Tag Archives: Christmas

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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A Hill’s Hounds Happy Christmas

happy ChristmasA Hill’s hounds happy Christmas – “What’s that?” you ask of me.  Read on and I’ll tell you what you can expect to see…

A Hill’s Hounds Happy Christmas

A Hill’s hounds happy Christmas

“What’s that?” you ask of me.

Well grab some hot chocolate; pull up a chair,

And I’ll tell you what you can expect to see…

happy Christmas

Mardi Gras

First, sitting up from his cozy bed, posing quietly,

There’s Mardi Gras dressed like Santa; he’s as cute as can be!

happy Christmas

Penny Sparkle

Next, there’s Penny Sparkle, and what an adorable sight!

She’s nestled under the Christmas tree; with her eyes dazzling bright.

happy Christmas

Oscar

Then, I think there’s a reindeer that I see with my eyes…

Hey! Wait a minute…it’s little Oscar in disguise!

happy Christmas

Halo

Finally, there’s Halo, adorned in her holiday scarf; she looks so pretty too.

If she could talk, she’d say a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

Poem by Felecia R. Weber 2015, OntheWingofaDove.com; photographs courtesy of Marilyn Hill (dog-mom of the “Hill’s Hound”)

“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.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Holiness

On Holiness

on holinessA Quote to Carry You

December 7, 2015

“You are my Lord, because you have no need of my goodness.”  Augustine of Hippo

On holiness – In my opinion, the above quote reflects the essence of holiness.  Described as the quality or state of being holy, holiness can only be attributed to one who is holy.  To be holy, one must be completely perfect in goodness and righteousness, in other words, he must be divine.  When examining the heart of mankind, Scripture tells us that “there is no one righteous, not even one…” Romans 3:10. Therefore, true holiness then, can only be claimed by God…and for me, that is where the beauty of holiness is.

“Who among the gods is like you, Lord?  Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”  Exodus 15:11

Given that only God is holy and holiness can only come from God, indeed he has no need for our goodness…yet we are in such desperate need of his, whether we realize it or not.  God knows our hearts, and he knows absolutely what we are in need of.  What’s more, he loves us so much that he made a way for our every need to be fulfilled.

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14

As the above Scripture states, we must be holy in order to see the Lord.  In his perfect goodness towards us and love for us, God demonstrated his holiness through his Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Even more, by coming to us by means of being born into the world and living among us, and later, by sacrificing his very life as a ransom for ours, God provided a way for each of us to experience his holiness.  For when we accept Jesus, “who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead…” Romans 1:4, we are “set free from sin and become slaves of God, the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”  Romans 6:22.

As we reflect on the magnitude of what we have been so richly given in the birth of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season, may the peace of his holiness glow brightly to illumine the world around you.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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The Wisdom In Waiting

wisdom in waiting

“Winter Yosemite Valley,” 1933-34, Ansel Easton Adams. Image from a page of the 2013 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

The wisdom in waiting…as we all know, the snow takes time to melt no matter how brightly the sun is shining; and so, we wait…

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

The wisdom in waiting is rather difficult to imagine during the hustle and bustle of this holiday season.  It seems like time flies through our fingers as fast as the snow covers the ground during a wintery blizzard.  No sooner do we check off the items on our seemingly endless holiday “to do” lists, then another flurry of new tasks fill our hands!  Isn’t it strange, though, that with all of our time drifting away, it seems like Christmas takes forever to arrive?  So, we wait…

I have gone through a very difficult time this year.  Like the “nor’easter” winter storms that we’ve been experiencing lately, I feel like I’ve been trudging through a heavy whirlwind of difficulties.  I’ve often found myself wanting to fast forward through this trying season straight to happier times.   But, as we all know, the snow takes time to melt no matter how brightly the sun is shining; and so, we wait…

Indeed there is wisdom in waiting, and despite my circumstances, I have found that the longer I wait, the more prepared I am to receive what I am so desperately waiting for.  Like a child on Christmas morning, when I finally get to enjoy what I’ve longed for, it makes the wait so much more worthwhile.  Then, the dreaded blustery storms that threatened to hinder me from moving forward seem like soft and silent winterscapes that fill my eyes with the quiet beauty of the season.

“There is wisdom in waiting, even though it can’t be seen.  When troubles surround us high and low. Waiting increases our expectations of what we long for and dream; and surely, it causes our faith to grow.” Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

As you weather the storms that seem to steal away your time this holiday season…may you too find wisdom in waiting.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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The Dog Who Loves Christmas!

The dog who loves Christmas

Meet Oscar! The Dog Who Loves Christmas! (Oscar belongs to my dearest friends Dick and Marilyn Hill).

Meet Oscar, the dog who loves Christmas!  T’was the night before Christmas, now where is that little dog?

The Dog Who Loves Christmas!

T’was the night before Christmas,

now where is that little dog?

He’s snuggled before the fireplace;

why not throw on another log!

The dog who loves Christmas

Oscar lounging by the fireplace.

With the house all decorated,

in bright colors of red and green,

Oscar dashed right outside,

but in the snow he could hardly be seen!

He dog who loves Christmas

Oscar playing in the snow.

Oscar, the dog who loves Christmas;

he’s such a good sport.

When he plays he often rolls like a ball,

for his furry legs are so short!

The dog who loves Christmas

Oscar takes a “time out.”

Now do not be mistaken,

although a little dog is he.

Oscar fills the hearts of those around him,

like the blazing warmth of a beautiful Christmas tree!

The dog who loves Christmas

Oscar takes time to spend a moment loving his sister Halo Rose.

Poem by Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com; photographs courtesy of Marilynn Hill.

The dog who loves Christmas

Merry Christmas!

“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 photographs and a short bio to me, Felecia at frosew04@gmail.com.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Peace and love,

Felecia

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What I Believe

What I Believe

“Feeling Blessed,” photograph courtesy of my sister, Marjorie Karimi

What I believe is full of hope; it is very real and oh so very true…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

What I Believe

What I believe is not just a story,

of days gone by long ago.

No, it is more than I could ever imagine;

a gift that only God could bestow.

What I believe is rich, and abundant;

it makes my heart overflow with joy.

It shelters and protects me when I am afraid.

Indeed it’s like a fortress that no enemy can destroy.

What I believe is not dead, but bursting with life,

that which fills the heavens and earth.

How awesome, how wonderful, how magnificent it is;

and it all began for us on that glorious night of His birth.

What I believe is full of hope;

it is very real and oh so very true.

It is founded on God’s unending love,

and He freely gives it to me and to you.

Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

May your heart be filled to overflowing with the love that God has for you…and may you always believe in Him and what He gave to us on that first Christmas night.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Making Your House Your Home

Making your house your home

“Spring Morning (Detail), 1875, James-Jacques-Joseph Tissot. Image from a page of the 2014 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

Making your house your home. Home is where my heart is content…

“The Crown of the house is Godliness.  The Beauty of the house is Order.  The Glory of the house is Hospitality.  The Blessing of the house is Contentment.” (Old Inscription)

Home

Home is where I lay my hat,

I let my hair down and I rest.

In no other place will I find,

so much of what in my life is the best.

Home is where I feel secure,

where I laugh and cry aloud.

I can dance and sing and shout for joy,

for there I am hidden as under a cloud.

Home is where my heart is content,

and forever there God promises t o reside.

For it is He who fills each room with the love,

peace and joy, that my heart happily holds inside.

Felecia R. Weber 2014, OntheWingofaDove.com

Making your house your home is not as easy as it sounds.   In the fast pace of living that we all experience to some degree or another, “home” sounds like something far off in the distance.  Is making your house your home, one filled with the appealing attributes described above really attainable these days?  Is it really even desirable?

I think for all of us, the answer is YES!  As humans we have basic needs:  comfort, security, love, and a sense of purpose and belonging.  Those needs must be fulfilled in some way in order to make us whole.  Making your house your home, is certainly a good place to start.  This holiday weekend many of us will be out and about traveling to visit loved ones, shopping for that perfect Christmas gift, and enjoying the excitement that’s in the air.  But isn’t it a good feeling to know that at the end of the day, you’ll get to return to that warm and cozy, welcoming place that you call home?

making your house your home

“The Red Vine, Matinicus Island, Maine,” 1916, George Bellows. Image from a page of the 2014 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

I encourage you to fill your house with beautiful things, so that your eyes are filled with delight and pleasure there.  Welcome others into your house for a time of sharing the good things that you have to offer them.   Take care of your house, keep it clean and in good order so that you can relax and rest peacefully there.  And in all these things, be contented to spend quality time there no matter what.

Lastly, and what I believe is the true key to making your house your home…invite God into your home and into your heart.  For when He is there, filling every room with the love that only He can give, your home will not only be your house, it will be in your heart.  And God will reside with you there for all eternity.

“The house of the righteous stands firm.”  Proverbs 12:7

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

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