Sing For Joy or Worth It

"folding is my least favourite part' said Victoria just now

'but the fluffiness makes it worth it!'

...as she labors patiently at folding in the egg-whites

for her dad's belated birthday cake;

Coffee Cream Sponge Cake

😋

Her cakes make our family sing for joy.

She's got the touch!

Psalm 95:1

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 66:1

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

The irises are bursting with 'joyful noise' these days...

A lot of early perennials have a very brief bloom,

but the joy they bring while blooming is so worth it!

...it's so windy this morning the irises were like trying to

get toddlers to pose for a picture...

they wouldn't stand still.

One morning this week Toddler arrived sporting her latest fashion trend;

Sister's (clean) undie-hat😂

Tots can be extremely draining, but the joy they bring is SO worth it!!💗💗💗

Lift up your hands and sing for joy where loveliness abounds

In spite of all that breaks our hearts, annoys, dismays, confounds

God is still good; He cares for us; He helps us so we may

Deny ourselves; take up our cross and follow Him today

Morning runs rife with heartache in each day the Lord has made

Sorrow stalks ev’ry step we take and fear seeks to invade

Be not afraid but sing for joy; let God’s goodness console

For nothing on earth can destroy His Absolute control

The earth and its fulness thereof, yon boundless galaxy

Cannot contain God’s perfect love He proved at Calvary

Greater is He in us than He who is in-of the world

Then sing for joy; let love’s truth be triumph’s banner unfurled

When we are tempted to despair because of what must pass

Cry to the Lord in earnest prayer; He keeps His promises

And, lest the stones cry out where doubt has silenced our song

Lift up your voice and shout for joy to He who does no wrong

Bow down before the One who has declared His sovereignty

‘Heaven, my throne, earth, my footstool; what have you built for me’

Come, humbly yield to His command and tremble at His Word

And sing for joy beneath the Hand of justice undeterred

What may seem ignored by the Lord is not; be of good cheer

Someday God will reward what may seem so forgotten here

Then sing for joy (if you believe) after this grief and strife

It will be worth it, as we receive everlasting life

© Janet Martin

a few more joy-peeks at what makes everything else SO worth it...

6:30 a.m. play-dough time?!

His grin says anytime is play-dough time!

Isa.66:1-2

Thus says the Lord:

“Heaven is My throne,

And earth is My footstool.

Where is the house that you will build Me?

And where is the place of My rest?

For all those things My hand has made,

And all those things exist,”

Says the Lord.

“But on this one will I look:

On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

And who trembles at My word.

Matt.24:6

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:

see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass,

but the end is not yet.

Above, Beneath and All Around

No matter how perverse or adverse man is,

God is faithful and always keeps His promises.

A rainbow is a symbol of the covenant of God's faithfulness,

given first to Noah and his family after the flood

Genesis 9: 12-17

And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, 

and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

  I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 

It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 

and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; 

the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 

The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant 

between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 

And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant 

which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Above, beneath and all around the loathsome deeds of greed and lust

The earth and its fulness abounds to clothe with life, death’s cape of dust

In stark contrast to the disgrace where human race is vile and brute

God’s faithfulness prevails to trace the bud with bloom, the seed with fruit

He makes the rain to fall on all, whether we worship Him or not

The sun to rise and fill the world with light, not one corner forgot

He replenishes mercy before dawn breaks and awakens, we

Who are utterly dependent on the One who gives and takes justly

We, on our own would come to ruin; all that we have, God’s goodness grants

He threads the shuttle of the loom that bursts with life; man, beast and plants

Ability and genius (lest any boast) are by Him willed

We, lavished with love’s uttermost; mortal with immortal instilled

He cares for us, whether we praise Him or live deaf and blind to He

Who numbers our days and knows exactly when their end will be

Above, beneath and all around the fountains of creation bless

Where goodness and mercy abound because God keeps His promises

© Janet Martin

Gen.8:22

"As long as the earth endures, 

seedtime and harvest, 

cold and heat, 

summer and winter, 

day and night 

will never cease."

In stark contrast to the disgrace where human race is vile and brute

God’s faithfulness prevails to trace the bud with bloom, the seed with fruit

1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, 

that He may exalt you in due time, 

7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

That's Marriage, Ladies and Gentlemen

 Celebrating thirty-three years of 'us'!

Photo credit: Brittany Ruppert

 

Just now...phone rings (9:30 p.m.)

Me; Hello?

Him; what are you doing? Why haven't you called yet?

Me; I'm trying to finish writing something for our thirty-third anniversary.

but WOW, it's really hard work at night with an old, tired head...

Him; oh good! I thought maybe you weren't going to do one this year!

Yes, he looks forward to seeing a daily blog-post even if he is not really a fan of poetry

(Jim, for those who don't know us is a truck-driver)

Knowing he appreciates it always helps to motivate me to at least try

 on days when it's really hard to squeeze it in...

(first stanza is inspired by a scene last Friday

and every. single. other. niece or nephew wedding. ever.!!!!)😅

We’re getting pretty good at it, he and I

I button his shirt while he fixes his tie

He steps into shoes I have placed at his feet

‘Getting ready for a wedding’ just hit repeat

Because for some reason there is always a delay

Come date-to-be-home-for-someone’s-wedding-day

He calls from the truck ‘run the water, dear

If you give me five minutes, we should be near-

Ly ready to go (wedding starts in ten)

That’s marriage, ladies and gentlemen

‘For better or worse’ no matter what shape or size

Something will shadow/shatter the stars in love’s eyes

Sooner or later, we are bound to find out

What marriage vows are really all about

After the honeymoon (or on it?) when patience is tried

When love startles us with its less polished side

When words are tested with mettle of will

When love seems lacking its fire and thrill

It’s time to make time for each other again

That’s marriage, ladies and gentlemen

This is forever, ‘till death do us part’

Where no one can sever what God joins in heart

For as we commit to be faithful and true

He ties a knot only He can undo

To love and to cherish, a most sacred oath

That takes the full faith and commitment of both

And trusting that what we will need, God will give

In keeping our promise as long as we live

As we renew love’s vows again and again

That’s marriage, ladies and gentlemen

© Janet Martin

I made the poster below when I was 16 or 17.

 (yeah, we were young 'uns when we started)

See our names down the side???😍

 

The Ten Commandments for Married Couples 

was given to us on our 10th Anniversary from my parents

When The World Is Full of June

 Twilight perches upon a dew and dust kissed pedestal...

The earth runs green with majesty of not yet sun-scorched grass

The sky is like a sweep of deep blue sea where cloud-ships pass

The garden is a wonder-world unfurled in flower-flares

And draws even the atheist to worship unawares

The countryside is like an errant splash of paradise

A free-for-all buffet where we may come and feast our eyes

On regal iris, courtly lupine, ruffled peony

To revel, nature-wealthy in June’s lap of luxury

We sense friendships rekindled with graces that we expect

Like hymns of feathered minstrels from limbs sun and shadowed-decked

Like the lush, rush of rivers that we hear but no one sees

As sweet and sassy zephyrs ripple through leaf-canopies

The parks are dotted with bobbing balloons with legs and arms

Chased by larger, slower balloons sounding caution’s alarms

Where picnics become anything but dreamy; yet its mess

Still has a funny way of turning into happiness

The river-bank is flanked with fishermen and fav’rite brews

Where some come to be young again and some to sit and snooze

And some to read and some to glean a poem-gem (or five)

And some who want for nothing, just content to be alive

The fields flaunt faith’s first answers; farmers pray for no late frost

Porches boast perfect planters, not yet to neglect’s ‘oops’ lost

The lily-chalice spills its port to butterflies and bees

As moments sparkle and cavort through almost-memories

Twilight perches upon a dew and dust kissed pedestal

A masterpiece that lingers longer on earth’s westward sill

So then we linger longer too, enchanted by a tune

That never fails to thrill us when the world is full of June

© Janet Martin

Maybe The More We Look ...

Happy June!😊

Maybe the more we look around we’ll find to our sweet surprise

That each new day is holy ground, an olive branch in a sunrise

Psalm 104:1

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Lord my God, you are very great;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Maybe the more we look around we’ll find to our sweet surprise

That each new day is holy ground, an olive branch in a sunrise

And what we owe to God and man is simply this; to do our part

To do the humble best we can with willing hands and thankful heart

Maybe the more we look above we’ll find fresh courage here below

And trust the Greatest of These; love, to teach us to hold and let go

As we learn to forgive and live as if today might be our last

To make the most of what we have before dusk’s shadow-show is cast

Maybe the more we pine for less we’ll find what we are looking for

As the secret to happiness is not a secret anymore

Because in spite of want and woe, we recognize a promenade

Of blessings-founts that overflow in this new day the Lord has made

Maybe the more we count our joys the less reason we’ll find to fret

For gratitude always deploys faith for the day not journeyed yet

Where we are never far from He to whom we owe our ardent laud

Maybe the more we look we’ll see the glaring evidence of God

© Janet Martin

Farewell, Sweet May

 

Farewell, sweet belle, the dell is feathered with gold willow-down

The apple-orchard petals dazzle us, then drift, wind-blown

The dust of planting season settles in a green-spun mist

And dandelion-sunbeams turn to haloes silver-kissed

The garden holds the hope of brimming baskets, harvest-heaped

The meadow is the colour of a cup of tea, mint-steeped

The flower border burgeons with the beginning of blooms

Where all through May we sensed the whir of Mother Nature’s looms

The brook is full of minnows teased by Little Boy’s bare feet

The air is full of melodies of chirp and tweet-tweet-tweet

The pasture is a picnic blanket spread ‘neath heaven’s arch

Where dawn to dusk is longer than it was in middle March

Each day is like an invitation everyone receives

A gladness-celebration for the loveliness of leaves

The barren limb is laden with the hymns that you compose

A lush and plush percussion where the pleasant zephyr flows

Farewell, sweet belle, you did your part to make the heart rejoice

You spilled your pansy font and filled the bowers with your voice

Farewell, sweet belle, you always seem to disappear so soon

But we are not too blue because you always bring us June

© Janet Martin

Never Too Old to Cherish...

After a long laundry-line full on Saturday I thought I had a head-start today!

Still lots for tomorrow plus whatever is hatching in hampers!

Whether it's never-ending laundry or other such chore

Soon time leaves us gaping at what is no more

no matter what stage we are in, it is a bubble about to pop!

So cherish💗

In the middle of the muddle

of whatever we are in

Whether kiss and cuddle baby

or a more teen-aged chagrin

Or, perhaps the nest we feathered

with a mother’s heart and soul

Is weathered, like a heart-shaped box

where echoes lilt and toll

Wherever, and whatever season

we are passing through

Pray that we cherish dearly

what will soon bid us adieu

Whether uphill puff and pedal,

whether downhill coast and glide

Soon dusk dons its gleaming medal,

Soon love sings here-comes-the-bride

Whether its chug-chug and puff-puff,

or run-run, like a gazelle

Live, laugh, love and pray, for today

always fades into farewell

Whether past time’s precious prime

or feeling like a super-star

Pray that we learn to cherish life

exactly where we are

© Janet Martin

(Inspired by a little conversation with my sister)

Mysterious Mosaic

Not all beauty is as easily recognizable as that of a flower...

or morning sky...

or precious, innocent child...

We all have our own version of Unspoken Broken, don't we?!

True Beauty in us is impossible until we entrust the pieces into

the loving Hands of the Healer of heart-hurts!

I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.

Phil.4:13

True Beauty is not always how we picture it should be

Where brokenness can blind us to beauty’s reality

For what is pleasing to the eye can trick the mind and heart

Into thinking that beauty is a perfect work of art

But beauty is a radiant reflection of ‘Release’

When, with our broken pieces, God begins His masterpiece

Beauty starts with the holy heart-work of humility

When at last yielded ‘yes’ replies ‘not I, but Christ in Me’

Then often, tis midst brokenness while shards still pierce and sting

That God can work His best for our good, in everything

For the capstone of beauty is begotten with great price

Not on a bed of roses, but a cross of sacrifice

While disappointment crushes and good intention seems cursed

We learn true beauty’s brushstrokes are not beautiful at first

But, just as God the Father saw beyond The Crucified

Beyond the painful hour to many souls justified

We learn to look beyond the broken to the Hand that heals

We learn that beauty is far more than how one looks or feels

True beauty is in what we know in spite of what we see

The grace whereby our weakness cries ‘not I, but Christ in Me’

As we admit our need; submit, commit our way to His

And undergo a slow and sacred metamorphosis

As glory of The Artist starts to shine through crack and crease

We begin to glimpse designs of Love's Divine Masterpiece

Mysterious mosaic, as God gathers doubts and fears

He melds/mends the broken spirit with confession's tender tears

And fashions from the fragments of our utter selves denied

A Beauty we were blind to while we wallowed in our pride

Mysterious mosaic, as our brokenness is healed

In the light of God's mercy, there, true beauty is revealed

 

© Janet Martin

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, 

but Christ lives in me. 

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gal.2:20

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,

 in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, 

holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1