Morning Commission/Submission/Mission-Statement

Someone just posted this on our church-family Facebook page...

Praying this for my friend Pauline today,

and for my cousin Wayne and his family

who continue to need our prayers for encouragement

 in his and their ongoing long suffering!

I'm still reading the book about Charles H. Spurgeon's wife, Susie's life...

and am utterly inspired and astonished at the humility and faithfulness in their devotion

to their Lord and Saviour, through so much sickness, pain and hardship!

My friend's recent illness which caused her to miss her son's wedding last Saturday

fills our hearts and prayers with pitying pleas for God's sufficient grace to sustain her...

Praying for healing and health so she may attend her next son's wedding in February.

Will you pray too, for her strength for today?

Yon tray soft-tilts to gilt the eastward edge of earth and sky

Dawn’s blushing fringe expands to tinge then wash the night awry

Where star-eyed hope and dream is like the little lark that sings

Before the darkness disappears and morning spreads its wings

Where mercy never falters, to altars of human hearts

God’s everlasting goodness His unfailing love imparts

His grace provides the sacrifice for worship’s offerings

Always sufficient for the mission that each new day brings

Dawn tilts a tray of gold and gray; ahoy, with joy we rise

To take up the cross of today with grace our God supplies

He does not leave us comfortless or helpless in the strife

Goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our life

© Janet Martin

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23:6

Of Barren Page

I never know what waits each morning to fill the 'barren page'...

Do you?

But one thing I endeavor always; to pray before I touch it!

Do you?

As I wrestled with what today's poem would be

the sky softened and ink and light unfurled

in a tender tango of waking poem and world...

We are all poets in a sense...

some intense in our adherence to strict measures of time

others are free as the wind, these versifiers paying

no heed to things such as meter and rhyme

but...

Be careful dear

the now and here

soon sheds its heady bloom

but cannot quell

the drops that fell 

in poetry and plume

The beckoning of barren page is like a garden plot

Waiting the plant and printed wage of seed and ink unfurled

The poetry of plume and pen gladdens our eyes and thought

Where bowers brim with bloom again in spite of winter’s world

The lure of barren page is like a bud not opened yet

Or like a gift, before we tug the wrapping from its smile

Or like the skyline stoked with daybreak’s stoic silhouette

Keen expectation trembles where still-veiled vistas beguile

The potential of barren page is like a fallow field

Or summer in the silent, snow-white stage of its prelude

A seed or word may seem so small, but, what a mighty yield

Instills the syllables that fall on halls not long subdued

The grace of barren page is like God’s gift of brand-new day

Where soon we spill to its façade, deed’s seeds, thought’s drops of ink

Where masterpieces wait to be; then oh, we ought to pray

Because love’s plume and poetry begin by what we think

© Janet Martin

Phil.4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, 

whatever is true, 

whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, 

whatever is pure,

 whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

Save Pray...

 

From those who mourn for loved ones called from this world to the next,

(So, so many) 

to those who have lost or not found The Way in this world

(so, so many)

sorrow-storms roll, and what can we do

where no one can restore loved ones departed,

 or force repentance, 

or faith in God 

or love for Him?!

 Ah, yes. We can pray!

(for faith and love's increase in all of us)

It's been a little while since I shared

one of my most beloved hymns

Sweet Hour of Prayer

(lyrics in above link)

Sweet Hour of Prayer

What we can do nothing about (save pray) we ought to then

Rather than shake our fists and shout and berate fellowmen

Rather than fret and forget who (when we pray) hears us plead

The first thing that we ought to do is trust God with our need

Prayer is more than religious sport or platitude-regale

More than a sorry last resort, when all our efforts fail

Prayer is faith’s tender fellowship, as man to God confides

Where through His Word God will equip us for what life betides

Sweet hour of prayer, God meets us there; He comforts and sustains

He bids us leave our burdens where surrender rends dark chains

He stretches out His arms and draws us close; Love never fails

His whisper calms the storm that was, as ‘peace, be still’ prevails

What we can do nothing about (save pray) ah, pray we would

Rather than yield to dismal doubt while God works for our good

God, who is rich in mercy hears the humble heart’s request

And through our dialogue of tears, He works for our best

God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love for us

While we were dead in sin, He made us alive through Jesus

Thus, now no matter what we face His kindness can afford

Exceeding riches of His grace through Jesus Christ, our Lord

What we can do nothing about (save pray) where evil lurks

We ought to then; faith without prayer is like faith without works

With meek and contrite attitude, then pray and do not cease

Until hope's cup of gratitude flows over with God’s peace

© Janet Martin

The past two Sunday morning messages 

were focused on one of my most beloved passages of Scripture;

 Ephesians 2

Many are the times I whisper the sweet treasure of the beginning of verse 4:

But God, who is rich in mercy,

because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in trespasses,

made us alive together with Christ

(by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 that in the ages to come He might show

the exceeding riches of His grace

in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Life's Crown Jewel

This poem-title was a bit difficult to settle on;

Love's Workday-Wow

Carousel of Great Escape

The Way of Day-to-Day

Precious Commonplace

Crown Jewel of the Precious Commonplace

and Life's Crown Jewel

Is that the sign of a mediocre poem/poet?😅

Not sure, but the topic and heart of this poem is anything but!

It is written to remind us to love well and cherish dearly

 our loved ones today, right here, right now!

Yesterday, a family in this community lost a 20 yr. old son in a tragic accident.

In 2018 they lost a 24. yr. old son in another horrific accident.

Our hearts break for this family's loss and constant sorrow...

As a mother of adult children I am still dumbfounded by how fast those

sometimes seemingly tedious years flew by!

As a gramma I am seeing time accelerates

rather than slows, 

so to all of us wherever in love's lessons we are;

cherish!

This was supper a year ago...

no matter how hard I look at the picture I can't taste it!

We can only taste what is on offer today.

Cherish.

The way of day-to-day unfurls the rise and fall of years

A carousel of seasons twirls around and disappears

As moments slip through our embrace like jewels from a trove

That would quite oft feel commonplace but for one treasure; love

This life we live, of ups and downs, without love would be drear

A narrative of smiles and frowns devoid of joy or cheer

But with sweet love, the Here and Now, though heaped with much to learn

Surprises us; love’s workday-wow finds God at every turn

Dear mother, in the thick of training up a little child

Time cuts its target to the quick; where wick of youth burns wild

Then do not wish to haste the rise and fall of shadows cast

But cherish well the darling prize that flies from arms too fast

God, help us see beyond the cape and shape of task and such

A Carousel of Great Escape whirls beneath common touch

Then help us rediscover love ere seasons slip away

To startle us with echoes of little children at play

…where Way of Day-to-Day unfurls a world of yesteryears

Where little boy’s and little girl’s sweet childhood disappears

As moments slip through our embrace like jewels from a trove

Making precious, the commonplace with life's crown jewel; love

© Janet Martin

The reason I use the verse below repeatedly

is because it bears repeating!

(we are such a forgetful breed)

This is the day the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Rubric for Reply

Dawn glimmers with God’s testament of unrelenting grace

Divine authority extends our breath/breadth of numbered days

Then how will we reply to He whose workmanship we are

Who stuns the dark with whispers that fling morning’s gates ajar

Dawn glimmers with God’s testament of unrelenting grace

Divine authority extends our breath/breadth of numbered days

Then how will we reply to He whose workmanship we are

Who stuns the dark with whispers that fling morning’s gates ajar

Conviction and opinion wrangle in the human heart

One, like a steadfast anchor, the other, a mule and cart

One an earnest contender for the Prize we cannot see

The other the defender of thought’s ideology

Aha, the law of love is so simple yet so complex

The order of its edict eager to delight and vex

As Conviction or Opinion leaps to the driver’s seat

To dictate the direction of the heart, then hands and feet

Opinion is perspective’s Chief, attained by logic's nod

Conviction is belief keened to limits ordained by God

Oh God, teach me to seek Your truth, not human-nature cursed

Opinion is so quick to speak; help me to listen first

Dawn glimmers with God’s testament of His mercy renewed

Will opinion or conviction govern my/our gratitude/attitude?

Breath of Divine Authority parts the gates of the sky

To He whose workmanship we are, oh, how will we reply?

© Janet Martin

this post was also inspired in part by this article.

Prov.3:1-9

The heading for this passage was

Guidance for the Young 

(dare I add, and not so young?)

1My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;

2For length of days and long life

And peace they will add to you.

3Let not mercy and truth forsake you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart,

4And so find favor and [a]high esteem

In the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall [b]direct your paths.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8It will be health to your [c]flesh,

And strength[d] to your bones.

9Honor the Lord with your possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

Want-list...

The changing views due to the changing hues of twilight helped me finish

this poem; one I doodled at here and there all day long...

The backdrop changed dramatically in a matter of 10-20 minutes!

I want to marvel every day at ways that never lose their wonder!

I want to marvel still where wonder’s thrill never grows old

To feel hope’s joy in dawn’s ahoy whether of gray or gold

To make the best of moments lest when life’s last drop is poured

I weep because for all that was, regret is my reward

From Mercy’s fount I want to count the goodness-es of God

And never taint with rude complaint and thanklessness, His laud

But recognize the precious prize each morning ushers in

Then, be renewed with gratitude for forgiveness of sin

I want to give this life I live love’s careful, prayerful thought

Not to lament with discontentment for what I have not

But to embrace each day of grace with holy diligence

And live without shadows of doubt to cloud love’s reverence

I want to work and not to shirk the duties of the day

But to behold God’s manifold beauties along life’s way

And know His love will grant enough to satisfy my soul

And not to fret and thus forget that He is in control

I want to sing and ever bring an offering of praise

To He who cups life’s downs and ups in Higher Thoughts and Ways

And thrill anew ‘neath heaven’s blue and rose-tinted ramparts

Constantly awed at the way God captures, enraptures hearts

I want to stand on twilight’s strand where shadows sprawl like piers

And feel toil’s rush yield to the hush as daylight disappears

And marvel still where wonder’s thrill never runs out of ways

To cheer, delight, enthrall, excite, inspire and amaze

© Janet Martin

To We Caught in the Tempo/Tempest (of Unknowns)

 

We Ontario-ans are caught in the tempo of a tempest this morning!

oops! I better fill the feeders...

Done!

The feeders are in an absolute Feather-FLURRY 

of finches, sparrows and juncos this morning!!

mostly gold-finches!

(they definitely prefers sunflower seeds to the deluxe mixed blend!)

What we have seen we know exists...

like the road and the vista beyond...

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;

 blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29

We cannot see into the unknown 

but The One who loves us beyond measure can!

Life’s unknowns loom in highs and lows so vast and deep and wide

The love and grace that God bestows exceeds its teeming tide

Goodness and mercy follow we who are a-travelling

Toward the hill and hollow of Unknowns unraveling

This life runs rife with minuets composed of circumstance

An arrangement of pirouettes and stumbles in the dance

On music sheets we call Today, notes tremble, spill and twirl

Heartbeats in a brand-new ballet, ‘Yet’s’ ensembles unfurl

Unknown's unwritten lyrics juxtapose with poems penned

How subtly the syllables of highs and lows co-wend

Where we, caught in the tempo/tempest of rhythms that rise and fall

Grasp only small mementos of the fullness of it all

Sometimes God sends a soloist when we prayed for a band

Sometimes as the Unknown untwists we do not understand 

The Maestro who is teaching us to trust His loving lead 

His mercy reaching far beyond what logic can concede

This life is a momentous merge of Knowns to Unknown knit

God knows, as highs and lows converge, the perfecting of it

Where grace and goodness mentor we learning the steps and scales

To a Masterpiece Melody of love that never fails

© Janet Martin

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, 

or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; 

we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 

through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death,

 nor life, 

nor angels, 

nor principalities, 

nor powers, 

nor things present, 

nor things to come,

Nor height,

 nor depth, 

nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mid-Winter Mid-Summer Stroll

Happy Halfway through January. Already?!!

This poem was first inspired by yesterday's sunshine 

pouring through the flowering maple

at the back door...

Let’s pretend it’s mid-July

Sprawl beneath the sun-stoked sky

Let’s pretend a butterfly

Flitting plume to plume

Let’s pretend a garden path

Warm with winter’s aftermath

Fringed with ardent autograph

Of sunflow’rs in bloom

Let’s pretend pink lemonade

Blankets tossed on pools of shade

Cricket and leaf serenade

Backyard getaway

Book and hammock luxury

Picnic basket poetry

Bare foot banter fancy-free

Winter f-a-a-r away

Let’s pretend end of a dock

Sunsets after nine o’ clock

Nose to nose with hollyhock

Hello, honey-bee

Let’s pretend bright greens and golds

Where the countryside unfolds

Hill and hollow wonder-wolds

Far as eye can see

Let’s pretend a summer stroll

On the beach where sea-songs roll

Over feet and through the soul

Weather forecast, hot

Let’s pretend its mid-July

Lounge beneath its sapphire sky

Kick off shoes and…b-r-r-r! oh my!

On second thought, let’s not!

© Janet Martin