Monday, February 2, 2026

February; A Five-star Feast


Happy, happy February!
Crisp and cold? Yes!!
Gorgeous?? speechless!!


February; a five-star feast of beauty to behold
A crystal, coral-colored eastward morning mercy-mold...




A sheet of silver starlight flung in seamless opulence...



A strand-on-strand of diamonds, strung on every limb and fence...




A gilded berry-brooch, gorgeous, on Mother Nature’s shawl
And pendants, exquisitely forged, and free for one and all...



February; a five-star feast of beauty to behold
A crystal, coral-colored eastward morning mercy-mold
A sheet of silver starlight flung in seamless opulence
A strand-on-strand of diamonds, strung on every limb and fence
A gilded berry-brooch, gorgeous, on Mother Nature’s shawl
And pendants, exquisitely forged, and free for one and all

February; an everywhere-we-look-a-masterpiece
A beckoning to stop and stare till awestruck, we release 
A grinning, giddy gratitude as praise and pleasure swell
In the unbroken solitude of frost-filigreed dell
A holy, humble hunger paired with happiness complete
Because the bread of wonder is always so fresh and sweet

February; a hat and mitten blessing in disguise
Where hope purrs like a kitten as Day lengthens ere it dies
And Something bids us linger in Time’s brusque, blue-shadow sting
Of Shortest-month Harbinger to the month that brings us spring
A kind of unsung hero then, this chill-us-to-the-bone
Yet thrills us with hale, hardy yen, somehow second to none

While we count down the hours to hues certain to suggest
A garden full of flowers ensuing long winter’s rest
And brook-song, gaily gushing between banks, pungent and green
And sunshine’s subtle shushing of ranks spring is bound to wean
So, though it is still very freezing, we begin to sing
Because February is easing us closer to spring

Janet Martin

February; an everywhere-we-look-a-masterpiece





A beckoning to stop and stare till awestruck, we release 
A grinning, giddy gratitude as praise and pleasure swell
In the unbroken solitude of frost-filigreed dell...


And Something bids us linger in Time’s brusque, blue-shadow sting...





Love Is Not All Sugar Donuts...

Today's post touches on children young and old,
on sweet treats, on two-part promises
and includes a sweet-treat recipe!

Children!
Beautiful, busy, eager, teachable, impressionable
most precious of all children!! 

On Friday, because it was the last official childcare day
for my 'Friday boys' we made 'tim-bits'/tea-balls.
(a recipe from my childhood)
see end of post for recipe

(for the sake of privacy I cropped the best part
of the cuteness, but hopefully you get the idea 💓










There are very few complaints from any of us, when our mouths are filled
 with warm sugary loving...
However, love isn't always warm and sugary, is it?!!
And when Miss Janet said , 'no more donut balls for now'
 there were tears of disappointment.

A child has not yet gained the insight or experience to know what is best for them, 
and sometimes listening/accepting/obeying daddy and mommy's decisions, 
rather than childish demands induces tantrums.
Eventually as the child grows/matures they (hopefully) 
begin to appreciate and trust their parent's wisdom. 
The happiest child is the child whose has learned, like it or not,
 to listen to mommy and daddy.
What a kind favour parents bestow on their children
as they gently and firmly leave no doubt as to who is in charge!

So too, our Heavenly Abba/Daddy knows what is best for us, 
and it is also crucial that we, his children, 
learn to trust Him and obey His commands. 
The promises God gives us to take refuge, comfort and peace in
 often requires something on our part as well as His!

Below are but a few of His great and precious
 (2 part) promises !

2 Pet.1:3-4
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, 
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 
4by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, 
that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, 
having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Matt.18:3
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children,
you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
 
 John 15:7 
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, 
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Heb.10:36 
You need to persevere, 
so that after you have done the will of God,
you will receive what He has promised.

Ps.37:4 
Delight yourself in the LORD; 
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Prov.3.5&6 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart 
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
 and he will make your paths straight.[a]

Ps.145:18-19 
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, 
to all who call out to Him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;
 He hears their cry and saves them.

John 14:23 
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. 
My Father will love him, and We will come to him 
and make Our home with him.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.

If only you had paid attention to My commandments, 
your peace would have been like a river, 
and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

Blessed are those who 
keep His testimonies 
and seek Him with all their heart.

How often we see parallels between earthly and Heavenly parenting!

Prov.3:11-12 
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
12For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Neh.1:5
Then I said: “LORD, the God of heaven,
 the great and awesome God, 
who keeps his covenant of love 
with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Psalm 103:17-18
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD 
extends to those who fear Him, 
and His righteousness to their children’s children— 
 to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, 
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Oh, how often I am prone to want God to do His part
while unwilling to do mine;
to repent, trust, obey, surrender, sacrifice, yield, wait,
These words conflict with the bent of human nature...
Human nature prefers the 'sugar donuts' of life!


Love is not all 'sugar donuts'
Inducing sweet smiles and cheers
Sometimes love is 'thou shalt have nots'
Resulting in sobbing tears


Love is not all beds of roses
Or a smorgasbord of treats
The One who innately knows us
Mingles delights with defeats


Lest we becomes proud and greedy
Centered on self-pleasing plan
Love reminds us we are needy
Of God first, then fellowman


Because love is more than licking
Frosting-coated mixing bowls
Love is learning to stop kicking
When parental love controls


Because love is tears and laughter
Holding close and letting go
Trusting the blade of the Grafter
When Want's 'yes' is met with 'no'


Love is not always soft cuddles
Love oft suffers long and hard
Until self-will melts in puddles
Pliable and battle-scarred


Love is bearing, caring, sharing
From the greatest to the least
Celebrating while preparing
Someone else's five-star feast


Love is patient in the process
Love is both race and reward
Not all thorns are crowned with roses
Not all losses are restored


...while love, like a life-long 'college'
Winnows wanton, worthless boast
As we grow in grace and knowledge
Of the One who loves us most


Love is not all songs and dancing
Love bears both bitter and sweet
While learning the fine romancing
Of washing each other's feet


Janet Martin


Tea Balls
(nice to mix the night before if you think of it)


With mixer beat well 2 eggs and 1 cup br. sugar
Then add: 1 cup butter milk or sour milk
Beat well then STIR in 1 cup heavy cream
and 1/2 tsp. orange flav. or zest of 1/2 an orange.
Mix dry ingred. and stir in with wooden spoon or gently whisk
till flour disappears.
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 and 1/2 cups flour


Cover. Let stand a few hours or overnight.
Heat frying oil to approx. 350F.
drop batter by teaspoon full in hot oil.
Test one to see if it is cooked in the center;
if it is continue dropping, turning, lifting, draining
till batter is used up. yirld: 4 doz.
Col and toss in a miz of white and icing sugar,
cinnamon sugar or glaze.


Thursday, January 29, 2026

The Most Important Things in Life...


Heb.10:35-36 (BSB)
So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
 36You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, 
you will receive what He has promised.

Doesn't each part/phrase of the above verses
give great truths and conditions to ponder and prize
as we persevere?!!


This hawk has made life a misery for the little birds this winter,


but it is hungry too,
and only doing what it must to survive
though it is heartbreaking to watch!


It is heartbreaking to watch suffering and feel helpless to alleviate it
because we cannot (thank God!) do what only He can
through the Comforter/Helper He has given, to all who believe
and receive the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-18
If you love Me, [d]keep My commandments.
 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper,
 that He may abide with you forever— 
17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
 because it neither sees Him nor knows Him;
 but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 
18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

The most important things in life 
Are ministered where no one sees
But He who runs the heavens rife
With ineffable majesties

The Maker, Ruler, Keeper of
Heaven and earth is good and kind
His patient, everlasting love
Enough, if Want is thus inclined 

...to seek life's most important things
From God's momentous smorgasbord
Of invisible offerings
Veiling recompense of reward

We choose either seen or Unseen
Faith boasts in what it cannot see
In spite of the dark glass between
Man's questions and God's clarity 

Where what we understand God tries
With reasons no one can explain


While goodness and mercy run rife
-est through broken hearts and dreams, for
The most important things in life
Teach us to trust and love God more

So, as we hope, pray, dream and plan
Lord, help us learn through what life brings
To love You first, then fellowman;
These are life's most important things

Janet Martin







Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The Giver of Today Knows All



Ps.31:14-15
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in Your hand;

Matt.28:20
('lo, I am with you always,')

Whatever may befall
Where morning meets its mark
The Giver of Today knows all
His Light pierces the dark




Whatever may befall
Where morning meets its mark
The Giver of Today knows all
His Light pierces the dark
And grants sufficient grace
Whether we joy or grieve
He IS with us in all we face
As we trust and believe
And victoriously cope
Because each day we live
Is anchored in the blessed hope
That Christ alone can give
Then, do not fail/fear to call
On He who knows our need
The Giver of Today knows all
And He will intercede

Janet Martin

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us
from every lawless deed and purify for Himself
His own special people, zealous for good works.

Monday, January 26, 2026

The Ways We Want


Faith can sit down before mysteries and say 'The Lord is good'.
(From the book Consolation by Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman)

'Our grief can never be greater than God's.'
(from my oldest sister who called this morning)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, 
a worker who does not need to be ashamed, 
rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim.2:15



Right now I believe many in our church family feel
utterly heartbroken, leaving nothing remaining but 
to entrust our broken pieces to the Hands of the Potter/Healer!

Oh Lord, your ways are not our ways...
Then search and know our hearts;
Try and know our anxieties;
 And see if there is any wicked way in us,
And lead us in the way everlasting.
(Ps.139:23-24)


The ways that we would orchestrate through fancy's earth-dimmed lures
Would oft serve to alleviate what faith alone endures 
Because we cannot comprehend God's thoughts, misunderstood 
Or how He guards Want's ways that wend in conflict to our good  

For though our spirit boasts of noble mind, the flesh is weak 
We are not nat'rally inclined to want what we should seek
 Or to be boldly unashamed to take God at His Word
The ways we want would rush untamed to ruin undeterred 

 God, rich in love and mercy, ordains ways beyond our ken
He guides us through Time's sin-cursed vein to victory. Amen
Our grief is His; where sorrows fret He sorrows all the more
Sometimes we are prone to forget where earth-dimmed views implore  

...then, because what we suffer God has suffered too, He grants
His Comforter; a buffer against darts of Circumstance
We need you, Lord, to intercede, in ways where we would roam
Without Your rod and staff to lead us safely Home, sweet Home

Janet Martin



Saturday, January 24, 2026

But for a Moment This

Faith; the contentment/confidence of hope without proof.
Of questions without answers.





 
2 Cor.4: 16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. 
Even though our outward man is perishing, 
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
  17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
 is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
  18while we do not look at the things which are seen, 
but at the things which are not seen. 
For the things which are seen are temporary, 
but the things which are not seen are eternal.

But for a moment this;
The troubles of this world
The sorrow of so much amiss
Of tears, like seas unfurled

Where some treat sin's discourse 
Living without fear or remorse
That repentance would bring

Where disobedience
To God's holy commands 
Runs bold while mercy's providence
Replenishes the lands
 
And His unfailing love
(though oftentimes mistook)
Restores the soul; a picture of

While waves of sorrow roll
As graves collect our dust
But for a moment this, my soul
Faith's thoroughfare of trust

Enough to cry, 'Behold
Assured, as in the days of old
Thou, Lord God, wilt provide

Janet Martin

The Lord your God is with you,
 the Mighty Warrior who saves.




Thursday, January 22, 2026

Hope-Holy Hallelujah


Isa.26:4
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD,
the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Ps.146:5-6
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He remains faithful forever.


Another beautiful mercy-memento breaks
over a broken world




Click the link in each line below to connect to The Source











































Janet Martin
 
Let the words of my mouth 
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord,

Luke 10:20
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,
but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


A friend sent me this song this morning...







Wednesday, January 21, 2026

A Prayer For Peace (When troubles increase)


Our church family has been challenged to memorize
one verse from the message each week;
This week's verse is
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Our service was closed on Sunday morning with the above verse
as well as the one below
John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Little did we know then just how soon and how utterly we would need to
claim these truths in this troubled world.




Lord, when troubles increase
To test faith’s words of love
Anoint us with Thy perfect peace
This world knows nothing of

Lord, let love’s incense rise
In fragrance to thy throne
As hope, though broken-hearted cries
‘We trust in Thee Alone’

Lord, as we weep and pray
Search each heart’s secret veins
To see if any wicked way
We safeguard, still remains

Lord, great are Thy commands
Convict where we grow slack
Forbid that we would put our hands
To the plow, then look back

Anoint us with Thy peace
Treasure in jars of clay
Lord, let anxiety release
As we trust and obey

Root out the deadly tare
That chokes godly desire
Where sin has set a subtle snare
Convict with holy fire

We are but vessels, oh
By divine love, out-poured
Lord, let Thy perfect peace bestow
Broken spirits restored

Janet Martin