What Comfort This (and Dave-update)

 I was on a little drive this afternoon,(praying for my brother) looked up and saw what felt like a kind hug from God

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.

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us,
so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 

2 Cor.1:3-5 

Below, a few more shots from my drive on a road we locals call 'The Third'.

It is an immensely scenic stretch of rural bliss!

What comfort this; the Lord who splays the ream

Where green hills touch blue sky and leave gaze awed

Where rivers like diamond tiaras gleam

Through valleys cradled in the arms of God

Where bud unfolds in star-eyed miracle

Embellishing the moil of soil with vim

Where troubadour bows, stripped of canticle

Kind-humbled by nature’s prolific hymn

Where He who tints the hues of dark and light

And sheathes with spectral shroud, dusk’s dimming lay

And tunes the green-leaf harp; with faultless might

He turns the gyre that garners night and day 

...whereon we press a printless pageantry

Of summers spent, of bowers bloomed and felled

Of hours lent, bent with love's tangent spree

Of flowers, sweet and full and hardly held

...before their petals line a tender trove

Of days gone by and eyes wiser than they

Who drink the dream of youthful wander-love

Until life deems that they too walk the way

...of laughter’s aftermath; sorrow and dust

Where time's sublime four-season, suave quadrille

Concedes that joy cannot escape The Must

That teaches us to trust a Higher Will 

 What comfort this; The Lord who fills the spheres

Whose loving faithfulness will never cease

Is ever near. He gathers up our tears

He hears our prayers and grants us Mercy’s peace

© Janet Martin

For those not on FB with us, here is the latest update from Karen, (my brother Dave's wife)

(To newcomers; I have been updating since last Wed. when I shared that my brother Dave (52yrs. old) fell from a roof )

  Yesterday (Saturday) he had a much harder day so I decided to stay down in the hospital with him all night.(he has been moved from the Trauma Center to reg. hospital closer to home)

 Tonight before I left he was feeling better. I decided to come home and get a night's sleep in my bed and will go down early in the morning with Krista so that I am there when his Dr comes in.

As I am sitting with him, it reminds me of a roller coaster ride. There are times when you are on the top and it is exciting and then you go down hill. I know that our ride is just about to begin! It would be great to be at the top of the ride but I know we will have those down days and I just know that God, family and friends will be with us thru it all.

Keep praying, I took a lot in from the DR today, main thing said, It will be a long haul.

Thanks again.

(Karen, who struggles with more than her share of health challenges needs prayers for health and strength as well!) 

This morning at our Sunday worship service I was moved to tears by the timing of this hymn.

More Than We Know

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Prov.11:25

I wrote this post this morning then checked out the basement after hearing there is major flooding in the local town of Drayton. This day is being spent cleaning up a huge over-refreshment-ing of basement and rec room.

below, an overhead shot  of Drayton right now!

This day is dressed like all the rest

In moment metered measure

With God to move in mortal breast

To will and do His pleasure

Mankind is lent one life, my dears

Ah, who can know its hours?

So laugh thy joys and weep thy tears

Where deed is seed that flowers

So pray thy prayer and choose thy God

Astute corroboration

…where touch and taste with subtle laud

Demonstrates confirmation

From womb to tomb; virtue and vice

Tests and attests intention

The increase of love’s sacrifice

Beyond our comprehension

Where God, so rich in mercy grants

Much more than man can fathom

And blesses he who humbly plants

And trusts God for the outcome

© Janet Martin

Today's Dave-Update inspired Today's Poem

Thank-you for your prayers.

 Karen, Dave's wife wrote last night:

GOD IS SOOO GOOD!!!!  Prayer is powerful. Today at the hospital was such a good day. I couldn’t believe how much different he was this morning from when I left him last night.  His pain is under control more, he is able to rest much easier, his oxygen  machine  was lower today, he is breathing more himself, his lung is starting to reflate, and he is coughing up phlegm.

They had him sitting up in a chair for the first time today. Tomorrow they are going to try and have him stand maybe.

He was more awake and talking and opening his eyes and focusing today and he ate a  little bit of food.

Another prayer request;   he asked the Dr to check his right arm because he is having problems moving it. They did an  x-ray and it showed nothing wrong, but he is having trouble moving it and since his other side his collar bone is broken he can't do much. He tried eating some soup but can’t get the spoon to his mouth, so I have to feed him. That no problem for me but very frustrating for Dave. So please pray for strength

Long road ahead but with the improvements today hopefully it’s all up hill now.

Today I feel so much better. My friends and family I talked to today could hear it in my voice. I am sure I will get a better much-needed sleep  tonight

Again I want to thank you for all the prayers, phone calls, texts.  I feel so blessed. They are sure helping me in more ways than you know.

Afternoon update just now!

...and this afternoon she called to ask if I would share the good news that he is being transferred from the Trauma Canter to a hospital much closer to home. Once again the change from yesterday to today is like night and day. Please keep praying and praising God for prayers already answered!

Rightful Rebuke...

Witnessing the generous out-pouring of God's love through people, For my brother Dave and his family) and seeing answers from God that we, broken humanity can recognize, has rebuked my soul!

Oh, me of little faith

How oft God’s grace replies

And pours His mercies like a wraith

Through thunder-clouded skies

Oh, me of little boast

Save this, in Christ my Lord

Who always knows what I need most

In spite of love ignored

Oh me, so kindly blessed

With tenderness He chides

For He, a Father knows what's best

And lovingly provides

© Janet Martin

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?" Matt.14:31

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 

Matt.8:26

The Today-Tree...and Today's 'Dave Update'

How about this flower, suggested little Luke as we picked a bouquet for his mom.

No, that flowers is all done, I explained.

See its petals by your feet?

"Oh! You poor, poor flower" mourned Luke, "you will never be a flower again."

(I should pick it. A spent bloom retains its own special beauty.)

 The hour blooms then fades away

Its flower always in Today

While past expands its ether lands

And turns a color-world to gray

What was will not return again

Dusk seals each day with night’s amen

No pleading prayer ignites the flare

Of season’s scattered ash, my friend

We laugh, toil, sing and drink and eat

And oft forget, when life is sweet

The dearness of hours we love

Until sorrow stills dancing feet

And then we bow beneath the tree

That lent the bloom that bent the knee

…with solemn sighs we bid goodbyes

To petals of what used to be

…where flower blooms and then abates

Where mercy meters what yet waits

Where we who hold what dusk will fold

Learn to trust God for budded gates

© Janet Martin

 The Lord watches over you.

Ps.121:5

Today's 'Dave update'

Thank-you for your prayers!

His wife sent this update a few hours ago!

 Hi Everyone
Just a quick update on Dave, I phoned down to the hospital this morning to see how his night was, Nurse said he had a really good night, his breathing is good and he is taking bigger breathes. He even could cough up some stuff which made him feel much better. An Answer to our prayers, thank you for those.

I also had a good night sleep last night.