Like a Well Watered Garden

Isaiah 55:1
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; 

and you without money, come, buy, and eat! 

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

Isaiah 58:11

The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you

in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

John 4:14

But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. 

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water 

springing up to eternal life."

John 7:39

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

The gardens this year are flourishing

for they have been well-watered!

Hopefully, the garden of our life flourishes also,

well-watered with Living Water 

Come, drink the sinner’s pardon; let faith God’s grace unveil

Like a well-watered garden, like springs that never fail

He pours with kind compassion, redemption to the cursed

Come, partake without ration and quench thy raging thirst

Come, drink and do not tarry where vice and virtue war

Lest the Groom comes to marry and He has barred the door

Come, drink from Living Waters; draw from salvation’s springs

To become sons and daughters of the King of kings

Come now and do not harden your heart with doubt’s dark ploy

Like a well-watered garden, let life flourish with joy

Come without cost or money; drink and be satisfied

For lo, the Groom is coming to gather up His Bride

© Janet Martin

We Are More Than People...

My sister's family went from the house of mourning on Thursday

 to the house of joy on Friday,

My brother-in-law, Father of the bride, 

brother of the man laid to rest the day before

and minister in the Waterloo Markham Mennonite church

opened the wedding service with this verse,

'This is the day the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it!'

Psalm 118;24

My niece's wedding yesterday was beautiful.

The bittersweet blend of joy and sorrow

touched the ceremony, rich with profound exhortation from God's Word

reminding us of His order in both marriage and life.

My Uncle, during the ceremony, recounted a day when he went to the clinic

to find out if the cancer-treatments he received helped .

When the Doctor said, 'you are a new man. your cancer is gone!'

his emotional response was 'you have been a vessel in the hands of the Lord. God is good'

Then he went on to say he couldn't help but wonder if his response would have been the

same with a different result. The point he wanted to emphasize is that God is good all the time

in sickness and in health, in joy or grief 

and to remind the young bride and groom (and all of us)

to try to remember this truth, no matter what life brings!

The words 'you have been a vessel in the hands of the Lord' struck a chord!

How often we buzz and bumble through our days

forgetting we are vessels in the hands of the Lord!

When Ananias was called to go and baptize Saul he was confused,

because Saul had persecuted Christians!

 The Lord reminded him in Acts 9:15-16

“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name 

before Gentiles, kings, and the children[c] of Israel. 

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul, not long after encouraged and exhorted 

believers in the church of Corinth with this reminder;

2 Cor.4:7-11

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, 

to show that the surpassing power 

belongs to God and not to us. 

 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

 persecuted, but not forsaken; 

struck down, but not destroyed; 

 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, 

 that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Lots to ponder as we return to what could seem quite commonplace

if we lose sight of who/what we are!

We are more than jars filled with beans and pickles, 

hallelujah! 😊

We are more than people born to life’s demands

We are vessels cradled in God’s faithful hands

Belief and repentance call us to obey

Where more than allegiance fills these jars of clay

An unfailing treasure; God’s surpassing pow’r

Cascades without measure through man’s fading flow’r

Through Soul’s transient trestles, pours faith’s glorious laud

To we, chosen vessels in the hands of God

Then what holy, true love instills commonplace

As we bear the call of sinners saved by grace

Praise the name of Jesus; by his darkest hour

We are vessels filled with God’s surpassing pow’r

Mercy’s priceless measure meets us where we are

To pour His good treasure into faith’s clay jar

© Janet Martin

A Poem For Trailblazers of a New Day

(sometimes  doggy is just too much! What a lot of laughter she has brought to our lives)

Whether in the lightness that laughter brings

or not, we are cupped in the Hands

of He with whom nothing is impossible

There is nothing new in this poem, 

but somehow even the things we know

need repeating and reminding now and then. 

Wishing you a glorious day!

The dawn of new day flickers where the wick of morn is lit

Where Mercy’s fount is quickened and faith rejoices in it

Where Time plants feet on virgin soil and draws ajar a door

Where none, with lofty dreams or toil has ever been before

Where age-old passions wait to try and disappointment hails

And God still cares for you and I with love that never fails

The birth of what is waiting breaks through gates no latchkey locks

It shimmers on a million lakes and highlights hollyhocks

It glistens in rhinestones of rain and diamonds made of dew

And pours in glorious ‘try again’ to tots like me and you

Where by the good old golden rule we meet our fellowman

And *vow to keep our cool when things don’t go the way we plan

This day the Lord sets free is like a gift to one and all

That grants us opportunity to heed His tender call

Where none have seen or been, therefore nobody can foretell

What good or ill will spill before eventide tolls its bell

But come-what-may of joy or strife, this Truth abides, dear friend

The God who grants this day, this life, is faithful to the end

© Janet Martin

*This fresh morning has already produced a few stresses

with the potential of more to come 

(click link for reason for this potential

because we have a niece getting married today!)😅

...but I am as ready as I can be to help in the

seemingly inevitable mad dash preceding the delight

of planting my derierre on a chair

 and breathing 'we made it, thank-you Lord'!

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 

 mind is stayed on thee: 

because he trusteth in thee.

Isa.26:3

A Rural Mural (of Ontario's August Countryside)

Ontario's August countryside is lovely to behold.

Landscapes are laid in checkered counterpanes of green and gold

Ditches and creek beds showcase wild-flowered extravagance

Where summer spills its heart in field and garden opulence 

Ontario's August countryside kindles poetic ink

In waist-deep pools of milkweed plumes, magenta and pale pink

In spools and spools of Queen Ann's Lace unrolled in dainty frills

In purple aster rivers, yellow hyssop, vine tendrils   

Ontario's August countryside serves up a wonder-feast

A buffet table groaning with the aftermath of seeds

Inviting us to partake from earth's smorgasbord unfurled

A healthy, hearty helping of nature's joy to the world

Ontario's August countryside is summer's centerfold

A mile-on-mile wide magazine of beauty to behold

Beneath clouds heaped like cauliflower on platters of blue

Page after page is filled with frames to thrill our points of view 

Ontario's August countryside evokes a worship hymn

Stirred by a breeze, harvest-dust-sweet as wheat is gathered in

As gardens become baskets brimming with treasure of fruit

And gardeners feel like dirt-pirates cum-bearing precious loot 

Ontario's August countryside enchants its passenger

Where soon Time claims its dues and shoos us into September 

So look a little longer where the dust of summer flies

Lest we should take for granted what is right before our eyes

...where pasturelands are dappled with cattle, where willows weep

Where leafy awnings toss shadow-piazzas, dark and deep

Where brooks meander, teasing us to slow our quickened stride

Through rural murals of Ontario's August countryside

© Janet Martin

 

Here We Are (where yester-eons echoes brim)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

This morning we received word that

my sister's brother-in-law passed away (Murrell Martin)

after a battle with cancer!

This same sister and family are in the thick

of wedding preparations for their daughter's wedding on Friday.

Please remember this family (and Murrell's family) in your prayers.

God knew when this date was chosen for the wedding

what would transpire!

His timing is perfect in spite of our wondering whys!

(I helped for two summers on Murrell's farm in the early 80's

so yester-eon's echoes are brimming)

This is one of my favorite pics of a long-ago day.)

This song is running through my heart this morning

We Are Going Down The Valley One By One

We never know when we will meet

The Hand the snuffs the chime

So lets make living's echoes sweet

While we are granted Time

***

Where yester-eon’s echoes brim

In scenes that tenderly compose

A sweet and sentimental hymn

As time its healing balm bestows

Where broken and beauty compete

Through joy and sorrow’s highs and lows

Love's acclamations, bittersweet

Mete metaphors of thorn and rose

Where faith and fear rival within

Where smiles and tears sparkle without

Where lament, laughter, groan and grin

Suffer conflicts twixt truth and doubt

Where morning breaks and twilight dims

And God wakes wonder mids’t life’s fuss

Where we are not worthy of Him

He bends and ministers to us

Where we would be a sorry lot

Death’s bell would toll with doleful knell

Without the Hope God’s Son begot

To save our deathless souls from hell

Where we are all in the same boat

In need of Light to pierce the dark

Because time is a transient Float

Where one by one we disembark

Where yester-eons echoes brim

And morrow offers no sneak-peek

A sweet and sentimental Hymn

Is being written as we speak

In scenes of tender reckoning

Like music notes of stone and star 

Where yester-eons echoes brim

Twixt past and future, here we are

With a fresh page, where humbly awed 

By Mercy's vow renewed, we sing

A hymn of grateful praise to God

Where yester-eons echoes brim

© Janet Martin

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 

and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

 Do you believe this?”

Murrel believed this! Hellelujah!

The Master's Touch

(update: I wrote this poem yesterday to send with a meal for my sister!

They are planning a wedding for Friday 

while her husband's beloved oldest brother is on his deathbed. 

During last night God rescued him from his suffering)

Rest in peace, Murrell.

So much beauty midst broken

So much joy midst sorrow

So much broken midst beauty

So much sorrow midst joy

So much more God

 above, beneath and through it all!

Touch us, oh Lord, with beauty’s chords

Where nature’s orchestra enthralls

Lift our eyes unto the hills

To hear creation’s madrigals

Unto the flowers of the field

Unto the fledglings of the air

Unto heaven’s vast music sheet

Where thy great glory is declared

 

Touch us, oh Lord, with mercy’s chords

When waves of sorrow wash the soul

Let not despair consume our hearts

But grant us faith to make us whole

As from your everlasting word

Love’s melody of hope resounds

Then, even in the dark of night

A hymn of humble joy abounds

 

Touch us, oh Lord, with love’s pure chords

In songs of grace and sympathy

Let earth be longing’s pale prelude

To heaven’s perfect harmony

Then open up our eyes and ears

Until the only Strings we clutch

Through The Unseen, wakes evidence

That tunes us to The Master’s Touch

 

© Janet Martin

...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Eph.5:19

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?

Psalm 121:1

Behold Our God

Life's Kind and Sweetest Years of All...

 

Today my husband's mother turns 90!

Yesterday, surrounded by her greatest joy, family, 

we celebrated this milestone.

Once again we were blessed by the talents of sister-in-law Lucille

with a beautiful cake to celebrate this momentous occasion!

(front row is Mother with remaining sisters & brother-in-law and her children)

Mother is the one with a blanket over her lap. 

It was very cool for August!!

In the afternoon a drive-by birthday greeting shower

allowed over 100 extended family and friends

the opportunity to bring birthday blessings in person.

Dear mother, as time passes by

And strength and energy decline

May love bear fruit in rich supply

Where years hang heavy on life’s vine

May you be blessed without reserve

And honoured as long as you live

Because dear mother, you deserve

The very best love has to give

We pray that Motherhood’s reward

Begins on earth, by what we do

To show you that we thank the Lord

Dear mother, for the gift of you

Then, as the love of family

Brings joy where twilight shadows fall

We pray your sunset years may be

Life’s kind and sweetest years of all

© Janet Martin

Her children arise and call her blessed;

Prov.31:28

Ultimate Joy

Today we are have a family reunion/ 90th birthday party for my husband's mother.

It looks like there is the potential for a lot of rain to fall in that time frame.

How often in life do we pray for sun but rain is sent instead?

Yet, if we pray 'Thy will be done' He helps us, dry or wet!

My kiddos that come during the week LOVE a good rain-shower

because it always brings sweet splashing puddles.

This week it poured while toddler wailed and tugged my hand because she wanted to play outside.

But the thunder rolled and lightning flashed and Janet did not relent.

Little One, in the moment, did not understand why. 

A bit like us toddlers sometimes, with our Heavenly Father, isn't it?

Heavenly Father, help us to remember You know best!

Help us to...

 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 To him be glory both now and forever!

 Amen.

2 Peter 3:18

...and not to throw toddler-tantrums when we don't get

what we want when we want it!

We pray for sunshine but if rain is Thy reply

Lord, help us to give thanks and not to fret with futile ‘why’

We pray that we would be a lamp your love shines through

Reflecting, in humility, the love we have for You

Then, whether loss or gain, wish granted or denied

We pray dear Lord, in sun or rain, You will be glorified

We pray for grace to meet the day with hearts at rest

As our joy is made complete in knowing You know best

© Janet Martin

A blessed day of rest and worship

to you and yours!

Oh! and Happy August💕

God Hath Not Promised Skies Always Blue...

The author of this hymn is living testimony of its words

Here is a link to her story.

The Story of Annie Johnson Flint