Still the Same Jesus

He loves us so; His truth transcends these corridors of earth

As angels told the shepherds in the hour of His birth

A Savior has been born to you and He is Christ the Lord

The Shepherds did not understand yet took them at their word

And hastened to the place to see this thing the angels said

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in a manger bed

 I wonder if the angels came to me one silent night

Would I in haste forsake my post so that faith would be sight?

Or would indifference and unbelief cause me to scorn

The thought that the Messiah in a stable would be born?

The Shepherds did not question; when the multitude had gone

They said, let us go now and see this thing the Lord made known

He loves us so and did not seek a throne, this Son of God

This Holiest of Holies chose the lowliest of sod

The utter humbleness of Him who came to earth to die

Fills me with thoughts I cannot pen, though ever I may try

He loves us so; and fills with grace that debt we could not pay

With His own blood, the Son of God washed every guilt away

…and when I see the manger now and think on why He came

I tremble at the joy and peace we find in Jesus’ Name

For just as in the days of old He loves each one of us

The story that the angels told is still the same Jesus

God is not dead; oh, let our praises fill earth’s stricken slope

And let the Reason for this Season be our Living Hope

© Janet Martin

I Like the Tender Thought of You

I like the tender thought of you

My dear, soft in my heart

The whisper of another year

Preparing to depart

Reminds me that we cannot know

Within its phantom pull

Who will remain and who will go

When this year’s cup is full

I’m glad to know that you are always

Just a thought away

And often there I cherish you

And often there I pray

The tender thought of you is like

A smile that does not dim

You wrap its song around me

In a sweet and sacred hymn

I’m glad a thought can be enough

When you are far from me

This is the wonderment of love

A splendid mystery

But in its miracle of hope

It sets the spirit free

I like the tender thought of you

To keep me company

© Janet Martin

Ether Art

He dipped His brush in pastel pink

Then stenciled on the wall

A silhouette of ether ink

The Aftermath of Fall

© Janet Martin

So It Will Be

 Another awesome sky morning...

PAD Challenge Day 29    

Write a commercialism poem...

He does not need commercials

To draw our eyes to Him

His wonder fills the morning sky

And spills from every limb

When He speaks none can silence

Beginning and the End

I AM declares and so IT IS

Forevermore, Amen

© Janet Martin

The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen. Isa. 14:24

We Need More!

Day 29 PAD Challenge

 For today’s prompt, write a commercial poem.

The latest plastic gadget amplifies a futile thirst

Beneath a cry for more and more it seems that we are cursed

And when the thrill of new wears thin we turn to search again

For something that will satisfy the growling void within

They scream for our attention with a ‘don’t pay now’ control

Commercialism drawing innocence into a hole

As greed and need are misconstrued in colors that appeal

…an eighty-inch home-theater to watch a third world reel

Are colored balls the answer to our hungering for more?

Is happiness a promise that we purchase at a store?

…or better yet, don’t leave your comfy chair, but simply sign

Our life-savings into the air; now we can buy on-line!

This credit-craze is Holidays; the Christ-child has no part

For He Himself was Heaven’s gift to satisfy the heart

And only He can quench our thirst; though merchants ply and plead

Peace, joy and love, His gift to us is all the More we need

© Janet Martin

   

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isa. 9:6-7

Thursday Thoughts...on Friday

To labor is sweet and its task no rod

When done through, by and for

Our God

***

May thankfulness not be to me

Something to munch upon

Lest I stop singing joyfully

When the last crumb is gone

But may it be a humble song

In all that life imparts

May praise be more than words of tongue

But measures of the heart

***

Blow, little breeze, though the birds are all gone

And morning is starched silencing

Winter, in all its white bliss will move on

Bird-song will return in the spring

***

My daughter likes to tell me

In her wisest, weary tone

Not everything in life composes

Parable or poem

Someday, I pray she’ll ponder

An echo from her past

And realize that poetry

Spins every stitch we cast

And Providence will use

Life’s meekest, ordinary things

To weave lessons Eternal

With Time’s temporary strings

***

The pulsing heart, the warmth of flesh

Is one half-breath

From present-death

Then we will see The Great Unseen

There is no ‘somewhere in-between’

***

The utter silence of the night

Should render not a thing to hear

But longing has an appetite

And silence has a hungry ear

***

There’s something ‘bout the gentle glow

Of midnight moonlight on the snow  

It seemed to me the way it shone

That Heaven left its porch-light on

***

Oh, sweet and blessed truth

When all my storms are braved

He will not judge me by my guilt

It is by grace I’m saved

***

Do not stand idle long

But just to hear the song

Of Nature’s praise and Heaven’s grace

Do not stand idle long

***

I must go

The night has bent

Tomorrow to today

And soon the little night that’s left

Will softly melt away

***

Thursday Thoughts landed on Friday, it seems

Goodnight and sweet dreams…

Janet~

Of Those Things We Say...or Forget To

We say, please put your things away

And, did you brush your teeth today?

And will you do ‘that chore’ this way

Like all the times I’ve shown you?

We say, ‘it’s going to snow again

And, will you bring the laundry in?

Or, try to do the best you can

And, who wants fried bologna?

We talk about all kinds of things

The news that life’s misfortune brings

The intricacy of heart-strings

Or mood of skies above you

But in our smattering of speech

As we debate, laugh, learn and teach

Will we, before day’s end is reached

Say and repeat, I love you,
I love you,
I love you too...

© Janet Martin

Tonight the ‘goodnight, I love you’s’ touched me a-new. There are some things that just do not grow old. Suddenly I recalled the above scene from The Waltons…although they do not 'say' I love you, you can hear it:)

It Snowed Last Night...

It snowed last night; the kind that fell kiss-soft as feather-down

Until each fence-row, tree and house was tucked into its gown

And earth, once tan and bronze and green, like nature’s patchwork quilt

Is transformed to a sparkling sheen of silver-sequined silk

Existence is a sea of stars; the world a foreign strand

Above and all around Time is a white-washed wonderland

And we, the wondering creatures gaze to where the old is new

And once again we are amazed at what our God can do

Each hilltop is a pillow and each hollow is a bed

Each barren field a ballroom where the breezes pirouette

It snowed last night; the kind that wrapped the earth in heaven-fleece

Each diamond-flake a miracle and stunning master-piece

Sacred and still its silence speaks;  and everyone may know

Though our sins were as scarlet we are washed as white as snow

And no one here can wander past the reaches of God's grace

It snowed last night; a mercy-mantra mantling every place

© Janet Martin

 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isa. 1:18