Sunday Sabbath May 29 2016  THANK YOU

 

THANK YOU

By Kathleen Martens

May 29 2016

 

It seems my words escape me

For I am thinking about tomorrow.

A day of quiet remembrance

That holds so much sorrow.

 

A time to remember the people

Who have served in our armed forces.

Fighting for justice and freedom

In bombers, on foot, and on horses.

 

Valiant men and women

Who gave their life for mine

Who had no reason of their own

To be warring on front lines.

 

They gave their all that you and I

Would live on a safer earth,

That freedom would continue to thrive,

Of which the world seems dearth.

 

How can I say thank you       

To the brave who walked ahead,

Knowing that the outcome

Would leave so many dead?

 

In seemingly senseless battles

So many lives were lost.

Do we ever stop and pause to think

How immense was the cost?

 

The grief and pain of those

Who were left behind to morn,

For their sons and daughters,

And grandchildren never born.

 

As well as husbands and fathers

Who left wives in deep grief,

Left to comfort little children

Who could not find relief.

 

All for what we may ask?

Why did so many have to die?

And so many others came back broken

Who fought for you and I?

 

What words can express our gratitude

To live in a country that is free?

Because someone we didn’t know,

Fought for you and me?

 

Be thankful for every freedom

Our government has not yet taken away.

Remember so many gave their lives

So in freedom we live today.

 

I honor these men and women

Who walked the horrors of war

Hoping to end the war of all wars

And that there would not be any more.

 

But alas, it seems not to be,

Because hatred is actually taught

From one generation to the next

The venom seems to be caught.

 

And so for those still on the front

You have my loyalty and great respect.

I thank you for serving in our armed forces,

And I will always honor our vets.

 

Thank You God that regardless what is going on in this world You are in charge.

Thank You Lord that I live in a free country.

Thank You God for all the men and women who have fought for our country’s freedom.

Thank You that I am free to write the words I just wrote.

 

I GIVE MY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR ARMED FORCES!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Saturday May 28 2016  THE FEATHER PILLOW

Years ago I heard a sermon with a verbal illustration that has since stayed with me.  I will share it with you.

There was a woman who lived in a small town who was quite a gossip.  She was constantly on the phone exclaiming to her friends “have you heard this” or “have you heard that so and so…”.  Most of the stores she told were embroidered with false facts to make them sound more interesting.  She caused great damage between relationships of the town’s people.  Stories she had spread about acquaintances, church friends and relatives caused irreparable heartache. 

After an especially dismal aftermath of one such gossiping episode she realized she had caused great harm to others through her lies and gossip.  With much remorse and heart-searching she understood that what she had done was wrong and that she had hurt the reputation of many.  She went to the Pastor at her church for counsel and confessed her sin of gossiping.  She promised the Pastor that she would never do it again and asked the Pastor what she could do to make amends.

The Pastor told her he wanted to take her someplace but he first had to get something.  He came back with a large bag.  The two left together and walked through town to the tall train trestle that passed overhead at the end of the road.  The blustery wind was strong when they walked to the top of the overpass.  They hiked down the train tracks where they could overlook the town.  The minister opened the large bag, took out a big fluffy pillow filled with feathers and snipped open one entire end of the pillow.  He took out handfuls of feathers and the woman watched him with a quizzical look on her face.  He then shook the pillow tick until it was empty.  Together they stood on the overpass and watched as the wind lifted the feathers high into the sky, swirling them in all directions.  As the feathers drifted further and further away, some landing, some disappearing in the current of the wind, he turned to the woman.  These are the words he spoke to her: “Now go and collect each feather and bring it back to the pillow so we can make the pillow whole again.”  She exclaimed, “It is not possible to do such a feat”.  “So it is with the lies you spoke.  You can never make amends nor take back what was lost due to all the pain you caused”, he told her.

That story really had a great influence on my life.  I hope it will do the same for others who hear it.   Whether you are one to gossip or not, it is always good to remember that God tells us in His Word that we are not to gossip.  Our words are to be like apples of gold in settings of silver.  The poem following was actually written earlier today before I wrote the blog.  I wrote the blog because of the poem and also because I awoke this morning thinking about the story of the feather pillow.

 

LIKE APPLES OF GOLD

By Kathleen Martens

May 28, 2016

 

Lord, let the words

that I speak

Be filled with wisdom

Which others seek.

 

Guard my heart,

The wellspring of life.

Because out of my heart

Speaks peace or strife.

 

Allow my tongue

To speak words that are pure.

Words of truth

That are spoken sure.

 

I pray I speak love

In all my speech,

And Your love is felt

To all whom I teach.

 

Give me discernment

My mouth to close,

That I keep my allies

And not make foes.

 

When I’m with friends

Help me swallow words

When I’m about to say

What shouldn’t be heard.

 

And protect me Lord

From speaking gossip to others

That I never slander

My sisters or brothers.

 

Teach me to articulate

In voice refined,

That my words are like apples of gold,

And always kind.

 

God thank You for all the stories and words that I have heard that have helped me develop and grow in my journey of life.

Thank You Lord that I can speak.

Thank You for Your Holy Word.

Thank You Jesus that You ARE THE WORD.

Thank You too for directing me to finish cleaning out my office.  I LOVE IT!

And Lord, I LOVE YOU MOST OF ALL!

 

HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY AND AN EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR SUNDAY SABBATH!

 

Friday May 27 2016  HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

We have an infestation of a very beautiful plant.  It’s beauty was what actually caused the problem in the first place.  At the time I was unaware that it would become a nightmare. 

A few years ago a tall leafy plant grew behind our little red house.  Some bloomed white, others lavender, and the third variety a deep rich purple.  How beautiful they looked in the yard.  When the seed heads were ripe I cut a few flowers and carried them to various areas and shook the seeds from their pods.   When the plants grow the first year they do not bloom.  They put all their energy into the soil creating strong root structures for a better chance of survival.  The next year there was a scattering of blossoms and this year they are profuse.  The blooms are beautiful, but extremely detrimental to the natural habitat of the woods.

What I didn’t realize was that these flowers are not native to our area and are very invasive to the plants that live here.  If left to their own devices this plant called which called “dame’s rocket” will annihilate the natural wild flowers that live in the woods.  Most of the plants are congregated around the perimeter of the yard and in the woods and look so beautiful as they wage their silent, deadly war.  The new growth plants cover the forest floor like a tight knit cap and squeeze out other plants from growing.  Our neighbor John has been helping us get rid of them by blow torching the ground cover.  This method of eradication only works on the first year growth. There are hundreds of them.  Dave is now going around and pulling up by the roots the ones that are blooming.  If we can just get the ones out of the woods that are blooming we can stop their generation of reproducing.  It is a relentless battle.   But, they certainly look beautiful and lovely.

I sometimes think that what is happening in our woods can also take place in our lives.  I have inside me what I refer to as “the garden of my heart”.  It is where I plant seeds of new ideas, its the place where habits are formed, and where I prepare myself for the day.  Often times seeds crop up that shouldn’t have been planted and eventually get out of hand.  It is perhaps where I bury the pains, sorrows, and unforgiveness of my past, as well as ongoing bruises of being hurt by other people.  It is also the place where I go when I desire to be with God. 

I have found over the years that the garden of my heart needs a bit of cultivating and grooming along the way or it gets overgrown and neglected.  I must be careful what I let go to seed, lest desires and thoughts not pleasing to God are left rampant to multiply.  And it is always a bit more work to get my garden under control again than what it takes to just tend it along the way.  My garden is my own secret place, as well as the place I invite God to be. 

Dave is out working in the back “forty” tending to this garden of weeds so that it will not kill and destroy the beauty of the woods.  This morning during my quiet time with the Lord I received a poem in reference to the garden of my heart.  That is what brought to my mind how we must be serious about guarding our hearts from the evils of the world.  Just one seed can cause generations of damage.  How is your garden growing?

 

THE GARDEN OF MY HEART

By Kathleen Martens

May 27, 2016

 

The garden of my heart,

Is it full of weeds?

Do I tend daily

To its pruning and its needs?

 

As I walk in the path

Do I behold God’s glory?

Is my harvest plentiful,

Or through debris must I forage?

 

In the garden of my heart

Are my paths strewn with waste?

Do I refrain from tender care

In my busyness and haste?

 

For just as earth’s flowers grow

With cultivation and tender care,

So with the flowers in my heart

A dose of love I too must share.

 

What I plant is what will grow.

When I give I will receive.

And if I nourish integrity and grace

My harvest will not deceive.

 

When I water and promote

Kindness, beauty and trust,

My coffers will be filled

With righteousness, not lust.

 

And when I share with others

The flowers in full bloom,

God just makes my garden bigger

So my planting will have more room.

 

In the garden of my heart

Is the place I dwell with God,

Where He girds my waist with truth,

Where with peace my feet are shod.

 

For in my heart I am growing

The fruits that are yet to come.

And in the garden of my heart

I become more like God’s Son.

 

Father, thank You for Your glory that grows round about.

Thank You Lord for Your Word that teaches me how to prune my inner garden.

Thank You Lord for teaching me how to live in each moment and not to be in a hurry.

Thank You Jesus for all the love You shower upon my garden.

Thank You God for continuing education in the subjects of Integrity and Grace.

Thank You too that Your righteousness shines like sunshine on all I grow in my garden.

Thank You for allowing me to share what You have taught me during our garden time.

And Lord, I pray that my garden will continually be a place for Your Spirit to dwell.  I am so blessed that You are continually nurturing me, removing the weeds and waste, and providing me with your living water so that I can become more like You.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. 

 

 

 

Thursday May 26 2016  SMART PHONES, CAN’T LIVE WITH THEM, CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THEM

Sometimes when you least expect it you meet someone that you seem to connect with.  I met a lady (in the true sense of the word) today at Costco.  We began a casual conversation and after a few moments I realized the longer I talked with her the more I enjoyed talking with her.  She was delightful to speak with and she had a husband with the patience of a saint.  Her husband was just as refreshing as she was.  I felt very blessed to have met up with this couple and I truly hope to meet them again.  We parted ways and I left her with my name and blog address as well as my email address.  I do not take information from those I meet because I do not want them to feel threatened that “that stranger lady they met at Costco” is going to call them when they least expect it.

The world has become a smaller place over the years with our jet travel, instant messaging, facetime and all the other instant media available today.  As the world has become smaller, our relationships seem to have become wider apart.  Very rarely do people stop for conversations (especially with a total stranger you might meet at Costco).  And it seems just as rare to see families and friends conversing much anymore as they sit around a table.  Each person is zoomed in on what they hold in their hands.  Yep!  The smart phone!  Sit back, take your eyes off your phone and just watch what almost everyone around you is doing, especially in public places like airports, restaurants, on mass transit, or even when walking across the streets.  Well, recently I stopped and took notice of what Dave and I were doing at our own dinner table.  You got it!  We were both on our phones, each ensconced in our own little world, reading articles that caught our attention, or texting.  Not much conversation going on.  I’m guilty.  I’ll admit to that.  Dave only started reading his phone at the table after I began the despicable habit.  And that is when I decided that I don’t want our nucleus family to become casualties of mass media.

Just because “everyone else is doing it” doesn’t make it okay.  But then again, that is just my opinion and no one has really asked for it.  All I can do is to take steps to change my behavior.  So I have decided to put my time-stealer away.  I listen while on equipment at the gym.  I proof my blog on the IPhone screen because I can better catch mistakes.  I have gone through all my unsolicited emails and UNSUBSCRIBED.  That has helped tremendously in cutting back on all the “interesting” topics that pop up.  And I know this topic doesn’t make much sense, me being a blog writer.  The difference is, I invite those who are interested, to read it without sending email reminders everyday to read my blog.  Nor do I send my webpage to anyone to clutter up their inbox.  If someone wants to follow my blog that is fine but I never want it to become annoying. 

So just what am I going to do to change my habits?  I have chosen to have the phone with me when I am away from home in case of an emergency.  I make very few, if any, personal calls from my cell.  I check my phone in the morning and again at night before I go to bed, and I am being more discretionary when I take photos.  I will not use it at the table and if I am around people I will put it away.  Even if all I do is sit in the room and watch them twiddle their thumbs.  Anything that becomes as important as my Iphone I see as an idol in my life.  If it steals my time when I could be doing something constructive, or helping someone else, it is no longer a tool but an intruder.  Each one of us must choose what is best for our own lifestyle.  All I want to do is to continue HAVING a life; real conversations, personal relationships, time with friends, or even just more time alone accomplishing the goals I have.  I would also like to spend more time being available to do what God has called me to do, by reaching out to other people.  I crave relationships much more than I crave what an IPhone can do for me.

Following is the poem I wrote early this morning without a clue as to what my blog topic would be.  I didn’t even remember what I wrote until I just read it over again.  I think it goes well with this blog today because it is where my heart is.  My poem will also be “MY THANK YOU’S”.

 

AS YOU BECKON ME COME

By Kathleen Martens

May 26, 2016

 

Thank You Lord

For always listening.

With sunshine heart

My joy is glistening.

 

So good to know

You’re always there

And waiting patiently

Your time to share.

 

Thank You Father

For holding me close,

Your arms around me

Dispelling my woes.

 

Thank You for grandeur

Of beautiful sky

As well as for wings

Of a butterfly.

 

So much You offer

For my pleasure.

Living in the moment

My sweetest treasure.

 

Thank You Lord

For miraculous designs

Of dazzling sunsets

Amidst swirling lines.

 

And the feel of grass

Between my toes

After a summer rain

Comes and goes.

 

And fragrances too

That waft on the breeze,

All the magical moments

For me to seize.

 

But most of all

You love the best,

As You beckon me come

Into Your rest.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

 

Wednesday May 25 2016  CULTIVATE NEATNESS

It took longer than I thought it would, however I finished what I began yesterday and now feel quite proud of what I have accomplished.  One of the first jobs I tackled when I began downsizing “stuff” was to tackle my office.  There was a lot of work related material I disposed of, gleaned my files, handed over to Dave all the records I need to keep for tax purposes for the next 7 years, and never did really finish the final purging.  My office is continually a work in progress and thus can get out of hand easily when it is too cluttered.  Being a work in progress it seemed as if I could never get it organized and it was driving me bonkers. 

At the end of my prayer time yesterday I asked God what it was I was to accomplish next.  I sat for a few seconds and felt I was to open up a book in front of me and read the page.  When I receive those urges I  open at the bookmark.  These are the words my eyes immediately fell on, “Work in a comfortable, efficient space”.  The bullet points of the section were:  “Cultivate neatness”, “Add yourself to the environment”, and “Ask for improvements”.   I then knew where the Lord was directing me to begin my day’s task.

I already realized my workplace was not comfortable or efficient in its present condition.  I definitely needed to cultivate neatness in order to make it a more efficient workspace. The only improvements I needed was to fine-tune what I had started, take away the rest of the photo related equipment, and go through stacks of printed copy and make certain all was in the order it should be.  Immediately upon reading the two or three pages from the book, I simply got up and began to do just that.  I needed no further prompting as I felt it was a personal directive from God.  The work needed to be done as I had not really finished it to my liking when I worked on it a few weeks ago. I realized it was really getting me down.  I do find it frustrating to work on a cluttered desk but it seemed as if I just never had the time to really fine tune the details.  I have an additional computer to add to my worktable and needed to open up a space for it by tomorrow.  Now it is done. 

I love it when I hear the Lord speak to me in those, not so subtle, ways.  In my library I have many books, spine up, lined up on the floor by my chair.  When I feel prompted to read a page from a certain book it is almost always an answer to what I had just asked the Lord.  I always begin reading at the book marked page.  The Lord knows exactly what page I need to read and exactly what book it is in.

I am finished.  I worked part of yesterday and all day today, which is my “Wonderful Wednesday” (I don’t exercise at the gym on Wednesday).  I plan my Wednesdays for the big jobs.  No distractions, no phones, no background noise, no Iphone; just good old fashioned quiet.  Oh, and the nice part is that Dave is gone all day on Wednesday except for lunch.  He has a short interlude in which we eat lunch together and then he is gone again.  Everyone needs a day like that!  Actually, I am still in my comfy house robe since this morning and it feels simply opulent!

Time to eat and go to bed!  That is, as soon as I type the poem I wrote this morning during my quiet time.

 

HOW CAN WE COMPREHEND

By Kathleen Martens

May 25, 2016

 

The awesomeness of God

Described in His Word,

But there will always be

Words left unheard.

 

Though we study Who He Is

And pray to his glorious Name,

And believe we know Him well,

He is more than the God of fame.

 

Our thoughts are not like His thoughts,

We define in concepts we know.

And until we cross into eternity

We’ll not comprehend His status quo.

 

Though God is the King of all,

The very Spirit of The Divine,

Even the Holy Scriptures

Cannot keep Him confined.

 

Thank You Father for directing my path today.

Thank You that You are more awesome than we know.

Thank You Lord that You are the King of kings.

Thank You Lord that You know the outcome of what is to come.

Thank You for showing us Your way of salvation.

Thank You for my three hole punch.

Thank You for rain.

 

Good night and God bless you.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday May 24 2016  UNIQUE GIFTS

In a recent past blog I stated how God has created us all uniquely and that he uses our uniqueness in wonderful ways.  While listening to a sermon yesterday, Reverend Jon Weece, from Soutland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, told about a man who had been born with cerebral palsy and had discovered a unique way to express his art.  He showed a short clip from U-Tube telling the story.  It is an amazing story and well worth the time it takes to Google “Paul Smith Typewriter Art” and scan to the website that has a video face displayed which is two or three down from the top. 

Viewing what Paul Smith was able to create brought tears to my eyes.  His art was so exquisitely executed.  I don’t know if there is another artist in the world that has created the kind of spectacular art that Paul Smith presented to the world.  Regardless his handicap of having minimum use of only one finger and sporadic motion of his left hand, God graced him with the desire to do something no one else could do.  The late Paul Smith had a strong faith in God (as you will see by his artwork), and believed that God gave him this unique gift to carry out and to leave behind.  He left the world a better place for having lived.  What a beautiful legacy he left when he departed this earth.

What kind of legacy will you leave behind?  I’ve often wondered what kind of legacy I will leave behind.  If you know the unique talent that God has bestowed upon you, what do you do with it?  Do you cultivate it, using it to make the world a better place?  Or, do you just allow that gift to lie fallow?  When we are given a gift, we cannot take credit for that gift.  Gifts of talent are given to us by God.  As I once heard Joyce Meyer say, “We can’t take credit for the gift that God gives us, but when we stand before God He is going to ask us, ‘What did you do with your gift?’” 

I heard that message many years ago and that very day I consecrated my gift of poetry to the Lord and committed to myself to give God one poem a day as long as I am able to think and write.  Have I missed a few days?  Yes, I have.  Do I beat myself up over it?  No I don’t.  For you see, it is my gift back to God for the gift He gave me as a young child.  It is my way of saying thank You Lord and giving Him praise through what I write.

Are all my poems great?  Absolutely not!  Maybe the question should be, are ANY of my poems great?  Perhaps not, but they are given to God from a heart of gratitude for the pleasure and joy I receive from both writing them and giving them to friends and strangers to enjoy.  And now I have thousands of them.  Perhaps they shall be part of my legacy, part of my heart that I am leaving behind that my words will continually bless others who come after me.  I certainly know I was blessed just to see what Paul Smith left behind.

Never think that your legacy must be tangible.  You may have the gift of compassion or giving.  Your gift may be to show your love to others and let them know someone cares about them.  Your gift may even be the laughter and joy that you bring to others.  Whatever your gift may be, if you are not using it, take it out, dust it off, and extend your uniqueness to another.  It is never too late.  You see, God never takes back His gifts.

 

WHAT LEGACY WILL I LEAVE BEHIND?

By Kathleen Martens

May 24, 2016

 

How will the world

Be a better place

When my time comes

To meet Jesus face to face? 

 

What function have I

While living on earth?

What is my purpose?

What is my worth?

 

There is a questions to ask

So we discover our direction,

Find out what you love

And follow your affection.

 

How will I influence

Other people I meet?

What will I leave behind

When my heart no longer beats?

 

I hope it to be smiles

In hearts tucked deep,

And times of my laughter

Their memory will keep.

 

I hope not to leave

Heartache in my wake.

I hope what I leave

Is all for God’s sake.

 

I hope the words I’ve written

Will bring healing and health,

And that others will realize

The WORD OF GOD is their wealth.

 

I only desire a legacy

Which will tell God’s story.

And whatever I’ve done on earth

Will be done for God’s glory.

 

Thank You Father for the gifts You have bestowed on mankind.

Thank You for all the art that lives on from generations past.

Thank You for being such a wonderful Creator with such a great imagination.

Thank You that I am me.

I thank You Lord for everything You have given me in this life.

Thank You for watermelon.

 

GOOD NIGHT.  REMEMBER TO THANK GOD FOR THE GIFTS HE HAS GIVEN YOU.  If you aren’t aware of your unique talent ask God to show you what it is.  And, one question you might ask yourself is, what it is that you love to do. You may be surprised at what you find.

 

 

P.S. (Pre-script)

Some may think this blog is long.  It is a pivotal blog with information pertinent to the future of this blog.  Please read to the end.

Monday May 23 2016  GOD SPEAKS TO US IN MANY WAYS

It seems God speaks to us in so many different ways when we are least expecting it.  I believe I heard words intended for me from two different people while at church yesterday.  First of all let me set the stage so you can see where I am coming from.

My days are overwhelmingly packed right now because of many different situations.  We are downsizing considerably, living in the chaos of opening box after box to disperse, getting ready for a couple of planned garage sales, exercising almost daily, writing my blog (which can be as time consuming as I allow it), borderline addiction to the IPhone, springtime task maintenance of opening a large yard, as well as a myriad of vegetables coming weekly from our CSA Wholesome Harvest food box that must be cleaned, packaged, and cooked.  So, as you can see each day is full to the max without considering indoor maintenance, food shopping, doctor visits, and all the other “visits” that come along with getting older.  It’s a good thing I am not attached to T.V.

The more I write on the computer, the less time I spend sitting in the Lord’s presence with my journal.  I have desperately missed that morning time when I would get up at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. each morning and spend two or three hours studying, praying, reading scriptures and other spiritual related topics, and just listening for the Lord to speak to me.  I have written some about this in the past and I realize that there are a lot of people that might think using my time as such is frivolous and ill-used.  But I want to tell you, when one has a thirsting and longing to know God in a more intimate way there is no better way to do so.  Lately I have been unable to set that time aside due to late nights (mostly computer problems and too much on my agenda) and must settle for the sermons I listen to at the gym everyday online (IPhone).  And everywhere I turn, a page in a book, a single sheet of paper that flutters out of a box I am sorting, church sermons, online sermons, and through people I come in contact with, are all pointing me to the fact that God is calling me back to that early morning hour of intimate prayer time with Him.

I won’t even try to persuade those of you who do not understand to comprehend it.  All I can say, for me it is necessary, and God is aware of that need in me.  So, yesterday while I was at church I once again heard something that I felt I was supposed to hear.  A man, referring to his wife, mentioned her first two hours of each day was set aside for journaling and being with the Lord.  That statement was a big reminder to me of what I had quit doing with diligence due to my overbooked schedule.  It was as if his words were another wake up call for me.

Last week, while unpacking a box, one sheet of paper fluttered to the floor.  I picked it up and realized it was a photo copy from one page of my “Jesus Calling” book.  I read the words and it was as if the voice of Jesus was speaking directly into my heart.  It was then that the wife stated that she had a word for me that she felt was from the Lord. What she actually spoke was a prophetic message that has been given to me on three distinct occasions.  This message reminded me of who I am and the calling I feel the Lord has placed on my life.  We are all given different directives, talents, personalities, and desires.  I have discovered that God has made us each unique because He has a plan to use our uniqueness for His calling on our lives.  That was a confirmation to me that if I were to continue to be whom God designed me to be, then I needed to have the input (my morning devotion and prayer time), in order to fulfill the calling that God designed for me to do.

After yesterday’s experience my heart was ready to come running back to my morning sanctuary with my Lord.  And oh, it was so good.  It is God’s desire that we turn toward Him, that we open our hearts to receive all that He desires to give us, and that we go forth to our rightful place in His plan for us.  The rest of what I do is worthless if it is done for my own pride, glory, or accomplishments.  Only what is done for God will last.  How awesome it is to get to know Him a little better each and every day and to be filled with His presence.  And we don’t even need to stand in line!

The following excerpt is from the sheet that fluttered to the ground from the “Jesus Calling” boo by Sarah Young.  Entry for March 27^th.

“Be still in My Presence, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention.  Nothing is as important as spending time with Me.  While you wait in my Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind.  If you skimp on this time with Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the richness of what I have planned for you.”

Following is the poem I received from the Lord after I read Proverbs 13:

 

ALL BECAUSE OF OUR INTIMATE TIME

By Kathleen Martens

May 23, 2016

 

Jesus beckons in sweetest whisper,

“I am here calling you close.

Listen to my Spirit’s wooing,

Do not allow your spirit to doze.”

 

“Come alive in My Presence

That you are attuned to what I say.

Never take for granted

The power of words you pray.”

 

“Days are but numbers,

Hours but a blink of the eye.

But every moment in My Presence

You are storing treasures in the sky.”

 

“Look not at what the world offers

For it will rust and fade away.

But when you spend time with Me

You invest in eternity every day.”

 

“When you are full to overflowing

Your joy and peace cascades on another,

All because of our intimate time

To heaven you’ll bring along others.

 

And after reading Proverbs 13 the following is the message I felt the Lord was speaking through His scriptures to my heart.

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT OF YOUR DAY

The soul of my diligent will be made rich.  Be well advised in my Word that you do not born pride, for pride will cause contention in your heart.  Be diligent in what I call you to do.  When you labor to do right, you will be blessed.  I will place within you desire to do My will and when fulfillment transpires it will become a “TREE OF LIFE”.  Be prudent that you will act with knowledge.  When you use wisdom the snares of death will not entangle you.  These moments, the most important of your day, is when I refresh and renew, and restore all that you are.  You are my beloved and my love for you is beyond what you can even imagine.

 

Thank You God for prompting Holy Spirit to keep prodding my spirit that I would come home to my morning hearth.

Thank You for the poem You placed in my heart this morning.

Thank You for the fullness of Your peace.

Thank You Lord for being in control of my entire life.

Thank You for my beautiful customized pen so I can still write comfortably.

Thank You for ink refills.

 

I love You so much Heavenly Father!

MAY GOD BLESS EACH WHO READ TO THE END!  (AND LORD, BLESS THOSE WHO DO NOT READ TO THE END).

P.S.  Remember, your words are never idle.  At times your words may tear down or build up.  I am grateful for the words this couple spoke to me.  It was just one more way that God was speaking to me!

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath  May 22 2016  A BLOG THAT MAY NEVER BE READ

Oh, what a nightmare my computers have caused me lately.  Because it would take too long to go into lengthy details I will refrain from writing my saga.  However, due to trying to change my blog’s password in order to access another computer and not having enough information needed to satisfy the questionnaire for “Wordpress” my request was refused and all access blocked so that I can no longer access the blog on either computer.  Of course there is no phone help available. Oh how I often detest the impersonal world we now live in.  If crying would help then I would cry but I really do hate to get a stuffy nose.  And besides, I don’t really think it would do much to help in this situation.  I just have to realize I may have lost permanent access to my blog.

So what better way to deal with this kind of frustration than to just let my mind sort through things as I write?  I don’t know if this blog will ever be seen or not.  Or for that matter if my blog will ever be viewed again on a daily basis.  So far the old blogs are still available for view.  I hope they stay.

Today was planned to be a come down day from all the work we’ve been doing these past few weeks.  I think my body needed to come down.  I actually relaxed and watched one movie but could not bear to be idle any longer than that.  I should have just gone to bed, pulled the covers over my head, and not touched the computer at all tonight. 

And so, now I am in a quandary.  I’m at the point where I am wondering if I just give up and go to bed or try to find some other source of help.  My head is spinning, my mind is spinning, and my heart is spinning.  If I were a blond I guess you could say that right about now I would be a “DIZZY BLOND”. 

 

FOR BOTH THE BIG AND SMALL

By Kathleen Martens

May 22, 2016

 

How is it I could lose a password?

At my age, that shoul be unheard.

Or perhaps it is because I am so old

That pertinent info my head won’t hold.

 

Complete order is what I need,

But so busy I rarely heed

All I must to do run a tight ship.

Sister dear, don’t give me any lip!

 

If I could put everything in just one pile

I’d know where to look though it would take a awhile.

And perhaps the pile would get too high

If I lived long enough before I die.

 

INTERLUDE OF A PHONE CALL TO THE GEEK SQUAD!  It only took about four hours and I am now the Administrator once again of www.visionsofpoetry.com.

And to top it off, this Geek Squad agent was able to fix the other problem that has been hounding me this entire past week.  Needless to say this computer situation made for long days and short nights because I was on the phone so much.  But now that it is over, I think I am on my way to recovery.

(NOW I WILL CONTINUE WRITING THE ENDING OF THE POEM)

In less than four hours sanity reigns,

Oh my goodness, computers are a pain.

I am so sorry to share my grumbles,

Mercifully you weren’t privy to all my mumbles!

 

And I thank God for answering my prayer,

It was so good knowing He was there.

He is concerned for both the big and the small,

And picks me up when I take a fall.

 

Tonight would have been easy to just cave in

or think about the “what might have been”.

But instead I chose to simply ask

That God would take over my task.

 

When God’s in control life is easier to bear.

And He gives me insight of what to be aware.

Thank You God for being with me to the end,

It is so amazing Lord, that You are my Friend!

 

Well gang, as you can see I didn’t need to panic (which I thought about doing) and everything has turned out just fine for my dilemma.  I almost erased the first part of the blog I wrote but then decided otherwise.  I think it is important to be able to express how we truly feel, and as I’ve said previously, what I write is part blog, part journal.  If I am going to share my days I might as well share both the me I’d like you to see, as well as, the me I’d rather you not see.  Isn’t it wonderful that none of us are perfect and that God loves us anyway?

 

Thank You God for loving me even when I grumble a bit.

Thank You God for Your peace during my consternation.

Thank You Lord that You are always there for me to call upon.

Thank You for the solution to my situation.

And Lord, special thanks that my ongoing problem was also solved this evening.

Thank You for goat cheese and tomatoes.  They made a delicious dinner as I sat here conversing with the Geek Squad on my screen.

Thank You Lord for toothpicks.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

P.S.  And I have written my password down and saved it in a safe place!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday May 21 2016  PLANTING DAY

Finally, the night temperature should now be above the 30’s and 40’s at night.  Anyway, that is what the global weather forecast says on my IPhone.  Do I trust it?  I guess I do because Dave and I planted window boxes, perennials, tomatoes, and herbs.  I planted my favorite outdoor perennial, red geraniums.  Every year I plant them in pots for the front yard and three pots for the outdoor sun-room landing.  In the past I planted seven for the landing so I could have them lining the side of the steps as well.  But, not anymore.  Downsizing you know!  Two big pots in the front of the house and three smaller pots for the side of the house, and that is it.  I do have the remnants of three geraniums still in the house (a variety of pinks) that Dave planted in pots last year while I was gone. 

For years I brought all my geraniums into the house during fall, winter, and early spring.  I usually had at least nine potted geraniums.  Some of them sat on the floor and others on stands and tables during the winter months.  The plants would grow us out of the room.  I had plants on the floor that literally grew as high as my chest and their circumference was huge.  The ones on stands also grew humongous.  I think the ones on the floor grew so tall in order to reach the height of the windows.  They bloomed all winter and amazed anyone who came over to visit.  I had to regularly snap off the shedding old blossoms.  One day while breaking off the old blooms I counted them.  On that one occasion I snipped off over 200 spent blooms.  The opened blooms grew larger than my fist and I have large hands.  I did not fertilized them in the winter. 

Along about the first part of April each year I would reluctantly (but relieved too) cut all the branches back close to the pot.  New growth would soon begin to bud and by mid-May they were ready for their place of residence in the yard.  Once again, with frequent fertilizing, they would grow large and begin blooming.  I brought the same plants into the house (some having grown to larger pots) for nine years.  I felt like I was abandoning longtime friends when I had to give them away and discard the ones I could not find homes for.  Somewhere in one of my computers I have photos of those amazingly cheerful winter days in my sun-room. 

So red it is again.  My pots are planted with new plants.  I brought the three pink geraniums in last season and they were doing wonderfully all winter in the sun-room except for the fact that there were only a few small blooms.  And, now sitting in my sun-room are three scraggly plants.  I left them with a friend for a month while Dave I went south for a few weeks.  I asked her to water them very infrequently but she assured me she watered her plants every few days at her house and they all did well.  However, geraniums need to dry out between watering or the leaves will turn yellow and fall off.  I cautioned her about it but I don’t think she followed my instructions.  When we returned home the branches were about 90 to 95 per cent bare of leaves.  The soil was saturated.  She felt so bad about it but it was really no big deal to me.  I simply cut them back severely and they have pretty much recuperated nicely.  I will start acclimating them to outside exposure tomorrow.  I may even plant them in the ground in my perennial garden in the back yard.  It will be a nice experiment to see how they do.

Spring has truly arrived.  Unfortunately we had one last frost last week and crops were affected at the farm where we buy our summer vegetables.  Our first delivery was Thursday for early greens.  The asparagus crop was lost in part and all the corn plantings were frozen.  So we will not receive corn on the cob this season.  There are but 90 anticipated growing days in Wisconsin.  There is no time left to start another crop before the anticipated fall freeze. 

Spring and summers are quite brief here in the north-lands.  Perhaps you can understand why walking in the woods and enjoying the wild flowers, and going to the arboretum to experience the lilacs, and belonging to the local Botanical Gardens is so important.   At the first sign of good weather outdoor activities explode.  Quickly the highways and roads and bike paths are teeming with bike riders.  Today on the way to the gym I must have seen over a hundred bicycle riders on the country roads.  They were in groups with matching team clothes on so an event must have been taking place.  Today was our first real jacket-less day.  So spring is finally here!  I know it is already summer for many of those who read this blog.  But don’t feel sorry for me.  I actually enjoy each short season as well as our long winters which can last six months.  Enjoy every day wherever you are.  And remember for those of you who swelter in the southern climates for months on end we sometimes only need our air conditioner for total of two or three weeks out of each summer.

 

THE DAYS OF SUMMER AND RAIN

By Kathleen Martens

May 21, 2016

 

Long awaited  days of summer and rain

Have finally tiptoed in again.

All the ice that winter sends

Blue skies and warmth soon will mend.

 

Spring has sprung it all her glory

As colorful blooms convey her story.

Dirty fingernails and grimy hands,

A badge upon which the gardener stands.

 

To once again smell the rose

And view the firefly in twilight pose,

The heart will sing the feet will dance

During the weeks we have the chance.

 

Backyard barbeques fired in haste

Not one day will go to waste.

Sights to see and sounds to hear

Before winter once again comes near.

 

What a joy to gaze at green

In backyard splendor and summer’s sheen,

And smell the fragrance of the earth

That springtime once again has birthed.

 

Early mornings and later nights

Are God’s gift of extended light.

And the time will pass too soon

When we once again view winter’s moon.

 

God, thank You for your boundless treasure of flowers.

Thank You Lord for being so immensely creative.

Thank You for red geraniums.

Thank You for cow manure.

And thank You Lord for the feel of Your earth in my hands.

Thank You for springtime.

And special thanks tonight for all the birds I heard today. 

Thanks for staples too.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU

Friday May 20 2016  INTERLUDE IN THE WOODS

When you least expect it a day seems to blossom as the hours leisurely go by.  I feel as if I have had a vacation, short though it was.  Dave left for the gym and I decided before I started unpacking again I would cut some lilacs off our small bush in the back yard and take them through the woods to our neighbor.  Carolyn loves lilacs and does not have her own bush.  I know she likes to go to garage sales and would probably be gone so I planned to leave the vase of flowers in her gazebo.  As I was walking toward the gazebo I noticed her back door was opened so I gave her a holler.  We had a short visit and I started my walk home. 

In order to walk to Carolyn’s I must traverse a short distance through the woods which leads to her backyard.  While walking home I came to where the path in the woods would take me home or I could take another path and end up in a maze.  I opted for the maze.  It was early and shafts of sunlight were scattered about highlighting little patches on the woods floor.  After a short walk deeper into the woods it felt as if I had entered an ethereal sanctuary.  It seemed to be a peaceful refuge from the outside world.  Several species of bird songs flittered back and forth.  The leaves on the trees were a delicate, yet vibrant, yellow green that is only experienced in early spring.  And then I noticed all around me were little flowers peeking out, almost as if they were hiding from a stranger who had interloped into their private dwelling.

And what was the first thing that popped out!  Ah Ha!  I had my cell phone with me!  And so the photo session began.  Now what would I have done had it been my week of no phone use?  After all, these flowers are here for such a fleeting time.  I suppose I would have survived without it. But, since I had the opportunity to take them I will share them with you.  It took me a lot longer to arrive home than it did for me to walk to Carolyn’s.

I worked several hours unpacking storage boxes and then had to stop so I could make lunch.  We had a guest coming today.  Two guests in one week!  I loved it.  Jalen is a young man I met at the gym where I work out.  He is currently in college.  He loves the Lord and we love to talk about God.  He is a hardworking, diligent, and persevering young man.  He is the kind of young man that gives me hope for the future of our country.  Jalen is the kind of young man you would be proud to call your son.  He is on school break right now so I asked him to come over and have lunch with Dave and me.  We had a wonderful lunch, great conversation, and an amazingly leisurely afternoon.  I asked him if he liked the woods and when he said he loves walking in wooded areas I invited him to take a walk with me. 

So, twice in one day I was able to take a restful and relaxing stroll through our back yard woods.  Again, it was totally awesome.  The sun was overhead now but was covered with a thick layer of clouds.  The lighting was amazing, a photographer’s dream.  I used to pray for overcast days when I photographed outdoor weddings.  Everything looked so different in the woods from what it looked like earlier in the day.  The woods glowed, as if a magic light hovered over the flower-lined pathways.  Small, gentle, shy flowers were peeking out if one took time to look closely.  At first Jalen had a bit of consternation in trying to find the illusive flowers, but in the end, with a little coaxing and bending and stooping, he too was able to see the exquisite beauty that I had captured earlier on my IPhone camera.  He was delighted. 

The afternoon passed and evening set in.  It was time for me to write my blog and I didn’t even need to think of what I wanted to write about.  I just knew I had to share my mini vacation day with my friends in blogland.  And truth be told, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated.  Perhaps because of the walk in the woods, or perhaps it was just the company of a bright, energetic, and wonderful young man that took time out of his precious week off from classes, to come and share part of his life with us for one glorious afternoon.  We loved having him.

 

THE CARESS OF GOD

By Kathleen Martens

May 20, 2016

 

It is awesome to spend time

At a leisurely pace.

Taking time to talk.

And look another in the face.

 

To take a stroll in the deep woods,

Spongy earth creating carpet of green.

The light cascading in magical dance,

Enchanted brilliance of wispy streams.

 

And to see smiles peeking about,

Little flowers, the caress of God.

I could just imagine them dancing,

And didn’t even think it odd.

 

The woods are magic

When one is alone.

But when there are two

Joint worship is known.

 

All in all the day was sublime,

Inspiring, uplifting, and grand!

It was if the entire time

God was holding my hand.

 

Thank You God for showing me Your majesty today.

Thank You for our young friend’s company today.

Thank You for my much needed interlude of peace.

Thank You Lord for all You bring into my life.

Thank You Lord for Jalen and his heart turned toward You.

Thank You for the hope You put in my heart.

Thank You for May Apples.  (Photo included)

Thank You for speaking to me in so many ways.

Thank You for toothpaste.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU. 

 

 

 

 

Thursday May 19 2016  Oh WOW!

Oh WOW is the only way I can think to describe my feelings right now. 

I have a room.  A versatile, multipurpose room.  One wall is entire ceiling to floor shelves built to withstand a tornado (because my husband built them).  The shelves go the length of the 16 foot wall.  This room is an interior room without a window so it cannot be used as a bedroom.  In one large corner area the laundry shoot receptacle hangs down from the floor above and is elevated over an “L” shaped, kitchen like counter, with shelves and drawers under the Formica counter.  Opposite the shelves is a large, free standing, entertainment center that is home to all my framing tools (plus a lot more).  In the center of the room is a custom designed framing table made from an old large office desk elevated on a platform with wheels.  It takes up a big portion of the floor space.  Every shelf and drawer of the freestanding unit is full and there is not one clear space on any vertical surface.  If my sister could see this room right about now she would be ashamed of me.  At this moment I’m glad she lives in California.

The floor space is also nonexistent.  I am on a mission!  A formidable mission!  And I wage war on my own terms.  I am having a garage sale in about 4 weeks and hope to pare down this room, plus many more.  I am running out of space in our downstairs family room, also known as the Photography Studio.  The garage is available to accept the “stuff”, but I haven’t yet wanted to haul it up all the stairs, nor walk around the inclined driveway outside.  This week I have cleaned out a few drawers under the laundry shoot area, and today went through the total sum of two portions of the shelving space and a little corner space on the floor.  That’s it!  There are a total of fifteen, shelf area sections, three across and five levels up stacked from floor to ceiling.  The entertainment center also has lots of drawers and shelves totally full.  Plus, the “desk”, also known as the framing table, is full of drawers, as well as shelves on the raised platform beneath it.  I hope I have drawn a mental picture for you because I certainly won’t take a snapshot on my camera to show you.  I would be embarrassed.  As I unpacked the boxes on the shelves everything exponentially expanded. 

I said all that to tell you I worked too late this evening to spend much time on my blog.  I just couldn’t pull myself away.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.  I wanted EVERYONE to know just how hard I am working.  Even if no one reads my blog tonight I will at least have this story written down so I can remember how hard I once worked.

 

MEMORIES AWAIT

By Kathleen Martens

May 19, 2016

 

Oh the boxes that await my pilfering

Are like treasure chests I remember not.

But I know I packed them all

And for many of the things I’ve sought.

 

The item’s need long past, and I wonder why

I purchased it in the first place.

So much packed away without a purpose

Taking up my valuable space.

 

Now that I’ve started to shed the past

It’s exciting to see what’s unearthed.

Sort of like each box is waiting

For a long awaited birth.

 

“Pregnant boxes”, that’s quite a thought,

It’s just I don’t know what will come out.

And let me tell you, it’s a lot of pain

A quite laborious, laboring route.

 

But it will be great when it ends,

And everything is brought to the light.

And the best thing of all will be

When it takes its final flight.

 

(Sort of like how it is when the last kid finally goes to college!)

 

I promise not to bore you daily about my “stuff”.  Right now, it is just a big overwhelming part of my daily life, unpacking so much.  We have 14 rooms in this house plus 3 bathrooms and a huge attached shop in the lower level (20X40 feet).  I say that not to boast, but rather to solicit more sympathy for my plight.  It’s too bad the rooms are not filled with treasures, but alas, it is just 30 plus years of accumulation in one house (not to mention all we brought with us when we moved in).

 

God, I thank You for the desire I have now to get rid of all the unnecessary. 

God, thank You for providing what we have needed over all these years.

Thank You again Lord for the energy to do what I am able to at this time in my life.

And I always thank You for my peanut butter.

Thank You for the beautiful sunshine today.

Thank You for paper shredders.

Thank You God that I still have a purpose even though much of my stuff does not.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

Wednesday May 18 2016  TIME VERSES STUFF

The more stuff I own, the less time I have.  Realistically we all have the same 24 hours in our day.  It is just that some days seem as if they are shortened.  So I sat back and thought a bit.  What is it that is taking up so much of my time?  I have discovered one of the greatest culprits for me is my IPhone.  So what do I do about it? 

Years ago I watched quite a bit of television.  It was before my hearing became so bad and during a period of time when I couldn’t walk without pain.  I was extremely overweight and had a difficult job as I was on my feet a big portion of my work day.  When I was able to get off my feet I watched television or read books.  After becoming acquainted with a variety of TV series I believe I became addicted to certain shows.  I was attending college classes in the evening during that time and I remember hurrying home to “watch my program”.   Television became very important to me.  In retrospect I now realize those days too seemed to not have enough hours. 

After foot surgery and a period of recovery I was able to be on my feet more, opened my own photography business, and then had no time to watch television.  Then on the occasions when I would try to watch a program, I could no longer hear it effectively, so I pretty much just gave it up.  My life blossomed and I was so busy after that but I did accomplish a lot of work.  And now I need to accomplish a lot but my time seems to evaporate.

So, after deliberating as to where my time was evaporating, I think I have it narrowed down to a few culprits.  Being gone for two plus hours each morning to exercise is one of the time gobblers.  Another reason is the time it takes for me to write and proof my blogs on a daily basis.  The third reason is the time it takes for me to try to stay on top of all that finds its way to me through this modern gadget, the IPhone.  Me and the IPhone is another one of those love/hate relationships.  I dare not google anything because then I am inundated with unsolicited emails from a myriad of businesses that now know I am interested in a certain topic.  I think it even happens when I order an MP3 book from the library to listen to, or order a hard-copy book from half.com or Amazon.com.  It is exasperating. 

My dilemma is, how do I settle this time management situation?  I must exercise for health and so that is a must.  I enjoy writing this blog and do not want to stop doing so.  So it seems that I must get rid of this phone!  So I have decided to TRY to do one thing about it.  Since I have so much work to accomplish at home to downsize our belongings, I must put my phone away.  So here is the plan I formulated.  I am going to TRY (and the operative word is TRY) to set my phone aside for one week out of each month.  My first thought was to not use any electronics (Iphone, computer, TV.) for one week out of each month to just to see how simple my life might become without all the interruption.  I’ve asked myself, can I do it?  I ask you, do you think you could do it?  Take into consideration that I am retired and do not need to use the computer or phones for a job and some may not have that advantage.  COULD I DO IT?  That is the question.  Do I want to do it?  No, not really, but I sure would like to get a lot of other things accomplished.

And then comes the realization that what I need to do is work on the book I HOPE to publish (along with downsizing) but would not be allowed to use the computer on the week without electronics, so therefore, even though I wasn’t using the IPhone, I would still be using electronics.  So maybe the first step is just to release myself from the grasp of the cyber world and use the computer to strictly work on printing hardcopy for proofing, and zeroing in on accomplishing as much as possible during my Iphone-less week.  In other words, I would limit myself from the internet in all venues.  I’ll split my time between exercise, blog, printing, and downsizing.  The question I ask myself is:  CAN I DO IT?  WILL I DO IT?  And I ask myself, does that mean I won’t be able to listen to my sermons on my IPhone at the gym?  Oh man…this will not be easy.  Maybe I should just start with one day.

That means no talking on the cell phone, no emails, no messages, AND NO TAKING PHOTOS!!!  I might have to get my camera out again!  Taking pictures is just in my blood.

 

BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS

By Kathleen Martens

May 18, 2016

 

Oh the dilemma of what to do

When there is so much to ensue.

The age of knowledge is to blame,

And all the gadgets we can name.

 

Phones and televisions, computers and mouse,

VCR’s and Blue Rays around the house.

IPhones and headsets, and google chrome

Seem to invade our personal home.

 

Screens and T.V.’s in enormous size

As their importance seem to rise.

Radios and boom boxes from the past,

Everything upgraded, nothing lasts.

 

The latest this and the latest that,

Is what makes the profits fat.

And we just can’t be left behind,

We NEED the latest fashion design!

 

And all the upgrades are a must,

For the latest version, so many lust.

Pull out the plastic and slap it down

To buy the newest thing in town.

 

And soon the world is in your hand,

And now with buttons you command.

And relationships are no longer needed,

Only Facebook is what is heeded.

 

And dreams fly by as you move your thumbs,

And the heart becomes a little numb.

Click here, click there, that’s what life is about,

And without that phone you have no clout.

 

So what to do when you decide to live?

What in your day has to give?

Just how do we get back on track?

Perhaps it’s the gadgets we need to lack.

 

I’ll let you know if I get down and serious!

 

God, thank You for “THE AGE OF KNOWLEDGE” of which You speak about in Your Holy Word.

Thank You Father that You have prepared me to be aware of what is to come during this age.

Thank You Lord for opening my eyes to the fact that I need to focus on You instead of all the gadgets that surround me.

Thank You for my friend Michelle who came over today.

Thank You Lord for the health I have this day.

Thank You Lord for all the nutritious food Your earth provides for me.

Thank You for staplers.

Thank You for binders.

Thank You again for peanut butter.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

P.S.  Oops!  I think my blog is probably too long tonight.  I just looked at the time and it is later than I thought.

 

 

Tuesday May 17 2016   WHAT TO WRITE?

 

“Faced with the prospect of voting for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, Mary Anne Noland of Richmond chose, instead to pass into the eternal love of God, “ the obit published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

Noland died Sunday after a battle with lung cancer.  Her husband said her son wrote the obituary’s opening line, the Hill reported.  (“The Hill” is a website read by the White House and more lawmakers than any other site—vital for policy, …”).

 

Well, as I was thinking what to write Dave came in and read me the above news item.  I guess that is one way of getting out of voting for the lesser of the two evils.  (That’s my comment).

As I have said before, I do not intend this blog to become a battle ground politically but I just couldn’t resist my “tongue-in-cheek” comment.  (Dictionary definition of tongue-in-cheek is:  “without really meaning what one is saying or writing”.)

 

WHOEVER WINS

By Kathleen Martens

May 17, 2016

 

One way to vote might be to die,

But not the way I’d surely try.

But oh for the answer to this quiz,

Who is the best Presidential whiz?

 

Pickings are slim to say the least,

We know not the kind of beast

That calls out in plaintive cry,

Or who is speaking truth or lie.

 

It is scary whoever wins

Because the world so full of sin.

There’s not much from which to choose,

WHOEVER WINS WE STILL ALL LOSE.

 

I just really do not know

If I have stepped on any toes.

I’m in a quandary and that’s a fact.

Our system is floundering, if we don’t act.

 

In reflection I sincerely say

This election is not fun or play.

Our country’s outcome is at stake.

Both candidates are a big mistake.

 

God, thank You for being in control, even when it seems everything is out of control.

Thank You Lord for Your protection this day.

Thank You Lord for all the prayers You answer.

Thank You for raspberry jalapeno jam!

Thank You for Your love, grace, and mercy.

And thank You for my washing machine.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU

 

 

 

 

 

Monday May 16 2016  UNWANTED GUESTS 

Fortunately the “unwanted guests” I speak about do not know I have a blog.  That’s a good thing.  We are currently sharing our premises with a couple of picky, uninvited (and as I am finding out daily), destructive guests.  They are up very early in the morning, sometimes even before daybreak.  Though I give them credit, they are extremely quiet to be making such a big mess of things.   They only like to eat what they want to eat, which are things I don’t necessarily want to give them.  They make messes where I least expect it and are undermining more than just my hospitality.

We even resorted to consulting with someone today (behind their back) to figure out a way we could best be rid of them before they do more damage than they already have.  So what to do?  In order to be politically correct I will refrain from mentioning what I would like to do to them.

We don’t confront them often and I think they know they have a good thing going here and don’t want to upset the apple cart.  Well, what they don’t know is that my patience and tolerance is about up.  They have done enough damage, eaten more than I can even imagine, and do absolutely nothing to clean up after themselves.

So, who are these guests?  They are generations of groundhogs.  GREAT BIG GROUNDHOGS!  And did you know that one groundhog can undermine and cause an entire barn to collapse?  These buggers are living under our playhouse in the back yard and have an underground highway system that leads directly to our terrace.  We have a terrace out back that was once an in ground pool.  From our back door we walk down a shallow flight of steps to get to it.  Then the fenced in area is surrounded by huge slabs of cement.  Years ago after our children outgrew using the pool we had it filled in.  It had to be filled in with the same dynamics as a septic system, with drains so that the water would drain out of the grassy area.  On the left end as you look at the terrace from the house, is an embankment with a sloping rock wall from the grass below to the cement height. 

Mr. and Mrs. Groundhog has a direct access to our rock wall and have dug under the rocks to set up their condominium under the cement slabs above.  They are undermining one end of our yard.  The cement slab is beginning to sink.  We discovered in our consultation this afternoon with a landscaper that he would not even begin to work on the damage done until we have confirmation that our guests have been expunged once and for all.  We will even have our old play house razed and hauled away to make it happen.  This play house is constructed just like a solidly built house on cement foundation and is very heavy and large for a playhouse.  It was already built here when we bought our place.

So…how do we go about eviction!  That is our dilemma today.  It seems that there is always a new twist in life when we least expect it.  I will say that I will be happy to see them go and hopefully will enjoy viewing all the flowers and shrubbery they will no longer eat.   And so…the saga continues.

 

GOODBYE LITTLE HOUSE

By Kathleen Martens

May 16, 2016

 

Our little red house

Knows not its demise.

I hope when it goes

I will not cry.

 

Under its roof

Memories abound.

Where spray painted walls

May be found.

 

And real glass windows

Created much fun

As target practice

For our boy’s BB-gun.

 

Now unbreakable glass resides,

And never again broken!

Because stern measures

Were severely spoken!

 

And for senior portraits

The red enhanced,

A part of the background,

And not by chance.

 

And little wreaths

Graced the door,

And I always thought

There would be more.

 

But the groundhog family,

As fancy squatters abound,

Created an environment

That is now unsound.

 

So out they go

Quicker than a flash!

And I hope it is swiftly

So my hopes aren’t dashed!

 

Goodbye little house

I will miss you I’m sure.

You’ve been a great friend

Who has long endured.

 

 

Lord, thank You for all the animals you have created. 

And thank You that we had the opportunity to enjoy our little squatters.

Thank You God for the beauty of your creation and all I see when I look out my windows.

Thank You too that I have been privileged to live among your beautiful designs.

Thank You for the knowledge of others who know so much more than I could even think of knowing.

Thank You for keys.

Thank You for mangoes.

Good night and God bless all of you. 

P.S.  I  suppose Mr. and Mrs. Groundhog thought our” flowers were the smiles of God’s goodness too!”  Those little buggers sure did like them (still do as they are not yet gone).

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath  May 15 2016   THE PRESENT IS OUR TREASURE

As a follow-up to yesterday’s blog I must at least tell you what happened last night when I was closing my laptop computer down after writing my blog.  If you didn’t have a chance to read May 14^th blog you may want to do so as it will give you better more sympathy toward my dilemma of last night.  Friday and Saturday were taken up with a vicious online takeover of my desk top computer.  It is back home safe and sound.  As I shut off this computer that I am working on now my shutdown button would not allow my computer to turn off regardless of how many times I tried.

TO THE RESCUE, I pop out my Geek Squad number and get hooked up online to see if they could fix my problem.  When I went to bed sometime a bit before 1:00 a.m. it was intact as well.  That is enough of computer woes.  All is well that ends well.

And now today is my wonderful Sunday Sabbath.  A day of refreshment and rest.  For me, the “REST” I accomplish is working on whatever I love to work on.  And today that is a quick blog and then off to see the grand-kids.  We will have a movie and popcorn night.  We are going for an early light dinner and to play a bit before the movie time.  Movie time is very exciting for the boys because they are not allowed access to television and are limited in computer screen time.  And grandma and grandpa are always excited for movie time because that means relaxing in large over-sized leather recliners with all the popcorn we could possibly eat and the boys are actually quiet and still.  That doesn’t happen very often (the quiet and still part that is).  And the movie is usually excellent and something we would not even think of picking out for ourselves to watch.   So, we are exploring the world of movies in a new century with new little kiddos.

The older boy is now a book bug and the younger boy takes after his grandma with a penchant for talking.  It may be unfortunate for some to realize he may even take after me in more ways than one.  After writing a blog the other day entitled “Breathtaking Beauty” I received an email from my sister who is 9 years older than me.  After reading my words she wrote me an email telling me that I have been the very same since I was 6 years old.  I think she meant full of life and dreams, with my head in the clouds, and that I talk a lot.  And perhaps she meant that I might have always had the characteristics of being on the artistic side of life (which means a bit messy).  If I am wrong sister dear, just clue me in.  I am saying all that to say, if Xander stays the same from a little boy to manhood, he may end up with some of my same characteristics.  Especially the one that includes being an excessive talker.  He can really keep a person entertained.  I especially enjoy hearing him talk because some of his stories remind me of the same way I viewed the world at his age and beyond.  And being expressive is a must.  He lives life with passion.  I hope I do the same until I go to heaven!  And just so you know, if you don’t live that way now, I imagine you will once you step into heaven!  Perhaps I just won’t be so messy anymore.

Zachariah enjoys talking too but often he is hard to find when hiding out with a book.  I am so happy to see him enjoying the written word.  That has always been one of my favorite things to do.  If I have a good book I need no other entertainment.

 

THE PRESENT IS OUR TREASURE

By Kathleen Martens

May 15, 2016

 

Just a little Sunday hello

To greet you this fine day.

And tell you what we have in store

When I’ve nothing much to say.

 

But there are topics up my sleeve

That will take a bit longer to tell.

But I will need to wait on that

When I have a bit longer spell.

 

Life is busy for the old folks

Enjoying all the pleasure

That God doles out moment by moment,

For the present is our treasure.

 

I truly believe that God delights

In each moment that we live.

Enjoying what we do in the moment

Are the gifts God delightfully gives.

 

I truly do believe that God delights when we learn to live in the moment as we trust Him for whatever may come.

 

Thank You God for the awareness of actually living in the present.

Thank You for this lovely day of rest with two little boys in the mix.

Thank You that our children love us.

Thank You Lord for spinach and turnips.

Thank You for quiet.

 

God bless you and enjoy your Sunday Sabbath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday May 14 2016  A REAL LIFE STORY

ALERT TO ALL MY READERS:

Last evening when I was going through emails I clicked on a website and up popped a red screen with a voice speaking loudly above the din of siren like noise.  It warned me I had been invaded by a malware virus and that I was not to shut my computer down or I would lose all my files.  The voice and screen gave me a phone number in big print to call IMMEDIATELY.  It said that I would reach Microsoft and they would walk me through the steps to get rid of the malware virus. 

Immediately I thought this was a SCAM with capital letters.  I called Dave in and told him what happened.  I said regardless of what the screen is yelling at me I will not call that number.  I quickly called the GEEK SQUAD which is the I.T. section at Best Buy.  The Geek Squad is a service I subscribe to that comes to my rescue when I hit the wall with computer problems.  They have been a lifesaver to me in the past just as they were last night. 

I was informed that it was a BIG TIME SCAM and if I had called the number on I would have been locked into their scheme for future PHISHING SCAMS.  The phone messenger would inform me that I would need to pay by credit card online to have them repair it and then I would never hear from them again, nor would it be repaired.  But, they would now have my credit card number and I would be on their list forever.  Unfortunately for me it meant taking my big tower into Best Buy so it could be worked on to clear the malware.  The website that took control of my computer has some way of locking up computers which renders them unusable.  In reality it was not a malware virus but rather a website.  That is how it gets around all the anti-virus programs like Norten or Webroot.   It does not register as a virus but registers as a website.  I was able to get an appointment as the last customer of the day and took my tower into Best Buy.  I was able to pick up my tower today.

I tell you this story so if this ever happens to you that you will not call the number given on the screen.  Assuming you do no know how to fix it yourself, the most important thing to do is to unhook your computer, and get it to a reputable place that knows how to deal with this type of problem.  It was my desktop PC that was infiltrated and not the laptop computer I use for my blog writing.

I left the house at 8:30 a.m. today and arrived home about 6:30 p.m.  While I was out I did a bit of research on a new computer as I need to update my Apple computer so it can handle my updated camera which I used on my trip last year.  I still haven’t seen any photos from my trip other than those on my IPhone.  My older Apple computers will not accept the new technology of my newest camera.  One thing led to the other and it took all day to do what I had to do.

 

A REAL LIFE STORY

By Kathleen Martens

May 14, 2016

 

Consternation

With a great big “C”

Are what computers

Are to me.

 

Can’t live with them

Can’t live without.

But Geek Squad membership

Gives me great clout!

 

All said and done,

My computer is now well.

Such a good ending

For me to tell.

 

The Best Buy Geek Squad

Came to my aid.

On many occasions

My days they’ve made!

 

And one day later

Back at home.

And now I have

No need to moan.

 

So a real life story

Comes in bits and pieces,

And because it is late

My writing ceases.

 

This was just a day in my life.  Sorry I didn’t have anything more interesting to write about.  My computer problems took up my day, my energy, and any work I may have accomplished.  But, it was all worth it!  

 

God, thank You for allowing me the energy that I needed today.

Thank You Lord for the beautiful glimpse of the sky as I was taking clothes off the clothesline this evening.

Thank You Lord for placing a smile in my heart through this long arduous day.

Thank You that my computer is home safe and I actually (with Dave’s help) got it all back together and working.

Thank You for the “before pictures” I took of everything plugged into the back of my computer.  It helped a lot in getting it all plugged in correctly.

Thank You for cherry tomatoes.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday May 13 2015  A LOOK BACK AT MY DREAMS

As I look back over the last few years it is apparent to me that a lot of things in my life have changed.  I’ve experienced health issues, surgeries, retirement, traveling around the country solo, toured many gardens, done a lot of cooking, scheduled in a few free days, read many books, written several songs, cleaned out my drawers, purged some of my house-clutter, done a lot of writing, done a lot of praying, and walked many miles on the treadmill.  But one thing hasn’t changed.  I have never yet been bored!

Today was another decluttering day.  While going through piles of old papers I came across a few things I wanted to save and file in certain places.  One place I wanted to stick something was in a journal written in October 2010.  As the journal opened up to one of the last pages I noticed a poem I had written.   I read it through and it made me smile.  Like I’ve said before, after I write a poem and then type it up to stick in my journal I very rarely ever read them again.  I think I was meant to see this one today.  It spoke to my heart and as I thought about it I realized that many of the different things I wrote about have actually come true.  I will include the poem here.  After I read it once more I hopefully will be inspired to write a poem about today.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I’D RATHER DO

By Kathleen Martens

October 16, 2010

 

There are so many things I’d rather do

Than that which must be done.

So many tasks, some old some new,

But I’d rather have some fun.

 

Fun for me might not be

What others might delight.

Just to have a day that’s free

To go and fly a kite.

 

To wander in the woods below

And pick a wild flower.

To stop and sit when I feel slow

And dawdle by the hour.

 

Read a book, write a song,

Think hard and reach the sky.

Pray on my knees where I belong

And let my soul soar high.

 

Or go and visit a dear friend

And help her with her task.

Reach out to others and help them mend

And do what they may ask.

 

I’d write a poem and type it up,

Finish the book I daily write.

Drink some tea from my special cup

And only do what’s right.

 

I’d cook a meal to give away

And then take it to someone,

And give no thought to the time of day,

And lift my face to the sun.

 

All my drawers I’d like to clean

And walk down memory lane.

Polish my windows to a sheen

And hang my portraits in lovely frames.

 

Maybe even watch Glenn Beck,

Get caught up on all his shows.

Were days no longer a scattered wreck,

I’d have time to take a doze.

 

I would sit and sing a song of praise

And dance before my God.

Then quietly in his presence laze

And he would not even think it odd.

 

I’d take a drive on a country road

And revel in the beauty I see.

And soon I’d be free of my heavy load,

If all my days were free.

 

I don’t think I could ever be bored,

There are so many things undone.

All day long it would be me and my Lord

And together we’ve have some fun.

 

Just to have time to play with trains

On the floor with my little Zach.

My little grandson with such brains

Who loves to lay the tracks.

 

To lie next to the man of my life

Who is the extension of my very being.

And just talk and talk throughout the night

Feeling His love so freeing.

 

I’d go visit my children, for I’d have the time,

And make a nuisance of myself.

And find a word for this line to rhyme

And perhaps even clean a shelf.

 

I’d take my camera and see the world

From the view of my lens.

Beautiful images I’d unfurl

And capture my every whim.

 

I’d do my scrapbook late into the night

And have fun until time for bed.

Creating pages of beautiful sights

For my kids to enjoy when I’d dead.

 

I’d never ever run out of things

That I would like to do.

Not enough hours a day brings,

My hours are always too few.

 

Today my fun is but a dream

That someday will come true.

So I’ll settle for a bowl of ice cream

Then on the treadmill I’ll pay my due.

 

When I wrote the above poem I was in the throes of photography and had absolutely no life.  The only time I had to myself was when I shut myself in my quiet place to be with the Lord and wrote in my journal and created a poem.  My time with the Lord was how I kept my sanity.  At that time in my life I could not do one thing except work.  But now it is different.

 

AND I LOVE IT!

 

AND I LOVE IT

By Kathleen Martens

May 13, 2016

 

Six years later life is different

From what it was back then.

And oh am I ever so glad.

I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

 

No babies to raise, no diapers to do,

And no school bells to ring.

All the graduation parties are over

And now my heart can sing.

 

I loved my life all the way through,

Each phase was as it should be.

But when the last kid moved away,

It was the first time I ever felt free.

 

That is, until my passion rose

And the camera lens became my eye.

It seemed to open new horizons

As if I had grown wings to fly.

 

But it too was finally long enough

And once again I wanted to land.

It seemed to take my life away,

My time not mine to command.

 

Now I am just where I should be,

Older, and hopefully wiser too.

And my goal is to enjoy each year,

Whether many years or few.

 

I still have many tasks ahead

In order to get things done.

I plan to do them all

As well as have some fun.

 

My desires are no longer a dream

Because many have already come true.

And I’m still never, ever bored

Because hours are still too few.

 

Just not enough time in one day

When I can squeeze everything in.

And I know tomorrow never comes

For it has no hours to lend.

 

Thank You God for all the dreams You have helped me fulfill.

Thank You for bringing that poem to my attention today. 

Thank You for opening my eyes to all the possibilities that lie before me.

Thank You too Lord for the energy and stamina to get so much done today.

Thank You Lord for all the wonderful memories I am uncovering as I declutter.

Thank You for the joy you put in my heart.

Thank You for shredders.

Thank You for entire days at home.

Thank You Lord for my journals.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

P.S.  Thank You God that I am never bored!

 

 

 

Wednesday May 11 2016  DO NOT LOSE YOURSELF

God gives us the gift of life.  What we do with it is our gift back to Him. 

A few moments ago Dave was perusing a newspaper add insert.  It was for a store that sells items that a Home Depot store would sell.  He made the comment, “Life is sort of like this ad paper.  If you don’t need it, then it is unnecessary.”  He went on to remind me of a sermon we both heard at our church about 40 years ago.  The pastor said, “First we buy the motorcycle, the motor home, and then the boat.  And then we spend all our time taking care of them and have no time to use them.”  If we don’t use them, then they too are unnecessary.

Life gets like that.  We accumulate, we store, we clean, and we forget why we ever bought it in the first place.  We eventually become so embroiled with all the “things” that we have no more room for anything else.  So it is the same with what we do.  We do all it takes to keep a household running; shopping, cooking, children’s needs, parent’s needs, friend’s needs, church needs, and we eventually forget how to take care of ourselves.  Just like the “stuff” that gets placed on the shelf and forgotten, we place ourselves on the shelf and forget who we are and who we were meant to be. 

Yes, there are life tasks that must be done, but does that mean we must lose our self in the melee?  I read a quote today from a book titled, “THE GIFT OF A YEAR” by Mira Kirshenbaum.  Here is the quote:

“YOU KNOW YOU CAN WORK SO HARD YOU FORGET TO HAVE A LIFE, AND WHO YOU REALLY ARE, KIND OF GETS LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.”

Sort of like becoming overwhelmed by all that we buy from the ad papers.  We then have so much accumulation we cannot dig ourselves out from underneath it.  That is when we disappear.  We no longer have time to do anything that we might enjoy doing, or accomplishing a goal which we wanted to do for a long time.  We are too busy doing for others or taking care of what we don’t use. 

Maybe it is time to take a look at our own dreams before our life passes us by.  Yes, we do need to do for others, share with others, and at times even take care of others.  But I believe that God also expects us to take care of ourselves.  Spiritually we are to be tuned to God and love Him with all of our hearts, then we are to love ourselves so that we can love others.  If we do not tend to our own spiritual and physical needs we will be in no condition to care for the needs of others.

In the “shuffle of life” we also need to stay tuned to ourselves.  We must set time aside when our needs and goals can be tended and accomplished.  Do not allow yourself to run on empty or you will eventually deplete the resource of self.  Slow down.  Purge the unnecessary and unneeded.  Give yourself a break when you need it.  Fill up on God’s love, then reach out and pass on to others, what God has given to you. 

 

DO NOT GET LOST

By Kathleen Martens

May 11, 2016

 

We need to take time

To be who we are.

Running on empty

Will not get us far.

 

Remember to live

Life every day.

Days run into months,

And the years don’t stay.

 

Do not get lost

In what you acquire,

It soon becomes

A sticky quagmire.

 

To do unto others

Is a good thing,

The returns you receive

Is the joy it brings.

 

Remember God intends

You to do as you should.

He has a plan,

And His plan is good.

 

So set aside time

To remember to live,

To do something you enjoy,

Then, to others you can give.

 

Find something you love

And give it your best.

You will realize it gives

Renewed life and zest!

 

God, thank You for opening my eyes to that which I love to do.

Thank You Lord for all the poems You have placed in my heart so I can give them back to You.

Thank You Lord for helping me see how much I need to release in my life that is so unnecessary.

Thank You Father for every moment I have to live and breathe and worship You.

Thank You God for directing my goals.

Thank You for sharp knives.

Thank You for salmon.  It tastes so good.

Thank You for seeds.

Thank You for clouds.

 

Philippians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!