Month: April 2016

The Ultimate Sanitizer

Posted on by Wendy
No one is exempt from the redeeming powers of grace.
No one is exempt from the redeeming powers of grace.

One day when I was subbing at a local elementary school, a little boy in my fourth grade class, approached me with a panic-stricken look on his face. He was a sweet child who was always polite and followed directions. The students were in the process of working on a social studies project which required them to use Sharpie markers.

When I asked him what was wrong, he told me in a trembling voice that he had accidentally gotten Sharpie on his desk. He assured me that it was an accident, but he was clearly terrified of getting into trouble.

I told him not to worry, that hand sanitizer, which is a part of every elementary classroom, would take it right off. I could tell that he wanted to believe me, but he didn’t, not completely anyway.

So, I showed him. I took the bottle of sanitizer and squirted it on the desk and voila! It came right off with a paper towel, just as I had promised. You should have seen the relief on his face as he thanked me several times. He was thrilled and there was a bounce back in his step.

I thought about that incident for several days afterwards. The boy obviously had doubts, that I could clean up his mistake, even though I had assured him I could.

It’s kind of like that with the concept of grace for many of us, isn’t it?

Jesus died for us so that we could be forgiven. He died for us so that we could be redeemed. He died for us so that we could approach the throne with confidence.

The Bible says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

We’re all sinners. We all make mistakes. We all fall short. The problem is that sometimes we decide to think that our particular sins are in Sharpie, while everyone else’s are in pencil or even worse, we sometimes feel that our own sins are in pencil and someone else’s are in Sharpie.

But, grace was never intended for a select few, no matter what we may have been told along the way and there is no sin exempt from the forgiveness granted to us by the cross. We also don’t have to scrub our fingers to the bone to remove that sin and earn that forgiveness. In fact, we can’t.

All we have to do is repent and ask Jesus to forgive us and He will. Just like I wiped that desk clean for that little boy, He will wipe our slate clean and give us a fresh new start, no matter the type of ink we used. He’s the ultimate Sanitizer.

That little boy’s mistake reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Even When You Can’t See Him

Posted on by Wendy
"Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest is we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
“Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest is we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

A couple of days ago, I sat down at my kitchen table and had a pity party. I had just returned from the doctor’s office after a breathing treatment and armed with an antibiotic. My week-long cold had turned into bronchitis and I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.

My sweet hubby, bless his heart, was trying to fix me something for lunch even though I had no appetite. When he sat down and joined me, the tears began to fall. Nothing was going right. Why wasn’t God answering my prayers? Weren’t we doing all of the right things? Why were all of my plans failing?

Now, my hubby has spent close to twenty years living with me. He didn’t intervene. He just sat there quietly listening and let me wallow. He didn’t have any answers. He didn’t offer any, but he also didn’t try to make me feel better. I suspect he knew that while I was at a low point, my own faith would help me find the light.

We talked for a little while and he went back to work.

It’s interesting how God can work through our people, those who we hold dear. I didn’t really need for him to point out all of our blessings; I knew they were there. I was just in a dark place at the moment. My hubby knew through his own faith, that he couldn’t get me out, but he knew who could and so he just listened.

I found myself asking God all that day where He was and why I couldn’t feel Him or see Him at the moment. My faith told me He was there, but like a child, I wanted proof.

The next morning, I awoke super early. I couldn’t sleep for some reason, but I felt better. The antibiotic was working. I had the entire day to myself with nothing on the schedule, so I asked God for a quiet day, one where I could seek Him and hear Him.

I did some Yoga as I prayed, in front of a window. It was the first day I could breathe deeply in a week. I kept noticing the wind moving in the trees and I had my answer.

We can’t see the wind, but its power and ability is evident in the world around us. It moves the trees and cools the earth. It makes wind chimes create beautiful music. It can also be quite destructive. Just because we can’t see it, doesn’t make it real and present.

As I was pondering that thought, my eye was drawn to a bush that comes back every year. I have no idea what it is. I didn’t plant it, but it’s beautiful and hardy and comes back on its own. It reminded me that while I do have work to do, God is working too, on things and plans of beauty that I can’t even fathom.

My part is to simply trust and be patient. I felt incredibly encouraged.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Who We Think We Are

Posted on by Wendy
God was at work in Moses' life for decades before He spoke to him in the burning bush.
God was at work in Moses’ life for decades before He spoke to him in the burning bush.

I’m following along with an online Bible study on Moses. We all know his story at least the high points. He’s the guy who survived the Nile River in a floating basket. He’s the guy who got to talk to God in a burning bush. He’s the guy who took on Pharaoh and won. He’s the guy who held out his staff and God parted the Red Sea. He was the ultimate Chuck Norris of his time. He seems practically bullet proof, right?

But, a closer reading of the Scripture, shows a more human side to Moses, one most of us can probably relate to on some level.

The Book of Acts tells us that Moses was at the tender age of 40, when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and was so moved by it that he killed the Egyptian. Exodus tells us that the next day he saw two Hebrews fighting each other and when he called them out, one said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?” Exodus 2:14a

Moses took that accusation to heart and fled to the desert. He met a woman there and married her. He went to work in the family business tending sheep. They had a son. Moses was content. Life was good. Egypt and the troubles of his people the Hebrews was long forgotten, a thing of the past.

According to Act 7:30, another forty years went by.

Then, out of the blue, God appeared to Moses in a  burning bush. I suspect that Moses thought Egypt was a part of his past. He had tried on his own, to intervene for the Hebrews and they hadn’t in his opinion, seemed very grateful or open to his assistance. I wonder how often he thought about the “who made you?” comment.

But, the thing is, it wasn’t out of the blue. God had been at work the entire forty years, at work in Moses and at work in Egypt. Whether Moses could see it or not, was irrelevant. Can you relate?

So, Moses approaches the burning bush in shock and awe I imagine, and when God tells him He wants him to lead His people out of Egypt, what does Moses say? “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11b

Who am I? Can you relate to that statement? I know I can.

Who am I to lead a Bible study? I don’t really know the Bible myself. Who am I to teach a Sunday School Class? Who am I to go on a mission trip? Who am I to….?

But, the truth is, it didn’t matter who Moses was. The only thing that mattered was in verse twelve when God said, “I will be with you.”

It didn’t matter who Moses was or thought he was. The only thing that mattered was who God was and is.

And so it is with us today. Whatever we are called to do that we feel unworthy or incapable of doing, if God is with us, we will succeed. Failure is not an option for Him.

And don’t forget, it’s never too late to answer the call. Moses was eighty.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Spreading the Fragrance of Christ

Posted on by Wendy
Don't be fooled by these little, unassuming blooms. Their scent is incredible.
Don’t be fooled by these little, unassuming blooms. Their scent is incredible.

I recently visited my parents. They have a huge yard and a ton of really beautiful things were blooming, but my daddy couldn’t stop talking about the tea olive bush. When he pointed it out, I was unimpressed. With all of the bright, showy things blooming, it wasn’t much to look at.

But, he just couldn’t stop talking about its smell. I reluctantly gave it a sniff. My mind was immediately changed. He was right. Those tiny, unassuming flowers were intoxicating and I just couldn’t get enough. Every time I walked by it, I could catch their glorious scent. How had I missed it before?

I was reminded of an incident as a teen involving a plant and my parents. They had this ugly plant called a Night Blooming Cereus, that sat in the corner of our family room, but they tended it lovingly. It only bloomed in the dead of night, once a year and they often missed it. Yet, they still cared for it.

My daddy often went on about the fragrance it gave off and said that he could tell the minute he walked into the room, that it had bloomed.

Well, one magical evening, it bloomed while we were all awake and you would have thought that my mama had just given birth. She must have taken twenty pictures of it.

As a teen, I didn't get it, but now I totally do.
As a teen, I didn’t get it, but now I totally do.

I had a friend over that evening and we laughed and thought my mama was nuts. We really didn’t get her excitement. But, some twenty plus years later, I do.

Just like that tea olive in the front yard, there’s way more to this seemingly unassuming plant than meets the eye. With nurture and love, it produces a beautiful bloom and an intoxicating scent. Those who don’t pay close attention will miss it.

I wonder how many blessings I have let pass me by, because I didn’t take a closer look. I wonder how many people I could have helped bloom if I had have been more persistent in prayer and with nurture. I wonder how many people have a beautiful scent to share if I were to lean in a little closer.

I wonder if I give off an inviting fragrance for Christ. When people lean in a little closer to me, are they pleasantly surprised? What about you? What kind of scent are you giving off?

The Bible tells us, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

That tea olive reminded me to not only lean in a little closer to those around me, but to also ask myself how I’m doing spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

Soul Wellness

Posted on by Wendy
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

My kids just had a week off from school for spring break and being a mama who wants to soak up every minute possible of these fleeting years of them at home, I happily took the week off with them.

The first part of the week was fabulous. We went down to visit the grandparents. My hubby and I visited a college with my daughter. My daddy took my son fishing. On Sunday, my mama joined us for a long hike along the river, followed by ice cream downtown.

We spent a couple of days out by their pool  basking in the warm, beautiful spring weather.

My hard to please sixteen-year-old, even commented about how relaxing her spring break was and how much she was enjoying it. I was feeling incredibly thankful and blessed. In my mind, there’s nothing more precious than time spent with family in the beautiful outdoors.

Then, Tuesday night, I started feeling bad. By Wednesday, I had a full-blown cough and a pounding headache. To top it off, the weather turned cold. After driving home, I didn’t want to do much more than sit in a chair and nap.

Even so, I still felt thankful for the first part of the week. My family really needed that break.

But, as I got ready for bed Saturday night still feeling crummy, a little voice reminded me to be thankful for the second half too.

While on the surface there didn’t seem much to be thankful for when I felt so bad, I was reminded that I normally feel great, wasn’t I thankful for my normal state of health? What about the little wonders of ibuprofen and cough medicine? Wasn’t I thankful for some relief of my symptoms? What about the fact, that the best thing to do when you are sick, is to drink and rest? Did I have any idea how fortunate I was to be able to simply walk to the sink and fill a glass with clean water? Over half of the world can’t. I also had definitely had the luxury of resting.

And what about my hubby who happily made dinner when I was not feeling up to it?

By the time I actually climbed into bed, I felt an incredible amount of peace and believe it or not, joy. Although, I still felt physically unwell, I was reminded that all was well with my soul.

And that’s a truth that I often lose sight of in this ever turbulent world. Our circumstances, things like health, and finances, and relationships, can change in the blink of an eye. But, when we build our foundation on Jesus and our hearts belong to Him, then no matter what, all is well with our souls.

And that is always worth giving thanks for. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Locked Doors Can’t Stop Him

Posted on by Wendy
Locked doors cannot stop Jesus; only locked hearts can.
Locked doors cannot stop Jesus; only locked hearts can.

I wrote a post a couple of days ago about how Mary Magdalene was so distraught when she couldn’t find Jesus’ body in His tomb, that she missed Him standing right in front of her. Even thought she was looking for Him in the wrong place, He came to her where she was and called her by name. Then, she knew.

I wrote about how we often miss encountering Jesus because we look for Him in the wrong places. But, what about when we don’t look for Him at all? What then?

The Gospel of John tells us in chapter twenty, that later on that same day, which would be night time on that very first Easter, the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, in fear of the Jews. They weren’t searching for Jesus at all. They were hiding.

Mary had told them what she had seen. Did they believe her? The text doesn’t say. Did they think she was just some hysterical woman? Maybe. Whatever they were thinking, they weren’t out looking for the Risen Jesus. They were hiding.

They still feared man more than they trusted God.

But, then Jesus appeared among them. A locked door was no deterrent to the Son of God. He had just defeated death. There was no physical way to keep Him away from the friends that He loved.

My pastor once said that the only thing that can keep Jesus out is a locked heart. It’s not the physical realm that presents any kind of obstacle to keep Jesus from us, it’s the spiritual. It’s the human heart. That’s a lock that He won’t pick. We have to open our hearts to Him willingly and then prepare to be amazed.

The disciples certainly were. They were afraid at first. I probably would have been too. They deserted Him in His greatest hour of need and even though Mary had reported that He was alive, they still cowered in fear. They were not searching or Him.

But, He was searching for them. Let that sink in for a moment.

He wanted to forgive them and for them to know that they were forgiven. He wanted to cover them in grace. He wanted them to know that they were redeemed.

His first words to them. were, “Peace be with you!”

Even thought they weren’t looking for Him, He found them and told them to be at peace.

And so it is with us. For most of us, there are times in our lives when we search for Jesus, but there are also times when we don’t look for Him at all, but this Biblical account is clear.

It doesn’t matter why we are hiding, or what kinds of doors we have locked, whether it’s fear, or shame, or unbelief, if our hearts are open to Him, He will find us, wherever we are.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

PS: Next week is spring break for my kids. I’m going to take break and enjoy them. I hope to meet you back here with new inspiration to share in early April.