Month: May 2015

Little Bitty Pieces

Posted on by Wendy
When we only know little bits at the time, of an enormous plan, we are less likely to panic.
When we only know little bits at the time, of an enormous plan, we are less likely to panic.

My son is going to be a freshman in high school next year. He is taking an honors literature class and the folks in charge of that class have decided that he needs to have a reading assignment over the summer. Don’t even get me started on my feelings about the school’s intrusion into my personal summer family time. Who do they think they are?

To make matters worse, the book is six hundred and thirty pages. It’s four smaller books joined together to make one. As soon as I saw the assignment, I knew I had to take action. He would balk at the size of the book and would likely just give up, thinking that he could never read a book that length.

He does not enjoy reading at all, but he loves to write and he’s good at it. I think he will do well in the class and will likely enjoy it once he gets past the seemingly impossible assignment.

I made a plan. I downloaded the book onto his Kindle. The Kindle is small. He can’t see that the book is actually the size of a “Harry Potter,” novel. He isn’t intimidated by is size. I also have him reading a few chapters a day.

Today, he actually came and found me and started telling me about some things he found funny about the book. He asked me if I knew certain characters were in the book. I didn’t. He went on to explain some things about different legends concerning Robin Hood, unicorns and fairies. He’s actually enjoying the book.

He would never have opened the cover if he knew how much work was ahead of him.

I wonder if perhaps, God does the same kind of parenting with us. I have a friend who constantly complains about not knowing what’s coming next. I always tell her that living and obeying one day at a time builds faith and I believe that.

But, my summer assignment experience with my son, also makes me wonder if God often keeps the magnitude of some our assignments to Himself, because He knows we will balk and lose courage. We will be certain we can’t do it.

He’s probably right. If He would have told Abraham how long he would have to wait to get his promised heir, would he have so cheerfully gone? If He would have told Joseph how he would have to be sold by his brothers or how many years he would have to be a prisoner in Egypt before his dreams came true, and his brothers bowed down to him, would he have shared those dreams in the first place?

The Bible is full of examples like these and I suspect most modern-day, mountain moving, God lead stories have similar scenarios. Human beings have very little grasp on what we are capable of  when God stands behind us. But, God knows.

And because He does know us, maybe He keeps us on a need to know basis when it comes to the bigger stuff. I think that’s probably for the best. Don’t you?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

What God Waters

Posted on by Wendy
When God waters it, we can expect big results.
When God waters it, we can expect big results.

My little garden has been growing slowly. We haven’t had much rain, so I have had to water it fairly frequently. Last night we had a huge storm. It rained for a long time and almost overnight, my squash doubled in size. The plants are huge and healthy. My tomato plants went from flowers to fruit. They are covered in tiny tomatoes.

I don’t know why I’m surprised. Growing a garden always keeps me in awe of God’s work. When I water my plants, they come along slowly. They grow a little bit, but when God waters them, it’s an entirely different story. Their growth explodes.

My veggie plants remind me that life is the same way. We can work as hard as we possibly can to make something successful and sometimes it barely survives, but when we add God to the mix, it changes everything. Struggling marriages can miraculously heal and flourish. Family relationships can grow strong and beautiful.

Even churches can have a revival. Sometimes, we can begin to treat our churches as more of a social club than a house of worship. We can begin to worship the building or the people in it. Sometimes our ministries become more of a routine than a calling. At some point, we have forgotten who we serve and why we are really there.

I saw on Facebook recently a quote that said, “Christians are called to worship Christ. We aren’t called to worship other Christians.” When we forget that, we forget to put God at the center of our church. When that happens, we can’t flourish. We aren’t covered in blessings, because we are trying to succeed on our own. When we do that, we are doomed to fail.

But, the good news is that God wants to bless our churches, ministries, families and relationships. We simply have to give them back to Him and put Him at the center.

The Bible says, “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: Return to me says the Lord Almighty, and I will return to you says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 1:3

The verse applies to Israel who had gone astray and turned away from God, but I think it definitely applies to us too. If we give our lives to God, we don’t have to struggle to make our relationships grow. We don’t have to struggle to make our churches and ministries grow.

We do our best and then let God do the watering. The results can be amazing, just like my little garden. Maybe you’d like to give it a try?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Not All Who Wander…

Posted on by Wendy
As long as we are following God, we are never lost.
As long as we are following God, we are never lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” I have always loved that quote, not because I’m a physical wanderer. I’m quite the opposite. I’ve lived in the same house for ten years now and the one before that for seven. I’ve been a Georgia Girl my entire life.

But, there are different ways to wander, aren’t there? I’ve never felt a deep call to do one specific thing my whole life, like be a doctor, artist, or a singer. I like to sing and I sang in church growing up. I didn’t think about singing again for close to twenty years and last Christmas, I found myself singing in the church choir in a Christmas Cantata. Who would have thought?

Yesterday, my daughter and I went through her sheet music and sang songs together that we plan on singing together on our mission trip in a few weeks. When she pulled out, “Victory and Jesus,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “I Saw the Light,” for us to work on and proclaimed those as some of her favorites, I had to fight back tears. Those were always some of mine too, growing up, but she has rarely heard them in today’s church.

When we sang them together, I could almost see the Holy Spirit dancing along. The new church services with all of their new and improved music, really have nothing on the old stuff.

Our church won’t have a Vacation Bible School this year because we don’t have the space, but we are likely moving to a permanent home in the fall. This year is the first year I haven’t helped run a VBS in nine years. Next year, our church will probably have a need for someone to coordinate a VBS. I am more than willing.

I suppose when we allow ourselves to be flexible and wander a bit, we are much more available to be used by God. If I were only willing to focus on singing, I would have totally missed out on all my work on various Vacation Bible Schools. If I were only willing to work with young children, I would have missed out on working with youth groups.

Working with youth groups really made me read my Bible because they ask seriously tough questions. Reading my Bible made me tune into and listen to the Holy Spirit which lead me to write and share God with others on my daily walk. Watching for God in the world around us is a Vacation Bible School concept. It all ties together; almost as if there’s some Holy Architect.

I’ve done a fair amount of wandering on my faith journey and though I have been lost at times, for the most part, I’ve really enjoyed the scenery and almost every skill I’ve learned along the way has been put to use to serve in some way, and for that matter, more than once.

I don’t have to have a plan or destination in mind and neither do you. We just have to be willing to follow and maybe wander a bit. Who knows how He will use those skills we are picking up along the way? He will use them; of that we can be sure.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Pentecost Ponderings

Posted on by Wendy
When the Holy Spirit shows up, prepare to be amazed.
When the Holy Spirit shows up, prepare to be amazed.

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday on our church calendar. It’s the day that we officially recognize the Holy Spirit showing up on the scene after Jesus ascended into Heaven. I love the Pentecost story. It’s found in the Book of Acts and It’s fascinating stuff.

The Book of Acts tells us that Jesus spent forty days on earth appearing to different people and eating and hanging out with the disciples. Then he tells the disciples that he is going to leave them, but that he is sending someone else. In the Book of John, Jesus calls him “Counselor and the Spirit of truth.”

The part that grabs my attention is that Jesus tell his disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4b-5

They did as they were told and gathered as a group along with the women who followed Jesus including his mother, (I so love that she got included in the story because she played such a vital part in his earthly life, like most mamas); and his brothers. According to the text, the number was around a hundred and twenty.

So, all of those people sat there together praying and waited. I would love to know what was going through their minds. Were they afraid or bold at this point? Either way, they were obedient and Jesus fulfilled his promise. Of course, God always comes through when we are obedient.

The Holy Spirit showed up in a very loud wind and dancing tongues of fire rested on each person’s head. The Spirit enabled them to speak in different languages. It was obviously a miracle. I mean, no one snaps their fingers and can speak another language.

However, as is often the case with miracles, the people in the street couldn’t believe it. They accused them of being drunk, like anyone has ever been able to speak a different language when they are intoxicated. But, there will always be those who refuse to believe in the power of God, even when there is no other possible explanation. We still have those people today.

Peter addressed the crowd of naysayers; yes, the same Peter who denied Jesus at the time of his arrest. He explained to everyone in the crowd about Jesus and salvation and grace. About three thousand accepted his message and were baptized. What a comeback!

But, redemption and forgiveness are always available to those who follow Jesus.

When we follow and obey the words of Jesus, the unimaginable can happen. If we want the Holy Spirit to show up, we have to obey. Sometimes we are called to wait. Sometimes we are called to act. Either way, when the Spirit is on the scene, be prepared for the amazing. Pentecost was only the beginning.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Summer’s Calling

Posted on by Wendy
How will you answer?
How will you answer?

As I sit and write this, it’s the first full day of our summer vacation. I’m sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and there’s a cool breeze. It’s almost cool enough for a jacket out here. The birds are trying to outdo each other as they sing their loudest songs.

My teens are still sleeping. We drove to my parents house the minute school got out and they stayed out at the pool until well after 9:00. Their summer has officially begun the same way mine always did. They are with friends and they are at the pool.

There’s something about a swimming pool that makes time and worry slip away. Hours can pass by as they listen to music and no one even thinks about checking their Instagram or Twitter. They are unplugged and they actually talk to each other and to me. It’s precious and I treasure it.

I have a friend who has struggled with communicating with her teen lately, but when she gets her in their pool, they float and talk and all is right with the world.

I witnessed the same phenomenon at a youth group gathering at a pool last week. They played pool games and they laughed and talked. They were in the moment with the people in front of them. No one was tethered to a phone.

The beginning of summer is always magical time. Our pace slows down. We plan vacations. We head to the lake, or the beach, or the mountains. We eat watermelon and tomato sandwiches. We make homemade ice cream.We grow fresh produce in our gardens and plant brightly colored flowers. We cook out. We spend time on the porch. We camp and spend time around the campfire. We attend family reunions. We gather with friends outdoors for meals and drinks.

It’s the time of year where we spend the most time outside in Creation, God’s personal cathedral, built with His own creativity, to His liking. It’s the time of year, when Creation itself seems to beckon us to slow down and come and sit a while with a glass of tea or lemonade. For a season, we are called to appreciate the slower pace. We all get to live in Mayberry, if we choose.

The teens have awakened and are sitting on the porch swing laughing and talking. They eat breakfast outside and head to the pool. I still see no electronics anywhere.

We can learn a lesson from them if we are wise. We can treasure the long days and the porch and the pool. We can get outside and create quiet space to appreciate all of God’s fabulous gifts in nature. We can unplug and spend less time on Facebook telling the world what a good time we are having and actually get out there and have such a good time with the people in our lives who we have been blessed with, that we don’t even want to stop for a moment to put it on social media. They can’t really get it anyway, if they aren’t there.

The best times have always been with the people in front of us, not the ones in cyberspace. The summer beckons. How will you answer?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Slow and Steady

Posted on by Wendy
Slow and steady watering produces some awesome fruit.
Slow and steady watering produces some awesome fruit.

I recently read that the best way to water your garden is through drip irrigation. The rationale is when the leaves and blooms of veggies stay wet, it creates and opportunity for diseases to grow or things like mold.

Drip hoses look just like other hoses except when you turn them on, water doesn’t shoot out the end. Instead, tiny dots of water slowly seep through the porous hose and slowly soak the plants. At first glance, it looks like it would take forever to get the watering done. Compared to one of those spray guns where water comes out in a fast, bursting stream, using drip irrigation looks inefficient.

The key is to turn it on a leave it running for a while and yes, it really does get the roots completely soaked. The roots are where the plant needs the water and nutrients anyway, not the leaves. You never fertilize leaves. You fertilize roots.

Drip irrigation works on the slow and steady principle. When I think about it, that principle works best with just about everything in life, from getting in shape, to losing weight, to building relationships, to making and saving money. Slow and steady takes longer, but the results are usually better and more permanent.

I think our faith walk is much the same. We’ve all met those people who are just “on fire,” for God. They are often new to the faith and they often burn out just as quickly.

Faith takes time to grow, just like a garden. We have to establish strong and deep roots. It takes prayer and Bible study and worship. It takes Christian community. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so it’s not something we can simply create. It takes patience and obedience. It takes time.

But, if we take the time to walk with Jesus and be patient, a little bit at the time. Our faith, the faith that can be the size of a tiny mustard seed, can move mountains. That makes me smile and gives me peace, because I can do slow and steady. I’ll bet you can too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Christian Community

Posted on by Wendy
Christian Community can change the world.
Christian Community can change the world.

One of my favorite topics to write about is community, specifically Christian community. Paul wrote a lot about community in his letters that make up the majority of the New Testament.

My mama recently shared with me a story of community at work in her church. In her Sunday School Class, an older woman began talking about her son’s cancer diagnosis and how she disagreed with his choice of treatment. She began sobbing as she told her story. We tend to get uncomfortable when people lose control, don’t we? When we don’t have answers, we tend to distance ourselves.

Most of us prefer smiling happy faces at church. I suspect God prefers authenticity. Come just as you are. Mama said is was beautiful the way the class rallied around her. Men and women chimed in. They offered her support as they listened and offered prayer. This is Christian Community.

In my own church, our new associate pastor was listening as I was sharing my upcoming mission trip and all of God’s signs telling me to go. She placed her hand on my arm and asked me the dates, so that she could pray for me. It was totally unexpected, although I don’t know why. This is Christian Community.

A family in our community very recently lost a child in a tragic car accident. They are members of our last church. An e-mail went out yesterday requesting members of an adult Sunday School Class to help them move. They needed some assistance loading a truck. At least two members had already signed up to help. This is Christian Community.

Paul tells us in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”

There are many ways to do good to others. We can physically assist. We can politely listen. We can give time and money. We can pray and intervene spiritually for those in distress. Every situation requires something a little different. There is always opportunity. But, either way, as Christians, we are called to be part of community.

We have so much to teach each other and so much to learn. Each one of us has something unique to share. We simply can’t do that at home watching a sermon on television or online.

Christian Community is special and powerful. It makes a difference. It changes lives. It can change the world. Don’t miss being a part of it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

What Are You Called to Do?

Posted on by Wendy
Each time we figure out what we don't want to do, we are a step closer to figuring out what we do want to do.
Each time we figure out what we don’t want to do, we are a step closer to figuring out what we do want to do. Nothing is ever wasted.

My soon-to-be high school junior, doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life. Shocker right? It seems that all of the kids around her know exactly what they want to do when they grow up, or at least they think they do. Lately, I have had countless conversations with her about how figuring out what she doesn’t want to do, can lead her to what she does.

I know it seems kind of counter intuitive, but it works. She tried volunteering to tutor kids at a local elementary school last year. She didn’t enjoy that at all. She probably doesn’t need to be a teacher.

She hates medical stuff and the sight of blood, so being a doctor or nurse is probably out.

With each step she takes that helps her discover what she doesn’t like, she gets another step closer to discovering what she does.

I think our faith walk can be very similar. When we give our hearts to Jesus, we know we want to follow Him. We know that God will call us to serve in some way. We often are willing to serve, but don’t know how. What exactly is He calling us to do?

Sometimes, we just know. People who love to sing are naturally drawn to the choir. People who just love kids are often drawn to teach children’s Sunday school classes. But, what if we don’t feel that we have much talent or don’t enjoy kids?

There are a million ways to serve. Probably the best way to figure out your calling is prayer. Then start volunteering at your church. Most churches are more than happy to put you to work somewhere. You could greet people, or help take attendance, or serve on a committee. You can help make or serve refreshments. You can volunteer to visit people who are sick.

You can’t find what you are called to do by never trying anything. I always said that I was interested in working with any group of kids except middle schoolers. It’s such an awkward age. Surprisingly, (or not really, now that I’ve walked with God long enough), I find that I really have a heart for that age group. Sure, they can be mouthy, but their masks aren’t on yet. They are still open to listening and learning.

Working with the middle schoolers when I was asked, even though I thought it was something I wouldn’t enjoy, lead me to something I never would have believed in a million years that I would enjoy. I have heard people that I roped into volunteering at Vacation Bible School, say the same. They really didn’t think they would enjoy it; but they did.

Of course, we can  minster anywhere. I met a delightful girl yesterday who told me that making sandwiches was her ministry. How fabulous!

If you are serving somewhere, keep serving. The Kingdom needs you. If you aren’t, perhaps you should say a prayer and then say yes to something when asked. You never know, you may find your calling. If not, you will be a step closer to finding it. That’s just part of the journey.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Home Stretch

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when the journey seems the hardest, success is just around the bend.
Sometimes when the journey seems the hardest, success is just around the bend.

My kids only have three days left before summer break, three short days. But, you would think it’s three months. They are dreading the last three days of school. They are tired and ready to be done.

My daughter has finals. She missed exempting one of them by three points on a test. She has an A in the class, but this particular teacher was more focused on a particular test than the overall grade. No big deal, right? That little situation caused hysterics.

Have you ever noticed that when you get very close to the finish line is the time that you feel most ready to give up?

I’ve noticed this phenomenon before. Whether you are getting ready to leave your current job, or move to a new house, graduate, or even if you are in training. The very last part often feels like the hardest. It seems like it really is the darkest before the dawn.

Our little church community has been looking for a permanent home for fourteen years now. It’s been a long hard road for them, but they have held onto the firm belief that a “church” is the people who worship together, who make a community, not the building. They have had several temporary homes, but an opportunity has recently materialized that looks to be the answer to years of prayers.

We are new members there. The entire process seems to be moving very quickly to our family, but there are members who are really starting the see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. They didn’t give up, even when it seemed impossible.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Galatians 6:9. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Paul is talking about doing good  to our fellow man. Perhaps though, if we are in close relationship with God and listening for His voice and doing what He calls us to do, we can apply it to other areas in our lives as well. If we work hard and keep our eyes on Him, we will eventually succeed, even if our success looks differently than we thought it would. We succeed when we obey. Our success builds faith.

Could it be possible that when we are closest to success is when our enemy attacks us the hardest? When you think about it, we aren’t a threat at the beginning of a journey and maybe not much of one in the middle, but right there at the end, especially if our success will build our faith and glorify God in some way, that’s when we have the biggest target on our heads.

So, if you feel like you can’t take just one day more of your current journey, say a prayer and dig in, you might be in the home stretch. Success might be just around the next corner. Keep going, one foot in front of the other. Never give up! There might be a harvest on the horizon. You don’t want to miss it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Watching for Whales

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when we pray for signs and answers, we have to patiently wait, but sometimes our answers come quickly. The trick it so watch.
Sometimes when we pray for signs and answers, we have to patiently wait, but sometimes our answers come quickly. The trick is to watch.

My daughter has been wrestling with God lately. She had a fabulous mission trip experience last year in South Carolina. It was through a small church that couldn’t have been a better fit for her. It was life changing. We have changed churches since last year, so she didn’t really think that the same mission camp was an option.

Then her foreman, a man that she came to adore over her week there, reached out to her and asked her if she was returning. He told her she didn’t have to come with the same group. She and I talked and we tried to round up a group from our new church to go. Ideally, I was going to send my hubby, and both my kids. There were others at church who were interested. I could even go, if needed, but I had never really felt called to do something like that.

It looked like it was going to happen, but it didn’t. That week just wouldn’t work for the people I was talking to. We let the mission trip idea go.

The he reached out to her and me again. The leader of the camp also reached out to me and told me she would pray about us coming. My daughter and I prayed about it. She really just wanted one buddy to go with her. She had a friend who could go, but she would be a day late. We let the idea go again.

Last week, I was walking and praying and asking God to give me some guidance on the trip. I do try to stay in His will, but sometimes I simply don’t know what it is. I knew my daughter was wrestling, but I didn’t really know how to proceed.

When I was on Facebook that evening, there was a plea from the leader of the mission project. They were desperately short on volunteers and she named several people in her plea. She said I need, (names here,) to come and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Guess whose name was on the short list. Yep, mine. Wendy Gaines, we need you.

Now, at this point, I’m thinking about getting swallowed by a whale. For me, it was fairly close to a burning bush moment. I prayed for God to show me His will and then my name is specifically called out to be “the hands and feet of Jesus?”

I messaged her on Facebook on told her some financial concerns I had. We could swing the fee for one trip, but with wisdom teeth coming out this summer and hubby getting a crown, two would be tough. She answered right back they would scholarship me.

At this point, I could see the whale circling. I immediately agreed to go. I’m not real big on wrestling with God.

My daughter and I will be attending a summer mission trip in June. I’ve never been on one. I’m excited to see what God has for us to learn since He so clearly wants us to go.

Sometimes we pray for signs and answers. Sometimes we have to wait a while and sometimes they are very subtle. This time, it was hard to miss, but I wonder how often I do miss them. I am reminded by the entire experience to always watch for answers when we pray. Sometimes they are right in front of us. They can even pop up on social media.

How closely do you watch?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂