Tag Archives: God

I Believe in Miracles

14 Aug

Bill Lites our normal Wednesday blogger has internet issues and was unable to send in his post for Wednesday. A true miracle occurred this week, I have written a blog post and have it ready to go. so I am posting Wednesday in the hope that Bill will be with us Thursday.

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I believe in miracles, in fact I delight in miracles so much they send my soul into a happy dance. My favorite miracle is seeing God bring people together to meet a need, encourage someone or heal a heart. I have lived long Onishaenough to look back through time to see how God guides the threads of our lives in His hand then draws together those lives to create a miracle. It confirms to me how intimately  God cares for every aspect of our lives. I wish I could draw well because this would be one of my favorite pictures.

As I was thinking about these small miracles, my heart questioned me about the big miracles. Why don’t I feel the same joy when I pray for the “biggies” like freedom from bad life habits, healing and even salvation?  Of course I pray for those miracles and say all the right words but where is the joyous expectation?

Here is my question: Do I rejoice in small miracles because I am afraid to yearn for big ones?

UPDATE: Monday morning, shortly after writing this I received a call that my precious 10 year old grandson was having silent seizures and needed an MRI  ASAP. I marvel at how God led me to search my heart so that I can joyously expect a miracle.

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I Was Watching You the Whole Time

10 Aug

We are pleased to welcome Janet Perez Eckles to Old Things R New. She lives in Orlando with her best friend and wonderful hubby, Gene. They  delight in the love of their two grandchildren from their son Jason and his wife Rachel, and their middle son, Jeff. We wait in joyful expectation to the day when we’ll reunite with our youngest son Joe, in the glory of heaven. 

Janet Perez Eckles

My three-year old granddaughter gripped my hand. “C’mon, Nana. Let’s go jump over the waves.”

My feet sank in the hot Florida sand as I took each step, her tiny hand inside mine. Even at her age, she knows to lead her blind Nana.

For a long, long time, we jumped, giggled and wiped salty water from our eyes. Then like the splash of a huge wave, I realized we had walked far from where her Papa was.

Worry began to burn. What if we cannot make it back? What if he lost sight of us?

I got down on one knee and held her thin face in my hands. “Sweetheart, do you see Papa anywhere?”

“Uh…no,” she said. “Let’s jump some more.”

I heard a conversation nearby. “Excuse me” I said, waving in their direction. “Can you help me? I’m trying to find my husband.”

Before I’d finished my question, I heard a familiar voice. “I’m here, honey.”

That voice was my husband’s. “I was watching you the whole time.”

How similar to God’s voice when stress, fear or worry fools our heart to believe we’re far from Him. But in reality in the sea of life, when the sand of hardship burns, and when the heat of heartache sears, God is watching, aware of our every step. Though we may think we’ve wondered far, He’s close enough for us to hear the whisper of His love. And how life changes when we can feel the touch of His grace. We sense the power of His protection. And when waves of unexpected trials come, we count on the safety of His care.
Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Janet Perez Eckles, the blind Latina who helps you see the best of life.
http://www.janetperezeckles.com

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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Your Old Men Shall Dream Dreams

7 Aug

Your Old Men Shall Dream Dreams

2004

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Sometime in 2004 I had a dream that started in a small building about the size of the church we were attending at the time.  A few people (some of which I knew) were scattered around the room.  One good friend walked up and handed me a lapel mike and asked me who was going to lead the meeting.  I said I guessed I could get it started by having everyone tell us his or her name.  As I started around the room, many more people were coming in and I realized I couldn’t name them all.  So, I just looked around and asked them to meet and greet each other.  As people kept streaming in, the room kept expanding until there were thousands of people in a huge outdoor coliseum.  Even though I was completely out of my element, I could feel the people’s love for me and for one another.  I was moved by their openness and asked them to pray that Jesus would visit us in Spirit and Truth.  I was filled with the most wonderful feeling of love and acceptance, and couldn’t stop sharing with them the love that Jesus had for all of us.

 

Then I started sharing with the people how Jesus must be hurting, and how we had all hurt Him at one time or another.  I told Him how sorry I was for how I had hurt Him and immediately felt His warm love and forgiveness.  Everyone was open and receptive to what I had to say, except for one heckler right on the isle next to me.  He was not mean, just disruptive and I finally looked at him and said, “Be quiet mister.” And, he immediately disappeared!

 

The sky above us was constantly moving and filled with every color in the rainbow (like Alice in Wonderland).  At some time during the gathering, it became very dark all around the outside of the coliseum and started to rain, but not on us.  The open sky above us remained bright and filled with moving color.  It was a very scary position to be in, but as thousands of people kept coming in, I found myself filled with an ever-increasing desire to share the love of God with them.  It was the ultimate worship experience!

 

When I woke up, I felt cool and calm, not hot and sweaty like when I wake up from most dreams.  My first thought was “I don’t ever want to find myself in front of that many people, in that kind of a position!”  I immediately repented and told the Lord I was willing to do whatever He wanted me to do.  Then I thanked Him for giving me the experience and felt that I should write it all down.  I wasn’t sure why I felt like I should write it down, because I have never done that before, especially in the middle of the night, but it just seemed like the kind of dream that I wanted to share with others.

 

 

Acts 2:17

                                               

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

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Standing on the Promises

22 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistEvery family has trouble and sorrow. Our’s is no exception, but one day when I had come to the end of my resources, I discovered that God made promises in the Bible. Nothing has ever been the same since.

As I began to see scripture as promises I wrote them down in a small, red, velvet book. Soon it was filled with promises and quotations from godly folks I trust.

Now many years later, I’ve seen the fulfillment of those promises. Not only have they been fulfilled in the family we started with but in our descendants as well. My greatest hope has happened. God is good.

How about you, is there a special promise you have claimed in trying times?

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 53:13

 

If you would like to read more from DiVoran she can be found at Rebekah Lyn Books

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Gratitude

19 Jul

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

 

“I have learned to enjoy the little things-

there are so many of them”

GRATITUDE

 

I thank God for His blessings-

Waking up each morning is one.

There is so much promise in the air,

So many victories to be won..

It is all age-related-

What is your expectancy?

To pass all the “tests” of the day-

Whatever they may be?

 

We all face challenges

That tax our existence-

But one must persevere

In spite of their persistence.

 

Hold on to your values-

Stand up for what you believe.

If God is at the forefront-

He will help you to achieve!

 

 

“Enjoy the little things,

For one day you may look back

And realize they were the big things”

Robert Brault

 

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A Thousand Trials

15 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Trials make us more able to trust God. We trust Him more quickly each time one Author, Poet and Artistcomes to us and we trust him on a deeper level the next time. We must, however, remember to come to him while we are in the trial and to ask him for revelation, insight, peace, and power every time.

If we try to white-knuckle it though life, we turn ourselves blind and deaf to the guidance and miracle help he wants to give us. When we tell Him we need his nurturing and care in the midst of the storm, He will perform miracles so wondrous we are hardly able to contain their glory. It’s worth it. We’re worth it. Being in the center of His will is worth it.

“All things work together for good for those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer’s good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them and one besides.” George Mueller

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AEROBICS AND HEARING AIDS

14 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY 

 I have been an “exerciser” for many, many years of my life.  As a matter of fact, I began jogging more than three months before I shamed Fred into jogging with me. We’ve never stopped doing something in the way of exercise.

 So it came as no surprise to me to find an “aerobic dancing” class beginning shortly after we arrived in Heidelberg, West Germany.  One of the military wives was teaching the class.  I took the class and loved it!  The interest was so great that she wanted to have a partner to help teach – and she selected me.  I taught the remainder of the three years we were in Heidelberg.   This was our logo and color.

During that time, there was one lady in my class who always stood in the front row and to my right (I was facing away from the students).  As we conversed, I thought she had a speech impediment.  After we got to know each other a bit better, she told me that she had been born with some hearing loss.  She wasn’t totally deaf, but enough so that she couldn’t hear the way most words were sounded.  That explained her speech.  But she had hearing aids that helped her so much, and she could understand all the cues I shouted out in the class.

As interesting as all that is – to me anyway – that’s not the end of the story.  We returned stateside and began our life in Virginia.  Our oldest daughter had met her 2future husband while in high school in Heidelberg (his father was our American pastor), and he had returned to the States to attend college – where she was attending, of course.  They married a few years later.

One evening, around Thanksgiving time, I received a call from our son-in-law, saying that, on their way to see his parents in South Carolina, our daughter had fallen asleep at the wheel and they had crashed.  I was furious that he would only say that she was “in with the doctor” and wouldn’t give me any more details – like…..is she still alive???!!!

I asked if he wanted us to come and take them back home (they were only about an hour from their apartment).  He agreed.  He then said, “wait, here is the paramedic who will give you directions to the hospital.”  This young man came on the phone and gave me the directions – with the very same intonation that my aerobic student had!!  I knew at once that he had hearing loss, and not a speech impediment.  And, by God’s grace, I was able to understand every word he said – the first time!  No repeats.  God had prepared me, all those years ago, for that very moment, when I would need my wits about me, and to understand this young man’s instructions.

I could end the story there – that is the main thrust of it – but I want to tell you of God’s gracious hand in all this.  You see, when our daughter fell asleep, the car drifted, and our son-in-law looked up and screamed, which woke her, and she drastically over-corrected.  That caused the car to roll several times.  Amazingly, there were no other cars around them – just down the road a bit – no other cars involved in the crash.  There was an off-duty ambulance behind them that stopped, and the paramedics gave aid.  They could have rolled off a bridge and crashed onto the road below them – but they didn’t – they just rolled to a stop on an embankment.  While the car was totaled, our children only suffered a few cuts and bruises.

Our God is loving and faithful and gracious, indeed.

O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us…

Psalm 12:7

 

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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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Image

Corky and Angel

5 Jul

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

These two are my feline friends,

So precious, a gift from above.IMG_1693

Born during Hurricane Charley,

Their heart is a “garden of love”.

They were two of a family of eight,

And bonded from the start.

As I watched from my kitchen window,

Their antics touched my heart.

They were tiny, but, oh so feisty!

They, chased, and wrestled in play.

I confess, I prayed for their safety,-

That they would survive another day!

It is almost eight years later.

They live in the house with me.

IMG_1695I would like to share my pictures,-

Illustrations of activity.

The activity is mostly due to them

(as they curtail most of mine)-

They demand my full attention

(which, secretly, suits me fine!)

The “guest room” provides a window

That satisfies Corky’s curiosity-

“Is that racoon still out there?

I’m glad he can’t see ME!”IMG_1699

It is a wonder that I pay my bills on time-

Angel tries to steal my pen.

She even lays on my check book,

(IMG_1700Help me, please, Lord-Amen!)

There are no signs of aging.

As far as the eye can tell-

They have so much energy

That seems to serve them well.

I must confess they have a little help-

When bad weather comes our way-

A  little “catnip” lifts their spirit-

It’s a joy to watch them play!

I am so grateful to the Lord,

He is with us every day.IMG_1692

I couldn’t begin to count my blessings-

He provides in every way.

It is now almost eight years later.

They live in the house with me.

I have taken many pictures.

IMG_1697

IMG_1694

Corky and a Halloween cat

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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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