Mourning Dove

22 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Photos by Melody Hendrix

I have a confession. I love all wild birds, but I had a mix-up in my mind about doves. We have two kinds that come to our yard day after day, week after week. They never fail to visit, and we are so used to them that we don’t have much to say about them. I guess you could say we ignore them or we take them for granted. Unlike the painted bunting, they stay all year. The only difference between the two types is that the mourning dove is bigger than the other one. 

My problem was I like bright colors on birds and copious amounts of song, and that’s why I never gave the doves much attention.  Of course, if we didn’t have so many beautiful birds on our feeders and using our water bowls, I would appreciate even the doves.  

So, when I looked up doves on Bible Gateway, I discovered that God loves them very much, all of them. Noah loved his dove when it came back to the ark after being set loose to find some land. He took her gently into his hand and put her in her safe, wooden cage. Seven days later, he sent her out again. You’d think that if the dove had found a perch for the sole of her foot, she would have stayed there. But she didn’t.  She was faithful and went the extra mile to make Noah happy. 

I can understand why the people kept doves for food and why they used them for the required sacrifices. The book of Leviticus has nine references to dove sacrifice. But one-day, Jesus turned over the chairs of the sellers of sacrificial doves. I always thought he did that because he didn’t want people doing business in the synagogue on the Sabbath. And maybe that is the only reason Jesus did it. Reading about doves, though, has convinced me that it meant something else to our Lord as well. By this time, he knew he was going to be the last and ultimate sacrifice, and there would be no more need for doves or cattle or sheep in exchange for forgiveness of sin. He knew he was the only sacrifice ever to be required. When He went to the cross to die, he went so that God would adopt us. When we acknowledge our sinful nature, God sets us free to join God’s family. That is the greatest wonder and privilege a human can ever know. 

From the list I was looking at, the last reference in the Bible about doves was John 2:14 that meant no more sacrifices,  no more doves, and nothing more killed in the name of the law.  

Isn’t it wonderful that all of nature teaches us about God and his love for us?

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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Random Memories of Germany-Part 4

21 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I mentioned last time that the pastor of our English-speaking Baptist Church in Heidelberg became our Karen’s future father-in-law.  And this is how that came to be.

The congregation of Grace Baptist Church called Greg to be our pastor in the Fall of 1981.  He and his family arrived shortly after Christmas that year.  They spent Christmas with family in Florida before coming to Germany.

Greg and Carol – welcome reception – 1981

The church congregation had a tradition that was established before we arrived, in that as many as could go together, hired a bus and went to one of the American resort areas in Bavaria between Christmas and New Years.  We went with the group to Berchtesgaden for Christmas 1980.  During the year, our family had also visited Berchtesgaden, Garmisch and Chiemsee (which has a Ludwig castle modeled after Versailles in France).  Therefore, when the church group wanted to go to Chiemsee for Christmas 1981, we declined. Essentially the only thing to do around Chiemsee was to ski, and since we didn’t ski, we decided to stay in Heidelberg, so we could be in town  to meet our new pastor and his family.

Chiemsee – 1969

Chiemsee – Hall of Mirrors – 1969

As it happened, the church as a group had fixed up an apartment for Greg and his family, in a town just a short ways away from MTV, so when they arrived in town, they were taken straight to the apartment to settle in and rest.  We had invited them to come down the hill and have supper with us that evening, so Carol wouldn’t have to fix a meal right away.

As it turned out, two things prevented that event: 1) Greg had pulled a muscle in his back shortly before leaving Georgia and coming to Germany and had been in traction.  Also, the long flight from the U.S. to Germany aggravated his injury.  2) Heidelberg had received quite a few inches of snow, and Greg had helped a German push his car out of a snowbank and re-injured his back.

So even though they declined to come to our house, we decided we could take supper to them!  I had made a big pot of spaghetti sauce (with noodles, of course).  I had a salad made, and then I went to our local bakery for bread.  I really LOVED the German bakeries.  My favorite one was just around the corner from our building, and I had gotten to know the owner reasonably well.  She spoke a little English, and I spoke a little German, so we got along famously.

The symbol for a bakery in Germany – the pretzel – 1982

Well, I went to her store, and in my halting German said I needed just a small loaf of bread.  She was already getting ready to close for the night, but she pulled down a long loaf, cut it in half, wrapped my half, then wrapped up the other half and put it back on the shelf!  I was amazed!!  I don’t believe ANY bakery in the United States would do such a thing!!  WOW!

So we made our way up the hill and to their apartment.  Greg was laid out on the sofa and didn’t move until supper was on the table, when he came and sat with us.  Then back to the sofa.  After the meal, we told Karen and Brian (their son – Karen’s age) that they were to do the dishes.  No dishwasher there, either – hand washing and drying only.  Karen told me later that, as we walked in, Brian, after spying Karen, leaned over to his mom and said, “She’s tall.  I like her!”

And that was the beginning.

Brian and Karen – 1985

Greg’s family stayed a total of five years, and we rotated back to the States after our three-year tour ended in 1983.  Brian came to Virginia the following Christmas to spend it with us.  They married December 30, 1986.  We always said Brian took advantage of the tax credit that year – at the last minute!  But they are still together, after all those years, and we love them and their family.  God is good

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

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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Dare to Expect a Brand New Beautiful Tomorrow

20 Jun

With these four promises, we can dare to expect a brand new, beautiful, tomorrow.

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged June 20, 2020

June 19, 2020

Were there dreams or nightmares that waited for me and my family in the U.S.? The ophthalmologist shined a bright light into my eyes. “She did inherit it,” he said to my parents and me. “You need to be prepared. There is no cure.”

He leaned back on his chair. “There’s no treatment or surgery. She’s only 13, She’ll not notice any effects till she reaches 60 or so.”

He was wrong.

At the very same time when I turned 30 and my father 55, bit by bit, the retinal disease robbed our sight.

In a matter of 18 months, our vision closed in completely, leaving us in darkness with no trace of shadows, color…only a dark gray nothing.

My world crumbled as a black curtain fell, stopping my life, covering me with fear and destroying the dreams for my future as a Mom to my 3-, 5-, and 7-year-old sons. And uncertainty about tomorrow kept me tossing in bed at night.

Perhaps like you, many are in that same bed of discouragement. Without warning, all changed. We’re stunned and blinded from seeing what tomorrow will bring. We ask over and over again how will we pay our bills? Will this pandemic ever end? And wonder if we will we ever show a smile instead of wearing a mask of gloom.

We will, and we can. I learned from my earthly father how to move forward, remove obstacles and conquer fear using the white cane of courage.

The Lesson

The lesson began a couple of decades prior to my father’s blindness. We still lived in Bolivia, our native land.

We sat at the table in our tiny, dark kitchen with a window overlooking the Andes Mountains. My uncle leaned toward my father. “You must be crazy to want to go to the United States,” he said, “you don’t know anybody and you don’t even speak English.”

He was right. But although my father didn’t speak English, he spoke the language of faith and tenacity. He left La Paz with an old suitcase, big enough for some of his second-hand clothes. And, with U.S. immigration documents in hand, he entered the Miami airport.

But he didn’t realize he was also entering into a life filled with days and months of hardship, ridicule because of his inability to speak the language, humiliation and intense loneliness.

But he pressed on. He worked night and day in manual labor and managed to save enough money for airline tickets for my Mom, my younger brother, 11, and me, 12. In 1964, we arrived in the land of opportunity where dreams come true. And while we emptied our suitcases, we filled our hearts with gratitude for the privilege of living in the U.S.

Decades swept by, my father is now in heaven, with full sight and with never-ending joy. And today, with my own joy, I celebrate his life.

We can all do the same.

With boldness, we can celebrate God, the heavenly Father who teaches what faith, courage and trust can do. He gives His word for victory and in the midst of a pandemic, He gives these four promises.

  1. Even while the virus of anxiety spreads. In the darkness of the situation, God, like a good father provides the promise that He will be a lamp to our feet and the light for our path (Psalm 119:105).
  2. Even when the economy fails but we don’t fail to bring our first fruits to him, He, promised to fill our baskets until they overflow (Malachi 3:10).
  3. When fear attacks, He gives the path to overcome it (Psalm 27:1-3).
  4. And when troubles pile up, He reassures He overcame all so victory is ours (John 16:33).

During any pandemic, living with joy is a daring attitude, but doable in all aspects. Although we cannot overcome the circumstances, we conquer what goes on inside us. We don’t see the problem; we gaze at the possibilities instead. We don’t dwell in the negative, we dive into God’s pure hope.

We can because even when we’re blinded by painful adversity, we can still set our eyes on His promises that are worth remembering, embracing and worth celebrating this Father’s Day.

Let’s Pray

Father, thank You for lifting the blinders from my eyes. Thank You for showing me what You are capable of doing even in the midst of the pandemic of fear and virus of discouragement. We praise you because in You, we’re more than conquerors. In Jesus name.

How about you, if you know Christ, do you dare expect a new, fresh, beautiful tomorrow?

Janet

______________________________________

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

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.

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

Let’s connect:

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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A Morning of Memories

16 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Monday, I sat on my porch savoring the morning flurry of bird’s wings as they enjoyed breakfast at our feeder. My tablet was open to a daily reading and I soaked up the peaceful combination of nature and scripture. One verse brought a chuckle to my heart.

“So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” HEBREWS 13:6

I recalled the first time I claimed and clung to this verse, especially the last part. What can man do to me?

It was 1978 and I was a stay at home mother of two small children. After years of a stagnant economy on the Florida Space Coast, my husband was blessed with a job offer working on the Shuttle program. The downside was that for a time, he would be making less money than he was earning as a gas station attendant.

By coincidence…? I was taking Medical terminology courses at our local hospital and was currently enrolled in a class teaching the duties of a Ward Clerk. ( I figured out the only way to be sure to get some me time was if I was taking a class.)

My husband was definitely taking the job at the space center and on a whim, I asked the instructor if the hospital hired part-time clerks. Part time work would keep us afloat financially.

Before I knew it, I had a part time job working 2 days per week on second shift. I even had a neighbor’s teen lined up to watch the children until my husband got off work.

There is a thorn in this story, though. Although most of the doctors were kind, there was one who was a terror. I think the man lived to yell and belittle people. Every time he made rounds on the unit, I was terrified.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

That’s where the verse comes in. As the doctor created chaos I would silently repeat…The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can MAN do to me?

It worked and I have called on that verse many times. And the best part? Several months later the doctor went into semi-retirement and no longer admitted patients to the hospital where I worked.

Once my husband got his foot into the door at the space center, he soon transferred to another company that paid more. I continued working for the hospital for 32 years.

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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Northern Bobwhites

15 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Backyard Birds

To my surprise, I’ve discovered that 130 different breeds of quail grace our beautiful earth. 

Where we live, near Cape Kennedy, close to the Indian River, the quails are Northern Bobwhites. I also learned that Bobwhites need the same habitat as Florida Scrub-Jays. While the Jays build their nests in low shrubs and bushes, the  Bob-Whites weave their nests on the ground. 

Quail are like human tribes that live together, work together, and travel together. Sometimes they sleep in a circle with their tails toward the middle of the ring. That reminds me of western movies that show wagon trains circle up for the same reason.

Years ago, we heard Bob-Whites calling out from the scrub habitat behind our house. We have not heard them for a long time, however, so we were glad to see a juvenile quail wander into the yard and start eating the seeds other birds had tossed to the ground from the feeder. Suddenly we saw a flurry of feathers and surmised the juvenile was in trouble. It got even worse when we saw a blurry show of feathers and figured the worried mother wanted to teach her offspring not to go off on his own.  

Our environmentalist son once told a story about quails where he and his wife take their morning walk. Its a place where there are few houses and many fields. One day they saw baby quails inside a field fence chirping and calling. Then they heard the two-note song of a mature quail. The small birds scurried off as fast as he could go. I doubt if those babies got into much trouble, though, they just wanted to be with their tribe. That was accomplished by staying in touch and honoring whoever was looking after them. 

A Bible verse comes to mind:

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” 

Exodus 20:12  

Photo credit Pixabay

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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Random Memories of Germany-Part 3

14 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

We arrived in Heidelberg near the end of June, 1980.

It had been a wet month for Germany, and by the time the rain ended, it had rained 38 straight days!  And it was COLD!!  And when our hold-baggage arrived, I realized that I had not packed any sweaters for us, nor did I have any closed-toes shoes – except my bright turquoise running shoes!  So first trip was to the Exchange to purchase some of those things.  When our household goods would arrive, we would have all those things on hand, but we needed them NOW!

As I mentioned last time, we found the church we wanted to be members of shortly after getting into town.

Grace Baptist Church – meeting in a building owned by a German congregation

The pastor had been there at least three years and left within a month of our joining.  Neither Fred nor I can remember whether or not we had an “interim” pastor, or if some of the men of the church did the preaching.  

A pastor-search committee was formed, and both Fred and I were on it.  Since we were so far away from the States, all “interviews” and sermons by pastoral candidates were done either via video or tape.  Not the best, but the only way we could do it.  We couldn’t afford to buy a plane ticket for each person we interviewed.

One candidate comes to mind, and I’ve never forgotten it.  He was from California, and wanted to come interview in person.

Credit Google Search and map-with-no-cal-420-Occasio Winery

We had heard a sermon from him via tape, and were interested in him.  As I recall, he had distant relatives in Europe, and since he wanted to visit them while in Europe, he paid his own way over and back.

He arrived on a Friday and the entire committee – with spouses – took him to our favorite restaurant for supper, Grimingers.  Oh my did they have good food!!  We ate and talked some, but didn’t really get down to the nuts-and-bolts of his coming to Germany for three years.  And so, I offered to have the committee (without spouses!) come to our house after Sunday’s service for lunch and we could talk about the nitty-gritty stuff, i.e. salary, etc.  And I would serve my world-famous French Onion Soup!  (Karen always told me that I bragged about it too much!  But hey, if you’re good, you’re good, right?!)

And so it happened.  However, when he asked us how we would get his entire household goods over there (at least three bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, family room – all full of furniture), and his two cars, we were taken aback a bit.  We told him we would pay for 2,000 pounds of furnishings – same as the military allowed – and one car.  Then HE was taken aback.  He kind of stumbled over his next words, and essentially turned us down. 

So that was that – back to square one.  We “interviewed” several other men over the next few months, and finally settled on a man from Georgia.

Credit Google Search and Studio 21 Chase Harrington

The committee was in complete agreement on him, and the congregation was to vote to call him the next Sunday.  The Saturday before the vote, Fred received a phone call – from the gentleman from California.  He asked that we reconsider him for the pastorate.  He said that he felt God was trying to get his attention – you see, there had been a house fire, and most of his belongings were destroyed.  Both of his cars had been wrecked.

Yeah, I would say God was trying to get his attention, wouldn’t you?  Fred informed him that the next day was to be the vote on another candidate (the man from Georgia), and Fred would let him know the results.

Amazing, isn’t it?  We think we are trying to do God’s will, but the world just keeps creeping into our lives.

Well, we called the man from Georgia, and he did become our pastor, and he did become Karen’s father-in-law in later years.  But…that’s another story.  Perhaps next week, hm?

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

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.

Live With Joy

13 Jun

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Onisha here, posting an exciting webinar that Janet will be hosting online Tuesday, June 16th at 8 pm Eastern Standard time. I participated in the webinar today and it was inspiring. Janet never allows her blindness to limit her ministry and love for God.

LIVE WITH JOY OVERFLOWING

EVEN IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS

Crisis seems to be all around us.  What if you could experience overflowing joy even in the midst of chaos?  How would that affect your life?  Your relationships?  Your work? Your health?  Janet Perez Eckles has endured devastating tragedies throughout her life including the death of her son, betrayal by her spouse, and the loss of her sight.  Instead of being overwhelmed by these events, she has forged a path straight through adversity and found a profound joyfulness on the other side!  She will be revealing the exact step by step blueprint of how she has conquered fear and now lives with joy overflowing!

Here is the link to the webinar page.  https://bit.ly/jperegister

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Mockingbirds

8 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Photo Pixabay

Mockingbirds live in the lower half of the United States, going a little north to breed. We have always had them in our subdivision in Florida, which is semi surrounded by woods. When I put on my white hat and sunglasses and take up my trekking poles to go on a walk, I usually come near a mockingbird or two.

Many times, they seem to follow me and then fly a bit ahead to the top of a low tree to stage a concert. One day I stayed to the end of the beautiful music, marveling how many different songs the Mockingbird knew. The research I’ve read majors on their singing, and I major on it too. During such a song, they will be sitting like an angel at the top of a Christmas Tree.

What I love, is to see one lift his wings and pop up off the tree and quickly land again. It seems he is so full of happiness that he cannot contain it. That is to me, a sign that God gives his winged creatures joy just as he does His people.  

I believe God gave Mockingbirds the gift of singing as an example for his sons and daughters on earth. He wants all his people to love music as much as He does. He wants us to sing and play instruments as praise to him and all He does for us. Our Lord likes to hear us making praise noises, whether we can sing or not. When we read the Bible, we see how much God loves songs. 

All about Mockingbirds

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Psalm 100 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Praise God100 A poetic song for thanksgiving
“1 Lift up a great shout of joy to the Lord!
Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!
2 As you serve him, be glad and worship him.
Sing your way into his presence with joy!

 

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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Random Memories of Germany-Part 2

7 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Last time, I wrote about the pathway between our housing area (Mark Twain Village or MTV) and Patton Barracks in Heidelberg. 

It was a shortcut between the facilities, and one we could walk easily.  We were able to experience a lot of God’s good earth along that pathway.  We saw the garden platz that the Germans used to grow their own vegetables.  But the blackberry bushes were our favorites.  And the berries were free to any and all who would or could pick the berries.  Yummmm!

Credit Google Search and Pixabay

We also enjoyed the pizza that was made at the pizza parlor on Patton Barracks.  And it was a favorite of most of the military there – of any and all ranks!

But I have another memory of that pathway.  It started with us arriving in Germany and getting into temporary housing.  We were there several weeks in that glorified hotel room, and had to eat either in the restaurant downstairs, or on the economy (military speak for the civilian population).

One of the first things we did was to locate a church for us to attend.  Of course there was the base Chapel, but that really didn’t suit us, even though Fred’s father had been a Chaplain in the Air Force most of his career.  (I say most, because he was a Chaplain in the Army during World War 2, before the Air Force became the Air Force)

In finding the church, we found it was meeting in the church building that was owned by a German Baptist congregation. 

The church we met in

 It was within walking distance of MTV, and so when we moved in there, we walked most Sundays to the church.  However, the German congregation met during what we considered our Sunday School time, so our Sunday School met in an English Institute which was a school that taught English as a second language to Germans. It was not far from the church facility.  And then, following Sunday School time, we would all go over the few blocks to the German church building and have our worship service.

All that to say that we found the pastor of that church had been there for his three year term, and had already resigned and was ready to head back stateside.  In the few weeks we were in the church, I got to know the pastor’s wife fairly well.  She was telling me that one time she was doing her jogging along the pathway between MTV and Patton Barracks when a German teenager came upon her with his bicycle.  He began to ride behind her, as if chasing her.  She said she finally turned around to him and said “geh weg!! (go away!)”  At that point, he stopped chasing her.

Well, I thought it was funny.  I told it to Fred, and we devised a skit to retell the story during a “roast” the church had for the pastor and his family before they left Germany.  I had on a pair of shorts under my skirt, and we fashioned a set of “handlebars” for Fred, complete with a sign saying “bicycle,” and when the time came for our skit, I took off my skirt, jumped up, Fred took up his handlebars and began chasing me around the room.  We went on for a few minutes, and then I told him to go away!  

Looking back – it was a fun memory.  We haven’t kept up with that pastor and his wife.  However, the pastor that followed became our oldest daughter’s father-in-law, so we have kept up with them.  But that’s for another story.

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

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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Five habits that must go during the pandemic

6 Jun

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged June 6, 2020

June 5, 2020

Finally, a visit to the park. But as hubby, grandkids and I entered, the picnic tables were blocked off. Rope also surrounded the playground. What to do?

But a distance away, across the green grass, under a tree, a bench waited for us. We settled in and a soft breeze caressed our face.

“This is the life,” my granddaughter said.

I agreed. Before the quarantine, we took so much for granted and now, this visit in the warm sunshine became a new-found treasure.

Suddenly, the sun went behind clouds, the breeze turned to wind. Then something brushed my arm.

“Something fell on me,” I said to hubby.

“It’s a leaf. Remember, we’re under a big tree.”

As the wind shook its branches, one by one, a few leaves landed on me.

I tried to ignore them. But with each tickle from the leaf on my skin, I lifted it and between my fingers, I noticed their texture and shape—some firm and perfectly formed, others bigger, dry and withered.

The leaves were a reminder.

Those fluttering leaves reminded me of all that fell in my life—trials, pain, then joy, peace and contentment—each with its own texture and shape to impact my world.

The same thing has happened to many during this pandemic. Leaves of adversity have fallen. Although unexpected, they don’t discriminate. They land on all—rich, poor, black, white, good, not so good. All are affected in some way.

But not all sink in defeat. Those who thrive, persevere, and end up better than before do so not because of what they do. But because they avoid these five habits that turn to dangerous traps:

Trap No 1.      Wake up with thoughts of what’s wrong, what they’ve lost or what they might lose.

Trap No. 2.     Count on government to be the provider.

Trap No. 3.     Ponder about what life was like before the virus, lamenting their broken plans.

Trap No. 4.     Agree with social media posts that emphasize the gloom and repeat the pessimistic view.

Trap No. 5.     Enter into the habit of listening to the nightly news and take to bed what they just heard.

These snares have carried many to anxiety, worry, depression and some, as statistics indicate, to suicidal tendencies.

There’s a better way.

Conversely, those who are riding this pandemic on the vehicle of hope, with optimism and expectation, have developed a healthier spiritual immune system, bounce back from illness, and become stronger.

We can all do the same by learning to read, believe, internalize and trust in these four truths:

  1. When feeling alone with our problems, our uncertainty and insecurities, God turns it to confidence: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6)
  2. In the midst of a crisis, pandemic or diseases, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
  3. I will not be discouraged and will have restful sleep because as I go day by day, God made this promise, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
  4. No matter what destruction may threaten me and my family, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:2)

Our faith has to equal God’s help, ever-present and unwavering. And with full trust in Him, we declare the best will come, His shield will stand and

Let’s Pray

Lord, how often I let the world dictate my view, my thinking, and my attitude. I will change my habits and will embrace a solid belief in what You say rather than the gloom that echoes in the world. In Jesus name.

What habits do you need to change these days?

Janet

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Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

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.

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Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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