Only For a Moment

It’s only for a moment, dear
These trials that enfold
Measured ‘gainst eternity
Tis one mere drop we hold
One tiny breath of vapor
That quickly fades away
One small and fragile flicker
Just a moment in that Day

It’s only for a moment, love
Temptation, toil and trouble
Eternity smiles from above
Beyond this grief and struggle
This small hour of loneliness
Is really just a sigh
Before He reaches to us
From the sweeter by and by

It’s only for a moment, friend
The Day is soon appearing
When all these futile woes will end
And burdens we are bearing
Take heart, dear fellow-pilgrim
As darkness closes in
It’s really just a moment
Until Daylight breaks again

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Janet Martin

You....

You drift to me on the taunting wind
Like distant strains of a mandolin
Or the comforting chatters of a brook
Vaguely recalled from a winter nook

You graze the surface of my skin
Like the soundless breath of a butterfly’s wing
The ghost of a smile in the pale moonlight
Flickers and fades beyond my sight

The brush of your finger-tips, a restless sigh
That escapes from my lips as you pass by
And all that remains for me to see
Is the wind as it tosses the willow-tree

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Janet Martin

Flicker

Swift as a flowing river in spring
Faint as a breath on a butter-fly’s wing
Brief as the tear wiped quickly away
Simply a flicker on a canvas of gray

Precious as a babe in a new mother’s arms
Priceless its value beyond this world’s charms
One tiny foot-print in the vast blue sky
One tiny flicker before we die

One tiny flicker, one transient breath
One fleeting dance twixt life and death
One tiny flicker, one God, one Way
But two destinations on Judgment Day



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Janet Martin

Just as man is destined to die once,
and after that to face judgment,
so Christ was sacrificed once to
take away the sins of the many people;
and He will appear a second time,
not to bear sin, but to bring salvation
to those who are waiting for Him. Heb. 9;27-28

Did You Feel It?

Did you feel it, the subtle stir in the air?
A breath on your heart, a sigh in your ear
Did you feel it, a loving touch deep within?
A sudden peace where your pain had been?
Did you feel an angel pass over-head?
Replacing your fear with a sweet calm instead
Did the night that was dark and lonely and cold
Wrap you in warmth of burnished gold
Did an invisible smile softly kiss your brow?
Brushing away the tear of sorrow
Did you feel it, arms of tender love
Softly enfolding you from somewhere above?
Did you wonder what in the world it could be?
This sudden sense of serenity
Did you feel it,a blue whisper in the air?
Did you feel it, my love, did you feel my prayer?

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Janet Martin

Prayer changes things!!!

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you wish I was near?
Do you long for my laughter?
My breath in your ear…
Do you wish you could kiss me
And hold me so tight?
Tell me my dear,
Are you lonesome tonight?

Are you lonesome tonight
In a crowd or alone?
Is the music and laughter
As cold as the stone
Beneath which I lie
As we wait for Daylight
Oh, tell me my dear
Are you lonesome tonight?

Is each face you look into
Like a passing mist?
Making you wish
You had never been kissed
Do you ache for the love
We held for a night?
Tell me my dear
Are you lonesome tonight?

The night will not last
Forever my dear,
Soon it will be past
For the morning draws near
Then from the heavens
A gate will swing wide
Where we'll be together
In a land of no night

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Janet Martin

If I Could

If I could, oh then I would
Let a warm kiss linger
And I would trace your precious face
Softly with my finger
I would speak against your cheek
Those words I should have told you
But you’re not here and so, my dear
My prayers must thus enfold you

Then God above in tender love
Will take each prayer I whisper
Into your heart He will impart
His breath of heavenly mystery
Then, as I kneel I know you’ll feel
His hand upon our sorrow
Where He’ll release a touch of peace
His hope for our tomorrow

If I could, oh then I would
Hold just a little longer
The gifts of love from up above
But tugs of time are stronger
So swift the tide, so short the ride
Before we fly away
But this I know, where ere you go
God holds you as I pray

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20/11/09
Janet Martin


The other evening my daughter declared,
"Before you know it I'll be gone,
with a home of my own!"
Before I know it?????
That's what she thinks!!!!
It made me remember the
not so very long ago, as I whispered
sweet nothings in their baby ears!
It made me think of those
with loved ones far away.....
and the ONLY way we can hold them!

Love Me, Love Me Not

Leave the daisies in the earth
Oh, do not pluck them in your mirth
Love me, love me not, a game
Tossing petals to the wind
What really do we know of love?
God’s breath bestowed from up above
At best we hardly understand
Nor glimpse its depth or glory grand

The meadow deserves the daisy’s smile
Its curves disguise no cunning guile
Yet thoughtlessly we steal her charm
Love me, love me not, no harm
We declare as its petals we toss
Into the air, disregarding loss
We are ignorant of the treasure we hold
Better than daisies,eternal gold

Leave the daisies in the soil
In breezes lazy, do not spoil
Her pure beauty for a foolish game
Love me, love me each petal the same
Though I do not begin to understand
Your mystery Lord, held in my hand
Its essence far too long I’ve sought
For vain pretense or love me not

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Janet Martin

How great is the love the Father has
lavished on us, that we should be called
the children of God. 1 John 3:1

I love daisies!!!!

Soft Words

Like the brush of gentle fingers
On my heart your soft word lingers
Like a hopeful breath of spring
You turn this beggar to a king
Melting ‘round a heart once broken
Precious sound, oh priceless token

Soft kiss on my tears of sorrow
I no longer fear the morrow
Whispering hope into my pain
Like the sunshine after rain
I can feel it, I can hear it
As you heal a broken spirit

Soft words draw the music in
Like the sweetest violin
I tilt my head to catch its strain
Drifting ‘cross my inner plain
Lifting me above life’s boulders
Arm of love around my shoulder

What a gift of love to find
Soft words drift across my mind
When I’m alone, about to fall
Its tender tones I then recall
For naught can leave a sad heart stirred
Like a soft and gentle word

Lord, Your words are always tender
To Your whisper I surrender
Soft and gentle, reassuring
Softest voice of hope enduring
You bring healing to each hurt
With Your soft and gentle word.


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Janet Martin

A soft answer turns away wrath. Prov.15:1

Everyday Living

What was your favorite day in your life?
Your favorite memory
I contemplate my collection of joy
As this question is asked to me
Was it as a daughter or a mother and wife?
Where my favorite memory lies
As I evaluate my treasured storehouse
I begin to realize

It’s all of my memories of everyday living
Not a singular one-time event
But in the hum-drum of life’s taking and giving
Is where I am most content
Dandelion bouquets and music of laughter
As children swing high in the breeze
Popsicle mustaches and rainy day baking
Ending each day on my knees

Everyday living- burnt toast and wild mornings
A floor that is cleanly swept
Impromptu tea-parties, friends that don’t judge me
Soft music while baby slept
Everyday living on the doorstep of Heaven
Where His very best gifts are free
I cherish the dances of everyday living
As the moon sails across midnight’s sea

Yes, my favorite day is everyday living
Doing the best I can
To treasure the gifts so lovingly given
By a gracious unseen Hand
Front porch picnics and back-yard basking
Popcorn and lemonade
Hugs and kisses are free for the asking
And sunsets are heaven-made

I’ll take the pleasures of everyday living
Above an adventure grand
To watch the sun drawn from the horizon
Waking a slumbering land
Then from behind me a soft little whisper
“Good morning, I love you”
Everyday living- sweet breath of Heaven
“Good morning, I love you too”…..



And now, yes I know in the morning dim
Its every day I spend with Him
Its every day in every place
Since I have been saved by grace!!!

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Small Kindnesses

It’s the small kindnesses in life that make our load worth bearing
A breath of calm amidst the strife, a smile of tender caring
A gentle momentary touch upon a weary shoulder
Encourages so very much when struggling ‘neath life’s boulder

It’s all the little murmured prayers for sad or lonely brothers
Its little deeds to show we care to fathers and to mothers
Oh, spread the sunshine of His love, put kindness into action
Draw a ray from Heaven above avoiding earth’s distraction

Those little whispers, ‘I love you’, the softly ‘you can do it’
‘Don’t give up’ and ‘God’s with you and He will walk you through it’
Little kindnesses will grow and in life’s darkest hour
The tiny buds will bloom to show us Heaven’s earthly flower


All Rights Reserved Sept. 2009

Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving
One another, even as God for Christ’s sake, has forgiven
You. Eph.4:32