Quotation Saturday

'pic taken from the internet'

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
 ~Bill Vaughan

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.
~Author Unknown

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
~Author Unknown

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam.
~Charles Lamb

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!
~Edward Payson Powell

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.
~Henry Ward Beecher

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.
~Mark Twain


And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
~Thomas Hood

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.
~Brooks Atkinson

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

"In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete…In th...at day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."
~ John 16: 23-27

The Year in Review

Pss. 6: [2] Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
***

Well I have to admit this has been a year of roller coaster riding. Up and down, then back up and then down.


January -- Found my dog hit by a car and for weeks I nursed her back to health. With ice packs, and the mounted up snowfall, January started off on the lower section of the roller coaster. The shoveling was taking its toll on my back, but I plowed right through. Hey, I’m young, right?


February- March -- Found my dog healing and finally the medicare kicked in for Steven and he was able to get to the eye doctors, one that God chose, not one that anyone had referred him to. We were high on the roller coaster now, things looked good from up here for a bit.


April-May -- These two months found us in high spirits with the opportunity arising that a cornea transplant would come soon. With a doctor visit; the physical was done, and now  he was on the transplant waiting list. We did just that, waited. And waited. In the meantime there was mowing to be done, a yard to tend to, weeds to pull, but the cold air was hanging on tightly and May was just too chilly to really get out there and sink my hands into the soil.


June-July -- These months warmed up nicely. Weeds were sprouting everywhere, so much so I could not keep up with them. Adam and I mowed and yanked weeds. I planted and pulled more weeds, and my back was crying in pain but I went on. You just pull your big girl pants on, swallow the pain and become friends with Mr. Heating pad! I’m not one who likes to pop pills to relieve pain, so just some stretching exercises and nice relaxing days.


August- September -- Ahh the start of school! I had to get Adam in for a dentist appointment. He got a cleaning and two small fillings, then a clean bill of health. The school year started off on a good note this year and he’s been doing pretty good with his grades. I guess home schooling all those years before high school made him a well adjusted teen. Good job! Here we were still waiting on the cornea transplant to arrive and the long summer wait was now turning into a Fall wait and see. Patience my friend, patience.


October -- We got the long awaited call...the cornea had arrived. On the 10th, the operation took place and after an initial scare, which took us to Omaha five times in the month. My back was beginning to feel the pressure and an excruciating toothache held me captive the entire month. The month ended with sight restored and an amazing miracle as Steven could see his hometown in full color after two and a half years of being blind!


November -- This was the month that as Steven healed, my body crumbled. I had a tooth extracted, but the infection in my mouth was needling at the nerves in my back. A back x-ray showed that I had facet-joint arthritis and as I looked into more info on it, it flares up in the presence of an infection in the body. The dentist didn’t think the pain in my back related to the infection in my mouth, but then again she had no idea that I had arthritis which is just another name for inflammation.


December -- Found me at the dentist again with some not so great news. Close to ten grand needed but a down payment would get me and all the work needed started. She may have sympathy on me and possibly only 4500 will be needed but still she says this to a woman who hasn’t a penny to her name. I am poor, and found myself actually begging for my life. Literally.
Where is Steven in all of this? Well, he is on Social Security, and medicare, and if not for medicare, medicaid and the Lions Club, he would not have been seeing all the lights this Christmas. It will take a year of healing, and possibly the sutures on the cornea may not be taken out; the doc will watch him closely for a year.


I’ll end the year not knowing what tomorrow will bring or the New year, but I can say, I AM BLESSED! My family of writers/ artists, my church family have all surrounded me and comforted and help me in ways, you can only dream about. I am loved. And the year isn’t over!


I will rejoice in the New Year. I hold my head high and rejoice in the Lord and Savior, for it is He who carries me through each and every day!!! I WILL heal and I will come back fighting to the writing world! But for now... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


Read more at: BenningsWritingPad

Merry Christmas ~ Poetry Sunday

The Mystery 

***
Within the snow capped dome I see
the mirror image looking back at me
Ice propels one to bliss
the wash of love I dare not miss.

The pine it lingers in my soul
fragments left to control
the gifts are but a vivid illusion
of  life that struggles with confusion.

Christmas carries an air of mystery
as does the spirit throughout history.
Propels the thoughts of one who sleeps
into a place where cynicism weeps.

Allow the truth to never hide
Christmas day I will confide.
Hold out the hand of all you ration
within your heart the stem of compassion.

A Winter Scene

***
The morning breathes a sigh of relief
a new dawn has broken through.
The snow it whispers from the sky
the blush of a fresh days hue.

Trees are barren as they sleep
each limb has clinging cotton
crisp cold air wafts throughout
squirrels are all but forgotten.

The crunching noise it lingers
as deer and elk creep by.
Silence holds this winter day
as snow falls from on high.

The air is full of Christmas
a holy day abounds.
Bells and holly carry on
the wondrous seasons sounds.

Mystery here is clinging
as angels sing a song,
coming is a new born babe
leading men along.

Awaken all you nations
hear the words I plea,
God has sent a part of Him
for sins of you and me.

Generations have come and gone
but everything’s the same.
The Holy night is cherished
as the very day He came!

(c) Joni Zipp

 

 Audiobook Heaven

To All a Good Night

Luke 2:13-14   And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

To All a Good Night...
***
'Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house
all the creatures were stirring
even a tiny small mouse.
The stockings all hung but not by a fire
across the wall they hang by a wire.
The kids are ready for Christmas to come
I sitting quiet with a soft spoken hum.
I think of times that were happy and gay
I look for my family that sits miles away.
They are all bustling in their own lovely house
with food and warmth, some with a spouse.
All of my needs are well taken care of
my home is joyous and full of love.
My fridge has food with milk to spare
I have sugar cookies, all ready to share.
I have great friends who all support me
in writing, and fellowship just like family.
I sit and I read with new found joy
of this wonderful story, of a God sent boy.
I look to the Light and all it’s glory
of Jesus and angels a glorious story.
I think the world has passed on by,
they whine for wants and it makes me cry.
I need to drink in all this I’m given
my life is full and worth me livin’,
I’ll focus on me and all that I AM,
remembering to Him, my life is a gem.
To all of my friends I give great praise,
I’ll pray for them in the coming days.
For now I’m tired and must travel far,
to find that wondrous beautiful star.
This angel must go as she rises to flight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Angel's Among Us

Ps.8: 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Angels among us

***

You feel their presence
throughout the day
you know their there
but can you say?

By chance it happens
and so you believe
the angels are not
ones to deceive.

Wrought with pain
this they know
a loving light
is what they show.

As snowflakes gently
fall to the ground
the angels move
without a sound.

Whispers of power
to give you strength
measured in love
eternity’s length.

You flow in the light
the touch of art.
The angels tattoo
is across your heart.

I do not worship
the celestial being.
For God alone
grants all I’m seeing.

All glory and honor
to the One True Light
as angels watch over
in the still of the night.

Pss.91: 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
 

Pss. 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Spirit...

Well it is three days before Christmas. Normally my season is full of cleaning, preparing, getting ready. We’d normally have a Christmas party where my jazz man plays the sax and people all gather around for Christmas cheer, and then we look forward to the bustling holiday with family.

This year was changed by the spirit. I might say, the Holy Spirit. With my illness upon me, leaving me basically immobile, and my mans sight restored, the Spirit moved us to bow humbly before the world, the season and life itself. It caused me to see more clearly, listen more carefully, and appreciate the tiny things that matter more than the big things that don’t.

I had thought that I appreciated life in every possible way, but not only did he gain sight, I gained insight. While I cherish my privacy and hold a lot inside, I have a tendency to release to the world my pain and sorrows via my blog, but have I shared the blessings too? Have I told you about the Glory that has been granted me this Christmas season?

Christmas is not about gifts, it’s not about shopping and it certainly isn’t about receiving. I had a God slap moment, where He took me aside and showed me great things. Unlike many, I hear His whisper in the wind, I see the beauty in the snow fall, I feel close to Him when the sun rises and plants a kiss right on my cheek. That is my communion with the God who came to this earth to be with each and everyone of us and LIKE us, human.

I am a gifted woman and I need to let you all know that when it rains, it pours. Whether it is pain and sorrow, or joys and blessings, everything under the sun is for a reason and as so many this season worry about the gift to give, the right party to attend, some will even wonder if the alcohol will be tasty this year.

MY friends, I have a tree, I have a son, I have a man who has made cookies and cleaned up the place nicely (and has made a few quite awesome dinners too). I have all my needs met, and my wants are sitting at the bottom of the hill somewhere, covered in mounds of snow. My season, while filled in pain has found bountiful blessings surrounding me via friends who have reached out and offered an arm of support during this time. Whether they prayed for me, offered kind words, or helped monetarily, they reached out with arms longer than I had ever imagined possible. I am truly blessed. With sight, I send to them blessings.

The Spirit has moved me to see, that this Christmas is all about humbling yourself to the Lord. We live in a world where too much chaos is ruining too many lives, and we need to just step back and embrace our humble lives and appreciate the tiny things because within every one of those, are blessings to be cherished!

May God Bless you all this Glorious Season!!!!

My Family

 

Tis the season to deck the halls and all that stuff. Well as you all may know, it has been a trying time for me. Read the post below, my Health Issues Unmasked. You’ll get a glimpse of the pain and joys that I’ve endured.

Let me also say, I come from a big family, and not one has reached out to help me in any way. They’ve never supported me and my writing, so I don’t expect any of them to actually google my name and see what I’m up to these days. I don’t expect any of them to help, but I did expect them to at least CARE what was happening to me.

Long story short, I left home eight years ago, and since my communication has been scarce with anyone except my niece, my mother, and when my dad answers the phone, and sometimes my sister; coming from a family of four brothers, and a sister, aunts and uncles, you’d think SOMEONE would give me a shout out. Not even on holidays do they call. It’s sad.

What’s that you say? Have *I* called them? I sure have, and they always say, “Keep in touch.” But we never do, we let the year pass without a care. I’ve waited and waited in hopes, but then I just figure they have more important things to do, to take care of, to ever want to know what is happening in my life. We were never the Brady Bunch, we were more like Rosanne’s family, dysfunctional with a capital ‘D’! So I guess it just carries over into our later years too. Sad is what it is!

I thought I was close to them. I cared for all of their kids when they needed me to, I cleaned their houses, helped them with anything they ever asked of me. I was the strength they’d turn to in times of need! I never once felt like they didn’t love me, but when I left, I guess the void in the family was too big and maybe in their minds they were bitter that I got away. I did something they always wanted to do, but they just lived in their comfort zones for too long to ever break out!

Yeah, I broke out. Can one ever break out of a family? I did. And I found myself nestled in a Writing Community, that embraces me, my writing, my being, my humor and wit, they like me for me, not what I can do for them. And it goes both ways too, I’d do anything for them, and they know this. But I love them most because well, we support one another. We’re family and they’ve shown me, THIS is what family is all about! Love and support, when you need it most!

I have a Church family too that embraces me, and what I’ve found, is that I can actually depend on my Writing Family AND my Church family. They never let me down and it is because of this family of mine that I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life, that I’ve truly been blessed with, that will make sure I have a MERRY Christmas!

I wish I could repay every ounce of generosity that you, my true family, have shown me, but I know you all so well...you’ll say, “You already have, just by being you!”

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the highest of Heaven!

Eph.3:13-15 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Poetry Sunday ~ Angel's Flight

Ex. 23: 20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

***
Angels Flight
***
In the midst of it all,
in a puddle knee high,
the pain is holding me,
seething, I cry.

In the midst of it all
as angels gather ‘round.
the snow it whispers
nary a sound.

In the midst of it all
while men remain sleeping.
I slowly gain strength,
no longer weeping.

In the midst of it all
as they pass me by
the Lord is my power
with Him I’ll fly.

In the midst of it all
as Christmas draws near
time to embrace
the things we hold dear.

In the midst of it all
in the still of the night.
I gather my faith
as my wings take flight.

Quotation Saturday ~ I hold no shame!

Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

I hold no shame in asking for help.
 
When you see someone fall into icy water, do you keep walking? Or do you help?
 
When you see a car broken down and a woman out in the cold trying to change the tire, do you keep driving? Or offer assistance?

Acts 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Are you the kind of person that gives to receive or gives unknowingly, knowing that you have had one small measure of assistance in the aid of the ill?

Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Do you attend church so that all the people will look at you, and think “What a good person she/he is? Or do you attend church to praise His name and all the mercy that He and He alone has given you?
 
What has God done for you, that you only wish you could return the favor?
 

Acts 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

At Christmas, as you gather for your feast, will you remember the the ones without? Or will you rejoice in all you have?
 
Matt.13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
 
When you hear of my passing, will then, you sit up and say, “I should have helped.” Or will you go on and feel good, knowing you did all you could?

Matt. 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 

When someone, in their hour of desperation cries out for help, do you aid, or ignore?

Matt. 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

I will end my days knowing I helped everyone I humanly (and not so humanly) I possibly could. I will rise knowing I am wrapped in the arms of my heavenly Father. I will hold my head high, knowing I begged for mercy.

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. ~Frederick Douglass

Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when we suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth we have spoken it. ~Whitney Griswold

sadly, John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

In ending... I say  Heb.13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

AMEN! God Bless one and all...

One Voice...

One Voice...

I hear the voice in the still of the night

it whispers to me causing a fright
I toss and turn I can not sleep
this voice I hear is from the deep.

It wells within the heart of my being
sweltering my soul I wind up fleeing.
Alone in this world with nothing to hold
I straddle my fears as if I am bold.

I wallow in the shapeless city
there to smother in my own pity.
I know no one who’ll toss me a rope,
clinging here relishing hope

The voice it says, “You must convey
your message to all so they’ll obey.”
but is my voice reaching the few
who need it the most, who haven’t a clue?

I’ll spread out my inspired word.
In hopes one ear it will be heard.
Handling the message that I must give,
an awesome release of all I live.

One voice...

Lonely Christmas

Lonely Christmas

***

Where are you Christmas?
My heart is hanging low;
like a tattered worn out ribbon
a frayed old crumpled bow.

Tinsel has lost its luster.
Lights have all drawn dim.
I cradle my lonely Christmas;
my tree I just won't trim.

Where do you hide, my Christmas,
this joyous festive season.
Shine your light upon me,
give my life a reason.

Egotists all set astride,
ready for the day.
While all alone I sit and cry,
for love to come my way.

Underneath the velvet stars,
the cratered moon so high.
I wonder what the sheer night holds;
I span the open sky.

Where is my treasured Christmas;
a Rockwell theme of yore.
With family gathered all around,
glistening lights galore.

Want and greed have sold you out,
your nothing but a show.
No longer lighting up my life.
my Christmas holds no glow.

Poetry Sunday ~ I Pray

Ex.32: Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

***
I Pray

why are they so caught up
why does no one care
why do they just assume
that I’ll always be there.

why are they all laughing
why do they pass by
why do all, turn their heads
when seeing someone cry?

why the tunnel vision
why am I left alone
why does no one reach out
by way of telephone?

They text their friends
they buy their things
they talk with others
like joy it brings.

they wear false faces
for all to see
yet hide themselves
from lil ol me.

but it’s okay
these tears I cry
will bounce to heaven
without a sigh.

God will hold
my hand and face
spread His love
throughout the place.

Christmas will not crumble
all because of them
I’ve lined all my doorways
with loving cherubim!

Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Quotation Saturday

VANITY ~

Job 15: 31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
 
Ps. 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
 
Pr. 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
 
Is. 58: 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
 
Vanity is so secure in the heart of man that everyone wants to be admired: even I who write this, and you who read this.
~Blaise Pascal

Without this ridiculous vanity that takes the form of self-display, and is part of everything and everyone, we would see nothing, and nothing would exist.
~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943
 
Cure yourself of the affliction of caring how you appear to others. Concern yourself only with how you appear before God, concern yourself only with the idea that God may have of you.
~Miguel De Unamuno

CONFIDENCE

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.
~David Brinkley
 
If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
~Vincent Van Gogh
 
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.
~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
 
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
~Anaïs Nin, Diary, 1969
 
Vanity is pride walking with newly dyed hair, fake fingernails, along with a boastful attitude. Confidence is knowing vanity is buried, and people see the REAL beauty in you shining through! 
~Joni Zipp

Gotta do, what I gotta do...

Gen 1: 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Do any of you remember the Village people from quite a few years ago? Yeah, I remember when...they were popular, free spirited, zany and crazy and people just loved them. They were a small group of different characters, not a whole lot of songs to remember them by, but they were popular in their day.

This is how I feel here lately. I have outgrown my once  popular Village. There was a time when I’d wake up, eager to get in there and help, but now as things have shifted, times have changed, I wake to find it a Village of Society; a facebook for writers. It’s a clique of people and while the newcomers are finding delight in it all, it will one day wear off and become a lack luster place, and they too will move on, just as the old timers who once filled the halls.  I no longer want to be a part of the insanity and am slowly weaning myself of the place, and I have to let the Village People move from my world.

Gen. 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

I think you all know I’m not a big fan of facebook and wonder why I even signed up to the place. It being a good place to share my writing, and saying hi to a selected few friends that I have, even facebook has lost its luster. Sometimes a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do, and move over to let some one else pull the heavy laden pain bearing sled.

Since October...I’ve been in a lot of pain. To be honest, I’ve had very few people even care. I have people praying for me and as I continue down this road, it is all and surely will be enough to get me through the Christmas holidays. I don’t go around facebook saying, “Hear ye, Hear ye, Joni is in pain! Woe! Woe is me!” If they read my blog, they know. I have two family members aware, and that would be my mother, (whom I talk to every single night) and my Dad, whom she tells everything to. That’s it. When family and friends find out, they’ll say, “Wow I didn’t know! You didn’t say anything.” Well Joni is tired of all the dramatics; if you say you love me, you’ll KNOW what I’m going through! Ahh, feel the love.

Prov. 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

So as you deck those halls and jingle them bells, there are a lot of people doing without this year, and not just material wise. Comfort wise. What people need is a comforting friend who understands and is willing to REACH OUT to help. Words are vanity, action is priceless.

As I go into the new changing of the calendar, a lot is going to change for me. Instead of everyone and everything shifting on me, it is my turn to shift on them. I’m not saying that in a bitter tone, I’m saying it as a realization of things that need to be done so I can soar and achieve what I need to achieve in the new year and leave all the excess baggage on the carousel of insanity.

Listen up! Joni is having some serious major health issues that she needs to tend to. Go on without me but just remember, I was there for YOU! 

Thank you and God Bless!

Prov 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Put off until tomorrow...

Deut. 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

 ...what you want to get done today. Yesterdays words of wisdom were from my mother. “It could be worse.” Remember I told you she tells me that all the time? Well last night while telling her of my ailment in my back, she said, “Well put off until tomorrow, what you want to get done today.” I scratched my head and started laughing, because my mother means well and since her stroke six years ago, things don’t wrap around her brain right.

But it got us both laughing, and at this point I need it, really need it. The tricky part is, how am I going to relate that to writing?

Okay, here goes. I tell all the students in the writing courses to NEVER put off writing. I tell them it is essential to get what is on your mind, onto paper and write, write, write. You can’t stop and edit, you have to keep writing or the muse will be gone in a puff of smoke. It’ll be airborne and fizzle out and the next day when you try to recapture it, it’ll be gone!

So don’t take my mothers advice unless you’ve overworked your body into a ripe old age whilst still young, and need to give it a rest! Her words are for us only to rest when you have a God slap moment, and He says, it is time to rest.

As you sit at your computer for hours upon hours, you are whittling your bodies spinal cord. Always remember to leave that place that you find so much enjoyment in and remember to walk around, exercise those legs, move that body. Some bodies have overworked all their lives and when sitting at the computer, it has become a disease that will eat and nibble on parts you never worried about because the computer kept you blind to the inner infestation. DON’T put off until tomorrow, what needs to be done TODAY!

I’m going to wrap up this week with the blessings of this year. Just to name a few.

1. My faith ~ My faith is a blessing because as troubled waters wash over me, it is my faith, that keeps me grounded.
2. My Church ~ It is through my church that I see the people as lit candles in a darkened world.
3. Sight ~ Taken for granted, people go on every day amusing themselves; they survive on the me factor, and when something is taken away, THEN they take notice. SIGHT is a blessing, cherish it.
4. My writing ~ I am blessed with my writing. If it was not in me to write, surely I would not be alive.
5. Snow ~ Although I don’t like driving in it, it is a beautiful layered purity that melts my heart and cleanses my spirit.

Thank you Mrs. Sue and Mrs. Carol for being a true friend and giving me hope in each new day I’m allowed.

It could be worse...

Inspirational Writing ~

All this talk about genre has me thinking what genre my novel falls under. Well, its a spiritual thriller, mystery laden, ghosts, angels, and toss in some thrilling uncovered mystery, and a possible time warp and you have... a doggone good novel is what you have.

That is what I’ll be working on during my hiatus in mentoring. I’ll begin the task of revising my novel while working on my health issues that are plaguing my days and nights. This way I’ll feel as if I’m still hands on in my writing, while everyone else is at class whooping and hollering and having a blast living it up.

My mother always has a way of saying, “It could be worse.” And I have to agree with her on that one, it could be worse. But let me remind you that she always says that right before things actually do get worse. She means well in her ways, but sometimes I just have a problem with accepting that theory.

It could be worse. Now there’s a concept we need to look at while writing our novel. Keep those words in mind as your hero has fallen out of a tree, crawled to the highway and is signaling for help. Does a savior come and rescue her? Think “It could be worse.” Then make it worse, she crawls into the path of an about to be picked up hitch-hiker, she calls out for help and as he turns to look at her, his face resembles that of Freddy Kruger! Her heart sinks, but just remember, “It could be worse.” She could have met up with Hannibal Lecter, when all of a sudden the man driving the car gets out to help, and it IS Hannibal Lecter!!!

You see, maybe my mother is not all wrong. Maybe she has something there with that, ‘It could have been worse theory’. As I go through trying times repelling the dark force that wants to fill the hole in my life, as I fill it with the Light, the forces tend to battle it out and I’m in the middle, swirling and twirling and in the end, the light wins, at which time I will stand up and whisper under my breath. “It could have been worse.”

There’s a point to be made here, I’m certain. With Inspirational Writing, you can always talk about the good and the light and the love of the Lord, but your audience more than likely is in a dark spot and can’t relate to a word your saying. Reaching out to their level. You have to give them the depths of the hell that you’ve been through; every slimy shimmering taste of it so they relate, then dish out the light so they drink in the benefits of all that was worse and how you fought to make it better.

In a world where people struggle with their Faith, it is quite easy to see all the Light, surround themselves with what they think the light is, but it is too soon that they forget that the dark exists. “The dark only has power if you let it.”  The most untrue words I ever heard spoken. When the dark has its tentacles wrapped around you while you are breathlessly grabbing for that one ray of light. The dark friends, people, acquaintances all feel you and tug you dragging you into the road, only for you to be spotted by Hannibal and Freddy.

It’s a war out there in this world of Light and Dark...but hey, it coulda been worse...

Genre

Have you gotten a genre all picked out that you like to write for? The lines are sometimes blurred but publishers accept many along the blurred lines because the genres mix and match. I think sometimes people make up their own genre then the publisher says, "Hey, we accept horror and fantasy, why not publish mystical spiritual?"
 
Are you writing to entertain? To inform? To persuade? Setting the purpose for writing is just as important as setting the purpose for reading, because purpose influences decisions you make about the shape and form your writing will take on. And this is why we have a genre to categorize our writing.
 
When researching GENREs, I never got a clear picture; that was so strange because I thought genre meant: Mystery, Horror, fiction, historical fiction, non -fiction, poetry, etc. but I kept running into list like:
 
The different genres of writing include descriptive, expository, narrative, persuasive, poetry and technical writing, and a combination of these are usually used for any given body of writing.
 
The National Writers Union bases its organizational structure on three very broad genre groups: the book division, for both fiction and non-fiction writers, the journalism division, for magazine and newspaper writers, and the biz-tech division, for business and technology writers. In addition, they include a special caucus for those who write prose and poetry.
 
I can see why now, we as writers have a hard time organizing our work and the need to classify where to send out work if we don’t understand the many genres being accepted in today’s writing world.
 
The type of list I was going for was something like this:
Action-adventure -- features physical action; the knock down dragged out missions of take no prisoner--ALIVE. Many times set in forbidding locales such as jungles, deserts, or mountains. May be historical fiction, containing facts.
 
Crime -- centered on the criminal society; told from the point of view of the perpetrators. Ranges in tone from lighthearted "caper" stories to darker plots involving organized crime or incarcerated convicts.
 
Detective -- has become almost synonymous with mystery. These stories relate the solving of a crime, usually one or more murders, by a protagonist who may or may not be a professional investigator. This large, popular genre has many subgenres, reflecting differences in tone, character, and it always contains criminal and detective
 
Mystery -- Think ‘whodunit’ in this category. Technically involving stories in which characters try to discover a vital piece of information which is kept hidden until the climax. Keeping the reader enthralled throughout, I might add. I might also add spiritual Mystery to this. Not having the gore elements of horror. Also Paranormal fiction fits in here along with horror.
 
Fantasy -- Think Lord of the Rings;  unrealistic, make-believe things exist in imaginary worlds such as wizards, dragons, griffins etc
 
Horror -- Bloody, gut wrenching, spine tingling, gore.
 
Romance -- Love! A couple meet, fall apart, and in the end live happily ever after. Not to be confused with, Eroticism!
 
Science fiction -- Think of extrapolated, theoretical science and technology; A lot of new planets are in this genre
 
Western -- Primarily set in the American West in the second half of the 1800’s. Has romance, and cowboys!
 
Inspirational --  A term that refers to fictional or non fictional works with religious themes and aimed at a Christian audience.
 
There is also added categories :
Childrens -- targeted audience kids under 8
 
Young Adult (aka YA) -- young people from 10 and up because let’s be honest, many adults are readers of YA
 
Adult fiction  -- can get by with foul language and topics

I hope you enjoyed today's Genre piece. Categorized as  Informational!

Come on 100th Follower !!!

Let me be your Inspirational Blog...

I began this blog in 2005, deleted 2006 and it wasn’t until 2008 I took it to a more serious level. I started this blog with the intention of writing about the paranoia in this society, then after becoming a mentor and not having much down to earth  assistance out there in the writing world, I decided to make my blog about writing. By down to earth, I mean writing pages that are targeted to the novice. Always plenty of pages on the technical stuff, but the small stuff that we as writers need to know and are eager to learn? I wanted to reach those writers.

Then the followers began marching in like soldiers, and I was well on my way to happy in seeing all the folk enjoying my blog. I care for and appreciate each and every follower, even if I don’t get comments, I know they are there, reading behind their screens, drinking coffee perhaps, and *I* being their morning paper. (wow, can someone say run on sentence here?)

That’s a good feeling of being read. Now I know what drives all those popular published authors onto bigger and better writing days, readers! I wrote a post about me one time and I saw comments appear. My readers were enjoying my writing posts but they also were enjoying hearing about me and my life. I began having post about Writing, but also about Me. This combination drove my followers up, because I think deep down, we all want to know what really makes a writer tick. Even if they themselves were writers, closet writers, they were more about writing, not divulging personal issues about themselves.

I think my followers realized that Joni was a complex writer, spilling her guts about herself, and spreading light through scripture,  love through my heart and soul, and giving some pretty good advice on writing, while sharing very informative writing links.  It was then that One Voice ~Write Right began moving along into a new era. Poetry, Quotations, personal issues and plausible Writing Assistance became a virtual  must read. Okay maybe that is pushing it; Must Read? But it has become an endearing read, and a Good Read, so much so, my hits are up, my visitors are up, I have flags from all the different countries that visit, and with the change of my layout, people are liking what they are seeing!

As my dental woes mount, the needed thousands of dollars for the amount of work necessary, along with the damage to my body and health that the dental woes are causing all the way down to not taking care of myself, will all fall on me in avalanche fashion as the year ends. But I am here, a living testament of true faith, I stand as the miracle of sight was brought into this realm of mine, and I hold my head high and push onto the next leg of this interesting journey God has placed me on.

Now if I could just get that 100th follower, my new year would begin on a high note!

Why Write?

In today’s world, many people seek so many different things and I think this is why chaos ensues. Many of those people who cross my path (in the writing community) have had college degrees, good paying jobs, money out the gazoo, and yet here they are, coming to writing after retiring or just tiring of not being fulfilled in their dream.

They have always wanted to be a writer, felt the calling, have written since they were kids, but never really pursued a writing career. Then there are those people who like writing and dive into wanting to become a writer and try their little hearts out, studying, learning, blooming and growing, often times getting discouraged because they don’t see any results.

I write to inform, touch people,  raise awareness, or to offer something to this chaotic society. Writing isn’t all about fictional tales, horror stories, or tell-all non-fictional tales; writing is a form of release. I write to heal myself. After going to a ‘doctor’ who is really a Nurse Practitioner allowed to run a small office in a small town, I realized that sometimes we need healing that they can not offer. I was sent for x-rays, have gotten no results and it has been two weeks, not one call. Whereas I went to the dentist, got some relatively not great news, and when I got home, the dentist called to see if I was okay!

Amazing.

We live in a world where technology has made enormous advances, yet I am left in pain because the NP is not concerned with me and my health. This saddens me, but not enough to give up writing. I have to give up mentoring because at this point, I need to focus on me. I have many friends living with daily pain and now I am among the crowd who endures. No medical coverage, I too endure.

So why does one write? Why would I continue to write if I am going nowhere in my career choice? Because besides my Lord and Savior, my writing is my healer. It is my safety net, my blanket that keeps me warm on these bitter cold days. If I focus on a topic, I can belt out a good 1500 to 2500 words a day AND get my mundane chores around the house done. Although, in previous weeks, my mundane chores have taken a backseat, and just breathing is a welcome relief.

This year has been one of the strangest years I’ve lived. Miracles have taken place in my life, pain has surfaced, but also therein lies an utter joy and happiness and I find it in my writing. Whether a poem, a blog post, or encouraging another writer to be their best, the writing gift that I hold in me, is a blessing that I must share with others.

Why do I write? It is a God given talent, if I didn’t write, then my talent is empty and wasted.

Poetry Sunday ~ God Made You

God Made You!
***

God made you
especially for me
awaited the seconds
that we could be.

God made you
He shaped the mold
gave to me
a world of gold.

God made you
to endure great pain
family umbrella
to shield the rain.

God made you
not to be blind;
only to seek
and one day find.

You found me
and you found Him
We were both there
when life got dim.

God made you
a righteous man
He made me
by your side I’ll stand.
***
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MY LOVE!

Poetry Sunday ~ Broken Beauty

To the love of my life, as we embark on yet another journey of our lives! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!! 

Broken Beauty
***

Take me as I am
broken beauty
a small token
forlorn duty.


Hold me
as I crumble
I will rise
newly humble.


Hear me weep
all my sighing
I am me
beauty dying.


Touch me
worthy crown
all my heart
falling down.


Lift me up
to the skies
as my world
slowly dies.


Find me
in the mire
peel me
from the fire.


Guide my soul
to the realm
where God alone
mans the helm.

Quotation Saturday

FEAR

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.
~Mary Manin Morrissey

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
 ~Marie Curie
 

Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others.
~Robert Louis Stevenson


The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear - fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants above everything else is safety.
 ~Henry Louis Mencken

Panic at the thought of doing a thing is a challenge to do it.
~Henry S. Haskins


FATE

Sometimes, perhaps, we are allowed to get lost that we may find the right person to ask directions of. ~Robert Brault

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. ~Jean de La Fontaine

We cannot bear to regard ourselves simply as playthings of blind chance; we cannot admit to feeling ourselves abandoned. ~Ugo Betti, Struggle till Dawn, 1949

You know that saying, that when God closes a door he opens a window, well, sometimes out of nowhere he'll do you one better and he'll kick a whole wall down. ~Ryan Murphy

FAITH
 

Faith is not without worry or care, but faith is fear that has said a prayer.
~Author Unknown
 

Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.
~Corrie Ten Boom
 

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
~J.R.R. Tolkien

Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.
~Ramona C. Carroll


FRIENDSHIP
 

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
~Leo Buscaglia

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
~Albert Schweitzer

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. ~Edgar Watson Howe

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.
~Donna Roberts
 

Thank you Miss Carol. For relieving my fears, making sure I keep my faith, and being  what a real friend is, a true blessing!
~Love Joni

The Angels Called

Ex. 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
***
~~The Angel’s Called ~~

The angels came from mounted high,
cradled his soul I don't know why.
Wrapped in fleece-like softened wings;
silenced now he no longer sings.

Nestled within a tidal womb
fertile bed becomes a tomb
Shrouded in the serene abode
a vacant place his body stowed.

Earthbound duty not his call,
a rain of stars on him did fall.
Whisked away before I could hold;
a lifeless body lay there cold.

Summoned to be an angel himself.
Journey of breath put on a shelf.
Though I miss his earthly duty;
I savor now his angelic beauty.

Today is the BIRTHday of my son, whose eyes I never saw, whose heart that didn’t beat, whose arms were never touched, for we never did meet.

Happy Birthday to Christopher Alexander
born -- 12-2-82  moved on 12-2-82

The Light Show

1 Kings 6: 4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

It happened on Saturday, the 26th of November. I was allotted the time of rest on the 25th, and I knew, I just knew I had two eager kids who wanted the tree to be assembled and lights and bulbs adorning the limbs. Did I just say kids? Plural? Well I meant, my man and my son. How bad of me.

Anywho, I woke up, not feeling able to do anything and I just prayed, “Please God, give me the strength to get this day moving along and allow the light show to be embraced by my family and I. Please! Please! Please?” So after movement began in the house, stirring was a welcomed sound, thus I began.

I dusted the furniture, began humming Christmas tunes, (that was to signify that we might get moving.) Steven looked at me as if to say, “You okay?” And my returned gaze said, “No, but we’re getting this done!” I told them of the plan (not that it was going to go off without a hitch) but they were on my team, so it was a win win for me. Christmas music playing, we started.

Adam descended the stairs and began bringing up, piece by piece, the Christmas ornaments. For every step he took up, he carried down a nic-nac or something that would be put away until after Christmas. Huffing and puffing,  and puffing and huffing, the Christmas ornaments adorned the shelves, the manger stood firm with the lil people in their places and pardon the pundit here, it was ‘beginning to look a lot like Christmas... every where we turned’ !!!

Adam took a break, I made some sandwiches, stopped to sit on the heating pad after popping some ibuprofen, then it was back to the assembly line we went. Adam was bringing the tree up. It weighs more than 50 lbs of awkward dead weight, so limb by limb it was carried up the steps, until the huge box was able to be carried up.

Steven and I were on this end, waiting in the living room and assembling the tree, while Adam, the lil trooper, kept going and going. After the tree was upstairs, he carried up the lights and bulbs, and was still at this time carrying stuff down the dreaded steps. And all he asked for was...a Pepsi! I said “YES!” and on he went lugging this and that, traipsing here and there, then finally, the first set of lights were now on the tree.

Steven and I were wearing thin, my back aching, my legs useless as I sat on the floor as a referee. Adam took over for the second and third pair of lights and now it was ornament time. I sat in the desk chair hanging ones at eye level, and Steven and Adam were moving around the tree and bringing it to completion!

More trips to the basement for Adam after we cleaned up any remaining mess, and the light show was a hit!!!

Then I had to find the energy to make supper... I did; afterward, we all collapsed. I on my sofa and him in his cap, Adam settled down, for a long nights nap!!!


Hark the herald Angels sing...Glory to the newborn king.

Thank you Dear Lord for prayers answered!

***

Pss.136: 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: