Jem Croucher, Poet’s Corner introduced to me today a new poetry form. Her blog beautifully described “In the Autumn Now” in an aaab rhyme scheme.
For those of you unfamiliar with those poetic descriptors, the aaab scheme means the first three lines all rhyme, but not the 4th one.
The fun thing about her last line is that it was the poem’s title and it was repeated in each of the four stanzas. Brilliantly done! (There are probably other rules to this rhyme form, like 7 or 8 syllables to create rhythm on each line… but I’m not sure I can do that! So will just go with the rhyme scheme and number of lines for now.)
I’m going to try my hand at this poetry form, but as you know if you saw my post yesterday, we – here in Ennis, MT – are “In the Winter Now.” Alas, our fall colors are buried under several inches of snow. Beautiful, but – oh my – too early for me!
From my kitchen window
October snow fell softly
The view from our dining room
Through the screen of my bathroom window – Look up – can you see the icicles?
October snow – unseasonable Way too early – unreasonable Return of colors – unfeasible In the Winter now
Lack of wind – delightful Snow in clusters – rightful Blue sky returning – eyeful In the Winter now
Howling winds return – disappointing Wind chimes play – enjoying Returning storm looms – annoying In the Winter now
Tasting falling snowflakes – purely Venturing out in the snow – securely Getting skis ready – prematurely In the Winter now
Wanna try your hand at this poetic form? Go ahead … give it your best shot. It’s fun!
For a really good example of the form, check out Jem’s In the autumn now It’s delightful!
Send your poem to Jem Croucher She’d be delighted to hear from you.
Speaking of fun – Look at that photo of us – 100 years ago – Ready for winter!
It’s been a wonderful early winter Sunday. It snowed all night last night! Yes, I know… too soon! It’s only mid-October.
See those footprints under the tree? When I looked out the window this morning, there was a deer, nibbling on the berries in that tree. By the time I dashed to get my camera/phone, she was long gone! I think she is the same doe who visited us last week, and chewed off/ spit out the geranium blossoms that were in that planter.
Yes, she’s been here before. I captured her on camera last spring. She’ll be back! She’s pretty… but she is a nuisance. She thinks our plants were put there to supply her salad bar!
Today’s sermon by Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds dealt with this same theme: “He’ll be back!”
John 16:16 Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”
In my sermon notes today, I captured these main ideas,
Life doesn’t always turn out as we imagine. Disappointments run the gamut. The disciples were puzzled, not understanding where Jesus was going and why He had to leave. Jesus knew His disciples would grieve and they would be mocked for believing in Him as their Savior, so He wanted to encourage them.
20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”
He would not leave them for good… He promised He’d send them A Comforter (The Holy Spirit), and then He would return to them.
Jesus told the disciples, “The Holy Spirit is a gift that will come in my absence.”
The Holy Spirit is with us today. The Spirit is a nudge in the night, the inexplicable comfort in times of distress, a direct line to God (God on speed dial!) Sometimes referred to as the Holy Ghost, He will come to remind you of everything Jesus taught during His ministry on earth.
Tragedy is tragedy- However, there is a wisdom obtained when we experience the goodness and the tragedy together.
Life can take us on turns we don’t expect. We’d like to trade pain and tragedy for comfort. However, disappointment and pain help us be more fully connected to others with empathy and compassion. That ain’t always easy – that’s for sure!
Mary Grace concluded her sermon with this thought to ponder: “We become stronger than what hurts us. There is much hope in that.”
Are you like me? Wouldn’t you rather just avoid that which hurts you? Don’t hurts just feel like a trap?
God is asking us to look at life’s challenges through Jesus glasses. Don’t deny yourself the lessons learned. When things aren’t working out, take another look!
Like that deer on my front lawn, troubles and disappointments return. But so do joys and blessings.
My cough has been quiet while I typed this. It may return when I try to sleep tonight, but it won’t last forever. JOY comes in the morning! Hang in there, my friends. I’ll be back!
Have a blessed week. Today was my grandson, Chrissy’s 27th birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Toki!! (He’s in Switzerland…)
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment below. I love having positive exchanges with you.
If you have a need today that seems bigger than anyone’s ability to handle, remember what God did when creating the universe.
God is bigger than all our needs – Bigger than anything we could ask or think.
I have been away from writing blogs for over a week now… Unusual for me. But I have been constructively busy. I agreed to accept a nomination to be an elder on our church’s Session. So, my problem has been 4 study books and a workbook that needed my attention.
Then I managed to get a nasty cold, and the aches and runny nose and coughing kept me awake at night. Hard to get motivated to write an inspirational blog about love, joy, peace, faith & unity when you’re facing all that.
Good news is that I am better – and I am ready to face my “Bigger God” – and ask Him for help. Of course, He delivered!
I have enjoyed catching up on some of the blogs you have been posting in my absence. Thank you for your inspiration!
Here’s another version of that delightful song:
Enjoy these delightful kids!
Pray for health and healing, will you? My God is big enough … bigger than you can imagine! See ya tomorrow (I hope)…
My Word for 2022 is STRENGTH. I chose it before I knew… Before we knew the challenges ahead. How has 2022 been so far for you?
I didn’t know how much we would need All the strength we could get. Bob didn’t know he had RSV, And I hadn’t caught it from him yet.
The respiratory virus started our 2022 Off with a cough and a bang! We were supposed to be vacationing, But sequestered instead; DANG!!
Since then, we’ve had quite a year! Strength has been required a lot! Bob was diagnosed with Amyloidosis And I tried to stay upright: NOT!
Yesterday during devotionals Every focus of the messages was “Strength.” I got the message loud and clear: God drums strength home at great length.
So, where does your strength come from? Who or what do you count on? As for me and Bob and our needs, We know the Lord is the Source we mount on!
Yesterday in “Mornings with Jesus,” one of my Guideposts devotionals, Cynthia Ruchti was given that Ephesians scripture as a prompt for her commentary. She and her husband had a big project they needed to complete. She said they probably should have hired a professional to do it, but they decided to tackle it themselves. She wrote:
“The key was to focus on believing I had more strength than assumed. I acted as if the strength I needed was already mine. I imagined what would happen if I applied that to all challenges in life: resisting temptation, staying strong through trials…, holding my tongue…, obeying what Jesus asks of me even when it feels beyond my ability. What if I acted as if the power Jesus promised was already mine?”
Quietly, with courage and conviction, I am assuming the strength God gives me. I do not take the gift of His care for granted. I step up, try, and if I fail, He forgives me.
What challenges are you facing today? What wall must you climb that seems too high? What task looms ahead and seems too hard? Lean on the Lord’s strength – Don’t be shy!
When you’re faced with troubles, Take strength from the One who cares. When tasks seem beyond your reach, Remember God hears and answers prayers.
God bless you today and give you strength to do whatever you need.
Tell me something you need strength for… I will add you to my prayer list!
Today is National Smile Day. Our glorious Montana Colors will sure give you something to smile about!
I am smiling at our glorious Montana colors today!
We took a drive from Ennis up into the Tobacco Root Range up North MeadowCreek above McAllister where our friends, Mary & Paul Carlson live.
The colors along the roadside were so glorious! I got out to take this picture instead of looking though our cracked windshield like I did on that first photo.
My blogging friend, Dwight Roth, took this. His colors are as spectacular as ours. Are the colors changing where you are?
We visited Paul and Mary at their house. We met a new friend as we were traveling up to Paul’s little cabin. Paul & Mary invited him to come on home with them.
This piece of old mining equipment was found abandoned along the roadway leading up to their house. A friend helped them haul it into their backyard
The mining apparatus fits perfectly with the remains of this old mining shed (that’s also in their backyard). It was probably built in the late 1800’s.
The views from their backyard are breathtaking! They just completed this fence last week – attempting to keep the deer out of their greenhouse and flowerbeds.
Mary inherited this old barn when she bought this mountain property Paul uses it now as his “Man Cave.” It’s where he creates magical things with all his woodworking equipment.
Paul took Bob & me up to see the property he dreamed about as a kid… and the cabin he and nine of his friends built there -around 2005 – (same year we came to MT).
Many happy memories are tucked in here!
The road leading to/from the cabin is lined with wonderful aspen that shine their gold this time of the year.
Some farmers raise cattle in this high country.
Autumn is a wonderful season It brings with it colors galore I love the fall leaves and scenery I hope you can get out and explore
Do get out before all the leaves drop. Pick up your pup and take a hike. Tell me about your choices: Which of the scenes did you particularly like?
JanBeek 