Tag Archives: #amblogging

I Will Listen to You

5 Sep

My Take

DiVoran Lites

You will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Photo Credit:Pixabay

To enjoy a choral presentation of the beloved song, Jesus Loves Me on You Tube:

https://youtu.be/4s1so1dTu7o

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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Church

4 Sep

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Do you love church?  I mean, do you love to GO to church?

When most people say “let’s go to church” they are usually referring to the church building they attend.

Far too often, we have forgotten that the church building is just that…a building where believers gather together to worship.

And far too often, we forget that it is the believers that gather within that church building who are the church.  The building is just a convenient place to gather.

I want to make a disclaimer here – I am about to show in pictures some of the church buildings where I have attended.  But I realize that they are just buildings.  It is the body of believers within those buildings that I have loved.  And so….

I have been involved with many churches throughout my life.  I was born in Dallas, Texas, and my family attended the First Baptist Church there.  Since we moved away just before I was four-years-old, I have only faint memories of that building or believers.  Fred and I have been back to visit and tour that campus, but it raises no memories to me. (firstdallas.or

FBC Dallas, Texas

FBC Dallas, Texas – photo by Judy Wills

The church we attended in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we moved to from Texas, was the First Baptist Church. That body of believers established themselves as the First Baptist Church of Albuquerque in 1853.  It was been an active church ever since.  The congregation has now built a new building in which to worship.  It is quite modern and up-to-date, and from the pictures I looked at online, it is a growing body with many believers.  I am thrilled.  (fbcabq.com)

As I look at the picture below, I am almost in tears.  That building was my first experience with “church” and it holds many memories dear to my heart.  My family attended that building every Sunday that I can remember.  We had Sunday School there in the classrooms, a room where the choir met before going into the Sanctuary choir loft, and the Sanctuary itself.  I sang in the children’s choirs all the way up to the Adult Choir.  I was baptized there.  Fred and I met and were married in that building.  Dear to my heart, indeed.

Photo credit First Baptist Church, Albuquerque

First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico Credit Goggle Search

After we married, we moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where we joined the Travis Avenue Baptist Church.  The body of believers in that congregation was quite large, so most of our friendships revolved around the Sunday School classes, and the choir.  It was a wonderful time in our lives, and I feel we both grew, spiritually during that time. (travis.org)

Travis Avenue Baptist Church

Credit Google Search

Fred was attending the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, at the time, in preparation for a life of full-time ministry.  God had other plans for us, but those years in the Seminary prepared us both for other ministries.

SWBTS

Credit Google Search

When Fred entered the U.S. Air Force, he (we) were sent to San Jose, California, for Fred to study Meteorology at San Jose State College (now University). 

San Jose State University

Credit Google Search and San Jose State University website

 We were to be there for only one year of study – from June to June.  We attended several different churches before finding the one we felt God wanted us to join.  One of the churches we visited was pastored by a man who was a friend of my father’s. (Baptist Temple)  Fred and I had just about decided to join another church, when this man and his wife came to visit us.  They were quite insistent that we belonged to their congregation – Fred with his Seminary training could assist with the Sunday School program.  With my music training, I could play either the piano or organ.  So we decided to join – to their relief.  However, we found out quite quickly that it was NOT where God wanted us to be.  While we made friends and worshiped there, we were unsettled the entire time we were in San Jose.  Fortunately, it was only for one year.  But we learned our lesson – we never again joined a church without absolutely knowing that was the church where God wanted us to serve.

WE ARE THE CHURCH!

~~~~~~~~~~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 and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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How to Get Rid of Loneliness

3 Sep

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged September 3, 2022

September 2, 2022

How can it happen? Whether we’re in a crowd or in the darkness of a silent room the battle to get rid of loneliness begins.

I was stunned. CNN reported yesterday that among thousands of entries, my hometown, La Paz, Bolivia, where I was born and spent my childhood, was named the No. 1 wonder of the world.

But let me share a native’s point of view.

In La Paz, being the highest capital in the world because of its altitude, visitors can become deathly ill due to the decreased amount of oxygen.

On the other hand, on a sunny day, the vibrant shade of sky blue that canopies over the city is breathtaking.

La Paz is built inside a sort of moon crater. Houses of all kinds dot the mountains that surround the city. And at night, a visitor may seem as if he were inside a gigantic Christmas tree. The lights that splash all the way to the mountain tops seem to blend with the stars in the sky, creating a unique splendor.

But how sad, that closeness is a contrast to the distance we feel from God when loneliness attacks. When we feel abandoned, we can’t help but imagine God to be distant and abstract. We believe the lie that repeats we have no one. God has forgotten us. And we have no way to overcome loneliness.

Here are three not-so-secret ways to wipe out these lies:

  1. In the silence, in the still of the moment God is present because His Word says that “…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39).
  2. If we’re in God’s company, we have already conquered the army—fear, anxiety and depression that equip loneliness. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).
  3. Embracing God’s promise ushers hope that tomorrow new things will come about. He promised: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

The enemies of any loneliness are God’s promises that repeat:

Nothing can come between us and His everlasting, forever-enduring love. Even when rejection sears and disappointment hurts, loneliness can’t come in because God is the perfect companion of our soul. Loneliness has no power, knowing He’s about to bring on something new, something wonderful and beautifully presented in His divine timing.

Let’s Pray

Father, while in the wasteland of loneliness or the desert of despair, I declare that tomorrow You will bring about new ways, new paths, and new open doors. I wait in anticipation for the loneliness that burdens my days to turn to the peace that comes from you. The reassurance that your promises carry. And I will be filled with the joy that doesn’t flow from others but from You. I count on the power of Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

How will you receive God’s comfort to overcome loneliness today?

Janet

______________________________________

I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

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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2022 Road-Trip Part 3A

31 Aug

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 3 (5/18/2022)

This morning, after breakfast, I headed west 25 miles on US-84 to visit the U.S. Army Aviation Museum located at Ft. Rucker, AL only to find that the museum was on the base and took a special pass to enter.  The visitor office didn’t open for an hour, and I didn’t have the time to wait around and deal with the paperwork, so I just headed west about 10 miles on SR-248 to check out the Boll Weevil Monument located in Enterprise, AL.  The monument turned out to be situated in the middle of town at the intersection of S. Main Street and W. College Street.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

As I looked around the intersection, I noticed that there was a Boll Weevil Café on the corner, and a Boll Weevil mural on the side of a building.  Not being a true Southerner (I was born and raised in the southwest) I needed a little explanation for why a town would erect a prominent monument to such an insect.  Then I spied a historical marker.  “Herald of Prosperity?”  That inscription only increased my confusion.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

The internet told me that the boll weevil was the most devastating insect to hit the southern cotton industry during the early 1900s.  The cotton industry tried everything they could think of to get rid of the boll weevil, but nothing worked.  Then in 1916 a local Enterprise seed broker named H.M. Sessions suggested alternate crops as a way to combat the boll weevil.  Peanuts and other crops, such as tobacco and potatoes, eventually turned the economic disaster around (Ref. George Washington Carver & the peanut).  However, it wasn’t until 1958, with the help from scientists with the USDA, that a synthetic blend of the boll weevil’s pheromone (chemicals produced by the glands in insects) was finally developed.  As it turned out, it was the boll weevil’s own pheromone that did them in.  This product is now used to lure boll weevils into traps where they can be sprayed with pesticides.

Photo Credit: sandiegouniontribune.com/boll-weevils-begone/

I only had to walk one block from the Boll Weevil Monument to the Enterprise Railroad Depot Museum.  This small museum is located in the original 1903 Alabama Midland Railway depot which serviced the growing Coffee County and surrounding south Alabama areas during its early years of growth.  The interior of the depot is unchanged from when passenger service was terminated in 1958 and is filled with local antique railroad artifacts and memorabilia.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Heading west another 45 miles on US-84, I passed thru the small towns of Opp, Babble, and Sanford to visit the Andalusia Railroad Depot Museum (also called the Three Notch RR Museum) located in Andalusia, AL.  This small museum is located in the original restored 1899 Central of Georgia Railway depot and is filled, top to bottom, with local railroad artifacts and memorabilia dating from the late 1800s.  The depot served Andalusia and the surrounding Covington County area until 1983 when the last train left the station.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Min’s Cafe-Part 6

29 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

School

When we were in fifth grade, we were consolidated. For all the years the valley had been populated, the children had tiny schools scattered over the valley. Some of them were far away from the ranch, and the children had to walk through snow drifts to get to school and home again. The names of the schools were the names of the ranchers that built them. There were twenty-six school districts in the relatively small valley. 

Image by Jo Justino from Pixabay

We were taken to Silvercliff on a bus instead of walking to school. I recall one time when the whole class, oh about six people, had to walk because the bus was unavailable. That was fun; we laughed and played the whole mile to the Silvercliffe school. 

I recall riding a bus out to a ranch with some of our ranch friends. Their lives were very different from ours, considering the amount of work they had to do. At one of the farms, I saw my first different child who could not attend school because he had Down’s syndrome. That made me very sad. I must have eaten something I wasn’t used to at another ranch because I got sick. Another place I recall was where I couldn’t get out of bed in the middle of the night. There was furniture around the children’s bed, and I couldn’t get out in the dark. I suppose I went back to sleep and managed to “hold it” until dawn.

Back in town, we had town dances at two different places. One was the upper room of the only grocery store (which in future years was blown off the building). The other was the basketball area at the high school. I loved those dances. We were taken to one of the old ranch schools for a square dance. 

During the town dances, Mrs. Erps played a honky tonk piano. The town quilters had made a beautiful quilt for someone who stopped in the right ring that was painted on the floor. I was thrilled down to my toes when my little brother and I, walking around, stopped in the right place. The quilt had a blue background with flowers and a yellow backing. All the names of the quilter were stitched into the quilt. I was thrilled, but my brother did not need it, so he gave me his half. It wore completely out decades later.

Our parents stayed at the restaurant during the dances, and the people came for refreshments. Mother and Daddy would casually ask, “How are those kids of ours doing?” They were assured the kids were doing fine and having a good time. Everybody looked after everyone else in those days and at that place.

Susie Luthi, whose father had the hotel, taught the children’s Sunday School at the church where Mother sent us. She was sixteen, and I was twelve. She got polio and was sick for a very long time. She asked me if I would take over the teaching because I was the only child interested in the Bible. We only had five children in the class. Over the time of my life, I have taught Sunday school for many years. The last time I saw Susie was at a school reunion not too many years ago, and she was still beautiful and sweet.  

My best friend Patience and I both won a trip to Denver. Mine was for writing a Colorado Young Citizens League speech contest that year, and her’s was for winning the spelling bee at her level. The speeches were about the history of education in Colorado. 

Patience and I had our first banana split at an ice cream parlor. We climbed up on the stools to sit at the marble fountain counter. We ordered the first banana split either of us had ever tasted.

Image by Hans Schwarzkopf from Pixabay

It was terrific, but we couldn’t eat it all. Just as we had vowed to be friends even when we were grandmothers (which we are), we vowed never to forget the ice cream, banana pieces, and syrup left in the bottom of the dish. I’ve only had about three banana splits and never could finish one. At one time, Bill’s sister and her husband shared one with us at a Dairy Queen. The four of us didn’t have any trouble polishing that one off. 

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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Chicken Pox and Shingles

28 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

I don’t believe I had the chicken pox when I was a child – at least I don’t remember having it.  

Credit Pixabay

Measles (German measles), yes, and strep throat a LOT…but not chicken pox.  My brother, Bill thinks he had chicken pox – and the mumps – as a child.  He also said: “Oh yes, and I also had shingles as an adult. Terrible disease!”

Credit Pixabay

I know that my husband Fred, had chicken pox, because there is a “chicken pox pit” in each of his face cheeks.  It must have been a really bad case of it, poor thing.  I must admit – I don’t even “see” them anymore.  

When our Karen was a little thing, chicken pox ran rampant through the church.  I had hoped she would get it (is that a terrible thing for a mother to wish for?), and get that particular childhood disease behind her.  But she never did – until she was 14 years old!  Sorry Karen – I know that embarrasses you, but it’s good for this story. She was quite embarrassed back then, as well.  Because she knew of the “pits” in Fred’s face, she made sure she didn’t scratch any blisters on her face.  But she said there was one in her hair that she scratched a lot!

Our Janet was exposed to chicken pox when she was five-years-old, and came down with a fairly light case of it.  I picked her up, held her right in front of her daddy’s face, and said, “do you want holes in your face, like Daddy has?”  She replied no, so I told her to NEVER to scratch any of the blisters on her face!!  And she didn’t.

Janet, age 5

Well, either she and I were exposed at the same time, or I caught the virus from her, because at the same time she had chicken pox, I had a light case of shingles!  I say “light” because it manifested itself on my back in a patch about the size of a silver dollar!

Credit Google Search – Eisenhower Silver Dollar

Lots of blisters, and all that goes along with chicken pox/shingles, and it was not a lot of fun!  However, from what I’ve heard from other people,  I am very grateful for my “light” case!  An interesting footnote to my “light” case – that “patch” on my back is still “numb” – even after all these years.  I guess it killed the nerve endings in that spot.  Amazing.

I remember when Fred’s mother had a case of shingles.  It landed in her face, nearly reaching her eye.  I’m told that, if it gets in the eye, it can cause blindness.  We were grateful that it did not reach her eye!  I’ve heard so many horrible stories about shingles.  It is not a friendly disease!

Later, when I was going through chemo for breast cancer, my doctor was almost in a panic that I hadn’t had either the pneumonia shot or the shingles shot.  She said it would be a “disaster” if I were to get either disease while going through chemo!  So I was given both of those shots.

I guess that’s a good thing, because when our grandtwins were about one year old, we made a trip to Virginia to visit with the family.  One evening Janet and Tom went out – a rare date since the twins arrived – and Fred and I kept the twins.  They had both been fussy most of the day, and Connor was crying so hard and consistently, that I grabbed him up, settled us both in the recliner, and let him sleep on my chest.  When Janet and Tom returned the next morning and got a look at the twins, we realized they had “spots” all over them.  Sure enough – it was chicken pox!  So glad I had taken that shingles shot!  We never really determined where the twins picked up the virus, except they had been at the YMCA taking swimming lessons.  It’s possible, I guess.

Well, the latest info on shingles (which they keep saying that at our age we REALLY need that shot!) is that they have developed a new – and better – shingles shot, but it is a two shot procedure.  We’ve taken the first one, but haven’t been informed as to when we need the second one.  Seems a bit hap-hazard to me, hm?

I’m also told that the shingles/chicken pox virus remains in the body for a lifetime.  Now THAT’s a scary thought!

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 and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Min’s Cafe-Part 5

22 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Animals

Free photos of Horse

I was six years old when Dad came home from WWII, and we bought Min’s Café in Westcliffe. Dad wanted my brother and me to have a horse, so he bought us a part Shetland pony, a small horse breed. We called him Yankee. At first, Dad would help me into the saddle, but the minute he let go of the reigns, Yankee took off for the corral where he and the other town horses lived. The small horse was the master until Dad showed us how to rule over him when we rode. 

We soon outgrew Yankee and Dad got bigger horses. We were free to gallop on dirt roads when no cars or tractors were there. But not on the prairie, where there were many Prairie-Dog holes for the horses to step into and break their legs. We went out to the rodeo grounds and played with the horses, with my brother changing from one to the other. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

Another time we played with the horses by having them step over the treated logs that would soon be supporting street lights at the end of Mainstreet. My horse stumbled, and I flew off his back. It knocked the breath out of me, but I got up and mounted again, which Daddy had always told us to do. Otherwise, if we walked away, we would grow afraid and never get on a horse again. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

We had Brownie the dog, a tiger cat, two family horses, and later two donkeys for packing on a fishing trip. Yes, many donkeys are indeed as stubborn as three-year-olds. My brother and I never got them to do anything we wanted. Each of us was given a calf, but mine died. It was the first real heartache I had ever experienced. Why did she have to die so young?

The train station was built during the silver rush in Silvercliff, now a tiny town. It was a toss-up whether Denver or Silvercliff would become the capital of Colorado. The train station’s history now includes the story of why the tracks that ran on the side of a mountain were taken out. In wintertime, heavy snow piling up pushed the tracks off the mountainside, and the line had to be constantly repaired. 

Needing a bigger place to live and a place to accommodate paying guests, Dad bought the old train depot, and he and Mother renovated it.

Of course, the building had a wooden walk, and Dad had to take it out. It was spring, and baby rabbits ran everywhere. Dad gave me a soft baby rabbit and sent me upstairs to pet it. There were too many rabbits in the valley to keep as they harmed the terrain. Naturally, we had to “get rid” of them. It was like living in the Old West. The mountains always soothed me, though. I knew God had made them, and they were our fortress.

Photo Credit:Pixabay

In this place, I first became aware of the sound of coyotes in the night. I wasn’t afraid because I knew they were God’s coyotes, and he wouldn’t let them hurt me. 

Photo Credit:Pixabay

 We lived in Westcliffe until it was time to move on. I was twelve years old. Then we moved to Los Alamos, the heart of the Atomic Bomb, where Dad became a gate guard, and later, after we moved to Albuquerque, a courier for carrying bombs in a big semi. 

To be continued, but still in Westcliffe

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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Worry

14 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

REBLOGGED FROM 2015

[In today’s world, this is very timely – 

please note that this was written in December – and now it is August]

Worry………..worry……………worry…………

Are you a worry-wart?  That’s a good old-fashioned phrase that my Mother used to say.

And what better time of year to be a worry-wart than December?  It always hits me in the face on December 1st that it is DECEMBER……and I don’t have a single THING purchased or made for ANYONE in the family!  Worry……worry….worry………what will I get everyone, and when will I have to mail the packages…..

And how will I EVER get the house decorated in time for it to be worthwhile?

And how will I EVER get all the Christmas cards done and in the mail before Christmas Eve?

And then there are the Christmas cookies to make…..

And how will I EVER …………   Well, you get the picture.

I found this cartoon (credit Charles Schultz) on facebook recently, and it made me realize just how worthless all that worry is.  See what you think.

And then, there is the directive from the scriptures that really just says it all:

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:27 

And here is the kicker:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

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 and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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How to Get Rid of Anxiety

13 Aug

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged August 1, 2022

August 12, 2022

In this story, could these camels be wanting to get rid of anxiety and confusion?

A baby camel looked up to his mother, “Mommy, why do we have these long eyelashes, these big hooves and a hump on our back?”

She turned to him. “God made us that way for a very special reason,” she explained. “Our large feet are to keep us from sinking into the sand.”

“Why the big eyelashes?” he asked.

“It’s to protect our eyes from the sand.”

“Why the big humps?”

“That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the hot desert!”

“I see!” The baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother. “The large feet are to keep us from sinking into the sand, the long eyelashes are to keep the sand out of our eyes, and the humps are to store energy to travel…then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?”

I asked the same question. Like the camel, I was equipped to face life. I had desires, dreams, and plans to reach heights.

But instead, at the age of 30, my eyesight closed in completely. I sat inside a sorry cage called anxiety. The bars that trapped me in were called lies: without sight, I’d be unproductive; I’d be unlovable, unworthy and ugly.

Those were the destructive lies that kept me bound back then until Christ Jesus brought the key to my freedom.

But today, different kind of lies keep many imprisoned: the economy will bring us down, inflation will be the end of us, our future is dark, and our security is at risk.

That’s what the world feeds us while we sit on the floor of that cage of restlessness. But the only way to get rid of that anxiety is through God’s truth, In His reassuring promises and in the proven ways He sets us free.

Here are five ways we can take action toward that freedom.

  1. Remain steady. Just because we don’t see God in action, doesn’t mean He’s not at work. Just because His help isn’t immediate doesn’t mean it’s not coming. When attacks come from all sides, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). His help is ever-present to showcase the truth that He’s God, almighty and powerful enough to correct the wrong, bring down opposition and remove evil.
  2. Be confident as His promise has the word never. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
  3. Declare with boldness your unwavering belief that His plans are at work. What we see in the world is temporary, feeble and weak. His plans and power weren’t altered by any pandemic, virus or economy setback. God’s up to something, something great and amazing because through the ages, “…he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:9-11)
  4. Brush away the enemy’s lie that says the world can steal our freedom. He may try, but Jesus overpowered his efforts: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
  5. Back away from trusting in your own wisdom, in your abilities or your ways to figure things out. Instead, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We get rid of anxiety when we trust in Him. Not halfway, but with all our heart, with all our faith and all our passion. We’ll never understand the world’s upside-down craziness. We’ll never comprehend how we got here or why. But obedience is the key—to recognize God is at work, He has the answer and His timing is flawless. He will direct our path right out of that cage by dismantling those bars of lies with His truth.

And similar to those camels, we’ll be out of the zoo of confusion. We’ll be free to declare a new beginning, strong enough to endure any setback. To believe in His triumph. To count on His ways and relish in a brand-new freedom.

Let’s Pray

Father, I’ve been in this cage for too long. Thank You for showing me how to follow You and walk out to my freedom. Thank you for my new life. In Jesus’ name.

What keeps you trapped these days?

Janet

______________________________________

I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

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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2022 Road Trip

10 Aug

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Prelog 

This year’s driving road trip is really a substitute for the trip to the northwestern U.S. & western Canada trip that I have had planned, but have had to postpone, for two years now because of Covid.  I hope the Canadian tourist restrictions for Americans entering into their country will be lifted by next year so I can visit that part of northwest America and parts of western Canada.  The main motivations for this road trip were to visit friends in Lester, AL and to visit The Arch in St. Louis.  I missed a visit to The Arch last time I was in St. Louis because of Arch construction, and I really wanted to visit that Iconic structure.  The other motivation for this trip was a visit the Museum of Transportation, also in St. Louis, the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, TN and The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.  I have been told by many friends The Ark Encounter is a must-see attraction.  The map below will give you an idea of the approximate route I have laid out for myself during this road trip.

Image Credit: https://mountainhighmaps.com/products/usa-eastern

The idea was to travel mostly on rural roads rather than Interstates to enable me to see more of each state I was passing thru.  I had been in parts of most of the states I would be passing thru on this trip, during previous road trips, but this route would allow me to see new and different parts of the states I wanted to see.   As I was finishing up my packing, our cat, Thea, came in and checked out what I was doing.  Then she jumped into my suitcase and gave me a look that I took to say, “OK, I’m ready to go.  When do we leave?”  I told her she had to stay home and take care of DiVoran while I was gone, so she wouldn’t get lonely.  I guess she was okay with that, as she jumped out of the suitcase and went to search for DiVoran (or a treat that I didn’t have for her).

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I’m driving my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan again this year on the trip instead of renting a car, because it served me well on last year’s trip and is so much more comfortable.  Of course, after all these years, I fit the van, and I like sitting up a little higher for better traffic viewing.  I don’t get quite the milage in the van a new rental car would give me, but if the route weather is as cool as predicted I should be able to keep the A/C turned off for better milage than is usual here in Florida.

So, I’m looking forward to starting this road trip tomorrow, when I’ll beSee the source image‘On the Road Again’.5in x 4in Black Double Eighth Note Sticker   I will keep you up-to-date on the many and varied experiences I encounter along the way.

                  Image Credit: on the road again clipart – Bing images

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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