Category: Perspective

Perspective – Your Own Backyard

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective8 Comments

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We often load our bikes into the back of my husband’s truck and search out new bike trails. Oh my, how behind the times we felt when we discovered there is a bike trail that begins/ends in our own back yard. The Monroe Twp. Bikeway runs between Williamstown and Glassboro, New Jersey, and has been available for walking, biking, in-line skating, etc., for near ten years. Sunday was the first time we rode the trail. What a joyous outing we had. While researching the trail I came upon an extensive list of other biking trails in our Tri-State area. Bike Trails in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. I can’t wait to try out a few more.

Moral of this tale: Check out your own town for interesting things to do. You might be as surprised as we were at what you might find.

Perspective – The Coming Storm

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective4 Comments

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Tropical Storm Hermine is on her way. She is forecasted to hit the New Jersey coast tonight. It’s hard not to think of the damage left behind by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. There are still many areas in the state that have not been repaired.

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We spent Saturday morning fishing on the beach in Fortescue, catching quite a few small stripers, and watching in awe as the fisherman beside us brought in several good-sized fish, and then wrestled in this large ray.

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The hook he used was not large, but the ray sure was a big one. The fisherman landed him on the beach, removed the hook, and sent the ray back on his way.

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Later, while lunching at The Landing in Newport, NJ, we watched the Sundog Marina crew pull boats from the water. Many owners are ready to take their boats out of the water at this time of year, and the expected storm surge prompted many to get the job done today.

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We’re hoping the next time we visit this charming area we will find no storm damage caused by Tropical Storm Hermine.

Quote & Perspective – Staying Focused

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, Quote9 Comments

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Don’t let scattered dreams and goals be torn apart by circumstance…tape them back together again and persevere…persevere…persevere! A masterpiece is inside you, waiting to be born.

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Perspective – Circumstances

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective14 Comments

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Treasure Beach, Jamaica, is an earthly paradise, but in this beautiful place you can also find extreme examples of land and seascape: warm inviting water, threatening jagged reef. Like the photograph, life is so often a portrait in extremes. In the hours of one day it is possible to experience the sweetest, uplifting highs, only to find yourself cut to bits by unexpected, devastating lows. We’ve all experienced these contradictory days. Yet, through it all one fact holds true, the Word of God stands eternal. Whatever I am going through in my life, whatever injurious circumstance I, or someone I love, might be experiencing; the Word of God is a lifeline if I reach out and open the book.

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This small devotional, “Daily Food,” contains timeless Bible verses. It is one of my “treasures.” Given to my grandmother by my grandfather in 1939, the inscription is a tribute to the love he had for God and his, “Beloved Buddy.”

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Dear friends, in these trying times, when life deals out its many highs and low, hold fast to the timeless Word of God, and let Him be your hope and strength every day.

Perspective – World Affairs

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective2 Comments

Friends, I try for the most part to keep my blog light, infusing posts with my daily experiences of ordinary living combined with the extraordinary experience of loving and worshipping the Lord God Almighty. Do I have the normal high and low moments peculiar to all mankind? You betcha. Do I accomplish anything good? Well, I try and sometimes succeed, but there are bad moments when I fall flat on my face. Do I make mistakes? Of course. Do you know who is always there to forgive, steady and point me back in the right direction? Yes…my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will always be my Helper and Friend.

There is an old game doing new damage in the media, blogs, and everyday conversation…it is the blame game. The new twist is deeming UnChristlike anyone who expresses a cautionary attitude about opening borders to refugees without protocol in place to properly help them once they are here. Masterful spin doctors are picking and choosing Bible verses condemning anyone who urges some caution.

It is very easy to enter into the fray as Christians to prove our point by picking and choosing our own Bible Verses in response. Today in “My Utmost for his Highest,” by Oswald Chambers, the daily devotional spoke about being consumed by the “cares of this world.” I took the words to heart and decided to bring to an end any posts I might make on world affairs. Instead of adding one more voice to the cacophony of spoken and written opinion, an area where I am prone to make mistakes, I will “intercede” in prayer, leave it on the altar, and give the consequences to God.

“Beware of ‘the cares of this world,’ because they are the things that produce a wrong temper of soul. It is extraordinary what an enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention from God. Refuse to be swamped with the cares of this life.”

“God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.” ~ Oswald Chambers”

My Utmost For His Highest – Daily Post

Perspective – Refugee Crisis

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective15 Comments

The refugee crisis is building. People have escaped the wars and persecution in their homeland and have nowhere to go. Countries are forced into opening their borders for those in need of help and sanctuary. Yet…as we all know…wolves in sheep’s clothing are also entering in with the refugees. I don’t know the answer. As a Christian I want to help my fellow man, following Jesus’ example of the good Samaritan, but on the other hand I also have read extensively in the Old Testament and know Israel was brought to ruin many times by letting refugees settle in their land bringing their own customs and religion with them. Today I read an article with an excellent perspective on the situation and Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. I’ve included a quote and link to the full article below:

“But it’s important to recognize a couple of things. First, the Samaritan did not take the man into his own home. He paid the bill, but he did not in any way put himself at risk of harm from the man. Even more importantly, the Samaritan made a free choice of his own will to help the man.

What the left wants to do in the case of the Syrian refugees is use the power of the state to force an entire nation to welcome people into their midst without any effort to ensure that members of ISIS with evil intentions were filtered out. That’s not compassion. That’s national suicide. And if you think God wants nations to commit suicide, just skim through the Old Testament and consider the many instructions He gave to Israelite kings to attack foreign armies – even killing and plundering those they conquered. When it came to warfare, God instructed the kings of Israel to be pretty ruthless in dealing with their enemies.”

~ What does the Bible really say about taking in Syrian refugees-Dan Calabrese/Canadian Free Press

Perspective and Projects – Sawdust Memories

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, Projects2 Comments

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Our majestic oak tree was taken down while we were on vacation. I had resigned myself to its removal, but it was still a blow to see the empty space where it once stood. As we walked amid the fallen pieces, despite our untrained eyes, we noticed areas of danger due to splits in the main trunk. At some point the tree or large branches would have fallen. We did the right thing in having it removed before a problem or tragedy occurred.

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We have decided to keep a piece of the stump for our grandchildren to build a fairy house on. I also gathered bins of sawdust to use for stuffing some fabric birds I intend to make. I will save a few acorns, plant them in a pot, freeze them for several months, and attempt to grow some progeny of my beautiful oak tree.

Perspective – The Blessing of the Picky Eater

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective10 Comments

“Corn is a very fine food,

For animals and man.

You can find it on a cob,

You can eat it in a can.”

My husband is a picky eater. He has always been a picky eater. He tells a story of the hiding place he found on his mother’s kitchen table, a small ledge on the underside, where as a child, he would hide the peas he didn’t want to eat. He has no liking for all the good green veggies: green beans, lettuce, lima beans, cabbage, kale, garlic, onions, etc., etc., etc. He loves corn though. The little poem is from a third grade play he was in. He recites this to me when I grumble about eating corn again, and again, and again.

Have you ever cooked for a picky eater? It is not easy, but here is the blessing in the scenario, learning how to bring out the good flavors in just a few items has created in me an ability to cook almost anything fairly well. I’m happy to say, little bites by little bites, my husband has learned to eat some new things. He likes broccoli now…can you believe that, but he still won’t eat peas!

Perspective – Follow your Dreams in Stone

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective4 Comments

“Your personal sculptor is carving a person, thing or event from the last year of your life. What’s the statue of and what makes it so significant?” Daily Post @ WordPress “Immortalized in Stone.”

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For years my husband and I have watched the fishermen along the Delaware Bay at Fortescue, often remarking to each other, “We should try fishing.”

This year we finally bought fishing rods. What a great time we have had standing on the sand, beneath the sky, with the sound of gentle waves as our music. I wish we had begun fishing years earlier.

My husband, with fishing rod in hand, would be my choice for the person I would immortalize in stone. My best advice: follow every one of your dreams…large, small and in between. You never know where they might take you.

Perspective – Become Like Children

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective4 Comments

We recently celebrated two birthdays in our family with a picnic. While we sang “Happy Birthday,” I took photographs of everyone as they enjoyed the fellowship of our time together. After I downloaded the photos, I noticed in the background of a photo, what for me has become one of the best moments of the day: my youngest grandson beaming with pure happiness as he watched his grandfather blow out the birthday candles. Although the distance causes his image to be a bit blurred, his JOY in the day is contagious, and fills me with happiness when I gaze upon his sweet face.

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My grandson’s expression is exactly how I want my Father in Heaven to see me as I gaze toward him. Eyebrows raised in anticipation, my hands outstretched, my face beaming with happiness. You know folks, if I do nothing else on this earth I want to SHINE for Jesus. A blessed Sunday to you. Amen.

“And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.…” ~ Matthew 18:2-4

Perspective – A Grateful Heart

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Today I don’t want to take for granted any good thing from my Father in Heaven. I have been saying thank you to God out loud throughout this morning for his love to me and the many blessings he has bestowed upon my life. Take a moment today to dwell upon all the blessings in your life. Thank God for everything large and smile. (I meant to type, and small, but liked the way large and smile sounded, so it stands as is.)

Amazing Love

Perspective – Rewinding

On By TimelessladyIn PerspectiveLeave a comment

I think most of us in the blogosphere remember VHS tapes, and the stickers on most rentals that kindly asked us to rewind by saying…

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Today I’ve altered that now obsolete catch-phrase into a thank you to those who will understand why I have nothing else to give in my blog post today.

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I am scattered, with too much too do, and some pressing concerns that are pecking at me like a chicken scratching for grain. I think many of us feel that way throughout the week, and even more so on the weekends, when there are isn’t enough time for all the tasks we must accomplish, let alone the time to fulfill our dreams. So…my advice… be kind to yourself today…rewind, relax…and relinquish your worries to the Lord.

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” ~ Psalm 55:22

Perspective & People – Classics

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I recently saw a special on Johnny Cash. He is one of my all-time favorite singers, and I love the message of God’s love that his life exhibited. I also love the words and message of Billy Graham. Two classics, one in song, one in word, and both men of God.

Perspective – The Gospel

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Impartation: the ability to give unto others that which God has given to us … either sovereignly, or through other anointed vessels (messengers) of God.

Eric and Leslie Ludy Bio

Photograph & Perspective – Broken/Little Pencils and Good Ideas

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, Photo Challenge at Wordpress13 Comments

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“Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.” ~ Francis Bacon

The WordPress Photo Challenge for today is titled, “Broken. This week, capture something broken.”

Some things must be broken to be used, an egg must be cracked to be eaten, a tree must be felled to be cut into lumber, a horse must be broken before it can be rode.

A “broken” pencil showed up in my junk drawer recently. I think the small stub of graphite and wood has probably spent about two decades in this shortened condition. Why? Well, because boys will be boys, and most likely one of my sons sharpened this pencil down to a nub while in middle school. This same scenario held true when I was a young student. Preteen boys delighted in reducing their pencils into nubs just like the “broken” one in my photograph. The sight of tiny pencils always curls my lips upward in a nostalgic smile.

So often as I go about my day I will have the flash of a good idea, but later on, find myself completely unable to remember it. I’ve tried carrying around a pen and paper in pants or shirt pockets to write down these good thoughts, but invariably get stabbed in the thigh, or have ink leak out and spoil a good shirt. When I saw this small pencil I realized it solved the problem of being too long, but what to do about that sharp point…Yikes!

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The problem was easily solved by placing an old ink pen cap over the sharpened end.

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A piece of paper folded into a tiny square was the perfect addition. I’m ready now to record all the good ideas that I am blessed with today and in the future. Do you have any tiny pencils to carry around in your pocket? If not, break a pencil  in two and sharpen, sharpen, sharpen. Good ideas are priceless!

Perspective – Excuse me Miss

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective2 Comments

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“Encouragement is awesome. It (can) actually change the course of another person’s day, week, or life.” ~ Chuck Swindoll

Years ago, my husband and I, both at this point in time forty plus years of age, were walking through a local shopping mall. As we walked by an indoor landscaping display, a young man sitting on the edge of the planter said to me with a smile, and twinkle in his eye, “Excuse me Miss, but is that periwinkle you’re wearing?”

I was startled, but still stopped, and looked down at the shirt I had on. “Why yes, it is,” I said. In the next instant, I SMILED at the unexpected question and implied compliment, and my husband mirrored the same grin. There was no other conversation, and we walked on. Neither my husband or I can say why, but the moment was magical, unrehearsed and unexpected, and it has remained for both of us…quite unforgettable. Whenever I think of the moment I feel encouraged.

“So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
~ I Thessalonians 5:11

Who can you encourage today? A co-worker, a family member…a stranger? It doesn’t take much to lift someone’s spirit. It can be as easy as,”Excuse me Miss…”

Do clothes make the woman? Or does the woman make the clothes? I love to wear periwinkle…of course!