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I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2"  : "Christmas Time Is Two Months Long" The Christmas season starts in about three days on November 1st. However, Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, Finland has already declared the season open. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Blessings, Everyone.      |
| Love the Christmas video and reindeer. |
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Morticia Wednesday Megan Rose - I'm so glad!  |
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| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Winds Blowing" The sad events of Jamaica and the Caribbean islands are on my heart, tonight. Anticipation, preparation, and hunkering down are vital parts of surviving a hurricane. The fact, that it is not forecasted to hit the US Eastern Seaboard is comforting, but now I bear the weight of Survivor's Guilt because I know what it could be. I do not relish seeing the pictures from the islands during the next few days. Let us pray for the safety of all Caribbean islands affected by Hurricane Melissa. Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Darkness Falls" Living in the Southeastern coastal plains of the United States has given me a great way to plot a new novel, during NaNoPrep (or would that be IntNoPrep this year, and following?) Be that as it may, the plot of a story has so many variables, that it's like running every one of a hurricane's spaghetti plots to find the main track of the storm. (Everyone in my part of the world has a great deal of experience, following the tracks of hurricanes.) Who besides me thinks that writing a novel is very much, like tracking a hurricane. The eye of the storm may follow one path, but the effects of the storm are usually felt hundreds of miles away from the center eye. Surely I'm not the only one, who has started a novel with an intended trajectory only to find myself in another place entirely at the climax of the story. Maybe I should call, tonight's poem, Noodle #1 of the Spaghetti Plot. I wonder, "What's next?" Blessings, Everyone. |
Kenzie  - Well said, Kenzie. I have been a musician longer than I've been a writer. Nuance and feeling are things I care very deeply about. When I hear a flawless performance on the piano, I can often leave unmoved by the performer. However, a pianist with less skill, who plays with great feeling can cause me to weep. Heart in a musical performance is the very thing you described in novel creation. I agree wholeheartedly with you, Kenzie. Keep speaking that long and loud! |
| Kenzie - No worries. Reference what I just posted to you. In musical performances and writing, I prefer heart over perfection. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Where Is the Day?" A day can mean a 24-hour period as well as an epoch of HIStory. Knowing how to manage the time we have is such a gift. I pray this life is fully honored before we enter Eternity. Blessings, Everyone. |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Autumn" Autumn is an excellent time for a walk in the woods, letting go of stress, while we learn to think more clearly. Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Falling and Getting Up" When we fail at something, we have the choice to stay down or get back up. The song from 1997, that highlights human effort for the restarting of one's life does not have the lasting effect of Jesus' ability to hold all thing together. Colossians 1:16-17, KJV, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "It's a Novel Idea!" Writing a novel is still a challenge for me. I guess it is a challenge for everybody, since if it were easy, everybody would be writing a novel. How many times have I embarked on a new story premise, wondering how would I ever complete the book? The concept is often so large, and my novel-writing skills still have so many weak areas. I wonder if there are any comparisons between novel-writing and playing golf or making a career of baseball? Even the best golfers play "with a handicap" because the flight of the little golfball is so unpredictable. The best professional baseball players are happy if they make a positive play once out of every three or four times at bat, making outs the rest of the time. The point is not futility. The point is persistence and courage. Writing a novel in a month is good practice. Some skills take years to hone. The Lord knew His purpose for our lives when He made each of us. By His Grace, I will keep trying. Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Been Made Right" Yesterday, I wrote about "being a sinner" and furthermore identifying myself as Sin incarnate. Today, I want to talk about Jesus, the Messiah, Who changed everything for me without any help from me. Jesus is forever Perfect. He could never be anything other than Perfect, and be able to be my Substitute, The One, Who paid for my Sin. The double imputation on the cross of Calvary gave me the alien righteousness to stand in the Presence of The Trinity of God forever. Jesus substituted for me on the cross. My status as Sin was transferred to Jesus making Him to become Sin, Who knew no Sin, meaning this was Sin alien to His Nature of Perfection. Double Imputation means my Sin transferred to Jesus, and His Righteousness was transferred to me without any deduction of His innate Righteousness in Himself. Jesus' burial and resurrection from the dead completed the transaction, setting up Double Jeopardy for me, since He paid my Sin as my Substitute, and I can never be guilty of that Sin ever again. I know this has been wordy, but it's important. The word "alien" has been used to identify a characteristic that is not equal to the inherent state of the recipient. More nicely expressed, it is a Gift, which is unable to be purchased by the recipient. It is the Greatest Gift! Are you interested? Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Weaving Hope" There are so many times, that I wish I had not given the Enemy so much with which to accuse me to try to stop me from serving the Lord. John Bunyan wrote of the "slough of Despond," the despondency with which we must deal because of this sinful world and our own sinful past. The monk, Martin Luther lived with a depression, that nearly drove him insane before the Lord saved him from the heart, but "the Prince of Preachers", Charles Haddon Spurgeon gave testimony of Luther's final victory in his book, All of Grace. “Remember Martin Luther's way of cutting the devil's head off with his own sword. 'Oh,' said the devil to Martin Luther, 'you are a sinner.' 'Yes,' said Luther, 'Christ died to save sinners.' Thus he smote him with his own sword. Hide in this refuge and stay there: 'In due time Christ died for the ungodly.'” (Romans 5:6, KJV) https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/715580-remember-martin-luther-s-way-of-cutting-... I am a sinner. I've had to repent of so many sins as well as the fact that Sin is who I am. It is my nature. However, I've also had to repent from the good things I do in my own strength. The following verse shows the reason for that. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6, KJV) The phrase, "and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" would be bad enough, if we think about torn work clothes covered in mud from the average "blue-collar" job. We could all think of sicknesses, which cause "filthy rags." I hope, that I have the permission to express a picture of this phrase, that I have had in my mind for some time. Could it be, that every good thing we have ever done in our lives, that we try to offer as a gift to The Lord to place us in right standing with Him looks in His Eyes, like a toddler, holding a dirty diaper in his hands, coming to his dad or mom, saying, "Hey! Look what I did!" Is that why He will say in Matthew 7:21-23, KJV, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Jay O'Toole |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Little Things" The details of little things fascinate me. Could it be I'm seeing more and more the comparison between this life and Eternity? Life is so short. I have so many likes. I start so many things. I want to do so many more. Could it be that the life of Eternity will be bigger and better as we agree with Christ in this life? What will He give us in that Life? Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Gargoyles' Presence" October is mystifying to me. These are days in which evil is called good. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, KJV) The culture of Society, the world over, is becoming spiritual, while at the same time being irreligious. Hell is considered to be a myth, yet Jesus believed in Hell. Is the world calling into question His Right to speak Truth? (John 14:6, KJV) However, October is quite possibly the actual birth month of Jesus, the Christ, since the shepherds would still be out in the fields with their flocks. December in Bethlehem would be too cold for Jesus to be born outside in a barn or cave. Is Halloween an attempt by the Enemy to preempt thoughts of Jesus, redirecting thoughts to himself? Could be. Is anyone here interested in the Truth of Heaven and Hell? Is the Lord drawing anyone to Himself from Writing.Com? (John 6:44, KJV) No one can come to Jesus without being compelled by The Father. No one can be transformed apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3 & Ezekiel 36:26-27, KJV) Any compelled soul who comes to Jesus will be received, without any possibility of rejection by Him. (John 6:37, KJV) The Gospel ("Good News") is clearly presented in I Corinthians 15:3-4, KJV, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" The Merits of Jesus Christ are all that will fit any of us to stand in the Presence of the Lord, forever. The Greatest Exchange is this Double Imputation of my sins placed upon Jesus on the cross, and His Righteousness placed on me because of His Work on the cross. The same is true for each believer. Gargoyles can't save us, but Jesus can. Does that mean anything to anyone here, other than me and a few other regular readers of my blog posts? I pray it does because I truly care about your eternal soul. (tears...)  Blessings, Everyone. |
Pumpkin Spiced Coffee  - I've heard that line of reasoning, too. Gaining power over terrible things does have appeal to the human mind. However, the concern comes in relying on man's wisdom instead of the Lord's. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Cascade: "Summer Falls into Relief"" Today's poem has been written to meet the challenge from
in keeping with the changing of the seasons. This summer has been painfully hot for much of the United States, but now the seasons are changing. Even though the past few days have been unseasonably warm, weather watchers have indicated a cool-down to begin as early as this weekend. Here's praying for a few gentle weeks of Fall before the first big frost of Winter makes its presence known. Blessings, Everyone. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Shakespeare Sunset" Today's poem is an exploration of the themes of some Shakespearean plays, one tragedy and two comedies, but all on the theme of love. Sunset in these plays is often the dividing line between the clarity of truth seen in the daylight and the witlessness of foolish assumption grasped at in the nighttime. What a stark contrast there is between the wisdom of clearly honored love and the witlessness of assumptions in infatuation! May we all take time to be Wise. Blessings, Everyone. |
Me, myself & I all unanimously thank you for the Gift Points, Anonymous, (the Mouse with no name.) I wonder if this one is a good cook.  |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "So Dark" I wish I had the words to say to cause all men to trust Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. (Romans 10:9-10, 13, KJV) But the words I do say don't always land upon willing ears, and I am left with the eggs of laughter upon my face. The Lord saves whom He will. (Romans 9:15-16, KJV) None can come to Him without His personal Summons to Salvation. (John 6:44, KJV) All who hear the Summons, and come to Jesus, the Christ, will never be refused. All comers will be received. (John 6:37, KJV) Salvation is the Divine Act of spiritual obstetrics (John 3:3, KJV) and spiritual heart surgery. (Ezekiel 36:26-27, KJV) If you have any desire to be saved, that desire is the Lord's first Gift to you, the faith to receive His Salvation. There's still time. Say, "YES!" to Him, today. Jay O'Toole |
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