Caught Marveling

And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isa.6:3

While I was pushing tot on the swing yesterday

just before dark,

God trailed His glory on sky and sod...

On parchment of sod, sky and sea

God’s glory is extolled

Four seasons filled with majesty

Time’s manuscripts unfold

Without shadow of wondering

The seed beneath the snow

Cradles the quiet thundering

Of birth and spring’s hello

The Creator of nature’s waltz

Grants but a glimpsed prelude

Of He who earth and sky exalts

And we, with gratitude

The beauty of the Lord abounds

With all but Fringe unseen

Until that day when He confounds

With no dark glass between

Praise He whose beauty births delight

Yet is but Sight's small crumb/sum

That whets Hope’s howling appetite

With The Best Yet to Come

© Janet Martin

Come, One and All and Gather Round

This post is inspired in part by Luke 2

 Light of the Stable-Selah

Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem -Jeremy Camp

  

Make Room

If covid has proven anything it's that we all need

the glad tidings of great joy/grace through Jesus!

We have been challenged and most of us likely disappointed

at times at responses and attitudes of our fellow-travelers

(in this journey of life) 

during the ongoing ripple-effects of this pandemic,

making the account of Jesus birth and childhood in Luke 2 

especially meaningful and vital this year!

Luke 2:10-11

And the angel said unto them, 

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 

which shall be to all people

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David 

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

1 John 3:10

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Come, one and all and gather round

Love’s wonder to behold

Glad tidings of great joy abound

For people young and old

For Jesus, though the King of kings

Did not despise God’s call

Or flee Calvary's sufferings

To be Saviour of all

Come one and all and gather round

The manger where He lay

Jesus, not royal robed and crowned

But on a bed of hay

Come bow your head and shed a tear

Of both sorrow and joy

Behold Majesty’s meek veneer

In Mary’s Baby Boy

Come, one and all and gather near

Lest morrow is too late

The message of God’s love is clear

Destiny more than fate

For whoever believes in Him

Eternal life will gain

Death’s verdict without God is grim

And life, hopeless and vain

Come, one and all and gather round

To celebrate with joy

The hope for man, none can confound

And nothing can destroy

Come one and all, hail and adore

The Gift angels applaud

For this is more than ancient lore

This is the love/Son of God

© Janet Martin

Joy to the World- John Berry

This morning's Daily Bread Devotion

 includes this precious passage of scripture from

1 John 2:28-3:10

The Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, 

that [a]when He appears, we may have confidence 

and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 

29 If you know that He is righteous, 

you know that everyone who practices righteousness 

is born of Him.

The Command to Love

3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,

 that we should be called children of [b]God! 

Therefore the world does not know [c]us, 

because it did not know Him. 

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; 

and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, 

but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, 

for we shall see Him as He is. 

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, 

and sin is lawlessness. 

5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, 

and in Him there is no sin. 

6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. 

Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. 

He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, 

for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, 

because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: 

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, 

nor is he who does not love his brother.

Advent Aria (for modern-day 'Marys')

 Inspired in part by Luke 1 

John 1:6-9

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, 

that all through him might believe. 

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

9 That[b] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Love is the Light that pierces the darkness

Crowning our cares with courage, not despair

Love is God’s presence in us, lest harshness

Of this old world would be too hard to bear

Mercy extends Hope’s pure consolation

Not in some Thing that at death’s door will dim

Through generation unto generation

Love is the Light that draws people to Him

Joy to the world, magnify mercy’s author

Bethlehem cradled God’s humanity

For Jew and Gentile, love sent a Saviour

Let the world cry then ‘be it unto me’

Let us like Mary, with utter surrender

Trust in He who we know will never fail

Love is mankind’s death-defying Defender

Love is the Light that rent the temple’s veil

Love fills the womb of Time with God's kindness

Love conceives and gives birth to daily grace

Love is the healer of faith's would-be blindness

Love is the seeking soul's sweet resting place

Blessed is He, the Lord God of Israel

Love is the hand that sacrifice will scar

Love is the gift of good news to all people

Love is the Light of the Bright Morning Star

Love is the keeper of Hope’s expectation

Someday all people will look up and see

Glory’s appearing, the God of salvation

Ending the advent of all prophecy

Fulfillment finished at His second coming

As Heaven descends to earth’s broken world

Where Love still waits for lost people still roaming

Love is the Light of the gospel unfurled

© Janet Martin

A Little Ditty on Life's Itty Bitty

The cake was the least of the feast on Friday night

as we fellowshipped and fostered deeper friendships.

Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

I almost said 'no, thank-you' when asked to host

some ladies from church that I didn't know very well.

I thought I didn't really have time to prepare properly

(plus a whole plethora of unfounded fears)

but I said 'yes' and I'm so glad I did!

 We had such a sweet, fabulous evening

it made me wonder what loss of joy and blessing

I have amassed by doubting God's sufficient grace 

then replying 'no' to opportunity!

But the main concern in our yeses and no's...

(because sometimes 'no' is okay)

...is, Who we are doing What for

1 Cor.10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, 

or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. 

If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, 

to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever.

Touchdown on time’s tabard

Life’s glance on its dirt

Flies like a spark, upward

Hope clinging to hurt

Like snowflakes to lashes

Life’s flicker of fuss

Fosters dust and ashes

And soul’s exodus

Where Who we did What for

Whether great or small

Will prove with pure fervor

Who we loved most of all

© Janet Martin

 

I Hope It Is (about this Poem-Porch)

Some would likely call this poem blog/porch a prolific contribution to the plethora of

verbose vomit we have available these days with the click of a button!

I'm inclined to believe for every 'garbage verbiage' 

there is a 'good and healthy option' too!

So much I would love to  read and time does not allow!

We have to pick and choose a few from the millions of options!

So, thank-you to everyone who takes a few moments 

to drop by this poem-porch!

I hope it is never a waste of your precious time!

...and if you don't drop by, well, you won't see this but I understand! 

We all have only so many hours in a day

and poetry/rhyme is not everyone's 'cup of tea'. 😊 

I sure hope it is more than verbose vomit!

I hope it is ...

An arm around a shoulder

A hug to the heart.

High-fives to growing older

A poetic 'restart'

A joyful celebration

For hope anchored in

The God of salvation

Who forgives our sin

I hope it is...

A place where our fingers

Their pointing will cease

Where love's Presence lingers

In comforting peace

Where doubt's dark clouds dwindle

And faith is renewed

A place to rekindle

Meek gratitude

I hope it is...

A welcome home feeling

Poetic sweet tea

An invisible gathering

Of extended family 

I hope when you visit

This small porch will bless

Your day with God's kisses

And love's happiness

From Janet

by God's grace

for His glory

with love💖

A Soft Snowfall Poem

This poem was started on the back of an envelope

I found in Jim's truck after church on Sunday

while I waited for him to look after a few work details

It was inspired by the scenes

where it felt like God shook the snow-globe we are living in😊

Teasels topped in frosty toques...

Branches brushed in stencil-art

Wild grass bent like white-washed stooks...

Brook banks plush and snowflake-starred 

Every sprig, white pom-pom crowned

Every twig cotton-ball bowed

Teasels topped in frosty toques

Branches brushed in stencil-art

Wild grass bent like white-washed stooks

Brook banks plush and snowflake-starred

Every sprig, white pom-pom crowned

Every twig, cotton-ball bowed

Every footstep, snuffed of sound

Everybody white-world wowed (well, almost:)

Earth and heavens interfuse

Where the meadow meets the sky

Beauty exceeds duty’s dues

Rousing worship’s perfect sigh

Windsong is a whisper, oh

Birdsong is muffled in white

Woodlands wear wool scarves of snow

Dreamlands waken pure delight

Earth is like a snow-globe shook

Where the countryside and town

Look like pictures in a book

Tucked beneath white eiderdown

© Janet Martin

This Life-We-Live Love-Letter...

Hope; what a bitter-sweetest word

for when we hurt

then we seek Hope!

Psalm 71:14-18

As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

of your saving acts all day long—

though I know not how to relate them all.

 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;

I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

And here is our living hope!

Matt.1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,

because he will save his people from their sins."

So,

All about Jesus

or

not about Jesus at all

Who is our life-we-live love-letter to/about?

'Where we are in the process of shaping love’s sacred sum

Then pray for fresh awareness of He who dawn’s page is from'

I was unable to share these photos 'hot off mercy's press' yesterday 

because our internet went down while I was working on this post

and was down all day!

Here is a bit of yester-gold to brighten today's gray😊

This life of you and I is like a love letter we pen

To He who grants the grace whereby we rise and shine again

Where we are in the process of shaping love’s sacred sum

Then pray for fresh awareness of He who dawn’s page is from

The grave will soon collect the boast and bones of you and me

Then, that which matters most will unveil truth’s finality

Dawn’s page of brand-new day soon fills with ink spilled into act

Where what we do and say portrays solemn matters of fact

How subtle is the shuttle of the loom that weaves life’s threads

Reverence and rebuttal groom the rooms of hearts and heads

Where seasons lent soon disappear into revise-proof past

Where the bough bent with now and here soon leaves sheer shadows cast

Love’s weight of cares could crush us beyond ways and means to cope

Without God’s hands to cup us and His word to anchor Hope

Then, when the heart is broken, still true love will suffer long

Through that which God has spoken to comfort and keep us strong

This life-we-live love-letter is a holy enterprise

Our gift to the Creator given when the body dies

Where each new day is a fresh page awaiting our reply

Where what we do and say writes so much more than meets the eye

© Janet Martin

Psalm 62:8

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

Thursday Thoughts on Thanksgiving and Hope

Happy Thanksgiving to our American neighbours/friends💖

It is always touching and inspiring to watch the wonder and joy of children

as the gaze at the babe in the manger...

Pray, as they grow they will never lose the wonder

but come to know the boundless hope and joy

only faith in Jesus can give!

This kind of poem is always hard

to reel in to page-size portions.

someday we will have eternity to sing it; 

no time constraints!

(this can be read as six shorter poems or one longer poem)

When earthen vaults have overflowed

With plant-to-harvest sum

When orchards and vineyards have glowed

With garnet, gold and plum

When once again the land and limb

Is culled of ripened food

Then once again we raise a hymn

Of humble gratitude

For eyes to see and hands to hold

And fold in thankful prayer

For wonders that never grow old

For strength, love’s load to bear

For hope in God’s Supremacy

Who teaches us to trust

His lifeline thrown upon a sea

Of groaning dust-to-dust

***

Upon earth’s hearth scattered with ash

Of autumn’s fallen leaves

Where days are doffed of summer’s sash

Of dusk’s long-ling’ring eves

Where seasons, like a carousel

Spin round and round and round

Where time is like a tolling bell

Where we tread holy ground

Where all we have and hold is lent

And not meant to enslave

Where not one solitary cent

Can cheer us in the grave

Where God who fills earth’s treasure trove

Where bud and seed-gems brim

Upon this hearth we lift our love

In worship-songs to Him

***

From hands bearing redemption’s scars

Where once man’s pardon poured

From hands that established the stars

Hope’s anchor is restored

For on atonement’s cruel cross

Sin’s debt of guilt was paid

By He, who saw beyond his loss

To souls that would be saved

Then, to the God of earth and sky

With selfish heart undone

May endless praise be our reply

For what His grace has won

So when we cross that Awesome Deep

The angels will applaud

For Death will be Victory’s leap

Into the Arms of God

***

Give thanks for He whose love bestows

The blessings grace employs

Where would-be mis’ry overflows

With wonder’s countless joys

No woebegone, bleak hopelessness

In spite of woes that be

But pure and utter thankfulness

For Hope through Calvary

Where horror’s darkest hour wed

With The True Light unfurled

For, from redemption’s fountain bled

Joy’s beacon to the world

And what appeared as death at first

Where hatred seemed to win

Was but the heel that crushed the cursed

And evil wage of sin

***

For fruit of faith and field we sing

With glad and grateful laud

Where the altar and offering

Will prove who is our God

Where we will never be alone

If we believe in He

Who left the glory of his throne

To die upon a tree

Who, Lord of all, suffered life’s loss

Jesus, mighty to save

Obedient, endured the cross

To overthrow the grave

And instill to this toil and strife

Soul’s goal, purposed and true

The promise of eternal life

When life on earth is through

***

*Do not despair; love’s weight of care

Is but the tender price

And in a sense, a little share

Of God’s great sacrifice

Then, when the second mile seems long

And songs are groaned and wept

When we are weak, then we are strong

God’s grace is not inept

But tunes in us the humble cry

Not I, but Christ in me

The Rock upon which we rely

Is hope’s Sufficiency

Then we will let our worship spill

Though dark the glass between

For someday, face to face God will

Unveil what is unseen

© Janet Martin

*this last stanza was written with my cousin Wayne and his family in mind.

What trial they suffer as Wayne's MS continues to try and test,

and forces them into decisions/care arrangements 

love mourns to need to make

😢🙏💔

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. 

It's beginning to look like Christmas...😀