Have You Known Love?

Have you held it on your finger-tips
Soft as a butter-fly
Or a breath that faintly slips
Into a longing sigh
Has its fire coursed like thunder
Through your veins down to your knees
Have you knelt in awe and wonder
At its power and its peace
Have you known love?

Have you felt a new-born baby
Quiver gently in your arms
As a mighty ocean filled you
With this miracle so warm
Have you borne its searing whip-lash
Slowly, sadly torn apart
While you watched a cruel alien
Invade a tender heart
Have you known love?

Have you worn its pain and pleasure?
Have you trembled neath its touch?
Have tasted its full measure
Wept because it hurt too much
Have you known the sweetest sorrow
Trickling down from up above
As heaven opens up its window
So that we may know True Love
Have you known love?

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

God is love.1 John 4:16

Mixed Blessing

When you’re with me my winter is a garden
Blooming in the glow of love’s soft shine
I can wander in its sweet perfection
Holding close to me this rose of mine
It perfume lingers here in tender pleasure
I can taste its sweet eternal kiss
I’ve been handed life’s most valued treasure
Blessed with love as comforting as this

But when you’re gone the garden lacks its luster
The flowers bloom in muted shades of gray
It takes all the courage I can muster
To walk through its loveliness today
The fragrance of the night has sadly faded
As longing, like a tempest sweeps my soul
It seems the garden our love created
Needs the love of two to make it whole

Love, you are a package of mixed blessing
Blending bitter sorrow with the sweet
But still I know in you we are possessing
The only gift that makes our life complete
Love,you are my gardens rarest flower
Love, you are my pleasure and my pain
If I had the chance to start all over
I would do it all with you again

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

J.

I could Have Loved You Better

I could have loved you better
But you turned your head
Craving futile pleasure
And her lust instead
She lured you with the venom
In her tempting sway
You blindly drank her poison
And you lost your way

I could have loved you better
But you didn’t care
Someone showed you My love-letter
But you simply sneered
Her glamour and her glitter
Drew with sweet appeal
Now her wine is bitter
…..at My feet you kneel

I could have loved you better
If I’d had a chance
I called you but you never
Gave a second glance
Her shroud was so much fairer
Than a blood-stained tree
But now you weep in terror
Now you need Me

I could have loved you better
And it breaks My heart
I long to be Your Savior
As I say “depart’
My love was like a banner
Over you unfurled
I could have loved you better
But you chose the world

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Today if you hear His voice,
do not harden your heart. Heb.3:7

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!!!

All Rights Reserved

The Great Divide

Beyond the wind-swept sands of time
We see a glow ahead,
It beckons to us as we climb
Yet fills our hearts with dread
A beacon to this weary land,
A steady light to guide,
But when at that bright gate we stand
There’ll be a great divide

Today we share the sun and rain,
Our loaf of daily bread,
We each have days of joy and pain,
But someday up ahead
If you have barred your inner door,
His entrance you’ve denied,
If you His gentle plea ignore
There’ll be a great divide

No, there are no tears in Heaven,
Sweet, perfect bliss forever,
But friend, if you are not forgiven
I know there is a river
Just outside the pearly gate,
As hopeless tears are cried,
Farewell to love, oh awful fate,
At the great divide

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

When the Son of Man comes in His glory,
And all the angels with Him
He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him
And He will separate the people one from another,
As a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will put the sheep on His right
And the goats on His left. Matt.25:31-33

Love Hurts

Love is patient, love is kind
Love to others is not blind
Love puts others, not self first
And love’s not love until it hurts

Love is pleasure, love is pain
Love’s a treasure in the rain
Love is not a sweet dessert
Oh love’s not love until it hurts

Love is smiling through our tears
Love is trusting through our fears
Hidden blooms beneath life’s dirt
Love’s not love until it hurts

Love is not fleeting attraction
It’s a thought lived out in action
Pick yourself up from the dirt
Cause it’s not love until it hurts

Holding close and letting go
It’s a constant ebb and flow
Raging fire to quench my thirst
Loving, loving ‘til it hurts

High up on a lonely hill
Crying Father not my will
Putting every sinner first
Loving, loving ‘til it hurt

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin Aug. 2009

Read 1Cor. 13