But By The Grace Of God ABC's

  

If you still feel grumpy after this song, well then I'm not sure what to recommend other than, 

listen to it again!!;-))

Sometimes it is SO easy to get upset with politicians, people who do things against our beliefs and preferences, but if we remember the grace of God to us it reminds us to offer this same grace to others.

But by the grace of God we are...

Able,

Blessed,

Compassionate,

Diligent,

Equal,

Forgiven,

Gracious,

Humble,

Important,

Joyful,

Kind,

Loving,

More,

Noble,

Obedient,

Precious,

Quieted,

Remorseful,

Saved,

Trustworthy,

Understanding,

Virtuous,

Wise,

X-pedient,

Yielded,

Zealous 

Janet Martin

This is one version. You might enjoying writing your own!

As we continue the study What's So Amazing About Grace

I am impacted over and over at its profound fullness and power.

Pray what we glean is more than head-knowledge.

For We of Common Wealth

 

Words seem too commonplace for this strange wonderland unfurled

As we revel in the grandeur of a glass-beveled world

This ice-encapsulated promenade of that and this

Astonishes frond, fence and wooden flowers with its kiss

We are no queens or Lady’s maids, still we can’t help but grin

At the extravagance of this glass palace we are in

© Janet Martin

Time's Three-fold Flower...

Silk-soft, Imminence hovers, where Now flowers, fades and falls

Nevermore to return, save in thought’s echo-favored halls

We live this life ‘in limbo’ between what was and will be

Where all we hold for certain is Time’s opportunity

Here, where felled petals flounder new appointments burst the pod

Its full bloom still a mystery, save in the Hand of God

Where this ‘in limbo’ would confound our forward flight with fear

But for the confidence we have that He is ever near

This birthing-place of memories is sacred ground, the heart

Quickens at the mere wonder of what morrow might impart

Where we are held ‘in limbo’ yet, not dangling in mid-air

But cradled in the Certainty of God’s kindness and care

How hard would be love’s joy if Imminence were hapless fate

How agonizing this ‘in limbo’ would be as we wait

With bated breath for death; how hopeless every step we brave

If Destiny led, not to God, but to a stone-cold grave

Imminence hovers, covers us with the awareness of

The ephemeral fabric that weaves our live-laugh-love

And this ‘in limbo’ state of being would torment each hour

Without this peace; The Knowing Who ordains time’s three-fold flow’r

© Janet Martin

‘In Limbo’ sort of describes my mornings as I wait to see if the supply teacher I just started babysitting for will get a call to work. Her mornings are ‘in limbo’ too, until after a certain hour. (we both thought she would get a call today but not so far)

… and then as I thought about it I came to the conclusion that no matter what we plan we all live ‘in limbo’ of what is to come beyond our control, but never God’s!

It's The Memories That Make It...Worth It All

 

It’s the thought of bloom-bathed meadows

It’s the memory of mist

Unfurling a purple mantle

Over morning’s dust-dew kissed

It’s the prospect of long picnics

Where leaf-lyrics lilt and sigh

As the poet and the dreamer

Traverse a blue, boundless sky

It’s the barefoot way of being

It’s the carefree flower fray

It’s the babble of brooks beaming

To an ocean far away

It’s the garden full of gladness

It’s the hum of honey bee

It’s the treasure of an hour

Gold, like slow-poured lemon tea

It’s the lazy, hazy landscape

Where life’s sweetest footsteps fall

It’s the murmur of spent summers

That makes winter worth it all

© Janet Martin

I have the commercial for Massel's Marine in New Hamburg 

to thank for this one:) 

They use the line 'this makes winter worth it all'

Through Praise or Complaint?

 Victoria was dearly hoping for a snow-day, but the weather completed earth's beauty-treatment while she slept;-) so off she went with a hug, hot tea and prayer.

 

From heights that hover shore to shore

And covers earth with sky

See, fading darkness forms the door

Where morning meets our eye

And be its banner blue and brusque

Or gold and glory wrought

Its color climbs time’s stair where dusk

Soon summons birth to naught

This oracle from mercy’s God

Ought to fill thought with awe

And spill to hearts, glad worship’s laud

As we behold love’s law

Look; opportunity brand-new

Anoints time’s fresh-lit flare

Grace grants no feckless ballyhoo

Or glum, ho-hum affair

But offers to scoffer and saint

A gift where moments pour

From God through man’s praise or complaint

Into what is no more

© Janet Martin

A Wantful Satisfaction

I want just enough discontentment

To keep me reaching for stars

 I want a few vegetables for soup

And to thrill when dawn spills refilled jars

I want a garden for learning

Lessons from flower and weed

I want to dare to share recklessly

When I have more than I need

I want a wish never granted

Lest I relinquish meek trust

I want to be girl-enchanted

As I splash barefoot through dust

I want to be love-smitten
By a white world pearled with rain
I want to wander its woods and hills
Again and again and again

I want slow-cooked porridge for breakfast

Vacation in a cup of tea

I want to travel the world in books

Sail on a paper-bound sea

I want to dream without borders

I want to fly without wings

I want to dance with the wind as it sweeps

Over phantom violins

I want no fear-fraught misgiving

…when death summons my final quest

I want to say life was worth living

And that I gave it my best

I want to hear heaven’s harps playing

As my bumbling footsteps fade

And then, to leave for those behind

A beautiful memory made

© Janet Martin