We see a wide-eyed little girl, maybe six or so, in a church worship service. She’s standing next to her mother in a pew at the left side of the sanctuary, very close to the pianist whose fingers move adroitly over the keys of the ebony baby grand piano. The child’s eyes shift from the … Continue reading Vibrant Vibes: A Musical Phenomenon
It’s not too early to start thinking about meaningful and educational holiday gifts for the youngsters in your life! If you haven’t purchased Volume 3 in my Nonny Day Series, Alphabet Excursion and Higgledy-Piggledy (perhaps because you didn’t find sample pages to view on Amazon--a story for another day!), below is what its delightful art … Continue reading The Holiday Season is Closer than You think – Shop Early for the Kids in Your Life (and their Caregivers!)
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Need a Break? Sixteen Minutes to Restore Calmness and Bring Hope
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: How to Keep Standing
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Finding Personal Equilibrium in a Chaotic World
When we feel our gut rumbling, most of us—if we are fortunate enough to have a full pantry—respond by getting something to eat! And when our throat feels parched, we instinctively reach for a drink. But do we recognize hunger and thirst of the soul? Does your spirit just feel like something is missing and … Continue reading Satisfying Hunger and Thirst
My Who Is Jesus Series has included thus far three descriptions of Jesus: ‘the bread of life,’ ‘the light of the world,’ and ‘the door’ or ‘the gate.’ All the descriptions of Jesus that we are examining in this series come from the Gospel of John from God’s Holy Word. Each definition helps us to … Continue reading Who Is Jesus? The Good Shepherd
The seasons of Christmas and Easter are intimately related. Below you will find a video of my song of praise for all seasons, "Sing Hallelujah, Give Him Your Heart." It tells the story of the birth and life of Jesus in a way that is understandable to children as well as adults. Along with the … Continue reading A Song for All Seasons: Sing Hallelujah, Give Him Your Heart
Hello Nonny's Blog Readers! This year I've been pleased to share good times with you as we published the third book in the Nonny Day Series. All three are available for purchase through Amazon, and Volume 2 is on sale right now for under ten dollars.** VOL 1. Sweet Potato Pie, Oh My! VOL. 2 … Continue reading Nonny’s Children’s Books for the Holidays
Below you'll find a fun version of the new interactive song that's a part of my latest children's book. In this video my sweet grandgals perform the song, with the hand signs (and some giggles!) along with one of my daughters, their mom, accompanying on piano. "Higgledy-Piggledy" is a word you can find in your … Continue reading Fun Times Singing Higgledy-Piggledy (video)
Just as the beams from the lamp of a lighthouse cut through the nighttime sky to guide sea vessels safely to shore, so the Bible--God’s Holy Word--provides lamps to help us navigate this journey we call life. Today’s blog post begins a new snippet series. Each entry will be a 'lamp.' And each lamp will … Continue reading Lamps to Help Us See Our Way Through Life
I want to share with you something a friend of mine said recently to me, “The virus is global, but God is universal.” Maybe she was quoting someone. I don’t know. But her words did make me pause to reflect on my belief in a Higher Being and how this belief affects my response to … Continue reading Finding Personal Equilibrium in a Chaotic World
By the spring of 2019, my first musical composition for choir had survived the serious inspection of my church music director. After I had done much editing of the score, my song--whose lyrics and melody had been in a folder for many years prior--was deemed worthy of public performance by his trained eyes and ears. … Continue reading Sing Hallelujah, Give Him Your Heart!
Spring 2019 was a wonderfully fulfilling time for me. I had been working several months on giving music and mini-drama to a formerly tucked-away lyric which told of the birth and life of Jesus in a way understandable to children. I enlisted the music director at my church as my proof-reader and advisor as I … Continue reading A Musical Score Written in God’s Time
I want to share with you something a friend of mine said recently to me, “The virus is global, but God is universal.” Maybe she was quoting someone. I don’t know. But her words did make me pause to reflect on my belief in a Higher Being and how this belief affects my response to … Continue reading Finding Personal Equilibrium in a Chaotic World
Some of you reading my words love the thrill of a roller coaster ride. The speed, the sharp turns, the precipitous dip! But that has never been an adventure I craved. In fact, I have only been on one roller coaster in my entire life, when my husband somehow tricked me into taking leave of … Continue reading Stop the World! I Wanna Get Off!
My older daughter Neva-Marie recently recorded sixteen minutes of her singing and playing piano in her church sanctuary. If you feel you need a sanctuary--a place to go to restore peace and calmness to your anxious spirit--consider watching and perhaps singing along with this video: https://www.facebook.com/111183127836/videos/213626896525012/ Sharing Sacred Songs of EncouragementConnie Carlisle Polley, 2020ConnieCarlislePolley.com
A number of years ago while I was still teaching in the classroom, I told a colleague of mine I was looking for a new family doctor and asked if she would recommend her physician. "Oh, yes," she said. "Dr. Bakula Sheth is my G.P. I'm sure you would like her. She takes time to … Continue reading Doctor, Doctor, I’ve Been Thinking . . .
We are heirs to a kingdom! / Born from on high! / Children of a Mighty King, / That cannot be denied. / We are heirs to a kingdom! / Filled with God's majesty! / Let no one try to hold us down. / We're heirs, you and me!...
A restless son left his Dad's embrace / To live life on his own. / He turned away from his Father's house / And love he once had known. / He fulfilled the dreams of each desire / But still ached with emptiness. / So, regretting wrongs, he went back home / And smiled through tears when his Dad said...
My playful ditty BIONIC NONNY [pronounced NAH'nee} explores the wonderful age of medical miracles in which we live! What surgeons can repair in a broken or degenerate body is amazing! Surgery, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities are certainly not what I think of when I contemplate a pleasant experience or a time of vacation. However, after … Continue reading Bionic Nonny!
We should always be mindful that young children want to be like their parents (or other primary caregivers). That's the message of the following lyric especially for dads of boys. Just as little girls like to walk in the high heels of their moms, little boys relish scooting along in their daddies' seemingly gigantic shoes; … Continue reading Watch Your Step, Daddy
I am happy to be able to share with you a video of the April 14, 2019 premiere of my latest original composition, Sing Hallelujah, Give Him Your Heart. It is a song of praise for all seasons. The Fern Creek Baptist Sanctuary Choir under the direction of Dr. Rocky Hardymon, soloist Greg Bruce, flutist … Continue reading Video of My Latest Song
God’s angels from their creation as heavenly beings down through the ages act as messengers, ministering spirits, and beings of intervention. As messenger, the archangel Michael brought the most astounding news to a Jewish teenage girl that she would be the mother of God’s Son (Luke 1:26-38). As ministering spirits, angels attended to Jesus after … Continue reading Angels Watching, Angels Intervening
This lyric explores the many excuses we give for not showing the Gospel of God’s love to the lonely hearts we encounter every day. The story is based on the Bible’s New Testament parable or illustration of Jesus about a farmer who is sowing seeds. It can be found in the book of Matthew in … Continue reading Plant the Seed
If you can imagine a guitar pickin' country song which pours out grief over a lost love while moving along to an easy tempo, give my modern ballad lyric a read and maybe even a listen should your head and your heart hear a melody which matches its soulfulness. Presenting . . . FOREVER IS … Continue reading Forever Is Such a Long Time
I would like to share with you a Classy Gospel Lyric I've written about putting faith into action, showing that you really believe what you say you do. My lyric is based on the Old Testament story of Joshua who became the leader of the tribes of Israel after the patriarch Moses died. Joshua instructs … Continue reading You Gotta Get Your Feet Wet!
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