Like Shafts of Light

PAD Challenge day 20: For today’s prompt, write a light poem.

Futile to try to stopper ears

Or tie a blindfold good and tight

A poem disregards all spheres

And filters like a shaft of light

Through places that would not exist

Without a poet’s urge fulfilled

As jots and twirls of ink untwist

Into the art where Her heart spilled

Futile to steer Her by her arm

While poem’s unforbidden fruit

Dangles like plum-spangles, sun warm

And sweet as frost-kissed parsnip root

Where wild like ocean’s ebb and surge

Of waves that wash across the beach

She grapples with the tides that merge

With shafts of light just out of reach

© Janet Martin

Of Lifelong Learning...

...this is one of those days where poetry would pour from each pore

but Cutie-duty...

 ...and not-so-cute-Duty prevails!

 ...pegged this poem between phone-calls, hair-dryer hunt,

fire-tending, breakfast, etc.

Hope you all have a happy day!

 

We cannot thwart God’s hand unseen

But oh, we sure can make a mess

As we, impatient, ‘intervene’

In frames of would-be happiness

We cannot void the grace of God

But oh, we sure can prove its need

As we misinterpret Wait’s rod

And impatiently ‘intercede’

We cannot change what God has willed

But oh, we sure can leave a path

Of chaos and hard knocks fulfilled

In lifelong learning’s aftermath

© Janet Martin

Isa.55: 7-9

 Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts;

 let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, 

and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 

 neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 

 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

 so My ways are higher than your ways 

and My thoughts than your thoughts.…

Let's Get Real!

PAD Challenge day 20: For today’s prompt, write a light poem.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. 

Instead, they set it on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

 In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matt.5:15-16

This monument in the Port of Sydney, struck a powerful chord when we visited last year.

Let's pray for passion to reach and help the needy in the chilling storms of life!

None of us can do it all but all of us can do something!

this photo was taken at the Sydney Merchant Mariner's Memorial.

Yes. Let’s get real. The way we feel should strike a kindred cord

For we all bear the brunt of love and longing’s two-edged sword

Then let’s be honest with each other; that which disappears

Hones and reshapes us with the carving knife of days and years

Where what we hold of moment gold soon falls prey to past’s knell

(For He who gives has the authority to take as well)

Then let’s get real and focus on the way we ought to live

And recognize that what we have God lent to us to give

For we are called to love each other and make this our aim

To shine the Light of Him through us and glorify His name

Yes. Let’s get real where Want’s appeal is never satisfied

Let’s lay up treasure far beyond this frond of dust and pride

Let’s make it our mission to focus on love’s reply

And pray to God to help us when our longing runs awry

Where we are altogether first-time travelers of Time

And none of us can see beyond this Very Present Clime/climb

Where pray then, all together, tethered by hope’s heart and soul

Let’s live to help each other as we press toward The Goal

For we are called to shine our light through good deeds, Self-denied

So that our Father up in Heaven may be glorified

© Janet Martin

Contentment is like a Sweater...

It seems over and over we need to learn and relearn to adapt, then re-adapt, 

to plan then re-plan as circumstance changes 'dance-steps'...

Lord, teach us how in all of this 

to be content.
(written as a reminder when contentment's feathers get a little ruffled and yanked)

Contentment is like a sweater

Cashmere-soft in its embrace

Bigger than the grind we weather

Or the hopes and dreams we chase

Contentment is like heart-laughter

The secret to happiness

Its essence lingers long after

Hold-and- hug cools its caress

Contentment is like a flower

With a bloom that never dies

Splash of colour cheers each hour

Priceless, modest pleasure-prize

Contentment is heaven's rhythm

On earth's rocking-chair of life 

While we bounce and bump unbidden

While want bears the carving knife

Contentment is like home-fires

Warming us while wild winds brood

Satisfying heart’s desires

With genuine gratitude

© Janet Martin

...and now?

I must be content to scrub the porridge pot

because the oatmeal soundly burned 

while I 'purred' about contentment😏 

...and a song I thought of us I called up to Victoria to

'rise and shine and start another hard-work day!'

Love's Kind Command

PAD Challenge 19: Today is our third Two-for-Tuesday prompt day. 

Pick one prompt for your poem today, or write a poem for each prompt, 

or write one poem that works with both. Today’s prompts are:

1. Write a protagonist poem, and/or…
2. Write an antagonist poem.

 We are wired to like to know...

God's love commands us to trust.

How can we learn to trust?

First we need to learn to listen to the still small voice,

then we need to learn to surrender our will/obey

only then will we be able to trust.

We could not but for mercy’s Hand

Face what not one of us can see

Lord, help us trust love's kind command

To all disciples, ‘follow me’

There is an enemy that lurks

And seeks to thwart and lead astray

He distracts us from righteous works

With what at first glance seems okay

Lust rules with want and taunts with fear

Unlike the Love that sets us free

And guides our step, comforts our tear

And whispers gently ‘follow me’

Then like the twelve, teach us to trust

And heed love’s call to ‘follow me’

For we can do all things we must

Through Christ who strengthens faithfully

© Janet Martin

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

  Phil.4:13

  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Matt 4:19