I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Nights of Lights - Guido Gardens" The Michael A. Guido Evangelistic Association used to be home to one of the prettiest Christmas light displays in the area, where I live. Dr. Guido was often seated in the chapel for hours to greet visitors and tell them about Jesus, Who came as the Babe at Christmas time. Yet, Dr. Guido passed away in 2009 as the Nights of Lights continued for nearly a decade and a half. For whatever reason, the light displays had their last night, during the Christmas season of 2023. I thought it would be fitting to remember, that good things on Earth will often come to an end, but The Light of the World continues on forever. (John 14:6) Blessings, All. |
Amen. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "The Sun Shines Through the Wooded Stand" The bright, late-day sun through a stand of trees in the next two yards was the inspiration for this poem. I love it when poetry is truly the observation of life as it is. I pray your Christmas is enjoyable. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Bruhni, the Friend" Apologies upfront, since I almost didn't post in my notebook about today's poem. Christmas is bittersweet this year. Many of you are aware, that back in April, I lost the best dog I've shared life with since high school. She left a lasting impact on my life and this poem is catharsis, and hopefully more healing balm. You don't need to read it unless you have lost a favorite pet, that meant a lot to you, which is pretty much every pet we've ever shared life with. Real love lost to death, whether human or animal love, is not truly ameliorated in this life. Only The Blessed Hope of being with Jesus, the Christ forever can make such a loss bearable in these present days. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "My Quiet Place" The Lord gave us one day in seven to rest. (Genesis 2:1-3) My quiet place is where I go to find rest. May we all find some time to rest this Christmas season. Blessings, All. |
Thanks, Everybody, for the "Got Ya" Snowballs, and generous amount of Gift Points. I've been traveling across two or three states for a wedding this weekend, and haven't been able to play along. I'm grateful for your kind thoughts toward me. It's a little hard to keep pace this time of year, including 5 poems a week. I missed Friday's poem, and tonight I have to be to work, again. Let's see what I can do in a few minutes. Blessings, All. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Christmas Time" Well, here we go with a poem in about fifteen minutes 'cause I've gotta run out the door to the next big thing. This is not a typical Christmas for me. I just hope I'm able to meet the needs of the ones I serve. I may have to search for "Second Christmas" in January when things slow down a bit. All the peace, joy, and moments in coffee shops without the commercialism of December. I pray your Christmas is merry and joy-filled with Jesus' Salvation uppermost in the mind. Breathe when you can. I'll do the same. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Epulaeryu: "Smoked Turkey"" Today's poem has been created for the weekly challenge from
According to Dave has company , "The Epulaeryu, concocted by Joseph Spence, Sr., is all about delicious food. The structure consists of 7 lines arranged with lines of 7, 5, 7, 5, 5, 3, 1 syllables. Each line contains a separate thought about a meal or portion, with the final line concluded with an exclamation point to express the excitement," I have had many opportunities to smoke a turkey over live coals and wood chips, usually for Thanksgiving meals. Done right, the turkey has a wonderful flavor from the rosemary limbs, that I smoke along with the turkey. May your Christmas dinner be wonderful. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Christmas Movies" Here in poetry form is my short list of favorite Christmas movies. I could list more of the 1960s animated classics, but these five are a good place to start for the child at heart. I am a big fan of the Patrick Stewart rendition of A Christmas Carol as well. May you have a blessed Christmas, "Everyone!" |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Childlike Heart" Right now I'm trying to treasure every moment of the Christmas season, writing myriad Christmas poems to easily call to mind these joyous days and times. Christmas season is too quickly gone. Sadly, commercialism is a real detractor to the emotions and bliss of this month, but the good thing about limited resources is the fact, that it keeps us out of the in-store fray (or said another way, "too much peopling"). Though the day after Christmas is often a little sad, I often rebound quickly in the joy of music I like to hear, (hymns and carols of the season,) hot cups of Christmas joy, beautiful lights, that I continue to display, and Christmas eats, that are usually still quite plentiful. Thank The Lord the days will start to get longer, too. After Christmas, this childlike heart likes to go through stores looking for the Christmas items, that are left over on the half-price tables. It's a bit of a scavenger hunt, that my 'little child" thoroughly enjoys. Does Jesus have a childlike heart? I would like to think so. He is forever The Lord of All. May we consider, that The Ancient of Days never grows old because He has never known sin. Always in charge, and able to be playful with those, who are saved by Grace. (John 3:3) Isn't that truly possible? Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Warmth and Glow" The longer nights of Christmas always impress upon me the need of lights strung among the trees, along the rooflines, and in other sorts of displays. There seems to be something inherent in the human eyes. We need light from the sun or artificial sources. It's a truism, that light equates to wellbeing. Thank the Lord for Christmas lights! Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Sunny Cold" Christmas time offers an atmospheric event, that's unique. The sunny, cold day. "Sun's out! Looks hot!" Stepping outside we realize, "That's not so much." May you be warm, today, in a house with good food, and toasty blankets. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Tricube: "Endings"" Today's poem has been created in response to the weekly challenge from
According to Dave has company , "The Tricube, attributed to Phillip Larrea, is inspired by the mathematic 'cube' to the third power. Thus, the poem consists of 3 stanzas with 3 lines per stanza and 3 syllables per line". My poem has been written in applied logic, regarding the small to large time periods of one day to one lifetime. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "The Lasting Noël" Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Christmas is not the commercialized, muddied, syrupy mess we see when we traverse the shopping malls. Christmas is the Joy we know in the birth of One, Everlasting Savior and Lord. Christmas music is one of my greatest pleasures 365 days out of the year. Christmas music is not the sickly, awful, modern "love songs," that have the word, "Christmas" shoehorned into its content. What happened last Christmas, let it stay there. Like "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Even the Wassail Song gives me pause. If the butler brings you wine, that is virtually the dregs of the batch, take a couple of sips, then graciously put it down without a word. Please, don't feel the need to become violent with the butler, pushing him down "bowl and all." That's just wrong! A song is not good just because it's ancient. Christmas music is the lovely set of hymns and carols, that point the heart to The Christ Who came from Heaven to Earth to save souls from their sin. Jesus is my greatest Desire for all of Time and Eternity. Does He need to have a Christmas Town in Heaven for Heaven to be good? Hardly. My love of Christmas has Jesus as the focus. Spending my Eternity with Jesus, the Christ will have all the joys of Christmas (and more) wrapped up in His Sweet and Blessed Presence. I love the true Joys of Christmas. I love the truest Joys of Jesus all the more! Let us always remember, Christmas without The Resurrection would have no value. The Resurrection without Christmas would be impossible. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Onda Mel: "Christmas Comes"" For years I've tried to figure out how to slow the Christmas season down in order to enjoy peaceful Christmas moments, sitting in some coffee shop, sipping a 16 oz. caffè macchiato, contemplating the tree, lights, and various forms of decorations. No matter how often I get those moments of enjoyment, I always have to go home at some point to get some sleep, returning to work often the next day. Shopping is like a whirlwind. Plugging in the Christmas lights is often a few short hours of joy. I suppose, if I didn't have to work, I could go to a coffee shop every night, but how would I pay for that? Christmas in the United States is a unique experience, but it flies by, and the day after Christmas, it's like it never happened. Maybe it's like that the world over. The soft glow of Christmas lights is such a peaceful gift, that I keep my crafting nook decorated all year long. When I have an hour or two throughout the year, I can sit with a cup of coffee or tea, basking in the glow, writing something on Writing.Com or creating something else with my hands, like embroidery. Christmas, the time when Jesus came to save humans from sin, according to His Will and Choice, is the Gift, that keeps on giving. We can celebrate Jesus every day of the year, and we should. I can celebrate Christmas, too, in the privacy of my own heart and home. Today's poem has been created in response to the weekly challenge from
According to Dave has company , "The Onda Mel is an eight-line form of poetry contrived by Renelda Gibson with a structure of 8, 4, 4, 8, 8, 4, 4, 8 syllables per line and a rhyme scheme of abbacddc" I hope you enjoy this short poem. Blessings, All. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Artistic License" The skill of creating art includes the ability to know how much perfection to include in your creation or performance. Attending a performance of a virtuoso pianist, who performed the classic piece flawlessly caused me to walk out of the concert, unmoved. However, another pianist, who changed tempos and may have dropped a few notes, moved me to tears because the performance was full of emotion and nuance. God Alone is Perfect. His perfect creations demonstrate His Character. The imperfect performances of human artists are more in line with, who we are. We strive for perfection, but we applaud giving our best. Blessings, All. |