Moving Out- 2

27 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Description: Relaxation, Spring, Reading, Heart

On Monday morning, I came onto the back porch before dawn and flipped on the renovated lights. The new LED bulbs blazed. I have struggled with small lamps for many years and now the whole porch is as bright as daylight. I took my Bible and journal from my wheeled carts. 

When you use any journal, the right tools make a difference. I get my pens online from Pentel: Engergel liquid gel ink. They are the best I have ever used. I have several pens because I constantly lose them and find them again. I also have refills so that when I run out, I can pop one in and keep on writing. Some of my favorites have black ink. Those indicate that it’s me talking. The ones I like best come with violet ink and indicate that the writing is from scripture or is a paraphrased group of verses.

Now, it doesn’t matter if I get confused and use the wrong color of ink because I don’t expect anyone to ever read my journals. Even though I don’t expect anyone to read them after I’m gone, I still don’t enter anything embarrassing or hurtful. You know how we get snippy if we have differences with people and we don’t feel free to talk to them, or maybe we don’t know what to say? That’s when we can write a letter to study the situation, shred it, and then wait for God to shed light on the situation. 

Monday, as I looked around at the plants and trees and watched the birds vying for a chance at the feeder, I thought of my favorite hymn: “In the Garden.”  I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.

In my imagination, I am in a sunny garden of fragrant blooms.   I wear a soft white voile dress that ruffles in the flower-scented breeze as I rise to greet my Savior, Jesus.  As I walk with him and talk with him, He tells me I am his own. And the voice I hear falling on my ear, none other has ever known.

This doesn’t mean that I hear his voice audibly, nor does it mean that no one else has ever heard him speak. It only means that He knows us as unique individuals and that he has a special way of relating to every single one of us. He cherishes each of us and will never leave us or forsake us. What he wants more than anything is to love us, light up our lives, and use us to light the lives of others.

 I come to the Garden alone. Who knows what may happen in this imaginary garden of mine? Jesus is not imaginary though; He is real as is Holy Spirit and God the Father. I want to interface with them, praise them, and do for them and others whatever they ask me to do in their grace and empowerment. Halleluiah! 

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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Divine Humor-Part 2

26 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Credit Clipart Library

As I mentioned recently, I frequently have to go through the stuff on my computer, just to weed out stuff I don’t need any more.

In doing so, I often come across something that tickles my funny bone.  Below is part two of something I found.  Enjoy!

A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend.  The attendant worked quickly but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station.  Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, “sorry about the delay.  It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”

The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean.  It’s the same in my business. “

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A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, “I know what the Bible means!” 

His father smiled and replied, “What do you mean, you ‘know’ what the Bible means?”

The son replied, “I do know!”

“Okay,” said his father.  “So, son, what does the Bible mean?”

“That’s easy, Daddy.  It stands for ‘Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.'”

*************************************************************************

The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building.  Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute.  The substitute wanted to know what to play.

“Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently.  “But you’ll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.”

During the service, the minister paused and said, “Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more.  Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up.” 

At that moment, the substitute organist played “The Star Spangled Banner.”

And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!

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. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Life During Covid 19-Part 9

25 Apr

The Comments Trap

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I am a comments section junky. I have a nosy curiosity about people. Why does a person hold a particular opinion? Is it from personal experience? How do they express themselves-with humor, kindness or rudeness? What motivates them?

Reading comments can be enlightening, but for me it can also be a trap. There is truth in what our mother’s taught us about not saying anything if you can’t say something nice. Even when I don’t comment negatively, my brain is churning with negative replies. This isn’t healthy for me spiritually or mentally.

So I am purposing to do better but I haven’t worked out the details yet. : )

This morning we went to the food distribution center. We waited in line for two hours but we had an audio book to finish and there was a nice breeze.

We never know what they are giving out, the surprise is part of the experience. Today they had an abundance of produce. South Florida has been turning under crops due to a lack of restaurants to supply. I am wondering if the veggies came from repurposing efforts to get the food to families. Today they had potatoes, onions, broccoli, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, and beets as well as a package of pork chops, shredded cheese and a half gallon of milk. We don’t have an abundance of funds to share but we do have an abundance of time. We were able to share most of what we brought home with a neighbor friend who is a nurse and she shared with her parents. Together we will make it through this crisis.

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Life During Covid-19 Part 8

23 Apr

We Are So Blessed

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

We have toilet paper, hand sanitizer and paper towels. Two months ago, these items would not have made my thankful list of blessings. Coronavirus has changed our world. We definitely spend more time together.

Saturday night we watched the 25th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera from the Prince Albert Auditorium. It was free on You Tube. I am not a huge fan of the show but Mike and Rebekah love it. The best was the finale. Andrew Lloyd Webber and his wife made an appearance along with the original Phantom. Sarah Brightman sang an except with the original Phantom then with great drama several actors through the years joined them onstage to sing. It was magical.

On Sundays we eagerly tune in to a couple of our favorite churches online services. During the week we each have favorite churches and ministers that we listen to. If nothing else, this virus has created in us soul hunger.

Sunday night we watched Hope Rising, a group of Christian singers and speakers on Facebook.

Over 3 million people watched and worshipped together. Our churches are closed but our hearts are praising. The concert was to raise money for Samaritan’s Purse and their medical team. It accomplished so much more, inspiring all with a sense of unity in Jesus. As of Tuesday 1.6 million dollars were donated and this was a zero budget production!

Our daughter has been fortunate to not be furloughed from her job as most of her team have been. Monday was her first day of working from home. We rode with her to east Orlando (Any reason for an outing!) to meet a coworker and receive the “work” phone. She will be working 3-1130 pm. A shift in our family dynamics, but not a bad thing. Before The meet up for the phone was set in the deserted Chilli’s parking lot (Which felt kind of like a drug hang off. ) Before the meet up we went to the drive through at Culvers and got their cashew chicken for our supper. We really enjoy Culvers. And I love not cooking!

It’s warm in Florida but Wednesday there was a steady breeze that held a hint of cool. Any day now, the winds will shift and feel like they are coming off the equator. After a grocery run to Aldi, my daughter and I decided to sit out on the patio. We have an abundance of birds at the feeders and in the trees. Much more than usual. I choose to believe that God is providing them to enliven our days as we enjoy watching them. Rebekah put up the patio umbrella while I made each of us a granita.

I modified the recipe for the granita, which is an icy coffee drink, from one that I found on Cooking Keto with Kristi. This is a good blog if you eat low carb. Currently she is sharing 10 days of sheet pan meals using meats and foods one has on hand.

As I was writing this, the radio reminded me that SpaceX would be launching in two minutes with a payload of satellites. These satellites are set to create a new internet delivery system. I should have remembered that the radio is on delay. The rocket was already speeding on its journey by the time I grabbed my camera.


Later I went outside to take a picture of the Town Home construction across the street. The construction has been clogging the road making backing out of the drive a pain. Of course the trucks weren’t there. I am choosing to be thankful the crews are working and people will be getting new homes. It’s easy for me to choose thankfulness. I’m not the one who has to back our truck!


This week as I mentally list the good things happening as a result of what I call The Pause, I also feel guilt. There are heartbroken and frightened people around me and I can’t fix them. Thanks to the masks, I can’t even smile at people or receive a smile in the store, unless my eyes send the smile. Families are being separated at the hospital and die with only the staff at their bedside. This is brutal. I pray that those alone are surrounded with comforting angels. I don’t know it that is Biblical but I am praying it.

I am reminded of a favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

I’m counting on this verse!

I almost forgot! Did you see this fun video on Facebook?

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Moving Out

20 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

It’s Spring. I can start moving my morning devotions onto the porch. It’s a semi-cluttered space, but there’s still room for a table, chairs, and two wheelable storage items to store books and art supplies in. I also have a spiffy green wagon full of gardening tools. 

Can you find the cat?

We may yet have a few cold days when I’ll have to roll it all back inside, but by the first of May, good Lord willin ’and the crick don’t rise, I’ll be able to leave it on the porch until the first of November. Bill has a plastic set of drawers he isn’t using so he loaned it to me to keep the humidity out of my Bibles, my hymnal, and my journal. 

This next one is my fun cart where I can find pens, pencils, crayons, and a small paint set.

I’ll have to move back into the house about the first of November, but that’s a nice long time to be outside and I’m looking forward to it. We have recently replaced our porch lights and it is now as light as daylight. Now, I can go out and enjoy the porch if I happen to awaken before dawn. 

Bill and I spend plenty of time together. We stop to visit in the kitchen or any of the rooms in the house. We have good talks at the dinner table, and we go on errands together. One of us stays in the car so as not to add to any crowds.  We each have things to do alone that we cherish. At this moment he is exercising his shoulders and knees. He has had at least fifteen surgeries since he retired twenty years ago. Shoulders, knees, hernias, eye surgery, you name it…but like the energizer bunny he just takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. We thank God every day for taking such good care of us.  

I started morning devotions about fifty years ago when Bill worked at the Space Center. While he listened to the Bible on a portable tape player on his way to work, and the children watched Captain Kangaroo on the black and white T. V. set we had.  I sat nearby and tried out different ways of keeping up with what the Lord was doing in my life. 

At that time, Peter Lord was our pastor and with his beloved wife, Johnnie, and the church staff and he urged us to spend personal time with the Lord. He published a small journal that helped us know what to look for when we were seeking the Lord. I started with that. Now there are hundreds of books that help with personal devotions. Our present church has the small Upper Room available for us every two months. It’s a small booklet, but we do like to read it every day and look up the scriptures given there.

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.”

Divine Humor-Part 1

19 Apr

MSUNDAY EMORIES

Judy Wills

                                         

Cartoon Pictures Of Angels - Clipart library

Credit Clipart Library

As I mentioned recently, I frequently have to go through the stuff on my computer, just to weed out stuff I don’t need anymore.

In doing so, I often come across something that tickles my funny bone.  Below is part one of something I found.  Enjoy!

There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country.  “Is there anything breakable in here?” asked the postal clerk. 

“Only the Ten Commandments,” answered the lady.

*************************************************************************

“Somebody has well said there are only two kinds of people in the world.  There are those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good Lord, it’s morning.”

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A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter.  Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read:  “I have circled the block 10 times.  If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment.  Forgive us our trespasses.” 

When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note “I’ve circled this block for 10 years.  If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job.  Lead us not into temptation.”

*********************************************************************

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation:  “I have good news and bad news.  The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program.  The bad news is, it’s still out there in your pockets.”

********************************************************************

While driving in Pennsylvania a family caught up to an Amish carriage.  The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign… 

“Energy efficient vehicle:  Runs on oats and grass.

Caution:  Do not step in exhaust”

********************************************************************

A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, “Boys and girls, what do we know about God?” 

A hand shot up in the air.  “He is an artist!” said the kindergarten boy.

“Really?  How do you know?”  the teacher asked. 

“You know – Our Father, who does art in Heaven… “

Child, Boy, Cool, Happy, Kid, Young

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Daily Life During Covid-19 Part 7

16 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Oh My Hair!

I haven’t had my hair trimmed since February 4, 2020. In the grocery store, I am beginning to look at women with suspicion. Are their roots showing? Is their hair shaggy?

Are they sneaking out to an underground hairdresser?

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

I was so close to making it to my appointment before essential businesses were closed. Would it be wrong to text my stylist and say, “hey girl how are you and would you mind making me your first appointment when you are back in the salon?” Or, maybe I should have chocolate delivered to her with a note.

I am having issues with golf being essential but personal grooming is not. I predict a lot of women working from home through video conferencing will be sporting some form of hat. Once your co-workers have seen you with “house hair” there is no going back, especially if someone captures a screen shot. On the other hand, one could use the screen shots as leverage. I can imagine a lot of screen shots going on.

Wednesday we ventured out to restock our pantry and husband needed some man-store time. We headed for Sam’s Club first but it had a line so we drove past and went to Harbor Freight, the man-store. We treated ourselves to a drive-through lunch from Steak and Shake, and an in-car picnic in an empty restaurant parking lot with a space near the river and a tree for shade.

After our picnic we drove down to Port Canaveral to visit one of our fishing spots and got to see one of the Disney Cruise Line ships.

There were people fishing but when my husband attempted to use the restroom the doors were locked. (That seems kind of mean)

Instead of retracing our route from Sam’s Club to the port, we changed it up and took different roads. It seems when we don’t get out much, we appreciate familiar scenery more. This time when we pulled into Sam’s Club parking lot the line was moving so we parked and went in.

This was the first time I wore the homemade mask a friend gave me. A lot of people were wearing masks which I guess is good but I really dislike wearing one. God bless our healthcare workers who wear them for hours and hours.

We quickly picked up the items on my list and checked out. At the exit I asked the door manager if I would have to wait in line if I was picking up an online order. Good news! I would simply need to come to the exit door and would be allowed in. I think I will place online orders until the need for masks is over.

This morning I realized I didn’t pick up ground beef at Sam’s Club. It wasn’t on my list. So much for shopping quickly. My husband drove me to Publix Supermarket and I donned my mask. Can someone tell me how to wear a mask without fogging up ones glasses? I ended up taking off my glasses.

After choosing two packages of ground beef (Man am I ever going to stock up when it is on sale, it cost a lot!) I proceeded to the dairy aisle and came to a socially distanced, face to face with an older lady wearing a mask. She looked familiar, like a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. She was staring at me as I stared at her. I yanked off my mask with a grin and said Jan? It was her! We had a short chat and promised to get together if this crisis ever goes away.

In my prayer time this morning, I was feeling pretty whiny about the isolation. I felt convicted about my attitude. Seriously, I couldn’t willingly give 30 days of my life to have extra time to spend in God’s word? As a family we have been doing an online study on the names of God. Rebekah, our daughter is doing a study on the book of Nehemiah and I just started a study of the book of Job.

Like so many, we have found blessings in this pause even as we grieve for those who are suffering. I am reminded of Isaiah43:19

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

I'm a winnerAfter 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.

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Melody’s Adventures-Mantees

14 Apr

A Time to Live

Melody Hendrix

Another wonderful adventure in diving fresh water is to swim with the manatees. This is typically done just with snorkeling gear. There are not many places you can do this because in most places it is unlawful. However, in Crystal River, Florida in Citrus County, you can experience one of the most wonderful encounter with nature you can have. 

There are rules and guidelines for interacting with them. Since manatees are an endangered species, they are protected by law. But here your encounter is up-close and personal.  Local tour operators and nature guides provide a variety of options for experiencing these awesome creatures. From swimming, kayaking, and paddle-boarding to snorkeling and diving, there are many ways to meet a manatee while you’re here! You can also rent a boat and spend the day there. This is my favorite thing to do.

I will never forget my first experience. We rented a boat and headed for Kings Bay. It was winter and the manatees come here for the warmth of the springs around the area. Once we spotted some, we slipped into the water with our mask and snorkel.

 The water was a little cloudy and I couldn’t see very far in the distance. All I could see was something huge swimming towards me. I had seen many manatees from the boat, but when this massive creature came into view, fear came over me for an instant. This beautiful creature was the size of a Volkswagen. Once I realized that manatees are such gentle creatures that never intend to harm you, I became ecstatic at the thrill of this moment. I reached out my hand and we made contact with each other. I stoked it’s thick rough skin. It gently turned itself over for a tummy rub. Not all, but many manatees enjoy the human touch. Maybe these are mermaids after all. 

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A Season of Praise

13 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Description: Pasqueflower, Pulsatilla Vulgaris

Pixabay

It has been about a month since the coronavirus became big news and the churches shut down along with many other places. We have been ordered by the governor to stay at home except for essential things such as food and medical care. We are now being told to wear masks and to stand six feet away from people we don’t live with. 

As for Bill and me, we are enjoying the restfulness of this season, and the rules are not hard for us to obey. Some folks online are making jokes about being bored, so we are glad to have things to do…many that we have put off for years. 

 We have been successful with our grocery buying. Once, though we accidentally bought 36 rolls of 1 ply toilet paper. I wish we had read the labels, but even if we had we might not have been able to get our favorite four-ply. Sometimes in the past when hurricanes were predicted the shelves would be emptied. Even then, toilet paper was a big deal. 

It seems as if everyone is getting food and being cared for. I hope not many are falling through the cracks. When we were out today, we saw a huge bight, beautiful American Flag attached to a high crane lift.  What a glorious sight. 

We are old and everyone is good to us. However, we don’t like the label, elderly. We are not all frail and helpless. We prefer the name of Elder because we have lived a long time and most of us have gained wisdom in plain living that some youngsters  do not have.

 I don’t sew anymore, but I was given a handmade mask. Bill has a good mask and we wear them when we go out. It’s kind of sweet the way we ladies would like for our hand-sewn masks to match our clothes just as we expect our jewelry to do.

Our grown children are showing us ways to communicate online. One couple is loaning us a camera to use for a skype situation. They will be calling us on our Smart Phones and telling us how to install it and use it. We have already had two Sunday conference calls with our married couples. 

Two young people in our family live far away from Florida. One of them lives in Queens, New York but she is now staying with a friend further north which seems to be safer than Queens. Another young relative has been visiting a tiny Japanese island off Taiwan. We don’t hear much from either of them except through their parents. The one on the island has been told that he doesn’t have to come back to America after a three-month visit. He can stay until August which is when his business there is over. 

We’ve been having a good time with some of the Christian shows on the internet. Friends send funny videos and Bill disburses them from his computer. I love the ones about animals, especially goats…especially baby goats.

We decided to put in some house plants. Taking care of them is fun. They are lovely to look at, and they will help keep us healthy as well.

Every morning, we each have devotionals on our own.  We get plenty of time to read the Bible or to write in a journal. We can look up a chain of pertinent scriptures and immerse ourselves in them. That seems to lift us into a higher plane with the Lord. 

Our weather has been springy and beautiful. Every year we have six months of hot weather and six months of what we call cold weather. In the winter we usually need the heat on. Summertime demands air conditioners. Right now, we are between hot and cold and can open the house. Aren’t we spoiled, though? I don’t think we’re helping anybody much. Is it because we have not been called to do anything different than what we are already doing? We are praying for people. We especially like to pray for children, for those who are in the Good News Club and for those who are not.  Before the CV, volunteers and wonderful teachers worked together to help the children get the education they will need. 

After supper, Bill and I take out our “Then Sings My Soul,” hymn books compiled by Robert Morgan. We have finished singing through and reading the stories of the hymns on the first volume and are waiting for volume two. It is wonderful to sing the beautiful old songs we grew up on. They have deep meaning for us and easy for us to sing. Robert Morgan says there are many things that music can help us with. One is being connected with people from other generations. Robert Morgan says,  “Each week millions of Christians in local settings around the world, using hymns composed by a believer from every era and branch of Christendom, join voices in united bursts of praise, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord.”  We, like the author, think it would be a shame for the legacy of those hymn writers to disappear. 

We can walk in the neighborhood. We like to listen to audiobooks as we go because it makes the walk go faster. We do the rest of our talking at the table, in the car, or just going from one room to another to ask questions.

The last thing at night we search for a decent movie to watch. I’m working on finding a way to find good and decent movies on the TV. How can it be so hard to find a good movie out of the millions we can access? 

For all these happy days we give thanks and praise to our wonderful Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who supernaturally protect us and show us the way. If you want to know this trinity for yourself, just ask any one of them how to join in.  In other words, get to know them by talking to them and opening your heart to listen to what they have to say. Then you will know how to become one of his children and have all your sin taken away. That’s why we celebrate Easter. If he is ours and we are his, we know that whatever happens, He is in it and He is with. 

Author, Poet and Artist

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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12 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Easter Sunday 2020

Created with GIMP

(Rebloged from 2014)

I really love Christmas!  All the brisk weather (in the colder climes), the Christmas trees and wreaths.  The decorations.  But especially the music.  It’s so much fun to hear and sing – both sacred and secular.  It’s such a special time of year.

But for me – and all of Christianity – Easter is the very, VERY best!  Of course, Christmas had to come first – to bring the Christ Child into this world.  But Easter brings us eternal life…and that beats the socks off a fun, cute song any day!

The songs associated with Easter are so exciting – and uplifting – and inspiring – and so full of hope and promise.  They tell of Christ’s death, yes, but also of that glorious moment when HE AROSE!  Can you imagine it?  God’s power is so tremendously great that He actually raised Jesus from death back into life!  Amazing!!  It’s so easy to just say…He arose.  But just think of it – He actually rose FROM THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE!  That never happened to anyone else, that didn’t physically die again.  Our Savior lives again and still, and forever.

There’s a lot of anti-Christian stuff going on right now, that borders on persecution.  Yes, I know – I really haven’t a clue what true persecution is like.  But this is the most anti-Christian attitude in this country that I’ve ever felt.  And it doesn’t feel good.

Seems like every Easter there is something that happens to a church here or there that actually backfires on the perpetrators.  For instance, when we lived in Panama City, Florida back in the 1970’s, there was a Lutheran church who put up a “tomb/cave” on their front lawn every Easter.  They would have a “stone” rolled across the front, that on Easter morning was “rolled away” to reveal the open/empty tomb.  One year, the whole thing disappeared!  Turns out, some teenagers, on a dare, took it away.  So, instead of harming the message – the newspaper got ahold of the story – took pictures and all – and it made the front page news! Backfire, see?

And then when we lived in a small town in Virginia, our church had put up some sort of display on our front lawn – and some of the “soldiers” disappeared.  Same thing – the city newspaper (and possibly the TV stations in town) got wind of the disappearance, and interviewed the Pastor about it.  Again, it made the headlines and news stories.  The culprits were found and the soldiers returned.  Another backfire.

All that to say that I am convinced that there is still a remnant of believers in this country, and that God will honor those who still trust Him.  What is done in the dark will be brought to light – and God’s name will be glorified.

HE IS RISEN!   HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

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. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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