Tag Archives: Christian bloggers

Old Friends

11 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

We have been blessed to have been able to travel a lot of this earth. We’ve seen many places that I had only heard of while in school (elementary, Junior High, High). And everywhere we’ve traveled, we’ve made friends. Some have stayed near and dear to us, others have fallen by the wayside, and we’ll just see them when we all get to heaven, and renew our friendships there.

And some have just stayed so close to us that they feel almost like family. Like the young man that we met when we first arrived in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1967. He was actually younger than Fred, but was Fred’s “superior” in rank. But then, Fred had those extra four years of schooling that Paul didn’t have, so………

He was an interesting young man, and we enjoyed his company a lot. After he left Germany, the Air Force transferred him to Minot, North Dakota, and from meteorology to “Missile Launch Officer.” Well, that didn’t last too long, and he got out of the military.

Next thing we know, he is attached to Wycliffe Bible Translators. We are pleased, because he has become a believer in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and wants to be a part of spreading the Good News to as much of the world as he can.

He married another Wycliffe member about 10 years later, and they had two children. They have traveled the world with Wycliffe, being missionaries everywhere they went.

We have had the wonderful privilege of meeting up with Paul and his family through the years, and supporting them spiritually and financially. Their children are grown now, and away from home, but Paul and Joyce continue to work with Wycliffe. He is in accounting, and Joyce has been a pre-school teacher – to missionaries children, and others wherever they have been.

We had a recent visit with them, and though it was a short visit, we renewed our friendship, and had a grand time just talking, and revisiting past times together. We talked about their time in Darwin, Australia, in Malaysia, and in Singapore. We also talked about what they are doing in Dallas, Texas at this time. We told them about our church here, our ministry there, our new pastor…all the things that we love and enjoy about the body of believers we are a part of here.

He reminded us that we had given him a “gift” before he left Germany – a copy of the “Good News for Modern Man: The New Testament in Today’s English.” It left such an impression on him – that he could read and understand the Bible in modern English – that he sought out salvation. We don’t even remember giving him the book.

It was a joyous and wonderful time together. We thank God for His wisdom in allowing us to have “forever” friends – those we enjoy here on this earth, and know that we will rejoice with them in heaven.

couple

 

 
I thank my God every time I remember you.

Philippians 1:3

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Laughter~An Oil Change for the Brain

9 May

From My Heart

Louise Gibson

Balderdash Mirth copy

 

 

LAUGHTER
{An Oil Change for the Brain)

Oh, what fun it was,
An evening of “Balderdash”-
A board game played by the “Gibson girls.”
Our reward was laughs, not cash

!I was reluctant to play, at first-
I felt intimidated by their knowledge.
I graduated from high school,
but I had never attended college.

The game, I found, was a stimulant.
It taxed my inner core-
We had to guess whose answer was true,
which made us laugh all the more.

I have to confess, I was a pretty good liar-
My answer was often chosen as “true”.
The game called for a great imagination,
based on our “point of view”.

The memories I treasure on Mother’s Day
are preserved in my heart-
I carry them with me at all times-
they are “riches” set apart!

Laughter in the Bible:

Genesis 18:13 “And the Lord said unto Abraham,
Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I of a surety
bear a child, who am old?”

Eccl. 2:2 “I said of laughter, it is mad: and of mirth.
What doeth it?”

Psalm 126:2 “Then was our mouth full of laughter,
our tongue with singing”

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What Makes God Anxious

8 May

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

What makes God anxious?  The word anxious tends to make one think of anxiety but I never thought to  link the words anxious and God together.

This morning, I read a devotional by David Wilkerson titled “The Blessings of Goodness” The scripture that really stood out for me was Isaiah 65:24

It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will “hear”.

David Wilkerson explained “This verse provides us with an incredible picture of our Lord’s love for us. Evidently He is so anxious to bless us, so ready to fulfill His loving-kindness in our lives, that He cannot wait for us to tell him our needs. He jumps in and performs acts of mercy, grace and love toward us before we even ask-and that is a supreme pleasure to Him”

Imagine, God  can hardly wait to  provide for us! Can you recall a time when God had already placed someone or something in your life before you even knew you had a need? I have and it thrills my heart, every time.

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My Western Trip~Part 1

7 May

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Lites

Bill Lites

Being an airplane enthusiast, one of the places I had always wanted to visit, was the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. My friends all told me it was a magnificent place to see, and the aerial photos I had seen on the internet proved it. The museum itself is on 80 acres, and then there is what is called “The Bone Yard” which is another 300 acres of U.S. Airplane storage. Wow! I couldn’t miss seeing that.

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So, I started looking in my Aviation Museum Guide for what other aviation museums I could manage to see in the Southwest, and that’s how I came up with “My Western Trip” route. Now you might think that makes for a long trip, but the way I look at it, once I’m in an area, I like to see as many different kinds of museums (not just aviation museums) as possible. In addition, I really enjoy the planning of a trip, and as a result of my research, my list of museums began to grow. Since my initial plans were to start and end my trip in Los Angeles, I wanted to include a visit with DiVoran’s brother and his wife Susan, in Vista, CA and our high school friends Jim and Charlene in San Diego. Then, while in California, there was the Edwards AFB museum tour I wanted to take. That tour was only given two days each month and had to be scheduled 30 day in advance. Once I selected a date, I had to work my travel days (from my initial point) around that date. So, you can see some of the many factors I had to deal with to make this trip work.

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When researching rental car prices, I discovered that the same car rented in Las Vegas was $300 cheaper than that same class of car I had planned to rent in L.A. or San Diego. That savings would pay for most of my gas on this trip, so now my trip was going to start and end in Las Vegas. See how fast these kinds of trip plans can change. Knowing how hot it could get in the Southwest desert at times, I had planned this trip for the first part of April in hopes the weather would not be too hot. After much fine tuning of my travel itinerary, I was finally ready to go. I had never been to Las Vegas, and when we landed, my first surprise was that the Airport was actually landscaped with Saguaro cactus, Mesquite trees and Tumbleweeds. That made for a very unusual landscape theme.         

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Then, on my way to Baggage Claim, I passed thru several areas filled with gaming machines, many of which were pinging away like pinball machines. The Baggage Claim area was surrounded with gaming machines and huge screens loudly advertising what was currently being feathered at each of the showplaces on the “Strip” that week.

 The rental car process went as smooth as a breeze, but then at the Downtown Grand Hotel, where I was to stay the first two nights, I had to thread my way thru a large Casino filled with all manner of gaming machines to get to the Check-in desk. I was overwhelmed by the whole commercial scene.

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                                                                        —–To Be Continued—–

 

 

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A Time To Be Alone

5 May

Kitty

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Bill got to the airport by 6:00 a. m. We talked all the way there so the forty-five minute trip went quickly. I have been encouraging his sixteen-day trip because I want him to feel free to do what he wants to do, just as he encourages me. But on the way, I let him know that I wished he wouldn’t go for so long. He said he wouldn’t always; he thought about ten days would be good in future. I think so too, though I must admit I am looking forward to being alone, but not alone during this time.

Being seventy-five and seventy-six, and having been married fifty-six years—being first-born perfectionist, control-freaks requires a lot of discussion, and a great deal of give and take. Brush fires flare, but are soon snuffed out by love and forgiveness. Above all we know how blessed we are to have had each other and our family for all these years without any major disasters. But still…we’re both independent and we both like things to go our way. It’s the little things.

After I got home I spent time with my journal, reheated the coffee I took along, had an egg and toast and went back to bed for an hour. The first thing I did when I got up was to take all Bill’s pills off the dining room table and put them in his room out of my way. I set up my book prop and a couple of books as a reading station for meals, moved the large rug in the studio to a spot I like, and started a new shopping list. Some things I want to buy myself but he’s so efficient at taking the list and going to the store that I find them delivered before I even go out. What I want right now and have been wanting for a long time is a new kitty litter scoop, chosen by me. See what I mean about it being the little things?

I had to laugh when I sat down at the computer. There are a few things that bug Bill no end, so he left me this:

DiVoran—Please use this checklist while I am gone-Thanks.

  1. Lock all doors at bedtime.
  2. Lock all doors when you go for your walk.
  3. Turn off the water after you water your plants &flowers.
  4. Make sure refrigerator door is closed before you go to bed at night.
  5. Take out the trash on Friday mornings-No recycle until I get back.
  6. Turn off coffee-tea makers & cup warmers before bedtime. (I guess that means I’m allowed to forget and leave them on all day.)

Love ya,

Bill

So for two whole weeks now we are free. He will drive, drive, drive in the deserts and mountains of the Southwest and I will write, write, write in my comfortable house that I love.

Ecclesiastes three is a popular chapter and I use it a lot. I believe there is a time for everything. I like it that in our marriage there is a time to be together and a time to be alone. I’m glad also that there is more time together than alone and that we still have each other after all these years.

1 wedding

 

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Do You Know the Way

2 May

From My Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

 

 

 

 

The Reverend Billy Graham tells of a time early

in his career when he arrived in a small town to

preach a sermon.  Wanting to mail a letter, he

asked a young boy where the post office was.

When the boy told him, Reverend Graham thanked

him and said, “If you come to the Baptist Church

this evening you can hear me tell everyone how

to get to Heaven.”

“I don’t think I’ll be there” the boy replied.  “You don’teven know your way to

the post office”.

 

“JESUS IS THE WAY”

When things go wrong, as they often do,
and I am feeling low-
experience has shown me that Christ is the answer.
It is to Him that I go!

God has not promised skies always blue-
but on His faithfulness you can depend.
He said He will never leave or forsake you.
His mercy has no end!

When your load is heavy,
and you are feeling blue-
Look up, my friend.
There is help for you.

Jesus is waiting with a father’s love
His help and strength to give.
You have only to call on Him-
You will truly start to live!!

How do I know this?
Experience has been a great teacher
I have put God’s word to the test-
He said, “Come unto Me, all ye who are weary
and I will give you rest,”

Remember the secret of a wise young man
who would become king.
“David strengthened himself in the Lord, his God”
(1 Samuel 30:6)

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God’s People

28 Apr

butterfly

My Take

DiVoran Lites

 

We have a Sunday School/Bible Study class we call the LP class. We would say that meant Large Print, but two of us now have the most wonderful lens implants and can see like fighter pilots, so we’ll have to settle for Long Playing as a name. Anyhow, let’s put it this way, all but one of us in on Medicare.

One day, our teacher, and his wife, Noreen were in the drugstore waiting to have a prescription filled and a four-year-old girl came over to Marvin and started chattering away as if he were her beloved Grandpa. Noreen said she reminded them of a perky, Shirley Temple. Of course, they were delighted.

After that, Bob told us that he was in a restaurant one day waiting for a table. He had a seat because he’s handicapped, but there was no place for anyone else to sit, except a tiny spot right next to Bob. A tiny African American girl slid into the spot and snuggled up to Bob, lay her head against him and melded into him the way a trusting child will do. He had never seen her before in his life.

That reminded Marvin of a couple of children in their neighborhood. Marvin likes to sit in his garage with the door open and read. One day he was sitting there with the fresh air coming in and a little girl came down the block, saw him and walked in and laid her head on his knee.

Of course, that story brought on more. Bill and I were at Lake Eola with our son last week and while Bill was waiting for Billy and I to finish taking pictures, he sat down on a low wall and a beautiful black and white, Spaniel puppy came up to the wall and put her paws on it so she could reach him. She wagged her tail and sniffed at him he petted her. Her owner was amazed. She said, “She’s so afraid of people, I can’t believe she approached a perfect stranger. She’s even shy around the family.”

We had a couple more stories and then we went on with our lesson. Marvin had us read out of the scriptures and here’s what Bill read.”

Isaiah 61:9 says, “All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” I wonder–is this unexplained trust from children and animals a small example of that acknowledgement?

 

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Ah………Springtime

27 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

I  have a hard time deciding which is my favorite season of the year. I really love Spring. All the trees leafing out……..those with blossoms..blossoming …..all the flowers popping up their heads, full of color and fragrance. Just knowing the earth is coming back to life. The temperatures are mild with very low humidity – I really like that, since I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the humidity is practically non-existent. There are so many days here where we can open up the windows and doors and let all that fresh air flow through the house.

However, I also enjoy the Fall. Here in Florida, Fall seems to take a bit longer than in other places, but it does get here eventually. Once again, the humidity takes a dip, we can open up the house, and the living is great. I almost enjoy Fall more than Spring, simply because I know it will be months and months before the humidity hits us in the face again.

But Spring brings its own neat stuff. One of our favorite things to do – especially at Disney and especially at EPCOT, is to be on the lookout for new baby ducks. We’ve seen them swimming in the ponds quite often, so we look there. Occasionally we see them following-the-leader (momma duck) along some of the walkways.

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They are just so CUTE! Just the other day we saw cars stopped along the roadway, to let the momma duck and her little ducklings make it safely across the street. So I guess we aren’t the only ones who enjoy that sight.

 

We were at SeaWorld recently, and we saw three sets of Spoonbill wading birds in their respective nests in one tree. We assumed there were either eggs or newly hatched babies in the nests, but the nests were too high in the tree for us to see.

Another favorite thing is for us to see the Sandhill Cranes with their babies. Those little fuzzballs really aren’t so little! And we especially get excited when we see mom, dad, and TWIN fuzzballs! Adorable!

As I said, Springtime is just the time for the earth – and life – to come back into its own. It’s such a joy to watch.

They (Your blessings) are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:23

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Overcoming Fear of Snakes

26 Apr

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Janet

04-25-14 lizardI’m a rare bird. I’m not afraid of snakes, not really. Could it be that I don’t see them?

The other day this was put to the test. My 6-year-old granddaughter jumped on my lap. “Nana! There is a huge lizard on the carpet.”

Huge lizard? She likes lizards and she usually guides my hand to grab them by the tail (catching them happens to be a common thing in Florida).  But this “huge” lizard might in reality be a snake.

So what does a logical, collected and calm blind Nana do? I grabbed my most effective and best weapon—a broom. “Quick, honey. Guide Nana to the place you see it and I’ll sweep it away.”

After many diligent but futile efforts of chasing that reptile under the toy box, under the clothes hamper, inside the closet, we gave up.

Not knowing where it would appear next, peace for the day slithered out, too.

You’ve been there, haven’t you? Life is going along fine and then suddenly something appears unwanted, unexpected.

-Read more of Janet’s encouraging message  at: http://www.janetperezeckles.com/overcoming-fear-of-snakes/#sthash.cZS4KpdS.dpuf

His Way

Grateful for the privilege of inspiring you…

My website in English

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My story (video)

Inspirational video  just for you.

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The Touch of the Master’s Hand

25 Apr

From My Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

 

 

 

I wasn’t designed to be you,
nor you to be like me.
Isn’t that refreshing?
We are designed for eternity.

 

Our gifts from God
are to help our fellow man.
When you see a need-
supply it the best you can.

 

The following poem by Myra B. Welch
depicts it so beautifully.

 

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND

“Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks”, he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar.” then two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll maker it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three”…But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow:
Then wiping the dust from the old violin.
and tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

 

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice:
And going and gone”, said he.

 

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand.
What changed it’s worth?” Swift came the reply.
“The touch of a master’s hand.”

 

And many a man with life out of tune,
and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd-
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of potage”, a glass of wine:
A game–and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s ” going” and almost “gone”.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.

Myra B. Welch

 

jesus hands

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