A Time to Live
Melody Hendrix
Paintings and Paraphrase by DiVoran Lites
Day 18,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Psalm 103
Beloved,
We forgive all your sins.
We heal all your diseases.
We redeem your daily.
We crown you with love and mercy.
We wrap you in goodness.
We make everything come out all right for you.
We put you back on your feet.
We reveal our plans one step at a time.
We are rich in love.
We are sheer mercy and grace.
We don’t nag and scold.
We don’t hold grudges.
As high as heaven is above the earth so great is our love for you.
We have separated you from your sins.
We threw them in the deepest ocean.
We never go fishing for them.
We don’t want you to go fishing for them either.
We know you inside and out.
Our love is eternal.
We will always be together.
Let your soul rejoice in us.
SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Back to Albuquerque – way back in my day, the airport was not the big event it is today. The airport (appropriately called the Sunport, since it’s over 5300 feet in altitude) shared the runway with Kirtland Air Force Base. The airport building itself was quite different than it is today; quite primitive, but unique. Here is a picture of it, taken with my grandmother. It will give you an idea of the “Southwest” look it had.
No jetways then – one had to climb a set of stairs to get into the airplane.
There was a “wall” made out of New Mexico stone, that was really beautiful. And after I was old enough to drive, my girlfriends and I would drive to the airport, sit on that wall, and watch the airplanes take off and land. It made for very inexpensive but wonderful evening entertainment. I’m not even sure the wall is still there. And since 2001 and 9/11, I suspect security wouldn’t let anyone sit on that wall and watch the airplanes come and go anymore. Pity.
As a kid – and then a teenager – we used to enjoy driving from Albuquerque up to the mountains, sometimes to Sandia Crest (tops out at 10,678 feet in altitude). It was a bit harrowing at times – the road was quite twisty and curvy, and it wasn’t such a great road back in that day. Today it is a lovely road – still some twists and curves, but not as nerve-wracking as it was then. And even in July, the temperature up there can be as low as 28º in the daytime! Take a jacket!
After Fred and I married and moved away, a fish restaurant was built along the way up the mountain. My mother and family/friends would drive up there for a Sunday meal after church. When Fred and I visited, we were able to go with them to Bella Vista Fish Restaurant. Granted it was fried fish, but it was an all-you-can-eat place, and we most certainly ate our way through the meal! It was great! Unfortunately, it is no more. The original owners died, the children took over, but made it into a sports bar – and the patrons just didn’t take to it that well. So it went under. We were sorry to see it go.
Just one more memory. I’ve mentioned before that my father had one lone peach tree in our back yard that he babied. He would wrap it in cheesecloth each year, so the birds couldn’t get to the fruit. It produced some of the biggest, sweetest peaches I’ve ever eaten! Mother would cut some up, freeze them for pies later, or make fresh-frozen jam out of them. Delicious! But one other type of pies she would make were cherry pies – and they were the best! We would drive out to the North Valley to Bosque Farms to pick our own cherries. I remember doing that a number of times. We would pick what we wanted, and probably paid by the pound or basket. Mother had a cherry “picker” in that it would dig out the seed as one turned the handle. So we would de-seed the cherries, mother would freeze some them for pies later on, and then would make a pie. Daddy loved it. Especially with hand-packed, home made ice cream from Fitzgerald’s on Central Avenue! We stopped every Sunday for the ice cream to go with the pie mother had made. WOW!!
Oh my, what memories those are for me. This is such a fun trip down memory lane for me.
See you next time.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Janet Perez Eckles
Why does bad news come at the worst times? A while back, I sat at my computer, my fingers dancing on the keyboard when hubby walked in. “You won’t believe this…but it’s 95% certain I can’t go.”
He’s got to be kidding! We planned this vacation for a year; it was paid for in full. We looked forward to a bit of rest, a little distraction, fun times to renew our body and soul. This time away was God’s gift to us. Really, it was.
“You’ll have to find someone else to take my place,” he said.
I hate these kind of surprises. I blew out a long breath and, dropped my head on the back of my chair. Why does life have to be complicated by broken plans?
Maybe you’re going through that right now. Not something insignificant as spoiled vacations. But maybe someone let you down. Or maybe the answer you received left you numb with shock. Or even worse, what you thought would work, just ended in disaster.
But sadly we add to the disaster when we, on our own, try to swallow our pain, hold our chin up and attempt to deal with life’s disappointments.
We can’t. Rather, what we can do is look up and read the message that God writes with His love, bringing the bright side of any disappointment because each could be His new appointment. Those broken plans become His opportunity to bring new, better ones.
And here’s His reason: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
In His ways, a better path is revealed. In His path, a new direction appears. And in His way of thinking victory is in the horizon.
Pray with me: Father, I release my broken heart, my disappointment, and I welcome the solution and wait in expectation at your hand at work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
What disappointment in your life will become God’s opportunity to do great things?
Hey friends, can you give me your feedback? Do you want me to include the prayer for you and the questions at the end? Or do you prefer shorter inspirational truths?
I delight in meeting your expectations.
Janet
Source: The bright side of disappointment. ~ Janet Perez Eckles
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
(But what you think, You are)
Now that is controversial,
and truly is confusing.
You are toying with my thinking,
But I do find it amusing.
If I think that I am coping
with the problems of old age,
And truly believe that my life
is not ruled by a calendar page,
Then I will continue on my journey-
finding meaning as I go,
Trusting God to teach me
all that He wants me to know.
It never ceases to amaze me
when I think about the past.
The trials never seemed to end-
While the good times went so fast.
Everything in life happens for a reason.
God wants to conform us to the image of His Son.
When confronted with life’s problems,
Remember, the battle has already been won.
A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 11 (Sunday Oct.9, 2016)
Weather Note: The temperature this morning when I awoke was 38° with a high forecast for today of 60° at 3:00 pm. I’m sure glad I brought jeans, heavy long sleeved shirts and a windbreaker on this trip. They sure will come in handy for the next few days.
My first stop this morning was to visit the Liberty Aviation Museum located in Port Clinton, OH. This was a small museum, with only about eight beautifully restored airplanes. They also had a variety of nicely restored military vehicles as part of their collection, and this was the home of the Art Deco styled Tin Goose Diner.
Next, I headed east for a visit to the Sandusky Maritime Museum located in Sandusky, OH. This was another very small museum, consisting of local maritime memorabilia and a couple of outside boat exhibits. I didn’t spend a lot of time at this museum.
Down the road a ways, I visited the Mad River Railroad Museum located in Bellevue, OH. Here again, this was a very small museum consisting of local railroad memorabilia. However, they did have several nicely restored pieces of rolling stock. I have been amazed to discover, how much railroad activity there was in Ohio during the steam engine hey-day of the 1920s through the 1950s.
Across the street from the Mad River Railroad Museum, was a large beautiful church that I just had to get a picture of. Its architecture reminded me of many smaller castles had seen in Europe.
As I headed east, out of Bellevue, I spotted a small sign on the side of the rural road advertising the Historic Lyme Village Museum. I had miles to go today, and didn’t have time to stop to see what the museum was all about. I Googled the museum later, and discovered the Historic Lyme Village and museum depict life in the Firelands (Northwest Territory-1787) of the first settlers (from Connecticut) in the early 1800s.
Next on the list for today, was a visit to the NASA’s Glenn Research Center located on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio. The guard at the gate informed me that the museum is not open to the public except for monthly one-day tours, which had to be made on the Internet ahead of time.
As I was leaving the Glenn Research Center, I passed the 100th Bomb Group Restaurant and decided to stop and use their restroom. I wish I’d had time to stay for a meal at this aviation themed restaurant, which salutes World War II heroes, and gives their guests a view of the Cleveland/Hopkins International Airport runway while they eat.
I headed east again, to visit the International Women’s Air & Space Museum located, on the shores of Lake Erie, just to the northeast of the city of Cleveland, OH. As it turned out the Browns vs. Patriots football game was being played in the Cleveland Browns Stadium, about a half a mile to the west of the museum. Several of the roads in the area were blocked to traffic, and every parking lot within a ½-mile radius of the stadium was full by the time I got to the museum. They had even closed the museum and locked the building, because of the deluge of after game people, trying to use their restroom that had created horrible problems for the museum in the past. I was disappointed not to be able to visit this museum, as I was curious about how women have been portrayed in the Air & Space rolls by this museum.
Next I tried to visit the USS Cod (SS-224) Submarine Museum, just down the street from the International Women’s Air & Space Museum, but was again disappointed to find that this museum had also been closed because of the crowds attending the Browns vs. Patriots football game.
I had noticed a sign for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Museum, as I was heading for the USS Cod Museum, and thought I would see if I could find it. However, I had made too many turns, on too many streets, and could not find it. I was however, able to find the following photo and (interesting historical marker) on the internet.
So, I just headed for tonight’s motel located in Warrensville Heights, OH.
After I got checked in at the motel, I headed off in search of a restaurant for dinner tonight. I ended up having Baby Back Ribs, sweet potato, and green beans at the Applebee’s Restaurant down the road a ways, in the little town of Bedford, OH. There was more than enough left over for another meal tomorrow evening. Yummm!
—–To Be Continued—–
A Time to Live
Melody Hendrix
There is a revelation of God in creation. His gospel is written in everything. As far back as I remember, I have been deeply connected to nature and the outdoors. As a child and even as an adult, stepping outside in nature was like arriving on an amazing planet. I am filled with awe and wonderment of the beauty and mystery before me. I run to explore everything great and small within my reach. I feel the presence of my Creator filling my soul with every breath. I almost hear His footsteps running with open arms to greet me. My spirit wide awake open to every morsel of knowledge and beauty I can possibly soak up. All my senses are alive with the sight, smell, sound and touch of God’s Holy presence. A combination of inner peace and excitement comes over me. I fearlessly start exploring and unfolding the mysteries of all that surrounds me. When something catches my attention, I open my eyes, not only to see the common, but to see beyond that, to understand its role in the perfect workings of nature. What is its life story? Where does it fit in for the human race?
I believe everything we need to live, heal and survive, God has put on this earth for us. He gave us a mind to figure out the purpose of each entity and how to use it for good and not evil. Instead of treading on nature and destroying everything beneath our feet with no regard for it’s real worth, we must understand that it is Holy and is needed to sustain us. And some things are even simply for our pleasure. We live like we have another planet to go to after we trash this one. I plead that we honor our Father’s precious gifts of earth and sky. Please don’t let our Godly gift be packaged and artificial as it seems to be transforming into. I pray our natural resources will not be traded for money or poisoned by greed. And I pray our future generations can look away from their electronics and know what is real.
Painting and Paraphrase by DiVoran Lites
Day 17
Always
Psalm 103
Beloved,
Don’t hesitate to ask others to pray for you.
They will be honored.
Each of you prays in your own way, but
You are one with Me and with each other.
Some ask me what and how to pray.
Some lay out every detail to fend off mistakes.
Some pray and walk away, leaving it all in My hands.
Some begin to thank me right away that the prayer is answered.
When two or three gather together to pray, your hearts beat in the same rhythm.
Jesus prays too.
He says to His Father,
It’s time for our family to know beyond any doubt that they are ours.
Our joy is completed in them.
Guard them from the evil one.
Make them whole.
Let them become of one heart and one mind.
SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
I can remember going to Carlsbad Caverns as a family. It was fascinating! I especially remember standing with a large group of tourists in a huge cavern, and the lights were turned off. It was so dark and black that I, literally, could not see my hand in front of my face. I know, because I tried to see it – and couldn’t! And then the guide lit one match, and it was light enough to see everyone in the group. Astounding! My Aunt Jessie had always said that she would never go to the Caverns. Why? Because she was convinced that the day she went – it would cave in! Guess what? She died in 1990 – without ever having gone to the caverns – and the caverns are still standing! She had some funny superstitions.
Another fun memory is that of going to White Sands National Park. It is near Las Cruces, New Mexico, and also near the White Sands Missile Range. It was such fun for my brother and me to romp around in the white sands. The entire area looks like a desert, with the sands shifting and moving around – but the sand is sugar-white, not tan or brown as one usually sees a desert. The sand is made up of gypsum and calcium sulfate, and thus reflects the sun, rather than absorb the heat. And because it is at high elevation, with high evaporation, the sand is cool to the touch. Really a neat thing to see. These are some pictures taken of my grandmother and others back in the 1950’s. I think it’s hilarious to see them dressed up so much – to go walk in the sand dunes!
As an outing, my family would frequently drive around the state, to see what we could see. We would drive to Isleta Pueblo, just 15 miles south of Albuquerque. We crossed the Rio Grande River to get there. It was a fascinating place to see.
Credit Google Search
Lots of interesting information on the sign
Credit Google Search
Or we would drive to the Santo Domingo Pueblo (now Kewa Pueblo), on our way to Santa Fe. It’s about 25 miles southwest of Santa Fe, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. They had some wonderful turquoise jewelry there and other Native American artifacts. This trading post looks very much like I remember.
Credit Google Search and NCPTT
Another fascinating place to go and explore was Bandelier National Monument. It is near Los Alamos, New Mexico. I remember climbing up hand-made ladders into some of the dwellings dug out of the cliffs. It was grand fun for a kid like me.
Credit Google Search and Wikimedia Commons
Credit Google Search and YouTube
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Janet Perez Eckles
(March 3, 2017)
Who, me? It’s not my fault…we sometimes want to say. Blaming someone else for our sorry situation can be so tempting. When we mess up, pointing at another promises to be the easy way out.
That’s what the Israelites did.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14: 10-14)
Have you ever complained like that? I have. Goodness gracious, where is Moses when we need him? Deep into our own struggles, we end up terrified like the Israelites. We grumble in the hot desert of frustration. And as we trudge through the dry land of conflict, of uncertainty and nervousness, we desperately look to be rescued.
But no one is there to do the rescuing. And when peace is gone, like those Egyptians, stress and anxiety come after us, threatening to ruin our day.
But should Moses show up in the midst of social media frenzy, He might use tweets to remind us: “The Lord will fight our battles; all we have to do is be still.”
That’s because in the still of God’s presence is when our nights know His peace. In the still of our heart is when His whisper brushes through. And in the still of the moment is when we see His promises come alive.
Can you tell me, in the midst of your hectic life, what keeps you from being still?
Janet
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Source: The secret to peace is in the still of the moment. | Janet Perez Eckles
Old Things R New 