Tag Archives: Faith

Treasure Day

4 Feb

My Take

DiVoran Lites

DiVoran Lites

This morning I spent some time journaling and reading and it got the day off to a magnificent start. The first thing I experienced was the uncondintional love of the Lord. Guess what? He loved you that way too, believe it or not. I had fun drawing a picture of a treasure chest and using glitter in for the gold. Breakfast was delicious even thoug it was the same breakfast I have every day with few exceptions. I had some errands to run and Bill was feeling antsy so he said he’d chauffer me. Here’s what made the day a treasure:

  1. Took a check to the high-school library for a friend who wanted to pay fines and cost of book for a student she doesn’t even know. Fines waived, book inexpensive. Student saved. It was a fluke thing. The student is good about returning books, but this one was lost and gone forever and she didn’t have the money to pay for it so she was no longer allowed to check books out of the high school library.
  2. Stopped at the office supply for a dozen black Pentel Pilot pens, x fine. I know I said I wasn’t going to buy any more pens, but these are my special ones that make thoughts flow.
  3.  Went to the big store for dusting powder just like our daughter bought for her mother-in-law whom she bathes twice a week. Haven’t had any dusting powder for decades. I was looking for the one that was lavender scented, in a beautiful round box, with a puff for under two dollars. We asked the associates, but they couldn’t find it. Bill could. We showed the associate and got a nice little story about how her grandmother insisted she and the other children always use the powder after a shower to keep from getting a rash.
  4.  Also in the big store they had tiny sugar donuts and free coffee. Special treat, but Bill had to bag all the veggies, because my hands were busy. Mouth too.
  5. Also in big store, talked to handicapped red haired, red bearded man buying toys for described tiny black poodle. In agreement that tiny black poodles rule the world and are a terror to big dogs.
  6. Passed a lady with a dog sitting in her cart like a pasha, observing the passing scene. I asked cheerfully not judgementally how the dog gets to come to the store. “Oh, he always comes. He won’t stay home alone.” Very good very quiet Jack Russell. He must be good or stay home alone.
  7. Bought chocolate-covered almonds, and a magazine. Magazine unusual purchase, chocolate covered almonds staple.
  8. Clerk singing and rotating bag carousel, “No more full bags here, we’re done.” Tra-la. She’s so entertaining that we ask if she ever thought of going on the road. She laughs. No, she says, most of the time I’m unaware of playing around. “That’s why we come to your checkout.” Bill says. “Because I’m unaware?” she quips. We laugh.
  9. Bill drops me at the trail. Halfway home, voila, the shiny green metal bench is in place! The man who built and installed it is standing there like a painter with a masterpiece. I ask if the cement holding it is dry. He pokes down through the mulch with his finger. His verdict is…yes. I used quick-setting. I ask if I may I be the first  sit upon it. Yes, again. I perch in the middle of the bench, but alas, there is no one there with a camera to take my picture. Bencher and benchee happy and satisfied with sunny day and good job of trail maintenance.
  10. Waldorf salad for lunch. Apples, celery, walnuts, raisins, mayo, sour cream. Yum.
  11. Unpack small bouquet of brightly colored flowers. I know they’re dyed, but what glowing fuchsias, oranges, greens, and yellows!
  12. What shall I say to make an even dozen paens of gratitude? Oh yes, an invitation to lunch on Friday with dear, good friends. Friday is set to be another treasure day. Thursday too, though I know not what the future may hold, I do know who holds the future.

Matthew 6:33

 

By DiVoran Lites

By DiVoran Lites

 

Worst Friend Ever

10 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Onisha

Ten days ago I was sure I was the worst best friend ever. My precious friend, Marie was scheduled for a lumpectomy in South Carolina and I wanted to be with her. We were winding up our time in North Carolina and were heading back to Florida in a few days. Our daughter, Rebekah had flown up for Christmas and we were all driving home together.

Shortly after my friend told me about the surgery, I made up my mind that I was not going back to Florida. We could fly our daughter home. I went so far as finding a flight that would leave North Carolina on the same day she would have left anyway. It was a do-able price. I texted our friend, Pam who blesses us by doing the “airport run” whenever Rebekah flies and she was available. Next I ran our upcoming appointments through my mind. Would I be missing anything important? Quickly I moved my hair appointment off the list then moved on to an eye appointment. I had a cornea transplant in October and was still on the monthly check-up schedule. Due to the holidays I was already two weeks late, so what were two more? As my hand hovered over the buy now button, the very soft voice of the Holy Spirit asked, “have you prayed about this?” Of course I hadn’t, I was reacting with emotion. Reluctantly I moved my finger away from the button.

“Lord,” I prayed, “you know how very much I want to be with my dear friend and I know she wants me to be with her. I don’t know why I shouldn’t be there but I am giving it up to you. Please give me your peace about this and could you do it by morning, there are only two flights left for Rebekah.”.

The next morning, as I prayed the answer was go home, no explanation. “Lord,” I thought, “you must have something very special planned for Marie, someone who can meet her needs far better than I could.”

My eye appointment was the same day as Marie’s surgery. I chatted with the technician as I went through the preliminary tests. We talked about having the flu and how badly it sapped one’s energy. She left me to wait for the doctor and I spent the time wondering if my vision in the transplant eye seemed fuzzy or was it just my imagination.

The first words from my doctor’s mouth after hello, was “I hear you had flu. Did you increase the steroid drops?”

I hadn’t even thought about increasing the drops or calling the eye doctor. It turns out I am having a rejection episode due to my immune system’s response to the flu. Thankfully, it appears I am in early rejection and with increased doses of steroid drops total rejection may be avoided.  Like pieces of a puzzle snapping together I understood God’s answer. Once again I am in awe of how intimately God knows and cares for his children.

Isaiah 49:14-16

Circles

23 Nov

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, Lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

My family as far back as I can remember loved to sing hymns and this one was sung frequently. As a child I didn’t understand the point but last Sunday, watching my youngest grandchild’s baptism, my

heart-felt the circle of faith being completed for yet another generation. It was a wonderful and emotional. One circle was complete but soon these children will begin their own circle of faith.

Keep Your Eyes On The Road

25 Jul

A Slice of Life

     Bill Lites

 

In the fall of 1954, I was going to school, working part-time as a checker in a super market, and riding a lightweight Harley Davidson 165cc motorcycle all over town.  I was tall and lightweight myself at the time, so the motorcycle suited me real fine.

One day, after school, I was on my way down town to the Harley Davidson shop, when I saw my sister up ahead, walking home from her school with some friends.  Hoping to show off my shiny red motorcycle and get a little attention from the girls, I honked my horn and waved as I passed them.

With my attention on the girls, I hadn’t noticed the dump truck and workmen stopped in the middle of the street making pothole repairs.  There were no caution signs of any kind or flagmen warning traffic of the roadwork being done.  So, the first time I was aware of a problem was, when I looked from the girls and back to the road.  There was the bed of the dump truck right ahead of me.  I didn’t have time to think.  I just reacted.  I threw my weight and the motorcycle to the left, my left foot hit the pavement with a slap, and then I pushed myself and the motorcycle back up with my left leg.  This all happened in a split second as the motion carried me and the motorcycle down, under the corner to the bed of the dump truck, and back up on two wheels.

I pulled over to the curb, slowed to a stop and just sat there trying to stop shaking and catch my breath.  I couldn’t believe what had just happened.  If I had held my attention on the girls for one second longer, I would have run right into the bed of that dump truck and that would not have been a pretty sight, and I wouldn’t be here today telling this story.

I believe that Someone bigger than you and me has my life and breath in His hands and has been guiding me and watching over me from the day I was born.  I don’t know why He has been so good to me but, I thank Him,  God of the Angel Armies.

 

 

John 10:28

Conquerors

16 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

When my brother and I were kids, in Colorado, Dad bought us a part-Shetland pony to ride. We called him, Yankee. He wasn’t as small as a regular Shetland, or as big as a quarter horse, but he was stubborn as all get out. My brother took to horses right away, he inherited it from, Dad, I guess, who was once an amateur race jockey.

We took Yankee up to the house from the feedlot to bridle and saddle him, but every time I got on, whoosh, Yankee trotted back to the feed-lot with me holding on to the saddle horn and trying to keep my feet in the stirrups. I only weighed about fifty pounds, and I was about to give up. Then one day Dad was there when we brought Yankee, and he saw what was happening to me. He didn’t blame the horse, though. He said it was my job to show Yankee what to do.  We started over.

Back at the house, Dad held the reins in a firm grip down close to Yankee’s mane as I got on. He then showed me how to grab a fistful of rein and a fistful of mane and hold tight. In other words, he showed me how to take control over the situation. Much to my surprise the horse stood until I gave him a nudge with my heels and eased up on the reins a little. I was no longer a victim.

What a great life lesson. In the book of Genesis, God says we have responsibility and dominion over the animals. In Romans 8:37 he says we are more than conquerors. Sometimes problems come and things seem out of our control. Nevertheless, I’ve learned an additional lesson from my Heavenly Father. With prayer and faith, we can tap into the power to conquer anything. What a relief to know that we are no longer victims, but conquerors.

The Room

7 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

“Have you ever just wanted to scream “LEAVE ME ALONE!!!” to your children and hide in your bedroom for the rest of the day?”

This was part of a young mother’s vent on Facebook today. Oh the memories it brought to mind of days being so tired and out of patience I just wanted to scream, then hide. To find my happy place I would pretend. In my mind there was a lovely home nearby where a very kind and sweet woman lived. Young mothers knew they could knock on her door anytime and she would greet them with an understanding smile, give them a big hug and escort them to “the room”. The room was more like a small suite with a gorgeous bathroom complete with a huge tub. The tub edge was lined with an assortment of scented bath crystals or bubble bath. Fresh towels lay on the vanity. The bedroom was totally feminine in white or other restful colors, a fluffy comforter invited me to snuggle down and on the bedside table was an array of books. It was a pleasant dream and helped me through some frustrating days.

Now I am no longer a young mother. I have learned the identity of the sweet and kind woman. She was the spirit of my heavenly Father. As I grew in my spiritual maturity I realized there is always a happy place. It is when I allow myself to rest in my Father’s arms.

Matthew 11:28

My little frustration all grown up.