I Miss My Friend

My arms o’er-flow with Your abundance
Covering my floor
And as I try to count them
There are more and more and more
I thank You for each blessing
Each joy Your hand doth send
But it leaves me confessing
I miss my friend

I’m thankful for the fields of June
And for December’s cold
I’m thankful for the blooms of youth
But more for wisdoms gold
I’m thankful for each need fulfilled
Where love must make amends
But Lord, sometimes I whisper still
I miss my friend

‘How’s your daddy, how’s your truck
How’s your day today?
How’s the weather, how’s your luck
Is everything ok?
How’s your walk and how’s your heart
As deeper colors blend’…..
Lord, there’s together and apart
I miss my friend

The inner cloak of joy is sorrow
In laughter it is tears
In here today it’s gone tomorrow
In perfect peace it’s fear
Dear Lord, I’m truly thankful
For each goodness that You send
You understand me when I say
I miss my friend

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-Janet Martin-

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name,
For the Lord is good and His love
Endures forever; His faithfulness
continues through all generations. Ps. 100:4-5

True Worship

Teach us how to worship you
In spirit and in truth
Not simply something that we ‘do’
Taught within our youth
But Lord, create within us
A heart that beats for You
Be the Power within us
Not something that we ‘do’

Pour upon the cold hard ground
Our foolish will and pride
True worship, Lord, is only found
When filled with He who died
To set each hopeless sinner free
Defeating even death
To give us life abundantly
Oh, may He fill each breath

Teach us how to worship You
Not just in word or song
But fill us Jesus, through and through
So worship may become
Something that we truly ARE
Not something that we ‘do’
A humble, thankful worshipper
Serving only You

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-Janet Martin-

God is spirit and His worshippers must
worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

Thanksgiving Muse

Dear Lord, I would like to thank-You today
Not simply because it is Thanksgiving Day
But because of Your great love to me
And the gifts You pour out so abundantly……
A son who hugs me out of the blue
And says ‘just want you to know I love you’
Or tonight as he came bounding down the stairs
With happy grin and tousled hair
He throws his arms around me again
Saying ‘thanks Mom, you made my room so clean!’
Oh, how lucky can one mom be?
He noticed AND he hugged me…..
Or a blue-eyed, blonde-haired little girl
Always beside me ready to curl
Into the crook of my arm, should I sit
On the couch perhaps to rest a bit
‘I like snuggling’ she sez, ‘cause you’re so warm
And she wiggles closer into my arms
And as I tuck her in each night
More warm hugs so very tight
Two teen-age daughters who ask, ‘are you ok?’
If I’m having a quiet, thoughtful day
They tell me in their own teen-age style
That they appreciate me once in a while
And they tell me by the things they do
That they also love Jesus too
I thank-you Lord, for both of them
So very different, yet quite the same
And Lord, I know they’re watching me
Help me be who I should be
And last but not least, the crowning touch
A husband and dad who loves us so much
Living a life of sacrifice
Giving gladly, paying the price
Of love in such an unselfish way
Working so hard every day
Missing us so when he is gone
Loving us so when he is home
Lord, I simply want to say
Thank-you, cause I think every day
Is Thanksgiving Day

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If we would try to count EVERY little blessing
we have, from the moment we open our eyes....
yes! eyes that open!!! thank-you Lord, and hands
that move,,,,etc. I do believe we would be
a more thankful people!
We have a neighbor who suffered an injury
resulting in paralysis from his neck down!!!
How quickly it makes us aware of things we take
SO FORGRANTED!!!!,,like being able to
hug back when someone hugs you!!!!
Teach us Lord, as humble servants
To serve you with thankful hearts so fervant.

A Thankful Heart

In spite of joys I dearly miss
Lord, let me seek what Your will is
Clear my gaze to see Your hand
Moving through a darkened land
Take away each thought of greed
Help me trust You for each need
For each gift that You impart
Stir in me a thankful heart

Let me, as time slips away
Focus on each gift today
Not in gloom to hang my head
Burdened with a sad regret
You have broken sin’s dark chain
Help me Lord, not to remain
In the prison of my past
Or the shadows that they cast

Stir in me a thankful heart
For each blessing You impart
To name each one I cannot tell
My eyes could never see them all
In spite of joys I dearly miss
Help me to remember this
You are God, HOW GREAT THOU ART!!!
Stir in me a thankful heart

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Janet Martin

One day I was reminding the children,
Every time we complain it’s a form
Of unthankfulness.
Something tweaked in me…
.God hears every complaint
Whether audible or inaudible!!!
Lord, forgive me when I’m unthankful.
Stir in me a thankful heart!!!
God, YOU ARE AWESOME!
I LOVE YOU!

This Mon. Oct.12,
Canada celebrates Thankgiving Day!
Happy Thanksgiving! May it NEVER
be just a 'season' or 'day'.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He
is good. His love endures forever. Ps.136:1

Heaven's Serenade

Hark, can you hear it?
Borne on the breeze
Rustling the cornfields
Brushing the trees
Rippling the waters
Touching my cheek
Heavenly music
Subtle and sweet

Wait, can you hear it?
Soft breath in your ear
Whispers from Heaven
Tender and dear
In every rainbow
In each little flower
Wait, do you hear it?
Infinite power

Hush, do you hear it?
Silent reflection
Tuning our heart-strings
To Heaven’s perfection
Written in scarlet
At Calvary
A holy love song
For you and me

Oh, do you hear it
Like a soft violin
Trickles of mercy
Let His song in
Oh, do you hear it?
His sweet serenade
A holy love song
Heaven-made

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Janet Martin

Jesus said, "It is finished", John 19:30

Old Weeping Willow

I can still see it clearly as if it was yesterday
The old weeping willow, it would bend and sway
Its silver leaves glistening in the hot noon-day sun
While under its arches laughing children had fun
Soft breezes taunting its willowy limbs
While fair, feathered friends would gather to sing
Robins and sparrows, the lone mourning dove
Orioles and blue-jays would gather above

The drone of the locust still tuning the days
Of July and August and September’s blue haze
And, oh the joy of the old rope swing
As mother’s darlings would daringly cling
Up, up and away in those shadowy arches
It didn’t matter how stiff Mother starched us
Our cotton frocks blew but we didn’t care
Small price for this freedom way up in the air

Now they have taken the willow away
Gone are the shadows of feather and fray
Gone is the swing and its children too
Gone are the days ‘neath its golden hue
Sometimes I sigh and silently yearn
Wishing that I could magically return
To the old rope swing and the hours so free
Spent beneath the old willow tree

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Janet Martin

Willow trees and trains.....
two things that are linked to
precious childhood memories.

Freight Train

Through lonely hills and wooded steep
Through sloping pastures, forests deep
Above where cold dark waters rush
You disappear into the brush
Your solemn whistle sends a chill
To hearts that listen, wordless, still
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-, O-o-o-o-o-o

Across open prairie you hasten along
Your wheels never cease their rhythmic song
And embers shower like golden snow
Upon the fields and track below
You sweep the plains with your single eye
Thrilling hearts with your plaintive cry
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o, O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

You rumble along, never looking back
Devouring the miles of even track
Eagerly chasing each curve and bend
Until you’ve reached your journey’s end
And only the stars above you know
Where the winding railway goes

Freight train, take me for a ride
Show me nature’s secret side
Take me ‘cross this mighty nation
Through the heart of God’s creation
Sing to me a song of wheels
Music borne of steel on steel

I see your cinders deck the rail
Your breath a thick and charcoal trail
I rush to watch you thunder by
Thrilling to your lonesome cry
And if my wistful face you see
Wink your eye just once, for me
O-o-o-o-o-o, O-o-o-o-o-o

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Janet Martin

A World of Hurt

Lord, there’s a world of hurt out there
Where and how do we show them we care?
Care for wee babies, hungry, unfed
Care for their mothers, lonely, unwed
Care for the plight of weary old men
Out in the night with their bottle of gin
Lord, how can we show that we care?
He whispers, “Child, it begins with prayer”

Pray for each helpless boy and girl
Groping alone in a ruthless world
Pray for hearts, scarred with regret
For soul-mates who have never met
Pray for broken moms and dads
Yearning for the ‘could have hads’
Pray for victims of the deep
And for the tears their mothers weep

Pray for children of the night
Knowing only cold and fright
Pray for all their hurt and pain
For homeless hobos in the rain
Pray for the one whose given things
Without the joy that true love brings
Pray for each godless government
For the rich and discontent

Lord, there’s a world of hurt out here
Apart from you, a world of fear
Help us each in every day
To see a hurt in some small way
Open up our down-cast eyes
Tune our ears to hear their cries
Teach us how to show we care
As we lift them up in prayer

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Janet Martin

Brothers, pray for us. 1 Thess. 5:25

Not Enough Hours

There are not enough hours in a day
There are not enough days in a year
There are not enough years in a lifetime
To waste one minute, my dear.

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Janet Martin

A little sleep,
a little slumber,
A little folding
of the hands to rest
and poverty will come
on you like a bandit,
and scarcity like
an armed man. Prov. 24:33

On the Surface

On the surface we toss flowers
Rivers flow, calm and serene
We smile and say ‘how are you’
Rain falls down, the grass is green
On the surface we paint pictures
Keep the thorns and weeds at bay
On the surface, what a cover
For the truth that’s tucked away

On the surface we’re ‘nice people’
On the surface, thin disguise
Not a flicker or a ripple
In our painted mask of lies
On the surface, lazy rivers
But beneath its currents pull
On the surface drifting flowers
But there’s One who knows in full

On the surface, flawless image
On the surface, silence cries
But there’s One above all others
Who sees through each vain disguise
On the surface, calm and lucid
Leaves drift on its tempered flow
Yet One sees beneath the surface
Watching every under-tow

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Janet Martin

As water reflects a man's face,
so a man's heart reflects the man. Prov.27:19

More than a Feeling

If it was just a feeling
Oh how fickle it would be
It would leave me sadly reeling
When life’s dreams fall in on me
It would be as appealing
As this life without a friend
If it was just a feeling
What a dark and bitter end

If it was just a passing mood
A feeble fantasy
A wistful sigh, a sullen brood
As rain falls down on me
How could it be any good?
As fleeting as the wind
If it was just a passing mood
That’s quickly left behind

I’m glad it’s not a feeling
But it is what I know
God’s love is everlasting
And He’ll never let me go
His love is not a feeling
A swiftly passing mood
His love has no beginning
And I know that it is good

Steadfast in the midnight
As in the glorious dawn
Changeless as His wonder
His power and His throne
His love will never leave us
In spite of how we feel
His love is pure and perfect
And within this love I kneel

Janet Martin
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...because I know whom I have believed
And am convinced that He is able
To keep that which I've entrusted
to Him for that day. 2 Tim.1:12

Sweet 'Lasts'

We keep a count of many ‘firsts’
Perhaps even record them
And if they’re very special
Why, we even might reward them
First smile, first tooth,
First step, first word
First sentence, first kiss
Ah, the heart is stirred

First day of kindergarten
First tears as we part
First wave as they’re leaving
Still tugs at our heart
First friendships, first heart-breaks
They all soon are past
But I wish there was some way
To tally our ‘lasts’

Last time I held your hand
To try and help you walk
Last time I laughed so hard
As you learned how to talk
Last time I waited with you
Watching for the bus
Last time I tied your shoe
Or gave you ‘good-girl’ hugs

Last time I brushed your hair
Or helped you brush your teeth
Last time I heard your prayer
‘Now I lay me down to sleep’
The last time I filled your cup
Because you couldn’t reach
The last time I tossed you up
Or raced you on the beach

Lord, I guess I’ll never know
When I am in a ‘last’
Teach me then how to let go
As I look on its past
Teach me how to speak each word
And let its sweetness linger
As moments, like a silken chord
Slip softly through my fingers

Teach me how to cherish
Each moment in my grip
Lest I am living a ‘sweet last’
And vaguely let it slip
Last words, last hugs, last hand-shake
We all plead, no, not yet
But if it were, please let them be
Sweet ‘lasts’ we won’t forget

Janet Martin

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