One by One

The great ones are leaving

 One by one

Would that we will have done as much

When our last days are done.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

As We Near the End of Summer

When I received my new computer etched Grammyalmascorner.com mug, I was pleased to see that it holds liquids very hot for six hours and keeps ice for 24 hours. Right now, we are glad to have something to keep our drinks cold. But, soon we will be wanting a mug that can keep things hot for us because fall is on its way. That is the way life is, all about seasons and we are reminded of that periodically, by the various things that happen year after year. As I said earlier, fall is approaching in McKenzie where I live and we are experiencing several end of summer signs such as:

The August days being sweltering
The sudden cooling of the temperatures on some end of August nights
Hummingbirds and monarchs seeming to feed almost nonstop in preparation for their nearing trek south, etc.
Squirrels and ants will begin to get busy gathering food for the winter. And we like to make sure that our freezers are well-stocked with vegetables and meat for the fall and winter seasons, too.

When you look at our bodies we can see seasons there as well. There is the baby season, the toddler season, the child season, the preteen season, the teenage season, the young adult season, the middle year season and then the season of old age. Just like certain things happen in the seasons of the year, they do in the seasons of life as well.

It’s all about preparation, y’all. There is a scripture that says, “Be ye also ready...cometh.” (Matthew 24:44, KJV) So, let us get our houses in order, both physical and spiritual.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

 

My Work for God

In my work for God
I have to be bold
So, I go where I am sent
And I do what I am told.

I can’t listen to naysayers  because  they told me that:

• I couldn’t go to college because there was no money, but God sent me


• I would never get a regular classroom, but God gave me one with flourish


• I would never write a book, but God gave me five+


• I wasn’t good enough, but God said, “Oh, but you are!”

And now I can tell the world that it’s not up to me to know how. I just have to walk by faith knowing that God will make a way for me. You see, God will move mountains and level valleys for you if you trust Him. I tell you folks that being wrapped up in His love is a wondrous thing!  He loves us, y’all and there is no greater love than that. The following song says it best for me.

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Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

 

 

 

 

How Can I Say Thanks

How can I say thanks for all You’ve done? Yesterday, yesterday, yesterday! I set up at the McKenzie Sweet Tea Festival with my books. I can not begin to tell you of the success that I experienced! Rarely am I at a loss for words, but I am right now. I will forever carry in my heart the memory of the outpouring of support that I received. To God be the glory for the things that He has done!

 



The picture above was taken before the festival began for us.

God is good!

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

God’s Love

Good early morning to you! I ran across a scripture the other day that made me pause.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14, ASV)

I did a little reference on it and the poem below is the result.

God’s love surrounds us in ways we

Do not often think about

But His love is with us nonetheless

In the “ministering spirits that be.”

 

I’m thankful for His ministrations

On my behalf and often tell Him so

In fact, I speak my thanks and praise

To all who listen everywhere I go.

********

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

From the Ground

My having been reared in Memphis, you would think that I know little, if anything, about raising vegetables and you would be correct. But earlier in the late spring, I had my husband to plant some cucumber seeds. I watched the ground throughout the summer and today, I got to sample that fat little cucumber that grew on the vine! It was tender, succulent and tasty. I sprinkled it with a little vinaigrette mixture that I made and I was in farmer’s heaven! That fat little cucumber was grown by my hand, well at my insistence, anyway.

If it is the Lord’s will, I will have cucumbers, green peppers, jalapeños, and peperoncino next year. Well, okay, I might not do that much. Tee hee But I will have some bell peppers, red, yellow and green and onions.

You know what I say, “Thank You for having the ground to produce for me and thank You for giving me the simple joy of growing tiny green cucumbers. Only you can give joy with punishment and a lesson taught. I love You.”

Point to Ponder

1. What do you think is meant by the bold print statement that begins with, “Only?”

Against the Day of Trouble

Good evening. Yesterday I said I would talk a bit on the scripture, Job 38:22. That is the scripture that talks about the storehouses of the Lord that He has in waiting for the day of trouble. When I read about the storehouses of the Lord, I thought about Him doing battle with Pharaoh and some of the other enemies of God’s people, Israel. I remember the scripture where the Egyptians said, (paraphrasing here) “Let us run because the Lord is fighting for Israel. That is the passage where the Egyptians were down in the sea bed and the wheels came off of their chariots. There was to be no escape that day.

And I remember how the word went around the other enemies of God’s people and the enemies were afraid to bother them. Uh,humm-m, then moving come forward to today, I know that whatever comes up against His people, the Lord is prepared. I remember the storehouses and I get gladdened within my spirit.

So-o, I have determined that when my enemy seems to get the best of me, it is only because there is a lesson in it for me. Then I think like the Hebrew boys, “If the Lord doesn’t deliver me, it’s not because He can’t.”  I remember the storehouses that my Father has and I step on. You see, I know that my redeemer liveth and that He cares for me. 1 Peter 3:12 & Job 19:25. 

My Point

I am spiritual Israel.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

To Think About

1. What is meant by the sentence under, "My Point?"

The Home of the Wind

I was sitting at my kitchen table after having just finished dinner and I turned my head absentmindedly to gaze at the late afternoon sky. A shrub just outside my window began to gently wave in the breeze and that gentle waving broke my reflections about places here and there. And made me think of the source of the breeze and a scripture came to mind. Which scripture? The scripture that came to mind is the one where, "...the wind in His treasuries,” is mentioned. Psalm 135:7 There is another scripture that alludes to the treasuries or storehouses of the Lord. (Job 38:22)

I think that we will talk about that scripture a bit more on tomorrow, but for today, it is enough for me to know that the gentle breeze that captured my attention has its home in heaven. It made the journey just to say a sweet, "Hello," is the way that I like to take my active writer's imagination and view it. One thing about it, no matter how you view the situation, it came from heaven to visit me during a moment of quiet reverie.

Just Think About It

The God that we serve keeps the wind among His treasuries! The wind, folks, the wind! If He keeps it among His treasuries, then He knows what it looks like. W.o.w., I have never seen the wind, have you? I wonder what it looks like?

Remember that poem that we learned as kids, a portion of which reads:

Who has seen the wind

Neither you nor I

But when the trees bow down their heads

The wind is passing by.

(Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894)

What a mighty God we serve, don't we?!

Oftentimes in awe and wonder,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Something to Think About

The place where the wind hails from is the place that we may get to call home one day, if we live right. Forever and ever with our Lord, my, my, my...

A Speck of Dust Speaks

Good evening, folks,
This is one of those days that I wanted to say, "Thank You," to the Lord. Do you ever have those times that you just want to acknowledge Him for His love and power? If you do, then you know how I am feeling just about now. I invite you to go with me to His throne for a brief moment.

Father, this little speck of dust wants to thank You and praise You for You. You have been carrying me for a good many years and I thank You. Even when I did not do as I should have, you blessed me anyway and for that I thank You. You love me with a love that is indescribable and for that, I shout to the world about You. I shout so that I have invited some of my blog readers to join me in this prayer of thanksgiving and praise.

I will not make this a prolonged prayer, but I wanted to finish it up by telling You that I am proud to serve You.  Here is a poem to finish my prayer:

Thank You for everything, especially for the

"Care packages " that You have sent to me over the years

That put a new smile on my face and stars back in my eyes

To the extent that they showed through my tears

And to the extent that the tears of pain and sorrow

Became tears of relief and joy as only a care package

Receiver can know.

You are awesome Lord, and I just wanted to tell You so.

********

From a speck of dust to the Creator of us all,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Encouragement from Beyond

Some things in life leave you with your mouth open and a sweet peaceful feeling of awe. He has so many ways of taking care of us in our existence down here. Take a look below at what a Facebook user posted to me and you will see what I mean:

Today, was a difficult challenge while going through some of my Mother's things.
Mrs. Alma Louise Jones, I found your book of poetry on her nightstand. Marked at this very page.
It was almost as if it was there.. meant for me.
Thank you for your beautiful words and works, but thank you for being the limb that I was able to grab a hold of. 😊❤

 



This page is from my book, W.O.W. created w.o.w. I had decided within myself to not write poetry anymore owing to the fact that no one bothers with it anyway. I had decided to concentrate my energies totally on prose.

Then the post above happened. This post told me that now is not the time to forgo my poetry, far from it. This post took me back to my original intents regarding writing poetry, that of showing God’s love for mankind and reaching out and touching hearts one moment at a time with, among other things, encouragement. The post above reminded me and I’ll not forget it soon.

Here is my reply to the Facebook post above:

I’m glad that I was given that poem to write and glad that the book was marked on the page it was. You know there is no such thing as coincidence, don’t you? I’d like to think that the Lord orchestrates people and events in our lives to deliver just what we need in a given moment. I call these moments or times, care packages from heaven tailor made just for the recipient. The Lord sent you a gentle reminder of His love for you. Be blessed even more, sweet ——-!

You just never know, do you?

Attend worship today and never give up on the Lord God. He is still in the caring and sending care packages business.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

The Biggest Question

The biggest question has to be, why

It seeks the answer to reasons that

Make men laugh or cry.

It is a question that men have asked

Down through the ages and yet

Often when the answer is supplied

Up pops the natural successor, how

But, I have learned to be satisfied with, when

Because it answers the question as to what

Will be and to what has been

Wonder when that will be enough for mortal men?

********

Good morning. I felt the need to be a bit philosophical this morning. What does this poem mean? Oh, it can mean several things, but to set your mind at ease, try this on for a sizeful meaning:

He was responsible for my beginning

And has already set in place the date for my ending

I just have to get this living and loving thing right

In preparation for the appointment date with, when

And looking forward to or dreading the land that

Has stopped the kiss of time and where through

All eternity my spirit will be spending.

********

Be blessed.

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

 

 

I Care Not

I Care Not

"I care not," she said
I care not at all
Though she had been pushed until
Her back was against the wall.

I care not, she showed
"I care not," she said
And she took her beleaguered self
On down her appointed road.

To Think About
1. Define beleaguered.
2. What is meant by the phrase, on down her appointed road?
3. What do you think is happening in the poem? Why?
4. If the poet's back were against the wall, how could she go on down the road?
5. What do you think the poet is trying to say to mankind?
6. What seems to be this poet's view of life? What in the poem did you base your answer on?
7. Do you agree with the poet's view of life? Why or why not? Think of a scripture to substantiate your answer.

Good morning, y'all. Today I decided to go the thinking route with a poem of mine. I hope it blesses you.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Remember

Remember Who your Father is
No matter what life throws your way
If your name keeps rolling off of wagging tongues
Keep doing what you are doing for Him

You are His child and He will reward you

For your faithfulness at the end of the day.

Then you can say these simple words, “Thank You My Father.”

Today, y’all, I have to say what a mighty, caring, wonder working God we serve.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Macedonia Awaiteth

More than 26 years ago, my husband took on a work that had three members present on our first Sunday there. We labored there until recently and now there is another work that we have been requested to do. We have begun a work in McKenzie, Tennessee at the Southside Church of Christ. We pray that the Lord will bless our labors at Southside as He did our previous work or more.

Go to worship today and be blessed in your spirit and help to blesss someone else through singing, praying and your presence.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Southside Church of Christ Schedule of Services

63 Lawrence St., McKenzie, TN

Worship - 11 a.m.

Sunday School - 10 a.m.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study - 6 p.m.

The Lord had work just waiting in the plan, so be prepared to bloom wherever you are planted.

Showing Some Love

Today when I awoke, I awoke with a feeling of extra love and gratitude. Because I am so grateful for God’s goodness in my life, oftentimes I will do something kind for someone. As you know, sometimes I prepare a meal for a bachelor minister who has been on the battlefield a long time.

Well, he recently got out of the hospital and I know that nothing makes you feel more special than having a home cooked dish delivered to your door. So, today I made one of his favorite desserts, banana pudding. I sent my husband over with the dish and fried chicken as well. He already had his vegetables, so my food was right on time.

When I lie down to sleep tonight, I can think that I made someone happy today other than my family, you know? All of us have things that we can do to help to lighten someone’s load or brighten someone’s day.

Here’s his banana pudding. Have a bite.



Yes, I did make one to keep at home, as well. :) Be blessed.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

He’s Sweet I Know

Learn not to fret. Instead turn to God and talk briefly with Him, and you will see that He will work things out for you. He will make everything right with your world, from the greatest thing to the smallest thing. How can I say that? Easily, He carries me still.

I was reading my  Bible a couple of days ago and a few verses seemed to take root in my mind. I was working on another lesson, but these verses seemed to stick. As I went about my chores these verses were there. In fact these verses turned up in my thoughts so much that I decided to do a lesson on them.

It won’t be a long lesson, but some lessons can be done with a few words. This is the passage of scripture that rested so strongly on my mind:

 

Psalm 94:7-9  (NAS)

⁷ They have said, “^[a]The Lord does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.”

⁸ Pay heed, you senseless among the people;
And when will you understand, stupid ones?
⁹ He who planted the ear, ^[b]does He not hear?
He who formed the eye, ^[c]does He not see?

That scripture says to me that there is something that people often forget. They forget that our Father made the ear so He can hear anything that is said and He made the eye so He can see anything that takes place. And then it gets sweeter to me because it goes on to give me further assurance in verses 17-19. This is what it says:

¹⁷ If the Lord had not been my help,
My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

This may have been how my enemies wanted me to feel.

¹⁸ If I should say, “My foot has slipped,”
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.
¹⁹ When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.

But my soul remembered Whose child I was and sought solace from God, my Fatheer and my Maker.

²² But the Lord has been my stronghold,
And my God the rock of my refuge.

And now I sing the song, "He’s Sweet I Know". It just doesn’t get any better than that, y’all.

Take a look at this poem from W.O.W. created w.o.w., 2016 and feel goosebumps.

Ever Stop to Think?

Do you know or ever stop to think about

Why the words of a song

Seem to play across your emotions

And stroke you from within and without?

Do you know or ever stop to think about

Why a verse from (the Bible), a poem or a famous

Quotation you have heard

Replays itself within your brain

Until you have memorized every word?

Do you know or ever stop to think about

The glory of the CREATOR

Spreading HIS love to you so that

You won’t be undone by the potholes

And stormy trials that you are forced to go through

That these are just sweet reminders

That HE cares much for you?

1 John 3:1-3

1. Define potholes both literally and figuratively.


2. Compose a poem that goes along with the given scripture. Use at least two words of, at least, ten letters. (W.O.W. created w.o.w. p. 104)

My God how great Your love is for me! And I thank You.

So

Now you know why I display such alacrity in my service to Him. As I said yesterday, this is the manner of service we ought to give and the type of people we ought to be. And yes, you are correct if you surmised that my Father has managed to make me feel precious, even me.

One More Thing

The passage of scripture that I used is marked "Paint It Green"© in my Bible. We may talk a bit more about, "Paint It Green"© tomorrow. Be blessed.

 

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Oops! Said it would be a brief lesson. Guess I had more to say about this topic than I thought. Word count reached over 714. I am working on trying to keep it around 500.

In Good Hands

Yesterday was a rather solemn day for me as it was my Momma’s birthday. R.I.P. Momma, sweet lady of my heart.

Now to get back to the statement that I left you with on Tuesday:
“Let everything that hath breath. Praise the Lord.” (Psalms 150:6, KJV) Have you really thought about what this scripture means?
Well, let’s take a look at this scripture with reference to the type of people we ought to be. But first, here are four more scriptures that I want us to consider.

Psalm 93
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

2
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.

The two verses above tell us that the Lord is in control; He is majestically clothed and is girded with strength. That says to me that whatever comes up, He is prepared to deal with it. It further says that He has been dealing with this world, His creation before time began. In other words, He made it. That should cause us to leap for joy folks because we know that He was, is an always will be. That is what the words "from everlasting" mean.

Psalm 96:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;...equity.

Again, this verse tells us again that God is in control and that the world cannot be moved because it is firmly established. We are being assured again so that we can know Who we serve and how powerful He is.

Psalm 95:3-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
4
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
5
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.

The above three verses simply tell us that the entire earth and its depths, the mountains with their tall peaks and the sea are all His because He made them all. So we ought not to worry about what people threaten to do to us or to this world. Again, God is in control.

6
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

This verse says to me that since we already know that the earth is the Lord's and that He is our Maker, we belong to Him, too. Therefore we should be a people most humble and prone to praise our God for His love and wonderful works.

Psalm 96:11-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
11
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the seas roar, and all it contains;
12
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13
Before the Lord, for He is coming,...faithfulness.

At the beginning of this lesson today, I quoted a passage of scripture that suggested that everything that has breath should praise the Lord. The first time I ever read that scripture, I thought it was talking about all races of people, but now I don't think so. You see, verses 11-13 above say that the earth, the sea and everything in it, the field and all that is in it and all of the trees of the forest will sing for joy. Did you get that, folks? The things that we think of an inanimate are going to sing and rejoice at the coming of the Lord. If those things can do it then you know that we should be doing it, too!
That is the kind of people we ought to be.
So, when somebody tells me not to praise him, I chuckle to my self and I keep praising. If the trees can at His coming, then I have sense enough to do it now. That scripture really wowed me, folks. Trees are going to sing! Trees! What manner of people ought we to be?

********

“I Clap My Hands

I clap my hands and praise my Jesus

In spite of how you look at me

So I don't know what he has done for you

But I know what he has brought this child through.

I have traveled over many a weary mile

Over much treacherous terrain

He has stayed my fears and guarded my ways

And let the world know that I am his child.

So when I clap my hands

With your looks, don't censor me

For I praise my Lord for all he has done

And will do, on my continued walk toward eternity.

Hebrews 11:13

1. Define treacherous, terrain and censor.

2. Is the speaker bothered by how the world perceives him/her?” (W.O.W. created w.o.w.)

********

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,
AlmaL. Carr-Jones
Christian Poet & Author

We sing and praise because we already know that we are in Good Hands, God's hands. There is so much more that I could say on this subject, but’s I will let that wait until perhaps another day. Be blessed.

Praise the Lord

"Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." (Psalms 150:6, KJV) Have you ever really thought about what this scripture means? Tomorrow, if the Lord wills, we will take a look at this scripture with reference to the type of people we ought to be.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

All You Need

Sometimes we don't realize that we have all we need and have had it all of the time. Here is a poem that expresses just that sentiment.

My cousins had their sisters

My friends had theirs, too

But I was forced to make

My walk all alone

But I realized later that

My solitary walk had made me strong.

I was able to reach heights

That only eagles had known

And too, because I was forced to

Tread a lonesome path

I learned to be happy as I

Sang my solitary song

Because I learned that I never

Actually walked alone.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Oftentimes you have all you need if you but recognize that fact.

God Gives the Increase

Good Sunday night. I hope that you got the opportunity to attend worship somewhere today. I hope that you found renewed and continued strength in doing so. 

We began a new work for the Lord today in McKenzie, Tennessee at the Southside Church of Christ located at 63 Lawrence Ave. As we have always done, we accepted the work under our mantra of blooming wherever you are planted.

You never know, as God’s servant where your next field of work will be. This is something that I have learned over the course of my life. And there have been times indeed, that I felt like I was not capable of doing the task that was set before me. But, I did as I was taught to do, and that was to pray and give the work my best effort. Then I  waited for the Lord to do His thing and make the work successful. 

Well, the angels in heaven rejoiced today as the Southside family was blessed with two baptisms. “To God be the glory for the things that He has done!”

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L.Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

My Momma Told Me

My Momma told me when I was young to always keep my hand in Jesus' hand. She said,"Alma, this Christian race is hard to run but, never forget to take Jesus with you everywhere you go. Y'all I heeded that advice and still do to this day. Do you know why? He won't leave me alone, ever! He has proven Himself time and time again.

And that is why, like I told you yesterday, the Lord is my Hero. If my fingers get too careworn and cannot grip His hand anymore, He holds me fast anyway. I am so glad to know that His strength begins when mine ends. Here is a little verse that I whipped up today to say to Him and to the world, "God be thanked, You live."

Jesus, when I fell into the trap that was made for me

You came with me to break my fall, and I thank You

You used the debris of my broken faith that was in shards

Around me to build my foundation anew

And now like the phoenix, I rise just as You told me I would do

So, Lord, thank You for giving me a Momma

Who, though she is gone, taught me

To always stick with and believe in You

Because she knew that You would always bring me through.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Superheroes

Superheroes are not real, but what if they were? If you had a superhero, would you take the time to thank the superhero that you admire the most for his superpowers? There are no superheroes among men, but I have One. My Superhero resides in heaven. Yours, too?  Yes, we have a Superhero, Who is real. 

I told you yesterday that the Lord likes for us to brag on Him and to thank Him. These things delight Him. (Jeremiah 9:24, KJV) So, while you are bragging on Him don’t forget to thank Him, too.

It does not always have to be big things that you brag on Him about or thank Him for. You can thank Him for big and little things, both. Here are some examples of some simple things to thank Him for:

• The beauty of a breathtaking sunset


• The flight of a hummingbird 


• The goldfinch with its vibrant color hue that sits on a branch in your flower garden and warbles its song


• The majestic waterfalls that dot the landscape of our world, etc.

If you see things in nature that grab your attention and make you marvel, then take the time to say, “Thank You, Sir, my Hero!”

I just told the world Who my Superhero is. What about you? 

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Ever wonder what it was that made David "...a man after God's Own heart?" Bears thinking about doesn't it?