Category Archives: Nature

Nature art and photo gallery collection relating to lifestyle themes.

Let Freedom Ring!

let freedom ring

“Let Freedom Ring,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Let freedom ring!  A tribute to our nation.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Hebrews 12:1

This past Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I had the chance to visit both Ellis Island and  The Statue of Liberty with two of our dearest friends.  We had a very enjoyable time, and although the weather was overcast for much of the day, visiting these two sites that are so much part of our nation’s history caused my heart to beam with a brightness that I find hard to describe.  I have seem countless photographs of The Statue of Liberty.  I have heard numerous stories, including that of my own grandmother, of those who have come through Ellis Island to start anew in America.  I have felt the beating of my own heart as I’ve raised my hand to my chest to honor our nation’s flag and the strength and freedom that it represents.  But there was something solemn and unforgettable about actually being surrounded by these monuments that makes the phrase “let freedom ring” come alive.

There is no mistaking that we are facing some of the most difficult times in our nation’s history.  While I will not mention them here, I think that we’ve all been met with challenges recently that have made at least some part of our lives a struggle.  My mind was full of such thoughts as we road the ferry out to tour The Statue of Liberty.  The grey skies in the photograph above depicts what I felt perfectly.  That made me think too, about how those individuals who travelled to Ellis Island, the “new land,” long ago must have felt; a cloud of apprehension surrounding an anticipation of better times.

let freedom ring

“Her Torch…A Guiding Light!,” photograph by Marilyn Hill

As we approached the statue and I got to examine her more closely, my mood changed.  The skies began to clear and as I gazed up at The Statue of liberty, she seemed to emulate a certain grace, majesty, power and hope.  It was as though she were crying out, “Let freedom ring!”  Starting anew, building a life and rising above what may threaten to keep you down.  There is freedom in that, and there is life in being free to become what you strive to be.  That is what so many have done here in our nation thus far…may we continue to do just that long into the future…let freedom ring…loudly!

Happy Independence Day!

Peace to you, Felecia

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America, You’re Beautiful!

America, You're Beautiful!

“Red Geranium,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

America, you’re beautiful!  How thankful I am to have been born in such a nation as this.

America, You’re Beautiful!

America, your beautiful!

How fortunate are we.

To live in this nation bought with a price;

it is that blood that keeps us free.

Your beauty is unending, your richness is so vast.

Your land has yielded so much for us,

it is up to us to help make is last.

America, you’re beautiful!

How your history flows though the pages.

You welcome people from all over the world,

you have served them throughout the ages.

Through strife and victory, God has blessed us so bountifully.

We’ve trusted Him with everything,

may His grace cover us continually.

Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

Please join me as we approach the day of celebrating the birth of our nation, and reflect upon all of the goodness we enjoy in our beautiful America.

Peace to you,

Felecia

 

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Where I Belong

where i belong

“Where I Belong,” photo graph by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Where I belong…there is much comfort and safety in truly knowing where that is…

I have been doing a lot of thinking about past times lately.  Given the new and difficult experiences I’ve had to face over these past several months, it appears as though my daily life has been turned upside down.   I am likely not alone when I say that I enjoy a certain degree of comfort and security in following a familiar routine, one where I have a good idea of what to expect from day to day.  It may sound odd, but now that each day has been a bit topsy-turvy, sometimes I honestly don’t know where I belong!

Where I belong…there is much comfort and safety in truly knowing where that is.  Yes, of course I know where that is in terms of who I belong to, my husband, my family; all of those whom I love dearly.  In terms of my daily life, however, sometimes the answer is unclear.  I am secure and confident in the many different roles that I play at home, work, church; handling those things that I am responsible for.  But when life takes me by surprise, when I am forced out of my comfort zone, then where do I belong?  The answer is clear…

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Where I belong is where my heart is…knowing that makes all the difference in the world.  My sense of belonging is complete when I am in the midst of the people and things that make my heart swell.  Being where I belong is more than a place; it is a state of being. It is when I feel a sense of vibrancy, calmness, safety, that no matter what is going on around me I know that being there is exactly where I am supposed to be.  It is not something that I’ve found on my  own, rather, it is where God has placed me…it is where I belong.

Peace to you,

Felecia

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Be Careful What You Ask For

be careful what you ask for

“An Open Door,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Be careful what you ask for…the power of prayer is real…when you ask, be prepared to receive!

“Be careful what you ask for.”  I’ve heard that phrase many times before and disregarded it as just another cliche.  Lately, however, I have a much different attitude towards it…now, I surely believe it to be true!  When we ask for something fervently, diligently seeking the Lord’s will in what we are asking for, the answer he gives may not always be what we’ve expected.  In fact, the answer can sometimes seem like the opposite of what we’ve asked for.  Well, I am here to tell you that the answer is always the best one when it is God who does the answering.

I have never known this truth in a more real sense until recently, when my dear husband was diagnosed with tonsilar cancer several months ago.  Of course, my prayer all along has been that God would heal my husband of this awful disease and restore him to complete health.  At the same time, and only by God’s grace and strength, I have also asked that his will be done; for I know that in all circumstances “…God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

We can never know what we will face in life; as we live each day the troubles and blessings unfold to shape our own story.  Our wants and needs all change to some degree, but we have expectations that they will be fulfilled, preferably in the way that we plan for them to.  That is the crux of what I want to convey here…when we ask God to fulfill our needs, we know in faith that he will answer us.  It is not so much that one needs to “be careful what you ask for,” but rather, “be careful how you accept what you’ve been given.”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7

For me, asking for my husband’s healing has opened up a multitude of answers from God that are not exactly what I’ve asked for, he has not been healed, but the answers are blessings nonetheless.  In fact, I can honestly say that I feel privileged to have had to face and experience this trial.  You see, when I am going through dark times such as this, that is when my focus is on God, and it is then that I can fully understand and accept with open arms all of the good that he is doing in my life.

Be careful what you ask for?  No need, because when God does the answering it’s all good!

Peace to you,

Felecia

 

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Patience Makes Perfect

Patience

“Patience Makes Perfect,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Patience makes perfect…there is a grace and elegance that is born out of the discipline of waiting…so it is with patience.

Perfection, that is not a word that describes human nature, although it is something that we all strive to attain in some form or another.  “When I accomplish this…when I get that…then things will be perfect.” Haven’t we all uttered those words and haven’t they always more often than not, failed to come true?  And so we go round and round, treading the same circle of trying to achieve that, which is unattainable.  Add to that our fierce desire for instantaneous gratification, and we likely miss the mark altogether.

“Patience makes perfect;” what an odd sounding phrase…but is it really?  When we wait and take our time and let things flow and play out as they should; isn’t it then that things work out better?  I can recall countless times in my own life when I’ve tried to make things happen, rearranging this, frantically reacting to that, and before I know it, I become so frustrated and overwhelmed that I don’t get anything done.  In fact, I sometimes have made the situation far worse.  It’s a funny thing…in trying to achieve perfection; I get the furthest away from it.

“Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4

Indeed, patience makes perfect…not perfection in its purest sense.  Rather, there is grace and elegance that is born out of the discipline of waiting…it produces a richness that flourishes in maturity.  We see that principle all around us.  An athlete must train day after day before his body reaches peak physical condition; a process that may take months or years even.  But all of that time and effort are well worth it as he proudly steps up to the platform to receive the honor of first place.  A mother-to-be blossoms during her many months of gestation.  Her anticipation is full of excitement and apprehension for she knows the bitter sweetness that will come when it is time to bear her precious child.  Patience spawns a beauty that is the perfect reward for our efforts…a perfection that is well worth the wait.

Whatever you are striving for, may you achieve it through patience and receive your perfect reward.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Who Is This Jesus?

who is this jesus?

“Lenten Banner (hand-crafted by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com), photograph by Marilynn Hill

 

Who is this Jesus?…”But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5

Who Is This Jesus?

Who is this Jesus?

Son of God, full of hope.

You are always with us,

helping us to cope.

Who is this Jesus?

With you I am not lost.

You are my Savior and my Lord.

For me, you paid a great cost.

Who is this Jesus?

I only want more of you.

For without you I am nothing,

you give me purpose; my soul you renew.

Who is this Jesus?

You are precious; you are light.

When I face my darkest times,

you are the focus of my sight.

Who is this Jesus?

From the grave you did raise.

In gratitude, throughout my life;

to you I will always give praise.

Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

Who Is This Jesus? - 2

“He is Risen!,” colored pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

Thank you Jesus for dying in my place and for giving me the gift of eternal life.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

May His life fill your heart today and always,

Felecia

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Reticent – What’s in a word?

Reticent

“Reticent,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

Reticent – What’s in a word?

Stillness, silence, calm, dark, separated, alone, meditative, pensive, quiet, mysterious, reserved…

What’s in this word for you?  If you can tell, me please do.

During this most solemn of weeks for believers in Christ Jesus, ‘reticent” only scratches at the surface of how to describe my present mood.  Reflecting upon the events that took place long ago which we remember during Holy Week, I am reminded of both the humanity and the divine nature that Jesus demonstrated flawlessly during his time here on earth.  He took on the role of the servant when he washed the feet of his disciples and the comforter when he revealed to them what he must endure, as they shared their last moments together on Maundy Thursday.  He became the ultimate sacrificial lamb as he willingly bore the sins of all mankind hanging in agony on the cross on Good Friday.  Through all of that, however, he suffered his darkest hour when in death, he became totally separated from God the Father…buried, silent, reticent.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.  Do you believe this?’…”  John 11:25-26

Jesus’ love for us, his compassion towards us, his selfless resolve to save us is so clear.  Oh that everyone would recognize him for who he truly is and believe.  “Reticent”… may this word seep into your heart and take on a new meaning for your…for through the quietness of Holy Week, may you draw close to the glorious hope that Christ Jesus has already prepared for you.

In His Peace,

Felecia

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Perpetual Motion

Perpetual Motion 1

“C’est la vie!,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

 

Perpetual Motion…Life, vita, vida, vie…whichever way you pronounce it, it never stands still.

“I am a spiritual being having a human experience.  My life is a continual unfoldment of my divine potential.” (Author unknown)

With this new season of freshness, growth and renewal upon us, I can’t help but think of how life is in perpetual motion.  Life itself is a constant cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth, growth, and on it goes.  The seasons demonstrate this circle of movement so well.  The dark, cold shadow of winter, can sometimes feel like death with its subdued bleakness surrounding us.  The early light and sprouting vitality of spring is reminiscent of the joy and brightness that we experience in our youth.  The intense heat of summer’s blaze is equal to the confidence and strength that propels us along through our adult years.  Alas, the crowning glory that comes with a lifetime of wisdom and knowledge, fades as quietly as does the fullness of autumn’s majestic colors…life drifts away into subtle hues of gray…and darkness rules once again for  a season.

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  James 4:14

Life, vita, vida,vie…whichever way you pronounce it, it never stands still.  It is fascinating to see this principle in every living thing.  Plants sprout from seeds that have been sowed beneath rich, dark soil where they appear to be dead.  Before long, tiny green leaves develop and buds blossom in the matchless beauty of delicate petals that are seemingly here today, and gone tomorrow.  But oh what sweetness their fragrance brings.  And when they are spent, their perfume lingers for all to enjoy.

Perpetual Motion 2

“Vibrance,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

As with all living things, we all serve a purpose and its meaning fold during every stage of our lives.  We live our days through season after season, year after year.  Like the showers of spring help to grow the brilliance of a field of wildflowers in the summertime; our tears wash away our pain and disappointment, making way for the glimmer of a smile when good news comes.  The pensive mood that brews when watching a leaf bursting with russet hues falling gently to the ground in autumn, mimics the way we feel when we realize how much of our lives have already been lived.  There is something starkly compelling about peering out at a winterscape from a window, safe and warm inside.  The blustery wind that blows and howls outside, they echo death’s hollow song…the melody is one that we will all someday become familiar with.  Yet we will live on in the hearts of those who remember us and draw inspiration and vitality from all that we’ve left behind.

Whatever stage you are in, may you experience the perpetual motion of your life in a beautifully and wondrous way.

 

I bid you peace and love,

Felecia

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