Friday March 31 2017  JUST MARK MY WORDS!

Just mark my words.  March 2017 is officially over as of midnight tonight.  And you know what that means!  Yes, yes, I know, I’ve said it many times.  It means Christmas is right around the corner.  Whoever it was that coined the phrase “that as we age time seems to speed by more quickly” was right on the mark.  Not only do the months fly by but the days seem to dissolve before they really get started.

YOU MUST BEGIN WITH SELF

Kathleen Martens

March 31, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Time is short

Live it well.

In the blink of an eye

A story to tell.

When we begin

And when we end

We have no course

Our life to lend.

Life is accomplished

As seconds tick by,

So worry not

How quickly it flies.

We each have purpose

For our numbered days,

Live with intention

And not in a haze.

What is our worth

In eternity’s plan?

To share God’s love

With our fellow man.

Make your life count.

Help those in need.

Give comfort to the hurting.

And the hungry feed.

When you see wrongs

Look first on your shelf.

To make any changes

You must begin with self.

Enjoy this last day of March.  Spring is on the calendar and the hope of it coming to Wisconsin is budding in my heart.  I am beginning to smell it in the air.  If weather is predictable it is still six to seven weeks before I can plant perennials and set my pots of geraniums outside.  The geraniums are such a joy to me during the winter months as they silently grow in our sunroom.  It is with reluctance I relinquish them to the outdoors. 

Each day I go into the sunroom, touch a few leaves in each pot and stroke their velvety texture.  I speak to my geraniums as I caress them; and a bit of spring comes alive in my heart regardless the cold that surrounds our dwelling.  This year’s batch did not bloom much through the winter. 

The fall before I left on my trip two years ago I finally retired the pots of geraniums that I had taken into the house for about nine or ten seasons.  Some of the pots were large and set on the floor.  The foliage literally grew as high as my chest.  The leaves were huge and the blossoms were the size of a large man’s fist.  It was constant upkeep as we have light carpeting and the spent, deep red blossoms would fall.  I would carefully snip back the blossoms before they passed their prime.  One particular day the room was an entire bower of red from all the huge blossoms.  Remember that this was in mid winter and once I bring the pots into the house I no longer feed them until spring.  I just water sparingly and defoliate spent leaves and blossoms.  On this particular day I had a large brown paper grocery sack and as I broke each blossom off and dropped it into the bag I counted them.  All total I snipped off 206 blossoms in about one hour.  And there were dozens more in stages of blooming.  I have photos but they were taken so many years ago I do not remember on what hardrive they are stored.

When I arrived home in July of 2015, the geranium bug bit me again.  It was late in the season and I had to look long and hard to replicate the color of red that was a close match to my faithful plants of the past.  I found the color but it was not the same variety.  They did not bloom nearly as profusely that first summer.  I cared and nurtured them but it was to no avail.  I faithfully brought them in for the 2015/2016 winter season.  In April of last year we were gone for several weeks so I carted the plants over to a friend’s house and instructed her to not over-water them.  Some were quite large and all were bushy with lots of leaves.  When we arrived home my friend was embarrassed to give them back.  All that was left of the geraniums were the branches of the plants WITHOUT ANY LEAVES.  Literally, some of them did not have any leaves at all.

I brought them home at the end of April, cut them back, and coddled them by allowing their oversaturated soil to dry out.  My friend told me she watered and watered them and the leaves still yellowed and browned and dropped off.  Oh well, after allowing the roots to de-saturate those little stems perked up, the leaves sprouted, and the geraniums bloomed all summer.  And now those same little plants have weathered another winter indoors and as of right now they are healthy, hearty and huge.  It is about time to cut them back and it always pains me to do so.  I so look forward to their blooms this summer.  They have become my friends.  And I think they like me too.  They always remind me of my mama’s gardens.

Thank You God for blossoms in winter.

Thank You for the texture of a geranium leaf.

Thank You for the pungent, identifying fragrance that geraniums exude.

Thank You for memories of gardens past.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!  GOD BLESS YOU THIS SPRING DAY!

Thursday March 30 2017  A BIG JOB!

MOVING THE LIBRARY

Kathleen Martens

March 30, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Shelves packed to overflowing

Oh what an eyesore!

Now they stand empty.

The books are no more.

One by one each was touched

Caressing each one with longing,

Knowing many will soon be gone

No longer belonging.

Box after box packed so full

Because all must be moved.

So many books to handle,

A cause to be behooved!

Now all is done, shelves are bare

Awaiting their new home,

A quiet place of solitude

Without electronics or a phone!

Now the shelving must be handled

Strong muscles needed for the task.

And I wonder just who will be

The one I find courage to ask.

Remember the wisdom of one so old

Younger friends are quite an asset!

Muscle and brawn are sometimes needed

To help with certain facets.

Thank You God that the packing up of all the books is completed.

Thank You for providing someone to help us move the shelving even though I don’t know who it will be.

Thank You for all the dedicated writers that put so much study and effort in order to write their books.

Thank You Lord that I have the ability to read!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!  GOD BLESS YOU.

Wednesday March 29 2017  TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

COMPUTERS!

Kathleen Martens

March 29, 2016

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

To have such access

At my fingertips,

Faster to write

Than speak from my lips.

Either friend or foe

But never the two,

Smooth sailing

Or headaches ensue.

A mind of their own,

They balk and scream

When you most need them,

Often they’re mean.

When files are missing

It’s as if they’re a phantom

And when things go awry

You’d like to throw a tantrum.

The world is right

When all works well.

But let the computer hiccup,

Life is no longer swell!

When they crash

The story is told.

In desperate measures

Grief unfolds.

But thankfully today

I was rescued again

By the Geek Squad

And connect with friends.

And then my blog

Went helter-skelter

And once again

I looked for shelter.

Not certain it works

But I’ll give it a try.

If I don’t get published

Tomorrow I’ll try.

Thank You God for being with me this morning.  I really needed Your peace and calm.

Thank You Lord for loving me unconditionally.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Tuesday March 28 2017  MY FAVORITE STORY

MY FAVORITE STORY

Kathleen Martens

March 28 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Sometimes I search

For the right words

But in my heart

They are not heard.

Sometimes I wonder

And continually ponder,

What story to speak

Interest to peak?

Full of thought,

New ideas sought.

Who will listen?

What words will glisten?

Must my poems mean

Something new and keen?

Or do I express

What I love best?

Because my favorite story

Is to tell of God’s glory

And His everlasting love

He sends from above.

So I will say

On this beautiful day

Know that God loves you

And always pursues.

Thank You Lord for continually pursuing me with Your love.

Thank You God that you are my favorite story.

Thank You for all things beautiful and lovely.

Thank You for your everlasting love.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!  GOD BLESS YOU.

Monday March 27 2017  THE PREFERRED LIFE

Oh how I long for March 31^st to not come along.  When I cross over the threshold into April my mind tells me that a quarter of this year has already disappeared.  It seems it always passes too quickly.  And the rest of the year just disappears in a blur.

I’m currently reading the book “WRITE FROM THE HEART/Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity” by Hal Zina Bennet.  I came across the following quote and it seemed to capsulate so well my thoughts about living in the moment.

“If you let yourself be absorbed completely, if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments.”  Anne Morrow Lindbergh

How eloquently Lindbergh captured exactly how I perceive my life as the accumulation of individual moments.  Not only do I live the moments to the fullest but I also try to absorb all the cues surrounding me so as to remember a bit more acutely the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings I experience as the moment ticks by.

Another quote I will pass along was sent to me only this morning by my friend Marilyn.  It too connects and reverberates in my heart.  Marilyn sends out a “Thought for the Day” each morning.  I always look forward to her thoughts, quotes, or rambles she forwards because they give me pause for thought.

“Thought for the Day

Each new day is an opportunity to start all over again.

To cleanse our minds and hearts anew and to clarify our vision.

And let us not clutter up today with the leavings of other days.”  WINGS OF SILVER

The above quote from Wings of Silver (A book that has been around for years) not only resonated with me, but to some extent, that last sentence of Marilyn’s quote is my silent mantra.  As I look at things that need to be done I always try to think of a way I can do them today, therefore, when tomorrow arrives all that is left undone will not be on my platter.  I don’t always accomplishing finishing in one day what I start out to do, but I always have hopes to do so.  Is there such a thing as finishing?

Today I also received an email from Marilyn.  One of her comments to me was, “You have a very regimented life, and I admire you for it, but it is not for me.”

After giving that comment some thought I more or less agreed with her statement.  I do regiment myself quite a bit.  I think I do it out of fear.  I know that may sound a bit odd but I believe I fear if I do not regiment my schedule I will become slack and lazy or perhaps allow old age creep up too quickly.  When I shared Marilyn’s comment with Dave he agreed with my assessment and suggested that perhaps what I might rather do is to set my life up in a way that I live a “preferential life” instead of a “regimented life.”

After looking up the synonyms for “preferential” I didn’t think I wanted that life either.  Synonyms for “preferential”; “special, forward, privileged, superior, better, and partisan”.  I didn’t really like those meanings.  The meaning of preferential seemed to refer to someone as haughty.  I hope I am never perceived in that light.

I looked up “prefer” and here are its synonyms; “favor, have preference, likable, rather, wish, fancy, desire, and choose.”  I rather liked those definitions.  So perhaps I shall learn to be a bit more lenient on myself and allow myself the latitude of thinking and planning on what I “PREFER” to do with my time rather than be so regimented and strict about what I MUST do.

However, there is one place in my life in which I may need more regimentation.  And that is becoming more aware of what I am doing in relationship to what time it is.  When I start talking with someone, it as if there is no clock ticking.  I have an aversion to wearing a watch and it is as if time stands still when I am absorbed in a task or recreation.  Time seems to no longer exist, each  moment is its own priceless pearl to be savored and devoured regardless where I am or what I am doing.

Regimented?  Yes, I suppose I am to a certain extent.  Especially as to when I schedule things which must be accomplish.  Perhaps that is my panacea to make certain that what must be done gets done.  But who is to say “what must be done”?  Perhaps that is the regiment I need to wean from life. 

“Preference”?  That is the other question?  Would that mean I only “hope” to get something accomplish or that it really will get done?  Does it mean that I only do what I want to do?  Are preferences just wishful thinking or a fancy I might follow?  Or, does it mean I chose to do it because I desire to do it and I give myself the choice to either do, or not do it?

Does anyone else’s brain work this way?  I feel normal, but maybe we all feel normal.  But then again, who is to say what is normal?

THE PREFERRED LIFE

Kathleen Martens

March 27, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

To be less in charge would relinquish chains

That binds my strict control.

To give up my tight reign

Of this disciplined, well ordered, mold.

But who am I to say I can change

When God made me the way I am?

I’ll try to follow the path He leads

While changing the best I can.

“Preferential” is a word that means special,

Forward, privileged, and superior too.

As well as, better than thou,

And partisan to name just a few.

Oh my goodness the description above,

Is not one I’d want to own.

Perhaps “Prefer” is a better choice

So by others I not be stoned.

Prefer means to favor and like,

To have preference, and rather do.

To have a fancy or wishful thinking,

And choosing what you ensue.

So perhaps I shall take the challenge

And give up my regimented stance.

I’d much rather enjoy the moments that tick

Than be a marionette with a rigid dance.

We all have a choice to experience insight

Of ways we can better become.

As well as try to simply improve,

Hopefully, before our days are done!

Thank You God for friends who offer insight.

Thank You God for opening my heart to become the best me You made me to be.

Thank You Lord for my love of words.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!  GOD BLESS YOU!

Sunday Sabbath March 26 2017  MY HOURS WERE SWEET

MY HOURS WERE SWEET

Kathleen Martens

March 26, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

On this day of Sabbath rest

I did what I do best.

I worked the afternoon away,

But went to church to start my day.

A little bit turned into a lot.

It is just so wonderful to clean a spot.

Hundreds of books once again packed,

Then moved to another stack.

Remember a little, culminates a lot

And idle fingers I’ve not been taught.

And so these hours languidly passed,

The pile of books now greater massed.

And it feels good to see progress

That even on Sabbath does not regress.

With much joy my hours were sweet

Alone with God was my treat.

For a treat today I am including a poem I wrote on March 7, 2013.  I thought it befitting as a Sunday Sabbath Poem.  I hope you enjoy it.

NEVER ENOUGH OF YOU

Kathleen Martens

March 7, 2013

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Lord, You have more than enough

And yet, I never have enough of You.

Your mystery enshrouds me

And my eyes cannot see

The ALL of You I conspire,

The oneness with You I desire.

Lord, You have more than enough

And yet, I never have enough of You.

More of Your love that set me free

More of life lived for thee.

More beauty that Your creation holds,

Such beautiful handiwork to behold.

More time with You to give You praise,

In quiet prayer, my heart ablaze.

Our private hour melding soul,

Spirits intertwined, ultimate goal.

To be one in the intimacy of love,

More of You on wings of a dove.

For Your Holy Spirit, within me dwells

And my attitude my life tells

That I never have enough of You

As I seek Your mystery, forever new!

Lord, You have more than enough

And yet, I never have enough of You.

Thank  You God for solitude.

Thank You for a leisurely Sabbath of slow movement and leisurely occupation.

Thank You God for all the books I have yet to read.

Thank You God that on Sunday I am not interrupted by telemarketers.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Saturday March 25 2017   THREE LITTLE WORDS

I learned from a very early age that if I didn’t want to work I better skedaddle from underfoot so to speak.  Mama always had some chore or activity (usually what a kid would consider work) that would keep us busy.  I did a lot of reading and that kept me safe most of the time; out of sight, out of mind. 

When I went to school I threw myself wholeheartedly into learning and absorbing all I could.  To me the world was a fascinating and curious place.  My mother fed my thirst for learning by taking my sister and me to many awesome places as I mentioned recently in another blog.  My mother also instilled a strict work ethic within me whether I wanted to learn it or not.  If I did not do the task thoroughly the first time around she would see to it that I did the entire job over.  I tried hard to be a quick learner.  I wanted to please and that made it a bit easier.  However, I must admit that it was unusual to feel any passion or desire to do the work assigned.

One task I absolutely detested doing was scrubbing the walls and ceilings of our kitchen on Alvarado Street in San Leandro, California.  Our kitchen stove had a wood burner my mama used for cooking and the soot would escape when she fed wood into the stove top.  Over time, the walls and ceiling which were made of bead board painted with a glossy pale blue paint, would darken and become quite dirty.  It was my job to scrub the ceiling and walls.  The room was small but it seemed like a great big room to me.  I was in my early teens and tall enough, when standing on a chair, to reach the ceiling with the soapy rag and scrub off the soot.  My younger sister’s job was to have a fresh clean rag squeezed out and waiting for me when I needed to replace my black sooty rag.  Somehow in my adolescent mind it just didn’t seem fair that my little sister couldn’t scrub the ceiling.  Of course she was about half my age at that time and not very tall.  But it still made no sense to me.

I’ll never forget the first time I “scrubbed” that ceiling.  When I was finished there were swirl marks of leftover residue on some parts of the ceiling.  My mama did not accept my job as satisfactory.  And to teach me a lesson about doing a less than acceptable job, “I could just get myself back up on that chair and scrub the entire ceiling all over”.  And so I did, under her watchful eye.  No shortchanging my task.  She said to let that be a reminder that when I did a job I was to do it right on the first go round.

I must admit, that was a difficult lesson to learn because even as a kid, scrubbing a ceiling is not easy on the shoulders.  I definitely learned my lesson, at least when it was my mama giving the orders.  And that lesson has followed me throughout my life.  When I do something, I purposely set out to do a good job.  Do I always attain that: probably not. But it was a life lesson I learned and I have been forever thankful to my mama for instilling it within me. 

My mama was a hard worker and her time was never idle.  She never complained about what she had to do but with five daughters she was an excellent delegator.  You learned very early to stay out of earshot of mama if you didn’t want an assignment.  And what kid wants an “assignment”?

I don’t think I appreciated all my mother did until I had children of my own.  She had six children, I had two.  She lived in hard to clean shacks, old apartments, and during the ceiling scrubbing years, a cramped, dinky house in an industrial area.  Everything inside was always put away and scrubbed clean.  She always had a garden of vegetables growing on whatever plot of soil she could claim around our dwelling.  And our dwellings were always surrounded by colorful flowers she planted and lovingly tended.  When I had to do the hoeing I can truthfully say not much love went into the rows.  Mama sewed all our clothes and taught me to do the same.  Her teaching was a gift to my future because I often made garments for myself as well as for my own family.

So much that mama taught me did not come to full fruition until I lived the parallel times in my life corresponding to the years she lived. By no means was my mother perfect, but with her limited schooling and the hardships she faced to keep life and limb together, she tried her best to rear her children to the best of her ability.  She was resourceful, hard working, strict, kept dwelling and kids spit shined, a good money manager with her meager fare, and she loved God and she loved her children.  Somehow she always had something for us to eat by rationing what we had available.  We each had a gift each Christmas as well as an old sock filled with unshelled nuts and an orange.

My mama taught me endurance, perseverance, honesty, to be a hard worker, to never give up, and to love God.  However, the one thing I regret in her parenting is that she did not teach her children how to say “I love you”.  And that was probably my biggest lesson.  It was only when we brought our daughter home from the hospital that I fully comprehended the lesson she taught me in the absence of hearing her say those words.  From that day forward I knew I did not want to parent in her footsteps.  As I held Rebecca in my arms as we walked into our family room that very first day I looked down into our two day old daughter’s face and said to my husband, “I will not parent as my parents did.  Never will there be a day when I am with my child that she will not hear me say I LOVE YOU”.  Dave looked at me and responded, “Then I too will say those words to her every single day”.  And we did.

Many of the life lessons I learned from Mama have been forwarded on to our daughter and son.  But the one thing I love most when I am with our children, and now grandchildren, are the words I say to them, “I LOVE YOU”, each and every time we are with them.  Those three little words are even included in our telephone goodbyes.  Our parting words always being: “I LOVE YOU”!

As I have mentioned in an earlier blog, before my mama died I taught her to say “I LOVE YOU”, and she finally said it to me on several different occasions.  I could tell she was always a bit uncomfortable to say, “I love you too”, having probably never heard it from her parents, but say it she would.  Years later when I told my sister that story she thought it had been herself who had taught her to say it because she too kept telling mama the same thing I did.  I guess mama finally just let those three little words come out (be it ever so tentatively) since she was being confronted from more than just one of us.  Good job sis!  I’m glad that you heard those words too!

THREE LITTLE WORDS

Kathleen Martens

March 25, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Three little words

With such a punch

Don’t think others know

Believing your hunch.

Others need to hear,

To understand their worth.

Let others be aware

They are valued on earth.

Three little words

“I LOVE YOU”

Not just sweet to say,

But nice to hear too!

“LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT IS YOUR LAST AND ONE DAY YOU ARE BOUND TO BE RIGHT!”

(A quote remembered but can’t remember the source.)

Thank You Lord for the life lessons I have learned.

Thank You Lord for a mother who loved me, though she didn’t know how to say it.

Lord thank You for the opportunity to live until my children grew to adulthood.

Thank You for the words “I LOVE YOU”.

Thank You God that You are LOVE.

Have a great Saturday!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Friday March 24 2017  WHAT QUESTIONS ARE YOU LIVING?

“How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man?  For it is very soon engulfed in the eternal.” Marcus Aurelius (121-180)

WHAT QUESTIONS ARE YOU LIVING?

Kathleen Martens

March 24, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

What questions are you living in your life?

Have you ever asked yourself that question?

What are the unknowns?  What answers do you seek?

Where are you going?  Where are you destined?

My first line of this blog was written as a sentence, not as the beginning of a poem. However, it became the poem.  The above four lined poem opened my eyes to the fact that I often spend too much time being concerned about what is going to happen in the future.  The unknown is always lurking before us; sometimes to the extent that we forget to live in the moment.  Perhaps instead of struggling to find the answers we should regress in our endeavor of searching and instead simply live in the question(s) and allow the moments you live to reveal the answer(s).

Often we get so caught up with the “what ifs” of life which allow worry and stress to beleaguer our present.  Perhaps the best thing to do is to step back, enjoy the moment, and allows the answers to be revealed to us as we journey through our present.  We should never be willing to give up living in the precious moment by worrying and stressing about the unknowns of tomorrow.

And so I choose to live this day to the fullest.  It is the only day I have to do so.  I choose to allow the questions of my life to be part of the enjoyment of now.  The main question at present is should we sell our house or should we stay in place?  I choose to not worry or stress or lose sleep over it.  I will turn it over to God and allow Him to guide us through this question; to the plan that is best for our remaining years.  Only God knows the beginning and the end.  My job is to live in this moment; not stress about the future.  The questions will be answered as we live in the moment.

Thank You God that You have all the answers to any question I am living.

Thank You for opening my eyes to live in the present moment You give me each day.

Thank You for Peace.

I PRAY THAT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

GOD BLESS YOU

Thursday March 23 2017  SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT

As we age there are many changes to consider.  Where one lives is one of the greatest questions.  And that is what we are contemplating at this stage of our lives; to stay in place or go out into the unknown.  We have lots of opinions given freely.  We listen, we ponder, and we still are not quite sure what will ultimately be best in the long run; and so we ponder some more.

ULTIMATELY WE MUST DO WHAT IS BEST

Kathleen Martens

March 23, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

To adjust is rarely easy

With the thought of a new home.

We are so content with where we live

We have no need to roam.

So what to do as years go by?

To stay-put or downsize?

Our hearts are torn to say the least

If to smaller space we must compromise.

Is it because everyone thinks

We no longer need a place so big?

Perhaps we should stay in place

Until others our graves dig.

We must ponder long and hard

The value of such an endeavor.

Downsizing can take place in the heart

Giving us much more pleasure.

To stay or go is the question,

Headaches abound by either decision.

Ultimately we must do what is best

When we contemplate such a revision.

Thank You God for the home You have provided for us these past 30 years.

Thank You God that You have our future in Your hands.

Thank You for watching over us each day.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

GOD BLESS YOU

Wednesday March 22 2017  EVERY LITTLE BIT ADDS UP TO A LOT

In January 2016 I decided to print each blog and poem on a daily basis.  I write a little bit each day, usually three to six pages.  I searched for all the available three ring binders in the house and used them to hold my printed copies.  Just a few sheets of paper to store; that is until month after month rolled by with two more binders being filled by the end of each month; one for the blogs and one for the poems. 

Then I decided I might as well print the blogs and poems from 2015; more paper, more binders, and more space needed to house them.  I now have stacks and stacks of binders of various color and size.  I’ve long since used up the previously used ones we had in the house.  I purchased many more at garage sales and they too are now full.  I’ve have now resorted to buying NEW ONES!  But when garage sale season begins I’ll again be scouring the sales for three ring binders.  The dilemma I have is, where do I store them?  And the question I now ask myself is why do I want to store them? 

I write a little bit each day and “wa-la”, by the end of the year I have a plethora of words all captured on hundreds of pages.  My estimated calculation is that in one year I create over 1,825 pages of blog print, and more than likely over 1,460 pages of poetry which equals about 365 poems written yearly.  And those numbers do not include the poems I have written previously for many years.  One a day (and sometimes more) add up to at least 365 poems a year, times however many years worth I have.  Hundreds and hundreds of those poems are hand written in journals of years past and are not yet transcribed or printed. 

So, a little bit goes a long ways when it comes to writing.  I suppose I could have printed several books by now if what I have already written was published. But the first book is not yet printed.  I had so hoped by last Christmas to have it finished.  Making headway is slower than molasses with all else I have on my platter at present.  You would think that the fact that they are already written would make it a breeze.  Not true!  The writing is easy for me; the selecting, organizing, cataloging, editing, correcting, spacing, etc…are the time spenders.  Not complaining, just looking back over last year and wondering how the year escaped so quickly.  And now it seems the same is happening to this year. 

So, I will continue to write a little each day (my favorite thing to do), work on moving all the rooms around a little each day, put a few hours into the album each day, and I figure sooner or later each of those little bits will add up to a lot.

I’m behind today but still plan to do a little bit of moving books, a little bit of album work, and still get to bed on time.  I am hearing my body clock tick and she “ain’t what she used to be”.  Why does my big sister always have to be right?

EVERY LITTLE BIT ADDS UP TO A LOT

Kathleen Martens

March 22, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

“The old grey mare

She ain’t what she used to be”

And I just want you to know

The same is happening to me.

Life passes too quickly!

I won’t take it lying down.

I refuse to give in easily.

I’d rather gallivant around town.

Though my “clip-clop”

May slow a bit,

I’d certainly rather “DO”

Than give up and quit.

My hair is thinning,

My wrinkles protruding,

But my smile is in place

And love I’m exuding.

So even if I’m slower

And can’t do quite as much,

I can do a little bit each day

And choose not to rush.

I won’t become discouraged

Because I have been taught

Every little bit

Adds up to a lot!

Thank You God for this day of being able to accomplish “A LITTLE BIT”.

Thank You that all my little bits add up to a lot.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS EACH ONE!

Tuesday March 21 2017  THE DAY AHEAD

THE DAY AHEAD

Kathleen Martens

March 21, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Lord, give me guidance to create

That wherever I may go

Others will see peace and grace

That from You abundantly flows.

Direct my steps as You will,

Help me to be what others need,

Outstretched hand with gentle touch,

Through smile or kind deed.

Open the eyes of my heart

That I will see what You want me to see.

Open my spirit to Your will

That I will be what You want me to be.

Thank You Father for this day of wonder to behold Your creation.

Thank You for the paths I walk that I may touch another life.

Thank You for giving me strength to face each day as it come.

GOOD MORNING AND GOD BLESS YOU.

Monday March 20 2017  MEANINGLESS VERSES MEANINGFUL

Another day, another week; the blank unknown.  Oh, I have several different kinds of appointments but at this moment I have no guarantee that I will show up for even one.  My intentions are to do so, but between now and my appointment date any one of several events could happen.  Ultimately I could die, or perhaps have a heart attack, fall down and incapacitate myself, a nuclear attack could happen, an airplane could hit my house, or, or, or and so on.  But even with all that hanging over my head I do what I do each moment, anticipating only the best outcome.

And then when I think about what I am doing I wonder about the scripture verses in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes spoken by Solomon.

“Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION   

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”  Says the Teacher.  “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”  What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?”

So I sit back and I ponder this dilemma called life.  Is all I do really meaningless?  What am I doing and accomplishing that is meaningful?  Will anything I am doing now have a lasting effect in years to come, in future generations to come, or even tomorrow?  If my life ended today how important would it be to have what I’ve started, finished?  So many questions: yet so few answers.

And I think back to a few days ago (March 16, 2017) when I wrote a blog as to why I was born.  I believe I was born to worship the amazing God who created me.  And my worship toward God spills out around me, affecting all I do, all those I meet, how I live, as well as my reason for living.  And I realize, that it is only today when I can impact those around me to know and love God, as well as build my own relationship with the One whom I will spend my forever.  So perhaps for the believer life is not meaningless, but full of purpose and reason for being created.  And the best part is I need not worry about a heart attack or a plane falling out of the sky or any other situation I may face in the future.  When it is my time to go God will take me home and then I will know and understand His full majesty and the meaning of true life.  To know God is to know peace.  And to know God’s peace is to know unspeakable joy.  And there is nothing in this world that can take that away and make me feel that all life is meaningless even while here on earth.

When Solomon, who was considered the wisest man in the world, walked away from God, even his life became meaningless.  God created us for fellowship with God and when we choose to go our own direction there is often a great feeling of emptiness, or a hole that needs to be filled.  One successful athlete with millions of dollars to spend felt his life was meaningless and was quoted as saying, “I feel like there is a god-sized hole in me that needs to be filled but I don’t know how to fill it.”  Well, perhaps that God-sized hole needs to be filled with God.  We are made in God’s image and when we ask Him to come into our lives and be our Savior He has already designed that “hole” as a perfect fit for His Spirit.  If you ever have a time when you feel empty, think about turning to God and asking Him to fill up that emptiness that only He can fill.  Your life can turn from feeling MEANINGLESS to knowing it is MEANINGFUL.

MEANINGLESS VERSES MEANINGFUL

Kathleen Martens

March 20, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Meaningless equates to emptiness

And perhaps even fallow.

Worthless and pointless is the one

Who lives a life so hollow.

Meaningless is insincere,

Insignificant in what it portrays.

Inconsequential and without effect

Is life without God in your days.

But when life lived full of love

Deposited from worshipping our Lord,

It carries great weight for those they know

Because it’s where God’s love is stored.

Momentous importance follows the one,

Consequential he lives life forward.

And so important is the effect

Because en route to heaven he goes toward.

Thank You God that it is You Who causes our life to be meaningful.

Thank You God that Your Word is so full of meaning.

Thank You Lord for the opportunity given to me while on earth to know You personally.

Thank You Father for allowing me the opportunity to share with others about Who You Are!

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED DAY!

Sabbath Sunday March 19 2017  UNTIL YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS

UNTIL YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS

Kathleen Martens

March 19, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Who is to declare

That I am saved,

When only through Jesus

Is the way paved?

Who is to say

I do not trust?

But in order to be saved

Believing a must.

Who is to utter

I know God is real.

But refuses to love Him,

Has not God’s seal.

Who is to say

I understand.

Yet refuses

To obey God’s commands?

Who is to shout

Evil is mine?

When his race completed,

Will not cross the line.

Who affirms

I SHALL NOT perish,

Will not enter heaven

When God’s Son not cherished.

To enter the gates

One must first-hand know

The indwelling of God

While on earth below.

One must believe

With all their heart

That Jesus is the Savior

Who will never depart!

One must understand

Through faith we believe,

And with praise and rejoicing

His gift we receive.

 Even though one may acknowledge

That God is real

Until you ask for forgiveness

The deal is not sealed!

One must love back

The God who is Love

In order to enter heaven

For an eternity above.

Thank You God for teaching us to believe and receive Your salvation.

Thank You for providing atonement for our sins through Your plan of salvation.

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS SABBATH DAY!

Following verses are from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE

“Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Ezekiel 33:9

But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.

 Romans 10:9

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Acts 16:31

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

John 3:3  

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

John 3:16-18

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.¹⁸   Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 

Saturday March 18 2017  WIPE OUT DAY

I’LL TRY TO REMEMBER

Kathleen Martens

March 18, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Today was the day I just gave in

Deciding to follow my body’s needs.

I slept in as if I were a queen

And only got up to feed.

Back to bed within the hour

Thinking I would just rest.

But to my shocking surprise

Sleep was what I did best!

Three hours later once again awake

After 10 hours sleep last the night.

Usually I am just raring to go,

But needed sleep I could not fight.

Now I feel like a walking zombie

Groping my way through this day.

I think all my doing just caught up with me

And my body wanted its own way.

But there is one last thing to do,

Whether or not I’m in the mood.

Attending a neighborhood progressive dinner

And I’ve finished preparing my food.

Once it’s over I care not look

To the schedule I have next week.

My greatest joy would be a blank calendar

But I’m so afraid to peek.

So I’ll go with the flow

And try to slow down.

I’ll try to remember that I’m older

And by my body I’m bound.

“My mind writes checks

My body can’t cash”*

I must act my age,

And no longer dash.

Slow and steady is the pace

I must learn to adopt.

And when tired to just give in

And in my LAZY BOY chair to plop.

Thank You God for the energy I have.

Thank You God for the rest you encourage.

Thank You Lord for Your endless patience with me.

Thank You for opening my eyes to Your truth.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

*The above is a quote I remember hearing Dave’s father repeat many times during his later years.  He lived to be 101 years of age.  Anyone who lives that long needs an award for courage and bravery. 

Friday March 17 2017  NO NEW HEADLINES

NO NEW HEADLINES

Kathleen Martens

March 17, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

What do I write

When I’ve nothing to say?

So early it is

And I’ve not lived my day.

Perhaps I should wait

Until day’s end,

And then more words

I’ll have to send.

So I will escape

From my screens view

Until my headlines

Are once again new.

To be out of words

Is just not my style.

Maybe I need take it easy

And rest awhile.

Dave is gone.

The house is quite,

I must prepare

For tonight’s riot.

Three little “punkin’s”

Coming for dinner.

And that’s how I know

My day is a winner!

Thank You God for friends.

Thank You God for food to share with friends.

Thank You God for every single thing you provide for Dave and me.

Thank You for the lasagna sitting in the fridge just waiting to be baked.

Thank You for this special day of life.

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS YOU.