Marriage (Is a Lifelong Unfolding)

It's really hard to believe that it's ten years!

Happy 10th Anniversary! 

May God bless you with many more happy, faithful years of marriage!

10 years later...

(photo credit to a photographer in Nova Scotia)

Everyone who is married knows 

that although wedding celebrations and congratulations are very special, 

Anniversary congratulations are ever-the-more so,

 having experienced, by the grace of God what it takes to fulfill marriage vows,

(especially as parenting-challenges are added🙏💝😍)

Marriage is a lifelong learning 

about highs and lows of love

A lifetime of no returning 

to a world of ‘I’ and ‘me’

From the moment vows are spoken 

and recorded up above

Only by death’s parting broken, 

marriage is a life of ‘we’

Marriage, is God’s holy knitting 

together of two to one

A lifetime of recommitting 

to be each other’s best friend

For this is no small endeavor, 

on a Wedding Day begun

Because marriage is forever; 

love, a student to the end

Marriage is full of surprises; 

'no dreamer’s dream long intact

Love’s politest of disguises 

soon faces reality

Testing Best of expectation

 with age-old matters of fact

Teaching stubborn indignation 

lessons in humility

Marriage is a bit like weather, 

some days full of smiles, sun-warm

Laughter finesses the tether 

that feels far too fine to break

But some days are dark with thunder, 

some days love must brave a storm

Some days love may dare to wonder 

if marriage was a mistake

But what God has joined together,

 by His grace He will sustain

Day by day, just like the weather, 

marriage weathers highs and lows

As love learns to say ‘I’m sorry’, 

faithful through both sun and rain

God is unfolding the glory 

of a very priceless Rose

© Janet Martin

Mark 10:9

Therefore what God has joined together,

 let no one separate.”

The Rose- Conway Twitty

Today's Treasure Hunt

Today's poem was inspired in part by today's post from The Homespun Wife.

She shares her artful, encouragement-treasures on Facebook etc.

Though circumstances vary every day is always new

The crosses that we carry, as we trust, God sees us through

He, the Maker of the earth and sky presents a big buffet

That authors wonder’s ‘my-oh-my’ many sweet times a day...

So let’s be kindly, humbly, gently grateful, ...

The cold water got his attention!!!😅😅💖

'better get my lost shoe' thought Tot

Let’s look a little slower, awed by autumn’s color-flood...

As today’s moments tumble through touch-taste-sight-smell and sound

Let’s turn it to a treasure hunt for favors that abound

Lest haste produces blindness and ingratitude’s increase

Or fear becomes a thief that robs us of hope, joy and peace

Or Want becomes a thought-consuming, self-indulgent creed/greed

As we trample kind mercies in a success-bent stampede

Let’s look a little slower, awed by autumn’s color-flood

And mourn and pray for those, where leaf-song wafts to pools of blood

Let’s reach a helping hand and meet life with love's tender touch

Let’s need each other rather than steal-kill-destroy and such

Let’s savor the full flavors of feasts on a smorgasbord

Of unmerited favors that we never could afford

Moment-momentum slips, drips, spirals, like leaf-poetry

And not a one returns to re-taste-touch-hear-sniff-or see

So let’s be kindly, humbly, gently grateful, for who knows

Who will be next to pass through time’s eternal curtain-close

Let’s pause to be utterly awed by God, right now and here

And thank Him for His perfect love able to cast out fear

Though circumstances vary every day is always new

The crosses that we carry, as we trust, God sees us through

He, the Maker of the earth and sky presents a big buffet

That authors wonder’s ‘my-oh-my’ many sweet times a day

To counter life’s unlovely with a hymn of grateful laud

As today’s treasure-hunt reveals the faithfulness of God

© Janet Martin

1 John 4:18-19

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, 

because fear involves torment. 

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

19We lovee because He first loved us.

With very agonizing news-clips from Israel this

chapter was especially powerful today... 

because our hearts are heavy with concern and grief!

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Before Today's Unknown Begins...

Before I could get this morning's poem up

today's unknowns began to emerge;

some ever-so-cute-and-sweetly!!

Grand-sonny was so amused and intrigued by the black thing with a

curly string attached to it, and gramma talked to it!!

I put it to his ear so he could hear grandpa!

(Grandpa is one of his favs!)

Thank-you God, for so many blessings 

but best of all, Your Word

to light life's path every day!

Below, part of today's 'Lamplight'...

Isa. 33

Before duty’s demands consume our time and energy

Before life’s brunt of cares vexes idyllic poetry

Before fresh break of day is drawn away by moment-steads

Or brushed aside, like toast-crumbs to a tide of wants and needs

Before Today’s Unknown begins to emerge into view

And lessons yet to learn challenge what once we thought we knew

Before what none can trick or tame is snuffed like candlelight

And tucked beneath a quilt pieced with patchwork of morn-to-night

Before we rush headlong into the fray of say-and-do

We should remember who we should surrender today to

And touch the hem of He who said ‘Thy faith has made thee whole’

He who is Giver and Taker and Keeper of each soul

Before we forge ahead where truth and temptation compete

Pray, Lord, we lift Your word to be a lamp unto our feet

A light unto our path, so, in whatever life may bring

Our souls may find sweet refuge in the shadow of Your Wing

© Janet Martin

tackling some end-of-season harvest this afternoon!

Psalm 63:5-8

My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.

6When I remember You on my bed,

I think of You through the watches of the night.

7For You are my help;

I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.

8My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

Jesus, Messiah

With Groans too Deep For Words

Luke 21:28

Now when these things begin to happen, 

look up and lift up your heads,

 because your redemption draws near.”

We weep and pray for you, 

(With groans too deep for words)

dear, suffering fellow-believers

in Israel, as well as those in many others countries in 

Africa, Europe, and Asia😥💔🙏

Isa.30:18-21

And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, 

and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: 

for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: 

he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; 

when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, 

yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, 

but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, 

when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left...

 The Ancient of Day

The whole earth groans with pain as we wait eagerly

For Thy return and none knows when Redemption’s Day will be

Thy hope has set us free from bondage of decay

The power of the enemy cannot Thy will dismay

Thou, Beginning and End, Thou, The First and the Last

Thou, Heavenly Father and Friend, will hold Thy people fast

Thou, Salvation and Light, quells lurking dreads and fears

In Thee we put our trust; Thy might breaks bows and shatters spears

Greater art Thou in us than evil’s hate unfurled

Futile is the ruckus, of he whose kingdom is this world

This world is not the home of those who trust in Thee

Though waters roar and foam and mountains fall into the sea,

…though kingdoms crumble, oh, and nations rage and moan

You bid us to be still and know that You are God alone

Ancient Fortress and Stay, faithful Ancient of Days

In Thee we put our trust for aye; exalting Thee with praise

Come all, and trust in He Whose Coming We Revere

Stand up and lift your heads and see redemption drawing near

© Janet Martin

Rom.8:18-27

I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

  19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

  20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, 

but because of the One who subjected it, in hope

  21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay 

and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning together

 in the pains of childbirth until the present time.

  23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, 

groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

  24For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. 

Who hopes for what he can already see? 

25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

For we do not know how we ought to pray, 

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

  27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Psalm 46

God Is Our Refuge and Strength

(2 Kings 18:13–16; 2 Chronicles 32:1–8)

For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.a A song.

1God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in times of trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth is transformed

and the mountains are toppled

into the depths of the seas,

3though their waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake in the surge.

Selah

4There is a river whose streams delight the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5God is within her; she will not be moved.

God will help her when morning dawns.

6Nations rage, kingdoms crumble;

the earth melts when He lifts His voice.

7The LORD of Hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

8Come, see the works of the LORD,

who brings devastation upon the earth.

9He makes wars to cease throughout the earth;

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

He burns the shieldsb in the fire.

10“Be still and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted over the earth.”

11The LORD of Hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

Forever Thankful...

It is Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada!

Happy Thanksgiving 

Wherever in the world you are!

Because every day ought to be a 'give thanks' day!

With less people living at home I have (reluctantly)

scaled back the traditional Thanksgiving Weekend bake-blitz!

Like this and this and this!💖😋

But!!! not totally😅!

One of our dinner-guests today does not eat dessert/sweets.

I am going to do my best to make him wish he did!!

All in good grace and fun!

Col.3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

 since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful. 

Isa.25:1

O LORD, You are my God. 

I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, 

For You have done wonderful things; 

Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

For seasons as they bloom then lie

Like fallen leaves beneath blue sky,,,

For seasons as they bloom then lie

Like fallen leaves beneath blue sky

For overflowing flower-smiles

And autumn’s gold and auburn isles

For little girl with little kitten

For mother-hearts so dearly smitten

By beauty’s wonders, duty-wild

That seem to haste to woo the child

From innocence, to dreams to cares

Beneath an umbrella of prayers

For privilege to bear the smart

Of pangs love’s fond farewells impart

For harvest’s air of urgency

Mingling with awed humility

For melodies that slip and sweep

In leaf-shaped notes that none can keep

For health and strength, though should both fail

For hope beyond this troubled vale

If we repent, trust and obey

He who will guide us through each day

For toil’s common ingredients

And spoil that authors reverence

To God, for earth’s fulness thereof

To we, below, from He above

As planted furrow overflows

With bounty His goodness bestows

Through every good and perfect gift

We pluck and thresh, chop, stir or sift

To awe us as we recognize

What mercy daily bread supplies

For comfy chairs and cozy nooks

For cups of tea and love of books

For hands to hold through life’s distress

To fine-tune fervent thankfulness

With joy, much sweeter than before

The test of trouble that we bore

For faith, established in God’s word

For His promises undeterred

May we never forget to raise

A hymn of holy, humble praise

For comfort to rush mortal frame

With truth no scorner’s tongue can maim

For Zion’s precious Cornerstone

That will never be overthrown

Where, though bold foes may boast and lure

Justice and righteousness endure

Through the salvation of the Lord

Therefore we rejoice in His Word

Forevermore; worship resounds

With gladness that transcends all bounds

For reason to review God’s grace

Until nothing is commonplace

Until the best we have to bring

Is love’s breath-by-breath offering

Of adoration and delight

Until desire’s appetite

Hungers and thirsts for things above

(Not cursed with lucre-kindled love)

Until that great and glorious day

When praise will never lose its way

© Janet Martin

From our House to Yours

Happy Thanksgiving...

Most Humbly Thankful

as we gather

orchards and gardens

into pots and pans

baskets and bowls

it woos a hymn

that overflows

most humbly-thankful 

hearts and souls

Janet~

Ps.100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, 

and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:

 be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;

 and his truth endureth to all generations.

Foretaste of Forever

Because this is the week leading up to Canada's Thanksgiving Weekend

I've been pondering various angles and expressions

of true thanks-living...

1 Tim.4:1-11

Now the Spirit [a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,

giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods

which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good,

and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

5 for it is [b]sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you instruct the brethren in these things,

you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ,

nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine

which you have carefully followed.

7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things,

having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

10 For to this end [c]we both labor and suffer reproach,

because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men,

especially of those who believe.

11 These things command and teach.

Here it is again!!

God's renewed mercy! 

Lam.3:22-23

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Thank-you, thank-you, Lord

May Thy renewed mercy 

kindle faith's renewed delight!

***

Not with begrudging acquiescence

Or forced generosity

May more than pious performance

Emulate sincerity

Not to soothe heart-parts still stony

By fulfilling duty's bid

Or to balance testimony

On an ‘invisible grid’

Nor for the sake of appearance

Earning holy brownie-points

Through meticulous adherence

To religious do's and don'ts   

But with unpretentious pleasure

And with unaffected praise

Storing treasure over treasure

Beyond mortal’s measured gaze

With devotion’s willing labor

May life's unfeigned gladness be

To love God first, then by neighbor

Because of God’s love for me

May Motive's earnest endeavor

With genuine fervor brim

In earth’s foretaste of forever

Bringing all glory to Him

© Janet Martin

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Awed Conclusion

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that each season is the best

That beauty knows know bounds and that it never takes a rest

That the best things in life are free; tis up to you and I

To not miss out on happiness, that money cannot buy

…but, treasure the fleet measure of each season as it skims

The place of our existence with a host of worship hymns

…tucked into nooks and crooks and splashed sky and countryside-wide

No matter where we look God is impossible to hide

…and, I’ve come to the conclusions as the seasons run and run

If wonder cast a shadow, we would never see the sun

© Janet Martin

Eccles. 12:13-14

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

 Fear God, and keep his commandments:

 for this is the whole duty of man.

 For God shall bring every work into judgment,

 with every secret thing, 

whether it be good, 

or whether it be evil.