Hallelujah Highway!

This is no road to ruin or despair

Nor does it goad the heart to sad lament

This is a hope-anointed thoroughfare

A better-times-are coming testament

No woe-is-me or what’s the point-of-this

Though sorrow and surrender’s pain assail

This is no highway to death’s farewell kiss

Or fear of what is next as pulses fail

 Unless, (oh, pray the Lord it is not so)

That He called you by name and you said ‘no’

© Janet Martin

A Share It or Keep It Challenge...

Oh! Those awful times when we wish we could unspeak what we spoke in haste...

 So many words to chose from...their sequence is Crucial!

Wise to put them through the 'humble and kind' test

Do you have a word to say

That would keep gloom’s clouds at bay

That could stir a prayer, a song

When life’s hurt weighs hard and long

Share it, share it, share it

Do you have a word to tell

That could save a soul from hell

That could lift the heart downcast

That could help faith to hold fast

Share it, share it, share it

Do you have a word to spurt

That would shame or blame or hurt

That would cause someone to fall

That could scar the hidden soul

Keep it, keep it, keep it

© Janet Martin

North-South-East-West Medley

The Nor'Easter Emptied his pockets before he reached us...not so where hubby is in standstill traffic in New Jersey...He is glad to be back to work but no driver chooses this weather

For a few days we enjoyed a southerly sonata... 

 ...now we have returned to a more seasonal northerly Br-r-r!

Bird-feeders blown bare and the birds unable to hang on...

...so they huddle in the bushes and settle for ground-feeding

The north unleashes gales that vex the earth

And bids us stoke the embers in the hearth

The east is like an arbor held at bay

Yet ushers in the ardor of new day

The south is like a maiden fair that sings

Of apple-trees in bloom and zephyr-wings

The west is like an orchestra that plays

As landscapes fondly fade from our gaze

Beautiful backdrops to toil’s humble quest

Awesome arrangements of north-south-east-west

© Janet Martin

Honorable Opportunist

 It's one of those mornings where everything felt a little heavier than I wished it did...

so I'm taking this as my verse for the day;

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, 

but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

 Each of you should look not only to your own interests,  

but also to the interests of others.

Phil.2:3-4 

 Happy March 1st!!

Two years ago we were recovering from an ice-storm.

No matter what this day may hold

Lord, let me take its gray or gold

And turn each opportunity

Into love’s kind humility

…let me with honor recognize

The gift that in each moment lies

And always bear in mind this thought

To be faithful, whate'er my lot

…no matter what this day may bring

Soon comes dusk’s gentle severing

Then let me seek with humble heart

To kindly, meekly do my part

…to take this day, You, Lord, have lent

And make the most of each moment

To turn its gift of grace into

A hymn of thankful praise to You

…and always keep this goal in mind

To be generous, patient, kind

Not for the sake of vanity

But oh, my Lord, to honor Thee

Your death upon a cross for all
Makes worthy life's most common call
Then may Your love that sets man free
Be ever reflected through me

© Janet Martin

This morning seems mild as a lamb but there is rumblings of a lion waiting to roar...