On Coveting......

When I vainly yearn and crave
For the things I do not have,
When foolishly I fret and pine
For the things that are not mine
It seems that I should not deserve
The many blessings that I have……..
It seems that I should look above
And thank God for His grace and love

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Sitting on my Front Porch

Sitting on my front-porch with loved ones at my knee
Drinking in the music of the twilight’s melody
Tiny sip of glory is this evening paradise
Sitting on my front-porch as my Maker paints the skies

Somewhere in the valley I can hear the cattle low
The pasture-land lies golden-bronze beneath the sunset’s glow
Faintly I can hear the church-bells chiming down the street
Beyond the noisy traffic and the muffled busy feet

Sitting on my front-porch, this my humble palace grand
Apartheid to an orchestra led by Heaven’s hand
Hummingbird and firefly and busy honey-bee
And little children’s laughter joins in Heaven’s melody

Tiny splash of paradise has dropped from Heaven’s brush
Landing on my front-porch in this sacred evening hush
Lemon tea or lemonade either one is fine
Sitting on my front-porch ‘neath the shadow of His vine

Sonny, grab your silver spoons so you can keep the beat
I’ll play my harmonica while sister taps her feet
Standing on His promises, praising Christ the Lord
Sitting on my front-porch I desire nothing more


All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

I know...this is a re-run,
but I had one of these nights tonight:)
and I thought of this poem

Thank-you God...is all I can say
again and again!

Seeking......

I sought it in the painful mercy
Of an old sentimental tune
I thought I would surely find it
By the pale glow of the moon
In meadows where I used to run
I searched the other day
In the blue of your eyes, the gold of the sun
In clouds of pewter gray


I gazed into a newborn face
And caught the hope of it
In the sunset’s coral blaze
I glimpsed a tiny bit
I sought it in the silent night
But in the silky air
Though I would search with all my might
I knew it wasn’t there


I sought within dear, loving arms
Familiar hands I shook
I searched in memories sweet and warm
In old and faded books
In every place I wandered
I felt a strange attraction
But realized when pondered
They could bring no satisfaction


As I knelt at close of day
Discouraged and alone
It seemed I heard a calm Voice say
I am the only One
Who can fulfill the aching void
That sighs so deep within
For pure contentment is destroyed
Only when marred by sin

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

My Porch

If my porch were judged by the passer-by
There wouldn’t be much to draw the eye
A simple pad of grey cement
But on its arm I’ve been content….

Content to watch a new day rise
As dawn is melting ‘cross the skies
Content to feel the soothing kiss
Of a taunting summer breeze

Content to hear the serenade
Of twilight’s music heaven-made
And if perhaps my heart should pine
I pause upon this porch of mine….

….and there I hear the echoing
Of my laughter way back when
In childhoods evening I would sit
At my granny’s knee a bit

Her gentle tone drifts back to me
A precious, stirring melody
And I know I am very blessed
My porch must surely be the best

For now so suddenly it’s me
With precious darlings at my knee
As I hear their laughter spill
And echo off a distant hill

God, please don’t think me brash or rude
But I am wondering if you could
In my mansion ‘cross the sea
Move my front porch there for me….

For I am sure that I’ve been given
A foretaste or a glimpse of heaven
There’s no place else I’d rather be
Than here, with friends and family


All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Hands of Time

To try and stop the hands of time
From showing on our face
Is as easy as trying to re-arrange
Or perhaps even erase
The clouds that drift in yonder sky
Or moon that stays its course
We may as well resolve to try
And thwart a tempest’s force

There is a time for everything
Beneath the blazing sun
A time to laugh, a time to sing
A time for being young
But as the grayer shades descend
Upon the young at heart
It’s foolishness that we pretend
Times power to outsmart

Is beauty just outward appeal?
A swift and passing thing
Nay, beauty is an inner zeal
A peace that age may bring
It is the tender touch of time
As we pass through its fire
True beauty is lovely, sublime
Which each one may acquire

To try and stop the hands of time
A vain and foolish quest
Like standing in a hurricane
And begging it to rest
Like wishing on an evening star
Or flying to the moon
We cannot stop its ceaseless march
Or change its solemn tune

So instead of sad lament
I pray we may embrace
With humble heart, in God content
Times ever-changing face
Tis but a short and fleeting breath
Our brief mortality
Beauty reigns in our death
In God’s eternity

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin


I won't bother going in to detail
about where this one came from......

......but I did hear about a guy who
was bemoaning the fact that his gorgeous
slim wife......well, wasn't as gorgeous and slim
as she used to be...before they were in their fifties...
I know her. She is VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!! and her husband
would agree to that, I know!
How does that saying go????
Age is a great equalizer!

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord
is to be praised. Prov.31:30

If I Should Die Tomorrow.....

If I should die tomorrow
what would I do today?
How would I spend my final hours
before I’m called away?
Would I run around in panic,
to set some wrongs a-right?
Would I get my ‘house in order’
and stay up half the night?
Would I call a long-lost brother
or visit all my friends?
Would I go to see my mother,
quickly tie up some loose ends?
Would I make a list of things to do
or would I toss it out?
Would I review accomplishments
or failures and my doubts?
Would I visit the sick and lonely
or would I get down on my knees?
Make sorrowful confessions,
for grace and mercy plead?
Would I look back upon my life
with joy or with regret?
Would I try to remember
or try hard to forget?
Would I write a lengthy letter
to read when I am gone?
Or would I get up this morning
and simply carry on?
Believing in God’s promises,
contented in His plan,
Because each day I know I try
to do the best I can

All Rights Reserved

Sept. 2009

May God be gracious to us,
Bless us and make His face
To shine upon us,
That Your ways may be known
On earth, Your salvation
Among all nations. Ps. 67:1-2

Do You Make Your Daddy Proud?

Little boy, little boy, I’m sittin’ here an’ thinkin’ loud,
In the choices of your day
Do you make your daddy proud?
At night when you lay down to rest
Does contentment fill your breast?
To know that what your hands have done
Would please a man to call you ‘son’

Little man, little man, I’m just kinda thinkin’ here,
As you lay down to rest at night
Is your mind and conscience clear?
In the actions you have done
Would dad be proud to call you ‘son’?
If Someone watched you, little lad,
Would you make your Father glad?

Young man, young man, I’m sittin’ here an’ thinkin’ loud,
As you rise to face the day
Won’t you make your father proud?
Is your spirit kind and true?
Would your dad be proud of you?
An’ I’m not talkin’ foolish pride…
But the honorable kind deep down inside

Little boy, little boy, I’m sittin’ here an’ thinkin’ loud,
If you wish to give dad joy
Live to make your Father proud,
Then you can look him in the eye,
Stand straight an’ tall with chin held high
To know the deeds which you have done
Would make him proud to call you ‘son’

Daddy dear, daddy dear, I’m sittin’ here an’ thinkin’ loud,
If your son followed you today,
Daddy, would you make him proud?
Would his heart swell in his chest
To know for sure his dad’s the best?
And would it make him proud and glad
To tell his buddies ‘that’s my dad’?!
Oh, an’ never let him hang his head,
Ashamed to whisper, that’s my dad

This for fathers and sons, but a lot of it is
Also for all of God’s children Janet Martin 2008

All Rights Reserved June 2009