The Heart of a Child

Yesterday I was so touched and astounded

by the eager astuteness of our Sunday School kids age Gr.1-3,

as they answered the questions they were challenged with!

God bless you, diligent moms and dads aware

of the sacred blip before the heart of a child

becomes the heart of a young man or woman!

Eccles.12:1

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, 

Before the difficult days come, 

And the years draw near when you say,

 “I have no pleasure in them”:

The heart of a child is like a pure, precious plot of sod

Pray, there we start to plant the seeds of faith and love of God

For when the soil is tender seeds of goodness gently root

And even in the green of life begins to bear good fruit

The heart of a child is such sweet and sacred innocence

Pray, there with utmost care, we are aware of Influence

To guard its supple yard with caution’s kind integrity

And to remember seeds are strewn by what they hear and see

The heart of a child is not soft and tender very long

How swift the gift of childhood turns into yesterday’s song

Then pray, we nurture well the plot where seeds we scatter grow

For the heart of a child is the most sacred soil we sow

© Janet Martin

Like Raindrops...

Happy Monday!

A whole new week of words not spoken...yet!

(Today's weather may have influenced the title of this poem a little😊)

Why is it after I feel like I've had 'My Say'

more often than not when I have cooled off

I am remorseful rather than pleased?!

because in those retaliatory moments I fail to reflect 

every single fruit of the Spirit! 

Gal.5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23gentleness, and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

Sometimes I think of these scenes in You've Got Mail

as less-than-kind comebacks that feel justifiable in the moment

inevitably lead to regret! 

First Zinger...

Nothing But a Suit

 

They glance and gleam

And dance and stream

Like raindrops on the lane

They praise, they pierce

Civil or fierce

Reverent and profane

They crush, they cheer

Estrange, endear

They defend and betray

Oh, let’s think twice

And make them nice

The words we speak today

They pelt and spill

They soothe, they kill

They injure or they heal

With pleasant poise

Or narcissist's noise

How much a few reveal

They flare and fade

Afflict and aid

An olive branch or dart

Words glance and gleam

And dance and stream

Like raindrops on the heart

© Janet Martin

James 4:11-12

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.

 Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] 

or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. 

When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, 

but sitting in judgment on it. 

12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, 

the one who is able to save and destroy. 

But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?  

How Oft, How Oft

The Wayside Cross

 

Unto the Hills

  

Because the Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 32:6
Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found.

 Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.

How oft my soul-wrought bark would drift

But for the gales that test

How oft my own decrees would shift

From paths of righteousness

Without plans dismayed and upset

How oft, how oft I would forget

Goodness and mercy’s higher ways

To satisfy my numbered days

How oft the gods of greed would rule

Desires of the heart

How oft love would seem cold and cruel

By what facades impart

Without God’s Word to show the way

How oft, how oft I would fall prey

To doubt and dread’s defenseless street

Without His lamp to guide my feet

How oft I could not bear the weight

Of care that love bestows

But for the vision of a gate

That beyond death’s strait glows

Without the anchor of sure hope

How oft, how oft, I could not cope

And oh, how oft I would ignore

The Hand that draws my bark to shore

© Janet Martin

Beholding Beauty (or its Prelude)

I originally entitled this poem

This Broken World Could Drown Joy

then, just after posting it something like a bud

broke inside of me

resulting in adding the photo below,

another verse as the ending

and changing the title.

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken...

The beautiful words of this hymn are so fitting for the days we are in

Sometimes I struggle with a sense of insecurity

(no longer guilt, because I have committed to embracing my calling)

but still, in a world war-ravaged and hurting...Poetry?!!

Yes, by the grace of God, yes!

Because worship is beautiful 

and timely, always!

And Poetry is the culmination of

beauty and worship

when pursued with passion to

glorify its Giver!

"This is the law of being

That links the threefold chain:

The life we give to beauty

Returns to us again."

From Earth Voices

by Bliss Carmen

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross- Mercy Me

Many are the woes of the wicked,

but the Lord’s unfailing love

surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:10-11

This broken world could drown joy

Beneath dread’s sullen wave

Despair could be an envoy

That bears us to the grave

Beauty could go unheeded

Beneath brute, crushing blows

And worship’s fount depleted

By glaring needs and woes

We could fall prey to reasons

To hate rather than love

And stumble/grumble through time’s seasons

Without ever enough

But beauty is not cheated

By evil’s intercourse

And joy is undefeated

If we have found its Source

Truth's Hope becomes an anchor

That nothing overthrows

The thorns that pierced our Saviour

Bloom with redemption’s rose

This world would turn us dour

And drown all hope of joy

If it could overpower

What nothing can destroy

‘Unless the seed is broken

It cannot bring forth fruit’

Praise God, joy is the token

As faith and love take root

After the darkness, morning

After bud-breakers part

Joy beholds God adorning

The thorn-scars of the heart

© Janet Martin

Brenda's post 

Something Beautiful in a Broken World

helped me corral today's thoughts into poem.

And caused me to open my book

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson

To God be all the glory!

Below are a few excerpts  from Adorning the Dark

that spoke to me personally...

March Melody/Medley

This poem began percolating on the first day of March

while I watched the birdies celebrate with unbridled abandon

before the next day turned the bird bath back to a skating rink

They do look a bit shivery though, don't you think?

March kindles in its coming dreamlands of sun-drenched delight

It sparks a sense of celebration to worlds tucked in white

We start to hear an orchestra as tempos ebb and flow

While poetry of petals trembles beneath drifts of snow

March stirs in winter-frazzled hearts spring-hunger’s hope renewed

And reignites the flame that harvest-weariness subdued

As once again thoughts turn toward the flow’r and fruit of seeds

Duets of plant-and-prayer that God would supply our needs

March teases our emotions as temperatures dip and soar

One day it kisses faces that it froze the day before 

While we, of past experience, embrace this yearly spar

Because we hear the songs of spring within its tug-of-war

March matrons pummel pillows heaped on Old Man Winter’s cot

They free a feather-frolic to a world tenderly caught

Between the throes of winter and the crocuses of spring

We smile because we know what time will most assuredly bring

...soft pussy-willow kittens, fragrant violet-starlight, strewn

Farewell to toques and mittens, hello, yellow afternoon

Pretty pink tulip chalice, in a palace fit for queens

As white on white yields to earth's brightest hues of spring's first greens 

March wakes in us a sanguine splurge of soon-emerging thrills

Like brooks bursting with babble, like hills strewn with daffodils

Like gardens ringing with reintroductions of bare feet

Like robins singing in the raindrops dancing on the street

March makes us gently gladder for fine weather yet to come

As Old Man Winter’s numbered days are dwindling one by one

We feel warm welcomes grasp our souls, we glimpse rose-gilded gates

Beneath earth’s blanket full of holes, spring’s world of wonder waits

© Janet Martin

March wakes in us a sanguine splurge of soon-emerging thrills

Like brooks bursting with babble,

We feel warm welcomes grasp our souls, we glimpse rose-gilded gates

Beneath earth’s blanket full of holes, spring’s world of wonder waits

Sweet Little Girl

With permission from her mommy,

sharing a picture of Birthday Girl! 

Last night after she left  my intent was to make a little 

mommy's helper (or Janet's helper) apron,

which led to a tiny apron for Dolly

as well as a book-bag and dolly-blanket!

Her delight is the sweetest thank-you I could ever wish for💝

This morning she saw a picture of a donut and she remarked

"I like donuts!"

which inspired the birthday treat...

Sputniks/Timbits! (recipe at the end of this post)

The sparkle of a sunbeam

The blush of summer’s rose

The pleasure of a daydream

Goodnight-kiss on the nose

The gladness of a giggle

The treasure of a pearl

The best of all things beautiful

Is you, sweet little girl

The joy of June in winter

The awe of innocence

Your pure and carefree chatter

Teaches the heart to dance

You fill the world with Happy

Rainbows and stars unfurl

In the delightful company

Of you, sweet little girl

...a frilly, bitty bum-kin

A silly-me-oh-my

Princess without a pumpkin

A pretty butterfly

Tea-party guest of honor

A ballerina twirl

Life is such a charming wonder

With you, sweet little girl

You bring a bit of heaven

To earth; you make hope sing

And each day worth the living

With the loveliness you bring

You are a darling angel

Halo of hugs and curls

We are most blessed and so grateful

For you, sweet little girls

© Janet Martin

A frilly-'bitty' bum-kin...

Princess without a pumpkin...

Sputnik Recipe 

  

When People Fight...

Today's Daily Bread scripture reading

evoked tears, of both sorrow and joy!

Sorrow, because we seem to be a world at war with each other;

Family against family

brother against brother in the church.

citizens against the government

country against country,

Joy, because of the everlasting richness, rightness

and faithfulness of God and His Word!

The end is near.

Hallelujah!

Today's Scripture reading;

1 Pet.4:7-11

The end of all things is near. 

Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

 8 Above all, love each other deeply, 

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

 as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 

Amen.

All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name

When people fight, we lose sight of the bigger picture, oh

The power and the glory of the One who loves us so

He came to die so you and I, when we have run life’s race

Are saved from death and hell because He saved us by His grace

When people fight, we lose sight of our universal need

Repentance and deliverance from sin’s inherent seed

Through Jesus Christ, sin’s sacrifice, once and for all became

Salvation that cannot be found in any other Name

When people fight, we lose sight of the love that Jesus taught

In anger’s spew we forget to take captive every thought

Or seek a city yet to come, from Calvary unfurled

And therefore, we do not wage war with weapons of this world

When people fight we lose sight of Redemption’s crimson tide

The Lamb we led, with thorn-crowned head that we all crucified

Cried out,’ Father, forgive them for they know not what they do’

Oh God, forgive us when we miss the big picture of You

Forbid we meet you Jesus, with Your blood still on our Hands

Because we didn't repent and obey love's Great Commands

Forbid we, without thought of how we ought to love and live

Reject You, Son of God who came to redeem and forgive   

© Janet Martin

How true, oh, how true we are seeing Jesus' warning: Matt. 10:34-39

Christ Brings Division

34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. 

I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

35For I have come to ‘set[j] a man against his father

, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 

37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

  39He who finds his life will lose it, 

and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

morning by morning above the chaos

the heavens declare the glory of God

and the skies proclaim the work of His hands!

Ps.19:1

Battle Hymn

In The Sweet By and By

With hearts groaning with prayer for those caught in the evils of war

this poem became an outpouring for all of us 

in the battle against right and wrong!

Battle Hymn of the Republic

The battle between wrong and right

Is constant and acute

We need the Lord’s armor to fight

And bear the Spirit’s fruit

Mankind is prone to selfish pride

To rebel to God’s rule

To win the fight we must decide

To be wise or a fool

To despise wisdom’s Holy Grail

Is to embrace deceit

No matter what fools boast or hail

Their end will be defeat

Only by the kind grace of God

And for His glory we

By faith and with feet gospel-shod

Will win the victory

Take heart; Truth cannot be undone

The fight that faith affords

Bids us take up our cross and run

The battle is the Lord’s

Hold fast to the sound words of He

Who does not change or fail

For the Lord’s honour and glory

His army will prevail

In the name of the Lord we pray

In His Name we are strong

In His Name we approach the day

Of everlasting song

Lay down thy sword; take up the cross

Beyond this world’s façade

Though what may now appear as loss

Is the glory of God

Follow the way He has prepared

A Banquet has been spread

To honor He who was not spared

But crushed the Serpent’s head

Earth’s suffering is not in vain

But the sacred prelude

To Triumph’s everlasting reign

And enemy subdued

© Janet Martin

Eph.6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

  11Put on the whole armor of God, 

that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,

 against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age,

 against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, 

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 

and having done all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

 having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

  16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you 

will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

17And take the helmet of salvation, 

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

  18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

 being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 

19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, 

that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

  20for which I am an ambassador in chains; 

that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.