Category Archives: Spirituality

Spiritual short story writing collection relating to lifestyle themes.

The Light Shines in the Darkness

The Light Shines in the Darkness

The Light Shines in the Darkness – Photograph property of www.OntheWingofaDove.com

The Light Shines in the Darkness – all that is hidden is revealed…

”The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.” —John 1:5

The Light Shines in the Darkness

A new day starts at midnight…way before dawn.

A new life starts in the womb…precious months before birth.

A seed is nourished underground…sprouting leaves coaxed out by the sun.

Closed eyes cannot see…the beauty of what the heart feels.

The light shines in the darkness…all that is hidden is revealed.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

The light shines in the darkness – Have you ever considered this phenomenon?  How so much of the beauty in nature is spawned from dark, quiet places?  A baby is conceived deep inside its mother’s womb and a new day starts in the wee hours of the night.  A tiny seed is buried under the dark earth and grows into the most fragrant flowers and delicious produce. When we close our eyes, we cannot see…but even for those who are blind…the light within our hearts allows us to imagine a world that is brighter than reality ever could be.

Indeed, into the darkness, light does shine.  As with all things in nature, however, the light eventually fades and turns back to dark.  We live our lives, grow old and pass away.  The sun rises, soars slowly across the sky and sets at regular intervals.  Plants reach maturity, are harvested or shrivel and die once they’ve reached their peak.  Yet, there is one light that never goes out…

“Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again.  ‘I am the light of the world,’ he said.  ‘Whoever believes in me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.’” —John 8:12

When we put our trust in Jesus, though our physical bodies whither and fade, his light of life that flows within us never goes out.

Those who follow the light of life need never traverse the darkness that can easily overshadow us throughout our lives alone. For not only does his light guide our steps here on earth…it will shine on for us throughout all eternity.

During this season in nature, when the hours of daylight are short and the darkness of night long, won’t you consider trusting in the light of life that never grows dim, and will never leave you in the dark?

Peace and love,

Felecia

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I Just Want to Thank You Lord

I Just Want to Thank You Lord

I Just Want to Thank You Lord – Photograph property of www.onthewingofadove.com

I just want to thank you Lord – you never really know what it means to trust in and follow the Lord until he gives you something to trust him in and follow him through…

”No matter what our circumstances, we can find a reason to be thankful.”  —Dr. David Jeremiah

I Just Want to Thank You Lord

We never know  where life will lead us,

Looking back over recent years…

I just want to thank you Lord,

For keeping me close to you, despite all of my fears.

It’s funny how we search for answers,

Even when the questions have not been spoken…

I just want to thank you Lord,

For making me whole, even after all of my pieces were broken.

Not a day goes by that I cannot say…

”It’s amazing how everything falls into place!”

I just want to thank you Lord,

For putting into motion all that I’ve had to face.

There is nothing that happens by chance…

No happiness, no trial, no sorrow,

I just want to thank you Lord,

For you are with me yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

I just want to thank you Lord  – I find myself saying that a lot lately.  I know, this is the season where we reflect upon all of the good things that have happened to us over the past year.  I must say though, my gratitude for what God has done in my life has become a daily posture.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  —Luke 12:48

It was in my “attitude of gratitude” that I finally understood the meaning of the above scripture, when I read it during my devotions  a few days ago.  I’ve faced quite a few difficult circumstances and challenges over the past four years; beginning with the loss of my husband to cancer, to a family crisis that has led me back to the place where my life began.  Through it all I’ve learned a big lesson…

You never really know what it means to trust in and follow the Lord until he gives you something to trust him in and follow him through.

It wasn’t until I actually had to face and go through those very trying experiences, that I knew personally what it means to be so grateful for the Lord’s working in my life that I actually thank him for ALL things, both the bad and the good.  I’ve learned that, many times, we must go through the bad times in order to get to the good times…and when you think about it, that’s part of what makes the good times so good!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you too, for taking the time to visit www.onthewingofadove.com.  It is because of you that helps make living life so beautiful!

Peace and love,

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Wisdom Is Not

Wisdom is not

Wisdom Is Not – Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

Wisdom is not something you can buy…it’s something concerning the who, where and why.

”Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.”  Charles Spurgeon

Wisdom Is Not

Wisdom is not a time nor a place.

It’s something that we learn; it’s full of grace.

Wisdom is not something that you can buy…

It’s something concerning the who, where and why.

Wisdom is not something you can touch or feel.

But concerning living your life…it’s very real.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Wisdom is not – What do you think of when you think about wisdom?  For me, an image of an old, wrinkled-faced man with a long white beard, sitting quietly, whispering wise words to those around him comes to mind.  Wisdom can mean different things to different people, depending on their life experiences.  I am sure you’d agree, however, that wisdom isn’t  something to be taken lightly…it is something that we all need and it takes time to acquire.

”Knowledge comes from learning.  Wisdom comes from living.”  Anthony Douglas Williams

Wisdom comes with life experiences.  As children, we learn quickly the meanings of the words “yes” and “no”.  As we mature, we learn from our mistakes; what we’ve done wrong and what we need to do to make things right.  We realize that wise choices, whether we like them or not, generally bring about favorable situations, not only for ourselves, but for others,

Wisdom isn’t always easy to follow, but when we do, it fortifies us especially when making important decisions.

There is something to be said for being wise…whether you are young or old. Like the wrinkled-faced man, or the intricate grooves of a tree trunk, wisdom is something that becomes interwoven deep into our character.  Relying on past experiences that have taught us what a wise choice can offer, gives us a sense of confidence and independence that helps guide us along our paths.

No, wisdom is not something tangible, it is something you must live and learn…but when you apply it to your daily life…oh, the immeasurable gift you’ll receive in return!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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He Leads Me and I Will Follow

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He leads me and I will follow – there is no other way to live…

”The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters…he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23: 1-3

He Leads Me and I Will Follow

He leads me and I will follow,

There is no other way to live.

Under your care, with your provision…

I know there is nothing that is good you will not give.

He leads me and I will follow,

Lord may I never look elsewhere.

For you have everything I can ever want or need…

My Shepherd, thank you for always being there.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

He leads me and I will follow – There is never any doubt in my mind that God leads us in the way we should go.  Sometimes he takes us along routes that are painted so beautifully, they delight our senses in ways that we’d never thought possible.  He also allows us to traverse rough terrain, where we may stumble or fall flat on our faces.  No matter what we encounter along the way, and whether or not we understand the reason for each leg of our journey, God leads us…but, will we follow him?

That’s a difficult question to answer truthfully.  We can say to ourselves, “Of course Lord, lead me and I’ll follow you…anywhere…anywhere you want me to go!  I’m there!”  Until he takes us up on our offer…and he leads us somewhere that we don’t want to go. The first few verses of the 23rd Psalm…”The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, he maketh me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters…” ahhh, what a lovely description.  Who wouldn’t gladly follow?  When we come to the next verse…”Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”…really?

When the difficulties come, the green pastures grow brown and sparse, and the still waters become murky, do we really have the resolve to follow him no matter what?

It takes time and commitment to develop a relationship with the Lord, our Shepherd.  It also takes a high level of trust to be willing to follow him no matter where he leads us.  A shepherd spends an immense amount of time with his flock.  Not only does he, lead them along green pastures and still waters, as described in the 23rd Psalm, he takes care of their every need. He also protects them from all harm. In essence, one can say that the shepherd is “everything” to his flock.  “…and his sheep know his voice and they follow him.”  John 10:4

How about you?  Do you spend enough time with the Lord, our Shepherd to really know his voice? Do you trust him enough to follow him wherever he leads?  I leave these questions for you to ponder.  May your answers be ones that allow you to respond truthfully…he leads me, will I follow?

Peace and love,

Felecia

I dedicate this post to my father-in-law, John E. Weber, Jr.  I took the photo for this post during my recent visit with you.  I thought of you while writing this post…your selfless love and kindness towards me, and so many others, is a testament to your willingness to follow the Lord, our Shepherd, no matter what.  Thank you for being who you are.  I love you.

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When I Look Outside My Window

When I Look Outside My Window

When I Look Outside My Window – Photograph property of www.OntheWingofaDove.com

“When I look outside my window – oh the beauty I see…the entire world opens up to me!

”Just because the past didn’t turn out like you wanted it to doesn’t mean your future can’t be better than you imagined.”  —Anonymous

When I Look Outside My Window

When I look outside my window,

Oh the beauty I see,

Colors so deep, so bright…

The entire world opens up to me.

When I look outside my window,

All is fresh and green and bright!

No darkness, no sadness, no fear at all.

All I ever wanted is within reach; it’s within sight!

When I look outside my window,

Oh, I can never look back…

What’s in the past is gone.

My future is full, there is nothing I lack.

When I look outside my window,

The Lord’s abundance awaits me there.

His love, His caring, His provision you see…

It’s all I need…and nothing else can compare.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

When I look outside my window – some days that scenery can be very drab and grey.  Sometimes it makes me just want to roll over and fall back asleep.  Other mornings can appear so bright, I feel as though the sun’s rays will burn a hole through the blinds! That’s how I feel when I think of what the Lord has planned for each and every one of us who put our trust in him.

”No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” —1 Corinthians 2:9

My heart always seems to stand still whenever I read the above verse from the Bible.  I can’t help but feel a wave of exuberance that flows through my body, just like when I look outside my window and everything is vibrant and inviting.  I can almost feel the warmth of God’s love shining down on me just thinking about the future that he has planned for me!

Can you fathom all that God has planned for you?  Can you imagine his goodness and glory all rolled into one?  No one can conceive such an awesome delight…but when you trust in him, you’ll experience the peace, the provision, and love that is ours through the gift of his Son.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Do Not See Me

Do Not See Me

Do Not See Me – Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

Do not see me amongst the crowd…let me fade into the scenery…

”Sometimes being invisible is the best way to prepare to be seen.”  —FRW

Do Not See Me

Do not see me amongst the crowd…

let me fade into the scenery.

I am not looking; I don’t want to be found.

For now I’m not the flower…I’m simply the greenery.

Do not see me when you pass me by;

I’ll just keep going, turning neither left, nor right.

Let me fade into the horizon that stretches out ahead.

The day is almost over; soon to come is the night.

Do not see me, please, it’s far too soon.

There is so much to do and to prepare.

Everything has a season, a time, and a place.

Trust me, when I’m ready…with you, I’ll be there.

Felecia R. Weber, 2018 www.OntheWingofaDove

”Do not see me” – now that’s kind of a strange thing to say.  One certainly cannot make himself invisible.  Nonetheless, we all have times in our lives when we simply do not want to be seen or heard for that matter.  We just want to slip away and be by ourselves to think, to rest…to “be.”

In today’s world, life can seem like just a long string of interruptions.  Between our cell phones ringing and dinging every five seconds, to those unexpected “events” rearing their not so appealing heads just at the wrong time, being “unseen” seems impossible…but it isn’t really.

”Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”  Mark 6:31-32

Taking time to get away from the clamor of life is important.  We all need time to just be by ourselves, no matter who we are or what occupation we partake in.  In the scripture verse quoted above,  Jesus not only instructed his disciples, but he also set an wise example for us today, to do that very thing.  When life’s activities become overwhelming…when we are “seen” too much…that’s the time we need to step away and say, “do not see me.”

We all need time to rest, relax and renew.  No matter what it takes, be sure to do just that for “you.”

Peace and 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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A Beauty That’s Impossible to Hide

A Beauty that’s impossible to hide

“A Beauty That’s Impossible to Hide” Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

“There’s a beauty that never changes, one that only evolves…it’s a beauty that’s impossible to hide.” FRW

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”  – Confucius

A Beauty That’s Impossible to Hide

There’s a beauty that’s impossible to hide…

It’s one that’s growing in you down inside.

 

No matter how you try to alter or display it…

There is no disguise that can betray it.

 

There’s a beauty that’s impossible to hide…

It can’t be taken; it can’t be belied.

 

For this kind of beauty; God has given to you.

Let is shine, let others see it, in all that you do.

Felecia R. Weber, Onthewingofadove.com 2018
 

A beauty that’s impossible to hide…With all of the emphasis on external beauty these days, it’s hard to know what’s in fashion. The trends constantly change; what we deem to be beautiful one moment, is far from that the next.  There is a beauty that never changes, though, one that only evolves…it’s a beauty that’s impossible to hide.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

We are all born with an inherent beauty, one that God has planted deep down inside each one of us.  That beauty may not be evident immediately, but unlike the ever-changing trends of the world, like God, it is constant and always there. When we take the time to dig beneath the shallow surface of our physical beauty that we see only on the outside, we’ll recognize the roots of our real beauty…and that’s a beauty that’s impossible to hide!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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