Beyond Today...

Beyond today we cannot say

What will befall or if perchance

We might be drawn from moment-spawn

For living’s ephemeral dance

Does not foretell when Time’s farewell

Will place its kiss upon our brow

We cannot see beyond today

The only thing we have is Now

And none can wheedle or demand

One glimpse beyond today’s firm hand

Beyond today we cannot say

What colors fill The Artist’s tray

The gold and gray that slipped away

Is nothing now but yesterday

And we, the love-and-learning squad

March ever onward up to God

Beyond today; a curious thought

Of fantasy and faith unwrought

We tremble twixt the ‘what-has-been’

And the ‘beyond-Today’s-unseen’

Beyond today oh, none can say of wise-man,

Soothsayer or sage

What Life will spill of good and ill

Upon its far and phantom page

Paris in June? Love’s Brigadoon?

What will it be? Ah, none can know

Its filament is lent and spent

Within a gasp that we call Now

And we can never snatch the thread

From He who gives our daily bread

© Janet Martin

Of Green and Gold and God

Behind facades of gold and green,

Of fields bathed bronze in early light

Or season-tides that surge unseen

Disguised as morning, noon and night

Within life’s little tick-tock share

Of hurt and hunger, laughter, grief

We stretch our hands but cannot snare

The nuances which fill Time's sheaf

The clock strikes twelve; another year

Slips soft into the atmosphere

The canvas where we oft laid bare

Love’s stunning attributes of trust

Its ravishment of hope, despair

Its pinnacles of want and must

Is snuffed by nothing but the chime

Of midnight and while wise men sleep

The subtle dictation of Time

Claims one more year within its keep

Futile to clench or shake the fist

We cannot cling to moment-mist

Is life but extolment of prayer?

While dream-slayers and sages vie

We stumble, fly and soon stand where

Another year whispers good-bye

Spring’s bully-green is winter-white

And youth, ah youth is borne away

Upon this morning, noon and night

And vapor shaping yesterday

Blessing and burden coalesce

To teach us trust and happiness

Ah, see the sun rise from the trench

Of twilight on a beach somewhere

Mercy and love’s compassion drench

Morning; ‘tis more than scripted air

And we are more than young and old

Marching toward death’s ether clime

Where history is but the hold

Of tick-tock chant and moment-mime

This green and gold season-facade

Unfolds the road that leads to God

© Janet Martin

Of Crosses and Comfort

 

We cannot bear life’s cross alone

Kind Mentor of our moments here

You understand each wordless groan

And count each solitary tear

The silent sorrow of the soul

My Father, is not hid from Thee

Come to us now. Comfort, console

Carry us in Your kind mercy

Sorrow and joy, complex alloy

Dear Father, help us meekly bear

Love’s mother-load; lest we destroy

The tender hearts placed in our care

 Guide us in each step of each day

Constrain our fears beyond its reach

And help us not to pull away

From love-lessons that life must teach

Oh God, alone we cannot bear

The hidden sorrows of the heart

But, as You hear our groaning prayer

Dear God, I pray, Your peace impart

© Janet Martin

Jesus!

 

Jesus, was ever there a name that didst such love and wonder stir?

Of Christ-child clad in mortal skin; the son of God, Mary, mother

He left His throne to be a Lamb led to the slaughter, meek and mild

Jesus, was ever there a Name such as was given this Christ-child?

Jesus; and He will save mankind from sin and death; how can it be?

The Godhead leaves His place to become ransom blood for you and me

As angels glorified the Father for salvation’s wondrous birth

Jesus Christ laid in a manger; King and Lord of Heav’n and earth

Jesus; name above all names and Hope whereby mankind is saved

Jesus, our debt of guilt and shame by grace through His shed blood is waived

Jesus; whoever shall believe will not perish in that last breath

Jesus; and by no other name can we escape damnation, death

Jesus; was ever there a name that didst such love and wonder bring?

Of Christ-child born in humble stable where the poor could come to Him

Ah Jesus, Alpha and Omega born to suffer Calvary

Ah Jesus; name above all names be praised throughout eternity

© Janet Martin

Listening to Christmas music as I work around the house...oh, what a name to sing. Jesus!

A Christmas Wish

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

 Thanking God for a blessed year past and trusting Him for a blessed year ahead.

May we seek, and then may we find

The wonder of Love’s perfect Gift

The kindred Hope of all mankind

Implores us to come now and lift

Our hearts and hands in joyful hymn

To worship Christ of Bethlehem

May we in spirit and in Truth

Embrace love’s gladness and its joy

Relinquishing sorrow and grief

For hope in Heaven’s Baby Boy

And may we find from this day forth

A Deeper Meaning to life’s worth

May the grace of forgiveness cleanse

Us from the bitter thorn of spite

May the deliverance of Him

Who loves us so, make our wrongs right

And may we learn in word and thought

To worship Jesus as we ought

May we when this season has passed

Still sing its worship-song of cheer

And may we resolve thence to trust

In God all through the coming year

And may we find, each day we live

The Gift that Jesus came to give

© Janet Martin

Winter Worship

Earth is a pillow of diamond-stud dazzle

Lack-luster limb sporting sashes, lush, plush

Countryside, cityscape, woodland and hollow

Clad in a cape of grand crystalline hush

Opulent wonder in white winter-splendor

Kisses frail twig, bending hemlock and pine

Beneath a blanket of God-gilded grandeur

Earth is a hallowed, heaven-thrilled shrine

We, the sojourners of four-season homage

Claim common kin-ship of shovel and hope

Worship dons mittens and muckers and mufflers

Digging our way through north-wind calliope

Earth is a garden of gleaming frost-flowers

Earth is a wonderland whispered by God

Earth is a canvas where Time spills its hours

We, its sojourners are humbled and awed

© Janet Martin

Sometimes, finding the right words to describe our Creator’s handiwork simply falls flat, almost like an insult, yet we must try. Over and over we are awed by Him!

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Ps. 96:9

Winter from Inside my Window

 Two friends of mine have their stories in this book! Congrats Caroline and Glynis.

Wan twilight claims the gray-blue day

Where wind, with bared wrath chills our bones

Lurking at doors and windowpanes

He snarls in surly threats and moans

The popularity of books

And fireside and comfy chairs

Become small havens in our nooks

Of home, sweet home and kinder cares

Summer; oh, foreign, remote land

Of sanguine sweetness long ago

Your echo snuffed by churlish hand

In Nor’-Easter and blowing snow

How friendly is the flick’ring flame

How cheery this chamomile tea

The wind flashes his saber-grin

But I decline his company

© Janet Martin

It is F-R-E-E-ZING today/tonight!

Merry Christmas! Yes, it is!

 Merry Christmas!

…not because our lives are perfect

But He is!

…not because our gifts bring deliverance

But He does!

…not because stocking-stuffers fulfill

But He will

…not because of earthly peace

But because of heavenly peace

Because

He was born

To die

So we may live

Forever!

Merry Christmas!

© Janet Martin