From the Heart
Louise Gibson
People need people-
It’s embedded in our soul.
But to be contented when by yourself
Is a God-given role.
” My peace I give to you”,
proclaims the Lord of Glory”.
Christ is our sufficiency.
It’s an oft-repeated story.
Christ advises, “To have friends,
show yourself friendly.”
Who can resist a smile?
And look at the person straight in the eye.
It will be worth your while.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Janet Perez Eckles
Hubby and I agreed to get a brief video done. So I reached for my purse. “Wait a minute,” I said, “let me put on some lipstick before you begin.
Why can’t I toss vanity out the window? But dare I say that we all have a trace of that from time to time.
Some of us are way too appearance-conscious. We dress well to look sharp, wear black to look thin, fix the hair so we look young, and dress down to look cool.
And beyond how we look, we strive to do what might be impressive. We try hard to reach the top, we get busy to do good stuff or even go places to rave about what we did.
Those efforts aren’t bad, unless they rule our lives. Or unless they stir electric signals to the brain, keeping it awake when it should be resting.
At an Access Life event for folks and their families living with disabilities, a sort of strange animal taught me a big lesson about total trust and rest.
A friend put a “turin” in my hands. No misspelling there. This sort of weird little creature is half turkey and half chicken. The body of a chicken, the neck of a turkey and the head of a chicken. Since I’m not able to “see” it, I imagine it to be a sort of ugly creature.
But does it even show concern about its looks? You tell me. As I held it, it fell asleep. It had no clue a blind woman was holding it. It didn’t care how it looked, what appearance it displayed or even care about who took its picture. It showed no worry about others staring at her.
Why can’t we be like that? Why can’t we rest in peace just the way we are—with failures that might be known. With flaws that stand out. With weaknesses that are evident, or things left undone? And in face of it all, we, dare to live in complete trust. In total peace. And undisturbed confidence, the kind of confidence that we too fall asleep in God’s arms.
But we can. And here are three steps to enjoy sweet sleep in those long nights:
Father, when restlessness robs our sleep, may we recognize that your kindness, your nurturing and protection is enough to grant the calmness of our thoughts, the peace in our heart and the serenity for our days. We will claim full rest each night, in Jesus name, we declare. Amen.
Janet
Source: Three reasons why you can’t let go. ~ Janet Perez Eckles
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
The pillars are a strong foundation
in any relationship.
On their strength we do depend.
The caterpillars crawl in and out,
failing to connect.
They dream to be a butterfly in the end.
God created all of us,
and He did it all with vision.
I don’t have your attributes-
That was God’s decision.
I will strive to be the best I can
with what God has allotted me.
To be more like our Maker,
That is our destiny.
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
On Monday we had the fun of an impromptu friends reunion of the members of the Park Avenue Baptist Church Young Married Sunday School class. Of course, someone had to mention that five of us were turning seventy this year! How can that be? One friend made an excellent point as we marveled over this milestone. She observed that we look much better at seventy than our parents did. We laughed and agreed. In the interest of full disclosure, I must mention that I am the baby of the group! All too soon it was time for everyone to move on and resume their busy lives, but for a brief afternoon we laughed and shared our lives. I would say it was just like the old days but I believe it was better!
Wednesday was another fun day. but it was scheduled. Lynn and I have known each other even longer than my Young Married friends.We met in the tenth grade and remained in touch throughout the years. She and her husband recently relocated to Florida and live two hours from us. We decided to meet half way for lunch at De Leon Springs State Park. We camped there during the child rearing years and I had been longing to revisit it and I was sure my nature loving friend would enjoy it.
The park, set on the land of an old plantation, has a unique restaurant, the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House. Pancakes are their specialty but they also serve salads and sandwiches made with homemade breads.
Their website describes it this way:
“Each of our tables are equipped with a griddle and we bring you pitchers of homemade pancake batters (both a stone-ground mixture of five different flours and an unbleached white flour) you pour them on and flip them over right at your table.”
From their website
After our lunch we walked around the springs area then Lynn and I settled down under a covered pavilion to catch up while the men people watched near the spring , talking as men do, solving the problems of the world.
We enjoyed both the company and the scenery. It was a beautiful day, with a gentle breeze. I look forward to visiting again.
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 NLT
Did you know that DiVoran’s first novel is set at De Leon Springs?
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Janet Perez Eckles
Life can turn dark in so many ways. We were heading to church and Hubby rolled down his window. As he opened his wallet, he said, “There’s a woman with a sign that says, “My kids need to eat.”
Some put up signs and some sink in self-pity for lack of funds. But many more curse their situation. The same way the Israelites did.
Remember how they grumbled when they thought God had forgotten them? They were hungry and thirsty. And they even mumbled about going back to Egypt where they were slaves! Crazy thinking, in my opinion. But we’ve done the same thing—wish we were in a different place, maybe one we knew long ago. And we murmur our misfortune.
I’m here to challenge you: Toss that grumbling out the window, cross-out those pitiful remarks from your vocabulary, and kick out negative thoughts that take away your peace.
And instead, celebrate Chanukah with me. (Please don’t tell me you know what that is…I didn’t, and feel a bit embarrassed about it.)
So I asked. And a precious Jewish friend who now loves Yeshua as her Savior and Lord explained it to me. After I read the explanation, I was so touched by the meaning and the significance that I deposited a huge amount of joy right into the bank account of my heart.
So, read on, take in the message, and ponder on the absolutely wonderful truth God is reminding you through the recount. Here it is:
Chanukah is the Jewish holiday of the festival of lights – where we celebrate when a tiny band of men called the Maccabees conquered the Greek army and recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem. The Greeks had desecrated the temple and all the Jews could find was one day’s worth of oil to light the eternal light – which must burn continually, according to the Lord’s command. It takes eight days to produce the proper oil from the olives to use in the temple. But in faith, they used the little bit of oil – and it ended up lasting the full eight days – enough time to consecrate the new oil. It was a miracle all around – and that is why we light a Menorah, called a chanukiah – each day for eight days – to honor the Lord for his faithfulness and miracles!
Okay, you know God is the same yesterday, today and forever…do you think He’ll provide what you need? When you need it? And give you the oil, though meager it might seem, to last to cover the biggest bill in the pile?
God worked a miracle long ago…and He will now too. Not enough oil, but still, they lit the candles in trusting, not doubting, not wondering, not questioning—but in faith—and why shouldn’t we do the same?
Pray with me: Lord, I place the oil of faith before you. And I count on your Word, your promise and your provision to take care of all my needs. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
What needs will you bring before the Lord today?
Janet
Source: http://www.janetperezeckles.com/blog/inspiration/help-i-have-too-much-debt.html
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
People need people.
That was God’s ultimate plan
when He created the earth
and related Himself to man.
To love and be loved
is the theme of every love song.
Open your heart to welcome it.
True love can heal a wrong.
God didn’t design us to live alone.
That’s why Adam was given a mate.
Open your heart to receive love.
You are robbing yourself if you wait.
We can support one another in all that we do,
and offer help when there is a need.
We all aspire to find that “curve in the road”
that satisfies the need to succeed.
Painting by DiVoran Lites
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
Christmas 2015 I gave my husband a life altering gift and the interesting part is that I gave it to him on a whim. Here is the story.
Our granddaughter loves drawing and painting so each Christmas we give her some form of art supplies. I usually pick them up through out the year when they are on sale. This particular Christmas, I realized that I had more gifts for her than our grandson and we all know that wouldn’t play well. What to do…? Then I remembered that my husband had been taking “night” art classes, as in while he was asleep. Apparently, the voice tone of painter Bob Ross lulled him to sleep. So on aforementioned whim I wrapped the art supplies and put them under the tree.
Christmas morning he was quite surprised when he opened the gift, but he thanked me nicely. Fast forward to January 29, 2016. He was bored and decided to pull out the art supplies and play with them. This is the result.
I think we were both shocked. His success set him on course to actively pursue learning about painting. He watches videos while he is awake! He is also mentored by our friend, DiVoran Lites. I think he is getting better with every painting and sometimes I am stunned when I walk past his open door and see what he is creating. I particularly like this one he painted last week. I am thrilled with his newly discovered talent. He has always wanted to be able to capture life on canvas, but never dreamed he could.
All of this led me to wonder whether our sleep and or dreams do affect our waking life. I am beyond blessed to know without a doubt that God loves me. I have mused in the past on what my parents did to instill this into my heart. Looking back, I think it came to me while I was sleeping. As a small child, I found church service made me sleepy, so I would lay my head in someone’s lap and take a nap while the good news of God’s love and Jesus plan for salvation was spoken. Plus, my parents attended a weekly prayer service that was held in someone’s home. They called them cottage prayer meetings.There would be a lot of singing and praying and I would find an out of the way place, my favorite being under a coffee table, and fall asleep. I have vague memories of feeling the hymns wash over me as I drifted in the half awake/half sleep state.
Science tells us that sleep time is when the body repairs itself. So it stands to reason it can also be a time when our brain carries out its unique functions. Sleep matters and so does what we listen to while we sleep!
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.
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.
Old Things R New 