Daily Sufficiency

I had the post ready to go at sunrise, but no internet! 

 

From the vault where starred deep dims

Morning’s oath of mercy brims

Brands the beck and call of days

With hope’s everlasting ways

Dream and duty’s darling spur

Tests the best of him and her

Wrests from beneath hope’s ribbed cage

Love and laughter’s healing wage

Rise and shine for it is dawn

Pray a prayer and carry on

God’s mercy is undeterred

Grace sufficient is His Word

© Janet Martin

Like a Flower...

 
1 Peter 1:24
For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field;

 the grass withers and the flowers fall,

James 1:10
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, 

because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

Job 14:2
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; 

like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

 This time  of year always re-reminds me of how man's days are like a flower...

Soon dust will claim its Must once more

In every bud and bloom it bore

And just like flowers flare-fade-fall

We too will answer Maker’s Call

Dusk garners in Time’s daily death

We fuss, and draw its gifted breath

Then live, laugh, love, and pray, my dear

All that we have is now and here

Who can the scythe of Time evade

Who can escape the reaper’s blade

Who can the wrath of God endure

So, make salvation’s calling sure

..for who knows when death’s bell will toll

When dust will claim all but the soul

When we will falter like a flow’r

On the altar of Final Hour

© Janet Martin

Summer-heart Solace...September!

 A bunch of collages to give a glimpse of this poem's inspiration...

Cricket-concertos; no one needs a ticket

Front-row grass-bleachers to sunset-crowned thicket

Sun tans soft-swaddled in warm-knitted strings

September mingles sweet-summer-fall things

Cinnamon, persimmon-turmeric splashes

Summer and autumnal madrigal clashes

Kindling keened senses to Time’s roan and gray

Drawing earth’s chariot of flowers away

Fear-of-frost warnings and morning a-glitter

Dewdrops enhancing web-spun art of spider

Mountain-ash garnet against sapphire sky

Goldenrod glory runs wildly awry

 One day a scorcher, the next day a-shiver

Wind through the orchard sounds like a rushed river

Poplar tress quivers, silver violin 

Tucked 'neath an invisible minstrel's chin

Want and wish wavers where sun-shadow dapples

Fruit-havens laden with laughter and apples

Who can lament such a season as this

September soothes summer-hearts with fall-bliss

Gardens are bursting with bounteous offers

Cooks cater to its comestible coffers

Where fear had fostered a faltering prayer (click link!)

So much to harvest from doubt’s faithless snare

Breath-taking worship to Time's Tender Lender

Moon rise and sunset in synchronized splendor

Who but our God could contrive such a show

Eyes to the heavens from earth's wee plateau

September sutures the wounds we would suffer

But for its dusky, musky beauty-buffer

Where summer-hearts feel farewell’s tender tug

September wraps us in a big bronze bear-hug

© Janet Martin

Evaluating the (Not-So) Hidden Motives

I have no regular posting time these days.
But, often if I have a poem on the go then kiddo's nap-time
allows a little window of opportunity to share it 😊

I couldn't really decide what photo relates to this poem
 so I chose some that showcase my motivation to plant a garden/zinnias!

What motivates us to the means

Of what we give for what we get

What drives us like half-mad machines

Toward the goals not conquered yet

What in the world makes us most glad

Most satisfied or deeply sad

If God stripped us of skin and bone

Who would He find on our heart’s throne?

What spins the wheels of want and will

What pleasure bids us suffer pain

What feeds our hunger for a thrill

Is it true love or selfish gain?

Sometimes when discontentment taunts

We ought to double-check our wants

And weigh the breath of would-be-boast

With who or what we cherish most

What fires our rise-and-shine
Or would we rather not confess
What drives us to the finish-line
Or fuels dreams of happiness
What, when the coin of time is spent
(and this is A Most Certain Thing)
Will who/what we valued with its Cent
Make worth the payday death will bring

© Janet Martin

How many of us absolutely live with the verse below as our utmost value?

What is more,
 I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth
 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
 for whose sake I have lost all things.
 I consider them garbage,
 that I may gain Christ

Phil.3:8 NIV

...or, the KJV takes it even beyond the word 'garbage'!

 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and do count them but dung,
that I may win Christ,

Phil.3:8 KJV

Of Vows Renewed

  

Lest we forget

Let's live as if

Today was life's final amen

Lest we forget

Let's love as if

We might not ever meet again~

 © Janet Martin

Remembering those who lost loved ones and those lost 18 years ago!

 

 

 

On Giving Thanks

 It's the Time of year when Thanks Giving reasons multiply by bloom-lent bushel!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thess.5:18 KJV

Because giving thanks is no spectator sport

And because Christ died once for all

No one has no reason to worship the Lord

Who authored and honours Love’s call

Because giving thanks changes complaint to praise

And makes us more humbly attuned

To blessing and beauty that showers our days

To mercy, each morning renewed

Because giving thanks spears the darkness with light

And touches our sorrows with joy

No one has no reason to count with all might

What Self-centered want would destroy

Because giving thanks is not simply a whim

But a Love-anointed command

No one has no reason to not give to Him

Glad worship of head, heart and hand

© Janet Martin