Safe Harbor

2020_03_16 Romans 8-28

This is my favorite Bible verse. I have it memorized, and memorization is extremely difficult for me. I wanted to make it attractive to share at this time. It seems to me there is a lot of panic in the world. God is in control.

Little side-note: My mostly hobby job as Copy Editor is going on sporadically today. After I created the above artwork, I shared it with the Editor. She loved it and called it an ad. Needless to say, I was euphoric. I told her it could go in the magazine, we have four now, plus a digital, and she said they would use it in the future.

Safe Harbor

Look to the Lord God –
He is the help of nations,
The ballast for all
Voyages we undertake,
His protection surrounds us.

Do no violence
In your rash preparations;
You are fully loved,
Trust, the extravagance of
Heaven’s abundance accrues.

These times, things shall past
The Glory of God remains, now
And eternally,
He will not forsake His own
Seek His mercy, peace, and LOVE.

Gentle your heart, for
Life continues in the midst
Of trouble, LOVE rises,
Storms come and go, but we know
LOVE is our habitation.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

LOVE always the Answer

2020-03-15_LOVE always the Answer

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Wookie was not quite sure what was going on. She is not exactly photogenic, and I was sitting down, which is always a bit confusing for the dogs. I usually sit very rarely.

Is anyone else up to 150 posts this year alone? I would love to hear about what you are doing if so. Also, should anyone have content suggestions that would increase my audience without expecting monetary compensation, I would much love those. I would pay, but I have no funds. All this costs me. I know money is not a subject, but…

I hope you are enjoying the break from the endless activity and that you are well. I suggest this would be a perfect time to work creatively.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

 

Be Strong And Courageous

I have not put up a handwritten piece in a while. Frankly, I have problems writing, seem to skip words and such. This one actually turned out well. I think I have told you some of my writing is done to motivate me, but I think maybe others deal with similar issues, so I share.

Background: The thought of being confined to the house, despite that I do it a lot voluntarily, scares me. Mobility is a fundamental freedom. I went into a full-blown panic attack over this today. Then I wrote this:

2020-03-15_Be Strong and Courageous Prose Poem

I have all I need for a bit. I do not understand what drove me to panic today. Just so weird in town Thursday and yesterday.

I hope all of you are staying comfortable and have what you need.

A couple of songs I recommend:

God Is In Control by Twila Paris
We Believe by Newsboys

As a prompt: If you are getting a little freaked out with all that is happening, I highly recommend creating. Address your discomfort, make something out of it.

This may be all today, but I highly doubt it. Blessings to you and all you love. Stay safe. Thank you for visiting.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Maybe Today

We can spend time with
One another, talk, listen;
Pick up a book, magazine,
Newspaper, read good things.
Love
On our pets, while they love us,
Play with a child, love them,
Read interesting storybooks, or
Make stories up together.
Color, draw, paint – something
Beautiful,
Listen to music, sing along, or alone,
Pause some screen interaction,
See less bad news, avoid fear, panic,
We can discover an alcove of quiet
In whatever way we wish.
A long walk with mindfulness,
Bringing along a non-phone camera,
Writing letters to those we love,
Who
Will treasure the gift of “real” mail.
We must not allow chaos, meanness,
In the public sphere to dictate
The persons we are and become.
Humans are able to transcend disasters,
Growing richer, better, more capable,
Polished, polite, kindly, generous,
People of LOVE!
We can rise, creating,
A world
Of possibility and opportunity.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

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As a prompt, I encourage you to put the world aside, a while. Enjoy the people, the places, the things that enrich your existence. If you wish, engage your creativity and produce something. Or if you are as exhausted as we often become, rest. Blessings to you and yours. Peace amidst the turmoil.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Poetry

I did not think I would find it in me to do any more work today. I am not well settled with myself, and I am sorry if it disturbs you to know this. Worry not. Days are challenges, always, just some tear at me worse than others. I was reading and realized a poem wanted to be. For me, when the words shimmer and trill, I better busy myself, or I will be more ill than ill. So be it…

Poetry

The graceful leap of ideas –

Casting lures aptly baited
With irresistible word
Gathered, (stolen), from dragon hordes
And memorized vocabulary of
Spelling Bees.
Late nights, (early hours), spent
Flashlight reading
Under covers fresh warm surround,
Pouring over dictionaries, encyclopedias,
Maps, travel brochures, thesauruses,
As many as would be found.
Studying Bible verses and ancient poets
Until meaning is engraved on who one is,
Seeking images, highlights, making
Adventure in every visited space,
Harmonies, lyrics, melodies lightly stored,
Every experience questioned, explored,
Each day providing, proving mystery,
Reasons, motives, dissected, laid bare.
Love throughout it all, yet doubt, fear,
Dual vines growing untempered,
But love more potent than any adversary
Filling heart, mind, soul with those
Sensibilities needed to become complete –
Writing the poems acquired for the desire
Of the choosing to sufficiently compete.

An instrument, malleable, beloved
Desiring to encourage, inspire, love,
Through the application of gifts.

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I am most fortunate. There is much for which to be grateful, many graces we never realize. It is my hope that all of you remain safe and well. That you take this time while some things take a time-out to renew relationships and do some of the things you often don’t but enjoy.

Maybe the lesson for us is appreciation, sometimes we are so caught up we lose sight of blessings. Gratitude is a beautiful way to honor love and life.

Create. Creativity is destiny.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan