We Will Never Be Alone

 

Wherever life may lead today

Through meadows plush or fields of stone

Though skies gleam gold or glower gray

We will never be alone

Autumn may snuff the boast of spring

Beneath Time’s weight of truth we groan

Yet in spite of what life may bring

We will never be alone

Though loneliness clenches our hearts

And pricks the core beneath our bone

Cling to the comfort Love imparts

For we will never be alone

What God has promised He will do

Dream-dust and tears are soon wind-blown

We cling to His word; it is true

And we will never be alone

© Janet Martin

Morning Celebration Song

Upon earth’s shores of sod we pause

To drink Hope’s wonder in

Dumbfounded in our thought because

Love cleanses our sin

Not love of mankind’s feeble schemes

But love coursing in red

The blood of Jesus Christ redeems

Where law and works fall dead

See how His grace unfolds the dawn

Then soon day’s breadth expires

The bud unfolds to sing its song

Then falls beneath wood-spires

The love of Jesus Christ our Lord

Flows infinite, eternal

From God to man freely out-poured

From Mystery supernal

For hatred, love; for our greed, hope

And for our sin redemption

We bow upon earth’s transient slope

In humble celebration

© Janet Martin

Amazing Grace

 

Of Fairy-tales, Nursery Rhymes and Dreamers...

Maybe there’s a little Cinderella in all of us

Waiting for a prince to come to the ball

Maybe in those poor, lonely, lovely eyes of blue

There is happily-ever-after, after all

Petals, stars, Humpty-Dumpty and tears fall

None can be put back together again

And if the dreamer out-lives the dream

He is miserable above all men

© Janet Martin

Just watched Inside Daisy Clover; some stark and moving scenes!

Still-life Pageant

 

Oh, still-life pageantry embellishing the air

How fluently you come to me

Like whispers in a prayer

Then run those whispers near where I can almost touch

The echo of those days I love

In scenes I miss so much

Though my cup over-flows with laughter, love and hope

I feel the kiss of longing’s bliss

Ravage thought’s hidden slope

And when the day is still or filled with spring’s cadence

Then suddenly you come to me

In tender confidence

Oh, still life pageantry from fathoms silver-blue

I touch your face as I embrace

Those tender thoughts of you

© Janet Martin

This year's spring-cleaning is unlike any other. I am packing boxes for my daughter who is moving out when she gets married in the fall... a separate container with winter things, a 'don't send it to the thrift-store 'cause Emily might want it' box,  etc...Much opportunity for reflection and echoes.

Cherish the moment soon to be a memory!

Sheaves...

So, here we are

Another sheaf of moments granted

 For us to pursue

And we do,

Opening them with coffee,

As morning spills its silver silk

Over the hill

Into the valley

And mercy spills

Its gracious hope

To the heart

So here we are,

On this forward-facing journey

Not to the grave

But to a Gate

As we press fear into prayer

And hope into faith

Sweeping up spilled cheerios

And toast crumbs

With purpose

Because this sheaf of moments

Comes but once

So, here we are

The thresholds of flood and famine

Someday will

Fall away

As faith becomes sight

And treasure chests are opened

To reveal

The measure of our love

And the treasure of our hearts

Proven in sheaves

Of gathered moments

© Janet Martin

Quandary of the Spring-steward

Shall we declare this day a day of rest

And set aside our brooms and tools or plows

To taste in full the little wind that blows

Through lilac bloom and pastures newly dressed?

Then will we pause to touch those fingertips

Unfurling green in vast and sundry hues

Or savor purples, pinks and golden-blues

Spilling garrulously from nature’s lips?

Or shall we carry on and strive instead

To drink the cup of blessing midst our toil

Praising the God who nurtures soul and soil

For if we dance then who will buy our bread?

© Janet Martin

Arms of Love

Even as we grumble, stumble,

On this broken road of life

Even as we ponder, wonder

At its thrusts of grief and strife

Even as we clamor, stammer

Stilted prayers to God above

We are not alone but ever

Carried in His arms of love

© Janet Martin

Of Hugs and Holding

 

They draw and hold us near

A cradle in our grief

Enfolded in love’s arms

In tender-sweet relief

Compassion reaches out

Its consoling embrace

Comforts the broken heart

Within love’s kind solace

Lord, hold the suffering

And as our tear-drops fall

May we lean on Your arms

Beneath, around us all

© Janet Martin

  

One thing keeps re-impacting me as I view the images of the Oklahoma tornado; the arms, reaching, helping, holding, hugging...

Arms hold Tim Bosma's widow and child this morning at his memorial service in Hamilton.

Over and over I find myself praying, Oh Lord, hold the suffering and may they feel Your arms around them.

We live in a broken world but God's arms are open wide and He invites us to Him. He draws near to the suffering. "we never cry alone"