Category Archives: Quotes

Inspirational quotes collection related to lifestyle themes.

On Sufficiency

On Sufficiency

sufficiencyA Quote to Carry You

October 12, 2015

“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”  Vincent Van Gogh

On sufficiency – Sufficiency, having enough, is a wonderful thing.  It provides us with a sense of security and satisfaction.  After all, we do not know what tomorrow will bring, and what fills today’s hours are sufficient enough to see us through until we get there.  Living for today, however, does not mean just that…we do have a responsibility to prepare for what lies ahead in the future.  What I’ve just written sounds a bit contradictory, I know, but is it really?

There is a delicate balance between so many things in life…being full of worry and anxiety verses being concerned but walking in faith about a situation for example.  We walk the tightrope between trekking through today and stepping too far into tomorrow constantly…or at least I do.  Sometimes I have wandered so far into tomorrow that I feel I’ve already lived it and I’m ready to leap into the day after.  When I continue to forge ahead into the future, I find myself stumbling back to the present, often times frustrated and exhausted too.  Indeed, the principle of living on the sufficiency for the day proves to be the best way to maintain a sure-footed stride through today…and there is plenty left for tomorrow.

Walking in balance between today and tomorrow always seems to be the wisest way to go.  For when we strive always to do our best with what we are given today, I believe the results of our efforts will pave the way for a rewarding tomorrow.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Why?

Why?

“Curiosity,” graphite pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber 2005, OntheWingofaDove.com

Why?  Why am I living in this time and place?

“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.”  William Barclay

Why?

Why do I say the things that I say/

Will they make a difference to others today?

Why am I living in this time and place?

Can I truly overcome the challenges that I face?

Why am I always searching, wanting to do more?

Will I have the courage to step through the next open door?

Why was I born, what is life’s purpose for me?

Will I ever discover who I am truly meant to be?

Felecia R, Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

Life is full of questions isn’t it?   Granted, they are not always as heavy as the ones I asked in my poem above, but surely we’ve all asked similar ones from time to time.  Given the life changing events that I’ve experienced recently, I find myself asking “why?” quite frequently.  Sometimes the answers are revealed to me quickly and quite obviously.  Yet there are many for which I am still seeking a response.

“Trust in the Lord and lean not onto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

I’ve come to realize that I may never know or understand the reasons for the “whys” in my life…and honestly, that’s okay.  When it comes to asking “why” I suppose the “who” is the more important question.  For I know that God holds all of the answers in my life…what more could I ask for?

When your heart is full of questions, who, what, and why, may you turn to the Lord God, for goodness, love and mercy you will always find in His reply.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On the Unknown

On the Unknown

unknownA Quote to Carry You

October 5, 2015

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear and the oldest and strongest of fears is the fear of the unknown.”  H .P. Lovecraft

On the unknown – October is a month that brings with it an air of mystery.  Not only does it seem to usher in the sharp contrast of noticeably shorter days and a heavier mask of darkness during the nighttime skies, the undressing of the leaves from the trees all combine to create an eeriness to nature’s canvass.  Lately, I have found myself not wanting to venture outdoors once the sun starts to set, and I’ve turned on more lights indoors than I have during the past months.  I seek out the warming comforts of a hot cup of tea and nestling down under heavy blankets or wrapping myself up in my cozy sweaters, as if to shelter myself from the wiles of the outdoors.  I never know what to expect from one day to the next…the blazing sunshine of an Indian Summer day can fade into a blustery snow squall seemingly overnight.

Fear of the unknown has a similar quality.  When we face new situations or volatile times, we become uneasy and seek out the comfort of familiarity.  The unknown, no matter if it is something as common as the weather or as major as a life altering event, the mystery and uncertainty of not knowing what’s ahead can be frightening.

There is one sure way to face the unknown with confidence and security…his name is Jesus.  When we cast our cares upon him, the unknown becomes known, because he will reveal it to you perfectly in his timing and in his way.  When we yield to his love and care, there is nothing that we will ever face that he hasn’t already equipped us to handle.

“Fear not tomorrow, for God is already there.” Author Unknown

When the mystery and fear of the unknown threaten to creep into your comfort zone, may you always step out in the boldness of knowing that our Lord has already cleared the way…you need only follow him.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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A Beautiful Harvest

beautiful harvest

“Camille Monet in the Garden at Argenteuil,” 1876, Claude Monet. Image from a page of the 2015 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

A Beautiful Harvest…the magnificent gift that you are to others never fades…

“For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.   I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Psalm 139:13-14

A Beautiful Harvest

Just think of how tiny you were, not much more than a thought.

Like a tiny seed that sprouts the most delicate leaves;

You were formed hidden in darkness…then you were born…

A beautiful harvest

As you began to grow and explore this amazing world,

Like petals of a flower, your talents began to blossom.

Your fragrance enhanced the world as only you can…

A beautiful harvest

As you matured through the seasons of your life,

Facing the storms, embracing the sun, enduring the harsh cold.

The magnificent gift that you are to others never fades…your life…

is a beautiful harvest

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

I love to nurture my garden and watch it grow as it changes from season to season.  It’s so exciting to see how a single blossom starts out as a tiny spec, pinched closed so tightly that it is hard to determine what type of flower it will become.  Then, little by little, as each bud absorbs all that it needs from the brilliance of the sun above, and the rich nutrients of the earth below, until they unfold into the most magnificent flowers.  When my garden is fully adorned with its colorful bouquets, indeed it brings forth a beautiful harvest.

I believe that a similar beautiful harvest happens, when we surrender our hearts over to an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.  In the quietness of the soul, a miraculous transformation takes place.  There, through the work of the Holy Spirit, like seeds in nature, our hearts are reborn, nurtured and matured.  In time, the beautiful harvest of what God has planted within us is revealed to the world.

May you consider yielding your heart over to Jesus Christ…and may what he plants within you produce a beautiful harvest to share with those around you.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Planting Seeds

On Planting Seeds

planting seedsA Quote to Carry You

September 28, 2015

“Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.  If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds.”  Norman Vincent Peale

On planting seeds – Every season brings with it winds of change.  With every change comes a host of challenges.  I believe how we choose to deal with challenges that enter into our lives, determines how we’ll succeed at overcoming them.  No matter how large or small a problem has the potential of becoming, once the seed is planted, the way we prepare and sustain ourselves through it, determines whether we will harvest a bunch of weeds or a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers.

This concept makes me think of how I go about preparing for the transition from summer into autumn.  As a crispness fills the air, and the days grow shorter, these changes in nature remind me of the harsh weather that is sure to follow in a few months time.  As I spend time deep cleaning my home and packing away the lighthearted leisure of summer, I begin focusing on the contrasting heartiness of autumn, filling the rooms with the deep, earth tones that it brings.  I begin pulling out sweaters and jackets to shelter myself from the daytime chilliness and layer myself with blankets to keep warm when the briskness of the cooler nights bites.

I liken all of these things to planting seeds that stout and grow, enabling me to face an entirely new environment as the new season continues to move in.  Like fertilizing and watering soil for healthy plants to develop, knowing that I have prepared for the transition of one season to the next, somehow gives me a sense of comfort and security that an abundant harvest brings.  When I am confident that I have everything in order and ready for the coming months of seasonal change, I can truly enjoy all of the beauty that blossoms and surrounds me.

Like summer fading into fall, when we get through one challenge, another one is there awaiting our attention.  When the winds of change begin to blow in your direction, may you go about planting seeds that will yield a most enjoyable and magnificent bounty for you.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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No Gray Areas

gray areas

“Princess Pauline Metternich,” 1836-1921), Eugene Boudin. Image from a page of the 2015 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

No gray areas – for gray is a color that signals a storm…

“Black and white are colors of photography.  To me they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair of which mankind is forever subjected.”  Robert Frank

No Gray Areas

There are no gray areas.

To me it’s all black and white.

What is wrong is wrong, nothing more.

The same is true…what is right is right.

There are no gray areas.

For gray is the color that signals a storm.

The winds blow and there is confusion and chaos.

I say, let the clarity of God’s truth be the norm.

There are no gray areas.

Either you believe what He says or you don’t.

There is nothing hidden, His Word spells it all out.

In Him you’ll be filled with true peace; without Him you won’t.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

There is nothing new under the sun when it comes to being right or wrong, good or bad; it simply is or it isn’t.  That sounds a little too simplistic when it comes to discerning what to do in life.  Living in a world of black and white can seem, cold and barren; destitute and lonely.  Allowing our emotions and individual experiences to color our decision making seems much more appealing.  After all, the world is constantly changing and we need to adapt to it, right?  To a certain degree, that is true; we are all uniques and each of our palattes abound with beautiful hues.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32

For me, black and white represent the pure standards for which I can rely on to always be true.  When I try mixing the two together, or try coloring them with my own thoughts or views, they begin to fade into gray area that are merely shades of my own interpretation of what is truth.  Eventually, uncertainty and confusion begin to clutter the canvas of my mind.  When that happens, I realize that indeed, when I follow what God has established to be good or bad, right or wrong, this principle of black and white, no gray areas, provides a whole world of freedom and peace to open up to me…and an endless spectrum of colorful possibilities fills my life.

What is it that defines truth for you and how does it color your world?

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Colors

On Colors

on colorsA Quote to Carry You

September 21, 2015

“The best color in the world is the one that looks good on you.”  Coco Chanel

On colors – We are entering one of the most colorful of the four seasons.  Autumn brings with it the brightest of golden to the deepest of reddish hues.  There is something about the range of these bold colors that makes me feel vibrant and alive!  When I gaze at the trees of this season adorned in such rich tones, it makes me think of how magnificently God has painted each of us. Like the chromatic scheme that saturates the leaves in nature, we too have a way of embellishing the world around us with the way we wear the colors that we’ve been given.  From the soft pastels of compassion and caring that we extend to those who are in need, to the cheerful, dazzling smiles that brighten the days of those who may be struggling, we all possess within us the finest wardrobe, that when worn well, can positively enhance and inspire the lives of others.  What colors do others see in you?

May you always wear your colors boldly and beautifully!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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I Promise You This

I promise you this

Photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

I promise you this – when you need me I’ll always be there…

“But before all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let you yea be yea and your nay, be nay, that ye do not fall under judgment.”  James 5:12

I Promise You This

I promise you this,

When you need me, I’ll be there.

In times of trouble, whenever you call;

No matter what the circumstances, please know that I do care.

I promise you this,

In those times when others simply don’t understand,

When they can’t be bothered or don’t show up.

You can always count on me to be there, to lend a hand.

I promise you this,

I may not be with you physically, day by day,

Life has a way of pulling us in many directions.

But in the end, when it comes to being with you, I will make a way.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

Let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no; keep your promises and do what you say.  For others are watching to see if your word is true.  Let them see your integrity always shine through…may this be what you strive for, never anything less.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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