A Quote to Carry YouNovember 3, 2014
“…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
This verse explains it perfectly…that is my future. The hope, the wonder, the inexpressible joy that fills my heart when I think of what my Heavenly Father has in store for me; for my future. I am beaming!
Peace and love,
Felecia
“Dancing Days,” photograph of my sister Marjorie and me posing for one of our many dance recitals.
October 31, 2014
“There’s a chill in the air, dark evenings come early, leaves fall softly dressed in autumnal hues. October is here, get out and enjoy it…take in the magnificent views!” Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com
The month of October brings to mind many “warm and cozy” memories from my childhood. The chilly, dark evenings; chimneys puffing out smoke from fireplaces ablaze inside; snuggling up in heavy flannel blankets…all of these images put me in the mood for all of the heartwarming delights this season brings. One memory in particular, truly brings this feeling home to me…
My sister Marjorie, my cousin Toni and I spent quite a bit of time together when we were kids. One thing that all three of us enjoyed, was donning our tights and leotards, grabbing our tap and jazz shoes and piling into the car for dance class every Wednesday evening. Classes normally started in the fall, aligning with the school year, so by the time late September-early October rolled around, the evenings would be dark and chilly when our classes let out.
I always loved the times we spent in the dance studio, learning new dance steps and rehearsing our “routines” for the end-of-year recitals. Flitting around to the beat of the lively dance tunes all seemed so whimsical to me. No doubt my Dad may have thought we looked like three excited little butterflies as we fluttered out and tumbled into the car when he’d come and pick us up to take us home.
I think I enjoyed our rides home just as much as I did our dance classes. Why? Well the fun wasn’t over yet! October not only taunts autumnal changes in the air…there are plenty of other delights to enjoy as well! Many times my Dad would have picked up a jug of apple cider and freshly baked cake donuts as a special treat for us. I can almost smell it now, the delicious sweetness of the cider and donuts that hovered in the car as we drove home. With our stomachs growling at the scents, and our mouths giggling and chatting on, there was one more treat in store. My Dad would turn on the car radio tuning in the mystery-suspense stories from the classic program called “Night Fall”…and our senses were heightened even more! Wooooooo!!!
So tell me, won’t you, what is your favorite childhood memory that happened in the month of October?
Peace and love,
Felecia
“Awakening,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2013, OntheWingofaDove.com
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Within me there is a light,
that guides me day and night.
Wherever I go, whatever I do,
it leads me in all that I pursue.
Within me there is a calmness,
it is what keeps my world steady.
It feeds my soul, I’m never lacking,
when called to serve, I am always ready.
Within me there is a boldness,
that keeps me courageous and strong.
Whatever my task, I shall not falter,
even though the road is rocky and long.
Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com
Lightness, strength, confidence, boldness, courage …Where do these qualities come from? How can we experience them no matter what is going on around us? What is “within” us that enables such a thing? For those who put their trust in God, there is an assuredness that emboldens a desire to live life fully. There is a vitality that beams around them. His promises are true, He never forsakes us and we can trust Him completely to see us through whatever we face, good or bad. His truth, His protection, His love, His saving grace…all of these things are within me.
Peace and love,
Felecia
“Study Head of a Woman,” 1745, Jean Baptiste Greuze. Image from a page of the 2014 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
I am sure you’ll agree that power comes in many forms, both physically and mentally. It can be manifested in both positive and negative ways. The same can be said about weakness. As our bodies become tired and frail, or when we feel vulnerable and uncertain about a situation, we do not always make the wisest choices and fail to accomplish our goals. With power and weakness being such opposites, how can we possibly gain one from the other?
The answer to achieving power in weakness has less to do with what we receive, but rather what we give away. When I feel in control and on top of things, I seem to get into a groove and everything runs relatively smoothly. The more I continue on in my own strength, the more self-reliant I become and that is fine, to a point. All of a sudden, and it inevitably happens, I am faced with some challenge that knocks me right to my knees. At that point, I am literally in the perfect position to make a choice. I can wallow in my weakness and receive more grief from whatever it is I am holding on to, trying to fix it myself. Or I can give the problem over to God in prayer and receive His strength and power to go on. Power in weakness?
Indeed, power in weakness is not as strange as it sounds, for sometimes we are our most powerful when we are weak. In our weakness we can do nothing…but when it leads us to God, He has the power to do all things.
May your weakness lead you to seek the power that only God can give.
Peace and love,
Felecia
Photograph courtesy of my nephew, Zachary T. Weber
“The the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
The power of life,
the force of our being,
that which makes us alive.
The physical body is only a shell,
but the power of life makes us thrive!
God breathed life into every soul,
each uniquely and wonderfully made.
Sacred, exquisite, a gift to behold;
life is precious and should never be betrayed.
The power of life, all that I do, all that I am…
God’s hand is in it, that’s true.
He gives me all that I need to grow,
to flourish in life…what about you?
Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com
May your day be full of the power of life…live it to the fullest!
Peace and love,
Felecia
“No Fear In Me,” photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2013, OntheWingofaDove.com
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?
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
A Quote to Carry YouOctober 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
This is Mardi Gras, the dainty, little Papillon who. belongs to my dearest friends, Dick & Marilyn Hill.
Mardi Gras, “jumping for joy!”
Mardi Gras’ masquerade,
oh my, he’s such a joy.
He’s quiet-natured, but don’t be fooled;
’cause he’s also a swift and sly boy!
Mardi Gras’ butterfly ears and beads.
A Papillon this dainty dog is,
his ears are butterfly shaped.
He’s light on his feet and so hard to catch,
sometimes though, he’s only narrowly escaped.
“Okay, I’m ready for my picture to be taken, please!”
Mardis Gras’ masquerade,
He loves to dress up in his clothes.
You’d swear there is royalty in his blood,
for he’s so graceful from his head to his toes.
“Catch me if you can!”
He loves to dart around the yard,
he’ll give his siblings a run for their money.
But when he’s nestled down for an afternoon nap,
well, Mardi Gras is just as sweet as honey!
“Yawn!…nite, nite.”
Poem by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com; photographs courtesy of Marilyn Hill.
Can you guess who this is?
“Calling all dog lovers!”
If you have a four-legged furry friend that you’d like to have featured in a poem on my blog, email your cutest pictures and a short bio to me, Felecia at frosew04@gmail.com.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Peace and love,
Felecia