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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“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)    |
Back to school to earn your cap, gown to show your grace, choose your work from o'er the map, write your lasting place. Just nine months from now to the start of life, that's truly new. From graduation praise, depart to leave the days now through. But while you live this final year of schooling memories take moments here and there to clear your day's anxieties. The senior year is full of bliss, and hopeful friendships made. Unique for life are days like this with honors, now displayed. Fulfilling Math and Science complete, all Histories are done. Each artful elective is replete. All tasks are now quite done. That favorite teacher, stay in touch. She dubbed your wondrous name. Her character is made of such, that calls your car the same. The days will pass, and that quite soon. The tears will flow right down. The thrill of heart is o'er-the-moon, but all that's gone, a frown. You've learned a lot from those like you, and those quite opposite. Embrace the words you know are true, and from the lies be quit. The world expects you live as strong, fulfill your spoken vows, adulting days through work and song, before the ancient bow. To know great honor live it full to pour on honest souls, and then one day th'eternal pull will show your lasting gold. Please, know, Dear Child, all humans feel, they have the answer, rare, but Truth revealed is really real with peace from lasting care. Please, seek The One, Who made you first. Your life will always last, if to His Fountain you bring your thirst, receiving His Gift for your past. by Jay O’Toole on August 17th, 2021 |
When clouds show up we wonder what will be the day ahead. Will rain just mist or will we caught in downpour feel the dread? The day may be a cooler temp to give us great relief from hot and humid clothes, unkempt, and musty, sweating grief. When clouds show up photographers can keep the skintones pure. Th'ethereal softbox will defer the harsh light and ensure, their name's great worth will most refer, that business will endure. When clouds seem gloomy to us all, and the sun seems far away just rest in Christ, and on Him call. We know He holds the day. by Jay O’Toole on August 16th, 2021 |
| The first man, Adam, was in bliss. He had his love for life. For Eve she was the one to kiss, when made to be his wife. His life was lonely ere she came! The animals had mates. Enjoyed they love in hearts the same. As one connected, great! The Lord created all of this, and left the man alone To make him thirst for his first kiss, to hunger for his own. So, when t'was right, God knew that sleep was easiest to take a rib from Adam, love so deep to share the life they'd make. For ever after wooing love this first man knew the truth. Romance is fully ribbings of the fairer sex of youth. This Adam was a lonely man. His missing rib became his wondrous wife by God's great Plan, with hearts, that beat the same. Their sporting love brought Able, Cain, and great Humanity. Forbidden fruit they would disdain when Sin lost liberty. At first we see this loving bent. It's fully in the bone. A rib from Adam he has "lent." Now he's no more alone. Let's think about this for a while. This question of romance "Is there a need to learn a style with just one face to glance?" This begs the question for each soul, "Is love by chance or choice?" Can love, the tool, assuage the hole to make each heart rejoice? For Adam called his wife a gift. Is less or more the truth? He could not make his heart to lift without this friendly youth. In innocence their life was pure. Full blessing one to both. This love through all their life was sure. Showed through the ages growth. by Jay O’Toole on August 13th, 2021 |
| On and off we act our parts. Sets will change, and life does, too. Nothing's wrong, but feels amiss, 'til new day arrives. by Jay O’Toole on August 12th, 2021 |
Through, and 'round, and lift the stitch. Through, and 'round, and lift, again. All together we are rich, band of brothers, souls, and friends. Count each stitch across the row. Count each stitch. Make comfort straight. Every soul we're blessed to know makes our lives, now, doubly great. Knit together scarfs are made. Knit together life is done. Row by row the craft's displayed to honor Christ, God's Only Son. by Jay O’Toole on August 10th, 2021 |
| Books, waiting, rest until, I pick to read, sharing moments there in my chosen chair a place apart joys to thrill tasting books. by Jay O’Toole on August 9th, 2021 |
Awake, but barely so I drifted upright like the closing of a Murphy bed on the park bench, that had been my cot for the night. I staggered over the ridge to find my favorite bush, but it was not there. What I found staggered me. There were groves and groves of coffee trees, ripe with bright red cherries, ready to fall to the ground. I had never seen anything like this on Earth. Caffeine-headache and all, I shook myself, "This isn't Earth!" Noticing a squatty little building, (not even a full story high,) about a hundred yards away, I trudged in its direction, hoping to locate something to eat. Not much to see on that side, I thought. It's just a coffee brown wall. Fighting my cranial throbbing, I plodded on, and turned the corner. There in five-inch letters was a sign in cream-color on that same coffee brown background. "Joe's Outpost." Maybe, Joe can help me to get something to eat. I wasn't wrong. Finally inside, past the little hand-scrawled note, "Watch your head, or it'll be a nasty tumble down a flight of steps." Gingerly down the steps, I made my way to the bar. "Are you, Joe?" "Yup. What'll you have?" "First, where am I?" "You're on Coffee Cherry Moon. I see you finally woke up." "Have I been here before?" "Just last night. You missed my note to watch your head." "Must be why it's throbbing so much this morning." "You were out like a light." "How did I get to the bench in the park?" "Stirring Stick carried you." "Stirring Stick?" "My 6'5" bouncer. Thought the fresh air would do you good." "I guess. Can I get something to eat?" "What'll you have?" "That big muffin with the chocolate chips." "Anything else?" "A Venti coffee with a lot of Half & Half. Ow, my head." "You did bump your noggin', but I'm sure you got a caffeine hang-over, too." No sooner had I taken a big ol' bite of that luscious muffin, washing it down with the best coffee I had ever tasted, then my alarm rang. It was time to get up for work. Boy, do I ever need coffee, I thought, pin-balling down the hallway. by Jay O’Toole on August 9th, 2021 |
The Shifting Puzzles of our days bring light to things so wrong. A frauding donkey thus betrays the monkey's newest song. He ruled the land of Narnia by lion's mane o'erspread the witless donkey, Puzzle, was to prove what Aslan said. But when the battle at the barn threw dwarves and humans both inside to surest death, this yarn created lives to loathe. Perspective in the final word was what they needed to know. For those, who served and loved the Lord. their joy was quick to grow. But those, who had no heart for this remained in blindness thronged. The swill they drank with none to kiss. Their fear was thus prolonged. When once the heroes saw the Truth, they thrilled at the endless land, the Place of Hope, and lasting youth, and singing worship bands. "I have come home at last!" Joy cried. "My country, it is here. The land I've sought through hurts and pride, till now it was not clear." With jubilation in his heart, he brayed his bliss in glee for Jewel knew, that end from start his Joy would ever be. "Come further up, come further in!" his waving mane became the harbinger of no more sin, and no more daily shame. This unicorn, though fanciful gives Truth a place to rest. The thinking mind is laughable, until Faith's truly blest. by Jay O’Toole on August 6th, 2021 |
Back and forth it blows and blows, cooling some, then others, acting in the diff'rent shows as enemies or brothers. Ev'ry rhythm in life moving, right and left and right. Are we living or just proving, "Structure is our might"? Fans are needed in the summer, keeping our lives cool. "Marching to each diff'rent drummer" kindness needs to rule. Back and forth we blow and blow, doing deeds as ever. Help we all the world to grow, making all quite clever? When this life is finally through, will He praise our hearts? Or will He question all we do, the stoppings and the starts? The line in quotes is an allusion to the famous quote by Henry David Thoreau in Walden. https://www.bartleby.com/73/905.html by Jay O’Toole on August 5th, 2021 |
The grass so tender on the lawn is trimmed and cut to shorter be. 'Tis fertilized by doe and fawn while munching flowers chosen free. "Dear Lord, protect the grass and plants, that bring such joy to strolling souls. Protect the flowers, whose faces can't protect themselves from munching goals." The grass is soft and thicker, now, not like the years so overgrown when thickets ruled, and low the bough, that covered green and weedy throne. The exercise of summer chores can make the body strong and whole. The cutting of the green implores the best of lawn my constant goal. by Jay O’Toole on August 4th, 2021 |
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