Category: Encouragement

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 42

Journal entry:

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My Little Love

No, she is not just
A dog to me, Hope is my
Companion, my muse,
My friend, my furry baby;
She is a special blessing.

I did not believe
I could love an animal
With such devotion
Until she came into my
Life, she means so much to me.

Do not try to tell
Me she is only a dog,
You misunderstand,
We are bound together with
Steadfast love and loyalty.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, February 19, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   My day was pleasant.
2.   I have a warm comfortable home.
3.   There was hot clean running water for my shower.
4.   I have clean clothes to wear.
5.   My photography class was informative.

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I enjoyed my Tuesday and hope you did yours as well. Even though I was quite busy, I made an effort to work creatively. I urge you to do the same. If you do not devote time to your talent you will never realize your potential. The world desperately needs your contribution, so get busy.

As a prompt, write about something or someone who has brought blessing to your life. I did not really intend for both the journal and poem to follow that theme, but now that I think about it, I realize it did. I think you might be able to elaborate about blessings as well. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you so much for reading my blog today. I hope it has encouraged you. You might enjoy receiving future updates by email, if so subscribe to Chronicles. I hope you will visit again. Should you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share, please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 38

Journal entry:

Journal 2-15-20130001

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Ko-Ko…

Delivered From Trouble

The creatures are all
A bit tired and lethargic
Because I bathed them,
I am almost exhausted
Because I stayed up all night.

I went into town,
Doing all the shopping that
Was necessary
And a bit extra for fun
Of after Valentine’s Day.

Jesus went with me,
I know, because I was kept
Safe from accident,
Almost inevitable
When I came close to wrecking.

Every single day
I am held within the palm
Of the Lord’s outstretched
Hand, I am full protected
In the goodness of His love.

Love envelopes me
In a wonderful embrace
That never lets go
And I am fully convinced
Christ is author of it all.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, February 15, 2013

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Penny… who moved…

I am grateful:

1.   I realized Mom’s refrigerator needed stocking.
2.   I decided to bathe Penny after finding her in a mess.
3.   The blow dryer finally started working.
4.   I avoided an accident with God’s help.
5.   I found some great goodies in town today.

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Hope… my sweet baby girl…

I had a great Friday and I hope you did too. I urge you to get busy using your creativity to make something wonderful to share with the world. I know you have things to share if you only apply yourself. Your imagination is powerful, use it…

As a prompt, write a poem, story, or journal entry using some or all of the following words: busy, decided, filling, night, since, found, repeatedly, damp, shortly, down, manageable, medicine, goodies. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for spending some of your precious time reading my blog. Please leave a comment if you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share with me. If you are interested in receiving future updates you can subscribe to Chronicles by email. I hope you will come back often.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 37

Journal entry:

Journal 2-14-20130001

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Love Abounds

Love is
Embodied in
Every moment, every
Day, even if you are not quite
Aware of its presence, it does exist,
You do not have to be involved
With a lover to have
Experience
Of Love

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, February 14, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   The first thing my Mom said to me this morning was, “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
2.   I am not depressed by not being in a love relationship at this time.
3.   My package arrived in the mail today.
4.   The photographer’s vest is nearly the perfect fit although I was unsure what size to order.
5.   I will not have to worry that my camera battery might go dead anymore, because I now have an extra one.

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I had a wonderful Valentine’s Day and I hope you did too. Before you go to bed, engage your imagination in doing something creative. Surely you have some thoughts to share with the world.

As a prompt, in honor of Valentine’s Day, write about love. You could write a poem, story, or journal entry about romantic love, love of family, God’s love, or whatever focus pleases you. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I hope you found something enjoyable here. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism, please leave me a comment. Maybe you would like to subscribe to Chronicles for updates by email.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 36

Journal entry:

Journal 2-13-20130001

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Be Aware

Wherever you are,
You are surrounded by love
Given so freely
By many who hold you in
The center of their soft hearts.

You are the apple
Of at least one somebody’s
Eye without question,
You may be unaware of
The person who holds you dear.

Even should you doubt,
Even should you have questions,
Love enfolds you in
Layers of great compassion
That will never desert you.

You may go searching
Fearing you will never find
The love of your life,
But believe he or she is
Near, you will surely find them.

Love is yours to be
Savored throughout existence,
It is always there
Enveloping you within
Its rich sweetness forever.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, February 13, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   Electronic devices allow me to retain connection to friends and family around the world.
2.   Technology has made great advances in my lifetime.
3.   I remember when communication was more difficult.
4.   I still have the old skills although I have adopted newer ones.
5.   Reading and writing are still prominent.

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This Wednesday was a bit of a disappointment because my packages did not arrive, but it ended well. I hope your day was rewarding and you accomplished much of what you wished. Now, before you finish the day, exercise your imagination and create something that will benefit you and others in the world. When you express your vision and share it, you enlighten others who may need to see as you do.

As a prompt, write a poem, story, or journal entry using some or all of the words: orders, supposed, packages, effort, linger, encounter, momentary, claimed, resting, commonly, surrounded, compassion. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will come here often, but you may also want to subscribe to Chronicles for future updates. I am very interested in anything you would like to share with me, so please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 34

Journal entry:

Journal 2-11-20130001

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Literary Outcomes

Thinking on paper
Can change the world or get you
Serious trouble,
The words you record make all
The difference in results.

You can encourage
So many people through your
Positive manner,
Or you can stir up unrest
With your provocative words.

Only one thing is
Certain, if you write you will
Without any doubt
Touch hearts of many others
And have impact on the world.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, February 11, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   I have accomplished a lot today.
2.   I was able to remain in my pajamas.
3.   The commode has not malfunctioned since yesterday.
4.   Mom enjoyed the supper I prepared.
5.   I may be able to relax a bit tonight because I am ahead on my tasks.

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It has been a rainy day in Georgia, but I still enjoyed my Monday. I hope your day has been very pleasant. I encourage you to engage your imagination and create something. Every time you make a creative effort you enrich the universe.

As a prompt, explore your feelings about writing. Do you have a positive relationship with your work, or are you more ambivalent? Whatever your thoughts, record them. Please leave a link to your work in the comments should you use this prompt.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I really appreciate your taking time to read my entry. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share with me, please leave a comment. I would love for you to visit repeatedly, but so you will not miss an entry you can subscribe to Chronicles by email.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 33

Journal entry:

Journal 2-10-20130001

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Acceptance

I have my doubts, but
I have made this decision
So very many
Times that I am hesitant
To trust myself once again.

So I pray Jesus
Take my heart and complete life,
I repent of all
My many sins and ask that
You forgive me completely.

I want certainty,
But know I constantly
Dwell in a state of
Doubt, so I plead finally
Pardon me, give me Your peace.

Show me what You want
Me to do, I am fully
Yours, deliver me,
Only You can fulfill my
Greatest need, ending my doubt.

If it be Your will
Seal my soul and open up
The gates of Heaven
So I may enter into
Fellowship with You, my Lord.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, February 10, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   Mom was able to go to Sunday School and Worship Service with me today.
2.   God has patience with me.
3.   I was not in the terrible accident on I-20 this afternoon.
4.   Although it rained and I was not able to take pictures at Oakland Cemetery the trip was not wasted.
5.   Hoke took us on a tour of places that we could shoot in the future while it rained.

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I hope your Sunday was wonderful. My day was full of happy moments. I urge you to take time and produce something creative. Perhaps you have a new vision to share with the world. Do it now.

As a prompt, write about something you doubt and how you can resolve the doubt. I hope you have the peace of Heaven’s certainty, if not, consider making a decision for Jesus today. If this prompt gets you writing, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Do leave a comment if you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share with me. Please follow Chronicles if you would like to receive updates by email.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 30

Journal entry:

Journal 2-7-20130001

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Commitment

People
May be given
A natural talent,
But a devotion to the art
Is required to develop major skill.
It might take many years to gain
Mastery producing
Work of great worth
Practice

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, February 7, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   Mom let me sleep in.
2.   I have a pair of glasses, even though I do not like them.
3.   I felt a little better after I ate this evening.
4.   I went to the class tonight despite my not feeling like going out.
5.   The class liked my picture of the female mallard.

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I hope you had a productive Thursday. Today was not the best day for me. I did not feel well. However, I devoted some time to working creatively, and you should too. You have nothing to lose and much to gain by engaging your imagination.

As a prompt, write about how commitment effects skill. You see this relationship more clearly in the arts than in some other areas of life, but write about whatever comes to you. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will come back frequently. You may wish to receive future updates by email, if so please subscribe to Chronicles. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism, please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 29

Journal entry:

Journal 2-6-20130001

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Shooting Predators

The birds of prey were
Beautiful as they flew from
Place to place with grace.

The owl and the hawks
Fascinated spectators
As they watched in awe.

The birds swooped over
Heads almost, but not touching
Me as I watched them.

Cameras could not
Capture the full excitement
Felt by everyone.

You had to be there
With the wings flapping wildly
Stirring up the air.

I will go again
And next time my photographs
Will be much better.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, February 6, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   I got up when the alarm went off and did not go back to bed.
2.   I finally chose a shirt to wear.
3.   The weather was beautiful today and the butterflies were out.
4.   Footlong sandwiches are on sale this month at Subway.
5.   After much trying I was able to get my contacts out.

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I hope your Wednesday was wonderful. There were parts of my day I enjoyed and parts that were quite disappointing. I took hundreds of photos today and only a few are worth sharing. The effort is the thing, nothing is achieved without practice. Now I urge you to put your creativity to work and give the world something to contemplate. You are so talented and I believe in your ability.

As a prompt, write about something you are attempting that challenges you. Trying new settings on my camera caused me dismay, hopefully your activity is less trying. Write a poem, story, journal entry, or note that explores this topic. Leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope my struggles give you hope, you can do anything I can do, only better. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism, please leave me a comment. Following Chronicles is simple, just enter your email address in the area above and you will get future updates.

Always,
Jo Ann

 

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 26

Journal entry:

Journal 2-3-20130001

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I returned to The Sunday Whirl for a prompt today. The words in italics were given on that site. If you need a bit of inspiration visit the wordle there.

No Excuses

Can I go straight to
The sweet spot again or is
There something I wish
To prove in interest of
Enlightenment without fuss?

I figure enough
Miserable time has passed
Almost everyone
Agrees I cannot go bust
With happier suggestions.

I have great ideas
Of what can be achieved by
Each of us tapping
Into creativity
Residing within our souls.

We are all without
Limit if we only have
A little more faith
In God’s ample provision
Of universal freedom.

Our heads and hearts are
Filled with imagination
That urges us to
Begin working toward our
Own lofty aspirations.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, February 3, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   I got up at 6:00 this morning.
2.   I did my journal entry before going to church.
3.   There were interesting discussions in Sunday School.
4.   When I went by the mall it was not very crowded.
5.   Jeremy came by and worked with the truck awhile.

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I am quite tired this Sunday evening, but it is a good feeling given by a full day. I hope you relaxed and enjoyed your day. I took the time to create, and so should you. No moment you spend using your imagination is wasted. The world awaits your work, so get busy.

As a prompt, use the phrase, “No Excuses,” in a poem, story, journal entry, or note. I am sure you can create something if you accept no excuses. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share with me, please leave a comment. I encourage you to subscribe to Chronicles so you get daily updates.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 25

Journal entry:

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Clinton Preserve

The ghosts
Of days gone by
Hang like the overcast
Sky above fields of equipment
Spread out wide for anyone’s perusal
It is a photographer’s dream
If only the light would
Cooperate
With me

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, February 2, 2013

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I am grateful:

1.   I got a very early start on my day.
2.   I threw away and shredded the excess papers on the table.
3.   I vacuumed the carpets.
4.   I gathered and took out the trash.
5.   I am a member of Sweetwater Camera Club.
6.   I went on a field trip with SCC today.
7.   I managed to take some good photographs.
8.   I was invited to do a guest post on one of my WordSmith Studio friend’s blog.
9.   I completed my journal entry this morning.
10. I did not have to cook supper.

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I have accomplished more on this Saturday than I have in many days. I hope your day was also productive. Now I urge you to pick up your pen, or utilize your keyboard, or use your camera to do something creative. I have faith that you can do this because I have done it every day for over a year. I am not particularly gifted or overly talented, I just make the effort and so can you. You have worlds within you to share with the inhabitants of Earth.

As a prompt, detail your resistance to working creatively. I run into this almost daily, and am quite sure it is a common occurrence. Write a poem, story, journal entry, or simply a note that tells about your experience and perhaps how you overcome. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

I want to sincerely thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoyed what you found here. Please leave a comment with any thoughts, suggestions, or criticism you would like to share. If you would like to receive future updates you might want to subscribe to Chronicles.

Always,
Jo Ann