Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. It is uncertain exactly when the Wise Men, or Magi, visited Jesus, but it certainly wasn't at the same time as when the shepherds visited him, at his birth in the animal stable, as is commonly represented in Christmas scenes and on Christmas Cards. Apparently, it was sometime between a few months and two years after his birth. The Magi followed a star that miraculously guided them to Jesus, the child King. They first presented themselves to King Herod of Judea, in Jerusalem to inform him of their purpose for visiting his kingdom, which was to visit and worship the King of the Jews. 

Herod did not know about this 'king of the Jews' and he felt threatened by this news. King Herod called a meeting with the scholars of law and the Jewish religious leaders to inform him of what knowledge they had of this event. They informed the King that the event fulfilled a Jewish prophecy told over 800 years earlier. When the Magi arrived at the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus the child now lived, they gave gifts commonly given to honour a king, to Jesus - Gold for family wealth and as a symbol of kingship on earth, Frankincense as a precious expensive perfume and a symbol of deity and Myrrh an oil used for anointing and balming, and a symbol of death. 

Listen to the Christmas Story Parts 1-7, which includes Christmas in the Garden of Eden, Part 1, Four Unusual Women, Part 2, 700BC Part 3, Mary Part 4,  Mary and Elizabeth Part 5, Joseph Part 6, and The Saviour is Born Part 7. Also, Gifts Fit For a King, the three wise men, and Quick, Save The Saviour, the escape to Egypt.

You can read the story behind each poem - what inspired me to write it, why I chose the feature image (which you cannot see well on a podcast image), references to what I read and studied to write the poem's content. I attach links to songs when I find a song that matches the poem's theme. 

Read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter and at simplystorypoetry.com  and follow me on Instagram.

Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy.

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. It's wonderful to enjoy Christmas day all together in one place. But even the best plans can be turned upside down, Christmas Day can present challenges in getting the family together or getting along with everyone who has been invited. We want the day to run smoothly on this special day of the year. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. That's family life - full of pleasant surprises and challenges. 

Over the last few years, Christmas Day has proven messy for many families due to COVID. But we continue with our plans as best we can in the circumstances that we are in at the time. Cause that's what families do.

Why not listen to my other poem about Family Christmas: Far Away For Christmas and my poems about gift-giving: A Hug is Priceless, The Best Gift to Give is You, and A Mirror Reflect What You Can Give.

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com.

Thank you for listening to my poem. I wish you a wonderful holiday season. Beverley Joy.

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. Many families and friends are separated at this special time of the year. We just have to enjoy Christmas Day the best way we can when our family cannot get together for Christmas Day. 

I chose this Featured Image partly because of what is written on her coffee mug - 'Make today awesome.' To me, this image expresses the message of this poem which is both her longing to be elsewhere and not alone, yet also her acceptance of the situation she currently finds herself in and that she will enjoy the day as best she can. 

You can browse through my poetry verses available on print-on-demand gift ideas in my shop at beverleyjoy.redbubble.com.

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com.

Thank you for listening to my poem. Why not listen to my other poems about gift-giving titled: 

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. Listen to the Christmas Story Parts 1-7, which includes Christmas in the Garden of Eden, Part 1, Four Unusual Women, Part 2, 700BC Part 3, Mary Part 4, Mary and Elizabeth Part 5, Joseph Part 6, and The Saviour is Born Part 7. Also, Gifts Fit For a King, the three wise men, and Quick, Save The Saviour, the escape to Egypt. 

Christmas in the Garden of Eden - The Christmas Story Part 1. This poem is Part 1 of 7 parts to the poetic script that follows the Christmas Story from the very beginning to end. I wrote this Christmas script for a Christmas Service that we held at the local church, that I was attending at the time, in 2019. In between each poem, being recited by various children and adults, we all sang Christmas Carols, including the congregation, relevant to that part of the story. I wrote Part 1, after having studied Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 and learning that the Christmas Story begins in the Garden of Eden. Although God punished Adam, Eve and Satan, in Genesis chapter 3, with His prophecy 'I will cause hostility between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He (Jesus) will strike your head, and you (Satan) will strike His heel,' God gives them hope with the promise of His future Saviour of the world. 

In my interpretation of the feature image, that I have chosen for this poem, I see God's hands holding the garden. The smoke and fire rising from the garden depict the destruction of paradise by Adam and Eve's disobedience to God. But there is a glimpse of a city on the opposite side of the fire, which depict God's promised new city and garden. The waterfall depicts the river of life that will run through the new garden. A lion depicts Jesus (Revelations 5:5) and the eagle with its wings spread wide soaring over the garden, reminds me of one of my favourite verses in the Bible. You can read my poem titled Eagle Wings based on Isaiah 40:31a "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles." You can read the story behind this poem - what inspired me to write it, why I chose the feature image (which you cannot see well on a podcast image), and references to what I read and studied to write the poem's content. I attach links to songs when I find a song that matches the poem's theme. You can read my poems at simplystorypoetry.com You can browse through my poetry verses available on print-on-demand gift ideas in my shop at beverleyjoy.redbubble.com. 

You can browse through my poetry verses available on print-on-demand gift ideas in my shop at beverleyjoy.redbubble.com.

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com.

May you enjoy Christmas with someone you love and receive love in return. Beverley Joy.

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. As we enter into this year's busy time of shopping for just the perfect gifts for our friends and family, remember, as well as giving physical gifts this Christmas, there are many gifts that we can give that are free to give and yet priceless in value. Time is one of those free but valuable gifts we can give. Ah yes, but the saying says 'Money is time.' But is money the only way we can receive 'payment' for how we spend our time? Do we always have to receive 'payment' for our time? Oh, the deep joy and satisfaction that I receive from giving time to my 92-year-old father, now living in a retirement home. 

Why not listen to other poems about giving titled A Hug is Priceless, 20th November 2021, and A Gift to Our Family, 22nd June 2021 (which I wrote for my mother-in-law)?

This Featured Image shows the person sharing time. We can waste time with people or we can give the gift of quality time, which requires skill. Quality time is only one of many skills and talents that we can share with others. 

You can browse through my poetry verses available on print-on-demand gift ideas in my shop at beverleyjoy.redbubble.com.

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com.

May you enjoy this Christmas time with someone that you love and receive love in return. Beverley Joy.

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. After Grace returned from her Easter weekend in Melbourne with Alex, she decided to take the bold step forward and left home to live in Melbourne on her 18th birthday. Moving far away from the family home and all its chaos to start fresh, as a young adult, pursuing love and happiness.

Book Excerpt from The Wilted Rose by Kate Kelsen: Inside the aircraft, she followed the narrow aisle along to her seat. More and more people boarded, and as Grace watched the cabin fill up, in her mind’s eye she could still see her parents’ sad faces as she had so happily and boldly waved goodbye... She was being a selfish teenager, she knew, but she was only trying to survive. As the plane climbed higher into the sky, Grace smiled to herself. She was destined for a new city, a new future. The rest of her life awaited her at the other end of this flight.

You can read the poems and book excerpts following Grace's childhood, which I have posted on my blog throughout October and November 2022, at simplystorypoetry.com.

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com.

Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. Grace was falling in love for the first time. Now seventeen years of age, back in the 1970s. Falling in love for the first time is such a unique experience. Nervous excitement and fear spun around in her mind and body. Feelings that have never been felt like this before in her young life. Thoughts, full of the excitement and fear of what ifs, leading up to her first date.

Book Excerpt from The Wilted Rose by Kate Kelsen - Grace ignored her brothers’ teasing as they travelled back up along the East Coast toward home. She was head over heels in love, and she didn’t care what they thought of it. Gazing out the window, the breathtaking landscape passed by her eyes, but she didn’t take it in. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying every precious moment of the last week over and over in her mind.

You can read the poems and book excerpts following Grace's childhood, which I have posted on my blog throughout October and November 2022, at simplystorypoetry.com.

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com. Beverley Joy

Hi, I'm Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry. This series of poems follows the love life of Grace, the daughter in the story of The Wilted Rose written by Kate Kelsen and based on the story of my life. Come with me over the next few months as we take a poetic journey of romantic love. 

This poem picks up the story of Grace when she was 17 years of age and going on a holiday to a youth camp with her brothers at the end of her first year of full-time work. 

It turned out that Grace was the last to discover that the spunky most popular guy at the youth camp was interested in her. "Why would he be interested in me?" she thought to herself. A few guys during her high school years had shown interest in her, but that was nothing out of the ordinary for the average high school girl. 

Maybe it was because she had a rich golden tan and was visiting Victoria from the envied sunshine state of Queensland. There was no doubt that Grace was fit and healthy as she had lived an active high school life on the school athletic and sports teams and on weekends her dad would take her and her brothers, and cousins water skiing at Esk and Moogarah Dams. Now she felt self-conscious as the other girls at camp whispered as they looked at her. It was awkward enough being the new kid in town, but now this unsolicited attention. Beverley Joy.

You can read the poems and book excerpts following Grace's childhood, which I have posted on my blog throughout October and November 2022, at simplystorypoetry.com. 

You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com.