Cynthia A. Morgan's Blog, page 140

#DailyThankfulnessJournal – Clean Water

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Sweet and Fresh,

Safe and Accessible,

Crystal Clear Clean

Water;

A Blessing I Receive each day

without even realizing,

for which I am So Thankful.

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Day 4 of 365 of the Daily Thankfulness Journal Challenge 

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photo found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original hotographer and Artist.

Filed under: Thankfulness Journal Challenge Tagged: Being Thankful, Blessings, BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Meditation, Gratitude Journal, Inspiration, Meditative Thinking, spirituality, Thankful Thursday, Thankfulness, ~Morgan~

The Soiree – #FlashFiction

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Even as the last hues of diminishing day fall silent in the hush of twilight, trepidation dances with delicious anticipation.  Shadows lengthen into

velvet darkness as the bluster of rush and hurry scurrying from the daylight

stretches out against the cool shadows to sigh.  Midnight flutes serenade the sparkling hours of night as billows of possibility mingle with whispers of dreams like lovers dallying amid the soiree, kissing the sweet honeyed nighttide before Apollo stirs.

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photo discovered at Nightscape Photos.com  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer. Thank You

Filed under: Flash Fiction and Shorts Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Darkness, Evening, Midnight, Nature, Night, Peace, photography, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, Stars, ~Morgan~

#DailyThankfulnessJournal – Warmth

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Thank You for the Sweet Bliss of Warmth!

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Day 3 of 365 of the Daily Thankfulness Journal Challenge 

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photos found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original hotographer and Artist.

Filed under: Thankfulness Journal Challenge Tagged: Being Thankful, Blessings, BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Meditation, Gratitude Journal, Inspiration, Meditative Thinking, spirituality, Thankful Thursday, Thankfulness, ~Morgan~

The voice crying out in the wilderness….

 

Today we find ourselves in the second week of Advent, this time of waiting and anticipation of Christ’s return.  A time to reflect on our own lives and prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

The scripture from the beginning of Mark’s gospel is titled, “The Proclamation of John the Baptist.”  Mark’s gospel is the shortest of the four gospels, it is direct, it is to the point and each verse is filled with meaning and purpose.

Mark is direct enough that he skips the nativity and baby Jesus account and immediately begins with the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Mark begins his gospel and account of Christ by going back in time.

Mark goes back about 600-700 years to the time of Isaiah.  From the Old Testament account of Isaiah he quotes, “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Make straight your paths, for the promised one is coming.  In Isaiah’s day he spoke to a Jewish audience that had been exiled.  In Mark’s account he talking about Christ and the messenger preparing the way for him.

Mark writes, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’

In this painfully hectic time between holidays, how much time are we spending preparing our hearts, souls and minds to meet and be present with our God?  This time of year we don’t celebrate credit card debt or empty bank accounts.  We don’t celebrate added inches to our waistline. 

No, we celebrate the birth of our God.  The mystery of the incarnation and the insane lengths our God went to, to reconcile us to him.  To bring us closer to him.

In preparing for this sermon I read about and questioned why our God would need someone to prepare the way for him.  Why would an all-present and all-powerful God need a man dressed in strange clothes – camel’s hair, and who ate weird things (locusts and honey) to prepare the way for him?

Is it because we all stand on the shoulders and accomplishments of those that have gone before us?  We all stand on the ground that was prepared for us by others.  All the hard work of our ancestors and their desire to see their children succeed have benefitted each of us. 

Unfortunately, these bodies and minds of flesh that have short memories and are inclined to take credit for what has been accomplished. 

Even our God, who emptied himself of all his divinity, needed someone to prepare the way for him.  An all-present and all-powerful God would rely on a mere mortal to be the voice crying out in the wilderness.

Why would God need someone to prepare the way for him?  And why would he pick a strange looking and acting guy to be that person?

….It would take someone with far more knowledge than I to fully answer that question.  I think it has to do with the humility of our God.  We celebrate, honor and worship a God that gave up the splendor and glory of heaven, all that beauty to come to this world riddled with sickness, disease, war, famine, acts of evil and death.

I think that I would rather look at that from a distance and bask in the beauty of heaven.  But not our God.  He saw the terrible consequence that sin caused and he decided that something had to be done about it. 

He traded his mansion for a mud hut, he traded power for humility and splendor for suffering.  He sent his messenger, John the Baptist, before him.  John appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

In spite of his strange appearance people flocked to listen to him and to be baptized by him in the Jordan River.  “Make straight your paths, prepare the way of the Lord.”

People came from the Judean countryside and from Jerusalem to see, hear and be baptized by John the Baptist.  He had his own disciples and was popular enough or posed enough of a threat that even the Pharisees came to see what all the commotion was about.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near, make straight your path, prepare the way for the Lord…….Repent……confess……..understand your own brokenness before your God……..ask for forgiveness for the kingdom of heaven has come near…….

What if each of us in our own way is John the Baptist?  We may not go out into the timber or near the closest river and cry out or wear strange clothes, but what if each of us as we commit and recommit to our faith every day is living like John the Baptist?

Every time we commit to be read our bibles, to pray, to be a part of a small group, to do something for someone else, every time we chose to be intentional about our faith that we straighten our own path and influence those close to us.

Lives of faith can scream and proclaim the gospel without speaking a single word.  Proclaim the gospel always said St. Francis, use words only when necessary.

People went to John the Baptist to repent of their sins and to be baptized.  In his humility, John proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John the Baptist knew his mission was to prepare the way for the one that is coming, one far more powerful than he.

We have also been made aware that one that Christ, is going to return.  Are we preparing the way for his arrival……

Are we proclaiming the good news of God’s action and arrival in this world, the coming of God’s kingdom, his ministry, death and resurrection?

As we celebrate and honor the second Sunday of Advent, let us remember all of those that have gone before us.  Let us remember the spiritual giants in our own lives and Mark’s gospel does recalling the words of Isaiah.

Let us live bold, courageous lives of faith that speak to this world and those in it who we are and what we are about.  In this painfully busy time of year, let us slow down and take time to reflect on what is truly important and why we celebrate with gifts, good food and precious time spend with family and friends.

Let us go with the knowledge and the truth that our God is coming back to this earth.  It may not be in our lifetime, but he is coming back.  If we don’t see him in the time each of us has left, that is no reason or excuse to be convenient or flippant about your faith.

Let us be about the work of the one that created all that is good and holy.  Let us be about the work of a God that became the word incarnate.  A penniless, nomadic preacher that come to save the souls of many.

 

Pastor Shawn LaRue, Seymour UMC

Author of Incomplete

Filed under: Guest Bloggers on BnV, Poetry Tagged: blog, Blogging, Books, christianity, Faith, Family, Humanity, Inspiration, life, Reflections, relationships, Religion, Thoughts, Truth, WordPress

In The Lime Light #AuthorInterview with Lesa Kay Smith

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Today I would like to introduce you to fellow Author Lesa Kay Smith, who is a registered nurse from a small town in south central Iowa. Lesa felt a strong desire to write the story of the tragic loss of her middle son, Brandon, in 2008. Beautiful Gift is the story of how she found him in the afterlife, how she communicates with him, and how she- and the rest of her family- have an ongoing relationship with him.

Hi Lisa, Please tell us about your book(s):

Beautiful Gift is a memoir about a mother’s love and how she survived the wrenching loss of her son, how she searched for him and found him in the afterlife–with the help of a brilliant clairvoyant–and how their conversations across the great divide convinced her that her son wasn’t lost and blossomed into a new stage in their relationship, enlarging both of their spiritual learning and light.

What Inspired you to write your book?

After the death of my son in 2008 I started receiving signs from him on the other side, dimes mostly. Which led me to start journaling and thinking about the afterlife and what it entailed. I was also inspired to send a message of hope to others who had suffered the same great loss. I searched in many places to find some ways to cope and find direction on how to cope myself. I realized there were not many. I decided to write this book to bring that message of hope. My thought process was if I could just help one person get through this shattering grief it would fulfill my purpose.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?

Purpose and passion are a must when writing. Write about what you know and your experiences. 

To give readers an idea what you offer, are you willing to share a brief excerpt from your book? (less than 300 words, please)

I’d never tried to contact a loved one who had passed, and I had no idea what to expect or how a meeting with a medium worked. I felt totally apprehensive about what I was going to hear and learn today. But I was determined to find my son. I was shaking when I dialed the number. I heard the phone ring a couple of times.

 “Hello,” Jamie answered, in a voice so sweet and soothing it put me to ease.

I poured out my reason for calling, being careful not to give away too much information because I wanted to be sure that Jamie was legitimate- that she truly had the rare gift of what used to be called second sight.

“Is my son there?” I asked urgently, suddenly filled with excitement that I could possibly make contact with Brandon. “Yes,” Jamie said, “he is.” Then she went on to say, “I see a gun. Is that what caused your son’s death?”

What is your blog about, what do you offer on it?  

My blog offers different accounts of things that have happened and continue to happen, since my son has passed.

Why did you start your blog?

To share the stories my family has experienced.

Conversely, is there anything you find difficult to write about?

The first chapter of my book called “The Darkness” was by far the most difficult thing I have ever written. Having to dig deep and bring back what had happened was difficult. 

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OK, now the part that most authors dislike… Please tell us about YOU:

If you were asked to Describe yourself in 5 words, which would you choose?

Mother, Spiritual, Grateful, Determined, Intuitive. 

When you are NOT writing, do you have a favourite pastime?

Travel and Music. 

What is most important to you?

The most important to me is family no question.

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Lesa’s story is one I felt compelled to share and I hope you may also find it Inspiring and might choose to Please visit Lesa at her blog 

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~Morgan~

 

 

Filed under: Authors Books Reviews & Interviews Tagged: Author Intervies, Author spotlight, BnV, BooknVolume, Indie Authors, Inspirational Books, Supporting Indie Authors, ~Morgan~

#DailyThankfulnessJournal – Tranquility

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The Lush Calm of Tranquility,

Imbuing Sweet Harmony,

That Sings Endlessly;

For This I am Thankful,

Truly.

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Day 2 of 365 of the Daily Thankfulness Journal Challenge 

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photo found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original hotographer and Artist.

Filed under: Thankfulness Journal Challenge Tagged: Being Thankful, Blessings, BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Meditation, Gratitude Journal, Inspiration, Meditative Thinking, spirituality, Thankful Thursday, Thankfulness, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy – Captive of Shadows

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Staring down from the precipice upon which he stood, the young Dark Fey strained his vision against the thick gloom of the sky to watch as a group of newly captured Fey of the Light younglings was herded from the borderlands crossing point.  Even from the distance he kept, he could hear their crying and it tore at him.  There was so little he could do to protect them from what was to come and no way to return them to the Light from which they had been so mercilessly stolen.

He remembered only too clearly the first torturous days after his own abduction; the severing loneliness, numbing cold, gnawing hunger and inescapable thirst that filled the darkness of the cramped prison into which he had been hurled. He had not been alone in that chamber of horrors.  Several other childfey, even younger than he at the age of seven, shared the darkness of that terrifying place, but they learned very quickly that they were not permitted to help or even to comfort each other.  Worse, when no family members came to rescue them, the harsh truth of their new reality was smothering.

Although those dark days were now five years behind him, Gairynzvl could not restrain the shudder that raced over him at recalling such harrowing memories and he growled viciously.  Turning away sharply, he gritted his teeth with determination and swore vehemently that he would find some way to change what seemed unalterable.

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I am excited to share with you the first few paragraphs of my newest endeavor:  A Dark Fantasy Spinoff/prequel (does that make it a SpinQuel?) of Dark Fey.  This work will carry the story further; yet share many insights into the main character’s past (Gairynzvl).  It will introduce readers to new characters, as well as spend more time amid the gloom of the Uunglarda.  For the moment, thats all I know, but its wonderful to find my creativity working passionately once again!

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~Morgan~

Filed under: Dark Fey, Friday FeyDay / Fantasy Tagged: BnV, BooknVolume, Dark Fantasy, Dark Fey, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Preview, Fantasy spin off, Writing Projects, ~Morgan~

#FridayFantasy #Poetry – He Stands

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He Stands, Watching;

Gently Touching,

Lush and Deep in the Breathless Balm.

He Stands, Waiting;

Silently Debating,

Still and Quiet with Serene Aplomb .

He Stands, Listening;

His Skin Glistening,

His Tranquility a Reverent, Guileless Psalm.

He Stands, Speaking,

As the Rushing masses are Seeking,

Ignoring the Music of his Ethereal Shawm .

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Photograph take by Trini Lind from  Paths of the Spirit https://pathsofthespirit.wordpress.com/2016/04/28/since-ancient-times/

Filed under: Friday FeyDay / Fantasy Tagged: Beautiful Photographs, BnV, BooknVolume, Harmony, life, Nature, Poem, poetry, Poetry Blog, spirituality, Tranquility, Tree Spirits, trees, ~Morgan~

#DailyThankfulnessJournal – The Spirit

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For Inspiring through Words of Music,

For being the Cosmos Dwelling Within,

For Whispering Endlessly of Love, Hope, Peace and Joy

I am Thankful for the Spirit.

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Day 1 of 365 of the Daily Thankfulness Journal Challenge 

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful Photo found on Google.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original hotographer and Artist.

Filed under: Thankfulness Journal Challenge Tagged: Being Thankful, Blessings, BnV, BooknVolume, Daily Meditation, Gratitude Journal, Inspiration, Meditative Thinking, spirituality, Thankful Thursday, Thankfulness, ~Morgan~

#ThankfulThursdayReblogs – Cabo Sunset~ —

Off the coast of Guatemala now, heading south. Will pass the equator in a few days. Internet is impossible. Looking forward to connecting with you when we touch land. Cheers to you from sunset seas~

via Cabo Sunset~ —

Just a sampling of the beautiful photography that awaits you on Cindy’s blog