Sweet Saturday-morning Skirmish (between Poet and Prudence)

This daily/weekly Saturday morning tango is blissfully

unfamiliar to some, yet, I wouldn't trade it for a world of shiny

'ballroom' floors, as much as I dearly admire and strive to acquire

  brief glossy-floor bliss once in a while!

I try to balance ballads, oops I mean battles

with a bit of both poem and prudence. 😂😅💖

This beautiful battleground is composed of longing to linger on pages 

of past poets/artists

or tackling present responsibilities like prepping for Christmas!

Today's task; homemade chocolate bars

In the above recipe to clarify amounts;

 approx. 8-9 cups rice krispies, 2 cups peanuts and 11/2 cups coconut.)

Sometimes the battle is a toss-up between

pausing without pressure to percolate in the pure pleasure

of God's poetry in every season...

Whether gray...

...or gold!

...or vacuuming and fussing over delightful details

because Victoria is having friends 

over for a Christmas party this weekend!

Sweet Saturday Skirmish💓💓💓

Coffee pot beams with Columbian brew; ready/drained with of extra refills

Coffee pot beams with Columbian brew; ready with extra refills

Duty and Dream dance, a skippety-do; Poet and Prudence clash wills

Wonder is waiting with gifts still unfurled, often where we least suppose

Dawn is deflating night’s slumbering world with a sky full of hellos

Tuning spent ages with notes rearranged in compositions brand new

Learning’s lent pages divinely exchanged by He who loves me and you

Fueling reason with thankful reply for mercy’s replenished fount

Every season chock-full of surprises, too prolific to count

…thus, in the matter of work-to-do lists versus perhaps-poetry

Always a Saturday morning untwists two worlds that cannot agree

One (but a guess) a shining specimen of domestic excellence

One, happiness, pressed like wine from a pen never drained of Imminence

….coffee-pot beams with Columbian prose; ready with refills galore

Poet and Prudence tango, nose to nose ‘cross Saturday’s ballroom-floor

Weathering whispers that spar between ink and plain practicality

Untethering silver rivers that wink into….oh, which will it be

© Janet Martin

And hopefully this is my/our daily prayer;

'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do it all for the glory of God.

1 Cor.10;31

Forbid Folly To Interject

Daniel 9:4-5&8-9

4And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said,

 “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy 

with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 

5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, 

we have done wickedly and rebelled, 

even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. ...

8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, 

and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, 

though we have rebelled against Him...

2 Cor.7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation,

not to be regretted;

but the sorrow of the world produces death.

***

Why, oh why does human nature so easily forget

to trust our trustworthy Heavenly Father?!

Why are we so prone to want so much less

than He is waiting to lavish us with?!

Why are we so easily blinded by circumstance

rather than enlightened by His promises?!

Oh Lord, grant us godly sorrow that leads to repentance!

again and again!

***

I am reading through the book of Daniel and am always moved by the account

of Daniel after the decree that none should pray to anyone but

King Darius and anyone who does will be put to death...

Dan.6:10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.

 And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, 

he knelt down on his knees three times that day, 

and prayed and gave thanks before his God,

 as was his custom since early days...

Oh, that we may dare to be a Daniel too;

to be un-swayed in our devotion to God

no matter what or who attempts some sad

folly to interject and redirect our worship !

Today's post is also influenced by yesterday's devotion

from My Utmost for His Highest...

Forbid folly to interject and redirect my gaze from He

Whose goodness grants deliverance from hell’s hopeless eternity

Whose grace (a gift) bridges the rift that gaped with sin’s unholy strife

Whose mercy gave His Son to brave the death that wrought eternal life

Whose blood redeems and washes clean each one who repents and believes

Whose joy complete, so rich and sweet, only godly sorrow achieves

Whose righteousness, when we confess turns scarlet sins to snowy white

Whose love anoints all He appoints with His divine power and might

Whose law is peace, though wars increase, whose Light no darkest dark can dim

Forbid folly to interject and redirect my gaze from Him

But, let me seek with motive meek, a heart like Daniel, bold and true

Then, humbly bring, my God and King, faithful and thankful praise to You

© Janet Martin

Dare to be a Daniel

When We Remember This...

 

This morning my daughter's plans for her day off 

(Christmas shopping, small town meandering)

were suddenly upended when her employer asked

if she could work because a co-worker was sick!

While she was working through her disappointment

 I tried to cheer her with the thought that inspired this poem.

It also reminded me of this song/poem

The Christmas Guest

When we remember this, then second miles extend

Privilege, rather than duty’s stiff upper lip, my friend

When we remember this, we cannot give enough

As we consider His sacrifice and redeeming love

When we remember this, we try, the best we can

To mirror His example of love for our fellowman

Then, when out of the blue He asks us to reply

To help someone we cannot help but say, ‘Lord, here am I’

When we remember this little phrase ‘inasmuch’

It rushes hearts with honor to be called as one-of-such

© Janet Martin

Matt.25:40

“And the king shall answer, and say to them,

 'Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, 

My brothers, you have done it to Me ...

Because Life's Best Things Never Change...

The innocence of tot...

The sacred charge of we

Who train their tender chain of thought

By what they hear and see...

(below, the beginning of what I hope is a long, friendly acquaintance

with gramma's fridge...😂💗)

The pleasures nature grants

Where every season-lease

Spills spectacles of birds and plants

Each its own masterpiece...

Life’s best things never change

The beauty of the earth

And sky, where the heavens proclaim

Day’s demise and rebirth

The innocence of tot

The sacred charge of we

Who train their tender chain of thought

By what they hear and see

The pleasures nature grants

Where every season-lease

Spills spectacles of birds and plants

Each its own masterpiece

A soulful melody

That strikes a chord so dear

Its fond familiarity

Evokes both smile and tear

The comfort and delight

Of squash-soup in a bowl

To satisfy the appetite

Of both body and soul

The good of lessons learned

The woods frost-kissed, or awed

Spectators with faces upturned

To feel the kiss of God

The bliss of coming home

The love of family

To share and bear the grin and groan

Of mirth and misery

Laughter, free from pizzazz 

Of vowels and consonants

But lilts and peals and sparkles as

It teaches hearts to dance

The thrill in simple things

Good books, a favorite mug

New mercy as each morning brings

God's warm handshake or hug

The gift of growing old

To taste the sweeter truth

Of joys time designs to withhold

From fairer green of youth

Moment-bubbles that break

In breathtaking surprise

A candle-spangled birthday cake

Or lake full of sunrise

The possibilities

Where ingredients start

To tickle taste-bud fantasies

With culinary art  

God’s word, infallible

Unswayed by vain dispute

No mortal verdict can annul

His Sovereign Absolute

Though seasons/eons may estrange

So much that cannot stay

Because life’s best things never change

We will not lose our way

…supper table to set

Dusk’s shadow-hallowed death

Hellos to kindle wicks not yet

Snuffed by farewell’s last breath

© Janet Martin

The possibilities

Where ingredients start

To tickle taste-bud fantasies

With culinary art 

 The comfort and delight

Of squash-soup in a bowl

To satisfy the appetite

Of both body and soul

Hope (From He Who transcends Time and Place)

"Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous.

 Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, 

for the Lord your God will be with you 

wherever you go" 

Joshua 1:9

But now, this is what the LORD says— 

he who created you, Jacob, 

he who formed you, Israel: 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

 I have summoned you by name;

 you are mine.

Isa.43:1

So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isa.41:10

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: 

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 

which shall be to all people.

 Luke 2:10

Hope Has a Name -River Valley Worship

From He who transcends time and place

To we in need of saving grace

Since that first angel-hymn unfurled

Hope penetrates a broken world

Ah! Lift your hearts in praise and prayer

We are not destined to despair

Nor doomed to suffer Satan’s scorn

The Savior of the world is born

Be not afraid, for unto us

A Deliv’rer still comes; Jesus

Then let us too make haste to see

First Bethlehem, then Calvary

Then, let us with hearts humbly awed

Bring gifts of thankfulness to God

For hope transcending time and place

From He who saves us by His grace

© Janet Martin

Deut.11:19

Teach them (God's Words/laws) to your children, 

speaking about them when you sit at home 

and when you walk along the road, 

when you lie down 

and when you get up... 

An Overwhelming Plea...

Without God's word to minister hope to the soul

Monday morning could feel like an

overwhelming weight-lifting exercise!

Thank-you God, for Your indwelling Spirit,

for the glorious riches in Christ Jesus

 to overwhelm our need!

 

In Need

I need You, Lord, Your whisper to bid worry’s tempest cease

To conquer overwhelming dread with overwhelming peace

To comfort overwhelming grief with overwhelming love

To help unbelief with belief this world knows nothing of

I need you, Lord, to quell the fear that seeks faith, to destroy

Love’s overwhelming sorrow cheer with overwhelming joy

And should Your higher ways impart a cross, pride to abase

Lord, overwhelm my wicked heart with overwhelming grace

I need your overwhelming hope to overwhelm despair

Your promises to help me cope through overwhelming prayer

Lest ignorance makes me uncouth and wise in my own eyes

I need Your overwhelming truth to expose Satan’s lies

I need Your Word to overwhelm word-storms of worldly vice

Your overwhelming strength to transform Self to sacrifice

Your overwhelming Light to pierce death-dark veneers of dust

And shatter overwhelming sight with overwhelming trust

I need you, Lord, to overwhelm my overwhelming need

To overwhelm my whelming cry with mercy’s tender creed/reed

Enfold trouble and strife beneath Your overwhelming Wing

And overwhelm me with Your life where death has lost its sting

Hallelujah,

Amen

© Janet Martin

Phil.4:19-20

And my God will supply all your needs

 according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 

Amen.

December Hymn

 

December drapes dormant landscapes with snowflake-sequined flair

It kindles in its chill a thrill that contradicts despair

And cheers faith’s frame with hope’s dear Name; Jesus! As once again

Hearts start anew to travel to the town of Bethlehem

December decks earth’s halls with shawls that nature’s shuttle weaves

Where fall-gales doffed treetops, white softness soothes its loss of leaves

And stirs within cages of skin a holy atmosphere

Of peace and love, through knowledge of the Name we hold so dear

December brims with joyful hymns and beauty to behold

Fresh snowfall awes and gently draws us back to days of old

Until we feel the sacred zeal of shepherds and wise men

And yearn to bring the Christ Child King gifts of worship. Amen

December rings the old year out before it brings the new

It rebukes doubt with shouts of joy for what is good and true

And bids us come and see Christendom’s Cornerstone, and laud

The glory of the Gift, where love unveils the face of God

© Janet Martin

2 Pet.1:1-2

To those who through the righteousness 

of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance 

through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem-Nat King Cole

some of the 'hymns' of joy brimming from cookbook lyrics,

due to Christmas celebrations beginning...

Fruitcake Christmas Cookies

(very versatile for switching up the dry fruit and nuts!)

Italian Almond-Cookies

(or, in Victoria's words, melt-in-your-mouth-orange pillows)

Fruit Cocktail Jello Salad/Dessert

(easily done using home-canned fruit)

 

Above All (Else)

Jim (my husband) called while I was struggling 

through the middle of the third stanza of today's poem, 

and in the course of conversation he remarked 

that he's driving through a stretch of the north 

that always feels like forever to get through!!

I told him 'thank-you!! that imagery was exactly what I needed

 to give this poem steam through the middle of it!

(Jim is a great conversationalist and I've written many a verse whilst conversing, 

or, he converses and I interject an occasional 'ugh-huh')😅😂💖

The initial inspiration of this poem was sparked after I came home last night

 after enjoying dinner at my daughter's home and getting a first-hand reminder 

of the end of day endurance tests when children are tired and parents are too!

Hang in there, parents of little children! 

it really is worth every lackluster labor of love!

Hang in there mother/daddy that feels like you walk or rock, 

rather than sleep the night away!

Hang in there, engineer of eighteen wheels. 

And we will soon welcome you to warm home fires, Lord willing! 

Hang in there, dear daughter-son-parent-spouse etc, traveling home after dark 

after spending precious time with a loved one in a long term care facility or hospital! 

Hang in there, husband and wife whose marriage ties seem strained to breaking point! 

God is love! 

Love never fails!

***

I couldn't help but chuckle at the amplified tranquility

of our house after we returned home last night.

That forever-stretch of raising youngsters,

as I look back feels more like a silk scarf

that slip-slipped through my fingers and disappeared!

only Victoria and I left to decorate the tree

while listening to Christmas music...

bittersweet!!

(for her and me)

Above all else, though duty’s dues may seem common and small

And in the grand scheme of pursuits, not very grand at all

Where no corporate ladder hails to scale with eagerness

And no plaque or trophy regales accomplishment’s success

Where no one notes the unsung skills of mundane ministry

Or celebrates the daily drills of domesticity

Above all else, no matter how we view Duty’s reply

It is not what but Who we do it for, not where but why

Then, in our search to satisfy fulfillment’s siren call

We find, to our surprise, a One-size Reason that fits all

For we will find the kind of wealth that always grants Enough

When what we do, above all else, is a labour of love

Love is enough to make remarkable, the commonplace

It transforms life into a miracle of joy and grace

It equips us to weather what loveless motives reject

For, ‘stretches of forever’ are so brief in retrospect

The miles that seem mundane, thankless, a mess of prayers and tears/fears

Soon meld into the counterpane of yester-days-and-years

Love instills wonder, thrills the things of modest recompense

It fills the world with whirring wings we cannot see, but sense

Because angels of mercy travel on the common beat

Clad in workday apparel; their wings look like hands and feet

As love fills with thunderous applause, each care-worn mile they trod

For above all, love is the wondrous evidence of God

Above all, let love carve a sacred crucifix within

Above all, fix faith's sight-scarred gaze, on the image of Him

Upon a cross, a cross that should have been for you and me

He bore love's brutal albatross to show how love should be

So, lest love grows ungrateful when love seems impossible 

Remember, love is faithful and will triumph, above all

© Janet Martin

1 Cor.13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

7 It always protects, always trusts,

 always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.