But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace,
Free from fear, confident, and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered during the storms of life.
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.”
I think most of us have a “favorite place” where we like to eat. For some, it’s at home with all the home-made cooking we like to do, or like Mom used to make. I’m from the generation that came from that.
My family – Thanksgiving 1956
To eat “out” was a rare and precious privilege. There wasn’t a lot of money to throw around in my parent’s house, so we only ate out at special times. That got better as time went on, and going to the local Furr’s Cafeteria for lunch after church services became the norm. And we loved it.
Furr’s was known as the best grocery store in Albuquerque at the time, so when they added a cafeteria, we were ecstatic. And the food was good. We’ve eaten in many a “cafeteria” in past years where the food was only passable – and they didn’t last too long. But Furr’s was an exception. I’ve just checked online and found that it is now located in cities and states other than Albuquerque and New Mexico (Colorado, Texas), but it is still in existence – now known at Furr’s Fresh Buffett.
Credit Google Search and Furr’s website
My family also loved to eat Mexican food, and Albuquerque was loaded with just such places. Some of our favorite Mexican restaurants were in Old Town – either La Placita
Credit Google search and explorall50.com
Credit Google search and Pinterest
La Placita was known for the trees growing inside some of the rooms or La Hacienda.
Credit Google Search and Pinterest
They were practically next door to each other in Old Town, and only a few minutes from our church, so that was also an after-church place to eat. Of course, those were highly “touristy” restaurants, and they seemed to take turns having “good” food and “not so good” food. When one wasn’t too good, the other one was. And then it would take a change and we had to guess which one to go to that next time.
But then a really good Mexican restaurant opened its doors, called El Pinto.
Credit Google Search and b.zmtcdn.com
It opened after Fred and I married and moved away (1961), but Mother kept telling us it was her favorite place to eat. So we always went there when we visited Albuquerque. It lived up to Mother’s reviews. I just checked online and found it still in business with many glowing reviews.
We lived in a house just two doors down from a main auto artery, Lomas Blvd. If I walked to Lomas, and turned right, there was a little strip center there, with a small hamburger joint on the end of it. I don’t remember the name of it, but they made the BEST hamburgers there! They put chopped onions and mustard on their burgers, and wrapped them in wax paper, creating an aroma that I’ve never found since then. I think the nearest aroma to that I’ve found is when we were in Texas and ate Whataburgers. They are the best! And their burgers come the closest to that little burgers shop I’ve ever found. I really loved that place.
~~~~~~~~~~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.
His godly lovers triumph in the glory of God, and their joyful praises will rise even while others sleep. God’s high and holy praises fill their mouths, for their shouted praises are their weapons of war!
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.”
How do you connect with people? If you are in a business, you probably have some sort of “plan” to connect with people who could be your customers. We see ads in the newspaper and on the TV all the time for businesses selling their particular product. We see ads looking for people to work with a specific company, or in a specific position.
I’ve heard of people who attend benefits or parties or some such event just so they can “network” the system, and benefit themselves or their company.
But what is your connection to the one and only true living God? Is it an Easter and Christmas connection? Is it a once-a-month connection? Or is it a genuine, life-sustaining, personal relationship with God?
Credit Google Search
Credit ChurchArt
My brother Bill wrote about this recently. Here are his thoughts:
Our connection to God is, quite simply, the only way we can live this life with any purpose or satisfaction. It allows us to walk upright without staggering or tripping or falling down. There may be bumps in the road, but if we keep our eyes on that connection to God, He will keep us from falling flat on our faces. He will help us see the direction we need to take – to be His children.
We are blest, indeed.
~~~~~~~~~~This Concludes Bill’s thoughts through his Minute Meditations~~~~~~~~~~
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.
For they strengthen you inside and out and inspire you to do what’s right,
You will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring.
They give you living hope to guide you,
And not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble.
You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound.
Your rest will be sweet and secure.
You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you.
Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside,
Because God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation.
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.”
What gives you the most rest in your life? Is it just a good night’s sleep?
Credit Google Search
Is it vegging in front of the TV after work?
Credit Pixabay
Is it sleeping in that lawn chair after a hard day’s work?
Credit ChurchArt
Is it doing something other than work?
Fred and I have often agreed that, doing something different from your normal work day is a type of rest for your body and mind.
When I was working for a company in Virginia, one of my six (count them….SIX) bosses was a young man, very skilled in finance. It was a small company, and he was tasked to do a lot of things for the company. In his office, directly across the room from his desk, was a very large picture of a mountain scene, complete with snow, ski lift, and a bunch of skiers swooping down the mountain side. Snow skiing was his passion. I understood that, in a very stressful day, he had only to look at that picture for a few minutes, visualize himself in that picture-setting, and have a moment of rest.
Have you ever “rested” in the Lord? Have you ever just let yourself know that God is in complete control of whatever situation you find yourself in, and sit back, relax, and REST in God’s capable hands? WOW! Talk about rest!! That’s the ultimate.
My brother, Bill, wrote about this one time. Here’s what he said:
I’ve written about God’s perfect timing before, and it still stands. It’s when we can allow God to have complete contl of our lives that we experience true rest. The peace that comes with that rest is the best and most refreshing we will ever have. And if we wait upon the Lord, we will see that, indeed, His timing is perfect…and so is our REST in Him.
I am grateful.
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.
I held my mom’s hand and my 10-year-old mind took in the scenery. We zig zagged through the crowded narrow, cobblestone streets of my hometown of La Paz, Bolivia. The stench of the exhaust coming from the dilapidated busses mixed with the odor wafting from the sewage affected no one, including the street vendors. They sat at the edge of the sidewalks selling random items such as bananas, Bazooka gum, matches, bags of nuts and other items.
That’s why the scene related in Acts 3 brings back memories of my hometown. John and Peter stood before the crippled beggar outside the temple called Beautiful. “Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God” (Acts 3:1-9
From time to time, we’re all at the same gate, crippled by fear, bound by insecurities, limited by all that’s out of our control. And like the beggar, we’re hoping for answers that the world—doctors, government, our jobs, our pastor, friends or counselors—cannot give.
How do I know? Because I was that beggar. When I lost my eyesight completely at 30, I sat holding my cup of hope as I looked to professionals for a cure, treatment, or meds, to stop the progression of the retinal disease.
But time and time again, my cup ended up empty. Until that day when I lifted the eyes of my heart toward Jesus. Though physically blind, the eyes of my heart saw Him reaching down to me.
The beggar did the same. He also hoped that coins tossed his way would meet his needs. But when John and Peter mentioned Jesus, all changed. The mention of His healing power opened the way for the miracle.
But those miracles are uniquely tailored. It may take place in moments, over months or after many years. The healing may first be spiritual, then emotional and then physical. The way, the pattern or the order speaks of God’s perfect timing and perfect ways.
Although God’s timing for my healing was different that those of the beggar, I followed the same scenario: when I stretched out my hand of faith, Jesus took it. My focus changed: the world had no answers or cures. But Jesus began the healing of my heart, erasing my fear and sense of helplessness.
The beggar’s ankles became strong. I also became strong in believing God had not forgotten me. He had His healing hand upon me.
The beggar began to take steps. So did I. I took steps to draw close to Him, to follow His lead, and to see what door He would open next. His Word became the lamp unto my feet and the light for my path (Psalm 119:105).
The beggar began to jump and praise the Lord. Do you have the strength to silence opposition and believe in Jesus for the process to heal? As I write this, I cannot see my physical surroundings still, but my shouts of praise to the Lord have no limits or boundaries because He healed my spiritual vision.
I praise Him because He took my physical blindness to the cross. All I have to do is wait for its manifestation. I’m certain it will happen and while I wait, I use my 20/20 spiritual vision to live the rich and abundant life He promised.
How about you? Instead of stepping into that rich life, you might be seated at the gate that’s not beautiful. It’s ugly, dark, and threatening. But when your hand is lifted up toward Jesus, all the asking, pleading, and begging ends. Instead, rejoicing begins because no matter the timing, the manner, or stage of healing, you know Jesus already took all your infirmities, your disappointments, suffering and heartaches to the cross.
And while you wait for His healing to be manifested, your strength comes back, your steps are on solid ground, and the praises from your lips will invite new confidence, new expectations, and boundless hope. That’s where the abundance of life begins.
Let’s pray.
Father, to the world I may seem poor, crippled or blind, but in You, I know I’m healed, free and praising You as I dance in the halls of joy.
Celebrate with me! My new release, Now I See: How God’s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining Joy won the 2023 Memoir of the Year Golden Scroll Award.
You and I are only a click away. You can use this CONTACT FORM to leave your prayer request, make a comment, ask a question, or invite me to speak to your group. Or simply reply to this email.
I also invite you to visit my WEBSITE. You’ll find more inspirational blogs along with my story, books, and videos. You’ll also learn the passion and mission of JC Empowerment ministries.
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.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)
These two verses have comforted me over the years. No matter how fervently I pray over some situations, sometimes the answer never seems to come. I grow weary and question if I am praying the right way. Then I recall these verses and call upon the Holy Spirit to join me in prayer, to fill in the blanks when my words run dry, and to lead my heart in the direction of God’s will.
When the Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples at Pentecost, they received power to perform miracles, they gained courage to speak about Jesus as Messiah and king even in the face of death, and they followed the path God had set for them from the beginning. Life as a Christ follower isn’t easy, but we aren’t alone in it either.
Part of our job as Christians is to intercede on behalf of others. They may need God’s salvation, healing, comfort, encouragement, peace, or an actual physical need, like food and shelter. Webster’s dictionary defines intercede as “to intervene between two parties with a view to reconciling differences”. It’s a compact word for acting as a go-between for two parties, much like a lawyer acts as an intercessor in a legal dispute. Jesus came to Earth to intercede on our behalf, to take away the wrath of God upon our imperfect and sinful spirits. He continues to do so at the throne of God each time we pray.
Those who aren’t believers need us to intercede on their behalf, to go between them and God to seek His reconciliation and grace in their circumstances. It’s not a job for the faint of heart. It can take years for these types of prayers to be answered, and they weigh heavily on your heart, but they are truly important.
The way Dutch Sheets put it in his book Intercessory Prayer shifted my understanding. He said, “Intercessory prayer is an extension of the ministry of Jesus through His Body, the Church, whereby we mediate between God and humanity for the purpose of reconciling the world to Him, or between Satan and humanity for the purpose of enforcing the victory of Calvary …. Our authority comes from being sent ones, representing Jesus. As long as we function in that capacity, we function in Christ’s authority. And, in essence, we’re not really doing the works; He is.”
Whew! We don’t have to feel the pressure to complete the work we are praying for. We bring our requests to God and allow Him the freedom to work. Jesus already paid the ultimate price, won the ultimate victory, and made it possible for humanity to reap the reward of victory.
It’s a simple decision to accept that victory and allow it to change the way we live our lives. Alternatively, we can continue slogging along, thinking we can do everything on our own, and that there is nothing more than this current life. If this is all there is, do you really feel fulfilled? I know I want more. I want a world without sin, sickness, pain, war, death. All that awaits us in heaven, but only if we follow Jesus.
I’ll close today with another scripture that is resoundingly appropriate in our world today (emphasis is mine). “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:1-2)
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
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.”
An instrument you’ve scrimped and saved for, for so long you wondered whether or not you would ever be able to afford it?
Credit Google Search
That big-screen TV?
Credit Google Search
That stereo system? That computer? That ipad or iphone?
What about a pet? Is that considered a “possession” to you?
How did you feel after you acquired that prized possession? Did the possessing of it complete your life, like you thought it would? Or were you “let down” now that you had it in hand?
My brother, Bill, wrote about a woman who desired something – something she considered more than life itself:
In acquiring those prized possessions, if we consider how that possession can be used to God’s glory, then we can use it – “give it back to God” – and know that we have fulfilled God’s desire for us in that instance. We can give God the opportunity to bless us with our use of the possession.
The “essence” of this thought is that, what God gives still belongs to Him – to be used for His glory.
I had never thought about my possessions in that light. God really DOES want to give us the best, and to bless us with it.
WOW!
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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