Tag Archives: Inspirational

Prosper where you are planted.

24 Sep

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Unhappy where you are? Not pleased where God put you? Joy is around the corner. Find out how you can blossom where God plants you with my friend, Kathy Carlton Willis’ uplifting insights.

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09-16-16 Kathy Carlton WillisWe were excited about our brand new home, but not so much with our new sod and landscaping. It struggled to survive the move. Of course, the 100-degree heatwave didn’t help matters. The crux of the problem was transplant shock. Those green leafies were traumatized by being uprooted from their comfortable setting and placed into strange new surroundings.

We did all we could to “love on” our greenies. We refreshed them frequently with nourishing drinks of water. But even with the proper care, the bright green leaves of grass, trees and plants dimmed to a straw-like gold. Transplant Trauma.

It takes time and the proper care for transplants to adjust to new surroundings, and then they snap out of the shock and turn green again.

I know what it’s like to be a transplant, and perhaps you do, too. You wonder how it’s possible to prosper where you’re planted when you’re dealing with your own version of transplant trauma. We didn’t get to stay in the hometown of our childhood. No, God uprooted us. Took us from the comfort of what we knew and loved, and moved us to a new area that needed us. God often sends us to parched places—to rejuvenate others with refreshing green ministry.

Sometimes it takes a while to get acclimated. We go through a period of transplant trauma. Shock. The refreshingness of the lush green we offer others temporarily turns to dry hay. With the right amount of time to adjust, and with the loving care of our new surroundings, we green up again. It’s good to know it’s just a temporary condition.

Sometimes we come to a new place still grieving the loss of what we left behind. We bring that trauma with us until we come to accept it. Other times, we are eager to get started in the new ministry, but are confronted by the culture shock of the new area. We adapt. We add the water of the Word, confirming our calling to our new spot. We soak in the SONlight. We allow our Heavenly Master Gardener to tend to our needs while we tend to the needs of others.

Are you yearning to prosper where you’re planted? Repeat this phrase with me: “Transplant trauma is temporary. God’s tender loving care is permanent.”

Source: Prosper where you are planted. | Janet Perez Eckles

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A friend who refreshes.

17 Sep

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, this month is extra special as you’ll be inspired by other voices with uplifting messages. Here is the first one from my friend Kolleen Lucariello. Enjoy!

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09-09-16 LucarielloAs we flip our calendars from August, ushering in September, we say farewell to our summer vacations and hello to the season of back-to-school, cooler temperatures of fall and one of the highlights of our home: football. Here’s another bonus of September: it’s also Women’s Friendship Month and I love the gift of friendship!

Recently I was reading in Acts about Paul and how difficult life had become for him. He was beaten, bound with chains, accused by the Jews, imprisoned, taken before councils and Rulers, and then eventually sent to Rome. I imagine by the time Paul boarded the ship to begin his journey to Rome he was a tired man; he’d endured a great deal. As I’m feeling bad for him, this verse jumps out at me: “The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul with [thoughtful] consideration, allowed him to go to his friends there and be cared for and refreshed” (Acts 27:3 AMP).

I simply adore the fact that Julius, the guard in charge, thought enough of Paul to recognize he needed the care and refreshment of his friends. That part of the story just blesses my heart because I’m so grateful for those who recognized when I needed the care and refreshment only a faithful friend could bring. While my journey, or your journey, may never look like Paul’s, it’s still possible for imprisonment to find us.

We might endure a prison of darkness when depression covers us like a thick heavy blanket. Or chained to a past we can’t seem to move away from. We may find ourselves standing before accusers—relentless in voicing their opinions while refusing to hear ours. Life is full of moments when the waters can become a turbulent sea.

That’s when we need our own Julius, the guard in our lives, to recognize our need for care and refreshment. Who is traveling your journey with you? Who is your guard in life that notices when you’re about to break? Who reaches out when you begin drifting away? We all need a guard like Julius, someone willing to stand by us, giving thoughtful consideration to our needs. And we all crave friends who bring care and refreshment to our lives. The ABCGirl said: Proverbs 11:25b promises, “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (NIV).

 

Source: A friend who refreshes. | Janet Perez Eckles

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40 Days of Generosity 2016

15 Sep

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

In the midst of the never-ending divisive speeches and billboards that characterize the Presidential election season, I saw this small sign that trumped (pun intended)  them all.

free-music-lessons-copy

Guitar, Vocals, Percussion 40 Days of Generosity

 

Last year, our town, Titusville, Florida joined together to encourage and strengthen this community that had faced massive job losses and homes whose dollar values made underwater look like an improvement. It was a month-long event and according to Florida Today, the community raised more than $200,000 for a splash park at Sand Point Park and $42,000 to help rebuild a Salvation Army building that would be used as a family emergency shelter in Titusville.

It was a joy to see and read about the large and small ways the community came together and that bonding had lasting results. I believe that hearts are intended for generosity. All hearts. In the past two months we have seen floods wipe out towns in West Virginia and Louisiana. It wasn’t FEMA who worked hand in hand  with the communities to salvage their homes, it was everyday people. Some were from community organizations, others church groups, and still others folks who loaded their vehicles with supplies and showed up. In the midst of the campaign frenzy, let’s remember that we are not what those seeking power choose to label us. We are good people. Generous people.

 

If you would like to learn more about 40 Days of Generosity visit LovingBrevard.org

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What to do when all falls apart.

10 Sep

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

09-02-16 Major Delays

“We have some good news and some bad news,” the airline rep announced to those of us sitting at the gate.

We squirmed in our seats.

“The good news is that we identified the mechanical problem with the plane,” she said. “The bad news is that we need to bring a part from Chicago. It will be at least two hours.”

Groans of annoyance echoed throughout.

That meant I missed my connecting flight and the changes resulted in my 4-hour trip turning into 13 hours.

We waited for three hours. Then the lady seated to my left said, “Why weren’t they honest with us? This is totally ridiculous.”

The lady to my right let out a huge huff. “All my plans for the day fell apart. This is a horrible way to treat their customers.”

And since I’m a mind-your-own-business kind of gal, I said to myself: Chill friends. This delay might be a way for God to protect us from a disaster while flying in the clouds.

Then, suddenly another announcement: “Those of you on flight 2049, approach the counter for a courtesy voucher for your inconvenience.”

I knew it would be a lunch voucher, and navigating to make a line would be cumbersome with my white cane. So I turned to the lady to my left and said, “Would you be so kind as to get the voucher for me?”

“Not a problem,” she said.

Later on, she came back and placed two slips of paper in my hand. “Here, we all got a $200 voucher toward our next flight.”

Woo hoo! Thank you, Lord! I quickly stuffed it in my purse.

Next, I heard the same ladies talk on their cell phones, “You won’t believe what happened. Because of the delay, I got a $200 voucher…I love this airline. It’s the best.”

I’ve done that. Maybe you have, too. We praise only when good things happen. When doors open, opportunities come, blessings show up, surprises happen, and good times appear…we praise God and we rejoice, right?

But when mechanical malfunctions in life cause all to fall apart, we’re left stuck in sorrow, frustration, and anger. Who could blame us, we grumble and complain.

But the one who taught me not to fall for that trap is Habakkuk (I know, strange name). But when I get to heaven, he’s on my list to give a big ol’ hug because this is what he said when he found himself in the gate of emptiness because all his plans had fallen apart.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

In the waiting for answers, in the sadness of emptiness, and with broken plans, what rumbles in your heart and what slips from your lips?

 

Source: What to do when all falls apart. | Janet Perez Eckles

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Personal Journey

6 Sep

A Life to Live

Melody Hendrix

Not everyone will understand your journey… that’s fine…It’s not their journey to make sense of…. It’s your.  Zero Dean

Everyone is on their own personal journey, seeking their own truth. Sometimes we take things too personal. I have found that in order to really grow, as a soul, you have to come to an understanding that no matter what someone else has done to you, no matter who you wish them to be, people are who they are. The less you expect of them, the less you can be hurt by them. Melanie Koulouris

Never forget where you’ve been. Never lose sight of where you are going, and never take for granted the people who travel the journey with you. Susan Gale

It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. Ernest Hemingway

Melody beach

 

 

I am retired and enjoying life. My hobbies are my 5 grandchildren, son and daughter, and my loving husband. I am a photographer and extreme nature lover. I love spending time in my garden or in the wilderness connected to God my Creator.
Melody

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If we all did this, we could change the world.

27 Aug

 

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

 

VIDEO OF THE WEEK SNEAK PEEK: CLICK HERE

 

My jaw was still numb as I approached the receptionist desk at the dentist. She handed me the card. “Here’s your next appointment date.”

“Thank you,” I said. Then I leaned toward her and whispered, “And stay as sweet as you are.”

She didn’t answer. But after a few seconds, she cleared her throat, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me lately.” Her voice quivered.

I gave her a huge smile. But on the way home, her response rode in the car with me. What prompted me to say that to her? How often had I encountered folks who might also need a kind word, an encouraging comment or a genuine smile?

But the busyness of life, the tugging of the next chore, the issues at hand, usually erase any desire to encourage those we meet, those we know and…gulp…those we love.

We all hear words of discouragement on the news, at work, in the street, on the radio, on TV, on social media. But we have the power to change that.

We can make a difference choosing to encourage others. To share kind words, to impart positive comments and give a verbal hug.

Here are three truths about the power of our words:

  1. “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)
  2. “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 6:24)
  3. “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

Our words can lift the soul, bring a smile and touch the heart.

What impact will the power of your words have today?

 

Source: If we all did this, we could change the world. | Janet Perez Eckles

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What Works for You?

26 Aug

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

 

Sometimes it is a dream that keeps us going-
the root of a thought that keeps on growing and growing.
Or, are you motivated by others?
You strive to meet their goals for you.
Just remember, it’s important to yourself be true.
it will only lead to strife.

 

God created you to be You.
He is the one who gave you talent.
He is the one who gave you life.
When you struggle to be another,
it will only lead to strife.

 

Trust in the Lord with your whole heart.
He wants the best for you.
When you are doing what you love,
God is saying “Yes” to you.

 

Don’t let failure define you.
Hold on to your vision.
Ask the Lord to guide you
in making the right decision.

 

When you are doing what you love,
it excites your inner core.
It energizes creativity
and allows you to do more.

 

Keep in mind, your biggest cheerleader
in life is you.
Choose a positive attitude in reaching your goals
and watch you dreams come true.

 

 

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What you must kill in order for joy to grow.

20 Aug

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

GardeningA desire to garden exploded in me when I read this:

Why do gardeners go for their hobby with such passion and dedication? I think it is because the creativity never ends. Gardeners are always adding, trimming, forming, watching, and that’s what makes the work fun. Our gardens are our living, ever-changing palette.

What fun! I want to do that, too. But then I remembered what someone told me. Gardening requires work, real work such as consistent efforts to pull out weeds so the flowers can grow.

I should’ve known that—nothing grows without work. I learned that in the weed-filled garden of my own life. And when I went to work, pulling out the weeds, then joy began to blossom.

And like many, the most stubborn weed is the one called doubt. It has to be yanked out. If not, doubt chokes all that tries to grow.

Often that unsightly doubt comes in these three different varieties:

  1. Doubt that God is enough, that He will provide for all our needs. “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
  2. Doubt that God will be with us no matter where life takes us. “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)
  3. Doubt that is the key that opens the door to destructive fear. So we fear things won’t turn out, answers won’t come or solutions won’t arrive. “For I’ve not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

When doubt is pulled out, the garden of life shines with new colors. Peace grows, security blossoms, and hope brings on the fragrance of joy.

What weed-killer are you using for that stubborn doubt?

Source: What you must kill in order for joy to grow. | Janet Perez Eckles

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It is Always Too Soon to Quit

19 Aug

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

 

Let your dream be bigger than your fear.
Hold on to your vision and persevere.
The fuel for your journey is a spark.
By perseverance the snail reached the ark.

 

Love always perseveres;
a force strong and true.
It motivates your best interests
and brings out the best in you.

 

Don’t despise the day of small things.
It is the small thing that forms
the framework of our day.
Keep an attitude of gratitude
as the Lord leads you to do all things His way.

 

Father Jean Nicholas Grou wrote:
“Little things come daily, hourly, within our reach,
and they are no less calculated to set forward
our growth in holiness than are the greater occasions
which occur but rarely. Moreover, fidelity in trifles,
and an earnest seeking to please God in little matters
is a test of real devotion and love. Let your aim be
to please our dear Lord perfectly in little things.”

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It is Good to Give Thanks

18 Aug

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

During my growing up years, we lived in Orlando, Florida. My parents loved to fish, so most Fridays as soon as my parent’s made it home from work, we loaded the car with fishing gear and headed to the east coast. We would fish all night and most of Saturday.  We usually fished from a pier and late at night when most folks had gone home to sleep, we would often  begin to sing hymns in the evening stillness. Just my family, the moon and the stars. Wonderful memories.

What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
    to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
    sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
    the full-bodied music of strings.

Psalms 92: 1-3

The Message

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