Unmodified Worldwide Christmas

Merry Christmas to you from the Martin-house!

Photo credit: Brittany Ruppert

This past year ‘modified’ 

Is a word we all learned 

As plans and events, the world wide 

Were nixed and overturned 

And while patience was tried 

Amidst both smile and frown 

We simply found that ‘modified’ 

Often meant Slowing. Down 

We learned to cherish more 

The freedoms of this land 

And be a lot more thankful for 

A hug or shake of hand 

So, this Christmas, in spite 

Of all we do without 

Nothing can modify the night 

Christmas is all about 

Hope is not modified; 

In form of Baby Boy 

The Saviour of the whole world wide 

Brings everlasting joy 

Then, fill heaven and earth 

With praises far and wide 

God, who ordained our Saviour’s birth 

Is never modified 

For unto us that day 

Was born in Bethlehem 

A Saviour to bring peace, alway 

And goodwill unto men 

© Janet Martin 

Luke 2: 10-11 

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Of Postcards In Our Hearts...

 Something about Christmas probes Past's 'postcard heap'...

I like the postcards in our hearts we leaf through now and then 

After sharper edges and hurts have blurred beneath Time’s pen 

To leave behind a kind of surreal light-and-shadow-show 

Of pictures that the past has framed and filled with Afterglow 

From years soft-strewn beneath the moon like footprints in the snow 

After the weariness of work and wish-wars yields its grasp 

And tucks love’s tattered fragments behind Bygone’s soldered clasp 

It gathers moment-measure into treasured bits of art 

Like a postcard-collection that we carry in the heart 

Of life’s recounted blessings that have lost their sting and smart 

I do not want to stay too long in thought’s strange gallery 

To gaze at portraits not quite like the present used to be 

But now and then I like to run kind whispers softly through 

A sheaf of pictures echo-spun in sun-gold, twilight-blue 

To remind me that what I hold is postcard pigment too 

© Janet Martin

Un-self Esteem

It's kind people that bring out the best in people!

Praying we all have someone kind to be with 

and celebrate with this Christmas,

in spite of a break from traditional gatherings which make us realize

how much we take for granted!

Praying we come out of this Covid-'year' with

 gentler, kinder appreciation for each other, 

not meaner, blinder brother-against-brother!

This poem was partly inspired by a text-conversation yesterday

as we chatted about how gifts dropped on porches, minus smiling faces, hugs etc.

really puts into perspective how much we need physical connection!

Something to be more grateful for in the future!

One thing that remains unaffected by this world's chaos is the heavens!

Aren't you glad?!

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

With loss of what we had, life brings 

Keener esteem for precious things 

It cuts our wish-list down to size 

As we reassess what we prize 

To find that in our dream and quest 

Life’s kind and simple things are best 

Like hands to shake and curls to tease 

And arms that reach and hold and squeeze 

Like sunny smile from little tot 

Or any smile not guessed or thought (like we do with masks) 

Like graces we can trace, kiss, touch 

Like faces that we miss so much 

Like cup of tea shared with a friend 

Like doors (or arms) flung wide to welcome them 

Like tables set for company 

In humble hospitality 

Like longing met with nothing more 

Than laughter, shared while coffees pour 

With loss we become more aware 

To live and love with kinder care 

To make the most of now and here 

Before its moments disappear 

To recognize how blessed we are 

And be more thankful than we were 

© Janet Martin 

some things I miss, gal-pal tea-parties/visits.

(isn't tea-party a delightful word?!)

But I am ever so thankful I can still 

hold and kiss these lively, loud love-sters!

Photo credit for photos below; Brittany Ruppert

My heart goes out in a thousand pieces to their other grandparents who

have not been with them since last Christmas

when this was a year that had some extra-special visits planned

like a 90th birthday party for great-grandma etc.

My heart goes out to health-care workers

who spend many extra hours away from their loved ones

to take care of our loved ones!

And oh, how my heart goes out to shut-ins!

to daughters/families who can't be with mothers/parents in nursing homes etc.

or bring them home for Christmas!!

Let's take time to waken to the wonders within reach!

 

 

"Oh, a picture of my heart!"

I said to Victoria the first time I saw the photo below!

 

Unscripted and Uncensored

I'm so thankful that God can hear the prayers

we struggle to find words for!

I'm so thankful we don't need fancy and fine-art language to

come before the throne of grace!

Worship, wonder and want 

wing their way to Him

when we pray...

Psalm 34:15

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

You Hear Our Prayers

God hears our hearts; we need no eloquence or pre-writ script 

For him to understand the worship and wants we impart 

For it is not through fluency whereby we are equipped 

God hears and sees the treasure and the measure of the heart 

His eyes are on the righteous; his ears open to their pleas 

We do not need to impress Him with artful eloquence 

Into stutters and groanings he pours out His sympathies 

And intercedes on our behalf with Mercy’s diligence 

Unscripted and uncensored is the prayer that God can see

He hears the language of the heart when words fail to express

The intricate details of love and longing's earnest plea

 And bestows His perfect reply with 'wait' or 'no' or 'yes'

© Janet Martin 

Fulfilling Love's Holy Call

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, 

but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us 

in Christ Jesus before time eternal.

Celebrating the Wonder of Love

Here is a song from Charlie Pride who 

stepped from this world to the next last week!

He is gone from us, but not his music!

The First Christmas Morn

 

Because of the hope brought to this world on that first Christmas morn

we are able to experience true and lasting joy!

(oh boy, sometimes when I return to re-proof-read it's quite evident

that these are posted midst much interruption!

 thank-you for your understanding)

Ah, we could hang our heads where waves of dread and sorrow roll 

We could be beaten down by cruel words that take their toll 

We could be crushed when pressed by those who wore clothes ‘of the least’ 

Before the knife of strife severed the sheep’s wool from the beast 

We would crumble in dark despair, but the True light abides 

We would be overcome with care, but His True Word provides 

We would be prisoners of fear but True Faith sets us free 

As love’s True Hope, True Peace, True Joy defeats the enemy 

Then we should be tender and kinder, meeker as we trust 

We should not be downcast while prophecy fulfills its Must 

But we should rejoice and be glad, no matter what the price 

As love fulfills its calling through true, humble sacrifice 

We cannot do the things we ought to without Greater Love

We will have no desire, a higher calling to prove

If we do not love first the one who loved us first of all

Where only through true love can we fulfill Love's Holy Call

The more the world takes from us the more of Himself God gives

Nothing can separate us from the Truth whereby faith lives

Then sing a song of worship to He who sustains man's joy

And fills us with purpose that even death cannot destroy

© Janet Martin

A Memo for Sailors (on life's sea)

As we set sail on a new day, 

whether the waters are smooth 

...or choppy

...may we trust in the One that even the winds and waves obey!

Matt.8:26

But He said to them/us, 

“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” 

Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, 

and there was a great calm.

Psalm 65:7
You stilled the roaring of the seas, 

the pounding of their waves, 

and the tumult of the nations.

Matthew 6:30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, 

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, 

will He not much more clothe you, 

O you of little faith?

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter.

 "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"

Today; no more or less is granted to our mortal barge 

No one can sail spent seas or borrow morrow’s ‘Maybe’ charge 

The weight of past or future’s freight will sink these jars of clay 

If we attempt to bear life’s care not portioned for Today 

Faith’s frigate forges forward where the shore is veiled in This 

No one can see how near or far Hope’s sacred harbour is 

But this we know; He goes before us and will not forsake 

But promises sufficient grace for every breath we take 

Ah, who has strength enough for more than today’s toil and tiff 

Who can fulfill its call full-well while wearied with ‘what if’ 

And who has ever by some fretting threat of come-what-may 

Been given more to muster or to master, than today 

What good can we accomplish by peering into the mist 

While imagination runs wild and fear clenches its fist 

Lord, draw our eyes to You and as we do, shine through the fray 

To refill joy where, ships ahoy, we trust you for Today 

© Janet Martin

One little girl in my childcare LOVES this song

and gave me Peter, James and John in a sailboat for Christmas!😍

A great reminder-song for fishermen and sailors of all ages!

Another great song!!!

Jesus, Only Jesus

A Poem of Hope

This morning our message was based on this passage, 

spoken over seven-hundred years before it was fulfilled and the

 'Child was born and The Son Was Given'.

Isa.9:2-7

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned.

3You have enlarged the nation

and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

when dividing the plunder.

4For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

5Every warrior’s boot used in battle

and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

will be fuel for the fire.

6For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

Tonight's dark headlines threaten to draw our hearts

from Hope as we fear what the impact of another lockdown

will do to livelihoods, mental health etc!

So MUCH uncertainty but isn't this when we turn to One who is Certain?

Open His Word tonight and dwell on His promises

and Who He IS!

A few weeks ago we had a message on what the Nativity really looks like!

Because Jesus was/is God's love in human form!!!

If you are sad tonight will you let this picture comfort you?

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Repeat the Name above all names

He is our comfort and Joy because He IS all the above!

I was so overcome with discouragement tonight!

As I remembered what our pastor encouraged us to do this morning

'To look unto the Child that was born, the Son that was given'

as I whispered His name over and over 

He whispered sweet peace to me!

Dark the deadweight of derision 

Where woe’s warring words assail 

Where we, weary of oppression 

All need Love, Who will not fail 

Hope, when plans and dreams diminish 

Will not deceive or refute 

Though we cannot see its finish 

Hope clings to Love’s Absolute 

Once upon a world so broken 

To the people so forlorn 

Hope, through Isaiah was spoken 

‘Unto us a child is born’ 

Long before hope became human 

A King’s coming was foretold 

Now we wait to see fulfillment 

Just as they, in days of old 

The Prince of Peace is returning 

Do not let headlines despair 

But let hearts grow wild with yearning 

For a Better World somewhere 

While this world grows dark with hating 

Let love’s faithful message bring 

Peace to hearts of faith, now waiting

For the return of our King 

© Janet Martin 

I Saw the Day Come Spilling...

 

Duty comes a-spilling with the beauty of new day

So does mercy unfailing to cup all our come-what-may.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

Duty loomed large right from the get-go-do this morning, but somehow

between the mess-and-muddle-mayhem, mercy metes poetry...

Over and over I've come to the conclusion

that time does not lend itself to poetry

but poetry lends itself to Time!

I saw the day come spilling from a fount of ether tide 

It rolled across the skyline over sea and countryside 

It drew away the shadows on a chariot of gold 

To set before our hungry gaze new day’s untarnished mold 

I saw the dawn come seeping through yon deeper blue until 

The darkness disappeared into Mercy’s promise fulfilled 

Where, to life’s buffet table groaning with Hope’s rich supply 

The Giver and the Taker lights the Beacon in the sky 

I saw the morn come pouring over Bygone’s battered brim 

Where in sight’s grand restoring, I could almost picture Him 

And feel His whisper part the dark like waters of a sea 

Where time is still an open Ark for all humanity 

I saw the day come spilling through a flue of fading stars 

Ah, look, the Hand that grants it is a Masterpiece of Scars 

From love that none can fathom to the plight of human race 

God rends the brooding heavens and extends his gift of grace 

© Janet Martin