Tag Archives: God

God Never Says “O-O-O-PS”

11 Dec

From my Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

That’s a theological truth in disguise.

God is a Master of Perfection.

His truths stand to confuse the thinking of the wise.

 

Every moment we feel overwhelmed by problems,

God is busy dealing with them, dear friend.

Every time we despair over the lack of God’s presence,

Remember, He promised to abide to the end.

 

The Bible has been written for people

who are living in the land of the living-

It is so much more than “pie in the sky

in the sweet by and by”.

 

The Bible is written for the tough realities of life,

the nitty grittry of the here and now.

Its pages are filled with real life solutions

to relieve our strife and our sigh!

 

 

“There has to be a song-

to make our burdens bearable,

to make our hopes believable,

to transform our successes into praise.

to release the chains of past defeats.

Somewhere- down deep in a forgotten corner

of each man’s heart-

There has to be a song,”

Robert Benson

 

“At times when we feel forsaken,may we know

the presence of the Holy Spirit who brings comfort

to all human hearts when we re willing to surrender

ourselves.  May we be convinced that soon before

we reach up to Thee, Thou art reaching down to us.”

Peter Marshall

Originally published on Old Things R New January 2015

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Thanks Giving

26 Nov

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

I would like to wish all of our readers a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter and joy.

In Janet’s blog this week she included a recipe for Thanks Giving. A few weeks ago, DiVoran created a photo that she titled, A Fresh Journal Page. I joined them together. I plan to  incorporate this recipe into my life this holiday season. Will you join me?

A Thanks Giving Recipe

Every day I am thankful for my friends and fellow bloggers on Old Things Are New!

Love you!

Old Things R New Family

Tags: , , , ,

Discipline

22 Nov

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

As I’ve mentioned in previous musings, I’ve been going through stacks and stacks of papers and pictures that we have accumulated. I’ve found a number of cartoons that my Mother had cut out – probably the newspaper – and sent them to me. And I’ve used some of them in my Old Things R New postings.

Today, however, I would like to share something that we found in my Mother’s Bible following her death.

She was always a hard worker, whether it was at the job where she was paid (she was an accountant, and worked at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque to supplement Daddy’s paycheck, to purchase things that we might not have been able to have otherwise), or when she purchased and opened the Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, or when she was cleaning the house, cooking our meals, doing the laundry…. She was a hard worker.

I think the only time I ever saw her sit down and “rest” was after dinner and clean-up from that, to watch a little TV. One of her enjoyments – especially in her later years – was to sit down after breakfast, with a cup of her favorite coffee, and peruse the newspaper. She would read it from cover to cover.

But this little snippet of information is a real insight into her life. I think it was a testimony to the way she lived her life, and the way she saw life. It certainly makes one take notice about the wisdom of the words.

Discipline

What do you think?

Her favorite scripture was Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

 

Tags: , , , ,

Showers of Love~Part 3

18 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

I’ve told you about the SHOWERS OF LOVE that my husband gives me – especially following my total knee replacement surgery and my cancer episode.

2

I’ve told you about our oldest daughter’s SHOWERS OF LOVE in her coming to help out following my knee surgery.

1

I see love in my life every single day – and I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am that God has blessed me so much with family and friends who aren’t afraid to show their love. It showed up with those who came to visit, those who called, and those who brought food for us. I just hope and pray that I return that love to those around me who might need it.

As I was in physical therapy this week, the young man who is my therapist told me that he’d had an interesting weekend – he got engaged! Congrats all around!! As he was working on my knee, I informed him that my husband and I have been married for 54 years. His question was, “what kind of advice do you have for someone just starting out?”

I only had to think for just a moment before giving my response: “Well, I don’t know where you are spiritually (he began nodding his head at this), but….put Christ in the middle.”

I can’t think of a better way to show love to either your marriage partner, or to those around you. Just put Christ in the middle of any relationship, and it all works the way it’s supposed to work. God certainly knew that when he created us.

Many, many years ago, I saw a cartoon in a magazine that touched me – and amused me. I cut it out, and here it is. Those “three little words” have a way of lifting us up, and letting us know that we are, indeed, loved. Of course, a hug would have gone a long way, as well, but to say those words out loud, to the one you love, makes all the difference in our attitude.

See what you think:

2

 

May God bless you richly in all your loving relationships

 Because your love is better than life [O Lord], my lips will glorify you.

Psalm 63:3

Tags: , , ,

Showers of Love~Part 2

27 Sep

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

As I mentioned last time, God has blessed me richly with a wonderful husband who has been literally catering to my every whim and need since I’ve had total knee replacement surgery.

2

 

But I am blest with others, as well. We’ve had wonderful friends who have brought meals to us, along with visits to encourage us both. We’ve had phone calls and cards wishing us both well. Our church family is the only support group we need. They supported us when I had cancer back in 2000, and they are just as supportive now.

But there is one other I want to mention. As soon as we called our oldest daughter, Karen, with the news when the surgery was to be, she said she wanted to come and help out. Fred said she didn’t need to, but her reply was “what if I WANT to come?” And we told her to “come on down!” And she did.

3

 

There wasn’t any need for her to be here the four days I was in the hospital, so she arrived the day following my discharge from the hospital, and she stayed five days. It was so good to see her and have her here. She did the cooking (remember, Fred isn’t much of a cook!), and helped me in and out of my chair. She unhooked me from the ice machine that ran across my knee 22 hours a day, and then hooked me back up. She encouraged me to do the exercises to jump-start my healing process.

And we had some great times of just sitting and visiting. We always seem to have something to talk about, and this time was no exception. I did mention to her that there were times that I wanted to just pick up and run to her and her sister, when they were having health issues – just because….. Perhaps just because I’m Mom. Karen had an unknown ulcer issue a few years back that scared us silly. My immediate response was to fly up there to take care of her. Her sister had emergency appendectomy surgery the week before our grandson’s wedding – and I wanted to jump on the plane and be with her. None of which could I do. So I fully understood Karen’s desire to just come be with Mom. Made this old heart glad, too

Karen and her husband, Brian, have been our traveling partners on many adventures, and they are great fun to travel with. Brian is a planner, and he works it out to see as much as possible on each trip. We are always delighted when they ask us to travel with them.

 

 

God has given me the blessings of family and friends that touch my heart in so many ways.

I am blest, indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , ,

Are We Allowed to Pray

14 Sep

My Take 

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and Artist

My beloved child in whom I am well pleased, when I look at you, I see my son, Jesus, who died that you might be made right with me.

You have been well schooled in the myth that unless you are sinless I will not hear your prayers. It is a sad thing when teachers take the words of the Pharisees in the Bible and twist them so that my own beloved children think they can’t communicate with me.

Every day dawns fresh for you my dear. Do not major on shortcomings, but major on the robe of righteousness that I have laid over you. When I look at you I see not what you used to be, but I see Jesus, my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Pray to your heart’s content. I hear, and I answer.

I Am Covered Over With the Robe of Righteousness

Tags: , , , ,

The Concert

6 Sep

Judy is still on break and I am sharing this one from the archives, September of 2012.  Enjoy~ Onisha

Sunday Memories

 Judy Wills

JUDY

 

I always remember there being a piano in the house.  Mother would sometimes sit down and play her favorite hymns from memory, with embellishments.  Occasionally we four would gather around the piano and sing along – Mom playing, Daddy on bass, brother on tenor, me on soprano.  Fond memories.

I started taking piano lessons the day I started first grade, and continued until I graduated from high school.  Now you might have thought that I was some kind of whiz on that instrument – and you would be dead wrong!  Talent?  Yes, I think God gave me some talent.  But not the GIFT.  I always have to have that piece of sheet music in front of my face, or I can’t play anything.

As time went on, I honed my talent, and became fairly accomplished.  My usual fare was church pianist, and occasionally the organist.

Our new Minister of Music wanted to do something new and different – so he organized six of us pianists and we began preparing for a six-piano concert!  One of the local piano stores had a room full of Clavinovas (digital/electronic pianos), and allowed us to practice at the store.

Close to time for the concert, and the pianos were moved to the church.  Up on the stage they went, and our practice time was closer to home.  We played two or three pieces all together – different parts of the song, like an orchestra.  Then we each played a duet with one of the other pianists, then a solo.  We were each to introduce ourselves to the audience and tell something about ourselves – just to get acquainted.

Friday night came – and the first concert.  The sanctuary was nearly full!  And then it became a labor of love – for the instrument and for our God who gave us all the talent to use for His Glory!  A labor of love, but such fun, as well.  My sister-in-law said, “WOW that was Great!!  What a glorious thing to hear SIX pianos played by six talented musicians all at one time!  I can sense God’s hand in this concert and in these musicians.”

I like to think that all those piano lessons have paid off.  I may not have the gift, but what talent I have, I use for God’s Glory.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things!

His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.

 

Psalm 98:1

 

Tags: , , ,

The sure way to find direction in life. | Janet Perez Eckles

22 Aug

http://www.flickr.com

On my last trip, I leaned toward the escort who was helping me get from the airline counter to my gate. “I need to visit the ladies’ room.”

“Sure, it’s right up ahead,” he said.

I left my suitcase with him and entered using my white cane for guidance. The place was empty. That meant no one was there to direct me to the right place. Yikes! What to do? Walk around aimlessly? Or go back out and ask the guy to come in help me? Can’t do that. How embarrassing!

In the midst of my dilemma, I happened to hear a trickle of water from one of the sinks nearby. Using that sound as a point of reference, I went to this side, then to the other. Finally I found the place I needed.

And when it was time to exit, that trickling water gave me the reference point again. I made my way out like a pro.

As I settled in my seat at the gate I grinned. How beautiful that God provides what we need, when we need it. Yes, in bathrooms. But when lost in life, He provides what we need, too.

He offers the living water that trickles through His Word. When lost, when confused, when blind, and unable to find our way, His Word trickles a delightful sound. The sound that gives direction to our life. The sound that gives us meaning and the sound that brings hope when lost in the place we don’t want to be.

via The sure way to find direction in life. | Janet Perez Eckles.

 

Janet’s weekly newsletter has a “What’s Been Happening” section. This is what she shared this week.

I wish you could see me grin with gratitude when I get comments to my blog posts. And this one particularly made my heart smile.

“I like your vibrant faith, too. It’s simply amazing that you love Him so much in spite of your blindness. Have you ever questioned the Lord as to your condition?”

What a great question. Of course, I questioned God in anger, in fear, and in frustration. Then He spoke to me: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

And His strength, His peace, and His comfort in the midst of my physical darkness shined a light of hope, of peace, and of unexpected success. Now I still question Him: Why did You choose to bless me in such an undeserving way?”

 

Tags: , , ,

You Can’t Outgive God~Part 3

19 Aug

A Slice of Life

 Bill Lites

Bill Red Spot Plane

 

DiVoran remembers that when it was time for lunch that day, we went upstairs to a fancy Trattoria. After we were seated, Erika discerned a small spot on the white tablecloth. When the waiter came to take our orders, she insisted, in rapid Italian and much hand waving, that the waiter immediately change the tablecloth for her American friends. DiVoran and I really felt sorry for that poor waiter but, the way Erika brow beat him, it was all we could do to keep from laughing out loud.

1

On the train back to Venice, we joked and laughed so hard, about all of our experiences of the day that the four hour trip passed like one. We were each given a small package of cookies as a snack and, later, when DiVoran said she wished she had more, a young man who had been listening and enjoying our jokes, tossed his package of cookies onto her small table as he walked past to get off at his stop. That brought on another round of giggles.

2

That day’s experiences will give you just a small idea of how many of our wonderful Italian vacation days went for us. Some were better than others, but they were all marvelous and we treasure the memory of each one of them. We really hated to leave when our vacation time was up, but all good things can’t last forever. We also learned that Marcia was instrumental in helping Erika’s father Lorenzo get a job with DCL as translator and Italian coordinator with the shipyard workers. She really had her hand on the pulse of that DCL office.

3

So, when construction on the “Wonder” was finished Marcia and Erika, along with Lorenzo and his wife Ornella, were among the Disney team members who worked their way across the Atlantic, on the ship making it ready for its first Disney cruise from Port Canaveral, FL. DCL had made some special arrangements for their two cruise ships to arrive at Port Canaveral at the same time for PR purposes. The “Wonder” was arriving from Italy, and the “Magic” was returning from a regularly scheduled cruise. Our whole family went to the port to see the two ships arrive and it was quite a sight. There were news helicopters everywhere, “Welcome“ signs towed by airplanes, daylight fireworks fired off from the two ships, and “Mickey” hands for all of us to wave at each other with. It was a typical Disney gala event.

4

DiVoran and I invited Marcia, Erika, Lorenzo and Ornella to a birthday dinner for my sister Judy, where they were able to meet our entire family. Judy and her husband Fred, our daughter Charlene and her husband Ron, our son Billy and his wife Lisa, and their two children Jacob and Lacey all crowded around the dinner table, getting acquainted while we ate. It was Lorenzo and Ornella’s first trip to America and they were interested in everything they saw and heard.

5

We all had a great time and Erika invited DiVoran and me to be her guests on the first training cruise to the Bahamas on the “Wonder.” You can imagine our surprise! Neither of us had ever been on a pleasure cruise of any kind, so this was too wonderful for us to believe. And let me tell you, it was every bit as WONDERFUL as you might imagine!

6

As you can see, that original gesture of love and acceptance DiVoran showed Marcia way back in 1987, began a friendship that has lasted many years. And, for us, has been returned many times over and in many different ways over in the years since then. Our God is so good about keeping His promises to us when we listen and follow His instructions and directions.

 

Luke 6:38

 

—–The End—–

 

Tags: , , , , ,

A Third Option

13 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and Artist

Sometimes when we go to a doctor and we’re not sure the doctor knows what he’s talking about, we decide to get a second opinion. It’s the same with making a personal decision. We can study and work at making the right one, but we may not be able to come to a solution without asking for advice from a friend. That’s all right, there is safety in consulting together. But there is another way.

A general of the Israelite army, Joshua once said,

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

It turned out that Joshua did serve the Lord in every possible way. Title of picture that comes with this one is Jericho. It’s the walls of Jericho and the trumpet players.

Jerico Small

One day, Joshua knew that his army was supposed to occupy the walled town of Jericho, but he wasn’t quite ready to make his move. Suddenly, he looked up and saw a big man standing in front of him with a gleaming sword in his hand. Joshua asked, “Are you on our side, or on the side of our enemies?”

“Neither, “ said the man. I am here as Prince of the Lord’s host. Take off your shoes for you are on holy ground.” Joshua took off his shoes and stood ready to listen to anything the Lord had to say.

In his commentary, Matthew Henry says this big man was the same one who came with three others to Sarah and Abraham to tell them they were going to have a baby in their ninetieth decade of life. It was actually Jesus who visited them and now he had come to see Joshua.

Jesus told Joshua that God had secured Jericho for the Israelites and he told him exactly how the army was to claim their victory. There was no need for Joshua to strategize or plan, no need for him to consult his officers. The Lord was in charge.

You may already know what happened at Jericho, but if you don’t, you can read all about God’s surprising action in the Holy Bible in Joshua Chapter 6.

Now, think about it. Could Joshua or any of his men have come up with the plan they saw worked out by the Lord? Never in a million years. And what if they had been able to imagine it? Do you think they would have had success carrying it out? Not at all. If you don’t know the story, please read it in your Bible in The Book of Joshua Chapter 6.

No one but God knew and no one but God had the power to carry out the plan. The answer he gave transcended anything a human could have thought up or accomplished. What an adventure for the humans involved!

Dear one, do you know that you and I can experience miracles every day. They may not be what we expect. Maybe they aren’t even what we think of as miracles, but if we are open to God working in our lives, we can experience surprise, synchronicity, and serendipity every day. All we have to do is forget plotting and planning, and forget asking advice from our friends. The more we practice hearing from God and following His leading, the more exciting our lives will be. Let’s do it, let’s ask for that third opinion.

Joshua, Chapters 5 and 6.

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →