Psalm 23:1-6” The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to

lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  restoreth

my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art

with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou

anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all

the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm  24:1-10 “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world,

and they that dwell therein.  For  he hath founded it upon the seas, and

established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or

who shall stand in his holy place?  He

that hath clean hands,  and  a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul

unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the

LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is

the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift

up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and

mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  Lift

up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them

up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts,

he is the King of glory. Selah.

 

 

MOON GLOW

by the residents of Strongsvile  Facilitated by Joan of Arc

Low lying moon in autumn sky

Riparian ripples reflected in a midnight stream

The gleam of moonlight casts its glow

on sleepy  squirrels and night hawks squawking

The hooting owl’s nocturnal theme----

ALL seen in God’s omniscient eye

 

Gold goddess…………Orb of throbbing nights

Resplendent sight…….Your luster dazzles and beguiles

Smile down on lovers here below

who know your glowing beauty beckons

through darkened dreary, sub fusc skies 

and tries to spark romantic rites

 

Bright sphere of light at Harvest time…..

Orange pumpkin rolling through the cloudy climes

shine on……..Shine on for all mankind

Night songs sung by the lonely loon---

A plaintive tune to autumn moon. The cast of moonglow is sublime

THOUGHTS OF CHILDHOOD ON LILY’S POND

by the residents of Highland Heights  Facilitated by Joan of Arc

 

I close my eyes –as thoughts beguile

and gently waft across my mind……

Kind remembrances treasured

of Lily’s pond—are e’er 

enshrined

 

The mist of May is in the Glommed

lying low on Lily’s Pond

Reeds bow down on windswept mornings

waiting the frogs adroit respond

 

Bullfrogs camp out on lily pads

croaking THEIR glad hellos to all

Cicadas---greeting me with music—

and signaling a clarion call

 

The willow tree with tire swing

stands sentinel on water’s edge

I swing with childhood’s wild abandon

and cannonball from heaven’s ledge

 

As I dive into Lily’s Pond

The minnows nip…….…tickle my toes

I later fish with homemade pole

catching bass….. trout…. most lachrymose…..

 

A picnic laid at water’s edge

with blanket spread on grassy ground

Fried chicken…..lemonade……baked beans—

Juicy, crisp watermelon round

 

Looking up at puffy clouds--

slow rolling in the summer skies

I see the fluffy shapes of sheep

and dream of monarch butterflies

 

And, as the purple strands of twilight

permeate the evening sky

My heart is moved in rapt enchantment-

seeing fireflies

 

The white boned moon—as wispy silk

spreads rippling beans through darkened sky

And I??     My heart

is filled with fancy

as childhood breathes a gentle sigh

 

I close my eyes ---and thoughts of childhood

gently sweep across the bond

I’ll ne’er forget memories of summer—

and bygone days of Lily’s Pond

The Vision ~ JoanOfArk..

Let me know a quiet place where sun drenched  meadows bloom

where stary skies as latticework

from the Sculptor's hands are hewn

where mountains in their splendor

silhouette against the sea

Let e know a special land

where men dwell peacefully

where mankind feels a kinship

and love's not just a word

where all men strive together

and no crying child be heard

Take me to that rapturous spot

somewhere beyond the blue

where all men have true justice

and not just a chosen few.

where black and white have blended into

a beauteous gray---

a place where none see  color.....

Oh, let me see that day

Let me know a tranquil place

where God's peace reigns  supreme

A grassy knoll----a shaded glen

a place where children dream.....

where every day has rainbows

without the sting of rain....

where all my brothers can breathe free

without death  fear or pain

where orchards in their bounty

and fields bring forth their yield

where children eat to surfeit

with all their needs fulfilled

Take me to a heavenly land

someplace......somewhere above

A land where peace and beauty dwell.......

reflected in God's love....

THIS IS MY WISH....MY HOPE....MY PRAYER FOR MY WORLD.... love to all from Joan of Arc

Original

poem by Joan of Arc....free verse..

Read by Gary Spicer

Music- Love Theme From - Romeo & Juliet 

AS LOVE

COMES TO US

Love comes

as quietly as a cat on soft paws

Silently.......It

steals into the starry night

DELIGHT is

borne anew

as moonbeams

beckon and bedazzle

 

Earth's

nocturnal canvass awaits......

as your

embrace binds me to you

in silken

cords of love......

Luminous

reflection---------transplendency above...

 

Your

kiss----Venus' butterfly

nestled in

the midnight glade

REPAID AM

I........to know such bliss

 

Love.... Sweep me up under the moonlight sky

I long to be

with you til morning light

Moon......spill

your ivory beams upon us now

How we

dance-----bathed in love's all seeing eye...

 

Stars, speak

to us in rhythms yet unsung

Let dreams

be filled with  visions of Celestial

dance----

ROMANCE,

wrapped tight in arms of passion

fashion for

us a wellspring of desire......

 

Sing

softly  breeze....Sift silent  through Cicada  trees--

as whispered

words melt me in love's crucible

Let

love---like magma---flow and grow beyond imagination

as we are

lost in one embrace

Let time

erase all but this tremulous moment.

 

Our hearts

burn-----yearn within us--as tall ships

longing for

a distant shore

And we

lay-------wrapped in passion's pleasure

knowing

treasured  ecstasy forevermore....

 

Moonbeams......tease

us ---as cats paws

in

softness......................please

Delight us

beyond measure,

Pour over us

in silken weave.....

Original poetry by Joan of Arc.. Read by Gary Spicer.

A silken whisper in the darkened room.....

and in the peaceful stillness tossed--

a prayer now softly borne aloft

is as a sweet perfume....

Oh....May it spiral ever high in thickened sky

and swirling   plume

and tender greet the ear of God

in Hea'vs  Celestial room.....

THE ULTIMATE REALITY

"Through

faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that

things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:3

reads,

Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is

the present assurance of some future good:

"Now faith is the assurance of

things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

    

 Biblical faith is not a

preference for what we would like to see, but a conviction that what is unseen

is real. Biblical faith enables us to see the reality of the spiritual world we

presently live in, with the assurance of heaven. Only with that kind of faith

can we say with Paul,

 "For I consider that the sufferings of this

present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be

revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).

According to Scripture, the invisible

world is more real than the visible world. The ultimate reality is spiritual,

not physical. God is a spirit. Every physical thing we see is only temporal and

passing away (2 Corinthians 4:18).

" While we

look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:

for the things which are seen are

temporal; but the things which are not seen are

eternal."

When Jesus appeared to the frightened

band of disciples after His resurrection, He showed them both His hands and His

side. Later the disciples informed Thomas of what they had seen, but he

responded,

 "Unless I shall see in His hands the

imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my

hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).

Thomas was determined to walk by

sight, not by faith. The only thing that was real to Thomas was what he could

see.

Eight days later Jesus appeared again

and said to Thomas,

"Reach here your finger, and see

My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not

unbelieving, but believing" (John 20:27). Thomas responded, "My Lord

and my God!" (verse 28).

Then Jesus blessed those of us who

believe without seeing: "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet

believed" (verse 29).

The object of our faith is not the

tangible reality of this physical world. The object of our faith is the

invisible God and His revealed Word.

Lord, You are the ultimate reality. I

choose to evaluate everything in my life in the light of Your Word.

BOBBY LOOKS FOR HOPE

BY THE RESIDENTS OF HIGHLAND HEIGHTS   MARCH 2015 FACILITATED BY JOAN OF ARC 

 Once upon a time, there was a boy named Bobby.  Bobby lived happily on Basin Street with his brothers and mother.  But, one day Bobby decided he would have an adventure.  Bobby wanted to find “HOPE.”  Where would hope be found?

 Bobby went to Beaumont School.  He saw Professor Brown, who said, “Bobby, you may find hope in Philosophy Books.  Plato, Aristotle and Socrates are good places to start.”  Bobby thought to himself…..  “Well, perhaps,” but he was not entirely convinced.

 So…..he thanked Professor Brown and hitchhiked to Hollywood California.  While there, he met Steven Spielberg—who said, “Bobby, study to be a good actor….tap dance and take singing lessons to have hope.”   Not a bad answer, thought Bobby.  But, he was not entirely convinced.  So, he went to a posh party hosted by Daryl Zanuck.  When Bobby asked Daryl Zanuck where hope was found, Daryl had a one word answer…. “MOTOWN!!”  Bobby thought Daryl just might be right.

 So….off he hitchhiked to Detroit---home of Motown.  Sammy Davis Jr. was performing on stage with the Rat Pack.  Dean Martin was drinking.   Frank Sinatra was crooning.  And Peter Lawrence was preening.  Then…..it was Elvis’s turn to perform.  Elvis swiveled his hips and sang “BLUE SUADE SHOES.”  When the performance had concluded, Bobby asked everyone, “Where can I find hope?  They collectively said, “Hope is found in entertainment!”  Giving his hips one final swivel, Elvis intoned, “Music….there is hope in music!”  Bobby thought those were pretty good answers.  Still….he was not completely convinced.  

 So…..he decided to skip on over to Brunswick Bowling Lanes.  Bing Crosby was bowling at Brunswick Lanes.  And when Bobby asked him if hope could be found in a bowling alley, Bing  ba ba ba boomed----- “I hope so.  I hope to bowl a 300 game.”  

 Bobby wished Bing well, and scurried out of Brunswick Bowling Lanes to Cero’s Restaurant.   Could hope be found in a restaurant?  Carl, the waiter greet him cheerily.  “We have lobster bisque…..lobster tails, Beef Wellington, and the finest fillet mignon.  But, no…..We don’t have hope here.” 

 Bobby was crestfallen…..depressed….distraught…..hopeless.  WHERE COULD HE FIND HOPE?  

 Bobby hitchhiked home to Basin Street and to mother.  “Mother, where is hope?”  Bobby asked in a tiny voice.  “I have searched far and wide, and I cannot find it.”   “Why, Bobby,” mother smiled, “You don’t have to search at all.  Look up to God, and look inside your heart.  If you do THAT……you will never be without hope.”  

 Bobby gave a wide accepting smile…..as hope framed his face.   He knew he would never be without hope again.   

We, the Highland Heights residents wish one and all   a lifetime of hope.  Never give up.  Dream big dreams.  Who knows……the best is yet to come !!

A SPRING SHOWER  by the residents of Highland Heights

facilitated by Joan of Arc.. read by Gary.

Clouds in dark foreboding sky

try to roll  on by

spilling rain upon the land

with pitter patters grand

Horses dance and shake their mane

prancing in the rain

Leaves and flowers, with upturned curl

Drinking petals unfurl

Geese preening--fluffing feathers fair

Frogs, flirty flare

Nesting birds in budding trees

Scampering squirrels and bees

All of these look up to see

gentle showers pan oply

 Rain  increases  steadily

diverse drops fall heavily

Twirling droplets tumbling down

Nature wears a frown

Whirling whispers in the breeze

Branches droop on trees

Roaring thunder rumbles high

Lightening  cracks through sky

Zig Zagged iridescent streak

now  plays hide and seek

Slicing shards of icy rain

Deluge drenched terrain

Drops upon my windowpane

as birds chirp  again 

Sunshine smiles from sprightly sky

Rain sings its goodbye

Arc of color treats my eye

Rainbows form on high

From my heart...and the heart of all the residents of Highland Heights

....we wish all a day of gentle showers....knowing that they bring May flowers

Do not lay up for yourselves

treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in

and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19,20)

There are material goods that Jesus

identifies as "treasures upon earth." And there are immaterial goods

which Jesus calls "treasures in heaven." Treasures upon earth have

two characteristics.

First, all natural things decay. What

rust doesn't destroy, moths or termites will. Second, because of the value of

earthly treasures, there is always a concern for security. It is hard to be

anxiety-free if we are worried about our possessions. The more we possess, the

more we cause others to covet, hence the reason why "thieves break in and

steal."

On the other hand, treasures in

heaven are beyond the reach of thieves and secure from the ravages of moths and

rust. Paul puts it this way: "1 Timothy 4:7,8

"But refuse

profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather

unto godliness.

 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but

godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now

is, and of that which is to come. "

What do you treasure in your heart?

What would you exchange for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Would you exchange these qualities

for a new car, a cabin in the hills, a boat in the marina, exceptional status

at the top of the corporate ladder?

Achievement is determined by who or

what you serve. There is a moral healthiness and simple, unaffected goodness

present in the single-minded person that is absent from the one serving many

masters. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will

hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon. For this reason I say to you, do not be

anxious" (Matthew 6:24,25).

There will be no peace serving two

masters. To whichever master we yield, by that master we shall be controlled.

Father, the treasures of this world

call out to me temptingly. I trust You to give me what I need and not what I

selfishly desire.