Heaven-bent

Sometimes the best way to give is through something we’ve never had

By relinquishing personal ‘druthers’ for the benefit of others

Let’s spend today giving away in copious amounts

The best we have of do and say for that’s what really counts

Let’s give; the only thing that we can keep of dust-to-dust

In treasure stored beyond this world where it will never rust

For all we have and hold of gold and silver cannot save

The soul when it succeeds the body tendered to the grave

Let’s make the most of moments, not by what we hoard and heap

But by giving away the only thing that we can keep

For if we invest only in the things that we can see
What will we do then, when we step into eternity?

© Janet Martin

 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money.
Matt.6:24

 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 3:36

 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moth and rust do not destroy,

 and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Matt.6:19-21

The Way Time Goes

They're in bloom...bleeding hearts; the flowers that look like our hearts sometimes feel

because that's what time does.

The way it keeps us on our toes and makes us wipe our eyes and nose

And takes all that we’ve got as we learn ‘that’s the way time goes’

The way it twirls us ‘round like leaves spiraling to the ground

While moments weave heart-harbored sheaves from fronds of sight and sound

The way it startles us with years as what we hold soon disappears

In tug of hug-wars as we bear the scars of smiles and tears

The way it reaches through our youth with manners both kind and uncouth

As it teaches time’s fundamental, unchangeable Truth

The way it wakes in us an urge, where past, present and future merge

In melodies that surge through us in sentimental dirge

© Janet Martin

It's the time when another school year has or is winding down and with it the startling

re-awareness of the fleetness of Time!

Much Beauty To Behold

 Social media is full of pictures showcasing spring-moments of marvel/worship!

So much beauty to behold as buds burst with bloom.

"Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; 

And how faint a word we hear of Him!

 But His mighty thunder, who can understand?"

Job 26:14

Such beauty to behold

The mold that shapes our days

Of dust-to-dust and hope-and-trust

Should burst with humble praise

Such beauty to behold

The Author of life’s law

Instills the loom of bud and bloom

With masterstrokes of awe

Such beauty to behold

In spite of sin’s just dues

The Giver of life’s greatest; love

Stuns us with Mercy’s hues

Much beauty to behold

No merchandise compares

To the design of copse and vine

In nature’s thoroughfares

Much beauty to behold

The Maestro of the limb

Imbues the girth of heav’n and earth

With grand glimpses of Him

© Janet Martin

Oh, This Is Not It

...and the little lad's eyes sparkled with delight as we talked about how 

he will be the only 'he' and me the only 'me' ever, 

in the whole wide world 

and doesn't that just make us want to be our best 'we'

...the only one that will ever be! 

All this said, sometimes its hard to keep our chins up
when trust and patience is tried...
Lots of crops out but I'm sure still lots not!
We got the whole garden planted (except flowers) last night in barely dry soil
But last night's dreamland is this morning's lake😒

Ah, this is me and you

In this; the day God made

To make the most of say and do

No matter what the shade

Of heaven’s backdrop is

Where Mercy’s blessings pour

Through gold or gray to that and This

And we should not ignore

The One who metes the means

To get from here to There

Where this is it; one you, one me

One life; then who would dare

To take this day that Is

And utter curses, oh

When our lone, true boast is this;

His grace whereby we go

To where no one returns

To regale us a bit

With more than ashes in an urn

 For oh, This is not it

© Janet Martin

A 'Month of May' Song

Suddenly my heart is filled with high hopes of garden-planting tonight...

before tomorrow's next wave of rain!

The month of May makes mundane chores an honor to employ

Set grandly on a stage of buds brimming with petal-joy

Where we, without admittance fee are welcome to behold

A wonder-world of Workmanship that hills and fields unfold

To startle us to worship as blooms break through dormant sod

And marvel at the miracle of life ordained by God

The month of May is like a holiday from bitter gales

The gateway to a getaway where greenest green exhales

And suddenly the barren tree is wrapped in em’rald lace

And we are very glad to be here in this time and place

Where summer-long is like song still waiting to be played

On keys of garden-dirt and sand, on leas of sun and shade

The month of May is like a gift we open breathlessly

Where we are humble guests of nature’s hospitality

Of sky-wide doors flung open, floors gleaming with flower-mirth

Of buffets heavy-laden with the beauty of rebirth

Of chairs in every meadow and plumed pillows by each brook

The month of May is like a pretty poem-picture book

The month of May is like loom in us, weaving delight

My, my, it seems our eager dreams have come true overnight

The long-awaited picnic as we sail a green grass sea

On schooners made of blankets and child’s wide-eyed fantasy

As a montage of bird-breeze-leaf song chirps and croons and sighs

And laughter, like a butterfly brushes the blue, blue  skies

© Janet Martin