Every once in a while, everything just seems to fall into place, such as: you’ve had the house on the market for months and months….and then all-of-a-sudden, the right buyer appears, the house is sold, and you move out. Just like that. Click…click…click, just like clockwork, the timing is perfect.
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Or, when you are writing a blog to post, nothing seems to be forth-coming.
Then, all-of-a-sudden, an idea pops into your head, and you can’t get the words out fast enough. Click…click…click, just like clockwork, the timing is perfect.
Coincidence? Hardly. That’s God’s hand at work. And it’s amazing – and I’m sure frustrating – that we don’t recognize it for what it is.
My brother, Bill, wrote about that:
So when we do take advantage of that opportunity, and recognize it for God’s perfect timing, then we can express our thanks to Him and know that He has blessed us, indeed.
There is absolutely NOTHING in this life that feels so right as being in the perfect timing of God’s Will. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn. She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”
OBEDIENCE… What a hard word that one is. We have to obey our parents when we are young. We have to obey our teachers in school. We have to obey our boss. We have to obey the rules of the road – that one can be really dangerous if we don’t obey them!!
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There are rules in the military.
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There are even rules in the games we play!
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We keep thinking, “I’m the master of my own self! Why do I have to obey anyone?” But it just doesn’t work that way, does it? No man is an island… isn’t that what the bard said? Well, it’s true.
So many people criticize Christianity as being a “crutch” for life. I hate to disappoint them, but they have some sort of crutch as well. Their crutch can be a job, a spouse, a significant other, money – or love of it, booze, drugs, etc. And if depending upon God and His love requires my obedience to survive in this world is my “crutch” – then I’m all in. Fortunately, God’s “yoke” is very easy and light. He gives us so much leeway in what we do, and all He asks is that we let Him take our heart’s desire and turn it His way. Have you noticed that, when you become God’s child, that your desires change? You no longer want to do those things you did before. They frequently become distasteful to you, so you stop doing them. You want to please God with your actions.
My brother, Bill wrote about obedience. Here are his thoughts:
Obey His commands. What does that mean? Jesus was asked that very question in Matthew 22:37-39. Jesus answered the Pharisees: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
In other words, if we keep our eyes on God, then everything else falls into place. Obedience to God becomes easy. Not that everything we do on this earth will be easy, but with God’s help, obedience to Him becomes our life’s goal.
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Was the recent eclipse of the sun overrated? Some say it was. Others identified it as another sign that the end times are closer than ever. Either way, if we focus on each sign, we lose sight of what truly matters. We miss the preparation of our soul for the return of Jesus.
Here’s a list of eight questions to see if you’re ready for the end times.
Who do you think Jesus is? If you believe in a religion, in myths, in the world’s ways, in New Age notions or in yourself as a good person, or believe Jesus is merely a good teacher, you won’t be part of the victorious ending. However, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved…” (Romans 10:9-10).
Each day that passes draws us closer to His return, the decision you make today will determine the place in which you’ll spend for eternity.
Are you alert? As a saved Christian, you possess the wisdom to know how to rebuke Satan’s attacks which are increasing with fury. As you prepare, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
He won’t devour you because in Christ Jesus, you have the power to rebuke, reject and defeat all his attacks.
Are you carrying the burdens of your personal life and that of the world? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
A soul that rests in Him has no room for anxiety, fear or worry.
When persecution becomes more intense, can you find new strength in the Lord? “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29).
That new strength isn’t just for one moment, that power isn’t for one season, but you’ll soared on wings like eagles until that day when Jesus returns.
As days get darker, do you rely in God’s provision as Paul declared? “…this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
His riches are indeed glorious because they have nothing to do with your bank account, or the economy or financial security.
Do you know that His love is unshakeable even in the midst of wars, earthquakes, floods, inflation, fires or violence? “And nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
Because of Christ’s love, you’re truly invincible.
When the signs of His return become more frequent, do you receive what Jesus offers? “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
Signs will appear, conflict will intensify, evil will attack, but God’s peace within you will remain.
Do you listen to the media or to the main voice of the Savior? “All who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:33).
God has a plan. He has a purpose. And He executes each detail in precise and perfect timing. And while riding on the train of trust, we obey, expect, believe and wait in beautiful expectation. With Christ Jesus living in us, we anticipate that day when tears will dry, pain will cease, worry will end, joy will explode, peace will permeate, and victorious glory will be ours.
Let’s pray.
Father, thank You for the freedom we have to look beyond the circumstances of this world and fix our eyes on Your return with hearts filled with expectation and beautiful hope.
Celebrate with me! My new release, Now I See: How God’s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining Joy won the 2023 Memoir of the Year Golden Scroll Award.
You and I are only a click away. You can use this CONTACT FORM to leave your prayer request, make a comment, ask a question, or invite me to speak to your group. Or simply reply to this email.
I also invite you to visit my WEBSITE. You’ll find more inspirational blogs along with my story, books, and videos. You’ll also learn the passion and mission of JC Empowerment ministries.
Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR
Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.
I’ve battled with the flu for the past week. It finally took me down Wednesday night and kept me in a daze of fever, coughing, sore throat, and exhaustion. During one of those restless nights, I found myself asking “Why?”. It was a general why, not relating to any specific topic. As I lay in bed half asleep, half awake I began to think about how many times God must hear that question every day. It must be screamed, whispered, cried thousands, millions of times a day.
The magnificent thing about God is that He can bear to be questioned. He can hear every cry, and recognize every voice in the constant cacophony lifted up to Him. He understands what we are asking even when we don’t comprehend it ourselves.
The challenge we face as humans comes when we expect a response right away, and we usually expect a specific response. How many times have we missed God’s answer because it didn’t fit the parameters we set? Have you quit crying out to God because you didn’t feel heard, or didn’t receive a response? Do you feel like your cries are hopeless? Some prayers may go unanswered for years. Some questions may not have answers this side of heaven. That doesn’t mean we should give up crying out? Sometimes a simple “why” can lead to so much more than you dreamed.
It’s Sunday night as I finish this off and I’m still running a fever. I don’t know why I’ve been sick this long when I rarely get more than a sniffle, but I do know that God has given me time to rest, to set aside work, volunteering, writing, studying, and everything else that fills my days. I know that God has a bigger plan that I cannot see and I’m trusting in Him to answer that subconscious why from my restless night when the timing is right.
We enjoyed our winter in Florida. There were many “if only days,” as in if only Florida was always like this I would never want to leave. Mild days and brisk nights, and lots of sunshine. Those winters don’t come too often. But as spring approached, we felt a case of Spring fever coming on.
We planned to head for the North Carolina mountains the first of April, then our daughter had the opportunity of a mini-vacation with a college friend. We extended our time to pet sit our granddog, Ollie.
We had a few blips in our travel plans, but the day came when everything fell into place and we were on our way.
We had checked the weather forecasts for our route and it appeared we would be able to scoot between the rain showers of an approaching cold front. And if we hadn’t been held up by a traffic issue, we would have succeeded. Instead we ended up at the Buc-ees in St Augustine with screeching tornado warnings on our phones. I suggested we go into the store and wait out the warnings before getting gas, but oh no.. my man decided we should pump the gas first.
Photo Credit: Wil C. Fry Flickr
Once we were north of Jacksonville, Florida the rains cleared and we were treated to this beautiful and unusual looking rainbow.
I’m sure spring is beautiful everywhere but to this Florida raised woman, spring in the mountains is glorious. The color of the budding trees is so fresh and clean and when the sun shines just right the leaves seem to glow.
We spent the next two weeks settling back into our mountain house. I still had Christmas decoration to put away! Then we had some pesky doctor appointments to keep.
My tablet curates photos each day and one morning it curated pictures taken in the Great Smoky Mountain National park during the spring two years ago. We decided to make haste and drive up to the park asap.
The weather at our house was chilly with clear skies. Since the temperature in the national park can be 10-15 degrees cooler we tossed a couple of jackets in the truck. A light one and a heavier one, because you never know.
When we entered the park via route 441, the skies were clear and the trees as beautiful and we hoped.
We hadn’t gone very far before this happened.
A few years ago elk were reintroduced into the park. We always look forward to seeing them but didn’t expect to see them early in the day. To our surprise quite a few were lounging in the woods near the road. We were glad they were lounging and not crossing the road. In the fog, that could have been an unpleasant experience.
US route 441 connects Cherokee, North Carolina with Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I think the drive is about 35 miles. At the line between the two states is Newfound Gap, a beautiful overlook. We always stop even though we have been there numerous times, it is still beautiful to us. Plus, it has restrooms. It was damp and cold so I didn’t snap a picture of the overlook. I did take a couple of pictures of the woods next to the restrooms. The world famous Appalachian trail passes through here. I am thinking the hikers appreciate the restrooms!.
One of the oddities of the park is that the weather can be completely different on each side. Once we crossed into Tennessee, the fog rolled off. The car in front of us was driving rather slow. As I looked closer, I saw a sign atop the vehicle proclaiming it to be a student driver car.I can not imagine learning to drive on a winding and steep mountain road.
There wan’t much traffic and we had nothing but time so I suggested my husband drop back so as to not make the student nervous. We followed the student the rest of the way into Pigeon Forge where the driver became more confident on a flat road and we parted ways.
We stopped in Pigeon Forge for lunch, then did some shopping. My husband browsed in Bud’s sporting goods store, then we drove into Sevierville to get gas at the newest and largest (so far) Buc-ees.
After that, my sweet husband was tiring and we retraced our drive back towards GSMNP. ( side note-my phone glitched and wouldn’t work. No access to the map app!)Before leaving Pigeon Forge we stopped at my husband’s oh so favorite place, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. He felt sure that sugar and caffeine would energize him. (I finally figured out the phone problem.)
The glazed ones were Hot and Ready.
Of course, the coffee necessitated a stop once again at Newfound Gap. While waiting on husband, I took a few pictures.
Late afternoon.
Nothing special about the picture below. I liked the contrast of the yellow flowers with the still brown trees.
Tired but happy.
As we drew near to the southern exit of the park, we were on the lookout for elk. Late afternoons they can be seen grazing in a field or even next to the road. We had just said that we didn’t think we would see them today when around a curve, we saw this one, munching away.
It was a good day.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I’m a general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
True leisure enters your soul when wisdom wins your heart and revelation breaks in.
When you follow good counsel, divine design will watch over you, and understanding will protect you from making poor choices. It will rescue you from evil in disguise and those who speak duplicities.
Photo Credit:Pixabay
DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn. She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”
What does that word mean to you? The New World dictionary defines trust as: firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing. A secondary definition is: confident expectation. How does that fit your definition?
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Have you ever trusted someone with a “secret” only to have that secret spread around and get out of control? How did that make you feel? Did you feel like you could “trust” that person with anything personal again? Most likely not.
My brother, Bill, wrote his thoughts on this:
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
This week, Jews around the world are celebrating Passover. This is a celebration in remembrance of the final plague God poured out on the Egyptians when Pharaoh refused to set the Israelites free from captivity. The Israelites were told to take a lamb into their household and care for it for four days. On that fourth day, at twilight, the lambs were to be killed and their blood used to paint the sides and tops of their door frames. God then detailed the meal they were to eat that night, including the meat of the sacrificed lamb. During the night, while the Israelites slept, protected by the blood on their doorways, all the firstborns in Egypt were killed.
This is a story that many use to question God’s loving nature. It’s hard to understand how God can not only allow, but bring, death to a nation when all we focus on is His loving nature. God is also a God of justice, and those who do not follow His way will face judgment. During their years in Egypt, the Israelites went from a welcomed family, to an expanding population, to slaves, and even a threat to the Egyptian way of life. Forty years before this first Passover, Pharaoh had commanded that all Israelite baby boys be killed in order to squash the growing population. It’s no coincidence that Moses, the man sent to seek freedom from Pharaoh, was one of those babies that should have been killed, but God had a plan for him and made a way for Moses to be protected.
There is so much false information, misinformation, and disinformation, floating around in the world. Depending on what side of politics you fall on, which religion you follow, what country you live in, and what celebrity you follow, that is how many people decide what they believe is the truth. That becomes confusing, though, if you follow a particular celebrity who says one thing but acts out another. Or if you believe in the campaign speeches of your party, but when they are in office, they do the exact opposite of what they said.
How, then, can we find truth? “Jesus answered, “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” ~ John 14:6
After the first sin in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve hid from God because they were ashamed of their nakedness. The very first blood sacrifice came through God killing animals to make clothes for His children. From that time on, blood sacrifices were required to cleanse our souls from sin. The more this was done, though, I have to believe it had less meaning to the people. As with religious traditions today, many do them because it is habit or obligation more than from a deep sense of understanding, reverence, and repentance.
God chose to send His Son, Jesus, to Earth, specifically for the purpose of becoming our sacrificial lamb. He bore the humiliation and pain of death on a cross so that those who believe in Him and call Him Savior can be set free from the curse of sin.
“‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’” ~John 18:37
It may have become customary to buy a lamb for sacrifice, but for a man to lay down his life saying, “God lay all the blame on me. Take away their punishment and place it on me.” That isn’t something that can be taken for granted. Jesus was fully human, even as He was fully God. He struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane with what He knew lay ahead of Him. He prayed for another way, but He accepted and submitted to the will of God, His Father.
Not only did Jesus accept that death, He followed through on the promises He had spoken on several times, both in private with His disciples and in public. He promised the temple would be torn down but then rebuilt in three days. He told them He would die, but would rise again in three days. He did this and now, those who follow Him are the temple. We carry His Spirit inside our hearts. He is no longer contained to the Holy of Holy of the old Jewish Temple.
That is the example of truth I choose to live my life by.
Your extravagant kindness makes me want to follow your words even more!
Teach me how to make good decisions,
And give me revelation light, for I believe in your commands.
Before I was humbled, I always used to wander astray,
But now I see the wisdom of your words.
Everything you do is beautiful, flowing from your goodness;
Teach me the power of your wonderful words.
Photo Credit:Pixaba
DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn. She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”
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Old Things R New 