Inspirational Poetry of Joy and Peace

What Will You Do?

2012-01-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

What will you do with this special day,

This year with a brand new start?

Did you gain any knowledge along the way

In the past year that you can impart?

Did you learn anything from errors you made
To share with others to help them learn?

Did you know as the old year began to fade

That this year can take a fresh turn?

This day you've been given and you cannot know

How many more will be given to you

As new years come and old years go,

Whether many or just a few.

So as we enter another new year,

Try to make each day the best it can be.

When the future's uncertain, not really clear,

God's love is a daily certainty.

© Connie Arnold

For this new year, get great discount on 2012 Glimpses of Grace calendar, see Sharing Blessings

Joyful Christmas Song

2011-12-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

“Joy to the world” we gladly sing,
Rejoicing in the birthday of a king,
Realizing this child, so very small,
Is a precious gift for one and all.

The star that shone that holy night
Revealed the coming of the Light
To shine more brightly than that star
Into each heart, whoever you are.

Let us join to worship our Father above,
Giving thanks for Christ and the gift of love,
With hope that right will conquer wrong,
As we joyfully sing our Christmas song.

© Connie Arnold, 2011
to see more poems, receive free e-book by subscribing to site, or to order gift books or calendars
visit Connie's website

Wishing you a beautiful and blessed Christmas, filled with God's Love and Light!

Joyful Expectation

2011-12-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

At this time of year when we are filled

With joy and expectation,

We await the celebration

Of Jesus coming at His birth.

We find that we are also filled

With a sense of anticipation

And a joyful realization

That Christ again will return to earth!

In this Advent time of waiting

With our hearts and minds preparing

For a time of giving and sharing

And hearts overflowing with love,

We need to remember while waiting

To always be kind and caring,

Helping others with burdens they’re bearing,

As we await Christ’s return from above.

© Connie Arnold

Take advantage of Advent special offers and read more poems on my website.

Life's Unfinished Symphony

2011-10-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Life is an unfinished symphony,

building and growing,

stumbling and slowing,

striving to set the right tone,

joining with others whose lives touch our life

since a symphony cannot be played alone.

With each new day the symphony continues,

quietly singing,

stridently ringing,

varying as each day goes by,

with some passages that seem ponderously lengthy

and others that joyfully, lightly fly.

Life’s symphony can be filled with beauty,

always improving,

incredibly moving,

following the Conductor’s directing,

the symphony of life, with prayerful obedience,

the Master is slowly perfecting.

© Connie Arnold

Visit my website to read more poems and see special offers!

Autumn Changes

2011-09-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

photo © Gary Strader

In autumn the leaves start changing

to colors rich and bright,

and soon they all

will begin to fall,

creating an artistic sight.

The green that in summer was seen

on the branches of every tree

has now turned to gold

and reds quite bold;

this change is delightful to see.

The exquisite beauty of nature

when leaves begin to die,

vibrant shades abound

and cover the ground,

making us wonder why.

Why such a glorious tribute

to what is almost past?

Crackling leaves drying

in this season of dying;

their splendor cannot last.

Changes come into each life

in what has happened before.

Though all things must end,

on God you can depend

to bring beauty to life once more.

© Connie Arnold

See beautiful nature pictures through all seasons and

read inspiring verses on my

Glimpses of Grace 2012 calendar

Peace in the Storm

2011-08-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

When the storms of life are overhead,

filling you with a sense of dread,

like ocean's waves that across you roll,

feeling like you have lost control,

hopelessness can overwhelm you

with uncertainty about what to do.

Remember the One wind and sea obey

can drive your doubt and fear away.

When facing problems in your life,

look beyond the pain and strife,

lift your eyes up from the storm

to find a place that's safe and warm,

set your mind on things above

to discover peace and love.

Remember that Jesus calmed the sea,

this peace He offers to you and me.

Where is Love?

2011-07-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Love is in the gentle words

you offer a friend in pain

and in a radiant rainbow

that follows after the rain.

Love is in the mountains

majestically towering above

and in the face of small children

and the parents who raise them with love.

Love is in all of creation,

created in every part,

and most of all love can be found

when God dwells in your heart.

© Connie Arnold, 2011

Glimpses of Grace

2011-06-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

To catch a glimpse of God's grace

We need only to look around,

At any time or in any place

Evidence of God's grace may be found,

Just look at the world around you

And you will see this is true.

"...and from his fullness

we have all received grace upon grace."

Life is much better when you laugh and play,

Take some time each day to pray,

Look for the good in everything,

Discover a joyful song to sing.

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!"

The earth is filled with God's majesty,

This splendor crowns all of creation,

All that has been or that will be

Are touched with divine inspiration.

"Splendor and majesty are before him:

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary."

These are a few samples from my new 2012 Glimpses of Grace calendar. All the photos are by Gary Strader and each month has one of them, one of my verses and a short scripture, all revealing glimpses of God's grace and beauty. Praying this will be a blessing for many, daily reminders of God's grace and love in their lives! Enjoy, feel free to share, and you can order for yourself or for gifts from my website, RPJ & Company or Amazon.

Join us for BLOG BASH, 2011

2011-06-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the first day of summer with a 5-day Blog Bash!

The first annual

Blog Bash 2011

is coming this summer

Give-Aways on 150 blogs, each valued at $100 OR MORE!

Do you want more followers?

Do you want to meet new bloggers and discover new blogs?

You can be a part of Blog Bash 2011!

Give-aways will start on June 22 12:00 AM and end on June 26 11:59 PM

(this is a 5- day event)

Readers will be able to hop from blog to blog and enter each give-away for the entire 3-day period!

Visit the host blog, Family Approve, for the complete list of participating blogs, and join us right here for BLOG BASH, 2011!

RUBY FOR WOMEN GIVE-AWAY WILL INCLUDE:

* $25 gift-certificate for Family Christian Stores AND a copy of

"God Mission Possible" by Deborah McCarragher

$25 SCENTSY Gift Certificate from Maritza Bonilla

* $60 value in books from Ruby for Women:

* "Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World" by Kathi Macias

* "Inspired Women Succeed" by Diane Cunningham and Jo Ann Fore

* "No Greater Love" by Kathi Macias

* "Beautiful Moments of Joy and Peace" by Connie Arnold

* "The Thorn" by Beverly Lewis

* $15.00 gift-certificate from mamas*little*treasures Etsy shop

* $15.00 gift-certificate from Tatters to Treasures Etsy shop

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS POST BEGINNING JUNE 22 - 26, 2011

for your chance to win our give-away prizes!

The Brightness of God's Grace

2011-06-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

God’s grace is abundantly evident

In the dawning of each new day

As the sunrise brightens the morning sky,

Chasing the darkness away.

As sunlight breaks through gathering clouds,

Streaming down rays from above,

The world is brightened as are our hearts

When touched by God’s grace and love.

When storms of life darken your day

God offers a safe, protected place,

And like a rainbow after the rain

Shines the bright promise of hope and grace.

© Connie Arnold 2011

All photos © Gary Strader - please visit his site to see more of his beautiful photos. He provided the photos for Abundant Comfort and Grace, and for our soon to be released 2012 calendar, Glimpses of Grace, which has Gary's beautiful photos on each month along with my verses and scriptures. You can see these on my website. Please let me know if you'd like to pre-order a copy of the calendar for yourself or gift at 30% off through June.

God is Very Near

2011-05-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

In the silence of the morning

while the grass is wet with dew,

as the sun slowly brightens

a day that's fresh and new,

the chirping of a bird

is the only sound you hear,

and awareness dawns within

that God is very near.

In the hustle and the bustle

of a busy, active day,

with no time for reflection

as you go along your way,

the beauty may be missed,

nature's sounds you may not hear,

but although you may be unaware,

God still is very near.

In the ending of the day,

at the fading of the light

as you make your preparations

to go to bed at night,

before you close your eyes,

as the nighttime sounds you hear,

give thanks that you can sleep in peace

since God is very near.

© Connie Arnold

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

2011-04-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

Why did Jesus have to die?
     Wasn’t there any other way?
For all of the sins that we have committed,
     why should He be the one to pay?

Jesus went around doing good,
     helping others and teaching.
He cast out demons and healed the sick,
     spreading God’s word through His teaching.
He lived a life that was righteous and pure—
     He is God’s holy Son.
He set an example for how we should live,
     since He is the only sinless one.
Yet He was despised and rejected;
     He suffered pain and grief.
His own people wouldn’t receive Him
     but offered ridicule and unbelief.

He took our sins upon Him
     and suffered a cruel death;
His love was so great that “Father, forgive them”
     He prayed with His dying breath.

Praise be to God! This wasn’t the end;
     He didn’t remain in the grave.
On the third day Jesus rose from the dead;
     our souls forever He did save.
Through faith in Christ and God’s holy grace
     we can have a wonderful certainty;
We need never have any fear of death
     but will live with Him in eternity.

Why did Jesus have to die?
     There wasn’t any other way.
In His abundant love and mercy,
     the price for our sins He was willing to pay.

from Beautiful Moments of Joy and Peace
© Connie Arnold
Visit my website to learn how to get a free copy.

This Wonderful Day

2011-04-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

photo © Gary Strader

Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful day

Since each new day is a special gift,

For the sky so blue, and also when gray,

And sunshine which gives the spirits a lift;

For flowers that bloom, kissed by the sun,

Valleys and hills, plains and trees,

The artistic beauty You spread on each one,

The joy of life in each day to seize;

For abundant blessings showered on earth,

Peace, joy and hope raining down from above,

For the exquisite miracle of new birth,

Your Son and Your Spirit, the gift of love;

For all good things and all You do,

Thankful praise and love flow back to You.

© Connie Arnold, 2011

Shaking Our Faith

2011-03-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

When tragedies happen
and disasters occur
we’re often left in despair,
dazed and discouraged,
depressed and unsure,
wondering why God doesn’t care.

As the earth shifts and groans,
quivers and quakes,
and walls are reduced to rubble,
our faith often falters,
stumbles and shakes
when faced with times of trouble.

We sometimes blame God
for the terrible things
that cause agony and dismay,
forgetting the peace and
healing God brings
to those who don’t turn away.

Through the grief and pain,
all of life’s sorrow,
God remains steady and true,
supporting and lifting
to face each tomorrow,
providing the strength to get through.

God never leaves us
alone to face
the trials this world has in store,
but with mercy, kindness,
goodness and grace,
God’s love does continually pour.

As Winter Comes to an End

2011-02-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

As icicles on the branches cling,

We await the coming of spring,

When life returns to everything

With the hope that it can bring.

Although the trees are stark and bare,

And there is a nip to the icy air,

We know it soon will be time to prepare

For trees filled with buds and flowers fair.

When winter ends, it seems to me,

The lifelessness which I now see

Evolves into what soon will be

A blooming flower and budding tree.

The cycle of life once again goes by

As life that had seemed before to die

Is warmed by the sun in a bright spring sky

To trigger new growth where sleeping things lie.

Once more we too can bask in this light,

Enjoying the warmth of a day that is bright,

As renewal of life fills us with delight

That God’s plan for creation is so perfectly right!

(c) Connie Arnold

Visit my website Sharing Blessings to find out how to get a free book!

Revealing Love

2011-01-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

Appealing,

Revealing,

Tenderly healing,

Love should be thoughtful and kind,

Through sharing

And caring,

Souls sweetly baring,

Love ought to bring peace of mind.

With kisses,

Caresses,

As God freely blesses,

Love can be daily shown,

Through giving,

Forgiving,

Joyfully living,

Love may be beautifully known.

© Connie Arnold, 2011 from e-book, Loving Inspirations, free with book purchase, see my website for details

Begin the New Year

2011-01-01T06:55:00.000-08:00

Begin the new year

with love in your heart,

and the year will be better

right from the start.

Resolve to yourself

to live each day

treating others

in a loving way.

Begin the new year

with a smile on your face,

as you spread your love

in every place.

Throughout the year

as you let your joy show,

lives will be brighter

wherever you go.

Begin the new year,

as you pass through each season,

with hope deep within

that God is the reason

that love and joy

are flowing to you

and will continue

all the year through.

© Connie Arnold

How Much Did Mary Understand?

2010-12-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

How Much Did Mary Understand?

How much did Mary understand

The magnitude of what God had planned?

Could she even imagine how Jesus’ birth

Would make such an impact on the earth?

How much could Mary comprehend

The importance of the child God would send

As she humbly accepted what He had willed

So that God’s purpose might be fulfilled?

How much did Mary really know

As the baby within her began to grow?

Gabriel had told her she’d have a son

Who was also the Son of the most holy One.

How much did Mary feel even more

Than any mother had ever before?

Her heart surely overflowed with love

For this incredible gift from above.

How much do we now understand

The magnitude of what God had planned?

May we like Mary accept what God willed

That our Savior’s birth long ago has fulfilled.

Excerpt from Love & Light Christmas booklet

Free with purchase of any of my books, or buy on my website

© Connie Arnold, 2010

Giving Thanks

2010-11-18T14:15:00.000-08:00

Thank you Lord for the dawning

of each and every new day,

for the sun above, the gift of your love,

opportunities to work and to play.

Thank you Lord for the noontime

and for the food we eat,

for the beauty that lies before our eyes,

for all the people we meet.

Thank you Lord for the close of day,

the anticipation of rest,

for your loving care, being always there,

for helping us do our best.

Thank you Lord for the nighttime

and for sweet refreshing sleep,

for troubles that cease, being filled with your peace,

for our souls that in safety you keep.

Thank you Lord for your blessings,

mercy, grace, all that you do,

for each breath we take, each move we can make,

for our eyes and ears, for calming our fears,

for the gift of your Son, love for everyone,

for all things we give thanks to you.

© Connie Arnold, 2010

The Only Day

2010-10-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

photo © Gary Strader

This day is the only day

We have in the here and now,

So it’s important to find a way

To make a difference somehow.

Yesterday is already past,

What is done cannot be undone,

And future days which arrive so fast

Must be taken one by one.

Spending your time looking ahead

Or reliving what happened before

May fill you with a sense of dread

Or regret, when there could be much more.

Discover beauty each day you live,

Find the gift that’s waiting for you,

Soak in the love that God has to give,

Offer thanks in all that you do.

© Connie Arnold, 2010

Animal Sound Mix-up Blog Tour

2010-10-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

Today begins a blog tour for my new children's book, which will continue through October 15. I hope you will visit to enjoy reviews, interviews, excerpts, illustrations, writing tips, fun and prize drawings! The tour schedule is at http://childrensauthorconniearnold.blogspot.com

I'll share with you a small excerpt here, and you'll need to visit the other blogs along the tour to find out more! Be sure to comment to be entered into drawings.

Available from Guardian Angel Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Life is Good

2010-09-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Life is good

When you look for the good,

Seeking the beauty and light,

Finding a way

To brighten the day,

Trying to do what is right.

The joy life can bring

Will make your heart sing

When life is pleasant and sweet,

But when problems arise,

Take you by surprise,

They may knock you off your feet.

Life is still good

If only you could

Look past the sorrow and pain,

Lifting your eyes

As you realize

How much there is to gain.

Through the cloud of tears

As your vision clears

There is beauty for you to find,

Like the sun on your face

Feel the touch of God’s grace,

Let God’s love fill your soul and mind.

from Abundant Comfort and Grace

From Inspiration to Fun

2010-08-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Today I'm making a small change from inspiration to fun! It's my great pleasure to announce to you that my first children's book, Animal Sound Mix-up, has just been published and is available from Guardian Angel Publishing. Having three small grandsons has added a new facet to my creative writing, and I'm excited to have this opportunity to share with children the fun, the wonders of God's amazing creation, and the fact that all God has created is right and good.

Trust me to find a little inspiration in the midst of the fun! It is a fun book, with adorable illustrations by Kit Grady, but it also has a tiny gentle lesson included. You'll have to read it to find that!

I've started a children's blog and hope you'll pop over to visit, leave a comment, follow if you'd like. I'll be adding more fun poems soon!

Continue the Journey

2010-08-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

The journey of the past two weeks for Abundant Comfort and Grace on a blog tour has ended, but I hope the journey you are taking into your soul will continue. There are so many blogs with inspiring messages to share and help you on your journey. Here you will continue to find inspirational poems that will hopefully touch your heart and soul. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

Many thanks to all who have commented here and at the blogs along the tour. It has been a blessing to read them and have the chance to share some inspiration, comfort and a bit of God's grace with you.

The winner of a signed copy of Beautiful Moments of Joy & Peace is Nancy CL.
The $10 Amazon gift certificate goes to Just Be Real.

In the drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate from those who purchased a copy of Abundant Comfort and Grace from me or let me know they purchased it, the winner is J Olson.

Congratulations to each of you! The schedule will remain in the post Take a Journey with Me and on my website Blog Book Tour page for you to visit the blogs later, if you'd like. I'll end with the rest of the poem started on my previous post, Comfort and Strength.

A mighty Fortress, so strong and sure,
God’s strength enables you to endure.
As angels surround you to guard and protect you,
God in His wisdom will guide and direct you.

You are God’s chosen, to Him you are dear.
In God’s strength and love you have nothing to fear.
Find comfort today in God’s power and might
As love surrounds you and fills you with light.

Take a Journey with Me

2010-07-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

You are invited to go on a journey with me the next two weeks. You don't need to get in your car or on a plane for this trip, you only need to travel into your soul.

When you need some comfort and peace of mind,
When strength for the day seems so hard to find,
Close your eyes and open your heart and soul
To receive the strength that will make you whole.
(Comfort and Strength, from Abundant Comfort and Grace)

Starting tomorrow, Monday, August 2, I will be visiting different blogs on tour with my new inspirational poetry book, Abundant Comfort and Grace, attempting to share with you the abundance of comfort and God's grace contained within (take a peek inside). There will be poems shared, devotionals, interviews and reviews by various fellow bloggers.

Please join me each day that you can, and I hope you will be inspired and blessed. There will be prize drawings at the end of the two weeks on Saturday, August 14. Two drawings will be held from all the comments during the tour, one for a copy of my first book, Beautiful Moments of Joy and Peace, and one for a $10 Amazon gift certificate.

In addition, there will be a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate from those purchasing a signed copy of Abundant Comfort and Grace from me on my website, or if you would like to purchase online from the publisher RPJ & Company or Amazon and email me your confirmation at beautifulmomentsofjoyandpeace(at)yahoo(dot)com.

The schedule for the tour is:

Monday, August 2 RPJ & Company blog

Tuesday, August 3, Stories by JoAnne Bennett

Wednesday, August 4, Simply 4 God

Thursday, August 5, The Surrendered Scribe

Friday, August 6, Heading Home

Monday, August 9, Stuff Could Always be Worse

Tuesday, August 10, Reviews from the Heart

Wednesday, August 11, My Book Bag
The Bookshelf Newsletter

Thursday, August 12, Inspired Writing

Friday, August 13, The Old Silly's Free Spirit Blog

Saturday, August 14, Inspirational Poetry of Joy and Peace - conclusion and announcement of prize drawing winners

Be sure to leave your comment below and on each of the blogs for additional entries. Share about this tour on your own blog or tweet about it and let me know, and you'll receive extra entries as well!

Imagine

2010-07-18T10:31:00.001-07:00

Today I'd like to share with you a new poem that can be enjoyed by all, young to old! You can join me in celebrating not only the release of my new inspirational poetry book, Abundant Comfort and Grace, but also my soon to be released children's book, Animal Sound Mix-Up!

Imagine if days never had sunshine

Or if the night had no stars or moon,

If books had no pages, pens had no paper,

Or if a song didn’t have any tune!

Imagine if rainbows had no colors

Or if a forest didn’t have trees,

If birds couldn't fly, oceans were dry,

Or if with crackers you couldn’t have cheese!

Imagine if the sky was not blue

Or if the grass never turned green,

If fruit wasn’t sweet, animals had no feet,

Or if no variety ever was seen!

If we imagine a world without beauty

It helps us to be more aware,

To give thanks and praise to God all our days,

Treat the earth with much greater care.

A Pleasant Surprise

2010-06-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Beauty may be discovered each day

On the earth, in the sky and sea.

God’s handiwork is on display

Wherever we happen to be.

From dawn’s early light and into the night,

Whenever we look around,

In golden sunshine or the moon’s soft light

Glimpses of beauty are found.

Open your heart as you open your eyes

To experience life’s best things.

You may find inside a pleasant surprise

In the peace, joy and beauty God brings!

Excerpt from Abundant Comfort and Grace, now available from RPJ & Company!

Abundant Comfort and Grace

2010-05-25T15:27:00.001-07:00

It is my pleasure to announce to you that a new book of my inspirational poetry has just been completed and will be available in June from RPJ & Company. These poems share the comfort to be found through God's grace, verses that inspire and uplift, reassurance of God's love, encouragement and hope. Each poem is accompanied by stunning color photographs by Gary Strader, who has allowed me to share some of his photography here with my poems previously. These photos reveal glimpses of God's grace and the beauty of creation. The beauty of the book is also enhanced by the creative layout, design and cover by Kathleen Schubitz. Below is an excerpt from the book.

A Glimpse of God’s Grace

To catch a glimpse of God’s grace
We need only to look around,
At any time or in any place
Evidence of God’s grace may be found,
Just look at the world around you
And you will see this is true.

The rosy beauty of sunrise
At the start of a fresh new day
As sunlight reaches wakening eyes,
Chasing the darkness away,
Then we can slowly grow conscious of
God’s grace as a sign of His love.

The visible signs seen in nature
Like rainbows after the rain,
Help us to know we can be sure
That hope for each day we can gain.
God’s grace will appear in everything
And give us a new song to sing.

Check my website for news of Abundant Comfort and Grace becoming available, to read other poems and for a special offer on my first two books, Beautiful Moments of Joy & Peace and Abiding Hope & Love, on sale at a clearance price through June. Be sure to check out the other inspiring books and services available from RPJ and Company.

A Mother's Love

2010-05-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

A mother’s love is steady,

enduring, strong and true;

She always loves her children,

no matter what they do.

These little souls are given

into her special care

To instruct, correct and cherish,

to lift them up in prayer.

With loving heart and gentle hands

this small life she will mold,

She will cherish and treasure

more than silver or gold.

A mother needs great patience

to bring a child up right

And a caring cheerfulness

to make each day more bright.

It takes a special wisdom

to know what must be done

To instill the best virtues

in a daughter or a son.

A mother’s love is endless,

unselfish and forgiving;

Her children sometimes bring her pain

but also joy in living.

A mother is the one to whom

God entrusts the keeping

Of these special little ones,

when awake and when they’re sleeping.

The tender, sweet devotion

does not come from any other

But from God when he gives a child

the love of a mother.

from Abiding Hope & Love

Connie Arnold

Peace in the Storm

2010-04-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

When the storms of life are overhead,

filling you with a sense of dread,

like ocean waves that across you roll,

feeling like you have lost control,

hopelessness can overwhelm you

with uncertainty about what to do.

Remember the One wind and sea obey

can drive your doubt and fear away.

When facing problems in your life,

look beyond the pain and strife,

lift your eyes up from the storm

to find a place so safe and warm,

set your mind on things above

to discover peace and love.

Remember that Jesus calmed the sea,

this peace He offers to you and me.

Filtering Impurities

2010-03-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Jesus acts as a filter, taking away our sin,
Absorbing our impurities to make us clean within,
Taking in hatred to transform it into love,
Filling us instead with God’s goodness from above,
Soaking in our fear, causing us to be set free,
As a filter cleans the water, Jesus cleanses you and me;

Taking utter chaos and changing it to right,
Transforming inner darkness to clear and radiant light,
Drawing out our evil thoughts, making them more pure,
Filtering impurities so goodness can endure,
Changing us, removing all impurities concealed,
Until God’s holy purity within us is revealed.

© Connie Arnold, March 2009

Read more poetry on my website blog.

A Garden's Beauty

2010-03-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

A garden filled with fragrant flowers,
Surrounded by tall, strong trees,
With leaves fluttering in a soft breeze
Can provide many pleasant hours;
The peaceful sense of beauty it brings
And joy flooding into each part
Satisfies a yearning in my heart,
As my spirit soars and sings.

Enjoying nature's beauty and rest
With the light of God's love on my face,
An awareness swells of a special grace,
Recalling the things in life that are best;
As a certainty fills me that all will be right
Since the One who caused all things to be
Created this beauty for you and for me,
And my soul overflows with pure delight!

© Connie Arnold

Be sure to visit my website to read more poems and for a chance to win a free book!

Passing Along a Song

2010-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

A sweet song, carried on a breeze,
Floating through the air,
Whispering lightly through the trees,
Seemed to be everywhere,
Falling lightly on my ear,
Such a pleasant thing to hear!

The beauty of this melody,

Drifting across my mind,
Bringing a sense of tranquility,
A peace I'd longed to find,
I shared by humming through the day
As it continued on its way.

Someone having a problem or two,
As I was passing by,
Heard the melody coming through,
And gave a contented sigh,
As the song I carried on its way
Helped brighten up another's day.

© Connie Arnold

Need a Valentine's gift? How about poetry!

See my website.

The Gift of Each Day

2010-01-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

Each new day offers a gift,
Something special about the day
To give the heart and soul a lift
And make life better in some way;
If you seek then you will find
That each day's gift will come to mind.

It may be sunshine through a cloud,
A rainbow glimpsed after the rain,
A friendly face in the midst of a crowd,
The sudden easing of a pain;
If you look around with a hopeful view,
The gift in your day will appear to you.

A gift may be in what you see,
Things you touch or what you hear,
The joy in simply being free,
The love of someone very dear;
If you take time to quietly pray,
God will reveal your gift today.

Christmas Prayer

2009-12-12T13:54:00.000-08:00

This prayer is offered for you, my sweet friends, all of you who come to read my poems and share the blessing of your time to visit and comment! It is an excerpt from a booklet of poems about Christmas and gifts, "The Greatest Gift." Please visit my website or contact me to learn how you can get one for yourself or to give as a gift. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed Christmas filled with peace, joy and love!

May God’s blessings be upon you
at this holy time of year
As we celebrate the birth
of his dear Son;
May he fill you with awareness
of his presence ever near
And assurance that he is
the holy, blessed One.

May your life be blessed with love and joy,
the sweetness of God’s peace,
And strength sufficient for your needs
in everything you do.
May God grant you knowledge and wisdom
that continues to increase,
And faith through times of trial
that he is faithful and true.

May you have endless patience
whenever you have to wait,
And courage for every moment
when you are afraid.
May you always be filled with love
and free of envy and hate;
And remember God sent his only Son
to fulfill the promise he made.

May your days be filled with mercy and grace,
surrounded by God’s love,
And your nights with restful, refreshing sleep
until the morning light.
May God’s goodness shine upon you
with radiance from above,
Like the star that shone on Bethlehem
that wondrous, holy night.

Abiding Hope and Love

2009-10-15T07:20:00.001-07:00

The Thursday excerpt posted by L. Diane Wolfe is from my book, Abiding Hope and Love. Please drop by when you get a chance to read, and leave a comment if you'd like!

A new poem will be added here after I return home. I'm enjoying a wonderful visit with my daughter and three little grandsons now. Thought you might enjoy seeing them.

Be sure to check out Spunk on a Stick!

Autumn Lesson

2009-10-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Autumn is the time of year
when summer sounds we no longer hear
and winter’s arrival is drawing near.

As leaves slowly begin to fall,
migrating birds follow nature’s call
to warmer climates for them all.

They fly to where warm breezes blow,
and somehow they just seem to know
that autumn is the time to go.

The instinct accepted by each one,
when no longer warmed by the late fall sun,
is to fly south before autumn is done.

Migrating birds in formation fly,
following their leader, not asking why,
steadily soaring across the sky.

There is surely a lesson to learn
from these birds, as we discern
there is a refuge where we can return.

When the coldness of sin is drawing near,
and we are filled with doubt and fear,
a still, small voice we need to hear.

We have a leader to be our Guide,
when from life’s problems we want to hide.

If we will follow, faithful and true,
God’s love and peace can come shining through.

© Connie Arnold, 2009

read more poems on the blog at http://www.conniearnold.webs.com/

A Good Listener

2009-09-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

When you are really listening, you use more than just your ear,
Your whole being is involved if you truly want to hear.
In relationships with others you should always do your part
To give them close attention and listen with your heart.

Fully understanding just exactly what is meant
Requires concentration to perceive the true intent.
Listen for emotion, being careful to take heed
Of underlying meaning, an inward sense of need.

When listening with love and taking special care,
You may ease another's worries with your willingness to share.
A friend who really listens is a wonderful gift,
To offer hope and comfort, give the spirits a lift.

© Connie Arnold

Friends

2009-08-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

This poem is dedicated to you, my special online friends!

Friends are for caring and also for sharing,
Helping each other in every way;
As friendship is growing, your love is showing
In things that you do each passing day.

A friend is so dear, bringing comfort and cheer,
Someone with whom you can share each emotion;
When you are in need, a good friend indeed
Will listen to you with faithful devotion.

With good friends you must know you can trust
That on them you always can depend,
And give thanks each day, whenever you pray
That God helped you find such a special friend!

Connie Arnold

Check out August Gift

Restless Longing

2009-07-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

There's a restless, unknown longing
Deep within my soul
That keeps me always searching,
Striving to be whole.
My heart and mind are reaching out
For something I don't know,
Uncertain where it comes from
Or to where it will go.
It's like a shadowed mystery
That floats across my mind,
Blowing like the wind,
So very hard to find.
It leaves a gentle memory
And then returns once more
To lightly nudge my consciousness
As it has done before.
It's something that I can't quite grasp,
So difficult to hold,
To which I can't give utterance,
Yet seems it must be told.
It's something that's been present
Since the moment of my birth,
And may remain within me
Throughout my time on earth;
Unless I can grab hold of it,
Begin to understand
Where that yearning comes from,
What is its demand.
God gives that restless longing,
And it will never cease,
Until my heart opens to his love
And my soul is filled with God's peace.
© Connie Arnold, 2009
Be sure to check out huge discount offered by publisher

and July giveaway!

Up Against a Wall

2009-06-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

At times you may feel you've come up against a wall,
And life seems to make no sense at all.
The troubles you encounter seem to block your way,
Causing you to struggle to get through each day.

This wall of problems can appear quite tall,
While you feel inadequate and very small.
With no end in sight and no way to go around,
A pathway through is what needs to be found.

God has the power to break through any wall
And is willing to help when on him you will call.
You need to acknowledge you can't do it on your own
And recognize that you are really never alone.

On God's wisdom, love and strength you can rely
To guide you through all obstacles, no matter how high.
With faith and a prayer you can safely walk through,
Knowing God will protect and always love you.

© Connie Arnold, 2009

One Lovely Blog Award

2009-05-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Valerie Lynn of Simply 4 God blog has honored me with this One Lovely Blog Award! You will be blessed by visiting her lovely blog when you get a chance.

I am passing along this award to the following lovely blogs, which I hope you will visit and enjoy also:

Lynn, Heading Home

Shonda, Shonda's Journal

Do You Weary Like I Do?

Yvonne, Welcome to My World of Poetry

LauraLee, Selah ~ Pause. Ponder. Praise

Vicki, Windows to my Soul

Mother's Day Celebrates Love

2009-05-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy Free Nature Pictures

As we journey through the year
To the second Sunday in May,
We rejoice in the love of one so dear
As we celebrate Mother's Day.

We honor our mother's devotion,
Her tenderness and care,
Filled with a love as deep as the ocean,
Thoughtful and willing to share.

Her guidance and gentle direction
Helped us to do what we should,
By example and with her correction
We learned that we ought to be good.

Remembering our mother on this date,
Whether together or far apart,
We are thankful as we celebrate
Her special place in each heart.

© Connie Arnold, 2009
Please visit my website to read more poems and to see Special Discount for lovely, thoughtful inspirational poetry gift!

Thank You!

2009-05-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

Today marks the end of the two week Blog Book Tour for Abiding Hope & Love, and I want to thank each of you who visited the hosting blogs,and your lovely comments and support.

Also, I want to express my great appreciation to the blog hosts for the tour. Each one has a link you can click to visit their blog, and I'd like to encourage you to do that, as these are some great blogs to visit!

Valerie Murray, Simply 4 God
Joyce Anthony, Books and Authors
Karina Fabian, Virtual Book Tour de 'Net
Amber Stults, Book Reviewer and Author
JoAnne Bennett, Stories by JB
Marvin Wilson, Free Spirit
Katrina Wampler, Kaylen's Write to Heal
Julie Arduini, The Surrendered Scribe
Lynn Mosher, Heading Home

There were two drawings for a free copy of Abiding Hope & Love, and the winners are Mary Moss and Brenda LaVelle. The winner of a $10 Amazon gift certificate is Paula Hafner. Congratulations, Mary, Brenda and Paula!

Autographed copies of Abiding Hope & Love are still available at a reduced price from my website using PayPal or by check, or other online ordering options are included. There is still time to order for a beautiful Mother's Day gift!

Below is an excerpt from Abiding Hope & Love that was not used by any of the hosts that I would like to share with you. It seems appropriate with Mother's Day coming soon. May God bless you in reading it, and I hope you will continue to visit my blog here and the Inspirational Poetry Blog on my website to read more inspiring poems!

A Mother’s Love

A mother’s love is steady, enduring, strong and true,
She always loves her children, no matter what they do.
These little souls are given into her special care
To instruct, correct and cherish, to lift them up in prayer.

With loving heart and gentle hands this small life she will mold,
She will cherish and treasure more than silver or gold.
A mother needs great patience to bring a child up right
And a caring cheerfulness to make each day more bright.

It takes a special wisdom to know what must be done
To instill the best virtues in a daughter or a son.
A mother’s love is endless, unselfish and forgiving,
Her children sometimes bring her pain but also joy in living.

A mother is the one to whom God entrusts the keeping
Of these special little ones, when awake and when they’re sleeping.
The tender, sweet devotion does not come from any other
But from God, when he gives a child the love of a mother.

Abiding Hope & Love, Connie Arnold, 2008

Blog Book Tour April 20-30

2009-04-17T19:58:00.000-07:00

A blog book tour for Abiding Hope & Love begins Monday, April 20, and I hope you will visit the host blogs each day. There will be two drawings for a free copy of the book, and one for an Amazon gift certificate from those who leave comments during the tour! The schedule and links to blogs are:

April 20-30 Simply 4 God, Valerie Murray - excerpts

April 20-21 Books and Authors, Joyce Anthony - includes free book drawing!

April 22 Virtual Book Tour de 'Net, Karina Fabian - interview

April 23 Book Reviewer and Author, Amber Stults - with book giveaway!

April 24 Stories by JB, JoAnne Bennett

April 27 Free Spirit Marvin Wilson - interview with husband, Tom

April 28 Kat Logic Katrina Wampler - Kaylen's Write to Heal

April 29 The Surrendered Scribe, Julie Arduini

April 30 Heading Home Lynn Mosher

Each day of tour Simply 4 God, Valerie Murray will share excerpts and a special post

I'm looking forward to reading your comments and responding!

Inspirational Poetry of Joy and Peace

What Will You Do?

Joyful Christmas Song

Joyful Expectation

Life's Unfinished Symphony

Autumn Changes

Peace in the Storm

Where is Love?

Glimpses of Grace

Join us for BLOG BASH, 2011

You may also like -

The Brightness of God's Grace

God is Very Near

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

This Wonderful Day

Shaking Our Faith

As Winter Comes to an End

Revealing Love

Begin the New Year

How Much Did Mary Understand?

Giving Thanks

The Only Day

Animal Sound Mix-up Blog Tour

Life is Good

From Inspiration to Fun

Continue the Journey

Take a Journey with Me

Imagine

A Pleasant Surprise

Abundant Comfort and Grace

A Mother's Love

Peace in the Storm

Filtering Impurities

A Garden's Beauty

Passing Along a Song

The Gift of Each Day

Christmas Prayer

Abiding Hope and Love

Autumn Lesson

A Good Listener

Friends

Restless Longing

Up Against a Wall

One Lovely Blog Award

Mother's Day Celebrates Love

Thank You!

Blog Book Tour April 20-30