A Second Look (At What Becomes a Book)

Moments meld like syllables

One into the next

Sighs, unintelligible

Weave a sacred text

Thought is like an instrument

Fueling reply

Touch becomes the testament

Of love’s days gone by

Each new day is like a page

Whereon Time is traced

Where its transcript, age through age

Cannot be erased

Tide of tangerine and gold

Fades into the blue

While beneath its sky we mold

Ink of say and do

Weaving, with each memory

More than we may think

Authoring a life-story

Without page or ink

© Janet Martin

Today's page definitely needs to include some domestic duties😉 

Prayer for Perseverance, Pardon and Peace

 Before Christmas Grandson loved looking at all the brightly coloured flyers filled with

toy-delights.

On Friday as he paged through each flyer I heard him say "toys? toys?" in a disappointed voice.

Thankfully AG Dealer saved the day and he had something to look at after all!

He reminded me a little of us sometimes as we leaf through distractions looking for 'toys, toys?'

Thankfully God's Word/love saves the day!

Angel at our shoulder

Army ‘round about

Peace to all who trust Thee

Lord, why do we doubt

Soul-sweet satisfaction

Thou art ever near

Goodness without ration

Lord, why do we fear

Well of Living Water

For a world sin-cursed

Free to every nation

Lord, why do we thirst

Buffets of distraction

First tempt, then mislead

Lord, remind Want’s hunger

You are all we need

Nothing can persuade Thee

To forsake our side

Lord, guard and protect us

From thought’s foolish pride

Make our hearts an altar

Holding nothing back

For You will not falter

Lord, what do we lack

Lord, forgive our folly

When sin leads astray

Then Lord, guide, bless, keep us

In Jesus' name I pray

© Janet Martin

 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!…

Psalm 34:7-8

Nightfall...

 

Mellow mantle melts across the frosted, fallow countryside

Twilight tweaks the cheeks of heavens; rosy like a blushing bride

Loveliness dissolves desire in the duskiness of day

Earth is like an ancient lyre that the wings of angels play

Nightfall tips the flask that drips with task that slips into adieu

Vexing visage with the velvet vintage of soft pink and blue

Tucking, like a clucking mother hen, earth’s brumal brood beneath

Winter’s outspread wing while winnowing the world of hill and heath

Nature nods, applauds the Artist that can steal the heart away

Farewell unfolds pinpoint sparkles on the arc of darkened day

Night descends, like a black stallion motionless upon a beach

While the moon like a medallion dangles just beyond our reach

© Janet Martin

Let's Just Love

I don’t care 

about the color 

of your face

I just look 

for its smile

We’re all part 

of the same 

human race

Let’s walk side

 by side awhile

Let’s stop abusing, 

misusing, 

confusing

What we all 

never get enough of

Let’s stop hating, 

debating, 

berating

Let’s 

just love

© Janet Martin

Amazing Grace Race

Many of us enjoy the exhilaration of watching or competing in sport...

Whether we are athletes or not we are all part of an Amazing Grace Race!

Whether we're enjoying the great out-doors

or taking it easy indoors...

 whether working 

or playing

whether waking or sleeping,

 the race is on!

The past two morning's on-your-mark signals were saluted by sun-dogs!

This is more than just a challenge for the sheer love of the game

More than means to impress judges with amazing fetes of fame

More than ‘well, there’s always next time’ if we fail to meet the mark

For there is no consolation prize where Light divides from dark

No returning to the place where grace had granted hope’s reward

No rerunning laps to practise what the first time we ignored

This race has far more at stake than any other gain or goal

For this finish line unveils the Awesome Myst’ry of the Soul

This is more than just a ho-hum, lack-a-daisy here-and-now

More than mustering the effort to keep up the pace somehow

This fight-to-the-finish, precious, is no minor marathon

The outcome of this race, precious, all eternity hangs on

We are all in this together until that last hurdle; death

As our feet touch down we take flight on That Awesome Parting Breath

Then, what hell or what a Heaven will open before our eyes

Where damnation or salvation will unveil the final Prize

© Janet Martin

 Heb.12:1-2

 The Call to Endurance
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

 let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, 

 and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, 

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, 

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…

 
Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor.9:24-25

 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? 

Run in such a way as to take the prize. 25 

Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. 

They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.…

 Romans 14:10
Why, then, do you judge your brother?
Or why do you belittle your brother?
For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.