Category Archives: Inspirations

Inspirational art, photo and writing collection relating to lifestyle themes.

Flourishing Through Our Fears

flourishing through our fears

“No Fear In Me,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2013, OntheWingofaDove.com

Flourishing through our fears is not impossible; in fact, it is often times the best way to overcome them.

Fear is an emotion that we’ve all encountered in life.  Whether it be an uneasiness about what is awaiting us around the next corner, or some phobia that can be debilitating enough to interfere with our daily lives, fear is real and it affects all of us.  Of course, a healthy fear of something that will do us harm is a good thing, but what about those things that won’t harm us if we stand up and face them?  Can we flourish through our fears?

Flourishing Through Our Fears

Fear is dreadful when it takes hold of us,

causing us to tremble and scream.

The things we fear rob the peace from our days,

and invade our sleep when we dream.

Fear, you may ask, where does it come from;

the emotion full of darkness and dread?

Some say it is nothing, nothing at all.

For others it is all consuming instead.

Facing our fears, and not letting them grow,

in that way they can’t hurt us at all.

Turn them over to God, He will conquer your foe…

and He will help you never, ever to fall.

Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

Flourishing through our fears is possible indeed…especially when we remember that we never have to face them alone.

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

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Abounding – What’s in a word?

Abounding

Photograph courtesy of David Brown

Abounding – What’s in a Word?

To flourish, to grow,

to go far beyond.

An endless supply;

never ever wanting for more…

“Be inspired, explore, reach higher…soar!”  Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

Abounding…what’s in this word for you?  If you can tell me, please do!

Abounding to me means a richness and overflowing of something.  It seems we tend to want all that is good in life…whatever that might be to you or to me.  I personally never look forward to an abundance of troubles or anything that will cause me pain.  But you know, even when that is exactly what I get, the more of the tough times I go through…the more the good times follow.  To me, that’s abounding at its best!

May your day abound with all of the things that your heart is hoping for.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Fear

On Fear

on fearA Quote to Carry You

October 13, 2014

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”  Proverbs 9:10

When you think about it, fear really isn’t a bad thing.  We all share some degree of it at some point in our lives.  When we fear something, it either causes us to run, or it emboldens us to face what it is that we fear…and overcome it.  When we choose to do the latter, indeed that is wise.  When we come out from under our fears…we flourish.

What do you do when something frightens you?

Peace and love,

Felecia

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The Masks

The MasksThe Masks…they do not move, but they seem to speak; the hushed tones of their voices are bizarre.

“There are mystically in our faces certain characters which carry in them the motto of our souls, wherein he that cannot read A, B, C may read our natures.”  Sir Thomas Browne

When I was thinking of what to write about for this week’s theme on “faces,” a dream that I had a couple of years ago, which I refer to as “The Masks,” came to my mind.  To this day the dream puzzles me as it was so full of mystery that I still haven’t quite figured out its meaning.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I do not put a lot of stock in dreams…many of mine are likely conjured up from what I ate on a given evening or how a particular day went.  This particular dream, however, does still haunt my thoughts from time to time, and I wonder what it was trying to tell me…perhaps about myself.

The MasksThe Masks

An eerie feeling overcomes me

as I step inside the room.

The decor is bright and cheery enough,

but I have this dark, foreboding feeling,

and it’s filling my heart with gloom.

Straight ahead I see the bed, the table, the lamp,

the desk, along side the chair,

But then I turn and there they are!

The four harlequin masks gazing at me;

all with a unified stare.

Why are they here?  What do they want?

So theatrical they are.

They do not move, but they seem to speak;

the hushed tones of their voices are bizarre.

I turn away and leave them be.

I want no part of them, I don’t.

When I look back they’ve vanished, gone!

I should forget them…but I know that I won’t.

Although, “The Masks” have not yet revealed

what their true meaning is for me.

I’ve an idea that they each are a part of myself…

and perhaps that is the true mystery.

Poem by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com; photographs by Stephen C. Weber, Venezia, 2012.

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

 

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On Faces

On Faces

on facesA Quote to Carry You

October 6, 2014

“God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.”  William Shakespeare

Faces say so many things.  They convey how we feel deep down inside without ever having to utter a word.  It is interesting how a person can look like a total stranger because of the expression he is wearing one moment, while becoming so familiar when the next one is donned.

What will your face reveal to others today?  May it be inspiring to all who see it.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek

“Abigail,” graphite pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

Hide and Seek…it isn’t just a child’s game; many of us play it still.  But challenges will seek us out and find us, no matter how hard we try to hide from them.

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”  Psalm 32:7

This month is full of scary tales, lots of mischief and long shadows that loom their dark shapes along our paths.  It’s easy to hide away and avoid being seen, but it’s interesting to see what we find when we step out from our hiding places. Is that what we are trying to shelter ourselves from really all that bad?  Wouldn’t it be liberating not to be so concerned about those things that cause us to fret?

Hide and seek is a game I play to this day…although I do not like to admit it.  I hardly recognize it because it takes on many forms, including procrastination.  I bury myself under all sorts of tasks only to find that I’ve still got to face that big challenge or obstacle that is awaiting me in the end.  Hiding is the easy part…seeking is too…finding my way and deciding what to do with what I’ve found; now that’s the hard part!

Challenges are part of life.  They will seek out and find us no matter how hard we try to hide from them.  The important thing is that we need to be brave enough to step out and face them. When we do, they are not always as bad as they seem…especially when we refuse to face them alone.  God is always available and ready to help us to not only face, but also to accept and conquer anything that causes to hide…if we seek Him first.

When you find yourself beginning another round of hide and seek…why not let God be your hiding place.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised what you find when you seek Him.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Jack Sparrow

Jack SparrowJack Sparrow…Your trust was so evident; I could see it in your bright eyes.  I knew that all you needed was shelter and gentle care…

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”  Matthew 10:29

Jack Sparrow

So tired and helpless was how you came to me,

I didn’t know why at first, for your wound I didn’t see.

You responded with gratefulness much to my surprise.

Your trust was so evident; I could side it in your bright eyes.

I knew that all you needed was shelter and gentle care…

someday soon I had hoped you’d be back flying high up in the air.

But no, God had a different plan for you, my dear little friend.

Now you are soaring high in heaven, forever free, without end.

Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

Jack SparrowPhotographs of “Jack Sparrow,” courtesy of Marilyn Hill.  (Marilyn found this wounded little sparrow in her yard one morning and she took him in under the shelter of her love and care.  He gave her as much joy as the help she gave to him during his brief stay with her.)

I dedicate this poem to all of those who have touched my heart deeply; no matter how briefly.

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

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On Shelter

On Shelter

on shelterA Quote to Carry You

September 29, 2014

“I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”  Psalm 61:4

When I think of shelter, I think of safety.  Whether it is being in the safe haven of my home, or enveloped inside of a heartwarming embrace, shelter provides safety and security.  We all have times when we are vulnerable and need a place where we can feel sheltered from the elements, safe from harm, secure in knowing that we cannot be touched or reached for a time.

When you experience such times, may you find refuge in the shelter of God’s arms…He promises to provide all that you need…and He does.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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