They
went to
the world for
preaching, teaching
touching those lonely
healing the deaf and blind
bringing Good News to all men.
Forgetting themselves; serving God.
Those that went are now persecuted.

~ Twenty-one Missionaries Held Hostage ~

their loss is hardly remembered this day.
Saints waiting in prison for your prayers.
Why are we silent speechless mute?
Why won’t we all scream loudly
for them to be made free?
God help us help them!
Let’s join in prayer
for workers
of God’s
will.

©Copyright 2007 Joanne Tolles

Walking with tulips, weaving wisdom’s paths.
all wondering what creates wholeness
though distinct, different, unique
performing God’s divine work
precious are we for Him
redeemed by the Lord
called to action
to walk here
linking
arms
hearts
one will
together
along the path
wisdom directs us
calls us to godly hope
prayer, devotion, holiness
united by His love, His blood
whole in Him, lacking nothing ever
We walk with tulips, we weave wisdom’s paths.

©Copyright 2007 Joanne Tolles

Photographer: Ian Britton

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ~ Romans 15:5-7 NIV

Just yesterday upon my deck
appeared a traveling finch.
She sat below the feeder tube
and looked up toward deepest blue.
I tried to tell her sweetest spring
had not arrived here yet,
but she remained to eat the bay
content, with her return.

Today upon my wooden deck
five inches lay of virgin snow,
surrounding grounds are carpeted
by heaven’s winter pile.
The world is layered endless white,
the snowbirds come then leave–
I wonder where the finch has perched
to watch this final winter show.

Fly south sweet finch and wait a while
for winter’s power reigns here still–
Come back in yet a few tomorrows
when spring shall be supreme.
The feeder green upon this deck
awaits here just for you–
I promise to your clan and self
sweet seed, my love, and prayers.

©Copyright 2007 Joanne Tolles

I call out to you – my hope – my reason to live.

From under my heavy blanket of fear

I reach for you – your help – your hand to hold.

When I think I am breathing my last breath

I touch you – my life – my source of being.

I give my life to you and seek your face

for you alone are my sweet spring of salvation.

For you are my only answer – my reason – my mission.

Without your spotlight of love, I melt into blackness and am voided.

How can I repay the great debt I owe you?

How can I tell you I love you so dearly?

I fall to my feet in your wondrous halo of love

and I sing praises only to you – forever and a day.

©Copyright 2007 Joanne Tolles

A tiny babe born in a stable
came to light the world with candles of love.

A mighty God shed His divinity
and postured Himself in a hard feeding box.

Two parents gazed in awe the same way
multitudes of parents have welcomed their newborns.

The angels gave glory to God as they too
gazed in awe at this the most cherished of little ones.

The baby grew in stature and knowledge
living as a poor carpenter’s son.

He laughed and played and frollicked
just like all children throughout the ages.

He loved and cried and learned the ways of man
and listened daily to His Father’s voice.

This tiny babe born in a stable
grew tall and strong and wise.

When the time came, he walked away from his
family, friends, town, and profession.

When the time came, he walked towards his
destiny of rejection and persecution, and misery.

He took up the cross of death for all those he
loved and for those who would forever hate him.

He died for us on that cruel cross so that we
could live and each carry His candle of love.

©Copyright 2006 Joanne Tolles

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” – John 3:16-17

Oh death, where is your sting?
Oh grave, where is your victory?
Oh heavens, how can you not exalt the King?
Oh my soul, how can you not praise the Lord?

As autumn creeps slowly towards wintertime,
I stop and savor the scent of sweet decay
that lingers in the evening air
and can be seen in every browning leaf.

While my neighbors decry the injustices of the day
and fret about the coming icy seasons,
my own breath becomes a song of silent profession
of my love and devotion to a risen Lord.

For my Lord and Savior has conquered death;
my Master has closed the graveyard to my entrance.
The heavens cry tears of joyous jubilation
while my soul sings sweet hymns to Jesus.

©Copyright 2006 Joanne Tolles

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthian 15:55 – 58 KJV

The Ladder shines as
golden rays pierce the deep darkness.
Precious travelers visit earth
as the last days arrive.

The Ladder embraces
the lost and the lonely,
the sick and the dying,
the addicted and the abused.

The Ladder loves all creation.
How can it be any other way?
The Creator loves His creation
and sends forth His only Son
to save the lost
one last time.

The Ladder was a dream to Jacob
but is become a promise to
God’s people.

The covenant remains.
God’s children still live
and sprinkle the earth with soft light.
They are here – from the west to the east
and from the north to the south – the
children of God wait for
His return.

The Ladder has been released.
Jesus is here and His
angels are ascending and descending
on Him today.
The land is being invaded
by angels.
The land is being healed
and the lost are being found
at last.

The time of
the enemy is short.
The rule of God’s people
is at hand.

The Ladder is here.

©Copyright 2006 Joanne Tolles

Genesis 28:12-14
12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

and John 1:51
51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Y oking my life with the Lord Jesus Christ.

D elving deep into the mysteries of the Bible.

E scaping the snares of the evil one set up to trap me.

S inging praises of worship to my King.

T eaching His Word to His children.

I nstilling a love for words to my students.

N ever giving up on my students despite what I see and hear.

Y elling and shouting the Truth about these end times to all who will hear.

©Copyright 2006 Joanne Tolles

There has been too much pain,
too much of loved ones being harassed
because of duplicity.

No more poems of instruction
and correction and teaching
in the way we should go.

No more beautiful thoughts
and prayers for our well being
and our healing hearts.

No more wise columns
and urgent ims and
words of encouragement.

All gone because of venomous
duplicity.

Poets with fake aliases
and deceptive tactics
and evil schemes tear down the just.

What happened to the golden rule,
respect for the beliefs of others,
old fashioned respect and courtesy?

All this is gone
and now dread duplicity resides at AP.

Evil reigns where duplicity is found.
You cannot be two faced, or can you?
You cannot be two places at once, or can you?

A friend to one; a murderer to another.
Love sent in one message; hate sent in the next.
Lies upon lies upon lies…

What is the true you?
How can you know for sure?
Where can you find yourself?

My heart cries
rivers of tears.
Duplicity ushers in chaotic despair.

Dear Lord, please end this outrage.

©copyright 2006 Joanne Tolles

There is not a day that passes
that I do not thank God for you.

You are precious.
You are gracious.
You are loving.
You are beautiful inside and out.
You are patient.
You are forgiving.
You are practical.
You are responsible.
You are intelligent.
You are a great teacher.
You are a faithful friend.
You are a terrific mother.
You are a wonderful wife.
You are the best daughter a woman could have.
You are a gift from God.
You are the apple of my eye.

I love you Becca.

 ©Copyright 2006 Joanne Tolles