our suff'ring better than God, rich in love 

He who through Sin's Final off'ring left no merit yet to prove 

 He who purchased our pardon and bore sorrow's climax knows

Tears, like raindrops on a garden, are but watering Love's Rose  

© Janet Martin 

Also inspired by today's Daily Bread devotion HERE 

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Fernando Ortega

A Most Glorious Reminder or Our Greatest Reason to Rejoice

From Streams in the Desert Vol. 2

Our greatest reason to rejoice resounds like bells that peal

Across a worldwide countryside with unaffected zeal

To rally in the battlefield and playground of the heart

A reinvigorated hymn of praise ‘how great Thou art’

Our greatest reason to rejoice transcends the dust of days

Reviving on devotion’s wick, worship’s rekindled blaze

Thanksgiving humbles human-natured Want, and rebukes pride

That blinds us to the Greatest Gift only God can provide

Our greatest reason to rejoice delights the deepest woe

He cheers and calms our fears with peace, this world can never know

Bidding faith not to falter in the face of ridicule

For time can never alter what this world can never rule

Our greatest reason to rejoice is Trustworthy and True

God will not fail, if we but ask, He will courage renew

And we will find, if we but seek, His Ever-Present Voice

If we knock He unlocks Our Greatest Reason to Rejoice

The critic cannot cheapen it, nor scoffer quench its vim

Our greatest reason to rejoice no doom or gloom can dim

But in the darkest hour, when Death unleashes its roar

And in the darkest hour when Death swings ajar its door

Our Greatest Reason to Rejoice increases all the more

© Janet Martin

Come, Gracious Spirit-Simon Browne 1720

1. Come, gracious Spirit, heav’nly Dove,
   With light and comfort from above;
   Be Thou our Guardian, Thou our Guide,
   O’er every thought and step preside.
2. The light of truth to us display,
   And make us know and choose Thy way;
   Plant holy fear in every heart,
   That we from God may ne’er depart.
3. Lead us to holiness, the road
   Which we must take to dwell with God;
   Lead us to Christ, the living Way,
   Nor let us from His pastures stray.
4. Lead us to God, our final rest,
   To be with Him forever blest;
   Lead us to Heav’n, its bliss to share,
   Fullness of joy forever there.

Lord, as we repent and believe

And then your greatest gift receive

Let Your Power and Glory pour

Through each soul's endless reservoir

To fill each gifted breath we draw

With worship's everlasting awe

Amen

When the Cares of Life/Love Encumber...

The word 'hope' unless it is anchored

firm and secure in God's promises

is nothing but a puff of air as it passes

through our lips...

My Anchor Holds

Isa.26:3-4

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
4Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord,

 is [b]everlasting strength.

Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!

Job 4:3-4
Surely you have instructed many, 

and have strengthened their feeble hands. 

 Your words have steadied those who stumbled; 

you have braced the knees that were buckling.

***

When the cares of life encumber

When we know not how to cope

He who keeps us does not slumber

But anoints each breath with hope

When a sense of Want oppresses

When faith's enemies accrue

He who satisfies and blesses 

Abides, trustworthy and true

When the brunt of circumstances

Comminutes faith's mustard seed

Our God, rich in mercy grants us

Grace, sufficient for the need

When the Red/Dread Sea rolls before us

And behind, evil hordes prey 

He whose gaze does not ignore us

Will not fail to make a way

When our prayer is but a stammer

  From lips, stripped of eloquence

God, our gracious Interpreter 

Hears the tear and understands 

When the cares of love encumber

When earth's best is bound to fail

He who never sleeps or slumbers

Anchors Hope within the gale

Janet Martin

Under His Wings

Ps. 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.