Tag Archives: God

How to Get Rid of Loneliness

3 Sep

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged September 3, 2022

September 2, 2022

How can it happen? Whether we’re in a crowd or in the darkness of a silent room the battle to get rid of loneliness begins.

I was stunned. CNN reported yesterday that among thousands of entries, my hometown, La Paz, Bolivia, where I was born and spent my childhood, was named the No. 1 wonder of the world.

But let me share a native’s point of view.

In La Paz, being the highest capital in the world because of its altitude, visitors can become deathly ill due to the decreased amount of oxygen.

On the other hand, on a sunny day, the vibrant shade of sky blue that canopies over the city is breathtaking.

La Paz is built inside a sort of moon crater. Houses of all kinds dot the mountains that surround the city. And at night, a visitor may seem as if he were inside a gigantic Christmas tree. The lights that splash all the way to the mountain tops seem to blend with the stars in the sky, creating a unique splendor.

But how sad, that closeness is a contrast to the distance we feel from God when loneliness attacks. When we feel abandoned, we can’t help but imagine God to be distant and abstract. We believe the lie that repeats we have no one. God has forgotten us. And we have no way to overcome loneliness.

Here are three not-so-secret ways to wipe out these lies:

  1. In the silence, in the still of the moment God is present because His Word says that “…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39).
  2. If we’re in God’s company, we have already conquered the army—fear, anxiety and depression that equip loneliness. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).
  3. Embracing God’s promise ushers hope that tomorrow new things will come about. He promised: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

The enemies of any loneliness are God’s promises that repeat:

Nothing can come between us and His everlasting, forever-enduring love. Even when rejection sears and disappointment hurts, loneliness can’t come in because God is the perfect companion of our soul. Loneliness has no power, knowing He’s about to bring on something new, something wonderful and beautifully presented in His divine timing.

Let’s Pray

Father, while in the wasteland of loneliness or the desert of despair, I declare that tomorrow You will bring about new ways, new paths, and new open doors. I wait in anticipation for the loneliness that burdens my days to turn to the peace that comes from you. The reassurance that your promises carry. And I will be filled with the joy that doesn’t flow from others but from You. I count on the power of Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

How will you receive God’s comfort to overcome loneliness today?

Janet

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I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Let’s connect:

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 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.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Celebrating our Poet Louise Gibson

30 Aug

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Our sister blogger, Louise Gibson began sharing her poetry with us in 2013. She appropriately titled her writings From the Heart. Her offerings were the most popular on the blog and always drew in new subscribers. On August 20, 2022 Louise and her love-filled heart met face to face with the One who loves best. Her Jesus.

I’ve known her since my high school days, the mother of my best friend. Even at age 70 I still call her Mrs. Gibson. In the self-absorbed way of teenagers, she was simply Lynn’s mom. Of course as time went on I realized she was an amazing woman and later learned of her love for poetry. After reading her life story that her daughter shared with me, I realized her life was so much more than I knew. I decided to share her beautiful life story with our readers.

Louise Eleanor Gibson, age 93, of Orlando, Florida, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2022 of natural causes. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Retired Lt. Col Doyle Gene Gibson, her infant son Gary Gibson, her parents Edgar Brown and Clara Swaising Brown, and her brother Edward Brown.

She was born on February 13,1929 in Akron OH, her life shaped by growing up during the Great Depression. Riding her bike was a favorite pastime in her youth, she was always a voracious reader, and she had a lifelong love of writing poetry. As a young teenager, she worked as a hospital volunteer known as a candy striper and she often talked of making coffee for the doctors at Akron City Hospital. Always outgoing, she made friends easily and often reminisced of fun times at Portage Lakes. There were also great stories of dancing the night away with the weekly music of Big Bands at both Meyers Lake and the YMCA. In her high school years, she was fondly nicknamed “Jinx” and “Legs” and the green-eyed, raven-haired beauty was on the May Queen Court. Once graduating business school, she became an executive secretary at Goodyear and was chosen as a model for many of the company’s business ads. 

Louise and her husband raised their children while living as an Air Force family. They enjoyed living in Ohio, Florida, Oregon, Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska, and California before finally resettling in Florida. She enjoyed sewing her own elegant clothing, decorating beautiful cakes, making elegant crafts, and loved her cats. Wherever she moved, she immediately made her house a home. Once becoming a grandmother, she enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren each summer. Her great grandchildren were also adored. 

Writing poetry became a renewed passion in her later years. Her uplifting, clever, spiritual, and inspirational poems were posted on the Old Things R New blog along with other very talented writers and artists. She touched many people with her awesome words of encouragement. 

In all stages of her life, Louise built a legacy of love. She will always be remembered for her kindness and dedication to loving the people God placed in her path. She had a heart of gratitude and encouraged others. 

I’m not certain if I will continue to re-post her poems. Her family is planning to create a book for them. Prayers for her family appreciated.

Left to right-Judy Wills, DiVoran Lites, Onisha Ellis, Lynn Shepherd (Louise daughter) Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles, Back row Bill Lites

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Metamorphosis

9 Aug

 From the Heart of Louise Gibson

Reblogged from March 15, 2013

 
 

Metamorphosis

 

The struggles in life are many

In those times we begin to grow.

As the caterpillar becomes a butterfly,

Our metamorphosis is tedious and slow.

When God strips us of all vanity,

And we truly search our soul

We ultimately find it is He that we need

The One who can make us whole.

Others may fail us, oft no fault of their own

But if we trust our Savior,

We’ll not walk alone.

 

 
 

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God and Cell Phone Providers

14 Jul

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

What do cell phone providers and God have in common?

Wednesday morning I spent over an hour with my cell phone provider tech support over text. It was a frustrating experience. The tech support person and I didn’t seem to be understanding each other. He didn’t understand my problem and I didn’t understand why he didn’t.

He didn’t know where I was texting from and I didn’t know where the support person was located. He could only judge my location based on the address of my account. I didn’t understand why that was so hard for him to grasp as I TOLD him where I was.

I didn’t figure it out until the end of the session. I could type “I AM IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS, NOT FLORIDA” all day long but if the tech was in another country, he wouldn’t understand.

It’a kind of like when I tell God my problems. I explain to Him how I feel and what I think I need. He listens, but sometimes I don’t feel like He gets it. But He does. Just like tech support couldn’t grasp my problems since he had no idea of my location, so I can’t always grasp God’s answers because He sees my problems from a different perspective-a perfect one.

Due to understating issues and technical complications, my problem was not resolved. As we ended the text chat, the tech thanked me for being understanding. I replied that I wasn’t being understanding, just trying to be nice and added LOL. Sort of like how some of my conversations with God end. “I don’t understand but I am trying to be trusting as I wait.”

We don’t have posts from DiVoran or Bill as of yet. Their internet has been down since Friday. Is it my imagination or is the internet experiencing a lot outages?

My daddy moved to Glory 29 years ago today. He was a good man and a good dad.I learned interesting things from him. How to reel in a big fish, take a catfish off my hook, and how to cast a Penn reel and know what a fish bite feels like in the ocean surf.

He was an airplane mechanic in WWII, It wasn’t a good experience but it led to him being hired after the war as an auto mechanic. At supper I would listen to him talk about the cars he repaired and I became pretty good at diagnosing engine noises.

Most of all, he and my mom taught me about love.( though they did not spare the rod on me.) Their love and God’s love for me. I believe in miracles because I learned of and saw miracles in their lives.

I miss him.

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  

My 2022 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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Are You a Pillar or a Caterpillar?

12 Jul

From the Heart 

Louise Gibson

Reblogged

The pillars are a strong foundation
in any relationship.
On their strength we do depend.
The caterpillars crawl in and out,
failing to connect.
They dream to be a butterfly in the end.

God created all of us,
and He did it all with vision.
I don’t have your attributes-
That was God’s decision.

I will strive to be the best I can
with what God has allotted me.
To be more like our Maker,
That is our destiny.

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Our LIfe is Meant to Be

28 Jun

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Reblog

Our much loved poetess, Louise hasn’t been able to compose of late. Her poems spoke words of comfort, encouragement love and humor. Just the sort of words our current world needs. So, I am planning to reblog them. Enjoy

May you always remember
God is in control.
He has a plan for your life.

Listen with your heart
As he leads you.
You will ward off the strife.

The events in our life
Are meant to be.
There is a peace that
Can be found.

The challenges are many
Diligence is profound.

We may not have chosen
The path we are on,
But trust it was meant to be.
God works in mysterious ways
As he plans our destiny.

There is a peace that can be found,
Know God has a plan for our life.
Keep your faith strong in him.
You will ward away the strife.

.

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Lizzy the Lizard

27 Jun

A Slice of Life

DiVoran Lites

Picture by Bill Lites

When I was ten years old and lived in Colorado with my family, my mother sent me to the cellar to get a jar of canned pears. As I started back up the steps, I saw a slimy-looking creature as big as my hand lying on a step. Startled, I flew from the cellar screaming. From that day on, I was afraid of any salamander or lizard. 

Now I’m all grown up, but I’m still watchful for any reptile, including lizards. Yes, lizards are designated reptiles. We always see several when we look out the window or walk around the yard. Unless it’s cool enough to eat supper on the porch, we sit at a table in front of a large window inside to have our meals. Lately, we have had a visitor every meal. We have named him Lizzy. He jumps onto the windowsill from the top of a small fence. When he gets to the closed window, he puts his tiny claws on the windowsill and looks in. He seems to want to come in. If we play music, he bobs his head. He’s a plain brown/black lizard, the size of my palm, with a dainty finger added. But wait,  no, I would never touch a lizard, not even with a glove on. 

When we moved to Florida, we were surrounded by lizards. They were everywhere. One Sunday, I saw one on the wall over the baptistry in the church. Lizards weren’t the only thing I had to deal with. We had green frogs on our back porch that splacked themselves to the sliding glass doors on the outside. I didn’t like them much, but I’m sorry that they are all gone now. Their greenness glowed, and they had a strip of real gold along their sides. Their chorus after rain was inspirational. 

Our children played with the lizards by letting them hang from ear lobes or the skin between their thumb and finger. If one came around when I was on the porch, I ran into the house to get one of the kids or their dad to take it away. If no one was home, I slid something flat under it, tipped it into a glass, and let it slide back into the yard where it belongs.   

One day I tried to move a small lizard away from where he was lying by using a spoon. He ran frantically back and forth so obviously scared to death that I had to leave him where he was. In the meantime, I had a new answer to an unasked thought. Lizards have feelings. They are afraid for their lives. I never thought of a lizard having fear. As far as I know, no animal or insect wants to die. Remember how the smallest ant or spider runs or flees-on a string-to stay alive. 

Anyhow, once you get a lizard that wants to be your friend, wants you to let him in, and likes to hear the beat of the music, you start to think about loving things that seem to love you. And you begin to comprehend that some creatures and even others we know might have good hearts and be worth loving. Maybe we all need to get on the love train and forget about picking over every problem, worry, appearance, or whatever someone else is or has, and pray about loving them instead. I hear that trail is easier the more you walk it. 

Jesus prays for us night and day, so that means He will greatly help us in this endeavor. 

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.”

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The God Life

20 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

The God Life:

Receptivity

Reliability 

Resilience

Restitution, 

Realization 

Resonance

Reality

Reason 

Renunciation

Righteousness

Reckoning

Returns 

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.”

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Oh Those Israelites!

10 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I am not a confident driver on good days, throw in rain and curvy roads and I become a teary eyed mess. A few weeks ago, I needed to drive my husband to a doctor appointment in a town two hours away and the weather report warned of heavy rain all day. I was stressed.

In my waking conversation with God I was telling him that I was distressed and plain out scared. When I gave Him the chance to respond, He reminded me of the multiple times he had given us a clear, dry bubble as we traveled. Most recently I was driving through pouring rain in Orlando traffic. I noticed that while my back window was a sheet of water, the windshield wipers were not having any problem clearing the screen.

Oh yeah, I had forgotten His mercies in my anxiety. Kind of like those Israelites who kept forgetting the ways God miraculously rescued them time after time. Think parting of the Red Sea.

Photo credit:https://www.flickr.com/photos/amboo213/7429036760

I confess I have frequently questioned the character of those Israelites who grumbled at every challenge, forgetting how faithfully God delivered them from dangers.

I was thinking like the Israelites!!

On Wednesday we had another appointment set up in the town two hours away. My husband had enjoyed six days in a row of doing well and I was feeling confident I wouldn’t need to drive. No worries about the forecast rain, he handles rain driving very well. Except Wednesday morning his feeling well streak crashed. I looked once again at the rain prediction and felt anxiety seeping in.

Then I made the decision to remember the Israelites and remember God’s mercies. There was rain that day, but not a drop fell on us.

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  

My 2022 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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To Bill

6 Jun

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Soon we will be celebrating our 65th wedding anniversary when we more or less ran away to get married. Our mothers, Bill’s sister, and my cousin and aunt made it to California, where Bill was in the Navy. Our Dads, who both traveled for their work, missed it.

Here is my tribute to you, my love.

Thank you for making us a pair. 

Thank you for the good times and the hard times.  

Thank you for your forgiveness and comfort.

Thank you for your safety and the knowledge of handyman things.

Thank you for your resounding laugh.

Thank you for your curiosity about almost everything.

Thank you for being a tenacious man who got things done.  

Thank you for your tender love.

Thank you for loving and caring for our children. 

Thank you most for trusting Jesus and teaching us to know him too. 

DiVoran

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.”

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