Tag Archives: Jesus

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness – Photograph property of www.onthewingofadove.com

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness – all that is hidden is revealed…

”The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.” —J.M. Barrie

When Faith Shines Through the Darkness

When faith shines through the darkness,

All that is hidden is revealed.

We don’t know what’s beneath the shadows…

Pain and grief can be buried deep and tightly sealed.

When faith shines through the darkness,

Not everything is clear.

Sometimes steps can lead down a spiral…

A glimmer of hope flickers, surrounded by fear.

When faith shines through the darkness,

A choice has to be made.

Light and darkness cannot coexist…

There is only one voice that must be obeyed.

When faith shines through the darkness,

There is no reason to despair.

For Jesus, has all the help you need…

His eternal light will guide you…your faith in Him will get you there.

Felecia R. Weber 2019, www.onthewingofadove.com

Entrusting anything, your well-being, your loved ones, your material possessions, to the care of someone else can be scary.

No matter how well you think you know someone, when it comes to something that is important to you, you may feel that you are better off taking care of it yourself.  But what about when circumstances are such that you have no choice but to let others get involved?  Those times can feel like a dark veil has covered your eyes and all you can do is watch behind the scenes.  Faith can be described like that…when we believe in and trust in someone to such a degree that we are willing to give up control over our circumstances to them.  The important thing about faith is who we put our trust in.

”Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” —John 8:12 NIV

When faith shines through the darkness – there is only one person that comes to mind when reciting these words – Jesus!

As He tells us in the above verse from the Bible, Jesus is the light of the world.  Given that light and darkness cannot coexist, when we put our faith in Jesus, darkness is obliterated.  But, moreover, when we place our trust in Him, His light also gives us life…eternally.

Do you have doubts about who to trust; who to put your faith in?

When the darkness of life’s overwhelming circumstances over shadow you, consider the one who not only gives light, but is the light. Then your faith truly will shine through any darkness.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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Do You Love Me?

Do you love me?

Do You Love Me? – Image property of www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Do you love me? – Love is an emotion that can spawn several different answers to that question…

”If you do not love me I shall not be loved.  If I do not love you I shall not love.”  —Samuel Beckett

Do You Love Me?

Do you love me? (Her)

Yes, I love you, of course I love you? (Him)

Why do you ask? (Him)

I don’t know, I guess I just need to be sure. (Her)

Do you love me? (Her)

I just answered that question…yes! (Him)

Why do you ask? (Him)

Sometimes it doesn’t seem as though you do. (Her)

Do you love me? (Her)

Can’t you tell?  I am here aren’t I? (Him)

But why are you here? (Her)

Because I LOVE you. (Him)

Do you love me? (Her)

I love you more than anything…please don’t ask me again. (Him)

Do you love me? (Him)

Yes, of course I love you.  Why do you ask? (Her)

Felecia R. Weber 2019, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

Do you love me? – That’s an age old question that has been asked by us and of us, I am sure more than once.  Love is an emotion that can spawn several different answers to that question.  Whether the reply is a verbal, “Yes, I love you.”, or shown by a tender hug or receiving a special gift, it is certainly a question that cannot be ignored…no matter how it is answered.

Do you love me? Is also a question that has a depth of meaning to it…

When someone asks Do you love me?, the very reason for asking that question may not even have anything to do with love.  I believe we all have an innate sense of whether we are loved or not.  Some forms of love are natural, such as the instinctual love that a mother has for her newborn child, and the romantic love that develops between two individuals that goes beyond just a physical attraction towards each other.  I suspect that we ask such a question more out of the need to be accepted by others, something that is not necessarily intrinsic, but rather based on one’s personal preferences.  It’s kind of like not wanting to be the proverbial last kid to be picked for the soccer team…won’t you pick me, please?…do you value who I am?

No doubt, this question will be asked in some form or another by many during this week as we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Perhaps before you ask that question of another, why not try posing it to yourself? Do I love me?  Sounds kind of strange doesn’t it?  But isn’t it one of the most important questions to ask yourself?  And isn’t giving yourself an honest answer just as important?  Too many of us fail to realize how lovable we are…and in turn, how critical it is that we accept ourselves for who we are first.

”The second is this:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no command greater than these.”  —Luke 10:27

In the Bible, Jesus tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27).  In fact, he states that it is the second most important of all the Ten Commandments; (“To love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” being the first).  But how can you love your neighbor if you don’t love and accept yourself?  I believe that we can genuinely love and accept those around us, our neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends, with an undeniable ferocity.  Can you imagine how dynamic such relationships would be if your love and acceptance of yourself were just as strong?  The first step in doing that however, is to love and accept the one who “…first loved us.”  (1 John 4:19)

Do you love me?  Before asking this questions, consider how much God loves you as the unique person he lovingly created you to be. When you embrace that truth…do you even need to ask the question at all?

Wishing you peace and much love,

Felecia ❤️

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It’s All About

It’s All About

It’s All About – Photograph courtesy of Gail_m

It’s all about bending, stretching as far as you must…

”These are the times that try men’s souls.”  —Thomas Piane

It’s All About

It’s all about bending, stretching as far as you must,

But never forsaking the moral wisdom you trust.

It’s all about hanging on even when there’s nothing but air,

When there’s no one to help…when there’s no one to care.

It’s all about digging deeper, when the wind blows to and fro…

When it’s cold, and you’re hungry, but there’s no place you can go.

It’s all about life…nothing is promised, is anything for sure?

The trials, the frustrations that we all must endure.

It’s all about these things…yes, life sometimes seems that way;

But as it is in nature…night always turns into day.

It’s all about seeking and finding ways to cope.

There is one sure way leads us to hope…

Felecia R. Weber 2019, www.OntheWingofaDove.com

It’s all about – Life is about so many things…

Good times, bad times, times of plenty and times when provisions are lean.  Morning, noon, night, on it goes…the cycle never ends.  One year ends, another one begins.  Expectations are often fulfilled…but sometimes they are just too far out of reach.   With so many uncertainties, there are times when it’s all we can do to get through one day…how do I we do it? How do we find our way?

”Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’”  —John 14:6

When the weight of life bends you to the breaking point, you need not despair.  Life is not easy to live sometimes, but when you live a life surrendered to Jesus, it’s all about HIM.  He is “the way,” the one through whom God provided the gift of salvation to the world.  He is “the truth,” the true measure of God’s righteousness.  He is “the life,” he gave up his own life that we might have life, (in him), both now and throughout all eternity.

Indeed, life is all about something…what (or who) is yours all about?

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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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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His Blood Shed at Gethsemane

His blood shed

“By His Blood” (Detail), colored pencil drawing by Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

His blood shed at Gethsemane – such a heavy weight Christ carried in knowing what was to be…

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”  Luke 22:44

His Blood Shed at Gethsemane

His blood shed at Gethsemane

What it demonstrated to me,

Not the loneliness wrought by betrayal,

Nor the tortuous suffering at Calvary.

His blood shed at Gethsemane

It revealed something much deeper than that,

For there is no greater suffering, no other loss that can compare.

Yet, because of God’s deep love for us, His only Son’s life He did not spare.

His blood shed at Gethsemane

Such a heavy weight Christ carried in knowing what was to be;

The agony that stood before Him; the decision that He alone did make.

I praise Him and eternally thank Him, for the gift of salvation He made possible for you and me.

Felecia R. Weber 2016, OntheWingofaDove.com

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.’…”  Matthew 26:36-46

It always touches my heart intently when I think of the grief and agony that Jesus suffered that night in the garden called Gethsemane.  Can you imagine it?  He not only had to deal with the fact that He had already been so wrongly betrayed, but He also knew that those followers of whom He had lead and loved so intimately and for so long, appeared only to have a vague understanding of what this incredible night was to hold for them in the immediate future.  His love for them and the entire undeserving world was so great, yet He knew that what He must do would be more than He, at least in His humanness, seemingly could bear.

But wait, there is more…the thing that caused His greatest anguish is something that we cannot even comprehend.  For Jesus knew that in order to make that deep love for all of us who have ever lived, and those who will come after us, be real and to free us in a way that nothing else could do…He had to make a decision that would lead Him to a place where only He could go.

I imagine we’ve all experienced, to some degree, the destitution of feeling completely alone.  With nowhere , or no one to turn to.  A place where no light shines and where all hope seems to have slipped through our fingers.  Where when we cry out for help, all we hear is silence, or worse yet, only the echo of our own tear-strained voice.  A place that is void of all that is good, and the vibrancy of life and joy.  Now try to fathom that feeling to be a million times greater and real.  Even then we cannot come close to where Jesus was to go.  For He would be completely separated from God the Father and God would turn His back on His beloved Son.  There would be no response from God to Jesus’ cries to Him.  His desperate tears would fall silently and God would not hear.

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26:39

For me, His blood shed at Gethsemane symbolizes the level of intensity of how much Jesus’ love is for us.  That, although He pleaded with God the Father to take that utterly bitter cup from Him, He chose to take it on, for our sake. Indeed, there is no greater love than that.

May you take the time today, Maundy Thursday, to ponder the decision that Jesus made on that agonizing night He spent in the garden called Gethsemane, and may it move you to take a step of faith and place your trust, your life in Him, who is the Light and the Life.

Peace and love,

Felecia

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On Greatness

On Greatness

greatnessA Quote to Carry You

February 15, 2016

“People do not become great by doing great things; they do great things because they are great.”  George Bernard Shaw

On greatness…There is something about this quote that begged me to dig deeper.  On the surface, it didn’t really mean much to me.  In fact, I rather didn’t agree with it at first glance.  For greatness, described as something extremely large or notably big, sounds to me to be awkward and cumbersome.  There is however, an aspect of it that captivates me…that of being remarkable, outstanding, eminent, distinguished.  Certainly those qualities imply greatness, but what is more interesting to me is how does one achieve it.

I suppose, like beauty, greatness is in the eye of the beholder.  A parent has the greatest influence on a child in his early years.  As he grows, that sphere of influence expands…the individual begins to be molded into a person, full of strengths and weaknesses, positive and negative traits, all that combine to define who he is.  I believe that a person’s greatness stems from this.

For me, greatness doesn’t necessarily have to involve some heroic, life-saving act, that draws attention to the person because of the dynamic nature of the act performed.  Indeed, such acts are great and should be recognized and honored, of course.  I do, however, believe that greatness is carried out in a more profound way, in ordinary, daily life.  When a wife or a husband tenderly cares for their spouse as a disease ravages their spouse’s body to the point that the life is drained right out of them.  When one friend sits and listens quietly for hours as the other pours out the depths of his soul in his darkest hour, because otherwise he may not find the strength to go on.  When a person in a position of authority risks bending the rules in order to allow for the greatest good to be achieved.  Greatness…happens when we reveal love for others that goes beyond ourselves.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”  Matthew 22:37-39

Peace and love,

Felecia

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What’s in a Name?

What's in a name?

Fragmentary Loom Width with Wavy-Vine Pattern (Detail), second half of 16th century. Image from a page of the 2015 Desk Calendar, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

What’s in a name?  Jesus, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, that is you.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

What’s in a Name?

Jesus, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, that is you.

Master, Mighty Counselor, Savior, you are all that is true.

Shepherd, Lord, Son of God with your life, you paid the price,

Jesus, Holy Jesus, your gift to us was your sacrifice.

Felecia R. Weber, OntheWingofaDove.com

What’s in a name?  That’s a strange question to ask, especially on the biggest shipping day of the year, right?  Thanksgiving Day is over, Christmas is coming, Santa Claus, Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman are all on their way.  So many images flood our minds during this happy season.  But underneath the wrapping paper, when the colored lights click off at the programmed time, and when the holly, jolly music fades away into the cold winter nights…what name resounds the loudest and shines the brightest in your heart?

What’s in a name?  For me that name is Jesus, oh my precious Jesus!  There is no denying that Jesus truly is the reason for the season.  As we enter into Advent, awaiting with so much anticipation the coming of him whose very name commands our attention, may you take the time to reflect upon the magnificence of Jesus; the name above all others.

Peace and love,

Felecia

 

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