And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
I have a follow up visit with my eye doctor today. I’m feeling a little anxious and a little hopeful. My eye feels much better. While I am thankful the procedure is available, I am praying I won’t need to repeat it.
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
Pixabay and Unsplash are my favorite sites for free photos. Lately, Pixabay has been winning over Unsplash because instead of typing in a subject to browse, I have been stopping to browse the pictures Pixabay features on their first page. In this way, I have found some stunning photos as well as humorous ones. Here is one I found today.
It struck me that this is how I tend to approach God. I “type” in my requests for the day without looking to Him for what he had already chosen to show me.
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
Yesterday I discovered that the written instructions for my eye care, did not match the instructions I remembered the doctor giving me verbally. The written instructions told me to use twice the amount of drops! Since the drops would elevate my already fickle pressures I was alarmed and placed a call to the surgeon’s office.
A few years ago, I would have been confident that my memory was correct and not placed the call. This whole aging and memory issues are for the birds!
For our physical health, it is important that we follow the correct instructions with our medications and take them faithfully until the health event is cured or the doctor stops them.
How does this correlate with seeking peace in my heart, mind and soul?
For me, I need to spend time alone each morning, reading a devotional, scripture verses and pondering on their words. I need to follow the correct instructions from my healer.
But somedays, I feel too busy or even too complacent. I think to myself, “I’m good today, I will be fine.”
So, I skip a day and if that doesn’t result in a setback I am tempted to skip another, just as we do with medications. It doesn’t end well in either circumstance.
The surgeon’s office returned my call. My memory had been correct…this time.
Love: By spending time with the author of love, I am prepared by His love to face my day.
Joy: The result of being thankful.
Peace: When I am following correct instructions, by verifying them, I have peace.
Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Psalm 105:4.
One the Porch
Onisha Ellis
I saw this photo on Pixabay and it stirred my curiosity. He looks scruffy and maybe a bit dangerous with those teeth. But there is something appealing about his eyes. He is just as he was created to be.
We don’t have to conform to what others think. Test and discern!
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
I’ve had John 4:46-54 in my Seeking Peace notes for a couple of weeks. I imagined a distressed father, who had probably run most of the way to find Jesus, dropping to his knees before him, desperate for his child to live. Jesus didn’t question him or preach to him, he simply said, “Go, your child will live.” The father, a Royal official didn’t hesitate. Maybe due to his position of authority, he recognized it in Jesus, or maybe he was too desperate to doubt.
Regardless of the father’s reason to obey, God sent him off with a promise, your son will live. In my journey into peace, I am learning to listen for the promise and go.
Love- Love is meant to be shared. Loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, infuses me with love to share with others.
Joy- To my surprise this week, I realized that despair actually led me to joy.
Peace- Peace comes in trusting that God has the authority to deliver on His promises.
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
We enjoyed our Tuesday afternoon trip to EPCOT for our wedding anniversary. The weather was perfect for us, sunny, but with a cool breeze. I didn’t need to add another layer to my short sleeve shirt until we boarded the tram for the parking lot. The park was crowded as it usually is during Spring break, but since we were there for the flowers and not the rides, the crowd didn’t deter us.
One of my must see activities was the butterfly garden. It was enclosed in a high tent-like structure and while there were not a lot of butterflies in flight, our daughter got a nice picture of this one. Nearby, a girl was coaxing a butterfly to light on her finger.
The flowers and shrubs at EPCOT as well as the other parks are always beautiful, but during the Flower and Garden show the plantings are over the top and they are labeled. As I moved through the butterfly garden and observed the plant names, I was surprised at the variety. My take away is that if a plant has colorful flowers, it will attract butterflies.
We enjoyed all the colorful topiaries but Kermit the Frog was my favorite. I loved the excitement of the little one reaching out for Kermit.
The reflections of color in the water was beautiful and I was glad to be there at the perfect time to see it.
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 work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.
My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.
Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary and our daughter is treating us to a visit to EPCOT at Walt Disney World for the Flower and Garden festival. I checked out the list of music that will be rocking the festival and TobyMac will be there later in the month.! I may need to go back!
We enjoy strolling through the park marveling at the fantastic display of flowers and topiaries. I enjoy their butterfly gardens and try to get some tips on attracting butterflies to our yard.
I received a new camera at Christmas and hope to get some interesting shots. I am looking forward to the visit and even the weather is going to cooperate. High in the 70s!
Happy Anniversary to us, 48 years!
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
Our home in North Carolina is in a rural setting. We may have leash laws for dogs, but if so, they are not enforced. I have spoken several times about our porch dog, Gus. He belongs to a neighbor and is a “free ranger.” He roams our small subdivision making sure that his territory is secure from invaders. He misses his family while they are away at work so he spends the day visiting with us on our porch or waiting by the door of my husband’s workshop. I took the picture through the screen of Gus waiting on my husband to climb the steps from the workshop.
There is also a pack of dogs that roam the main road. They don’t cause any problems for us but they aren’t friendly either. Then there is the very annoying small dog that lives less than a quarter of a mile away. It is a car chaser. It takes all my will power to not stop when it takes off after me. I really don’t like the idea of hitting an animal. I drive on, hoping I won’t hear a clunk. For a time it stopped chasing cars while it nursed an injured leg. I was hoping the animal learned a lesson but alas, it is back to chasing again.
In Florida there are strict leash laws and I haven’t seen a “free ranger” in years. I see neighbors briskly waking their pets and we have a nice dog park so that the animals can socialize.
I wonder sometimes if we are being kind to our animal friends by keeping them locked inside. Yes, they are safe and will most likely live a longer life, but at what cost? The free rangers appear happier.
Now before you become outraged, I know that having free ranger dogs roaming our streets would be a safety issue. I do see a parallel here between those who want to live as free rangers versus those who feel it is better to allow an entity such as government to protect them and provide for their needs. For me, I would choose to live as a well-loved free ranger who has the freedom to come and go, yet has a soft bed to come home to at night.
Our pastor shared a very good message on Sunday, titled Something to be Thankful For. I like the music in the highlights video.
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 work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.
My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
i spent Monday, thinking about my Tuesday post. I was hoping to share something humorous, but it’s hard to find humor these days without a political spin. Monday evening I came across a posting by my North Carolina neighbor giving instructions on how to tie the CDC Carrot Nymph. My first thought was is he working for the CDC? (Centers for Disease Control) On second thought, I decided that carrots and nymphs probably weren’t disease related.
I knew my North Carolina neighbor, Gordon, was a fishing guide in the Smoky Mountains, but I had no idea he had a YouTube channel!
What could be more fitting for a blog that celebrates the past and future than a post about the timeless art of tying fishing flies? According to Fishing Museum http:
“The first mention of fly fishing is in The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle, published in 1496… . If you want to read more about The Treatyse visit the “origins” page“.
So, if any of our readers like fly fishing, here is one of my neighbor Gordon’s videos.
Should you be interested in a fly fishing trip in our beautiful Smoky Mountains, visit Gordon on his website for information.
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
This has been an interesting week. I’ve been musing about the positive aspect of annoying people. I’m talking about a wide spectrum of people from a spouse to the driver who cuts you off in traffic, or even more annoying the one who pulls out in front of you, then drives 15 miles per hour under the speed limit.
I believe God knows all and there is nothing that happens in my life that is a surprise to him. In the same way that he knows all, he knows me, with my weaknesses and strengths. If I am driving down the road and God said prayer for that person in the blue car next to you, I would question whether I was hearing from God or imagining it. But if that person cut me off in traffic, I would certainly be thinking strongly about them.
But hey, God got my attention and in my seeking peace quest, I am learning to turn my angry/annoyed thoughts to prayers for them. At this time, I am about 1% successful.
Every annoyance is an opportunity. My days are filled with opportunity, how about yours?
Love: Love extends grace.
Joy: Joy is always available to me. I need to pursue opportunities to be joyful.
Peace: I have peace when I don’t make myself the center of my attention.
Old Things R New 