Never Too Young (or old) To Learn

Sweetheart helping/learning to make butter tarts!

I generally am treated to 100% sweetness by this little gal

but 'rumor' has it there's another side that sometimes isn't quite so!😂😅🙏

Sometimes, when 'training up' children, an extra-firm hand is required;

A hand that let's them know that no tantrum will change the expectation for obedience!

It is vital that a child learns as early as able, 

to recognize and respect/obey authority!

Sometimes, we as God's children need that firm Hand too.

How easily we (like children) are prone to ignore 

and disrespect/disobey His Supreme Authority!

We, like little children, can be as sweet as pie (or butter tarts) when all goes well!

But what about those other times, when wills clash?!

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, 

you are slaves to the one you obey, 

whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, 

or to obedience leading to righteousness?

The quest to please ourselves, it seems, comes very naturally

Rousing a wrestling match between Self and authority

We are not born to want to yield to edicts not our own

The master of our lives revealed by what our deeds make known

The quest to please ourselves is something that is never taught

Human nature is always king over empires of thought

The living proof of love’s touchstone demonstrates without fail

Who resides on the heart’s veiled throne; choice, its own tattle-tale

The quest to please ourselves is not uncommon or bizarre

Until we yield our will to God, love is a tug-of-war

Until we love Him first, we will not find true joy because

The quest to please ourselves is cursed with the worst part of us (sin)

We all have faced the giant in the valley of love tried

We all have been defiant, self-reliant, blind with pride

But, pray, we all have borne the blow that brought us to our knees

And slew the masquerading foe, impossible to please

And pray our quests have been condensed till only One prevails

Treasured with humble confidence/reverence in God who never fails

And pray that when we are beguiled to prize some lesser goal

He reminds us, we are His child; the Saviour of the Soul

© Janet Martin

Eph.3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 

above all that we ask or think,

 according to the power that works in us, 

 to Him be glory in the church 

by Christ Jesus to all generations,

 forever and ever. 

Amen.

so, here's to that universal classroom of

'never too old to learn' or to forgive, or repent,

and confess our sins and try-try-again!

Below, an inspiring excerpt from the life story of

George Mueller of Bristow...

Ode to Father Time

Dear Father Time...

I never tire of your ways...

Your sweet and sun-steeped golden days...(today, a balmy 20C)

Your contours, swaddled in soft grays...

Your landscapes, washed in pink...

A quick pit-stop for supper and off again)

Spring is like a dog straining wildly at its leash today!

I never tire of your ways

Your sweet and sun-steeped golden days

Your contours, swaddled in soft grays

Your landscapes, washed in pink

Your rough-and-tumble give and take

Your waves that sob and surge and break

Across shorelines that gleam and ache

With untamed poem-ink

I never tire of your hymn

It trembles in the barren limb

And throbs as buds begin to brim

With orchestras of green

With daybreak’s lilac-tinted sighs

And twilight’s gentle lullabies

With hellos, harboring goodbyes

With all that falls between

I never tire of your waltz

Your minuet and somersaults

Your promenade that never halts

But twirls me round and round

Till I am breathless with delight

Yet never tire of the sight

Of you, gilt-edged ‘gainst gath’ring night

Of a new day unbound

I never tire of your ease

Turning moments to memories

Taming my younger-hungered pleas

With humble thankfulness

My cheek against your stubbly chin

Ah, darling, how can I begin

To count your ways I cannot win

Yet love you nonetheless

© Janet Martin

Perfect Satisfaction (because we all seek to be satisfied)

Every life is a testament, not only

of how much God loves us,

but of how much we love Him!

Photo:  Yesterday's Bake-Apple Crumble Tarts and Scottish Coconut and Jam Tarts

Today's bake (plan): Butter tarts!

I am currently working at a 'tart buffet' as part of a meal

next Wednesday evening 

for all our youth, junior youth and kid's zone ministry leaders at church; approx. 50!

Isn't it a wonderful blessing to be able to serve those who serve others

with a delicious 'encouragement/appreciation' meal once a month?!

BTW!! this was not my initial reaction of 'love'! (insert blush)

My first thought, I am ashamed to say was 'why? all this work/fuss etc.

 when they could all grab a bite before their meeting?!!

It would be SO much easier...

There are so many things faulty with the above attitude😓

hence, the need for confession.

Then to top it off,  I was thoroughly convicted by a conversation from/with

 an ancient Brother Lawrence from the 1600's!

I ordered this little book to tag on a few dollars 

so I would qualify for free shipping!

I am only on the second conversation and have been utterly

encouraged and convicted/corrected in my often carnal tendencies...

We all seek to be satisfied

The world, a big buffet

Of tempting fruit cajoling pride

With ‘did God really say?’

So much to see and touch and taste

What vast fields Choice deploys

Soon yielding either worth or waste

In Want’s pursuit of joys

What fickle ventures we afford

What futile wish and whim

We chase, until we love the Lord

And yield our hearts/lives to Him

Then, come what may, bitter or sweet

When love for God prevails

We find a life of joy complete

Because love never fails

We all seek to be satisfied

God’s grace, a grand buffet

Of hope the world cannot provide

Or ever take away

The more we love the Lord, the less

We want of lesser things

As we embrace/enjoy the happiness

Only loving God brings

© Janet Martin

1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow

 with love for one another and for everyone else, 

just as our love for you overflows,

Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: 

that your love may abound more and more

 in knowledge and depth of insight,

Last night as our youngest daughter's little

'blue bug' puttered away I prayed a special blessing on her and all the

fellow-workers who serve/minister to our precious youth!

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We are obligated to thank God for you all the time,

 brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, 

and your love for one another is increasing.

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus 

to live in a way that is pleasing to God,

 just as you have received from us. 

This is how you already live, 

so you should do so all the more.

New Month's Resolutions

 Happy, happy March! (already?!!)

This winter is flying by and hardly feeling like 'real' winter

with its milder temperatures and lack of snow!

Although last evening wasn't mild!

I almost froze my fingers to get these sunset poses!!!

I had to miss the magnificent, pink finale because I needed to go back inside to thaw my hands!

Note to self: never assume to be fine without mittens no matter how mild a few days earlier was!

May we make today more cheerful by being thankful and kind

And by keeping thought life gentle with fellowman's needs in mind

May we not be blind to beauty's wonder-thund'ring treasure trove

But embrace life's common duties with a glad and grateful love

Pray the Lord's goodness will fill us with joy bursting at the core

Rather than highlights that thrill us then leave us thirsting for more

Pray love’s meek and quiet spirit shields us from frontlines of strife

From lust of the flesh and eye, and dust to dust’s vain pride of life

Behold! each moment-memento brims with opportunity

May we delight in the tempo tuning Today’s symphony

For, sufficient for each hour is God’s glorious grace unfurled

Ah! Nothing can overpower He who overcame the world

May we make today more lovely by the way that we reply

To the Giver; not rude-grumbly, but with humble ‘here am I’

As creation spills our ears full, as dawn sets yon heights ablaze

May we make today more cheerful by joining its hymn of praise

For soon high's noon's full bloom flounders; soon plush petal-mettle yields

To the tug that always counters today with tomorrow's fields

So, before today is gathered into Bygone's works of art

May its moments as they scatter leave a smile in someone's heart

© Janet Martin

Ps.92:4-8

For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your deeds;

I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

5How great are Your works, O LORD,

how deep are Your thoughts!

6A senseless man does not know,

and a fool does not understand,

7that though the wicked sprout like grass,

and all evildoers flourish,

they will be forever destroyed.

8But You, O LORD, are exalted forever!

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Of Tomorrow's What-We-Had (Today)

Happy Birthday, Leap Year 'babies'!!

The other morning dawn drew back night's shutters with a spectacular, balmy 'hello'...

...but there was something sort of ominous in its unseasonably warm temperatures 

and billowy thunderheads.

And small wonder! A thunder-hailstorm was brewing!!

Yesterday we woke to still-mild temps but by

the afternoon the mercury plummeted and frigid gales meant business!

And so, winter is back...

but not for long!

But whatever the weather, let's celebrate Today because

it will never be again!

Time offers no rerun

Today's burgeoning sphere

Of 'nothing new under the sun'

Is temporary, dear

 

Whatever today grants

Where dawn kicks up its heels

Is but a one-time song-and-dance 

That twilight always seals/steals 

Then rejoice and be glad

Whatever fills today

Will be tomorrow's 'what-we-had'

Before it slipped away

© Janet Martin

So far 'what -I-had' consists of sweet morning with grandsonny...

(it never gets old; bird-watching or watching tots watch birds😘)

...and lunch with daughter, providing the perfect excuse for a sumptuous salad!

I dubbed it Leap-Day Celebration Salad!

Leap Day Celebration Salad

3 cups oven-roasted or air-fried butternut squash cubes 

tossed with olive oil salt and pepper, and pinch of parsley flakes 

Rinse one cup quinoa

Strain in sieve.

Bring to boil in 2 cups water.

Reduce heat enough to keep it simmering.

Cook uncovered till water is gone

then turn off and cover for 5-7 min.

Fluff with fork.

Add a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper

a few cloves of fresh-pressed garlic.

cool quinoa and squash 

then place desired amounts on a bed of

your choice of greens.

Top with 1/2 pomegranate seeds,

(thinly sliced/diced apple or pear can be sub.)

1/3 cup feta cheese

1 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

I small red onion finely chopped and 

mixed with 2 stalks celery finely chopped

Toss and serve with a dressing of

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. veg oil

2 tbsp. honey or maple syrup

11/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

(or 1 tsp. white vinegar and 1 balsamic)

bit of crushed dried parsley (optional) 

Sometimes We Miss The Scars...

Jesus said to him, 

“If[c] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:23-24

This poem began the other day, when, after listening

to 'her' frustrations, sorrows and challenges,

 all I could think of to say was,

'I will pray for you'.

As I pondered that promise I was a shamed to have wished

I could offer something more profound!

SO much to pray for, always!! 

So much to author awed worship and so much to kindle humble pleas

for God's leading, comfort, wisdom and provision,

 spiritually, emotionally and physically!

We pray for those who are striving to be faithful followers of Jesus,

for those who have wandered astray,

for those who have never put their faith in Christ

(and the finished work of Calvary.)

We pray for the poor, the downcast,

for those who mourn, 

for those in war-torn countries,

for the shut-in, and the shut out.

We pray for teachers and preachers,

students and school bus drivers.

We pray for strength for the day and rest at night.

For young, exhausted parents

and for those who long to be parents and are not...

We pray for the elderly, the lonely,

the sick and the prisoner...

The tempted and the fallen,

etc.

Sometimes we question His 'answers' 

(or what feels like His silence)

and sometimes the reason we question Him is because

we miss the scars on His hands 

(and who/what put them there)

How often we find ourselves echoing those words of old; 

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

What God Hath Promised (God Hath Not Promised Skies Always Blue)

Sometimes we miss the scars on hands we place our cares into

When kindness grasps at strands, and utters ‘I will pray for you’

But, this is no ‘when-all-else-fails, last-resort song-and-dance

No, this is to God, who prevails in spite of circumstance

His are the hands that wore the nails that bore deliverance

This is no consolation prize we offer casually

No secondary compromise of pious empathy

When we say ‘I will pray for you’ what sacred words we speak

When we pause to consider who hears the favors we seek

Whose ways are trustworthy and true; Whose strength uplifts the weak/meek

When we say ‘I will pray for you’ we relinquish control

And touch Him, like the woman who knew He could make her whole

The One who loves us so, who gave His Son, once and for all

To pay sin’s debt we owed, to break the curse wrought at The Fall

When we say I will pray for you’ it is on Him we call

Sometimes we miss the scars on hands outstretched to help us through

When desperation grasps at strands, with ‘I will pray for you’

But as we enter faith’s hushed courts, when creature cares beset

And trust the hands no hurtle thwarts and no ‘Unknown’ can fret

Then suddenly we see the scars that sometimes we forget

© Janet Martin

Heb.4:14-16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

 Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.

  15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 

but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

  16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, 

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

My Faith Looks Up To Thee

For Your Name's Sake (some sonnets)

You drape the dell with scarves of silver tulle...

You carve the curving course of brook-song hue...

...the earth is full Of the glorious handiwork of You

You drape the dell with scarves of silver tulle

You carve the curving course of brook-song hue

That shimmers out to sea; the earth is full

Of the glorious handiwork of You

You fill and whet the seed that leaps to life

Fruit and flower reply; ah, who are we

That we should doubt Your ways while earth runs rife

With Your mercy, glory and majesty

You stir within the human heart a sense

Of holiness and power undeterred

A Culmination, awesome and immense

That eye has not yet seen nor ear yet heard

Oh Lord, let no path I pursue or take

Be for a lesser cause than Your name’s sake

***

Ps.23:3

...he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

***

You wake and rouse the earth from winter’s clutch

With ways we love and have come to expect

With daffodils and robin trills and such

With plumes and blooms sun-kisses resurrect

You tune four-season’s steadfast carousels

Sun, moon and stars their ordained circuits stay

And never stray; not one planet rebels

Your perfect law and order they obey

Nothing and no one can usurp Your will

Ancient oracles have not slipped your ken

Heaven and earth will not pass away till

Each jot and tittle is fulfilled. Amen

Behold! where autumn’s auburn petals fell

Springtime’s unfailing hallelujahs swell

***

Ps.24:1

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof;

***

The earth is Yours, and its fulness thereof

The greedy forget this and want for more

Than Your goodness, mercy, kindness and love

Offering wealth that pales this world’s brief store 

Your righteousness and truth are of great price

The wise covet its fortune earnestly

Striving to be a living sacrifice

Lest worship be a show of vanity

You rend the dark; cut mercy’s legions loose

You bend heavens and earth with evidence

Of You; thus, we are all without excuse

When it comes to devotion’s recompense

Dear Lord, whatever life may bring our way

Help us endeavor to trust and obey

***

Ps.103:8

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

***

Compassionate and slow to anger, You

Withhold judgment, but not forever, oh

Someday total accounting will come due

Pity the one who heard You and said 'no'  

You, who held nothing back but gave Yourself

Because salvation has no other name

Pity the one who prizes prideful pelf

Above the love that robs death/hell of its claim

Time's four-season circuit spins round and round

Some sense its sacred toll, some scoff and sneer

But someday Time's Veneer will run aground 

And all earth's tribes will mourn with holy fear

Then, hope and grace and faith will be no more

When who we chose to serve settles the score 

© Janet Martin

***

Matt.24:30

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 

and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 

and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven 

with power and great glory.

***

Behold! where autumn’s auburn petals fell...

Springtime’s unfailing hallelujahs swell