Sunday Sabbath May 8 2016  IN GOD’S SANCTUARY

I feel like I am a queen.  It’s as if my wish is granted before I even speak it.  I just came outside to write my blog.  Dave intends to put our patio furniture out today and the only table and chair I had available just didn’t quite fit me.  I felt sort of like Goldilocks.  When I sat down, the table almost came to my neck so it was a bit difficult for me to raise my arms high enough to type on my keyboard.  Dave is working in the yard and he heard my comment.  He entered his shop without saying anything and came back a moment later with a big piece of foam rubber that was from an old Lazy Boy chair he dismantled.  That helped a bit but it was still too low.  A minute later, just like magic, my fairy godfather reappears with another piece of chair foam.  And now my chair is perfect!  First it was too low, then it wasn’t high enough, and then…IT WAS JUST RIGHT!

So I sit with a front row view in the sanctuary of God.  The ceiling is blue and white.  The carpet is a deep rich green.  The pillars are made of wood with fresh new growth growing from branches that reach upwards toward heaven.  The décor is in shades of blues and purples, pinks, red, white, and different hues of green.  The air-conditioner is quiet and gently caresses my face with the softness of a gentle breeze.  And the sun that shines through the window of heaven warms my old hands as I type on my keyboard.  

Music swirls around me in harmony.  The fragrance is heady with a hint of lilac.  The sanctuary is decorated with textures and shapes that are all unique and one of a kind.  Fresh greenery and fresh flowers grace the décor in beautifully displayed accents.  And I just sit here and marvel at all the splendor that greets me when I walk out my back door.  God’s sanctuary.  Our backyard.  Dave and I are but stewards of this lovely real estate.  And I thank God from the depths off my heart, that even while I was a little girl, living in a treeless project in government housing, God was growing all these trees for me.  I will never forget that first morning when I awakened after our first night in our new home.  When I looked out the window I realized that God had taken care of all that was before me, knowing I would someday be here.  Perhaps a selfish thought, but at the time all I had in my heart was amazement and gratitude.  And thirty years and hundreds of plants later, we are still here, enjoying the magnificence of our Creator’s artwork.  And I am still amazed.  And I am still grateful.

 

GOD’S BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY

By Kathleen Martens

May 8, 2016

 

Oh, beauty surrounds me,

Gentle, fresh and pure.

How is it that such splendor

Year after year endures?

 

The gentleness of spring

And summer’s short glory,

Are but a small segment

Of our backyard story.

 

Autumn in her plumage

Dressed to the nines.

With color so dazzling

It blows my mind.

 

To complete the cycle

Freezing winds blow,

And the earth snuggles

Beneath mounds of snow.

 

A new gift to open

As months bring new seasons.

God never tires of giving,

Is just one of the reasons.

 

And the earth rejoices

As new life is born.

And each day presents

A fresh new morn.

 

No matter the day,

The month, or the year,

God’s beautiful Sanctuary,

To my heart is dear.

 

MY WISH FOR ALL MOMS IS THAT THIS YEAR IS YOUR BEST MOTHER’S DAY YET!

 

God, thank You that You trust Dave and I as stewards of Your earth.

Thank You for my vision that enables me to see what is before me.

Thank You for my hearing so I can hear all the birds.

Thank You that I am alive and can feel the breeze blow gently across my face.

Thank You for all the living things that grow around me.

Thank You for colors.

Thank You for the sunshine.

Thank You for lilacs.

Thank You that I can smell the fragrance of the blooming flowers.

Thank You for fresh water to drink.

Thank You Lord for seasons.

Thank You for the smile upon my face for it reflect what is in my heart.

Thank You for my short-handled shovel.

Thank You for trillium (wild flower that grows in the woods).

 

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY SABBATH.

 

P.S.  Dave took a picture of me sitting here typing my blog.  It was a bit cool when I came outside so I grabbed my warmest vest, a pink, puffy, down-filled one, with polka dots.  It is bulky and warm.  I put it over the blouse I wore to church this morning so I really look like a blown-up fashion plate.  Oh well, at least you can see part of God’s sanctuary in my the background.

We have been invited to go to our neighbor’s sanctuary for awhile.  John and Carolyn are very dear to us and live through the path in the woods.  So I must close and do my duty as a good neighbor and go sit in their gazebo and enjoy the beauty of their beautiful yard.  I think I will take off my vest before I go.  My phone reminder just this minute rang!  Whew, finished just in time.  Good bye.

 

 

 

Hi Everyone:

This is actually being written on Saturday so I can just click a couple of buttons on Sunday Sabbath and have it published.  As I mentioned in Saturday’s blog that I will not have time to write a blog for Sunday I am going to publish a few of my favorite poems for those of you who enjoy poetry.  If poetry is not your gig you might just want to read one before deciding to write them off your list.  Who knows, maybe I’ll come up with some interesting ones.  If you aren’t interested after reading one just wait until Monday when I plan to resume my normal routine.  I have only a few minutes in which to do this before I must go and change clothes and leave.

(See the P.S. at the end.  I actually wrote an original poem when I woke up on Sunday.  Please scroll down to read.  It explains about what our weekend is all about.)

I CHOSE TO DO A GARDEN THEME.  I HAVE MANY MORE I COULD HAVE INCLUDED BUT KEPT IT TO JUST FOUR.  I HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM.  I AM CELEBRATING BECAUSE THIS SABBATH IS THE FIRST DAY OF MAY AND THE GARDENS WILL SOON BE BLOOMING HERE IN THIS NORTHERN REGION.

A DAY OF POETRY:

 

IN THE GARDEN OF GOD’S WORD

By Kathleen Martens

June 9, 2012

 

God’s Word is alive and well

In our secret place I stop to dwell.

 

Verse by verse, line by line

No other words quite so fine.

 

Over and over I read the same

And so many verses say my name.

 

As if written just for me

Offering knowledge to set me free.

 

Words of comfort for my pain,

Refreshing as a summer rain.

 

Words that convict the ere of my ways

Giving direction on which path to stay.

 

Words that enlighten my soul’s yearning,

So hungry am I for daily learning.

 

Words warning of what’s to come

I face with confidence for I know God’s Son.

 

The words of salvation, God’s great plan

For those who believe, for every man.

 

I learn how to praise through the Psalms

And I worship freely without qualm.

 

History that teaches me not to dread

For Revelation explains what is ahead.

 

And Proverbs gives instructions for today

So that I will know God’s perfect way.

 

And no matter how often I read,

In my heart God plants His seeds

 

Of fresh insight not understood before

That seems to open brand new doors.

 

New places in God’s garden of words

For faith comes by what I’ve heard.

 

I eat and drink and devour what is said

On these pages from which I’m fed.

 

God’s garden of words alive and well

Where each morning I choose to dwell.

 

 

COME TO MY GARDEN FATHER (SONG)

By Kathleen Martens

July 24, 2013

 

Come into my garden Father,

I’ve opened my gate wide.

Let us take a quiet stroll

Then sit side by side.

 

Come and be with me  Father,

It is only You I seek.

Speak Your Word to my heart

Your Word is the treasure I keep.

 

Come and hold me close Father

That I may breathe in Your aroma.

I learn more in our quiet moments

Than I would with an earned diploma.

 

Come and let me be hold You Father

That I may see Your face

Filled with such love and compassion

Overflowing with mercy and grace.

 

Come so I can offer thanks Father

For all You’ve done for me,

Through the sacrifice of Your Son

You have set me free.

 

Come let me praise You Father

For Your power and glory and might.

You are my strength in time of weakness.

You are my guiding Light.

 

Come into my Garden Father

You are the fragrance that blooms,

The Lilly of the Valley and Rose of Sharon,

My garden  —  our secret private room.

 

I’ll meet You in the Garden.

 

 

IN THE GARDEN OF MY HEART

^{By Kathleen Martens}

^{September 10, 2010}

 

I say Your name Jesus

And You are there

For You are always waiting

For me to be aware.

 

In my secret chamber

My quiet hidden part

You wait patiently

In the garden of my heart.

 

And in the quiet place

I walk daily with You,

Always a time of refreshment

Though sometimes moments few.

 

You are always patient

Waiting to hear Your name,

How awesome the presence

Of One of such fame.

 

Yet you come humbly

Showering love and grace

On all the flowers growing

As we meet face to face.

 

The darkest day turns to light

The flowers of life bloom

For You cause my garden to grow

In my secret private room.

 

You are my hiding place,

My protection in time of need.

All I do is call Your name

And on Your word I feed.

 

And as we walk daily

With Your spirit I am free

For Your songs of deliverance

You sing over me.

 

And each day I awaken

Knowing with You I start.

I find you in my quiet place

In the garden of my heart.

 

 

LORD, LET ME BE A GARDEN

By Kathleen Martens

September 15, 2013

 

Lord, let me be a garden

In this desert world

That your words may blow across me

And Your fragrance unfurl.

 

Awake the north wind And bid the south wind

To awaken the garden’s treasure

That when others view my garden,

It is You who is their pleasure

 

Let your countenance shine upon me

And be evidence that I know

That you are my King and Savior

And to others your love I show.

 

For with You, whom I spend time

I absorb and am imprinted.

I will take upon Your likeness

And by Your essence my garden scented.

 

P.S.  Here it is on the Sabbath morning at 6:00 p.m.  Boys sleeping so I am getting this out before the action begins.

Here is today’s poem:

 

A THROW-BACK WEEKEND

By Kathleen Martens

May 1, 2016

 

Two little boys

In a high tech world

For one weekend

No “tech” unfurled.

 

No phones or radios

No computer IPad

Absolutely no T.V.

To be totally rad.

 

So far no mention

We just closed the doors

To the cabinet in which

Our T.V. is stored.

 

Instead we laughed,

Grandpa wrestled a lot,

I read stories

And then we talked.

 

We talked about God

And the world He created,

And when it was bedtime

The boys were elated.

 

Filled to the brim

With fresh fruit smoothies

A spoonful of peanut butter

No mention of any movies.

 

Two tired munchkins

As good as could be.

T.V. wasn’t the entertainment

It was Grandpa and me.

 

So looking forward to the events of today.  More about that tomorrow.

Thank you Father for our two wonderful grandsons.  What a gift they are to us.

 

May your May day be blessed.  God bless you and yours.