Monday, July 23, 2012

I am posting my poetry at anotherporch.blogspot.com

This blog is giving me trouble both to load and to post so I am posting all poems on my other blog. Thank-you for visiting. Feel free to read and share.
To God be the glory!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

You Love Me





For every vile deceitful thing I am
You love me
For ever doubtful thought of shame
You love me
I offer up my anger and my grief
In tender mercy You behold my unbelief
And You love me

For ever step I walk in Judas’ shoes
You love me
For every tender blessing I refuse
You love me
In recompense for my complaint and greed
Your endless grace provides my humble need
As You love me

For every deed of foolish ignorance
You love me
For every blatant wasted, second chance
You love me
Mercy, compassion, like an ocean roll
To wash the sin-stain from my wretched soul
For You love me

© Janet Martin

 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, 
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Thursday, May 24, 2012

I Know


I do not know…
before the sun
cajoles the western sky
what will befall,
but this I know
the Lord keeps you and I
I do not know 
what waits beyond
the dark and distant hill
but this I know
before me goes
a Father's perfect will
and this I know
the unknown waits
and I, a shell of dust
can simply place
my hand in His
and in His wisdom trust

© Janet Martin
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and do not lean on your own understanding...Prov. 3:5

Awesome Acknowledgements

Oh God, who can paint on an infinite nothing?
Has ever a man brushed his thought on the air?
Who on this earth can arrange the vast heavens?
Or shift nebulosity with naught but a stare?

Who can design, from the seed its fulfillment?
Man can do nothing but what you allot
The fruit of the field, of forest and garden
Blooms by the measure of Creator’s thought

Who teaches the bud of flower to open?
Or tells the tree its season to leaf?
Has ever a man plucked the rain from the heavens?
Or ordered the wind’s velocity to cease?

How fearful the greatness of our dependence
But for a God who loves us so much
That not one pebble escapes His vigilance
Hope and forgiveness exudes every touch

…and He who arranges the colors of heaven
Or stuns man’s babble to quieted awe
Seeks ultimately, intimately, the best for His children
For in Heaven and earth there is none like God

© Janet Martin

No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jer. 10:6

We gathered there...some on the bluff, others down on the beach
each with our own version of  'watching the sun set...'


Thursday Thoughts~

 He walks on water...the Keeper of the storm
Even the wind and the waves obey Him
...how much more then, ought we?
It is only when we come to the end of ourselves
That God can begin…
For all the good it does not do
Sometimes she wonders
What might have been?
Salty tears
A great heart-cleanser

To love is not the same
as being 'in love'
 
Though duty may shorten its leash
It cannot keep the sun from smiling
Or nature from spilling its art
Through my window; nor can it quell
In the busyness of toil
The music of love in my heart
Come sunlight or shadow
Come high tide or low
God IS; ever changeless
Wherever we go
The Rock of Ages is Ageless
I cannot see the way ahead
Its portend or its girth
So I will put my faith instead
In God of Heaven and earth
He leads me
..Sometimes I am too stubborn to follow
He guides me
…sometimes I am too blinded by self to see
He loves me
…sometimes I forget just how much
Until I remember Calvary
Some friends flutter by
Like a butterfly
…and some are a fly in life’s butter
Some stick, not like honey in your hair
But closer than a brother
 Janet~

Softly Touching our Hand

Gold fingers reach from a cloak gently softening
Over serene valley, blue-brimming with mist
Into the meadow, where its humble offering
Is threaded with diamonds of dew-silver kiss
The brook winds its sash across spring's emerald garment
Through pastoral wood-lot and out to the sea
Forgotten ponds burst with songs of the season
Turquoise-jade patches on earth’s rugged knee
Gentle breeze rouses the bird from its slumber
Nature’s choristers fill somnolent space
As over the earth spreads a heavenly wonder
Of unmarred perfection; a new day of grace
Yester's red sun, as it slipped from our visage
Tugged with it the day, into history’s embrace
Now it rises again; yet is not encumbered
With past’s soiled attempts; but a new day of grace
And we turn to the Master-piece dazzling the acre
Where grace has allowed us a dot on time’s sands
Thankfulness rushes through our hearts like pure water
As a new day of mercy softly touches our hands
© Janet Martin
It is not difficult to see His beauty on a morning like this…
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps. 118:24

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Trouble Me Not...



Trouble me not; oh fear of tomorrow
Unknown is the visage of future intent
Trouble me not; oh yesterday’s sorrow
Firm is the seal on a moment when spent

Trouble me not; oh guilt that would haunt me
But for the Hands bearing scars in my stead
Trouble me not; though failure would taunt me
But for the Hope as my pardon flows red


Trouble me not; restless oceans of longing
Vain are the futile endeavors of dust
But oh, what fulfillment and peace in belonging
To He in whom we can affix our trust

Trouble me not; Lord, I plead for Your presence
To conquer the demons that quake ‘neath Your gaze
When I am weak God, Your strength is perfected
As I relinquish my will to Your ways

© Janet Martin


 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 
for my power is made perfect in weakness. 
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Cor. 12:9

Because of Him




Because of the grace and the love He has shown
Because of His word that will not pass away
We have a foundation of rare, precious Stone
A blueprint for living as we build day by day

Because of His absolute forgiveness of sin
We are set free from the burden of guilt
No condemnation remains deep within
Redemption impartial flows in His life-blood spilt

Because of His infinite mercy and care
Hope will sustain us in spite of travail
We have a Father who does not despair
His way is perfect; His love will not fail

© Janet Martin

Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you seems to be wise in this world
let him become a fool that he may be wise.

for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
For it is written: He takes the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Cor. 3:18-19

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Do Not Despair


Do not despair
Though grief and care
May bleed our laughter dry
And mortal pain
May seek to drain
The well-spring in our eye

Do not give up
Though pleasure’s cup
Is cracked or sadly scarred
There is an ear
Bent close to hear
The groaning of the heart

Do not dismay
A fairer day
Awaits beyond the vale
As step by step
He lifts us up
In arms that never fail

© Janet Martin

 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


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Unknown

 
 
The unknown; an inevitable strait
All voyages pass through
There is no one who can escape
This ethereal avenue

We stand upon life’s open deck
And sail the roving sea
Only our Captain can predict
What the Unknown will be

Fear not the waves beneath the calm
Fear not the stormy gale
The Captain holds within His palm
The ocean and the sail

© Janet Martin
 

Our understanding at best, O God
Is inadequate and trite
On our own each breath a fraud
And every moment, night

Our perception without Your Spirit
Is blinded ignorance
And Death, O death, how I would fear it
But for deliverance

Your mercy, hope and love fulfills
Your changeless eye of grace
The tempter wears ten-thousand ills
Deceiving human race

Our understanding will ever be
Only what God imbues
Therefore but by His grace go we
On earth-bound avenues

Beyond these briefest stance of Time
Our eyes will see anew
As we behold Love, pure, sublime
Oh God, as we see you

© Janet Martin

Behold the Lamb of God
which takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliot

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Royal Wedding

Behold: look yonder
See what breaks the ramparts of the sky
As golden thunder
Sends the stars in showers from on high
Behold; who comes
In royalty on heaven’s mercy seat
With angel legions at his side
Winged creatures at His feet

Behold; what sounds
What fills the air with roar of rushing water?
And who descends
With glory rare in search of Zion’s daughter?
Behold; behold
It is the Lord. Behold the Bridegroom comes
As hallelujah fills the air
His bride is coming home

Behold the Love
He sees her there in linens bright and clean
Behold the blood
That cleansed Her where vile sin-stains once had been
Behold the song
That rends the earth; behold the great I AM
Blessed are those invited to
The wedding of the Lamb’

© Janet Martin

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
"Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
both great and small!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."
Rev. 19: 5-9

Four Easter Tankas

While I chose my pride He chose three nails and a cross A spear in his side While rivers of holy blood Poured in streams of redemption *** While I stood with them Scoffing to hide my just fear He gave perfect love As He bowed His thorn-crowned Head Declaring, ‘it is finished’ *** While I stood condemned Jesus signed my redemption With His sacred blood And now all who will believe May have everlasting life… *** (I was going to stop here, but how can I? One more tanka of humble grateful praise) Sing hallelujah Lift your voice in joyful praise Christ reigns forever This King calls us His children All we must do is believe ~Janet Martin~

Grand Privilege


It is no small thing
This privilege we are given
To approach the throne of grace
And God of earth and Heaven
To make our wants and wishes known
And claim His victory as our own

It is no mere thought
That we can freely call
Upon the Name of Christ the Lord
Creator of us all
That He who formed us from the dust
May be the One in whom we trust

When we beckon to Him
It is no casual place
That we approach with love and shame
To kneel in His embrace
But by His holy Blood-drops spilt
He vanquishes our debt of guilt

It is no small thing
This little word called prayer
As He makes intercession
For those groans we cannot air
And there He lavishes on us
The hope we find in Him, JESUS!

© Janet Martin


Pray without ceasing; 1 Thess. 5:17

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

Thursday, March 8, 2012

God Forbid...


God forbid that I should worship
Temporal gods of clay and rust
Gathering in my groping visage
Treasure-chests of painted dust

God forbid that I should journey
From the cradle to the grave
Only then to find in horror
They are powerless to save

God forbid that I should hunger
In the wantonness of things
Choosing never to discover
Heaven’s sacred offerings

God forbid, as centuries trickle
Through the clouds above a stone
That I should thus remain forever
Bound by gods without a throne

© Janet Martin

Friday, February 10, 2012

Ark of Safety


Upon the shores of grace we stand
Where Time and Mercy plead
Before wrath’s flood will wash earth’s sand
Into eternity

The ark is built; the door ajar
And whosoever will
May come into its sure stronghold
Before Time’s clock stands still

As in the days of Noah; now
Because of unbelief
The Master waits; lengthens the hour
Before sin’s final grief

Today He pleads and suffers long
He beckons to each mortal
Eternity lays in His palm
Trembling on heaven’s portal

As in the days of Noah, He
Implores, yearns and beseeches
For this last Ark will not return
When He closes its reaches

Upon the shores of grace we kneel
Oh, how long will He tarry?
Before the door of Mercy seals
The seeker from its safety

© Janet Martin

This morning the little guy I babysit and I were looking at view-master reels. One reel was Noah’s Ark. One picture caught my breath…the last two animals…turtles,(cute:) were through the door and it was closing, never to open on this side of the flood.

Now we see another door, still open. When it will close, not even the angels know. Only the One True God…I AM knows the day and the hour...


Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION” 2 Cor.6:2

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Miracles


He stirs the sod and wooden limb
With miracles uncommon
As nature, in grand diadem
Exalts the God of Heaven

The willing hands, the humble hearts
He fills with power glorious
And by the wisdom He imparts
They will return victorious

Within the acorn; oak trees wait
Within a drop; a fountain
Within a mustard seed of faith
The strength to move a mountain

Celestial ramparts shout His praise
And cause our minds to wonder
At mysteries beyond those gates
In portals over yonder

Janet Martin

Last night on the way home from my son's hockey game it struck me...
the days are getting longer once again...and Time is getting shorter.


For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations. Isa. 61:11

We Are Beautiful


There is a wondrous beauty
Clothing us from deep within
Beneath the shallow proof of Time
Caressed upon our skin

The mirror does not show the man
Only our mortal face
It graciously conceals the span
Of our vast disgrace

Yet, God in tender love and grace
To all who trust His name
Clothes us with His pure righteousness
In garments without shame

The world may judge our clothes and frown
But they cannot behold
The beauty of a royal gown
Clothing a blood-bought soul

© Janet Martin

I read this verse this morning and rejoiced.


I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isa. 61:10

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Beyond this Battle


Hold our hands, we cannot see
Beyond the steps we take
God, be our steadfast surety
For You make no mistake
And oh, we are so prone to stray
As pastures beckon, come
Be our Captain through the fray
Guide this battalion home

The unknown is a gaping void
Of misery and fear
Hope would swiftly be destroyed
Without Your Presence near
But as we feel Your tender touch
Sustaining faithfully
We do not need to fear so much
The things we cannot see

The fight is not forever Lord
The hour is at hand
When we will leave our temporal swords
In plough-shares made of sand
Oh God, it seems we see You etched
Against the setting sun
Into the trenches, arms out-stretched,
We hear You calling come

…and so we press toward Your arms
The battle is not done
This world with all its empty charms
Is but the stepping-stone
A plot of dirt on which we stand
Reaching in humble trust
To hold Your gracious out-stretched hand
Your glory to our dust…

The victory banner waves on high
Beyond this tear-stained plight
Hold our hands and be our Guide
Within the thickest fight
Through enemy lines we will forge
The battle is not long
Hold our hands and lead us, Lord
Oh, keep your warriors strong


Janet Martin

I saw the movie War Horse last night.
The final scene touched me immensely...
A picture of weary, wounded warriors coming home.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

This I Know...



I do not know
How it is that each rose unfolds
In pure and flawless splendor
Or how an infinity of planets
Exists beyond our visage
A glorious mystery, uncharted
I do not know
How it is that you are far from me
Yet ache in every heartbeat
Or how waters flow unceasingly
Yet its source is not depleted
I do not know what brings the robin
To its nest in the same tree
Or how a world beneath the ocean
Can exist in untainted beauty
I do not know
How many days remain to tread this sod
Or who will be the first to go
But one thing I do know…
I know whom I have believed
And am persuaded that he is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day. (2 Tim. 1:12)
I know He is the One True God

Janet~

The Lovely Flower


Kindness is a lovely flower
One cannot force its seed
But there is nothing like the power
Of kindness touching need

Kindness is a lovely bloom
It needs no pot or bowl
Its fragrance fills the dreary room
And cheers the down-cast soul

Kindness is a stunning rose
Of pure and humble beauty
Its root in selfless visage grows
And never out of duty

Kindness is a lovely flower
All can afford its splendor
In every season, every hour
Its bloom is fair and tender

Janet~

)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephes. 4:32

Undying Need


Lord, give me a need undying
And never let me stray
Nor lean on my understanding
But to need You every day

Lord give me eyes to see You
Within each little flower
To know the Hand that formed its cup
Holds me through every hour

Lord, give me ears to hear you
As nature throbs Your dues
For if You hear a sparrow’s song
Then you will hear mine too

Lord, give me faith to need You
When everything is fine
And never take a single step
Without Your hand on mine

Lord, give me an undying need
To need you every day
Lest in my folly I should lead
And sadly go astray

Janet Martin

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want…Ps. 23

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Answers...


‘God answered my prayer’
She happily beamed
From the fruit of her granted request
I smiled for a child
Is allowed to gleam
With the thrill of wee faith put to test
Someday she will see
When she’s old like me
That God answers each prayer we pray
And for our own good
Because we ask, not as we should
His reply is not always our way

Janet~

Just because we cannot see
The answer bright and clear
Is not an indication
That somehow God did not hear
His answers are a mystery
We cannot understand
We simply put our trust in Him
Who holds us in His hands

You Are Not Alone



When midnight is lonesome and heavy and deep
When need in your bosom is stronger than sleep
When longing is clenching the hope from your soul
And life is a journey without a clear goal
You are not alone

When empty arms yearn for someone to embrace
When love’s loss has stolen the thrill from life’s race
When cold lonely hours bleed away, undefined
And night’s endless hollow expands in your mind
You are not alone

When tears of desire and helpless despair
Weep in every heart-beat and breathe on the air
When only the darkness responds to your plea
And nothing but silence keeps you company
You are not alone

Someone is waiting to be a true Friend
Arms full of mercy and grace without end
God so loved the world that He sent His dear Son
He is a true, faithful Friend to each one
You are not alone


What can we do His fellowship to receive?
All we can do is simply believe
His grace sufficient is love’s offering
Tender, omniscient are the words of a King
“You are not alone”

Janet

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20

Is This It?



Is this all there is?
Hope refurbished with hope
Assurances of ‘better days’
As to its void we grope

Is this all there is?
A fleeting day of youth
Before the cold and solemn kiss
Of consequence’s truth

Is this all there is?
A grasping of thin air
Before hands fold upon our chest
In coffins of despair

Is this all there is?
A kaleidoscope of dirt
Chaotic sequences of bliss
And brokenness and hurt

Is this all there is?
A pithy poem or two
Before our painted emptiness
Is stripped for all to view

Is this all there is?
Without our God to trust
Yes, this is all that there would be
A journey back to dust

This is not all there is
Though bodies will decay
They hold within a living soul
That never fades away

Janet~

For God so loved the world
He gave His only Son

That whosoever believes on Him
will not perish
But have eternal Life. John 3:16

If Not For You, Where Would I Be?


Where would I be?
My fumbling thought
Seeks to express
My love, oh God
Nothing of worth
Have I to bring
To show my love
For you, my King

Upon this broken
Void of sin
Its grief would quench
True joy within
But then one thought
Occurs to me
Without Your love
Where would I be?

Tempted and tried
Lord, I would stray
Without Your light
To lead the way
Your mercy beams
Across the night
Where would I be
Without Your light?

Seasons and stars
Heed your command
And yet You hold
My shameful hand
As every sin-stain
You erase
Where would I be
Without Your grace?

Oh Lord, I have
One gift to bring
Accept the praises
That I sing
For living Hope
Has set me free
Without Your love
Where would I be?

Janet
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Eph. 2:4-10

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

'House'-keeping


It’s not all neat and tidy
With everything in place
There are corners that are dirty
It is true, I must confess
And no matter how I plan to keep
A tab on everything
It seems, although I sweep and sweep
It isn’t very clean

Today I stood and looked about
At every unkempt room
The clutter made me want to shout
And grab my trusty broom
But then I heard a still small Voice
Admonishing my threat
As I surveyed fruits of my choice
In heaps of sad regret

I bowed my head in silent shame
Touched by His tenderness
I have only self to blame
For this recurring mess
To keep a life in proper order
Must begin with humble prayer
Asking Him to sweep each corner
Trusting Him with every care

Janet~

Redeemed

http://anotherporch.blogspot.com/2012/01/redeemed.html

There is something about this blog that refuses to post certain forms...here is the link to the poem I was trying to post...

Monday, January 2, 2012

The 'I Can' ABC's


I Can…

Because of

His assurance and assistance

His body and blood

His comfort and compassion

His death and His deliverance

His encouragement and endurance

His forgiveness and faithfulness

His Grace, His guidance, goodness and Gift

His hope and His hands

His invitation and inspiration

His justification and joy

His kindness and knowledge

His love and Light

His mercy and might

His Name and His nearness

His omnipotence and order

His plan, promise, power, purpose and patience

His quiet and his quickened Word

His redemption and resurrection and righteousness

His salvation and strength

His tenderness and temperance

His understanding and unity

His victory and vision

His wisdom and will

His X-ample,

His yoke and His yea

His zeal and Zenith

Because of God

I can!


Janet Martin


I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13