Ongoing Objective...

 Gorgeous awning opens new day...

Each day we live we ought to give

In all we do with all we have

The best we can where test and plan

Go hand in hand into the grave

Each day we wake we ought to take

This gift that pours from Mercy’s Grail

Remembering in everything

God’s Love allows, He will not fail

Each day we face is by God’s grace

Not one escapes his tender view

Then pray that we live heedfully

In all we say and all we do

For each new day that comes our way

In all we cannot know, we know

This is the day the Lord has made

And by His Providence we go

© Janet Martin

“No children today so I need to make this day count”, 

I remarked to Victoria as I surveyed a mental to-do list.

I was sharply rebuked by my words before they were out of my mouth.

Pray we strive to make every day count for each day is a gracious gift from God!

Of Come-What-May and Hip-hip-hooray...God Is On His Throne

This morning one of my waking thoughts was the words to this Steve Wariner song;

Sun is up, 

Time's at hand

There's a stir across the land

And so begins another day on life's highway...

...and so begins another day of plans and the happenings thereof

or of dealing with life when it does not go according to plan.

like those suffering on hurricane-stricken islands,

or  grieving the loss of a beloved,

or those longing to be with loved ones but cannot due to crisis in the country(such as South Sudan)

This little blue dot hung in space groans with confusion 

that comes with turning one's back on

and one's heart against its Creator God

until many do not even know that they are doing so,

ignorant of the Love that begets light of day

and longs to be our Hope and Stay

Who can foretell come-what-may

Laden with the light of day

Voyageurs on life’s highway

One and all are we

None can sway earth’s seasoned sod

Nor the Staying Hand of God

Faith and hope and mercy shod

We trod toward He

Who, Jehovah, never veers

Never changes with the years

Greater than man’s temp’ral fears

Is His Majesty

Thus, no matter come-what-may

In dark night or light of day

God sets His watch on life’s way

Rife with soul-charged dust

None can thwart what He ordains

Even consequence remains

In the place where He sustains

Remorse; He is just

Therefore, we who seek will find

Strength though weak and sight though blind

God is merciful and kind

Our part is to trust

Sun is up and who can say

What will come to pass today

But, no matter come-what-may

We are not alone

Overhead, around, beneath

Faithful in both life and death

Is He who breathed our first breath

Shaped our skin and bone

He will not leave or forsake

We of stumble and mistake

No matter what move we make

God is on His throne

© Janet Martin

the words to this hymn are so powerful;
this is why I post and re-post it!

The Hand That Dismantles The Dark

 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. 

Reach out your hand and put it into my side. 

Stop doubting and believe."

John 20:27

The Hand that dismantles the dark

Then dims the light at death of day

Cups in His keep each mortal bark

Like sheep that once had gone astray

The Shepherd of undying love

Seeks man’s undying soul to save

He fits them for a place above

Through His own life He freely gave

Upon a cross He suffered loss

Like a meek Lamb to slaughter led

The Shepherd bore guilt’s albatross

And saved mankind from death’s dark dread

The Hand that dismantles the dark

Is scarred where nails pierced Heaven’s best

For earth’s worst; mercy met the mark

That grants the Way to Heaven’s rest

© Janet Martin

Hello, Farewell Melody

Don’t forget

What lies ahead

Will soon be strewn upon a path

That harbors All

The days that fall

Prey to the call of Aftermath

This which we hold

Of tainted gold

Will crumble in the hands of time

Then don’t forget

What lies ahead

Soon blooms on tombs of Yester-clime

Ah, listen well

Time’s tolling bell

Insists upon dawn’s sacred due

Today, the tryst

That stands betwixt

The ever old and ever new

Then don’t forget

That far-off ‘yet’

Will soon beget its echo-sheaves

What blooms o'erhead

Will soon be spread

Across death's dread like scattered leaves

© Janet Martin

Why Poets? Why Poems?

To cheer the dull dormer

To salute the former

To paint with a murmur

A picture of thought

To hail far-off fellow

To scale willow-cello

And touch time’s lost hello

With tittle of jot

To sail summer’s schooner

When winter comes sooner

Than we expected

In the prime of youth

To etch on plain paper

Child’s innocent caper

To press on page-patience

Age old words of truth

To probe faded flowers

And revisit hours

That day-night devours

Without heed or care

To love with ink-ardor

And revere the charter

Where words beg and barter

From arbors of air

To tickle our fancy

With fickle romance-y

To dance with a drifter

Of whisper and pen

To write then to wonder

What waits over yonder

If poet should plunder

‘Perhaps’ once again

To hold to the Holy

And traverse more slowly

The hill and the valley

Of days come to pass

To keen callous senses

To Ageless Immense-ness

Hinged to shimmered deftness

In life’s hour-glass

© Janet Martin