Ephemeral and Eternal

Gal.6:7-10

7Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked.

 Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

  8The one who sows to please his flesh, 

from the flesh will reap destruction; 

but the one who sows to please the Spirit, 

from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, 

for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,

 and especially to the family of faith.

Saturday was filled with harvest-season thrills!

(weather turned out drier than expected)

...and it's because of the on-coming generation that what we sow is so crucial;

they will be reaping some of that harvest!!

We cannot ever fully know

Where-when fruit grows from seeds we strew

Or how far-reaching is the flow

Of words we say and deeds we do

Eternal and ephemeral

The potent ink of moment-font

Unfathomable potential

For kinder thought and meeker want

…and humbler thanks for lessons learned

That teach a sweeter contentment

As moment-to-moment is turned

Into lifetimes composed and spent

Ah, we can never fully see

Where moments, as they slip through choice

Will root and sprout into a tree

As fruit of fallen seed gives voice

Then, pray for purer, truer love

For nobler goals than earth can boast

For what God grants is quite enough

To serve Him to the uttermost

As much as lies within us then

We ought to try each day to dwell

Peaceably with our fellowmen

Because of seeds that soon will tell

…how well we loved each other while

Moments tumbled through touch to meld

To Bygone’s everlasting isle

Of moments once so briefly held

© Janet Martin

Until we make our peace with God we cannot truly make peace with each other~

Yesterday, the service leader opened the service 

with prayer for this broken world

which we all have our own broken part in!

How comforting to be able to gather freely

and open God's word together to grow in

the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom.12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, 

live peaceably with all men.

Isa.26:3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: 

because he trusteth in thee.

Isa.48:22

“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

My, my, how the wicked wreak havoc

where peace could/would otherwise be!

We remember those who are suffering today,

especially in war-torn countries!

Living Love-song

Three lively youngsters are arriving shortly so their mom and dad

can have a little reprieve to celebrate 10 years of marriage.

Plans for a weekend getaway, due to life's unexpected curves,

were altered to a day-getaway!

p-s-s-st!! Due to cool, rainy weather I see another intense

memory-game on the horizon ...

..with two little players who

have no qualms about sneaking a peek if necessary😂💕

Here is a little hymn/prayer to the Keeper of our days,

who, through all of life's ups and downs

reminds us over and over 'Fear not'.

To the Keeper of our days may we live/lift a hymn of praise

May our meditations be pleasing, oh God, unto Thee

May our labors great and small magnify Thee, Lord of all

Thou who dost behold the heart of we who see, but in part

Guard our thought and guide our feet until face to face, we meet

Until dust reclaims it due and trust beholds all things new

May our utter longing be to live a love-song for Thee

© Janet Martin

 

🙏 as we pray for so many torn from their

earthly homes...

A Living Prayer

Autumn Awe-Awareness

A few glimpses,

at what sends Autumn's awe-meter over the top...

Thank-you, Lord

Awareness is fine-tuned to how the wind is winnowing the bough

Of supple sigh and so we try to linger longer in the Now

We loiter under arbors where we look up-up to stare and stare

At nature’s oh-so-fine design of leaf-motifs on sheafs of air

We seek out orchard-bowers bent with harvest’s rosy remanent

And feel earth’s pull; intangible mingling of gladness and lament

We polish Reason’s silver spoon and see a picnic afternoon

Beckoning, so we smile and go to steep our souls in Autumn’s boon

Of sunrise and set snared aloft in little leaf-mirrors soon doffed

Of nature’s wreath lowered beneath footsteps that fall, muffled and soft

Of treetops shedding threads, red-gold; autumn’s raiment is hard to hold

Of hearts that break with delight’s ache, of winds that tug, sassy and bold

Of dawn, rushing yon eastward rim where mercy’s renewed favors brim

To frameless sweeps where nameless deeps flood earth with heaven’s worship hymn

To rekindle the simple thrill from pumpkins perched on porch and sill

Or leaves tossed wild to long-lost child that romps and runs from hill to hill

© Janet Martin

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