We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV) |
The Sovereign of the universe doth call by His Own Choice the ones, whose lives he will reverse to give an honored voice. I cannot save myself from sin. I am not right with God by doing what alone I win, the one all would applaud. By trusting God I'm given rest, His Wonders start to learn. Within His Arms, I'm fully blest. The Same will never turn. O, Sovereign Lord, I thank You so for saving one so wrong. Your Truth each day please help me know to build in me Your Song. by Jay O’Toole on July 12th, 2023 |
The challenges of life are marked by things we truly are. Youth's strength we knew, it often sparked our deeds to take us far. But age enjoins our work be paced, now slower tasks complete, the youth PRs have been effaced, but wisdom's quite replete. So many minds, so many thoughts, so where can we agree? So few've the Standard I was taught. No eye-to-eye we see. The Earth is heavy with great souls, and history, now past. O, can our future be made whole, that life on Earth may last? We weep at things we once thought plain, but now great doubts arise. Can hope we knew now live, again? Can Joy renew our tries? The challenges of life we know are based on human skill. Through challenges, we often grow to know the Blest Lord's Will. The challenges we would escape are making us to be the very wine of broken grapes poured out in front of He. The challenges our crowns do make, that one Day when we're Home, we'll throw before Him, now awake. His Glory Ever's tome. by Jay O’Toole on July 11th, 2023 |
To start a scarf I cast each stitch, then back and forth it goes. To make some space, I carve a niche. My crafting pattern shows. A 19-needle, big and large makes chunky scarves so warm. What could I ever think to charge for a cold day's wondrous form? Some day when done I'll bless this gift to someone with a need, and be the cheery face to lift another life, indeed. by Jay O’Toole on July 10th, 2023 |
Knitting rows and rows of threads creates the scarves we make. Knitting hearts as we are led, His Kingdom's prizes take. Salvation bought by blest blood poured. His Church He knits of hearts. The Savior is the always Lord. New life to us imparts. The Father calls and knits His own. He makes of us His Will. For none can come by will alone, but drawn by God so filled. (John 6:44, KJV) All the Father gives to Him are knitted heart-to-heart, and he, that comes as saving's gem Christ never says, "Depart!" (John 6:37, KJV) Keep knitting gifts by worthy hands, and pray Salvation comes to those we love in family bands, each person, and the sums. by Jay O’Toole on July 7th, 2023 |
Lots of lights fill celebrations of the longest, shortest days. Christmas Day, Independence Day, celebrate the lights of each. Plug it in. Spark it with your flame. Lighten faces with these lights. Joyful nights of eating, seeing with hopeful hearts so blest by saving Grace. by Jay O’Toole on July 6th, 2023 |
Hope. It comes upon the wind when Life is blowing hard, the harmful things to truly mend in words of an aging bard. Hope. It comes in muddy pants a-trudging through the vale. It breathes the air, that God still grants, a victory it's tale. Hope. It comes through one more day, while crying in our hands. The words of God do plainly say, "The best is in My Plans." (John 14:6, KJV) Hope. It comes though I am small. I make a mess of things. 'Tis then I hear the Savior call, "Your life to me, please bring." (Matthew 11:28, KJV) Hope. It comes in Christ, the Lord. The worst of Earth is short. Just lean upon His Lasting Word. He gives a blest report. (John 3:16; John 6:37,44; Romans 10:9-10,13, KJV) (Ezekiel 36:26-27,KJV) by Jay O’Toole on July 5th, 2023 |
So many years ago we thought of what and what to do because the king back then had naught of grace, and we were through. He helped himself to our abodes, and barged right in he did. Such antisocial act erodes the kindness we might bid. It's just like Mom and Daddy Dearest with a fam'ly's child. When not of age, it's time thou rearest with restraints most mild, but when that child has grown adult the bliss of fam'ly stays, respecting age as all exult. The station's grown we praise. "We hold these truths so evident, that men are equal made. we have unalienable rights now bent t'ward Freedom's Rights obeyed. "They're Life, and Liberty, we seek our Happiness, you see. A Government of Men must speak, 'Protection,' we agree." We're okay with you when you lead, and keep an arm's length apart, but when as Despot, life's your greed, our separateness you start. "The history of this King George repeats of hurts and woes. The laundry list is deep as a gorge as now the world we show. "His lawlessness has been quite bad. We cannot make a one, unless it's signed by kingly 'Dad,' and right now, he's no fun. "He keeps our population small to keep himself quite big. We have no power we can call. His 'Yes Men' wear their wigs. "His taxing really keeps us down. His taxing taxes hearts. Just leave us well enough alone. Allegiance we'll impart. "We've asked him nicely, asked him long, 'Be kind, and we'll remain,' but when your thumb doth break our song, our Freedom we must gain. "Please, British friends and fam'ly hear. We have no wish to harm, but when you call us 'foes' it's clear, we call God in alarm. "Rely we do on Providence. We pledge to each our lives, our all 'til Peace we do evince, and life here fin'lly thrives." These States have lived in blessed Peace at times, but then at war. May godliness in Christ increase. His Grace, again, implore. Please know, that "Righteousness" it's plain, "exalts a nation" grand, "but sin" reduces ev'ry gain, "reproaches ev'ry people's plan." (Proverbs 14:34, KJV) by Jay O’Toole on July 4th, 2023 |
The flora, that I love so much, is hibiscus, and its myriad attendants. What a beautiful flower, plant, and entourage! Hibiscus's colors are vibrant, often red, yellow, and/or orange like the sunset at the end of a long day. Hibiscus plants love the heat and humidity, which is so prevalent in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Hawaii. Any state or country, that has a preponderance of beaches, oceans, and hot & cold environments dancing to make airborne moisture, no doubt grows hibiscus plants in abundance. Since flora deals with the region and environmental habitat, where I live, we may consider Georgia, USA to be tropical, or the cusp between tropical and temperate. Hibiscuses thrive here during the summertime of every year as a rule, but they must be kept in a greenhouse to overwinter, or they will die. Since Georgia deals with subfreezing temperatures at least a few days every year, hibiscuses are treated as annuals, unless fervently cared for by gardeners, like me, who love them. However, I am glad to say their resiliency has amazed me, during the past six months. Christmas Eve 2022 hurt my hibiscus plants in the greenhouse with a 10-degree freeze, that seemed to kill them all. Yet, this summer more than one of these wonderful plants have grown out from the roots. Boy, am I ever glad! Attending plants in this flora regional habitat, include caladiums, hostas, lantanas, ferns, begonias, and dianthuses. Caladiums, hostas, and ferns are most notable for their leaves, which are green in most cases, but the variations of cool colors are enhanced by the additional shades of red with the caladiums. Lantanas, begonias, and dianthuses, also, have wonderful green leaves, but their claim to fame is the glorious variety of flowers in their ranks. The Lantana bush has small blooms of orange, red, and yellow or mixed varieties. Begonias often have pink or red flowers. Dianthuses have red and white blooms with variations of pink or purple in their wonderful spiky crowns, like Jesus' crown of thorns, making this plant a great illustration around Resurrection Sunday. Tropical flora do well in the summertime environments of nearly tropical lands, but unlike tropical climes, these plants may survive winters out-of-region, only through the watchful care of loving gardeners. Hibiscuses, ferns, and begonias will often die in a hard freeze. Caladiums, hostas, and lantanas consistently die back in a hard freeze but return in the spring by growing out from their roots. There is one caveat emptor. Caladium bulbs must be dug up each year, and overwintered inside of the gardener's house in a dry environment, usually stored in plastic grocery bags (at least, that's how I do it.) However, Dianthuses are the hardiest plants in this flora regional habitat. I have witnessed Dianthus plants survive the coldest of the cold and the hottest of the hot in our area. At times only the greenery of the dianthus is showing as it seems to be reserving strength to stay alive, but now in the heat of the summer in south Georgia, USA, the Dianthus plants are in full bloom. by Jay O’Toole on June 30th, 2023 |
To struggle with a newer thought is just like pulling teeth. The Novocaine is shot and bought, then dizzy is the wreath. The thought of using little "toys" to talk across the Earth requires some numbness for lost joys, like twirling phone cord mirth. The newer types of music bring some sadness to this "youth." The Carpenters would wondrous sing with harmony to boot. To Google everything makes weak the brain, that needs to search. Like pulling teeth, through books, we'd seek for Everest or perch. We'd kick the ball or toss it long as sun set in our yard, not craning neck at screentime's song, that vertebrae be marred. But getting older's now the chore we battle day by day. The shoes require us to bend o'er to tie with breath's dismay. Today, the Novocaine was real. The big tooth had its "dance," and, now, this pain I firmly feel marks aging's long advance. Line Count: 28 by Jay O’Toole on June 29th, 2023 |