As Best I Can

 I’m living my life as best I can

As I day by day write and speak

Encouragement to my fellowman

Trusting in YOU, FATHER for the 

Carrying forth of YOUR plan 

As my faith is built into a

Mustard tree that sits atop a mountain 

For all who will to shelter and rest

Under its span.©️

Jesus said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can come and nest under its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32) (https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/)

Be blessed as you digest this blog today.

In HIS service,

Alma L. Carr-Jones

Shifting Gears

 Been traveling this road for many years

Gauging my steps and shifting my gears

Sometimes with a smile and 

At other times with tears

Yet, come what might 

I will continue my work

And persevere in my fight

Until I reach the end of my road

Where Heaven’s greeters shall lift

My last earthbound load.©

********

Sometimes, the simple words of a small poem capture the essence of the moment best.

Beauty from Ashes

To the “chosen vessel” Isaiah 61:3 (NASB)

“Weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

So, if you are a vessel that is being fired with finishing touch heat, hold on and know that for a special purpose, you have been crafted. Prepare to step into the slot for which you have been formed. Though you think you walk alone, not so, for YOUR MAKER holds your hand. Just know that just like the Phoenix, “beauty will rise from your ashes of grief and disillusionment” as you walk in accomplishment and peace. Why? Maybe, just maybe you are deemed “ready for The MASTER’s use.” Peace be with you as you realize your true purpose and worth.

To the opposing camp of “a chosen vessel”

You have to be cognizant of WHO crafted the vessel in the first place, now don’t you? 

You have to remember that if GOD crafted a vessel just so, with the fires of life at given temperatures, HE has an ultimate purpose in mind and no purpose of GOD ALMIGHTY can be thwarted. If you are of the opposing camp (whether you know it or not) understand that “a chosen vessel" comes forth as pure gold to “rise to the occasion,” and woe to the man who obstructs his work or his path. 

A Word to the Wise - Don’t be so stuck on a vessel that you miss the message therein.

Saved More Than Once

 They did this

But GOD said...

And they did that

But GOD said...

And we, the people, did what?

We kept right on praying!

Bottom line is Romans 8:31 (KJV)

“If GOD is for us, then who can be against us?”

Recent studies have shown that 55% of Americans engage in daily prayer; we have been saved by prayer more than once, so let’s get the numbers up, people! 

Have you said your prayer today

Did your children see you bow

Your knees today

For you will be teaching them a helping skill that

Lasts life long, when you teach them to bow and  pray.©

The Layers of an Onion

 As I live and breathe

I know

That GOD will provide

And I know that “all things

Work together for good

Because I love the LORD.”(Romans 8:28)

 I have talked to you about something similar to this before and but I felt the need to reiterate this morning. There is so much negativity everywhere we turn today, what with the cyber criminal activity with reference to gas shortage, food shortage, hate mongers, or what-have-you. So, I just wanted to remind us all that we walk by faith and not by sight. That means that even when your world stops making sense and most every story on the news seems to be a doom and gloom type, don’t despair. I want to remind you that we have the Most Powerful GOD there is as Our FATHER. 

So, don’t you give up

Don’t you dare

Because GOD has shown us through

The gift of JESUS that about you and me

HE does care.

********

America, trouble can be likened to an onion. It seems sometimes to peel off layer after layer, doesn’t it? Making you cry all the while, right? But, when heat is applied to it, the tears go away and we gobble it up stronger for having stood the stench and the tears. 

I like to think that GOD supplies the heat to the onion of trouble and makes it work out for our good! Does it get tough sometimes? Yes, America, it does. But, if we keep our hearts and minds stayed on JESUS, HE will handle all. And make no mistake about it; when the layers of a particular onion of trouble are peeled back, the knowledge within will be astounding! (You will be able to throw out the rotten parts found within and reap sweet rewards for withstanding the tears!)

Look at Pharaoh, Hitler, or any number of would-be-dictators that have come through time and what do you see? You see men who have paid the ultimate price because they would not recognize the Sovereignty of GOD and HIS Supreme Power! 

America, as long as we remain a Christian nation and be filled with love, not hate, we will, I say, “We will be okay.” And that’s all I have to say about this particular onion of trouble.

Know Who You Are

 Know who you are, friend

Know who you are

And don’t let the clamoring 

Of the masses cause you to sin.

Know who you are, friend

Know who you are

For the time will come when

The days of living in this world

Will end and the books 

Will be opened 

And you will be glad that you chose 

JESUS as your FRIEND.

So, when the clamor of the crowds

Beats like an incessant drum

And you can scarce hear because 

Of the crowd’s discordant tone

Just remember who you are

And let the crowd hear your hum.©️

The Fallen

 

For us, their lives they did give - 

Let’s keep honoring their memories 

By the lives that we choose to live.©️

GOD Can and Cares

Never forget WHO you serve and the almighty power HE wields on your behalf if you but ask! (Hebrews 4:16) 

 

I Kept Right on Praying

 

I kept right on praying

When my enemies surrounded me

I kept right on praying 

When chaos wouldn’t let me be

I kept right on praying

To the GOD of eternity!©️

“The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

 

The Sweetest Words

 Never say never

About what you will or won’t do

Never say never about what

Will or will not happen to you

Instead, as you travel along life’s road

Keep your bag packed with love

Joy, peace, patience, kindness

Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness

And self-control, which are the

Fruits of the Spirit by which we walk

As we with prayer carry our given load

And  “He intercedes for us with 

Groanings too deep for words”

Now His interceding for us are 

Mentioned in the Bible, which

Is chock full of the sweetest words that

A mortal has ever heard.©️

(Romans 8:26 NASV)

Touch Her in My Name

There is for me a special time of day

That makes it so much easier to pray.

It is a time when most of the world is still asleep

And the hustle and bustle of the day have not begun

Yes, my best praying time is before the rising of the sun.

Be blessed fellowman in whatever problem bears you down

Praying that God's grace will give you a smile to erase that frown

As answers to your prayers are wrapped and sent down.

As I have prayed for you, you do the same

By asking an earnest prayer in somebody else's name

May your prayers be answered in sweet

As your heartfelt prayer for the help of others, you complete.

Father, please bless us all and keep us in your care

Is this early Sunday morning repentant sinner's prayer.

 

Flourishing by God's grace,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones

Christian Author & PoetSunday

When Angels Leave

When Angels Leave

A hole is left in our hearts when angels leave

And all we can do is go through the mundane tasks of living

As our minds adjust to the fact and our souls grieve.

 

Sweet, sweet angel, you prepared me for your departure I know

Yet, I never knew that I would be torn asunder

When I, at last, had to let you go.

Dishonesty

Dishonesty is ill gotten gain.

Be Still

When you learn that having faith in God and waiting on Him pays off, your faith will grow and the waiting becomes easier.

On yesterday I told you that there are times in life when you have to hold on to what you already know or have seen God do in the lives of people and in your own life. There is a scripture that comes to mind that reads as follows:

Be still and know that I am God...In the earth. (Psalms 46:10, KJV)

Having my belief shored up by meditation and prayerful studying, I went to worship to praise the Lord God for all that He has done and will do in my life. Yes, indeed, I opened my mouth and sang to the rafters about His goodness in making a way for us all due to the great love that He has for us. And you know what? I left the worship service with spirits that were soaring.

And... later in the day, are you ready for this? By days end, my mouth had been opened in dazed wonder at His goodness! I, I, I  could barely fathom the great blessing that He had extended to my family! Long afterward, when I had calmed down sufficiently to think coherently, the mouth of my brain was still gaped open! My last thought on this post this morning is this; "Oh how sweet it is to be loved by the Lord God because He makes a new word and changes the impossible to HIMPOSSIBLE!  (No I cannot take credit for the word coinage of Himpossible. I saw that on a Facebook post and decided to use it.) But it is so fitting of the way that the Lord steps in and works for His children, don't you think?

Please enjoy this poem from my book, Chopping My Row:

When Your Load Gets Heavy

When your load gets heavy,

When your feet get worn,

When your sou gets weary,

When your eyes get tired

Of shedding tears because

Of darts that have been fired

And theca of life in which

You find yourself mired,

Keep stepping, in Jesus name.

Remember He sees; He knows; He cares

And only "mustard seed faith" is required!

*********

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

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Through It All

Sometimes in life we are put through things that we see no way of getting out of. Sometimes it seems that our life is meant to be hard and that that is just the way it is. Have you ever had times that you felt that way? I imagine we all have at one time or another. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but I am going to use the picture below to talk about what it does not say.



When you look at the picture you see a kitchen counter of a person who likes to cook, don't you? Sure you do. You see the measuring spoons and cups on the wall, the kitchen shears, and the see-through canisters. This kitchen happens to be mine. No, it is not the grandest kitchen ever constructed, but it is mine. It is what I have been given at this juncture in my life and I am thankful.

From looking at the picture you cannot see the little girl that I used to be who yearned for a row of cabinets in her Momma's kitchen. You cannot see the lonely spigot of cold water that hung over an old cast iron enameled sink. You cannot see the single 1by2 board nailed onto the wall that held the sink in place along with the accompanying iron pipes that held up the front of the sink. You cannot see the roaches that scurried from here to there when a person entered the kitchen. You cannot see the bare plank floor whose gray paint had long since peeled with only remnants of it remaining in existence around the edges of the room.

I won't tell you all that you cannot see in the picture, instead, I will tell you what the picture represents to the grateful and hopeful little girl who still lives within me. The see-through canisters remind the little girl of the hand of a beneficent God, Who provided food then and provides it now. The rubber gloves on the counter remind the little girl that she no longer has to wash her dishes in cold water with a bar of Octagon soap that will not lather much. The stand mixer reminds her that all things are mixed together and turn out for good with a beneficent God on your side. The see-through chopper next to the mixer reminds the little girl that through it all, God can, will, and has seen you through!

This Sunday morning, I am going to tell my God how grateful I am, yep, this Sunday morning. Meet you in worship this morning at our Father's throne.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,
Alma L. Jones
Christian Poet & Author

Somebody has a story to tell.

The First Time

You are usually filled with zeal the first time that you attempt to do something new though you know it may be a challenge. The reason that it is a challenge is the fact that there are so many variables that you have not dealt with before. You take the first time that you try out a new recipe or the first time that you try to learn a new skill such as Tunisian crochet. You rarely get it right the first time. With the recipe you have to do trial and error several times, each time tweaking a certain ingredient. Often it is adding a little extra this, cutting back on a little of that, omitting a certain ingredient or substituting another ingredient. Yet because you want to master the recipe you keep at it until you get it to your satisfaction.

I mentioned Tunisian crochet in the paragraph above. That is one of the easiest pretty forms of crochet, I think. Oh, but let me tell you. It was not as simple for me at first. What with being sure that I was picking up the correct thread on the end, remembering to skip the first bar, etc. I did more pulling out than I wanted to. Yet, I persevered and am having a blast with it right now. Of course, I have to deal with the yarn wanting to curl, tsk, tsk. But, I like it enough to keep at it. That is the way it is with something that you really want to do.

So

Remember the things that I talked about being good at so that the Lord can get the glory? Well, just like you have to practice to become good at doing secular things, you have to practice in order to become proficient at the things that you do for the Lord.
My point is, "Do the best that you can for Him because the rewards will be worth it, you know?"

 

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

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

A thought to ponder: Tunisian crochet makes a really warm blanket to snuggle under during the cold season. Have you ever thought about giving some to residents in the nursing homes that have no family to visit them?

Using My Gifts Finale

Work in the Vineyard Is Almost Done - In His plan for my life, He made provision for me to use the wisdom that I asked for as a child in doing the jobs that I had over my life. And best of all, I am using the story writing skills that He allowed me to develop as a child to keep me busy in my retirement years and to help my fellowman with words that will comfort, even after I am gone.

Making the Connection

I have heard people say, "It always amazes me how fate offers us all the tools we need, to do what we were always meant to do." NO, MA’AM! NOT FATE, BUT GOD! God gave me the wisdom to be good at writing stories, writing poetry, public speaking, encouraging others, etc. and this is something that I have used throughout each aspect of my life.

Look back through your life for a bit and see if you don't find that to be true for you as well. Uhm hum-m, see I told you. But don't let your perusing stop there. What is it that you have always loved to do and were good at? Wouldn't it be wonderful if you had a job, since you have to work anyway, a job that allowed you to do just that? And better yet, you could incorporate your love and zeal for the Lord into your work. I did as a teacher of thirty years, a housing coordinator of ten years, a minister’s wife of forty-two years and now as a writer.

I hope that this blog, though long, has blessed you and I further hope that you will try to think about the things that you enjoy and figure out ways that you can do them to the glory of God and that it works as well for you as you develop your ministry (things that you do to and for the glory of God.)

I don't have adequate words to express

To you, the way that I feel that I have been blessed

You see, it means so much when you receive

A blessing whose magnitude shows God's touch.

So, this last verse is to You, Lord

I can't tell you how much I love You

But I will continue to try to show

The glory that You have allowed in me

For the world to get to know

For it is not by me that these words have been coined

But by You, masterful Father, You, Who, are Number One!

(excerpt from Chopping My Row, Blessing in and After the Storm, p. 47.)

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

Alma L. Jones

Christian Poet & Author

Using My Gifts

All of us have things that we like to do better than other things, and I am no exception. By the time that we become adults, we have learned what things we are good at as well as what things we enjoy.

So

As a child, there were certain Bible verses that stuck in my brain. One of those verses was the one that said, "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." (NASB) I knew that if I did that I would be pleasing Jesus because He is God and He rules the world. It is kind of like lining up with the winning side. And we all know where victory will be in the end because the Bible tells us so.

That simple child's logic has carried me far and fashioned me into the person I am today. Yes, that simple desire to please the Lord God. And you know what? "He knows those who are His." (2 Timothy 2:19) You see, I figure that the Lord knows me through and through and therefore knows that I will do whatever it is that is required of me. That is why I figure that He developed in me the gifts that He has. He knew that I would use those gifts for His glory.
Here is a little rundown on some of my gifts that I enjoy doing so much:

1. My Writing - As a child, I was good at writing stories. I entertained my friends with my stories and ended some of them with a question of what happened next. Let me tell you my stories created no small stir in our 4th-grade classroom! Now after a successful teaching career, I find myself going back to my childhood pastime activity of writing. This time I write about all sorts of things. But, the most important thing that I write about is HIM.
   God prepared me in my childhood for the writing work that I do for Him now. Who knew? God did. I discovered, with amazement, several years ago a passage in the Bible that has resonated with me ever since. That passage is Isaiah 50:4. (Read it.) Basically, the passage says that if you have the gift of being an encourager, it did not happen by mere chance. It says that that gift is to be used to help your fellowman, who may be weary from time to time. This is a gift that I have been given to be used and I use it for the glory of GOD. I use this gift in the blogs that I do daily and in books that I have authored.
   Then, too (Recording Life Experiences and Words of Wisdom for Future Generations) I have learned to have books with me at all times. I never let myself go anyplace without some copies of my books. And get this; I have written this book for you about my trying to live my life for Him and one of the chapters in the book is entitled, “Writing It All Down.” Again, why do I do this, all to the glory of God, to tell you, my fellowman of His infinite love for us all!


2. Public Speaking - I also use the gift of being an encourager for the glory of God when I speak at various church and civic events.


3. Being a Preacher's Wife - When I was a little girl, I used to ask the Lord for wisdom every day. Why? I did this because that is what we were taught that Solomon did and I wanted to be blessed like that, too. I asked for wisdom every day without fail. But, when I look back on my life, I can see that the Lord heard and answered my prayers. I noticed it some, in my classwork as a child or in the way I tried to help my Momma figure out the meals for the week or to work some problem out. So, I said all of that to say this, I am a caring person by nature. People seem to want to tell me their problems and I listen. Why, because it is part of my makeup and part of my life’s journey to "Do What I Can, While I Can." (And too, remember that scripture that says, “Have entertained angels unawares.” Heb. 13:2) You see? The wisdom that I asked for daily as a little girl equipped me for being a minister's wife. No, I did not know that the Lord was getting me ready for the role of a minister's wife, but He did. All I was trying to do in my little child's brain was be blessed almost as well as Solomon was.


4. My Teaching Days – (Instructor in Others Learning Years) I have always, even as a child, been good at explaining complex things in a simple manner. I remember on one occasion my teacher was trying to explain something to one of my classmates. They just could not get it, so she suggested that I try to explain it to them. I did and they got it! She used me quite a bit that year for peer tutoring. Of course, they didn't call it that back then, but you get my point. Don't you see? I had the intrinsic tools being built into me then to be a teacher. Yep, that is what I ended up doing for a living. And yes, I taught special education for half of my teaching career and regular education for the other half. Again, I say, "I didn't know, but God did." (cont. tomorrow)

Very Successful

Yesterday I told you that I would tell you why I had, "Very Successful" written in green. The words, very successful, themselves have a clear meaning so why the addition of the green color? Also, I told you yesterday that I would tell you about how my being kind impacted my life.
As usual, when I want to make an application of a particular point, I ask you to walk with me as I stroll back down memory lane for examples. Today's topic is no different.

From as far back as I can remember, my Momma always told me to be respectful and kind to elderly people. In my child's mind, being kind and polite to them meant that Jesus would bless you because He was happy with the way that you were treating His special people. Then too, I reasoned within myself that the elderly were special to Him because He had allowed them to live a good long time. (Ephesians 6:3, 1 Timothy 5:1, Isaiah 46:4, 1 Peter 3:10)

I can still hear some of the elderly ladies that I used to go to the store for, or sweep for, or hold the door for, or carry groceries in for, or say hello to, etc. exclaiming over how helpful or well mannered or respectful I was.

Little girl, you will go far! You are so kind and respectful. You watch what I tell you, You will go far!"

Of course, I thanked them and skipped home with a smile and told my Momma what they had said when she got home from work. But I do remember reasoning within myself that I was not going to mess with His people and have Him to get mad at me. Nuh uh!

Galatians 6:7 and Ephesians 6:8

Both of these scriptures say pretty much the same thing. If you want kindness done to you then dish out kindness to others. I remember, as a child, how special I felt when someone would do something to me or for me unexpectedly. I felt that it was God helping me because I tried to do the right thing.

So

I set out to do the right thing and apparently, I succeeded because I have been blessed abundantly on my life's journey. I set out to please the Lord and He has blessed for it. Just take a look at some of the ways that He has blessed me. He let me:

• Be a college graduate


• Be a highly acclaimed teacher


• Be a public speaker


• Be an author


• Be a poet


• Enjoy cooking


• Enjoy crocheting and so forth.

Now I did not mention those things to brag on myself by saying that I do them well. I have been allowed to be successful in the things mentioned above, but it is not me that does it. It is the glory of God shining through me. Let me explain. When I look out at this earth that we inhabit, I see the green trees and the green grass that He has carpeted it with for my little feet to walk on. As long as the grass and trees are still growing green from season to season, I know that God is in control. So, using my green letters is my way of saying, "By God's Grace," or DEI Sub Numine Viget (Under God's Spirit I Flourish) and at the same time giving praise to my God. Yes, I do like Jeremiah 9:24 says and I brag on Him.

Tomorrow, I will tie it up in a neat package for you and leave you with another blessing from my blog via inspiration from the Lord God. I will tell you why I chose to mention those blessings above and not some obvious others.

Blessed and Favored,
Alma L. Jones
Christian Poet & Author