Tag Archives: Christian living

Investigating Family Ties~Part 3

7 Oct

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Mother’s other grandmother was Florenda Jane Bingham Bedell Britton. Anyhow, Florenda Jane was born April 6, 1847. When Dora was six years old Author, Poet and Artistand her grandmother came for a visit, she came to Dora’s room every night and they kneeled by the bed and prayed together. That TLC, Mother said, was what helped her want to become a Christian later in life. Florenda Jane belonged to the Church of God Holiness. I assume from the name they were what we now call charismatic. Florenda Jane died December 28, 1936 at eighty-nine years of age. I was born two years after she died. I wish I had known her. We’ll all sit down and have a fine chat in Heaven some day. Please join us when the time is right.

One of my mother’s grandfathers was Ezra Marshall Bedell. He was born in Syracuse New York in 1844. During the Civil War he was taken prisoner for eight years.

This brings us to Mother’s parents, Mabel and Roger Bedell. They lived on an apple ranch just outside town and settled in to raise apples, vegetables, chickens, a few cows, a son, and two daughters. Roger was manager of the Gas Company from 1917 until the town got electricity. They made water gas. The formula came down through the family, but I’m glad I don’t have to make it in order to have lights and cooking fuel. If the light over the dining room table began to dim, it was time for Roger to get the machines going again.

During the Great Depression, relatives who needed a place to stay came and went. My family has a history of feeding other people. I imagine if you investigate, your family does too. In those days, if you had food, you shared it. Now you can share knowledge with your children about their ancestors. It will make them stronger and more self-confident, especially if they hear stories about how their relatives loved and served Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

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What Has Frightened You Today

28 Sep

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

He really, really grabbed a snake. This past Sunday I was relaxing on my lounge chair beside our swimming pool and dozing off. Suddenly I heard a gasp; a second later, a splash.

“I thought it was a rope that fell in,” my Dad said, who’s completely blind and with a voice a bit agitated. “I grabbed it, but it was a snake.”
A snake? He grabbed a snake? Gulp. Friends, how quickly do you think I jumped to my feet and ran for cover? Not so much because the snake was slithering around the pool, but because my Dad, unable to know where I was seated, could’ve tossed it my way! I dashed and slipped behind the fence. With something protecting me I felt safe—shaken but safe.Okay, no more gasping.
But, why was I so worked up? I’ve been there before. Life threw at me snakes of adversity. The venom went right through my heart with pain and sorrow.
Not a pretty place. You’re probably familiar with those unexpected problems, burdens, and confusing moments that slither right in. No warning. No clue. We’re relaxing in life, when least expected, we hear the splash of another disappointment—another glitch in life.
Maybe you’re there right now—overwhelmed with life and in the pool of anxiety. Or numb because of the bad news you just heard. Or the hopeless situation has emptied you of all the tears. And with the heat of sorrow, you’re too exhausted to run for cover.
Good news: when we’re attacked, helpless, on the verge of despair in this imperfect world, “The word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect” (Psalm 18:30-32).

Father, so often I feel attacked, in the midst of slithering enemies of confusion, worry and fear. Protect my days, shield my life and count me among those who put their hope in you. I will declare I am your child standing behind the fence of your grace. And while I wait for your answer, I shall rest secure and safe. In Jesus name, amen.

What has you frightened today?
• Who arms you with strength during tough times?
• Have God’s promises to keep you safe filtered deep into your soul?

Fear

Janet Perez Eckles,
Grateful for the privilege of inspiring you…
My website in English
En Español
My story (video)
Inspirational video just for you.

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Slaying the Giants In Your Life

20 Sep

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders



“Winning Against Worry”


You can win the battle and live victoriously-


Worry is an unhealthy vice that attacks you and me.


“Worry is an old man with bended head-


carrying a load of feathers that he thinks is lead.”


Anxiety is ultimately foolish because it concerns that which isn’t-


it deals with the “what if” and “could be”


As long as we entertain the “worst case scenario”


We guarantee our own misery.


At the moment, I feel like David.


A smile has replaced a frown-


I am standing on the promises of God, my Savior-


'WORRY, you are going DOWN!!!"

				
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Embrace the Promise

	
		16
		Aug
	

	

	

		
From the Heart


Louise Gibson


When we wake up in the morning


There is promise in the air.


We don’t know what the day will bring,


But the expectancy is there.


The time to be happy is now-


We have this day to explore.


Everyday is a special occasion-


What are YOU waiting for?


 “A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances,


 but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes,”-Hugh Downey


Footnote:  It is at the end of the day when my work is done that I have time to reflect on what God has done.

				
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Susie’s Daddy

	
		29
		Jul
	

	

	

		
My Take


DiVoran LItes


Author, Poet and Artist


Earl plays the guitar for our praise team. He’s one of those who can play many instruments and play them without notes on paper.


Earl is a big man, younger than my son, older than my grandson.  I hold his hand in our prayer circle after practice. His hand is gentle, patient, and strong.


His little girl, Susie, is in my Sunday School class. She’s about to be seven as she puts it.


One day she brought a plush horse to Sunday School and I noticed he had construction paper wings. They were designed and cut and adhered to the horse with tape that stayed on through all Susie’s loving. “Who made your horse’s wings?” I said.


“My daddy,” she said. Later I learned that almost all her critters have wings daddy has made for them. One Sunday she told me about a small worry, and I suggested she tell her Mommy about it. AND my Daddy says Susie adamantly.


After practice on Father’s Day it came to me to compliment Earl on his fathering skills. Everyone likes to be encouraged in this way.


As we left the platform I said I had something I wanted to tell him. A look of fear came into his eyes and I realized that he had perhaps in the past been told a lot of things he didn’t want to hear, but he was brave, he didn’t bolt.


“Susie really loves you, I said. You are a good father.”


“She’s my baby,” he said, still wary.


I told him about the wings and how impressed I was with the way Susie loves him and trusts him.


“Just doing what comes naturally,” said Earl.


I told him I understood that, but that few daddy’s of my acquaintance gave their little daughters the kind of TLC he does.


“Oh, I didn’t know….” His face began to crumple.


In order to escape his embarrassment if he started to cry I started to move discretely away, but he kept pace with me. “Thank you for telling me that,” he said. “You can’t know what it means to me.”


I told him I did understand what he meant. Regular people so rarely see our own excellent qualities.


My grandmother Maire would approve of my telling him how I felt.. She always taught that if you saw something good about someone they deserved a compliment.


Pastor Peter Lord would approve too. His number one message these days is Eulogy:.tell people good things about themselves while they are alive. Don’t wait until you go to their funerals.


Most people need encouragement for the good things they are and do. To coin a phrase a quart of praise is worth more than a gallon of criticism. It’s one gift that makes both the giver and the receiver as happy as can be.


Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

				
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Damaged Goods

	
		8
		Jul
	

	

	

		
My Take


DiVoran Lites


Author, Poet and Artist


 


We’re all damaged, except maybe you. Congratulations.


As for the rest of us we have, like saplings all been bent


in different ways.


We’re not like anyone else,


No matter how hard we try to conform.


When we decide we’re never going to be invincible in ourselves


God can use us.


Do we have strengths that God can use?


Sorry, no. it is not our strength He wants.


He has plenty of his own.


What He wants from us are those weaknesses


He allows to be textured into our character.


When we are weak. He is strong.


So in muddling through, we find joy and sometimes sorrow.


Trust Him. His strength is there for us and in us. It is enough.


It is everything. He can do wonderful, miraculous, surprising things with it.


 


Bear


 


 


 


 

				
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Shocking! I Am Praising a Car Dealership

	
		27
		Jun
	

	

	

		
 On the Porch


Onisha Ellis


Onisha 


We took our Toyota to the dealership today to resolve some recalls that we had been putting off.  The closest one is around one hour and forty minutes south of us so we decided to combine our weekly breakfast get together which is also south with a trip to the dealership.


When I called to set up our appointment the service manager asked if we could arrive earlier than our planned 11am since the repairs would take around two hours. When I told him earlier just wouldn’t work (because we do have priorities and breakfast out is high on our list) he was very accommodating and agreeable.*5


When we purchased our truck from the dealership, one of their selling points was that they provided loaner cars if you need service so I was surprised when I enquired about getting a loaner to learn that they no longer provided them. We had plans to do some shopping while we were in a “big city”. BUT, he said and this is a big but the dealership provides a shuttle that will take you anywhere you want to go. Hmm I thought, this could be interesting, picturing a dusty passenger van.


So with minimal traffic and after a short wait we were handing our truck over to the service manager. He verified the recalls and asked if he had our permission to check the truck for any other problems. We told him sure, expecting the old up sale routine. He then asked if we were waiting on the truck and we answered we were and would like to use the shuttle to go to lunch. I really expected a frown and maybe some excuse making but instead we got a big smile and assurance he would call the shuttle driver right away.


.I had done an online search for shops and restaurants and decided I would like to have lunch at Olive Garden. We were pleased to see the shuttle was a very nice Camry and the driver was a delightful middle age lady. She chatted easily as we made the short trip, delivered us to the door and told us to call when we were ready to return.


After a leisurely lunch we made the call for pick up and were pleasantly surprised at how quickly she arrived. Our driver had been listening to a pastor on the radio and left it playing softly as we talked.


Back at the dealership, the truck was going to require about forty-five more minutes.  The service manager was so upset we would have to wait and offered the shuttle to drive us to the mall. Truth to tell, I was tempted by the idea of a trip to a shopping mall without having to hunt for a parking place but we decided to just wait.


This dealership had two waiting areas, one for buyers and one for service. They each have large overstuffed leather furniture, large screen televisions and free coffee but the service waiting room was really impressive. It had two computer stations, fresh fruit that was frequently replenished and free packaged snacks. The dealership had made every effort to make it’s customers feel valued and cared


Governors Prayer Breakfast
Governors Prayer Breakfast


about. The wait didn’t seem very long before they called our name. As we went to get the truck I thought, “oh no, now we have to deal with the up sale”. You know what I mean; you need a transmission flush or when was your last lube job? But none of that happened. The service manager apologized again about the delay, chatted for a minute then sent us on our way.


What makes this dealership different? They have bibles in the waiting area. I’ve lived long enough to realize that every business that claims to be Christian owned doesn’t exactly live out the principles, but after buying two vehicles and today’s visit, I have to think this business does put Christ first. I can spot the phony smiles and everything I experienced today was genuine.


I’ve done my share of bashing car dealerships so it is only fair that I give some praise to  Milton Martin Toyota an outstanding one.


 


If you would like to visit their Facebook page click here


 

				
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The Disease to Please

	
		21
		Jun
	

	

	

		
From the Heart


Louise Gibson


author of Window Wonders




                                    


                                     I am suffering a debilitating disease-


                                     Self-diagnosed as “The disease to please”.


                                     I can’t even tell you when it began-


                                     I never knew it was common to man.




                                     It compels you to say “yes” to every request-


                                     It silently steals your time and your zest


                                     I struggled for years to form the word “No”-


                                     When I finally did, it amazed me so.




                                    I actually believe that is the cure for me-


                                    That one little word has set me free!


                                    Time is so precious, I must take control-


                                    New freedom for mind, spirit, and soul.




                                    Be aware, dear friends, I am working on me.


                                    No longer a prisoner to “yes”- I am free!


                                                “Pardon me, what was it that you wanted to know?


                                               I can’t hear you…..but the answer is NO.”


                               

				
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THE ELEPHANT WALK

	
		9
		Jun
	

	

	

		
SUNDAY MEMORIES


 Judy Wills


 


JUDY


                                                      


 2When I was a small child, we lived in Dallas, Texas.  My mother’s mother and father lived in San Antonio, so it was probably a short ride (about four hours in today’s time) for a trip to visit with Granny and Grandpa.  I have many pictures of my brother and me in Granny’s yard.  They lived in the country, so there were lots of animals – particularly peacocks, cats and dogs.  Interesting times.


 Mother told me once that, as I was sitting on Granny’s back step, they heard me scream and then cry out.  When they rushed to see what was the matter – they discovered that the peacock had plucked my peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of my hand, and I was furious!


 San Antonio has a lot to offer – whether you are living there or just visiting.  And we 3found that one of the best zoos in this country is in San Antonio.  I actually remember visiting there often.  Remember – we moved from Texas to New Mexico when I was just four years old – so that is a long memory!  But one memory that has stayed with me for a very long time, is the elephant ride we took.  I have pictures of my brother and me on one of the elephants.

4While I don’t know whether or not the San Antonio Zoo still offers those elephant rides, I do know the zoo was still offering elephant rides when our girls were young and we were living in San Antonio.  I have pictures of both our girls – along with me – on an elephant ride.  I’m not sure Janet remembers that ride – she was pretty young – but I’m pretty sure that Karen does.


5


Apparently an elephant ride isn’t such an uncommon event.  Fred’s sister and her husband took a trip to Africa not too long ago, and they took an elephant ride, as well!


6


It’s always been interesting to me just what my mind has stored away.  But it only takes a comment, or a picture, to bring an event back into focus.  And the elephant ride of my childhood stands out as a grand event.

				
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Timepieces

	
		27
		May
	

	

	

		
My Take


DiVoran Lites


Author, Poet and Artist


I received my first watch when my maternal grandmother went home. I was seven years old. The watch was beautiful and fragile, and of course it had to be wound. I was as careful as could be, and I had it for what seemed like a long time. I wore it on my left wrist so I could tell my left hand from my right. I thought about Grandmother Mabel every day.


But all that doesn’t explain the reason for my becoming practically obsessed about knowing what time it was. I have a clock or two in every room of the house including the bathroom and on the porch, I have four timers (one on my IPod) and five watches that work. Even I know that is excessive.


I read a book once about a boy in a mental institution who was obsessed with timepieces, but I don’t think I’m as bad as him. No, I more or less just love knowing what time it is and I love the wide variety of time pieces available. If it helps to know…I didn’t plan all this it just snuck up on me.


You’ve head the saying, “The unexamined life is not worth living?”


Well, to me the unscheduled life is full of pitfalls such as: T. V., computer dabbling, novels, eating chocolates, and others signs of enjoyable depravity. I get depressed if I give in to overindulge or get to feeling lonely because I’m not doing something that takes a bit of effort and thought. But that’s just me. You do what you like, it’s your life.


When Bill retired he stopped wearing a watch. He almost gave up looking at clocks, so we sometimes ran a bit late, which of course freaked me. Now I’m adjusting and I can even make myself late if I get absorbed in one of my projects. Maybe I need more timepieces or…maybe I shouldn’t care so much what other people think. I really like my timepieces and they all work. Three need the bands fixed or replaced, but I’ve figured out how to make that happen, at least for one of them.


All my clocks and watches are inexpensive except for the one in the picture. I wouldn’t want a fancy gold or platinum one with real diamonds because I’d have to wear it night and day in order to justify its existence. Variety is, after all the spice of life.


 


clock


 


“Hour by hour I place my days in your hand.”


Psalm 31:15


 


 

				
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