THIS WRITTERS HEART

The book of Psalms is an anthology of Hebrew hymns. In the Jewish and Western Christian traditions, there are 150 psalms, The book is divided into five sections, each ending with short verse or a hymn of praise. There are several types of psalms, including songs of praise, communal and individual laments, royal psalms, imprecation, and individual thanksgivings. The book also includes psalms of communal thanksgiving, wisdom, pilgrimage. While many of the psalms contain attributions to King David and other Biblical figures including Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Solomon. The book of Psalms is found in the middle of the bible. The middle psalm is psalm 118:8-9; It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes . The longest psalm is Psalm 119 with 176 verses; that would take awhile to read the whole 176 verses in one go. The shortest psalm in the bible if found in 117 which only contains two verses...

This is an extension of one of the two poems I have written this week, in response to the tragic events that we have witnessed this week in Southport. - THE MATTER OF TIME -  When times where good, When times where hard. These times we've had, These times now passed. When times have mattered, When times have changed. Those times we've acted, Those times we've deliberated. When times have united, When times have separated. These times we've treasured, These times we've marked. Those times we've trusted, Those times we've prayed. When times we've sinned, When times we've pardoned. When times we have reacted, When times we have paused. Those times we've inspired, Those times we've rebelled. When times we've listened, When times we've ignored. Those times we've blamed, Those times we've loved. They are times unreturned, They are times consigned. These are times remembered, These are times captured. ©️Midlife Writer ~ S.J.Holden

"Hi, how are you, how you doing?...." I can't believe it's been a week since I boarded a train to Criccieth at 9am. I know God was in it especially train travel and meeting new people (no anxiety - ptl). At 1am Sunday I wrote my story plus another little story (I don't write stories, so watch this space), Making it 8 stories written since last years retreat. I met some amazing fellow Christian writers, old and friends; some I've only met via a screen.  Have  you ever heard of the Biblical friends Mary and Martha. Mary, is the artistic poetic philosopher, who is thrilled to just bask in the moment. She is stirred, thrilled, touched and inspired by the presence of Jesus. Maratha, is certainly a doer, she worked her fingers to the bone in her super-efficient way. Yet, here in the story, Jesus rebukes Martha, It’s a gentle rebuke. I guess I've been a bit of Maratha always doing and finding it to rest.  "There was long moments of stillness and silence....

I'm currently sitting on a train heading home after a fabulous 5 days at Criccieth on a christian writers retreat, this is the second year I've been. What a fabulous bunch of creative writers that I've had the blessing of sharing fellowship with and God even blessed us with glorious weather. I  believe I was the only poet amongst the story tellers. I soon discovered that didn't matter as we all write in different genre's, it has one central purpose; we are ' Kingdom Writers', we write to glorify the name of Jesus to our peers and communities. One thing or one word even that was very evident to me was the word 'wait', it appeared at least once in every session. Yes I have all material (actually to much), I'm the person who wants it out now; but perhaps right now isn't the write time. Over the few days I discovered it's a mine field out there in the publishing world, something that is still alien to me. Weather it's next year or in twe...

Hello, how are you today ?  I recently attended a Makaton workshop in my area. I am familiar with Makaton as I have virtually grown up with it. But it only in recent years through my church and using when I was undertaking a child care course, that I used it. Sadly I've gone a bit rusty so the course was as a refresher. And actually there were signs and that were new to me. Please feel free to leave a comment or suggestions below in the comments. I have tried to use the information in this blog to the best of my knowledge, any helpful comments will help how I research and create future blogs.  Makaton was first developed by a speech therapist named Margaret Walker in the 1970s. It was named using a few letters from the names of the first three Makaton teachers: Margaret Walker (MA), Katherine Johnston (KA) and Tony Cornforth (TON). Margaret Walker, founder won the Pride of Britain, Special Recognition Award , in 2019 for her dedication to and creation of Makaton.  Today o...

We often question how long or short our poetry ought to be. To long and we risk the audience getting bored and nodding of before the end. But have you ever wondered what is the long ever poem, my brain asked me that question this morning. The answer apparently is said to be ‘The Mahabharata’, written by . Telling the tale of love and warfare between rival families It is seven times the length of The Iliad and The Odyssey combined. And would definitely exceed the word count on any social media platforms, and on here. I’ll let you find it for yourself if you desire to do so. The longest poem in English is ‘King Alfred’ by John Fitchett (1766-1838) of Liverpool, Merseyside, which is said to be 129,807 lines and took four decade’s to write. His editor, Robert Riscoe, added the concluding 2,585 lines. ‘Phew’ and I think beyond 16 lines is to big, and to when it was written there will have been no technology, no spell checker back then, possibly all written by hand and memory; is it any wond...

GOOD FRIDAY In all plain sight I see my saviours plight At Calvary in the daylight Until daylight turns night I turned my face away As I heard his anquish cry Mary cries 'no not my boy' For my sins Christ died today I see the sign above his head 'King of the Jews', it said From his hands 'n' feet he bled At His cross, here I am stood He said 'he'll never leave me' For this we all must believe Holding on with Faith and Hope There is a greater day to come L is for the love Jesus has for me I am the reason He died on the cross For His sacrifice we've been set free Every thankful for the sacrifice He gave. ©️Sarah Joy Holden https://youtu.be/c6gLvOHqFlo?si=sIu2gpJxSE7lCFdj