Tag Archives: God

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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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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On Sustenance

On Sustenance

on sustenanceA Quote to Carry You

August 24, 2015

“And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee…”  2 Corinthians 12:9

On sustenance – These days we are bombarded with all kinds of choices when it comes to food. One would think that whatever he eats, as long as it is food, would provide the nourishment that his body requires, right?  Well, we all know that that just isn’t true.  When it comes to sustenance, defined as something that sustains life or health, making the right choices definitely matters.  I have proven this time and again…when I indulge my sweet tooth a little too much, the effects that I experience afterwards are not so sweet.  More importantly, although those sugary treats do provide more than sufficient calories, they are empty calories that provide health destructing rather than heath restoring energy.

I find that this principle doesn’t only apply when it comes to providing sustenance for my physical body.  It can also be applied to my spiritual needs.  Whenever I indulge in focusing on things that are contrary to the Bible, God’s living Word, such as yielding to feelings of anger, prideful thinking, and selfish behavior, I am only filling my heart with empty promises.  The more I let myself continue in those ways, the more malnourished spiritually I become.  Sooner or later, I realize that I can never sustain a true sense of peace, contentment and joy apart from the sustenance that only God can provide.  And, indeed, his grace is always sufficient for me.

Are you seeking the kind of sustenance that will truly meet all of your needs?  May you find out for yourself the glorious ways in which God will do just that whenever you ask him to.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Priorities

On Priorities

on prioritiesA Quote to Carry You

July 27, 2015

“For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native act and figure of my heart, in compliment external, ’tis not long after.  But I wear my heart upon my sleeve, for daws to peck at:  I am not what I am.”  From William Shakespeare’s “Othello”

On Priorities – It is fair to say that what we put first in our lives says a great deal about who we are.  Thinking about what my true priorities in life are brought the saying “I wear my heart upon my sleeve” to mind.  Being a task-oriented person, it pleases me when I check off something on my “to do” list as complete.  What’s even better, is when I can check off every item on the list.  However, it seems that when my list appears to be complete, a whole slew of other tasks follow and on and on it goes.

When my “to do’s” outweigh the time that I have to complete them, setting priorities comes into play.  When I begin reviewing my list trying to decide what is the most important thing that needs to get done, I often come to the same conclusion.  The things on my “to do” list are really not important at all!  When I examine my true priorities, I’ve come to realize that the most important thing in my life has already been done.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33

I have found that in turning my life over to Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I have essentially made following him the priority of my life.  As a follower of Christ, it is ever my hope that what “I wear upon my sleeve” is a heart that reflects the love that God has filled it with.  In turn, my true priorities have become completing my part in what God has already done.

Spending time on God’s “to do’s” are rewarding, that certainly is true.  May spreading his love to others be your number one priority too.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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It Doesn’t Matter

couldn't ask for more

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s Linda Celeste Simms; photograph courtesy of Andrew Eccles

It doesn’t matter whether I’m happy or sad, for feelings come and go…

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,”  Joshua 24:15

It Doesn’t Matter

It doesn’t matter whether I’m happy or sad,

for feelings come and go.

What I hold deep down inside of my heart,

determines what to the world, my actions show.

It doesn’t matter what goes on around me,

there will be good days and there will be bad.

When I think of how God has my life in his hands,

my, how can I be anything but glad?

It doesn’t matter what others say or do,

they have their own lives to live.

My contentment lies in fulfilling God’s purpose for me,

and all of my best to him do I give.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

Being content is more than just being happy or full, for our status can turn into being sad or empty in the blink of an eye.  Being content means having a peace and joy no matter how we feel or what is going on around us.  My contentedness is found in the Lord God Almighty…the one whom I serve, the one whom I live for, the one whom, in fact, is my very life!  He supplies all of my needs, he guides all of my days, he directs me in what he has purposed for me to do, he blesses my life.  It doesn’t matter then, what is going on inside of me or surrounding me, for in God, my contentedness is sure.

May you take the time to focus on where your own contentedness lies and may your answer lead you to everlasting peace.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Amazing Love

Amazing Love

My great-nephew, Ryder Cullen Stevens. Congratulations Alexia and Jeff! Photograph courtesy of my sister Marjorie Karimi.

Amazing love – There have been many stories written about a love bond so strong that words cannot even come close to describing it…that’s not just love, that’s amazing love!

“I have never been so in love.”  Alexia D. Karimi (speaking about her newly born baby boy, Ryder Cullen)

My family and I have had the pleasure of welcoming our new addition, my great-nephew Ryder Cullen, to the world a week ago.  His arrival came a little sooner than we’d expected, but we are exceedingly happy to welcome him nonetheless!  I’ll admit, when I woke up to the news that our long-awaited bundle of blessings had been born, I felt as excited as a little child on Christmas morning!  We knew what he looked like from the sonographic images that my niece Alexia shared with us throughout her pregnancy, but my first glimpse of the photographs of him shortly after he’d been delivered simply took my breath away.  It was most definitely love at first sight!

Amazing love certainly has a way of doing that.  It touches us in such a profound way.  It seems to mesmerize us and it only grows deeper and stronger as time goes on.  Although I certainly consider the love that Ryder’s parents, Alexia and Jeff, feel towards their precious baby boy to be that kind of love, I can’t help but think of another amazing love that is even greater than that.  When God so richly blessed my family with this little life, he surely showered his love upon us.  As little Ryder grows, that love will increase many times over as we get to share in it over the years.  What is even more amazing to me is that, because of the love that God showed towards all mankind through the birth, death and resurrection of his son Jesus, we all have the opportunity to share in our love for each other not just here, but throughout all eternity…amazing isn’t it?

Amazing love, God has for me,

a love he freely shares.

One that surpasses the veils of time,

no other love compares.

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

May you consider what blessings await you when you embrace God’s amazing love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Peace and love,

Felecia

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All Blessings Flow

All blessings flow

Photograph by Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

All blessings flow from God above and their purposes are sure…

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights…” James 1:17

All Blessings Flow

All blessings flow from God above,

no matter what we do.

They can’t be bought, they can’t be earned;

they show the greatness of God’s love for you.

All blessings flow from God above,

and their purposes are sure.

They have a way of perfecting our hearts;

so that there is nothing we can’t endure.

All blessings flow from God above,

they are filled with love and peace, never strife.

They come in many ways, in all shapes and sizes.

What blessings have you experienced in your life?

Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com

Indeed, all blessings do flow from God above, and many of them are easy to see all around us.  They are brilliantly displayed in nature, they come at just the right moment, and often times they come in ways we’ve never expected.

Why not take a moment to ponder the ways in which God has blessed you in your life…and offer up thanks and praise to him.  When you think about it, being able to do that is a blessing in itself!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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