My great friend, Terry Valley, who is a professional photographer in Wisconsin, grants me permission to use his photos for any and every reason. I love his work, and I love sharing it, so today I thought I’d post a collection of his ‘bodies of water’ photos for you to enjoy.
Being in this lockdown mode takes quite a toll
On, not just my activities, but on my soul.
I’ve found that although at the start, I chafed and whined,
Now, after many months, I’ve become self-inclined.
Where I was once outgoing and with people pleased,
I now am focused on myself, and I’ve perceived
That my self-world is very small and incomplete;
I can’t connect in person; no more meet and greet,
And even online friends, I’ve gradually set aside,
And drifted from the fellowship they did provide.
I wonder if these extreme efforts to stay “safe”
Are costing more than we should be willing to pay.
For while it’s true a little time alone is good,
Still too much time alone, it must be understood,
Can shrivel and dry up even gregarious souls;
We must have real-life fellowship to keep us whole.
I wrote this poem several years ago, but got to thinking about it this week — probably because we are coming up on Valentine’s Day. So I decided to give it some time online again.
THE SECRET OF THE RIBBON TREE
I’ve wondered round this earth for years,
And known my share of joys and tears.
I’ve laughed with love and cried for loss,
And broken dreams like rubbish tossed.
I’ve seen sights soaked in splendid sun
And bathed by moon when day was done.
But ’til today I’d not seen such
A sight that stirred my heart this much:
A giant, handsome, stately tree
Bedecked with ribbons midst the leaves.
Such gorgeous bows of silk, blood-red,
Tied as if on maiden’s head.
I stood and pondered what it meant:
This work of art to nature lent.
Who ties these bows, and why, I asked.
Who set himself this tedious task?
Some lover dreaming of soul-mate,
Who joyous love anticipates?
But there was none who, passing by,
Could tell me who, or how, or why.
And though I stood ’till set of sun
I found no answer; no, not one.
So on I trudged my weary way,
To reach my post by end of day.
But as I went, I sang a song:
Though much in this old world is wrong,
Still someone with a heart of love,
Took time and, with care, beauty wove –
Amidst the branches of old tree –
A gift of ribbons for all to see:
To lift the heart and light’n the load
Of each soul passing along that road.
Do you have a Valentine who loves to journal? I have a few ideas that just might be the perfect gift for this Valentine’s Day. Themed journals make journaling an extra little bit of fun. These journals can be used for recording any and all thoughts, ideas, goals, or memories. Or they can provide a special “extra” journal dedicated to just one subject or period of time that the journaler wants to keep separate.
They are all soft-backed, lightweight, easy to carry around and use. And they come from Sancon Journals, the company you’ve come to trust for journals that make it easy to preserve what really matters.
THE CHOCOLATE OWL JOURNAL
A journal just for you: the chocolate lover. Twelve individual nuggets of chocolate wisdom from the Chocolate Owl himself. Each nugget is accompanied by 10 lightly-lined journaling pages, totaling 120 journaling pages in all. Record your personal responses to those nuggets or to chocolate in general — or just let Chocolate Owl’s wisdom brighten your day as you record the deepest thoughts and intents of your heart about any subject under the sun.
Find your copy here.
MY WORD-INSPIRED JOURNAL
A personal journal with the added inspiration of 12 beautiful pictures and scripture passages that will inspire meditation and devotional thoughts. Use it for personal devotions or for recording any subject that comes to mind. 108 lined pages.
Find your copy here.
THE DAILY GRIND COFFEE LOVER’S JOURNAL
A journal just for the coffee lovers around the world. Thirty-one full-color, delicious coffee photos, each with its own special caption and set of 3 lined journaling pages to record the reader’s personal responses to the photos or to coffee in general — or to serve as the catalyst for recording the deepest thoughts and intents of the heart about any subject under the sun. 93 lined pages in all.
Find your copy here.
Can you believe we are already smack-dab in the middle of February of this new year? And everyone knows what February means: Hearts, flowers, chocolates, and love songs — and coffee, right???? Yes? No?
I say, “Yes.!” Of course coffee is one of the great loves of my life, so naturally when celebrating love, I include coffee as my beverage of choice.
And I’ve just been thinking: We should have us some coffee valentines. So … true to my unique — or should we say “off- the-wall” — character, I’ve decided to post a few of the aforementioned sentiments during the next few days. Below, you will find Coffee Valentine # 1.
COFFEE VALENTINE # 1
Now that we have moved into the “month of love,” I thought I’d dig back through my cinquain archives and take a look at some of the love cinquains I’ve written in the past. I will have to write some new ones this year, of course, but I enjoy reading those from past years and remembering what triggered the idea for writing them exactly as I did. This list isn’t comprehensive, by any means. There are several more on the same theme. But these caught my attention this week. So I hope you enjoy this little trip down cinquain memory lane with a focus on love.
DIAGNOSIS
Heart pounds;
Palms sweat; mouth’s dry;
Can’t seem to concentrate.
Is this some rare disease? No, wait:
It’s LOVE
~~~
MY QUEST
My quest:
Looking for love.
I want a love that lasts
Beyond the transient flame of lust
‘Til death.
~~~
MY HEART’S DESIRE
My heart
Longs to find love
That takes me as I am,
But makes me so much better by
Its pow’r.
~~~
LOVE’S SIGHT
Some say
That love is blind.
Not so. Instead I find
True love seeks out and focuses
On good.
~~~
SOLITARY LOVE
Tears fall.
Hard to believe:
I thought we had it all,
But now I find I loved alone.
He’s gone.
~~~
HOW TO LOVE
Loving
Done correctly
Is more a matter of
Faithfulness and honor than of
Feelings.
~~~
REACHING THE GOAL
Today
I walk the aisle
And give to my best friend
My hand and heart for all my life;
“I do.”
~~~
I know there are some who will hate me.
And others speak evil of me,
For taking a stand for what’s moral
And for keeping this nation free.
They’ve already gagged social media
That work constitutionally —
Those that allow us to speak truth,
And keep our speech legally free.
But, frankly, I won’t let it stop me.
Their opinions are not worth a sigh.
They don’t have the sense to perceive truth;
Their ignorance quotient’s too high.
But thousands have sacrificed dearly,
To win and preserve liberty.
Their blood cries out now to my own soul
That I must fight to keep us free.
And then there are millions of babies
Whose cries echo down through the years —
Butchered and murdered expertly
As lib’rals emphatically cheer.
So I won’t be quiet and passive.
I’ll speak forth the truth loud and clear.
And I know the forces of evil
Will be quite incensed when they hear.
They’ll sputter and spew out their harsh threats,
And might even put me in chains.
But even in prison, I’ll be right,
And they’ll find that they’ve nothing gained.
Because there’s an end to life on earth,
And before their Maker they’ll quell.
No matter how they twist their stories,
They’ll still end up going to hell.
GREAT NEWS: The Healing Classes that I teach at a local college are going online this term:
Many of you know that as part of my Christian ministry I hold Healing Schools several times a year — in various venues: civic centers, churches, community buildings, private homes, etc. The Lord has used me in this particular form of ministry for over 20 years. Of course, I’ve been in active Christian ministry for over 50 years, with a strong focus on healing most of that time. A couple years ago the college where I teach creative writing classes decided to offer my healing classes as part of the college curriculum in their community education department. It’s been a great experience.
However, with the covid lockdowns, no classes met last year except what could be offered online. And unfortunately, many of the classes are going to have to revert to online only this spring term as well. So the administration and I decided we’d make the effort to set up the healing classes in a video format and offer them through YouTube.
Unfortunately, my video equipment has sound problems currently, so I’m not able to tape the lessons live. However I’m able to record the lessons using other equipment and put them into a video format. The audio lesson will be accompanied by something pleasant to look at on the screen. I’ve offered video lessons on other subjects in that format for years on my ministry YouTube channel, and they seem to be pretty popular. So I think this series of lessons will work out as well.
The course title is BIBLICAL PATHWAYS TO HEALTH & WHOLENESS. I’m posting the official course description here:
If there’s a chance you might be interested in taking this course, read on for more details:
The course will run 6 weeks, and will be conducted via YouTube and e-mail. I will e-mail each student links to the video lessons, along with study sheets and other printed curriculum that they can print out and keep. Every student will have access to a personal e-mail where they can ask me any questions or discuss any part of the material during those 6 weeks. The cost is minimal: $25.00.
When I do the healing schools as part of my ministry in other venues, I never charge for the classes. However, the college is required by the state to charge because they are required to pay a certain specified fee to the teachers, and they must cover the various expenses involved in carrying out an educational institution.
I’d like to invite all my followers who are interested in learning more about receiving healing from the Lord to register for the class. I generally have two kinds of students in the healing schools: people who are in need of healing personally and want to know more about what God says about His will to heal and His methods of healing — and people who don’t need healing personally but who want to share the information with others and help them receive healing.
We’ve had students in the past who found that after sitting in the class and absorbing God’s healing Word during the lessons, their bodies were well. The Word of God can do that when we give ourselves to it completely. Others have found that they left the classes with a much better understanding of how to use God’s Word as medicine for their own bodies and a renewed faith in God’s will to have them well and whole.
Anyone interested in taking the class is welcome to register. You don’t have to live in my state of Illinois. Students from all over the country and from other nations as well take classes from John A. Logan College. If you’re interested in taking the course online, you can register by either method listed below:
Online: https://www.jalc.edu/community-education/
By Phone: (618) 985-2828, Ext. 5.
Your identification information and a credit card are all that’s required.
You need to register by January 21.
I hope some of you decide to participate in the classes. I’d love to be able to interact with you on a more personal basis and about a subject that is very dear to my heart.
BECOMING AN ABSTRACT ARTIST
Though he painted quite well, no sales came.
He slaved o’er each piece; what a shame.
Then one day he did trip,
And his paintbrush did slip.
The results brought his name to great fame.
TRYING TOO HARD
Lester begged for a date with Miss Rose.
She was tall, so he stretched to tiptoes.
But when they tried to kiss,
Her sweet lips he did miss,
And his chin conked her right in the nose.
GETTING THE PROPER NOURISHMENT
Obadiah thought learning a treat.
He would rather read books than to eat.
He was wasting away,
But then one lucky day,
He found cook books,
And now he’s replete.
Last year
Was not so good.
But changing dates won’t help.
To make this new year better, we
Must pray.
We’re halfway through the 12 Days of Christmas already. Time’s flying. But don’t stop celebrating.
