Tag Archives: God

In the Quiet of the Night

In the Quiet of the Night

In the Quiet of the Night – Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

In the quiet of the night – through its stillness shone a light…

”While shepherds kept their watching O’er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens, there shone a heavenly light.” (excerpt taken from the lyrics of the song “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” by John Wesley Work, Jr.)

In the Quiet of the Night

In the quiet of the night,

Throught its stillness shone a light.

So wondrously did it glow,

A beacon to the world did it show.

In the quiet of the night,

The shepherds gathered, not in fright.

The angels sang songs full of glory;

For through the babe, God will complete his story.

In the quiet of the night,

Our hearts are filled with delight.

Our Savior has come…death has lost its hold.

His truth continues to save, just as it was foretold.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

In the quiet of the night – sometimes the most amazing things happen during the wee hours of the night.

Picture it, the most unassuming scene.  A newly born baby wrapped is scraps of cloths, placed delicately upon the rough surface of wood and straw used as a makeshift cradle.  The flickering flames of a hastily built fire, projects a glowing light that fills the sky.  The look of uncertainty that adorns the young mother’s face as, little by little, the tiny stall becomes the stage for the greatest miracle of all time.  It is played out right before the eyes of the shepherds and livestock that had gathered to see it.

”The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). —Matthew 1:23

In the quiet of the night – God came down to us.  Jesus Christ, our “Immanuel,” came down to earth, “…and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14).  It is hard to comprehend, even in this modern age that we live in, that such an awesome event could take place in such a humble way.  Unlike the clatter of being under the brightness of the noonday sun, the Savior of the world chose to enter it inconspicuously…yet the glory of that moment still illuminates the world.

May you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in the quiet of your heart, and let his light shine brilliantly through you to others.

Wishing you and yours a peaceful Christmas.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Breathe

Breathe

Breathe – Photograph property of www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Breathe – life is short so we need to live it…

”Then 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

Breathe

Life is short, so we need to live it.

Life is not about chance.

It’s a gift…we need only to receive it.

Man determines his steps, God directs his paths.

When we step out, there’s no turning back.

That I can assure you; believe it.

When we’re all caught up and fear grips us tighter…

Open up, let Him in…and breathe.

They say we control our own destiny…is that really true?

Can we cause the sun to rise? Can we cause it to set?

Does the world stop based on the things that we do?

There is nothing that happens beyond God’s control.

All power in heaven and on earth is in His hands to extol.

Darkness can’t exist where His light abounds.

Feel His love…and breathe.

Felecia R. Weber 2018, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Breathe – Have you ever thought what it would feel like to not be able to breathe?

Breathing is one of the most elemental of all bodily functions.  Without it, we simply cannot survive.  From the time we enter into this world until the day we leave it, there is something we must all do…breathe.  Certainly breathing, in the physical sense is essential…but what about breathing on  the spiritual level.

When we breathe physically, we inhale, taking oxygen into our lungs, and the oxygen flows through our bloodstream, where nutrients are carried to our cells for sustenance and healing.  Then we exhale, and carbon dioxide is expelled from our lungs, ridding our bodies of toxins.  Although we have the ability to hold our breathe for activities such as swimming underwater; breathing basically happens automatically.

The breathing process is instrinsic to our spiritual well-being as well.  Like inhaling oxygen, we require regular intake of God’s living Word, the Bible, to nourish our souls.  The more we fill our spiritual lungs with the truths of scripture, the more we are able to expel what is not part of God’s good and perfect will for our lives.  Similarly, when we choose to breathe in the polluted ways of our imperfect world, we eventually feel the suffocating effects of not edifying our hearts with what truly gives us life…God’s Word.

”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”  “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”  John 1:1-4, 14 NIV

In preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, may you take some time each day to open your Bible…and breathe.

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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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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Be Still

be still

Be Still – Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

Be Still in the moment, in the quiet dream…

“Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10

Be Still

Be still in the moment

In the quiet…dream

Keep your heart open,

Thoughts flowing like a stream.

 

Be still and know,

That God is right there,

He’ll never leave you…

He’s your help with all you bear.

 

Be still and listen,

He’s got so much to say…

Tune out all that is around you,

Let Him guide you…he’ll show you the way.

Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com 2018
 

This morning I woke up with a calmness that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I took the time to just be still.  With my thoughts focused on God, the words from Psalm 46:10, “ Be still and know that I am God,” filled my mind and heart.

It is rare that I get the chance just to sit and be still…but when I took the opportunity to do just that, I can hardly describe the peace that I felt.  What a treasure it is to take the time to come before the Lord and feel his presence surround you.  [It’s as if the world fades to gray and God’s light shines in and through you.  He blankets his arms around you and the warmth of his love cause you to glow.

Why not give it a try…now.  Close your eyes, breath deeply; be still.  Now contemplate for yourself, the wonder of God’s love, his provision…his will.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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To the End of the Earth

End of the earth

Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

To The End of the Earth

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”  -T.S. Eliot
 

To the End of the Earth…where can I run to, and you are not there?

To the End of the Earth

Where can I run to,

And you are not there?

Even to the end of the earth,

Lord of my life, you are everywhere.

 

I am never out of your reach,

Whether I am with others or alone.

Even to the end of the earth,

Your hands reach down to me from your throne.

 

You cause my heart to rejoice when times are good;

You are by my side when I am sad.

Even to the end of the earth,

Lord, you are the best friend I’ve ever had.

 

When I’m pushed to my limits,

Running in circles night and day.

Even to the end of the earth,

Lord, I surrender all to you…lead the way.

Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

To the end of the earth…sometimes life seems to push us exactly that far.  When we give our all, and there is nothing left to give.  When we’ve done our best, but it seems that’s never good enough.  Those are the times when we actually realize just how far we can go.

Life does have a way of stretching us to our limits, and our resources eventually do run out…but unless we allow ourselves to reach the “end of the earth,” we’ll never know what the maker of the earth can do.  For with God there are no limits, his resources never run out, and his best is far superior than we can even imagine.

My challenge to you is to go ahead…stretch yourself, find the extent of your limits…then let God take you to the end of the earth…and beyond.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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