Showing posts with label priorities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label priorities. Show all posts

Friday, February 2, 2024

Nothing But This...

Happy First-Friday-in-February!
F- is for Forgiveness!
***
To hold a grudge is such a heavy weight to carry through the day
Forgiveness frees us from its spite and lets it gently slip away 
Ah, life is much too brief to mar it with the bitter grief of hate
Forgiveness melts its iron bar and flings ajar love's glorious gate 

***
A friend and I decided to bring a splash of 'sunshine'
to February's dreary debut by hitting a few thrift stores
with Extreme Leisure!😂
I found the treasure below to hang in our kitchen dining area
as a gentle reminder of what I/we can quite quickly forget!



Have we nothing but this to bring
To God when shadows fall
To be a gift, fit for a king
Though it may seem so small

Have we nothing but this to prove
The flower from faith’s seed
It is enough. A word of love
A kind and thoughtful deed

Have we nothing to leave behind
When death its due will claim
It is enough, to love, be kind
In Jesus precious Name

Enough to see in every face
The scarred hand-print of He
Who helps us to mirror His grace
With kind humility

Lord, let the Name we utter/cherish most
Because of Calvary
Grant nothing but love's greatest boast
'Not I, but Christ in me'

© Janet Martin

This is (one of) my daily devotionals for this year.


January's 'pathway' focused on God's will

February's pathway focuses on Forgiveness








Monday, January 30, 2023

Because Actions Speak Louder Than Words...


Originally I entitled this poem
Sermon to Poets and Silver-tongued Scribes
but that felt a bit harsh 
and its connotation a bit off the mark
so I changed it😅

(all that to say, words ring hollow
without rubber-meets-road corroboration!)

Bit of satire to self today, as well as
all of us struggling with easier talked than walked!
Below, is a glimpse of the scenery of general muddled mayhem 
of many hours of mental workouts,
frustrated/vexed scribbles 
and mumbled prayer-stumble!!
Yet all of this can never take the place of
a single step to aid/accompany a fellow-traveler! 
(lest I/we forget)

My hope is that here and there a poem hits home 
like a hug that needs no explanation
and an act of kindness tendered in ink!



I’d take a stumbling sermon lived
Over a smooth rehearsal, talked
And if I had to choose a gift
I’d take mercy’s second mile, walked
I’d take the ink of honest toil
Over spouted theology
And if I had to choose love’s spoil
I’d take a friendly cup of tea

I’d take the smallest gentle deed
Above intent, pious and grand
And if I had to choose my need
I’d take an earnest helping hand
The pen, though mightier than sword
Is not a supple substitute
For living out God’s Holy Word
Until the branch is bent with fruit

Sermons are not misunderstood
When preached in meek obedience
Better than pulpits carved of wood
Are stepping stones of reverence
And in the thick and thin of cost
Midst love’s ado of This and That
Better a kindness-buoy tossed
Than a poetic lariat

The fine art of rhythm and rhyme
Can kindle senses with delight
But cannot take the place of Time
Spent on knees in the dead of night
And, lest words miss the sacred mark
Of pure religion undefiled
Better prayer’s closet in the dark
Than podiums where crowds go wild

© Janet Martin



Little children, let us not love in word or talk
but in deed and in truth.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

The Glorious Goal

The glorious gift of a new day gleams!
What is our goal?



helped to inspire today's poem...

2 Cor.5:6-10
So we are always confident, knowing that 
while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body 
and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, 
to be well pleasing to Him. 
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 
that each one may receive the things done in the body, 
according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


What will our life collage, as we reach the goal,
 look like as it is analyzed frame by frame?
Will it be, by the grace of God a testimony of loving service to Him
or will it be, to our shame a futile fling of Self-serving?

Below a collage of a week or two of only a glint of moments...



The glorious goal of pleasing God makes every day full worth its while
Where souls that brim with hymnal laud, and walk by faith though sights beguile
And tune the heart and mind with kindness even when things may go wrong
Will find within the common grind of love and life, a happy song

The glorious goal of pleasing God fills every hour with intent
To serve Him with feet gospel shod, and worship’s awestruck wonderment
That God so loved the world He gave His Son to take my/our rightful place
Upon the cross; He died to save us not by works but by His grace

The glorious goal of pleasing God seems far too small a price to pay
As we behold the thwarted rod where death and hell are done away
For all who repent and believe; no longer victims of sin’s curse
But who, through faith alone receive redemption none can reimburse

Then, with heart and soul, humbly awed, pray we aspire to obey
And make the goal of pleasing God, our true desire every day
For someday we will all appear before His holy judgement seat
To give account of our life here; flight to the glorious goal complete

© Janet Martin





Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Heaven-bent...

 





Not so enlightened, as to be
Careless with hope’s security
Not so engrossed in earthliness  
I do not prize faith's promises
Not so prosperous I forget
The hungry poor who have no bread
Not so successful as to slide
Into subtle pitfalls of pride
Not so consumed with avarice 
I snub salvation's purchase-price
Not so ingenious I ignore
The One who said ‘I am the Door’
Not so comfortable that I
Am loathe to bid this world good-bye
Not so intent on things below
I have no heaven-wealth to show
No living proof, by quiet deed
Of compassion for those in need
No legacy of self outpoured
As evidence of Christ as Lord
No desire to be poor enough
To treasure most His grace and love
And count all worldly gain as loss
To marvel daily at the cross
To keep in mind, earth's lease is lent
And live each moment, heaven-bent  

© Janet Martin

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, 
strive for the things above, 
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
 2Set your minds on things above,
 not on earthly things. 

Col.3:1-2




Saturday, November 6, 2021

For Fence-Crowders


I'm trying to keep 'my eye on the furrow 
and my hand on the plow'
but wow, not an easy task 
while poem-breakers surge 
 where leaf ballerinas twirl 
and wanna-be-ballads waltz !








Sometimes duty feels like a fence
Where obligation bars
The gate between toil's diligence
And pastures full of stars

Sometimes responsibility
And ballad-bearers clash
As seasons throb with poetry
Where hands of time are brash

But in a world so full of ways
To amaze and enthrall
It is enough to sing the praise
Of He who authors all

And should a breath or two perchance
Be wrangled into word
Pray it will stir the heart to dance
In worship to our Lord

Then, though duty does not resign
Where obligation bars
The gate, may thankfulness outshine
Yon pasture full of stars

Because the One so full of love
Where hope and mercy brim
Will overflow joy's treasure-trove
With the wonder of Him

© Janet Martin

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.




Saturday, October 2, 2021

A Morning/Today Mantra



Sometimes it easy to drag yesterday's baggage into New-day/Today!
Sometimes it hard to cast all our care upon Him, 
for He cares for you/us...1 Peter 5:7
and leave them there!
And proceed with renewed ambition in what... 
He has shown you/us, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you/us?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your/our God.
Micah 6:8


Dawn’s door, once more has swung ajar
Eyes turn toward the east
Where mercy spreads on welkin bar
A lavish beauty-feast
And bids the sojourner of care
To trust the Artist of the air


Soon pink ink pales, gold fringes fade
Blue heavens crown the world
As this new day the Lord has made
Is furthermore unfurled
Where His hand cups each stepping stone
Poised on the crux of The Unknown



Then, pray we cast our cares on He
Who cares for one and all
May we with renewed fervency
Proceed and heed His call
To act justly with loving laud
And to walk humbly with our God

© Janet Martin

Well, it's off to the races graces once more!

Last night's finish-line, 
midst much background action-attraction-distraction-music...




...boasted fresh applesauce, finally!


On my need-to-do list all week!

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Beggar's Legacy


I beg for fresh reason and rhyme
As we weather seasons of time...




I beg, but not for milk or bread
Rather, for ink-drops not yet bled
For panoramic views to spill
To the mind’s eye from fluent quill
To feel you near, though miles apart
Through Poem, dear, to cheer the heart

I beg for fresh reason and rhyme
As we weather seasons of time
For font to translate into word
Wonder; when wont to be deterred
By duty; blinded by its rod
While Beauty brims with hymns to God

For eyes to see and ears to hear
The melody borne on time’s tear
Where the veneer of here and now
Is always on the move somehow
I beg to learn to want for less
And then, in turn find happiness

...to recognize the luxury
Of phrases such as 'you and me'
To view nothing as commonplace
In today's God-made gift of grace
I beg for wishes to be awed
By the kind faithfulness of God

I beg for Brushstrokes of fine art
By He who sees my heart of heart
The Tender and the Terrible
He knows both Bard and Beast full well
Then, lest I be a fickle fool
I beg for faith, not fear to rule

I beg for joy when Circumstance
Changes the tempo of the dance
And all the steps that I rehearsed
Dismissed in light of ‘others first’
I beg for love’s ink to run rife
And pen the poetry of life

© Janet Martin

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life; 
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
 At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.


Psalm 21:4
He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, 
even length of days for ever and ever.

Psalm 17:15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
 I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Of Logic and Love

 

Logic and love (aka head and heart)
Can be at constant odds
until we humbly strive to start
to serve no other gods
Until we love the Lord our God
with heart, soul, strength and mind
We cannot be all that we ought
For we are God designed

In writing there is the constant battle 
of blending both heart and head.
To write with only the heart we tend to end up with Beauty
but not always truth. 
To write with only our heads may spout wisdom's facts and truth
but without beauty!
When we parent/love with only our heads 
we are at the risk of being too harsh.
When we parent/love with only our hearts 
we risk being too soft!

Lord, as new day dissolves the dark
and we embark anew
Lord, birth in both our heads and hearts
fresh awareness of You
By the direction of Your Word
To seek You with faith undeterred



The head hosts logic’s hot debates
The heart, the part that loves and hates
The head can wield a rigid rod
The heart, the part that yields to God

The heart is vile without God’s voice
To reconcile the guile of choice
The head holds the tower of thought
The heart holds God’s power, or not

Until the head and heart align
And one to the other resign
The head will be the part that fools
The heart with logic's art of rules

© Janet Martin

 “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul 
and with all your strength 
and with all your mind’ 
and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Luke 10:27

The heart is deceitful above all things, 
and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer.17:9

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

May Medley


Today's somewhat tardy poem muddled its way through
a myriad of chores, errands and such...
(such as just now, chasing washed winter coats that blew off the line
 in this wildly windy, dusty, hot afternoon!
We really need rain!

An early morning
grocery-greenhouse run left me still looking for a few things 
I was unable to get on round one...
Muffins over-baked

 midst food-prep;
Greek salad fixings and veggies for quickie-lunches-to-go


 
...midst putting supper in the crockpot 


...midst phone calls
trying to find a greenhouse not sold out of stevia!
I found one 😊

The coral dahlia below winked at me in one greenhouse (easing the disappointment) 
while I was told regretfully, they were sold out of stevia.

May is always a busy month but may we never lose focus on what truly matters
 midst the mayhem...

Take time to take pleasure in its quick offerings, like lilacs 


and Solomon's seal...

May we make our May day's count for more than numbers ticked off
on a calendar!

May we seek to count our blessings rather than complain or stare
At life’s holes that gape with questions that shape meekness into prayer

May we not miss The Big Picture, intent on what seems amiss
May we learn to trust the Teacher, knowing life is more than This

May we do what we are able through He who helps and equips
And keeps our footing stable in a hand that never slips

May we vow to make now matter as if God was plain to see
May we try to serve our Master with love and humility

May we sense amidst the muddle of struggle and suffering
Someone greater than the trouble that this world is sure to bring

May we bear each other’s burden rather than dodge Duty’s Call
May we learn to truly love the One who loves us above all

© Janet Martin



1 Cor.10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.

The song below echoes the message in Ann Voskamp's post today!
If you read this could you pray for Ann?!!
She has been through so much lately!




Friday, March 26, 2021

The Truth About Things


This poem was inspired partly by this morning's Bible Love Note
and partly by spending a few hours yesterday burning
brush picked up and raked form the yard...

'At death all Things will turn to dust and ash'

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: 
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Eccles.12:7

Truth does not shift its weight from foot to foot
Or like a shadow; it is absolute
The precedence of God no one outranks
Man’s part is to obey and give Him thanks
This keeps the heart from becoming enslaved
To the futility of Things, the ‘old man’ craved
Truth teaches us to value what we ought
Lest in the quest for wealth, Truth is forgot
Only treasures in heaven will not rust
All else at death will turn to ash and dust
Naked we came and naked we will leave
Beware, lest snare of Satan doth deceive

The grave is the cadaver’s final splash
At death all Things will turn to dust and ash

© Janet Martin

 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 
21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.…
Matt.6:19-21

On that note I am about to leave to buy some things,
Because some Things serve a sweet cause such as
 a gift for Grand-daughter's second birthday!
Last year store-lockdowns and Covid restrictions
 kept her first birthday a rather low-key
celebration. no gifts, no party!
This year hopefully we will celebrate with renewed awareness and thankfulness
 of the preciousness of words like 'together' and 'hello'
and 'have a piece of cake'!

Monday, February 15, 2021

Remembering What's Important


I've come to the conclusion
that happiness
 seldom fits like a glove
That clutter 
is the tinsel of
Live, 
Laugh, 
Love
💗

Some tinsel-tatters of the weekend...

(Victoria's hand-painted valentines)

 
Melissa's  sketch-table

Furniture rearranged for comfort, not style!


traces of Grand-daughter's visist


Sunday was a wonderful day for a winter walk...





...and sometimes instead of the futility of scolding about pet peeves we just 
let. it. be...😍




Today in Ontario, Canada we are celebrating Family Day!
Cherish.

Jim and many others do not have a holiday today.
Thank-you snowplow-drivers, truck-drivers, healthcare workers etc.!


Here's to remembering what matters and letting go of what doesn't!
Who knows what a day may bring?!

Rememb’ring what’s important 
Hand to hold, a hug 
Thinking more of others 
As we learn to love 

Remembering what matters 
(put that phone away) 
While the young child chatters 
While he wants to play 

Remembering to let go 
Of the bitter grudge 
Lest its malice poisons 
All we taste and touch 

Remembering the merit 
Of love’s chast’ning rod 
Knowing we can bear it 
If we yield to God 

Remembering to cherish 
What we have and hold 
Soon yon echo-chariots 
Refine gray to gold

Rememb'ring to be reckless
With kind word and kiss
Priming time's momentous
Metamorphosis

Remembering the treadle
 Making memories
From the common mettle
Of moments like these
 
Remembering what matters 
Never mind the mess 
With its homespun tatters 
We weave happiness 

© Janet Martin 

A few more mementos



And on the golf-front
Jordan Spieth and Spieth-fans hopes soared
and fell with the ball!
Better, but not Best.


Best goes to Daniel Berger!
What an impressive eagle putt on the 18th for the well-deserved win!


Dear family, church-family, friends, neighbours, and blog-visitors...

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, 
remembering you in my prayers.
Eph.1:16