Category Archives: Spirituality

Spiritual short story writing collection relating to lifestyle themes.

The Power of Life

power of life

Photograph courtesy of my nephew, Zachary T. Weber

The power of life, the force of our being, that which makes us alive…

“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 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

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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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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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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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Not of My Own Doing

not of my own doing

Photograph courtesy of Martin Watson

Not of my own doing, I say of the goodness in my life.  For without your strength, your guidance, your all, Lord, my life would be nothing but strife.

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

Not of My Own Doing

Not of my own doing, I say this about so much.

The gifts I’ve been given, the way I have been blessed,

never taken for granted, for they are all filled with your touch.

Not of my own doing, I say of the goodness in my life.

For without your strength, your guidance, your all, Lord,

my life would be nothing but strife.

Not of my own doing, Lord, I never want to walk alone.

I want to live abiding with you, serving you in ways that bless,

until I come home to you and bow down before your throne.

Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

I want to live my life in a way that when I finish my race, I will hear the words that I long to hear…“…’Well done good and faithful servant!'”  Matthew 25:21

Peace and love,

Felecia

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The Beauty of Change

beauty of change

“The Banks of the Bievre near Bicetre” (Detail),1898-1910, Henri Rousseau (Le Douanier). Image from a page of the 2014 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

 

The beauty of change is hidden sometimes…but oh what wondrous splendor there is to experience when we find it.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

I am sure you’ll agree that change can be uncomfortable.   In fact, it can be down right scary, ugly even.  We all have a certain way of doing things, a certain level of comfort in knowing what to expect, for the most part, from day to day.  When our routine, our way of life gets disrupted, it can seem impossible to see the beauty of change.

It is easy to see the beauty of change between the four seasons,  The gradual melting of winter into spring is a welcome transition full of brightness and hope.  Then that brightness fades as the blaze of summer tempers itself into the subtle coolness of autumn. When change takes place in our lives, things don’t always happen so serenely.  Often times it comes from out of nowhere, and it throws us way off balance.  We can hardly stand to face it, let alone see the beauty of change.  Is there really such a thing?

Honestly, I can say yes.  The very word “change” indicates that something is about to or has become what it was not before…it is in that transformation where the beauty of change is found.  The life changes that I have experienced just recently seemed at first to be horrible.  Actually, they were terribly painful and the residue still coats my days.  But what they’ve spawned is a resilience that I could never have mustered without going through those changes. I do not understand why they happened, but I have come to accept and embrace them.  In that alone is a quiet beauty that I enjoy…knowing that whatever changes come about down the road that I travel in life, there is only good awaiting me when I arrive at my destination.

“There is beauty in change, in that I never doubt.  When I face them and embrace them, I know goodness will come about.”  Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

Peace and love,

Felecia

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