Archive by Author

Six secrets for inner peace. A post to calm your heart.

13 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Six secrets for inner peace. A post to calm your heart.

Reblogged January 13, 2018

 

What do you do when impossible situations steal your peace? I have experienced enough of them to know.

New friends ask me, “Being blind, how do you put on your make-up?”

They also ask me, “How do you coordinate your clothes? I could never do it.”

My answer is simple…

“Although I need no light or a mirror, I apply it in the dark. Feeling the eyelid to determine what colors to brush, I do it carefully.”

It’s a routine task for me. After living with complete blindness for 30 years, I’ve had lots of practice. So much so that I often forget my limitations. I guess that’s good.

But what’s not so good is that I also forget to give myself enough time to get ready when going out. I have to pry myself from endless tasks. At the last minute, I rush around like a crazy woman. I hop in the shower, slip on my robe and dash into my walk-in closet. Frantically, I slide hangers, looking for any outfit to wear.

How do I do this with no sight? I have an easy method.

When I purchase an item, I store in my memory its characteristics—the texture, the shape of the neckline, buttons or length of sleeve. One light touch tells me what the item is.

But when I’m in a hurry, trying to find the right outfit gets a bit tough. Not because I can’t see, but because I just have too many clothes. Way more than any blind gal should be allowed to have. The bar holding all those hangers is probably sagging from the weight!

Oh, how my jammed closet resembles my life—full of tasks of all kinds and sizes. That’s because we’re crazy busy women, and have no choice. Because we have lots of people to please, don’t we?

I started that mindset as a young girl, I tried to perform to win my parents’ and teachers’ approval. Later on, I wanted to please my husband, my kids, my employer, and my friends. Phew! I thought that the only way to please myself was by pleasing them.

Have you been there?

The pleasing craze explodes during holiday season. We rush through life eager to make someone happy. And the level of stress and tension rises like the thermometer in Orlando’s summer.

But now that the holidays are behind us, an invitation to begin a good new year is calling us. Whether you have snow or not, how about if we vow to cool off. God never meant us to live in the heat of tension. He gave one pretty refreshing directive: “Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind” (Matthew 22:36-37).

When life sags from the weight of countless tasks, obeying His greatest commandment is the key to peaceful success.

Really? So how do we do that?

Here’s a suggestion.

Early In the morning as we slide our feet into our slippers, this is what should play in our head: Loving God means receiving His peace. And when the world robs it, here are six secrets to bring back His peace:

  1. Inviting Him into our day.
  2. Drawing wisdom from His word to place the correct order to our priorities.
  3. Presenting Him with our to-do list for His approval.
  4. Giving thanks in advance for glitches we know He will resolve.
  5. Inviting into our day moments of silence in His presence to refuel our energy.
  6. Inhaling the aroma of His reassurance for calmness.

Deviating from His ways equals burnout. But obeying His greatest commandment ushers in wisdom: To arrange priorities; to press forth when fatigued; to bring clarity when confused; to be calm when overwhelmed; and to know the warmth of His love.

The love that sparks a desire to please Him. To receive His rest. And to know His peace because “It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know He enjoys giving rest to those He loves?” (Psalm 127:2, the Message Bible).

Let’s pray.

Father when impossible situations bring on stress rather than peace, grant me wisdom to stop and to invite your peace back into my heart. And in that calmness, may You be the one who reigns and occupies the main place. In Jesus name, amen.

What has robbed your peace lately?

__________________

Janet

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

 

Source: Six secrets for inner peace. A post to calm your heart. ~ Janet Perez Eckles

 

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

What an honor it would be for me to delight those who attend your women’s gatherings, retreats, church congregation or corporate events. Here are some of the TOPICS you can choose from.

REFERRAL PROGRAM: And don’t forget, you can earn a percentage of my speaking fee when a booked event is a direct result of your referral.

Tags: , ,

Persevere

12 Jan

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

 

 

If ever I wanted to loosen my tongue-
And speak out to those who are young,
It is now.

Please be patient.
Don’t give up in despair.
Our Lord has a plan for your life.
Trust He is always there.

Keep looking up –
God wants the best for you.
Follow your dream
And trust that it will come true!

 

Tags:

Road Trip~ Denver, Colorado to Pagosa Springs, Colorado

11 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

Day 9, September 15, 2017

We enjoyed our road trip to Denver, but this morning we were excited to begin the next segment of our journey, a week’s stay at a condo in Pagosa Springs! This trip began back in the spring during a conversation with our friend, Pam.She has a timeshare and occasionally she has points and no plan on where she would like to travel and it just so happened that we had a slight windfall of cash and wanted to take a road trip. I told her that if she had timeshare points to use, we had funds! After looking at several locations, Pagosa Springs was a good fit for both of us. She and our daughter could fly to Denver and hubby and I, not a fan of flying would drive our truck.

Hurricane Irma update: Before we left the hotel, our daughter checked to see if the power was back on in her home. It wasn’t, but there was hope that maybe by the end of the day.

We decided to avoid the interstate and once we were clear of Denver, began our journey south on US 285.  The ride was pleasant and as the scenery was new to us, the time flew. Pam’s daughter who mountain climbs with her husband had advised us to look for an outfitter store to purchase Acli-Mate for our daughter’s altitude sickness. Since she was still feeling queasy, we were on the look out for one.  I really wish I could remember the name of the small town where we stopped. It had a tiny outfitter’s store but it was filled with supplies. I think the name of the shop had the words Eagle Claw in them so if anyone is familiar with the area, I would love to know the name. We were in luck! The store had individual packets of Acli-Mate  upfront at the register. While Rebekah paid for them, I decided a bathroom break was a good idea. I was a little hesitant, though, wondering how clean the bathroom might be. To my surprise it was not only very clean but had the best reading material! One whole wall was shelved and held a magazine for any type of outdoor sport one could think of, all neatly laid out. I wish I had taken a picture, but it just seemed wrong.

Once we were back on the road, we began looking for a place to have our picnic lunch.  We found a park with picnic tables, but were irritated to read a sign requiring a daily use fee.  After grumbling, we decided to ignore the fee as we weren’t going to be using any other portion of the park. It was windy with a chill in the air so we chose a table in the sun.

 

 

Landscape

 

Our drive south took us through the Pike and San Isobel Forest, then the Rio Grande National Forest and they were beautiful.

 

By robert thigpen from diboll, texas (Stony Pass roadUploaded by PDTillman) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Finally, we made it to our home for the week! Wyndham, Pagosa Springs.

 

Our Unit

 

Once we had unloaded the truck, the ladies headed out to Wal-Mart to pick up some grocery items for breakfast. By the time we returned it was dark and an unexpected visitor had surprised my husband as he glanced out the sliding glass door. I’m glad he was able to capture this picture.

 

Just checking out the new neighbors!

 

We made it an early night as we had big plans for the next day, here is a hint.

 

Tags: , , , ,

If you have already found happiness, DO NOT OPEN THIS

6 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

 

 

Reblogged January 6, 2018

 

If you have already found happiness, DO NOT OPEN THIS.

 

January 5, 2018

Gotta love this friend. She made me laugh with her story.

While a favorite cake I made baked in the oven, I put my feet up and began reading a print catalog. I saw an item that interested me.

In order to see the photo a bit larger, I simply touched the picture. I expected it would load additional info with a larger picture.

Nothing happened. So, I touched it a few more times until I realized DUH! It’s not going to load anything else. It can’t load. It’s not digital…it’s print!

I laughed, and you might have, too. But how often you and I have done the very same thing? We’ve tried and tried to enlarge God’s love.

When the ugliness of life turns dark and tears soak our pillow, we want God to be large enough to ease our sorrow. We want to enlarge His power to quickly erase our heartache. And we definitely want to increase His understanding of the yuckiness of our situation.

Who visits me now?

Then we go to the next stage. Self-pity visits and settles besides us on the couch of life, and biting our lower lip because happiness left us, we so desperately wish His voice to be big enough to bring it back. Or at least loud enough to order our gloom to go away.

I know this first hand because I’ve been there. At 31, enjoying my role as a Mom to my 3-, 5–, and 7-year-old sons, an intruder came and robbed my happiness. It was called Retinitis Pigmentosa. The dreaded hereditary disease dropped a black curtain over my days, leaving me completely blind.

Desperation, not a nice sensation.

And in that darkness, I furiously wanted to tap the surface of my faith and make God large, super large to look down upon me and say, “I’m big enough to grant relief to your pain. I will give your sight back.”

But He didn’t. And so, I went to bed with wrinkled tissue in hand, trying to suppress my cries, hoping my husband wouldn’t hear his blind wife sob her night away.

Hubby didn’t hear me, and apparently, God didn’t either. He seemed small, distant, and aloof to my heartache.

Give me the end of the story.

So, what happened? Some of you have already read my books and know the rest of my story. But let me remind you that the light shone in my heart when I took a long sigh and got quiet, really quiet.

Since my eyes stopped working, my hearing became sharper. With earphones securely on, I listened to God’s Word. It was His voice speaking to me. So clearly, he repeated the verse in the book of Matthew.

He said that I was more than a fool. I was first looking to see again. I was obsessed in being a “normal” person. I sought first to be a sighted Mom and wife. But His Word was saying, stop that nonsense. Instead, seek me first. And guess what! All the stuff you’re looking for will be added to you. (This is not a quote from the Bible, but rather, my bold paraphrase and interpretation of Matthew 6:33.)

Taking action.

And so, I did. I put on my eyeglasses of obedience and began my search…of Him. In doing so, I stepped back and realize that my blindness was no match to the size of His provision. My darkness was insignificant compared to the brightness of His light.

Then all turned around. All fit perfectly where it belonged. No more desperately seeking to see again. The eyes of my heart saw His promises with 20/20 spiritual vision. What glory!

Now what?

How sweet the truth that God is already large enough to conquer anything. That’s why my seeking never stopped. Today I seek Him, with fervor, with diligence, with passion, and with expectation.

Joy has been visiting each night, Hubby’s respect and admiration repeats each time he says he loves me. My sons grew up strong, capable and loving.

And the things God said He would add…well, He multiplied them instead.

How about you?

I write these lines because He’s probably whispering the same to you: What in the world are you seeking? Are you searching what this world cannot hold? What it cannot give you. Or what it cannot answer?

Seek Me, God says. And watch; just watch how powerfully big and mighty I am. Watch what I will do.

Father, keep me humble enough to first and above all seek you. Keep me bold enough to declare the size of your mighty power, perfect enough to meet my every need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • How big is God to you today?
  • And what is first in your “seeking” schedule?

__________________

Janet

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Source: If you have already found happiness, DO NOT OPEN THIS. ~ Janet Perez Eckles

Tags: , ,

Don’t let your age determine your dream!

5 Jan

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

author of Window Wonders

 

 

How Old is Old?
Your mind is not controlled by a
calendar page.
Let your dream be bold
There are blessings as we age.

 

People don’t expect as much from us.
That’s actually a blessing, you know.
When you do come up with “wisdom
from above”
You can stand back and glow.

 

“When we do the best we can,
we never know what miracle is
wrought in our life. or in the life
of another”

Helen Keller

 

.

Tags: , , ,

Turning your New Year’s resolutions into solutions

30 Dec

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

 

 

 

Reblogged December 30, 2017

 

Turning your New Year’s resolutions into solutions.

 

December 29, 2017

I stood by the table piled with my books after addressing a large group at a women’s conference. And right after I autographed her book, a sweet lady squeezed my hand. “Honey, I loved what you shared about what helped you get through the sorrow you experienced,” she said. “I also have known tragedy. But the reason I made it through is because Jesus gave me the answer. He first became my comforter. Then He became my counselor. And He never left me.”

There you have it. The wisdom of a heart turned from pain to peace. She didn’t bother with resolutions. Instead she embraced the ultimate solution that carried her from day to day, from month to month and from year to year.

And as we end this year, while the world is busy talking about their New Year’s resolutions, let’s welcome God’s solution. It’s powerful enough to change our outlook, our heart and our destiny. He promises to be:

  • Our Comforter. When the burden weighs heavy, the load drains, He will whisper to our soul: “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
  • Our Counselor. Who reminds us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-9).
  • Our Captain. When buffeted by rough waters of adversity, His word speaks to our soul: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Father, I look forward to a new year with you by my side. Challenges might come, bad news might increase and problems might multiply. But nothing will alter my security. I trust in your protection as my comforter, my counselor and the captain of my ship in the sea of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What solution from the Lord can you count on in this new year?

Source http://www.janetperezeckles.com/blog/inspiration/turning-youro-new-years-resolutions-solutions.html

Video sneak peek

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Tags:

The Power of Words

29 Dec

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

author of Window Wonders

 

 

Choose your words carefully
for they are powerful. you’ll agree.
They can encourage one’s heart
and turn sadness into glee.

How does one express love?
How do you define it?
It stems from the heart.
There is hope and promise in it.

 

“Colors fade, temples crumble,
empires fall.
but wise words endure”.
Edward Thorndike

 

Words of love
“Therefore comfort one another with these words”
1 Thesalonians 4:18

God gave you a gift of of 86,400 seconds today.
Have you used one to say “Thank you”?

 

Tags: , , ,

I WAS BORN FOR THIS TIME

25 Dec

We are happy to welcome our guest blogger, Patricia Franklin to share a heartwarming story for this blessed Christmas day.

 

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

 

 

 

This is the story of “Belle,” our fearless leader at the crisis center, who always begins the day with prayer time. She began this day, shortly before Christmas, by emotionally saying “I was Born For This Time,” and I need to tell you my story. She begins….

“In the Bible, the story of Esther relates, ‘I was born for this time’.” ….

Belle’s youngest child was 9 months old, when she became quite ill. She went to the doctor, and subsequently other doctors, who found something in her lung. After many tests and many doctors, the diagnosis turned out to be a fatal lung disease.  It was progressing rapidly and there was no cure for her. The doctors said, “We can try medicines and treatments to make you more comfortable, but it will continue to progress into the liver and kidneys and will be fatal.”

She decided against treatments and told her doctor. “No doctor, I have my own way of healing.” She went home and continually prayed… “God, please give me 15 years to raise my son.” So she carried on the best she could, and at the advice of her doctor, she continued to see him for x-rays and prognosis of her condition, but received no medicines or treatments, and continually prayed her prayer to God.

One morning she woke up deathly ill and went to see her doctor, thinking her time was up. He took his time and gave her a thorough examination.  When he was finished he said, “Belle, do you believe in miracles?” She told him, “YES, DOCTOR, I DO.”  He said, “There is no sign of the disease in your body.  You have been healed!”

So she raised her family, and along the way, served in her church and community. Then, with her sister and many volunteers, took over running this faith-based crisis center. 37 years later, although her younger sister passed away from cancer, Belle is still going strong. She very humbly said, “There is a reason God wanted me here for this time. Just like Esther, I was born for this time.”

Yes, the center continues to grow, as the need is greater all the time. We are now serving at least twice as many needy people as we were a few years ago.  I heard Belle say after the prayer meeting, that she had just come from the hospital where she had visited one of our volunteers.  And although, she did not say it, she is known to visit the homeless camps, and help as many people as many ways as she can along the way, with her quiet, competent manner. Yes, Belle, like Esther, you were born for this time. We could not proceed or succeed without you and your wonderful compassionate and caring leadership.

 

Tags: , ,

How to erase loneliness during Christmas

23 Dec

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

 

 

How to erase loneliness during Christmas.

December 15, 2017

Reblogged December 23, 2017

 

In the midst of crowds and Christmas celebrations, our hearts can be lonely until we trust in Christ alone.

Recently at a gathering, a friend shared these episodes of reality.

The bush that Moses encountered was just an ordinary bush until it burned without consuming it. The staff was just a staff until it turned into a snake. The rock was one of many, until Moses struck and water gushed out. The Red Sea was just a body of water until God parted it for His people to cross on dry land. David’s rocks were simple stones, until he used one to defeat Goliath. Mary was a humble peasant girl, until God touched her with a miracle.

See, that’s how it works. Our life may be mundane, until we encounter the wonder of God’s love. Our future might be a series of tomorrows, until the horizon of His riches appears. Our dreams might be elusive, until we believe God’s power at work.

And when it comes to loneliness, it might be a dark emotion, until you lift our eyes to Jesus and grab His hand.

That’s why His birth might be just an event, until we understand the reason. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

__________________

You will find more stories like this one in Janet’s book, Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God’s Fiesta. Your copy filled with inspiration and path to healing waits for you HERE.

Feeling a chill in the air? Janet’s video at the beach is just what you need!

VIDEO SNEAK PEAK

Source  http://www.janetperezeckles.com/blog/erase-loneliness-christmas.html

Tags:

Can You Hear It?

22 Dec

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

author of Window Wonders

 

 

Every day is a blessing from above.
Thank God for His promises.
We thrive on His love!

 

Keep looking up, dear friend.
That’s where your future lies.
I am always spellbound
when I gaze up at the skies.

 

I can hear God whisper,
“I did all this for you.”
The clouds are white and billowy
floating in a sky so blue.

 

Just stand still and listen.
God’s promises have no end.
“I wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year my friend.”

 

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →