Category Archives: Art

Inspirational art collection relating to lifestyle themes.

Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholder

Words for Worship - Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Photograph by Linh Le on Unsplash

Words for Worship – Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

”Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” — Margaret Wolfe Hungerford

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – As an artist, I’ve certainly learned this to be true.  What one person views as a masterpiece can be an atrocity in the eyes of another.  Today’s society certainly has an opinion on what beauty is and what it is not.  And the focus is overwhelmingly placed on outward appearance.  The problem is, in many cases, the beauty we see on the outside does not reflect what is on the inside.

In fact, when we place such a fierce emphasis on outward beauty, it may signal that we are hiding something not so beautiful inside.

Like a painting after awhile, the vibrancy of the pigments tends to fade and we rely on our initial impression, (our vision of what the image looked like before), for the true beauty that attracted our eye in the first place.  At that point, we can honestly say that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  The Bible tells us,

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” —1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

Isn’t it far better to direct our efforts on beauty that doesn’t fade, but is only enhanced by the flaws of life?  Indeed, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  When God looks upon us, the beauty of an obedient heart is a work of art whose value is priceless.  To him, it is a treasure worth dying for.

Peace and love,

Felecia

*The text was adapted from the “Did You Know” series, used by permission form North Coast Christian Fellowship, North East, PA, www.northcoastcf.com

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When Faith Shines Through the Darkness

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness – Photograph property of www.onthewingofadove.com

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness – all that is hidden is revealed…

”The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.” —J.M. Barrie

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness

When faith shines through the darkness,

All that is hidden is revealed.

We don’t know what’s beneath the shadows…

Pain and grief can be buried deep and tightly sealed.

When faith shines through the darkness,

Not everything is clear.

Sometimes steps can lead down a spiral…

A glimmer of hope flickers, surrounded by fear.

When faith shines through the darkness,

A choice has to be made.

Light and darkness cannot coexist…

There is only one voice that must be obeyed.

When faith shines through the darkness,

There is no reason to despair.

For Jesus, has all the help you need…

His eternal light will guide you…your faith in Him will get you there.

Felecia R. Weber 2019, www.onthewingofadove.com

Entrusting anything, your well-being, your loved ones, your material possessions, to the care of someone else can be scary.

No matter how well you think you know someone, when it comes to something that is important to you, you may feel that you are better off taking care of it yourself.  But what about when circumstances are such that you have no choice but to let others get involved?  Those times can feel like a dark veil has covered your eyes and all you can do is watch behind the scenes.  Faith can be described like that…when we believe in and trust in someone to such a degree that we are willing to give up control over our circumstances to them.  The important thing about faith is who we put our trust in.

”Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” —John 8:12 NIV

When faith shines through the darkness – there is only one person that comes to mind when reciting these words – Jesus!

As He tells us in the above verse from the Bible, Jesus is the light of the world.  Given that light and darkness cannot coexist, when we put our faith in Jesus, darkness is obliterated.  But, moreover, when we place our trust in Him, His light also gives us life…eternally.

Do you have doubts about who to trust; who to put your faith in?

When the darkness of life’s overwhelming circumstances over shadow you, consider the one who not only gives light, but is the light. Then your faith truly will shine through any darkness.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Rhythms, A Poem of Life

Rythms, A Poem of Life

Rythms, A Poem of Life – Photograph property of www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Rhythms, A Poem of Life – “I want the freedom to live my life; yet freedom isn’t free.  But there is power in living fully in the way God meant for me.” —FRW

”’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” —Jeremiah 29:11

Rhythms, A Poem of Life

(a poem inspired by Ecclesiastes 1:1-18…struggles and hope)

Verily, verily – I tell you the truth,

Times like these haunt my days,

up ‘til now, way back to my youth.

In my mind resides turmoil, frustration, and strife…

Born from the hand that’s been dealt in my life.

No. It hasn’t always been pretty.

I’m not gonna lie.

But I swear I’ll keep fighting, ‘til the day I die.

What is the meaning, desperate for answers I search…

High and low, in the streets, in my heart…knocking on the doors of the church.

Gotta find some peace, for my soul to be still…

Is there nothing on earth, my longing will fulfill?

Maybe that’s the problem, when this world pains me so…

Need to peer through the darkness,

see clearly in the light…then I will know.

My life is a book…the best part still to be written…

No matter what lies ahead…I’m never quittin’.

The wounds of my life have wrought scars of steel…

God is commander of this battle,

and to me the victory he’ll reveal.

Felecia R. Weber 2016, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Rythms, A Poem of Life – A tribute is given to those whose actions they deserve, to those who’ve gone humbly forward with a dignity; that at times was hard to preserve.  For those who’ve triumphed over hurdles that were unwarranted and unfair.  For those who keep fighting for what’s right, no matter the color of their skin; no matter the texture of their hair.  Even though the plight goes on…it seems never ending for some.  I applaud those whose struggles have made a difference for generations to come.  So here is a special tribute from me…an homage this week, to our nation’s Black History.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Do You Love Me?

Do you love me?

Do You Love Me? – Image property of www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Do you love me? – Love is an emotion that can spawn several different answers to that question…

”If you do not love me I shall not be loved.  If I do not love you I shall not love.”  —Samuel Beckett

Do You Love Me?

Do you love me? (Her)

Yes, I love you, of course I love you? (Him)

Why do you ask? (Him)

I don’t know, I guess I just need to be sure. (Her)

Do you love me? (Her)

I just answered that question…yes! (Him)

Why do you ask? (Him)

Sometimes it doesn’t seem as though you do. (Her)

Do you love me? (Her)

Can’t you tell?  I am here aren’t I? (Him)

But why are you here? (Her)

Because I LOVE you. (Him)

Do you love me? (Her)

I love you more than anything…please don’t ask me again. (Him)

Do you love me? (Him)

Yes, of course I love you.  Why do you ask? (Her)

Felecia R. Weber 2019, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Do you love me? – That’s an age old question that has been asked by us and of us, I am sure more than once.  Love is an emotion that can spawn several different answers to that question.  Whether the reply is a verbal, “Yes, I love you.”, or shown by a tender hug or receiving a special gift, it is certainly a question that cannot be ignored…no matter how it is answered.

Do you love me? Is also a question that has a depth of meaning to it…

When someone asks Do you love me?, the very reason for asking that question may not even have anything to do with love.  I believe we all have an innate sense of whether we are loved or not.  Some forms of love are natural, such as the instinctual love that a mother has for her newborn child, and the romantic love that develops between two individuals that goes beyond just a physical attraction towards each other.  I suspect that we ask such a question more out of the need to be accepted by others, something that is not necessarily intrinsic, but rather based on one’s personal preferences.  It’s kind of like not wanting to be the proverbial last kid to be picked for the soccer team…won’t you pick me, please?…do you value who I am?

No doubt, this question will be asked in some form or another by many during this week as we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Perhaps before you ask that question of another, why not try posing it to yourself? Do I love me?  Sounds kind of strange doesn’t it?  But isn’t it one of the most important questions to ask yourself?  And isn’t giving yourself an honest answer just as important?  Too many of us fail to realize how lovable we are…and in turn, how critical it is that we accept ourselves for who we are first.

”The second is this:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no command greater than these.”  —Luke 10:27

In the Bible, Jesus tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27).  In fact, he states that it is the second most important of all the Ten Commandments; (“To love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” being the first).  But how can you love your neighbor if you don’t love and accept yourself?  I believe that we can genuinely love and accept those around us, our neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends, with an undeniable ferocity.  Can you imagine how dynamic such relationships would be if your love and acceptance of yourself were just as strong?  The first step in doing that however, is to love and accept the one who “…first loved us.”  (1 John 4:19)

Do you love me?  Before asking this questions, consider how much God loves you as the unique person he lovingly created you to be. When you embrace that truth…do you even need to ask the question at all?

Wishing you peace and much love,

Felecia ❤️

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When I Was a Child

When i was a child

When I Was a Child Photograph: “Daydreams”, courtesy of Amy Breen

When I was a child – May your faith be strong, like that of a child, never worrying when, what or where…just turn to the Lord for your every need, and know that he is always there.

”When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”  1 Corinthians 13:11

When I Was a Child

When I was a child,

I thought like a child.

Streams of colors…

Yellow, pink and blue.

Playing outdoors for hours,

All was sunny and bright and true.

When I was a child,

I dreamed like a child,

Like a bird, I was ever so carefree.

In my mind I’d travel to far away lands;

Places only known to me.

When I was a child,

I hoped like a child,

”Someday that’s gonna be me!”

Now I am grown and after all these years,

Childlike faith navigates my destiny.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, OntheWingofaDove.com

When I was a child – This time of year always causes my mind to conjure up childhood memories.  Now that I am back in my hometown, the familiar sites, sounds and smells of my youth dance around in my head almost constantly. It seems as the days get cooler, my heart just gets warmer from the glow of days long gone by.  Indeed, when I was a child, all those years ago, I thought, dreamed and hoped like a child.  When I left home to make my way in the world, I thought I had left those childhood ways behind too…but not so, really.

Like the changes in the seasons, it’s obvious to see the transformation that happens to our physical bodies as we grow from children into adults. But what happens on the inside is not so easy to recognize.  Surely, we act more mature and responsible the older we get.  Our interests change, as well as our activities, and tastes.  In fact, certain changes are critical and should take place throughout different stages of our lives.  One thing, that I believe should never change, no matter how old we are, is our childlike faith in God.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

As explained in the above verse…faith does have “childlike” qualities.  When I was a child, I never worried about what, when, or where my provisions would come from…they were just there, (and always in the right amount and at the right time).  When I became an adult, although I had to put forth the effort and work for what I wanted, having God in my life, caused my faith, (the confidence in what I hope for and assurance about what I do not see), to remain the same as when I was a child.  Even when vibrant days fade to hues of gray, like this time of year, there always remains in my heart the flickering flame of faith that God is always there, and that he’ll always provide for my every need.

May your faith be strong, like that of a child, never worrying when, what or where…just turn to the Lord for your every need, and know that he is always there.

Peace and love,
Felecia
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I Matter

I Matter

“I Matter” Photograph property of OntheWingofaDove.com 2018

I matter, though the world may not see…gonna reveal to the world all the gifts God has given me…

“It’s not what has happened to you.  It’s who you become because of it.”  – Ria Story
 

I Matter

I matter, you must know…

Within me a seed was planted, so long ago.

Yeah, I’ve made mistakes; haven’t we all?

But something inside me picks me up when I fall.

I matter, can you tell? Can’t you see?

There’s this power that resides in the deepest part of me.

Oh, I know, I’m quiet, polite and shy…

But, I’ve grown my wings…now it’s time for me to fly.

I matter, though the world may not see…

Gonna reveal to all, the gifts God has given me.

A life well-lived is not to keep to oneself…

So I’m opening myself up, like taking a book off the shelf.

I matter, what I have is unique and worth sharing…

And to everyone in my life, thanks for all of your love and caring.

Felecia R. Weber

OntheWingofaDove.com 2018

I Matter – The truth is, everyone matters, but sometimes we are the last ones to realize it.  We all have been endowed with  gifts that are uniquely our own. Be they talents for music, art or writing, having an aptitude for working well with numbers, or being able to build or fix things with ease…we all have something to offer others…including our own life experiences.

My challenge to you is to determine what it is you do best…that thing that makes you matter…and share it with those around you.  Sharing a part of yourself with others is what makes you matter the most!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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All I Ever Wanted

all I ever wanted

Photograph courtesy of Martin Watson

All I ever wanted – how can I describe it with words…

“Sometimes life fills you with the thing that you’ve longed for the most…when you finally have it, how is it that you ever lived without it?”  Felecia R. Weber

All I Ever Wanted

All I ever wanted;

How can I describe it with words?

You can’t capture the beautiful simplicity of a clear blue sky, and trap it inside a bottle…for it is too vast to be harnessed, it is the essence of freedom.

All I ever wanted;

What is it about finally having it that makes your life seem like someone suddenly unveiled the most exquisite painting…the kind that invites you to step right into its beckoning magnificence.

All I ever wanted;

It is an amazing thing that happens when what your heart craves is not simply a fleeting desire, not just a moment in time…rather, it is something that is so essential it becomes a part of you.

Felecia R. Weber 2016, OntheWingofaDove.com

When you receive the thing that you’ve longed for, when it unfolds before your very eyes…it shakes your world like a violent storm.  Yet the calmness, the peace, the wholeness that follows, is like the freshness of a dew soaked meadow…it waters your soul, continuously.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Loneliness

On Loneliness

lonelinessA Quote to Carry You

February 8, 2016

“For me, loneliness offers a silver lining that can only be discovered by those who have had the privilege to have been adorned by it.” Felecia R. Weber, Onthe WingofaDove.com

On loneliness – Those who’ve spent time with me would likely describe me as being quiet, shy and reserved.  After they really get to know me, “a little chatter box,” would definitely be a more suitable depiction of me.  I do love to converse with  others.  Not only do I get to learn from experiences that they share with me, but I get to impart some of what interests me to them.  Engaging with others in that way makes me feel vibrant and alive.  Contrastingly, like most people I imagine, when there is no one around me to talk to, the zest and excitement seems to fade away quickly, and loneliness threatens to move in.  Before long, like a tenant taking up residence, loneliness gradually begins to feel so comfortable, that it surrounds me even when I am in the company of others.  I haven’t painted a very pleasant picture of loneliness have I?  However, as with many masterpieces, the beauty of loneliness isn’t realized until after it has completed its work and has passed out of sight…

I’ll admit that these past many months that I have walked alone have been the most difficult steps that I have ever taken in my  life.  There have been so many things that I’ve experienced during that time that I pray to God I will never have to repeat.  Yet, there are many others that, as I look back, have become priceless, and I would not exchange them for anything in the whole world.  For me loneliness offers a silver lining that cannot be discovered by those who have not had the privilege to have been adorned in it.  Indeed there is a richness that can only be attained by becoming well acquainted with the solitude of being alone…and I believe that the intensity of loneliness is the part of being alone that makes the experience uniquely one’s own.  It is like the signature that is only inscribed on the canvas when the artist deems his work of art to be “finished.”  It is when one can view his loneliness as a beauty to behold, because of the profoundness  that was perfected in him through it, that loneliness is not that at all…rather, it becomes a fullness that, in my opinion, can never be emptied.

May your lonely days and lonely nights be filled as a canvas with dazzling, colorful lights.  And may you discover the most precious truth too, you will never, ever be alone, when you ask God to walk along side you…

“…because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'”  Hebrews 13:5

Peace and love,

Felecia

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