There Is a Hand...

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 Savior, Lead Me Lest I Stray

 

There is a Hand to which faith clings with confidence secure

A hand that fits us with armor that fits us for the fight

And helps us in thick of opposition to endure

As we trust His command and make His love our chief delight

As we rely on He who tries and tests our hearts and minds

To see if there be any wicked way that persists still

To mar His perfect peace because of pride that blindly binds

Us to the pattern of this world rather than to His will

There is a Hand that draws us to the comfort of His Word

He leads in paths of righteousness through valleys of despair

And fills us with fresh wonder for His mercies, undeterred

To we, often forgetful of His faithful, loving care

He guides and keeps, while calling sheep still wandering and lost

His arms always wide open to welcome prodigals back

To kiss His hands, scarred with reminders of redemption’s cost

Hands still outstretched to all who still reject love without lack

© Janet Martin

Psalm 34:8-14

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

13keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

14Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

 

I Love a Life of Simple Joys or April Awe

 One of my favorite spring-highlights is unfolding...maple tree buds

I love a life of simple joys

Cup o’ chamomile tea

Laughter of April afternoon

Trickling through lace-graced tree

The tender tug of budded lures

Soft wafting overhead

Starred dark where dreams embark before

We are asleep in bed

I love the color of surprise

The violet stars that fall

To dapple dells and spark swells of

Sheer wonder-of-it-all

The innocence of child and pup

The flower-bowl of earth

Crowned with the perfect hue of blue

The merriment of mirth

Roused by the way the day begins

As heaven overflows

And mercy brims into hymns of

Coral, purple and rose

And as if this was not enough

Bird song that rings and rings

And rouses from awe-humbled hearts

Joy for life’s simple things

I love the way spring makes us glad

From our head to our toes

Like a firm handshake that can make

Us smile in spite of woes

The way that April woos the land

With kisses fit for kings

And wakens us to worlds unfurled

With wealth of simple things

I love a life of simple joys

Dimple in chubby cheek

Of baby boy or girl, a curl

To tease, a chin to tweak

A little plot to teach a tot

Who makes the garden grow

And how the seeds we plant can't hide

And we reap what we sow

I love the way a warm hello

Makes worth the farewell tear

How grief is the brute fruit of love

Yet oh, so very dear

If I could ask for anything

T'would not be stuff or toys

But just a humble plea to see  

Life, rife with simple joys

© Janet Martin

I love a life of simple joys

Dimple in chubby cheek

Of baby boy or girl, a curl

To tease, a chin to tweak...

No Mean Miracle This...

A preacher once challenged his listeners with this thought;

If God granted us one glimpse of heaven

or one glimpse of hell...hell would be empty;

Heaven so awesome, hell so awful!

This mortal body instilled with immortal soul is no mean miracle

It is the awesome opportunity to believe in the One who made it possible

through his death and resurrection, to spend eternity

in a perfection we cannot begin to fathom...

1 Cor.2:9

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Do you love Him?

Have you believed in Him and

received his gift?

Eph.2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Therefore, because every one of us is an Immortal Soul clad with a temporary cloak

let's treat each other with utmost awareness of what we all bear

in common... this, then eternity!

No mean miracle this; Soul stoked/cloaked with breath of life

No game of chance, no traitor’s kiss of death to insult strife

No futile farse is faith, no hoax, hope’s holy stairs

No pompous or pious charade, worship’s parade of prayers

Time tunes a transient toll; the body like a barge

That bears the cargo of the soul; a very sacred charge

Through life, a precious gift we unwrap day by day

Until the final, fleeting weft/breath of wrapping falls away

God’s love is without lack; His armor has no chink

His goodness groans on our behalf beyond what thought can think

His ways transcend the scope of logic’s keenest ken

His promises anchor the hope of all who trust. Amen.

No mean miracle this; body with soul instilled

For God, so rich in mercy is the law of love fulfilled

He beckons all to come; to repent and believe

This is no mean ultimatum He suffered to achieve

…His pardon for our sin; a debt we could not pay

Ah, heed the Voice that pleads within! Believe in Him today

Lest what is mean at last is our rebel pride

Who knew the miracle, but cast its saving grace aside

© Janet Martin

Measure of Here and Now

Rather than vainly mourning what has slipped through Bygone's Gate

Let's make the most of here-and-now before it is too late

Rather than vainly fretting about what the future holds

Let's cherish that which here-and-now so preciously unfolds

Sometimes I am dumbfounded with joy and grief

over what no hand can stay

Comforted that the heart can keep

what moments brush away...

Grand-kiddos growing up SO fast right before our ever-thankful gaze...

Wishing you a wonder-filled here-and-now!

wherever in the world you are💗💖

Some morning here-and-now after-effects

I went down the road for some farm-fresh eggs

to make brownies (which I over-baked)😖

I'm bringing the snack for our Bible study group tonight so

if we choke on the brownies I guess we can wash it down with grapes??😅

Your ‘here-and-now’ and mine differ geographically

But here-and-now is common ground wherever we may be

Where so much more than chance grants circumstance, as you and I

Weather the brunt of consequence according to reply

For here-and-now though ever-present, scatters in its wake

The landscape of a lifetime forged from choices that we make

Where oft, now’s What frustrates its How, beyond complete control

Yet, each response right here-and-now impacts the sacred whole

Therefore, no matter what composes here-and-now’s love-song

Whether of thorns or roses, nothing stays the same for long

Where by the grace of God we go, from rise to set of sun

Where footfalls of love’s yes and no can never be undone

But leads into new here-and-now that trickles through our hold

The warp and woof of wish-and-wow like threads of gray and gold

Soft-slipping through our fingers like treasure; gladness and strife

Entwining Here-and-now into the measure of a life

© Janet Martin

Eccles.12:11-14

The words of the wise are like goads, 

and the words of [e]scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 

12And further, my son, be admonished by these.

 Of making many books there is no end, 

and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all.

14For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil.

Since I had my mixing bowls out I decided to make some energy balls as well!

This recipe below is a super versatile base for whatever seeds, nuts and dried fruit

is added! Cocoa powder can be substituted for carob powder. 

Toasting seeds and nuts before adding, enhances the flavor

Ode to the Daffodil

 

On Saturday, when we dropped something off at the house my son is living at temporarily

a golden profusion of frills stole my flower-hungry gaze!

I couldn't resist gathering a few beauties to bring home

to bury my face into again and again...

Another one of the guys also living in the same house with our son

 is currently renovating our main-floor washroom!

I confessed to him that the flowers on my kitchen table were 'borrowed'

from his property and he said, 'yeah, Matt told me, and I honestly hadn't

even noticed they were blooming!!" 😂😅😇

Dear daffodil, each spring you thrill us with your sanguine pose

Lovely trailblazer to a pageantry of blooms unfurled

You cheer earth’s stiff, bare bones stripped of last shreds of winter clothes

Spilling splashes of sunshine to a battered, threadbare world

Dear daffodil, who can resist your olden, golden charms

As you return to tended plots or yards from 'gards' of yore

Trustworthy, friendly forerunners welcomed with open arms

By petal-hungry passengers on winter run ashore

Dear daffodil, robust yet fine, apple of April’s eye

Your ruffled elegance graces hall tables and fence rows

Your frills fill flower-happy hearts with worship’s sweetest sigh

And hymns roused from a well-spring only Heaven fully knows

Dear daffodil, so worth the wait/wade through winter’s wild rampage

So worth the while it takes until its chilling tides subside

To unveil what we always knew would soon take center stage

Gaggles of giggling daffodils strolling the countryside

© Janet Martin

Winepress of the Soul

What a week of wonderful weather!!

We are enjoying summer-like temperatures for another two days before they plummet!

I am so thankful God's goodness does not shift like shadows (or weather!)

With love comes a weight of care, doesn't it?!

Wherever, in this care-bearing we are,

What comfort to know we are called to cast our care on Him!

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

 1 Pet. 5:7

Beneath the burdens that we bear,

Beneath love’s constant cross of care

There is comfort beyond compare

In God’s mercy renewed

When we are weak then we are strong

Through He whose will is never wrong

Whose grace ignites in us a song

Of humble gratitude

The love that bore redemption’s wail

As triumph tore the temple’s veil

Is faultless and will never fail

Where all in this world will

Then, though want oft misunderstands

The cost obedience demands

As we ponder Christ’s nail-scarred hands

Storms of rebellion still

As we cast our cares on He

Who kindly cares for you and me

He helps us through the parts we see

Of toil and trouble’s toll

Love’s cross is never borne in vain

Though oft we stagger ‘neath its grain/pain

His grace and goodness will sustain

The winepress of the Soul

Where pride primps reason's cunning tricks 

Where failure and folly afflicts 

The righteousness of God convicts

And leads us on and up

Where beneath the burdens we bear

That pave life's/faith's path with prayer on prayer

His promises, beyond compare

Fill hope's uplifted cup

  

© Janet Martin

James 1:12-18

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because

 having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life 

that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” 

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away 

by their own evil desire and enticed.

 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;

 and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows. 

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,

 that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Like Spring Chamber Music With A Twist

PAD Challenge day 14: 

For today's prompt, we're going to try something a little different

 in that I want you to write an "And Now for Something Completely Different" poem. 

This prompt is inspired by the Monty Python skits that would suddenly shift gears, 

but your poem doesn't have to be humorous. 

It should aspire to be somehow different than what you've written so far this month.

We laugh at robin antics...

Like an invitation to spring’s festival, the sun

Unfolds the earth at daybreak, beckoning to everyone...

Like an invitation to spring’s festival, the sun

Unfolds the earth at daybreak, beckoning to everyone

To rise and shine like little lights of love into a world

To slow swift pace and pause where nature’s vendors are unfurled

Like gentle chamber music, and admission is free

A festival of bars and phrases primed for poetry

Where no one is elbowing neighbors for a better view

(Although we wouldn’t mind, on this fine day, a nudge or two)

Because we are honored to be part of this happiness

While wandering through April’s festival of friendliness

We laugh at robin antics as they sing, a merry troop

And praise this perfect…what the heck?!!!

Aw! I just stepped in dog poop!!!

© Janet Martin

April Quadrille

 PAD Challenge-day 13-For today's prompt, write a forgive poem. 

Green murmur on the meadow...

First timid tufts of flora...

Green murmur on the meadow

 New nest tucked in the brush

And on the verge of birth, a surge

Of calm before the rush

A bud pulsing with promise

A garden, primed with dreams

A zephyr. soft, blue sky aloft

Earth, bursting at its seams

Marmalade-misted morning

Sweet, sun-kissed afternoon

Silhouette-show of dusk’s tableau

‘neath tusk of opaque moon

First timid tufts of flora

Nature’s most modest plumes

Presents its charms to open arms

And eyes, thirsty for blooms

The ground, like Berber carpet

Where tender bare feet dance

Earth’s spartan sweep cannot long keep

Its pristine countenance

April arouses laughter

Wakes joy akin to Heav’n

A robin’s trill, a daffodil

And winter is forgiv’n

© Janet Martin