Tag Archives: Faith

The Cruise of a Lifetime-Part 4

8 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Re-blog

I’ve not mentioned that, before each meal, Fred and I would “excuse” ourselves from the rest of the table, to say our blessing.  This morning, at the breakfast table, as we were beginning to excuse ourselves, the other gentleman at the table leaned toward me, arm and hand outstretched across the empty chair between us, and said, โ€œLooks like you are about to thank the Lord.โ€  When I agreed, we all took hands and prayed.  After prayer, I told him that he sounded like a preacher.  He grinned and said, โ€œwell…….โ€

They turned out to be Richard and Judy, with their widowed friend, Lucy (Richard called her โ€œLucy Bโ€).  They are from Fort Worth, Texas, and he is the Worship Leader for the 8:00 a.m. service at the North Richland Hills Baptist Church.  He also directs the Senior Adult Choir there.  So while he is not a preacher, he is in the Christian ministry.

Richard and Judy flank Lucy 

We found several points in common:  His wife’s name is Judy – I am Judy.  She is a pianist – I am a pianist (of sorts).  I asked her one time:  If you are eating a piece of cake, what is your favorite part, the cake or the icing?  Her response?  THE ICING!  I gave an air fist pump and a whoop of joy – because that’s MY favorite part of a piece of cake, as well!  WOWโ€ฆ.are we twins?

We struck up an instant friendship.   Judy is the pianist for the service at their church (he affectionately calls her โ€œSister Judyโ€ – i.e. “play us something in the key of G, Sister Judy”).   He would address me occasionally as “Judy2.”

Just a note here to say that the first four years Fred and I were married were spent in Fort Worth, while Fred attended and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  We are quite familiar with Fort Worth.

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Rotunda 

While Lucy was up getting her food, we talked about Fort Worth and seminary.  He mentioned that Lucy was a Baylor University graduate, and I told him about my Dad being one of the three students at Baylor in the very first graduating class in the School of Music in 1924.

When Lucy returned, he informed her that my Dad was a Baylor grad.  She blinked and looked at me.  Our conversation took off from there.  She is a die-hard Baylorite!

There is also another connection between Richard and us – he was the Minister of Music  for the First Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico – my original home church – in the 1970’s!   We began comparing notes on people we both had known while there.  Absolutely amazing!


Original building, First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico 

Following breakfast, I wasnโ€™t feeling very well, so I stayed in the stateroom, while Fred went on an excursion (walking tour) to the Marksburg Castle.  He came back saying that it had been a VERY difficult walk/climb, and I would not have been able to manage all the steps and the climb.  I was glad I had stayed home!  But he took lots of pictures, and said it was a delightful castle to explore.  I’m glad he was able to make the jaunt by himself.

~~~~~~~~~~Part 4 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.

Living Water for a Weary Soul: Finding Strength in God Through Lifeโ€™s Troubles.

24 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged from JanetPerezEckles.com

A bit embarrassed to admit this, but Iโ€™m hoping you did the same at one time. After I washed my hands in the small but luxurious bathroom in the cruise ship, I was super impressed with the soap that left my hands incredibly soft and smooth.

So, like any silly Chica would do, as we packed to leave the ship, I wrapped the left-over piece of soap and stuck it in my bag. Why let that great soap go to waste, right?

Got home, washed my hands with that amazing soap. But to my disappointment my hands werenโ€™t soft, but dry as they are when using any cheap soap. Hate to admit my sillinessโ€”my hands were soft on the ship, not because of the soap, but because of the soft water that flowed through the shipโ€™s pipes.

That mistake was way too familiar.

Before I surrendered my life to Christ Jesus, I used the soap of deceptionโ€”believing that the religious rituals I followed would gain me Godโ€™s approval. What I accomplished would please Him, and I believed my own desires were His too.

None of the above softened the blow when heartache, hardship, and devastation crashed into my life. After a sea of tears, Jesus became the captain of my life. The relationship with Him became my anchor. The gentle fountain of living water softened my heart and washed my pain away.

In the pain of your own life, His living water will quench the aching of your soul. His guidance will help you sail through the storms, and the power of these truths will keep your life hydrated with comfort and reassurance:

  • Youโ€™ll know where your help comes from.ย โ€œI lift up my eyes to the hillsโ€”where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.โ€ (Psalm 121:1-2)
  • When trouble strikes,ย count on his help.ย โ€œGod is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.โ€ (Psalm 46:1)
  • Similar to Paul,ย in your weakness, Heโ€™s working.ย And in Your insecurities,ย His power is active.ย โ€œโ€˜โ€ฆMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.โ€™ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.โ€ (Philippians 4:19)
  • Those around you may fail you and the world disappoint you, โ€œโ€ฆbutย God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever.โ€ (Psalm 73:26)

Jesus said heโ€™s the living water. If you drink of it, youโ€™ll never thirst. Youโ€™ll never hunger for fulfillment, for joy, security, or hope. Go ahead, toss out that soap of deception and allow the freshness of His living water to revive your soul.

Letโ€™s Pray

Father, how often I had given credit to things of this world. But itโ€™s You, Your grace, love, and faithfulness that washes the effects of adversity.

In Jesus name, Amen!

How will you allow Godโ€™s living water wash away your troubles?

Bonus article on todayโ€™s topic.

Janet

Would you like to invite Janet to speak at your next event? Contact her here.

To view Janetโ€™s speaking demo video, watch here.

Check out Janet on the cover of the 2025 February issue of Woman of Faith Magazine! To read the full issue, visit their site here.

Read Janetโ€™s latest award-winning book, Now I See: How Godโ€™s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining JoyYour copy waits for you here.

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 Ecklesโ€™ 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


Previous Posts

Living Water for a Weary Soul: Finding Strength in God Through Lifeโ€™s Troubles.
Janet Perez Eckles
5/23/2025

In My Darkness, I Saw Love.
Janet Perez Eckles
5/9/2025

Empowered to Overcome: Three steps to Stand Strong Against the Forces of Evil.
Janet Perez Eckles
4/25/2025

Two ways to overcome your fears.
Janet Perez Eckles
4/11/2025

How to Bounce Back Stronger: Overcoming Setbacks and Adversity.
Janet Perez Eckles
3/28/2025

When you possess this, miracles are in the making.
Janet Perez Eckles
3/14/2025

Hope always arrives.
Janet Perez Eckles
2/28/2025

Finding true love to ease the loneliness.
Janet Perez Eckles
2/14/2025

What to do when feeling overwhelmed.
Janet Perez Eckles
1/31/2025

How to see Godโ€™s way out of our troubles.
Janet Perez Eckles
1/17/2025

Blessings and Strength

21 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

1 Chronicles 4:10

Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request. 

Phil 4:13

I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me.

I am ready for anything and equal to anything through him who infused inner strength into me,   

Sufficient in Christโ€™s sufficiency. 

Matthew 17:20

If you have faith (that is living) like a grain of mustard seed. You can say to this mountain. Move from this place, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you.

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 dadโ€™s only comment was, โ€œWell, itโ€™s going to be a very short story.โ€ 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, โ€œI 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.โ€

Indeed

20 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

ย Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the firstย dayย of the week,ย Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.ย 

Photo credit: Word Press

ย And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, forย an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled awayย the stone, and sat upon it.

Photo Credit: Grok A.I.

ย ย Andย his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.ย ย The guards shook from fear of him and became like dead men.

ย And the angel said to the women, โ€œDo not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

ย He is not here, for He has risen,ย just as He said.ย 

Fear

13 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Re-blog

I would like to preface this re-blog for those who read my posts.  

My beloved, wonderful husband Fred, suffered a stroke mid-March 2025.ย 

ย Because of that, I feel that Iย ย need to concentrate on him and his care.ย ย Consequently, I will be doing a series of re-blogs of previous postings.ย ย Perhaps most of them have been read, but sometimes itโ€™s nice to re-read something we enjoy.

But before I start with the โ€œseriesโ€ I would like to present this particular one.ย ย It was written during the Covid lockdown, but in re-reading it, I realized that it fits my/our situation today just as much as it did then.

ย ย I fear for my husbandโ€™s recovery…I fear for our new life – it will never be as it was, and I shall miss it.ย ย 

HOWEVER….I will NOT allow Satan to make me live in that FEAR!!  I serve and love and honor a loving, living God who only has good for me and my Fred, and we are willing to plant our feet, dig in, and conquer this stroke!!  Praise be to His Holy Name!

And so….

QUARANTINE TIME – TAKE 3 Reblog

Iโ€™m sincerely hoping that this will be the final โ€œQuarantine Timeโ€ post I will make.  I hope that for the most part, it will be over by next week, and the country will be up and running as it should be.

However, along that line, there was something on facebook recently that really caught my eye.ย ย I would like to present it to you here.

Each one of these has predicted the same thing – weโ€™re ALL going to die!  Well, yes, we are – eventually.  As my beloved father-in-law said, โ€œ100% of us die.โ€  But we do NOT have to live in fear.

And that brings me to something else I saw on facebook:ย ย ย 

Fear does not stop death.ย ย It stops life.ย ย And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles.ย ย It takes away today’s peace.

And yet again:   I never thought I would see a time that so many people were so afraid of dying that they were willing to stop living.

I mentioned to someone recently that my step-father was the stereotypical pessimist.  For instance, as we were about to go to Germany in 1980 for our three year tour in Heidelberg, my step-father said to me, โ€œwell, I hope to see you again!โ€

Almost in a fury, I turned to him and said: โ€œSid, if the balloon goes up (world war 3) while we are overseas, one of two things will happen – Iโ€™ll either live or Iโ€™ll die.  If it is Godโ€™s timing for me to die, then NOTHING in this world can keep me here.  If I am to live, then NOTHING in this world can take me out.  I REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR!โ€

And that has pretty much been my mantra ever since.  My life is in Godโ€™s hands, and I trust Him completely.  And if it is, indeed, time for me to die, then I know I will be instantly in the presence of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!  Nothing is better than that.  

The peace of mind that brings to me is far beyond anything I could imagine.  And as I said before, I REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR!โ€™

Jesus promised:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Do not live in fear!  God has your back!

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.

My Two Minute Drill

10 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

We spent last week packing up for our return to the mountains. Our winter in Florida sped by and we enjoyed catching up with long time friends. There is something comfortable and warm being able to pick up the threads of friendship. Of course, we keep it touch over the summer but in person complete with hugs is priceless.

The Florida winter weather was delightful with cool nights and mild days. We savored it. The last two weeks we were there, warmer weather moved in and we knew it was time to return to the mountains. The day we left, it was a beautiful . The sky so blue and clear.

I am continually amazed that a mere 600 miles can make such a difference in the seasons. Florida was wrapped in full green when we left.

Spring is my favorite season in the mountains. I marvel each year at the appearance of tender green leaves on the trees. Our hydrangea bushes are sporting green shoots and I am joyfully awaiting the blooms.

Our front yard.

Our grass (weeds) is in need of a good mowing but we’ve had several rainstorms this week and the clay soil is mucky.

We made a grocery run into town and signs of spring were everywhere.

After the warm Florida temperatures, the cold mornings in the mountains are making me reluctant to leave the warmth of my comfy bedclothes. I am becoming a big fan of the snooze button on my phone.

To justify my snoozing, I whisper prayers for the day. Always I pray for Israel and the surrounding countries. It is such a mess and beyond my understanding. Then other concerns float into my consciousness.

This morning I snoozed until I only had two minutes before I needed to move it. This particular morning, I wanted to pray differently. I felt a prompt in my spirit, “pray for the lost.” Not for a specific person, but for those who need Jesus across the globe.

The times we are living through are chaotic and even frantic. I have watched a lot of football in the past. and as I prayed this morning, I felt as if I was in a two minute drill. No time outs, just execute what has been practiced.

.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

My 2019 goal is to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media. You can visit Real Life Books and Media You Tube Channel if you would like to view some of the mini-videos I have created for our church, Gateway Community in Titusville, Fl.

Lunch with Friends with a Side Order of Covid

3 Apr

Florida weather is beginning to fully behave like Florida weather. The winter was very pleasant with a nice mix of chilly nights and mild days. Now that spring has arrived the chilly nights are history and the air conditioner is running 24/7. The weather forecast for the next seven days are predicted to be in the mid 80s.

As the saying goes, “the mountains are calling and I must go.”

Soon we will be packing and heading out. I checked the weather forecast for our first week home and lows will be in the 30s with highs in the 60s. I plan to soak up the last of the cold.

We can see on our security cameras that our daffodils are blooming and the Japanese maple trees are shedding their winter brown and will soon be flush in reddish purple.

Two deer visited a few nights ago. I think they were checking out my husband’s grape vines. He is convinced the deer believe he grows grapes just for them. Our hosta plants haven’t awoke from their winter sleep but they will any day now. I suspect the deer were checking them out as well.

For several weeks I have been trying to arrange a lunch with a life long friend. She had been dealing with dental issues and eating was a chore for her. Finally last week she called to say her dental issues were almost resolved and we could meet. Almost as an after thought she mentioned she had seen a mutual friend, T, in a store, who moved away several years ago. She asked if I would like to include her in our lunch. I said, absolutely.

The three of us met up in a newly opened Buffett restaurant. We talked and laughed and it was almost like we were those young women of long ago.

As part of reconnecting, we discussed where we were living. T knew of our plans to move the the North Carolina mountains and I knew that when she left Florida she moved to eastern North Carolina. I told her we divide our time between Florida and the mountains. To my surprise she said we do too! Turns out that our homes in the mountains are about 50 miles apart and I go to their town frequently.

In the course of conversations, I asked T where she was staying in Florida. When she named the street she has a condo, my mouth dropped open. Her condo is on the same street where we stay in the winter. She had been there five years! How could this be?

I was delighted to know she was a neighbor and we decided to get together again before we left for that mountains. That was on Thursday.

Saturday morning I received a text asking if I was feeling alright. My first thought was oh no, food poisoning. I told her I was fine. She wasn’t and neither was T. Both of them began feeling ill on Friday and woke up during Friday night with fever and chills. Turns out they both had Covid and feeling pretty miserable. Since both my friends are single ladies, I’ve been texting every day to see if they need anything. So far they have everything they need and thankfully they are on the mend.

We have been wondering why I haven’t come down with Covid. Our best theory is the Buffett may have been contaminated. They both ate peel and eat shrimp and I didn’t, so maybe that was the source.

We definitely are planning to meet up when we are both back in Western NC. And I suspect we won’t be lunching at a buffet.

We enjoyed our time in Florida with our daughter. We will miss her and grand dog Ollie.

Ollie enjoys sitting at the window watching the birds.

I will miss her fast internet. Our mountain internet delivers a whopping 6 mbps on a good day. Rumor has it that fiber is coming this year. Fingers crossed. Until then, I learn a lot of patience waiting for downloads.

PS Today is our 54th wedding anniversary.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

God Cares

31 Mar

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Psalm 147:1-11

Thought for the Dayย 

If little birds are important to God, how much more am I !

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than them?

Godโ€™s Splendor

Lord, your name is so great and powerful!

Matthew 6:26

Lord, Your name is so great and powerful! People everywhere see Your splendor.

Your glorious majesty streams from the heavens,

Filling the earth with the fame of Your name! You have built a stronghold by the sons of babies, 

Strength rise up with the chorus of singing children. This kind of praise has the power to shut Satanโ€™s mouth.

Childlike worship will silence 

The madness of those who oppose You.

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 dadโ€™s only comment was, โ€œWell, itโ€™s going to be a very short story.โ€ 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, โ€œI 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.โ€

All Things are Possible with God

17 Mar

My Take

DiVoran Lites

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;ย 

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. “

Ps, 18:2

“God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,ย 

But of power, love, And self-discipline.”

2 Tim. 1:7

“All things are possible with God.ย “

Mark 10:17

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 dadโ€™s only comment was, โ€œWell, itโ€™s going to be a very short story.โ€ 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, โ€œI 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.โ€

When you Possess This, Miracles are in the Making.

15 Mar

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged from Janet Perez Eckles.com

My ten-year-old grandson got up from the dinner table, walked over to me, and tapped my shoulder. โ€œNana, thank you. I love the noodles you made. But next time can you put a little less salt. Iโ€™ll still eat them, but Iโ€™m just telling you for next time, okay?โ€

I gave him a tight hug. โ€œSo sorry,โ€ I said, โ€œitโ€™s not what you expected.โ€

His heart of gratitude touched me. He couldโ€™ve complained and refuse to eat it, but he chose to thank me anyway and eat salty noodles.

That night I put my head on the pillow of shame. Unlike my grandson, if I didnโ€™t receive from God what I expected, or not in my own timing, disappointment set in. And a sense of discouragement took the place of contentment.

Sadly, that discontentment is popular today.

We have expectations and wait for God to serve the answer in the way we anticipate. And when that doesnโ€™t happen, we wonder why. We question our faith, and our once complete trust in God isnโ€™t complete anymore.

But God sees the full picture, including our sense of disappointment. What Heโ€™s looking is for gratitude for even little things. Heโ€™s expecting praises in everything. And Heโ€™s more direct in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 when He says, โ€œBe joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.โ€

Give thanks in all circumstances? 

Even when weโ€™re still in the same sorry situation, with no change for the better or with no solution either? God says yes. Consider if these prominent folks in the bible displayed discontentment:

  • What if Abraham became disappointed when God asked him to sacrifice his son? He would have missed his calling to be the father of many nations.
  • What if Moses allowed his weakness to diminish his trust in God? He would have missed his role to be the instrument to set the Israelites free.
  • What if David focused only on the punishment for his sin and failed to praise God for His forgiveness and redemptive love? He would have remained aย poor me sinnerย relegated to obscurity.
  • What if Noah would have succumbed to the ridicule of the people and stopped the building of the arc? He and his family would have also drowned.
  • What if fear and disappointment would have filled Paul during the episodes where he was beaten, tossed out, and imprisoned? He would not have seen the world around him turn to Jesus.

You and I are no different.

God sometimes gives direction for our journey but doesnโ€™t reveal the reason for each stop. At times, God provides only small amounts of success to test our character. And sometimes, God brings about an answer contrary to what we asked to test our trust in Him.

No matter how many plates of salty noodles the world serves you, the test is on. Will you praise Him for what God has done? Will you thank Him for what Heโ€™s doing? And will you be bold enough to praise Him for what you know He will do?

If the answer is yes, then youโ€™ll find how miracles come wrapped in gratitude.

Letโ€™s Pray

Father, I thank you for your patience when I fail to trust in You completely. I praise You for forgiving me when I fail to thank You through all the stages of my journey.

In Jesusโ€™ name. Amen.

What miracles will your gratitude bring?

Bonus article on todayโ€™s topic.

Janet

Would you like to invite Janet to speak at your next event? Contact her here.

To view Janetโ€™s speaking demo video, watch here.

Check out Janet on the cover of the 2025 February issue of Woman of Faith Magazine! To read the full issue, visit their site here.

Read Janetโ€™s latest award-winning book, Now I See: How Godโ€™s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining JoyYour copy waits for you here.

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 Ecklesโ€™ 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