Month: March 2015

Seeking Answers

Posted on by Wendy
How often do we miss the answers to our prayers because we are too distracted to see them?
How often do we miss the answers to our prayers because we are too distracted to see them?

I have recently been struggling with how involved I want to be in a particular outreach of my church. It takes me out of my comfort zone and quite frankly, it’s called a comfort zone for a reason. Now, I’m not one who makes it my business to wrestle with God. I understand people who do and for many, their faith grows as a result.

But, I’ve always been more of a people pleaser, so when God calls, I’m typically on board. But, in this particular instance, I couldn’t really discern whether I was being nudged by God or pushed by people. If it was a God calling, I was willing to follow, however reluctantly, but if it was a people thing, I was planning on bowing out.

I was really praying about it on the first walk I was able to take in weeks, due to our recent stretch of horrible weather. I returned home with no solid answers, but then I checked my phone and I smiled and gave a prayer of thanks, not for answering a prayer to leave me in my comfort zone, alas, but for answering a prayer for direction.

The night before, while perusing Pinterest, I pinned a quote from Ann Voskamp that said, “You can’t be a world changer until you serve. And you can’t serve until your break free of your comfort zone.” It had a picture of a weathered door.

I don’t know why I pinned it. It just spoke to me at the moment. But, when I returned from my walk and prayer time, my phone informed me that someone on Pinterest had pinned my pin and when I clicked it, Ann’s message popped up.

There was my answer. It may not have been the one I was most comfortable with, but it was my answer.

As Believers, when we really look for God in the world around us, He’s everywhere and why wouldn’t He be? When we pray for answers, do we expect them? Do we actively look for them or do we hope for a text message explaining it all in detail? Maybe we hope for the burning bush answers.

I find that God most often answers prayers in quiet subtle ways, that could easily be missed if we weren’t paying attention. I wonder how many answers I’ve missed along the way because I wasn’t looking or fully alert. How often have I missed out on God communicating with me because I was too busy or distracted? Perhaps you struggle with this too?

During this Lenten season, I’m intentionally taking time to slow down and listen. I’m trying not to miss the subtle that would easily be missed in the rush of life. When we pray, we should expect answers, but maybe we are expected to actively watch for them. I’m going to try harder to be a better watcher and listener. Care to join me?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Living Out Faith is a Team Deal

Posted on by Wendy
Perhaps Lent is an ideal time to reflect on how and why we are serving.
Perhaps Lent is an ideal time to reflect on how and why we are serving.

Yesterday was a miserable, dreary, rainy day. It was also a Sunday. Getting out of bed took some discipline. I could have come up with a hundred reasons not to have gotten up and attended church, but I didn’t. I got up and I went.

The pastor reminded us that we had to make a tough decision to attend in the rain. We all chuckled. But, then he reminded us that throughout church history, people had been killed for all kinds of decisions relating to their faith.

The thought occurred to me that Christianity is not a spectator faith. It never has been and Jesus has always been a polarizing figure. While most of us won’t be called to physically give up our lives for following Jesus, we are all called to fully serve and participate. Yes, getting out of bed and attending a church service is a start, but then what?

When people join churches they seem to be in one of two camps. They either participate in everything or they participate in nothing. So, we often find a small group of people involved in many church activities and other groups simply attending church and maybe Sunday School.

But, here’s what happens; the word gets out that there are certain people who will agree to help with whatever they are asked and so they get asked to serve again and again and again. They sometimes get very tired and discouraged and sometimes they end up leaving the church altogether.

I kind of think of it as a relay race at a track meet. In that kind of event, each runner runs for a little while and then they hand the baton off to another member of the team and they run for a little while and then they hand it off. Everyone has a leg to run. Everyone has a part to play. Everyone is a part of the team. Everyone’s participation matters.

If one runner drops the baton or doesn’t do their part, the entire race is severely hindered.

Perhaps Lent is a good time to do a little service soul-searching. The season is meant for us to intentionally take time and make the effort to grow closer to God. Maybe it’s a great time to ask ourselves in what ways we are serving.

Are we serving at all? Are we serving in the same way we have for the past ten plus years? Should we prayerfully seek a different way to serve? Would a new type of service help us to grow closer to Jesus in our faith walk?

If we are serving in many places, perhaps we should prayerfully ask God if we are too thinly stretched. Are we serving because we are called or because we couldn’t say “no?” If we are serving for the wrong reasons, we may be taking someone else’s slot who could really grow doing that particular service.

As I observe Lent this year, it’s more about intentionally drawing closer to God than giving up some kind of vice, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just feel like it’s really important not to make the season about us and what we can or can’t accomplish.

It’s supposed to be about deepening our faith walk and I think that examining how we do or don’t serve and making changes may be worth a look.

What do you think? How are you observing Lent? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂