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 |    I will be adding stories & reflections as time marches on. Take a gander today! |
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Contest Entries: "The Contest Challenge"  Participant"I Write in 2018" Participant"I Write in 2019" Participant"I Write in 2020" Participant2021: Independent Writing 2122: "I Write: Enter the Second Decade" Participant2123: "Twenty-three in Eleven " ParticipantThis mixed collection contains fiction, non-fiction, prose, and poetry. Entries vary in length from very short to one that is over 3000 words. 53 entries written in 2018: ▼ 53 entries written in 2019: ▼ 43 entries written in 2020 ▼ 2 entries written in 2021 ▼ Entries written in 2022 ▼ NOTE: All Titles with ~ ~ are either non-fiction or based on a true story. |
| When I was around two years old, our preacher came to visit. For some unknown reason, he asked me if I knew why my mom and dad got married. I confidently declared, "Grandma said it was for immoral purposes." Click here for the reason I said this... ▼ Written for "Keenest Joker" |
| "Your new client has autistic traits." "What does that mean?" asked the job coach. "He is not diagnosed with autism but he exhibits some traits like a person on the autism spectrum." As she left her supervisor's office, the job coach thought to herself, "Time to ask Google for more information." As she read through the information she found, it was as if she was reading about her grandson. He was sensitive to loud noises. He also had a heightened sense of smell and touch. She thought back to dealing with his strong reaction to the sound of lawn mowers at the apartment complex where he lived and hand dryers in restrooms. She had worked with him to help him to be able to be around those sounds without freaking out. And his sense of smell—he tended to use his nose before his vision when she decorated a birthday cake for him. He wanted to smell everything. He liked to smell her feet. He was a strange child. Perhaps he had autistic traits. What else was different about him? Well, she had noticed early on that he did not engage in conversation in the way his sister and cousin did. They were a bit younger than him but they had back and forth conversations with each other whereas, although he was able to talk, he talked at people rather than with them. His comments were random and were not in response to what other people said to him. It was hard to even get him to answer a question. He would speak but his sentences were usually off the wall things not answers. Realizing all this, the job coach began to talk to her daughter about these things and together they began to explore the idea that this little boy was also exhibiting autistic traits. It was years before they finally found someone to do some testing for them to determine what was happening. Eventually, the child was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The name of the disorder was later changed to Autism Spectrum Disorder but the grandmother would always remember that first day of testing and the psychologist sharing the results with her and her daughter. One particular part of the testing sticks in her mind to this day. The examiner had shown her grandson a picture like this:  She asked the little boy to tell her about the picture. His response was unique: "It is a cheap umbrella. She probably made it herself." Yep, he definitely saw the world in his own very special way... Created on : Apr 29, 2019 at 9:44am. Written for "The Bard's Hall Contest" Picture Prompt:  Word Count: 427 Words ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
It was 1978. I have a lot of good memories from my walk with God that year. This one still amazes me. It was a normal day, normal lay of the land kind of thing. I was pregnant with my fourth child or it was shortly after her birth. This event happened in the livingroom of a little three bedroom house we rented on Knollaire in Sunnyland between East Peoria and Washington, Illinois. The first thing that happened was a realization. I was praying and had the sudden insight that several of my neighbors did not know Jesus—and I did not care. At least, prior to that moment, I had not cared enough to even pray for them. I confessed this to God as sin and asked Him to give me a heart for those around me that I would pray. A surprising thing happened after that. I was lying on my tummy on the livingroom floor praying and I had a kind of vision: I literally saw myself. I saw myself lying there on the floor but I did not see myself exactly how I would have appeared to an onlooker. I did not notice my clothing. What I saw was my body covered with open, runny, putrid, infected, puss-filled sores. It was a bit like what I might have imagined leprosy to look like. It probably was not actually what it looked like but it was nasty, gross and disgusting. I was absolutely covered with puss-oozing sores all over my body. The thought came to me "our righteousness is a filthy rags" and I knew the yucky sores represented my sin—not my sins but rather my SIN. Then another amazing thing happened. I perceived Jesus standing above my head, off to the right. I use the word "perceived" because I did not see Him with my eyes as much as I discerned He was there. That was the moment I first learned the true meaning of the word PURE. I was aware of white light and an over-powering holiness and essential purity. Jesus was the epitome of pure. He was so clean, so holy. The word pure took on such an expanded meaning for me that day I do not have the words to express it. But I do remember it. What a contrast: Jesus, pure and holy and me, covered with puss-oozing, putrid sores. Sinless versus sinful. And then He started to reach His Hand toward me! No! No! I could not allow it. I could not allow Him to soil himself. I was too filthy and He was too clean. I physically shrunk back from His extended Hand. And He reached further and laid His Hand on my head and Love flowed through my entire being—His Love, His Holiness, His Cleansing Power. He healed me and made me whole... Written for "The Taboo Words Contest ~ On Hiatus" FEBRUARY PROMPT: TOUCH Taboo Words: touch, sensation, feel, contact, handle, tactile or any derivatives of these words. Word Count: 476 Words. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
| "Father-God, It is New Year's Eve again. It has been four years since Mommy died but I still miss her so much." "God, why did she have to die on the one holiday I used to celebrate?" "I don't know what to do this year. I just know I will likely never celebrate New Year's Eve again as long as I live. For me, it will always be the anniversary of the day my mother died." "God, What can I do this year to help me cope with the lingering feelings of grief?" "What can I do?" "You remember, the first year after her death I visited her grave back in Wellsville." "The second year, I stayed up all night making five slow-cookers full of corned beef and cabbage—one of each of my kids' families." "Right now, I can't remember what I did last year." "I think I was at Matthew's, wasn't I?" "I know I didn't get together with family but I think my camper was parked on his property." "What can I do this year?" "Move into the dilapidated house you bought" "I could do that. I could buy something to sleep on and a table." "I have those jigsaw puzzles Glenda gave me. Mommy and I used to work jigsaw puzzles all the time." "And I have her poetry books—the ones we used to read together. I could read poetry and remember all the times she and I read poems together." "I remember..." "I re..." "ring—ring—ring" "Uh, Uh, Hello?" "I love you, ruwthy." "Mommy, Mommy, Is that you?" "ruwthy..." "Oh, Mommy!! I miss you so much!! I love you, too!!" "I dream about seeing you again when I get to heaven." "I love you, my darling girl..." "Mommy—oh, Mommy, I love you so!!" "Is this really happening? Am I dreaming? I don't care if I am, I am so glad to hear your voice even if it is a dream, I love you!" Written for "The Dialogue 500" Prompt: You receive a phone call from a dead relative. Word Count: 332 Words ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
My Children... My children are grown, With kids of their own. My children... Dear to my heart, Though we now live apart. My children... I remember each birth and their days on this earth. My children... Five lives intersecting and sometimes connecting. My children... There is no one alive That means more than these five. My children... Written for: "Invalid Item" "Open Expression: A Poetry Contest" by Sally This is "a prompt-free contest for all poetic styles". Style: I have aimed for rhyming pairs with a poetic feel but no set rhythm. This entry was originally created on : Jan 6, 2019 at 9:53pm. ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
| I choose JOY! What wonderful words. Let me tell you a story about choosing joy! It was my sixty-fifth birthday. I had wanted to do something special but, due to family issues, my plans fell through. I still wanted to make my significant coming of age birthday special. I opted to go off by myself—just me and God. I will never forget what happened when I awoke that day: PERVASIVE PEACE AND CONTENTMENT It was amazing. I woke up with an overwhelming sense of peace—peace that was completely independent of the things transpiring in my life at that time—the peace that passes understanding. What a wonderful birthday gift! I spent the entire day luxuriating in that warm wonderful feeling. I was so grateful to have one day of this magnificent sense of peace and contentment. Then came the day after my birthday and the day after that and the week after that and another week... What was happening? Why had this wonderful thing happened for me? Why was it lasting and lasting and lasting? Then came a big conflict with one of my adult children. I was upset. My feelings were in stark contrast to the wonderful sense of peace I had been experiencing. What was I to do now? Here's the thing: The time had come to make a choice and I chose joy. The two feelings were so sharply contrasted! The yucky feeling simply was NOT one I wanted to maintain. The wonderful warm, luxurious peace and contentment was not a feeling I wanted to lose. But, what about the conflict? Well, would staying in the miserable feeling fix or help anything? No. I did choose JOY and have never regretted it. I felt a little guilty at first. It was almost as though it was some kind of obligation to feel like crap when folks in my life were having problems. It felt almost disloyal to feel peace and contentment when others were struggling. Ya know what, I still chose JOY. Then came some of my own personal hurdles. I was rejected. I got ill. My home was in need of repair. I made mistakes. Different circumstances elicited different feelings. Fortunately, I had been telling people about this wonderful experience. I had been demonstrating to others that stepping into God's peace was like stepping from one room to another. Almost every time I shared this idea with someone, a storm hit in my own life and the time had come to make a choice and, thankfully, I consistently chose joy. I pray I will continue to make that choice one moment at a time for the rest of my natural life as I look forward to spending eternity with the God who gave us this wonderful gift: the peace that passes understanding. God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on HIM!  Written for "Jesus Praise" Word Count: 480 ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
| Many years ago, He had formed man out of the dust of the land. Man was His finest creation. Man was an animal but was also so much more. God had made so many animals before the day He made man but man was different. Man was created superior to all the other creatures God had made. Man was made in the image of God Himself. There came a time God repented of having made man. He had given man the power of choice. He had not initially given man the knowledge of good and evil but man had used his power of choice to gain the knowledge for himself. Man had chosen to disobey God. In essence, man chose not to trust God and acted against the only limitation God had put on man. Things have not gone very well since man made the decision to defy God. Evil was turned loose on the earth as a result and it broke God's heart to see so much wickedness on the face of the earth. The wickedness of man was what had caused God to regret having created man in the first place but, just when God was thinking of wiping out His creation, He called on one of the men He knew loved and obeyed Him. God offered Noah an amazing chance to save mankind—and Noah acted on God's instructions. Noah built an ark, a very large boat, and took his family on board along with a lot of animals. God then shut them up in the ark and caused the world to be flooded. Life outside the ark was destroyed by the flood. When the waters of that God-sent flood receded, God promised not to destroy life on earth with a flood ever again. He created the rainbow as a sign of His promise. The rainbow was an indication that summer and winter, heat and cold, day and night would continue for as long as the earth endures. The earth was then repopulated by the descendants of Noah and his family. Animals of every species repopulated their own areas of the earth as well. But the destruction of life had not destroyed the evil and wickedness that grieved God's heart. Soon, it was an rampant as ever. It was time for Plan B. Actually, Plan B was probably the plan the whole time. God was not going to use a created man to save His creation. The plan that would work was for He, Himself to come to earth in the form of man. God worked through other men to establish a pattern, a pattern of a blood sacrifice to cleanse man of sin. He called a people to be His chosen people. It was through the Israelites He was going to work His plan to walk among them in the form of man. He was with them in a body of flesh and blood—a body prepared for sacrifice. He made His entrance as predicted by being born of a virgin. He grew in stature and faith and became a man. Then the time came for His blood sacrifice. This time, it was not the blood of lambs that was to cleanse mankind of their sin. This time it was His Blood, His Precious Blood. He allowed Himself in the form of His Only Begotten Son to be condemned and die on a cross. Three days later, He rose from the dead and the final phase of His Plan for the salvation and restoration of man was in place. After the resurrection, He went away to create a place for them. When the allotted time had passed, He would come again and gather in His faithful followers and they would live with Him in peace forever. Written for: "No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED" July 2018 Prompt: animal Word Count: 630 Words ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
| As I'm trying to tweet a story, my grown son keeps talking to me. Ultimately, I surrender to the moment and this becomes the story I tweet! Click Here If You Are Reviewing My Tweet ▼ Written for "Invalid Item" 140 Characters ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
"A Christian does not need someone to minister deliverance to them. A Christian can simply pray and ask God directly in Jesus' Name for whatever they need." How many times had she said that to her friends over the last few weeks? And, she really believed it. So what was she doing now? Melanie and many of her friends friends from church had been talking about deliverance—about demon possession and demonic oppression. As they discussed spiritual warfare, they had told her that a Christian could not be possessed but could be oppressed by a demonic spirit. Even if this was true, she did not believe she or any other Christian would need anyone to "minister deliverance" to them. And yet, here she was driving to ask her friend to pray for her. Melanie and her friends had been reading some books written by powerful Christian authors about demonic influence and deliverance ministries. Melanie's best friend Sandy had even been praying for people in Jesus' Name and commanding demons to leave them. Sandy was excited about some of the things she had been experiencing but as they discussed the subject, it seemed to Melanie like Sandy was seeing a demon behind every bush. Melanie did think there was some validity to this business of demonic influence but she just believed Sandy and the others were taking it to extremes—AND she definitely did NOT believe a Christian would need deliverance. Melanie had been struggling with feelings of despair and depression. Bogged down in an unhappy marriage, she sometimes felt as though she wanted to die. She had prayed. She had renounced a spirit of suicide in Jesus' Name. Melanie had sought God and done everything she knew to do. Then this morning, when she was once again crying out to God in despair, she distinctly felt like God, Himself was telling her to go to Sandy for prayer. So, in spite of firmly believing she could simply go to Jesus on her own, Melanie was headed to Sandy's home. She was sure of one thing: she was not going to allow herself to be sucked into all this. She was going to ask Sandy to pray but, if ANYTHING happened, it would have to be God. She was not going to make it happen—far from it. She would simply sit there like the proverbial bump on a log. After all their conversations on the subject, Sandy knew exactly how Melanie felt about this subject. When she answered her door that Sunday morning to find Melanie on her doorstep, she was not sure how to proceed. Melanie admitted her struggle and told her about feeling as though God had told her to seek prayer from Sandy that morning. They were both nervous and hesitant about the whole thing as the friends walked together into Sandy's living-room. Melanie was convinced that this was what God wanted her to do. Sandy felt somewhat put on the spot but decidely declared it was not dependent her or her strength—it was not her power, it was simply the Power in the Name of Jesus. She was just a vessel, and, before starting to pray, that's exactly what she said to her friend. Melanie sat down in a the small straight-backed chair Sandy had set in the middle of her livingroom. Sandy began to pray. She walked around a bit talking to God first in English and then in tongues. Then she put her hand on Melanie's back while keeping one hand free as she reached out for God's Power. Melanie sat still, determined not to be swayed by emotion. She was determined to be a passive participant. Melanie was not looking to Sandy for help. She was there, sitting in the chair in Sandy's livingroom allowing Sandy to pray for her simply because she believed God had sent her there. She was not looking to Sandy—she was looking to God. Taking authority in Jesus' Name, Sandy began to command a spirit of inferiority to leave. Neither of them had expected THAT! Sandy knew Melanie was struggling with marital discord and depression. As a friend, she had sometimes talked to Melanie about those things but they had never discussed INFERIORITY! And, they weren't discussing it now. Melanie was simply sitting quietly listening, watching and silently praying—wondering what would happen next. Sandy continued to speak as one with authority, "In Jesus' Name, you spirit of inferiority, I command you to leave." Sandy paused for a moment and told Melanie to renounce a spirit of inferiority in Jesus' Name. Melanie knew what Sandy was talking about—the books they had been reading together talked about it and it was one thing she was willing to do. "I renounce a spirit of inferiority in Jesus' Name." she said. Sandy continued, "You spirit of inferiority, I command you to leave in Jesus' Name!" As if in response to Sandy's words, a thought came into Melanie's mind: "I don't have to leave, I have been here longer than she can remember." Sandy immediately countered, "I don't care how long you have been there, you MUST leave IN JESUS' NAME!" Melanie was startled! First of all, the thought seemed to have come from an entity separate from her and, secondly, her friend had responded to her thought as if she had heard it! Sandy continued commanding the spirit to leave in Jesus' Name and suddenly Melanie felt as though she was being choked! She could not breathe and her eyes began to bulge as she felt as though something was blocking her throat. Sandy continued speaking with authority commanding the spirit to leave in Jesus' Name. Melanie began to cough violently. Sandy gave her a wastebasket and encouraged her to spit out any phelegm and such. Then peace came. Melanie's breathing was restored and a sense of peace filled both women and the room itself. What had just happened? This was new to both of them but one thing they knew: They had witnessed the Power of God. Written for: "Spiritual Fiction Writing Contest-CLOSED" Open Prompt: (A story based on the teachings of any spiritual/religious path.) Word Count: 1026 ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
The Blizzard of '93 Weather warning - stay off the roads. She'd heeded the warning time after time. She wasn't going to heed it this time. She boldly headed across the bridge. Heading from New York into Canada over the falls. Weather warning - stay off the roads. Half-way across, the blizzard hit full force. She drove through freezing wind and snow. She made it into Canada but something was wrong She stepped on the gas but the van was losing speed. Weather warning -stay off the roads. She could not see the road - she stopped. She was off the road now - so much for that. What would happen to her on the side of the road In a country that was not her own? Weather warning -stay off the roads. What was going to happen to her. She curled up in a sleeping bag on the bed in the back. Bang, bang, bang -- someone pounding on her window. She sprung like Tigger to the front of the van. Weather warning -stay off the roads. Still in her sleeping bag, she peered out the window. A Canadian policeman shined his light in her face. Afraid, she opened the window just a tad. "I'll call a tow-truck. You can wait in my cruiser?" Weather warning -stay off the roads. She remembered another warning she had heard: A fake policeman killing unwary motorist along the way. She wondered if he was really a policeman. "No, I will wait here in the cold." Weather warning -stay off the roads. She stayed in the driver's seat of her Vanagon. Her sleeping bag keeping her warm. As she watched the lights from the cruiser And wondered what her future held. Weather warning -stay off the roads. The tow truck arrived and the driver offered her a ride. Still afraid, she declined and stayed inside her van As he towed her to a gas station in a nearby town With a mechanic he was sure would help her. Weather warning -stay off the roads. She paid the driver and waited in her van. The owner to arrive and opened the station. She started to tell him what was wrong He only asked, "How much money do you have?". Weather warning -stay off the roads. Reluctantly,he pulled her van into the bay. The icy storm had frozen the port of her carburetor Allowing too much gas to flow. "It is fixed," he said, "and here is your bill." Weather warning -stay off the roads. She was not happy. He was not kind. He took her for almost every dime. But her van was not fixed at all. As she drove away it once again slowed to a crawl. Weather warning -stay off the roads. She pulled into a convenient store, not knowing what to do. She opened the engine compartment. As she befuddled peered inside, An extremely scruffy fellow stepped up and offered help. Weather warning -stay off the roads. Here she was in Canada, alone, broke and broke down. "I can't fix it but I know who can." the stranger said. "My friend Soupbone is the man." "Follow me to my house. I'll give him a call." Weather warning -stay off the roads. She had not trusted the policeman. She had not trust the tow-truck driver Now she was desperate. Slowly, she drove after the scruffy fellow. Weather warning -stay off the roads. Soupbone told them to bring her out. She climbed in her van again. Driving after them to parts unknown To meet the fella they called Soupbone. Weather warning -stay off the roads. This Sunday School teacher was nervous. The strangers who offered her help Were members of a motorcycle gang Bragging about their encounters with the law. Weather warning -stay off the roads. "Oh yeh, the po-po were here the other day." "I was stark naked when I opened the door." Soupbone laughed while he told this story While quietly, she prayed. Weather warning -stay off the roads. Soupbone started to work on her van. He toiled and he tinkered. He poured in some oil. He fired it up, "You're good to go." Weather warning -stay off the roads. She asked him what she owed."Not a dime. Not a penny." Then Soupbone pressed a wad of bills into her hand. She had been so afraid of these folks so different from her. But they extended themselves and gave all they could. Weather warning -stay off the roads. It has been years now but she still remembers And asks for God's blessing On the motorcycle gang who came to her rescue In Canada on that cold winter's day, eh? I started this poem here: " Week 6 - The Blizzard of '93 (in Canada)" This longer version was written for "Invalid Item" It is exactly 100 Lines. AND it is a true story about ME!!! ~ ~ ~ JESUS is LORD! ~ ~ ~ |
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