Month: August 2020

There’s a Plan

Posted on by Wendy
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

A couple of weeks ago, I took a walk in my neighborhood and I ran into a a friend who I hadn’t seen in quite some time. We worshiped at the same church for many years, attended the same Sunday school class, even attended a ladies group where we prayed for each other at one point. It was good to see her and we took a few minutes to catch up on each other’s lives.

She shared like everyone else, that she was concerned about Covid-19, concerned about the safety of her family and the safety of her grandkids who are back in school and concerned about her own safety. We talked about what a mess our world is at the moment. I reminded her like those of us who share faith are called to, that God has a plan, that even thought we can see nothing but chaos, He has a plan and He loves us and in the end, it’s all going to be okay. She knew it, but she seemed pleased to have the reminder.

I relayed the story to my hubby later and we talked about how we are always amazed at how God puts people in our paths at a certain time for a reason. I thought about our encounter for the rest of the day.

Later that evening, my son called to tell me what was going on with his class schedule. He transferred colleges this year and almost all of his classes at his new school have gone online. It’s difficult to meet new people when most of your classes are online. He said his roommate told him that he picked the worst year ever to transfer. I told him I was sorry, but who could have planned for a worldwide pandemic?

Then he said, “there’s a plan.” I fought back tears as I agreed with him. My hubby and I have shared our faith with him since he was a baby. It was so comforting to hear him acknowledge his faith when he’s going through such a difficult time. I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear him questioning his faith, but he was amazingly matter-of-fact and I held his words close to my heart.

When I was driving home from work with a migraine the next day day, from working in an office with too much light and reflection due to plexiglass, installed for safety, I was in tears. Out of the blue, my son’s words popped back into my head followed by the conversation with my neighbor.

God used both of those conversations to remind me and bring me comfort. God has a plan. It may not look like it. I’m sure it didn’t look like it to the Israelites who roamed in the desert. I’m sure it didn’t look like it to Jonah when he was in the belly of the fish or to Daniel when he was in the lion’s den. The Bible is full of stories teaching us about God’s sovereighnty in the darkest of times.

Those of us of faith can rest assured, God has a plan and He loves us. A conversation with my neighbor, a phone call with my son and a migraine reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding, perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Internet Outage

Posted on by Wendy

Due to an internet outage in my area last night and my inability to type an entire blog on my phone, I have no post today. Have a wonderful weekend!

Have an awesome day!😊
Wendy

Hummingbird Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
When we focus on what we’ve been given, it’s usually more than enough.

I haven’t had many hummingbirds this year. I have no idea why. I hung my feeder in the spring like I always do and I patiently waited. I was so excited when the first one arrived and then the second, but I never got over three or four. Normally, I hang two feeders to keep them all fed, but this year, I only needed one and I kept it half full so the sugar water wouldn’t go bad before they could drink it.

But, about a week ago, traffic began to pick up. I had more visitors and I filled the feeder back up to the top. One morning last week, I watched two of the little birds viciously fight each other at the feeder. It was filled completely to the top. There were plenty of perches and plenty of food, yet instead of partaking of what had been freely given to them, they fought over who would get to feed there.

When I commented to my hubbby about how foolish they were acting and how much time they were wasting focusing on each other instead of what was in front of them, he commented, “Aren’t we all like that?”

I thought about those hummingbirds and his words for the rest of the day. He was right; we do tend to act like those foolish birds perhaps now more than ever. We have been slogging our way through a pandemic for six months now with no end in sight and we are weary. There has been a lot of sickness and death and yet there has been amazing provision as well.

The grocery stores are stocked once again. Toilet paper has made a comeback. Our hospitals are not overwhelmed and treatments are getting better, but instead of focusing on provision, we focus on each other. Who is wearing a mask? Who isn’t? Who is right? Who is wrong? Which school district is going back in person? Which is going virtual and why each is wrong or right? Even when parents can choose virtual or in person, it’s still a fight.

And of course, there’s all of the politics.

At closer inspection, we have a lot in common with those hummingbirds. What would happen if we were to prayerfully focus on the gifts we have been given at this moment, and if we are honest, it’s way more than we acknowledge, and stop concerning ourselves with what everyone else is doing? It may help if we begin with a large dose of humility admitting that none of us are in charge. None of us really know what we are doing and most everyone is doing the best that they can.

As I was writing, a verse popped into my mind. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

It seems to fit the times we are in, funny how the Bible works that way.

Some hummingbirds reminded me to focus on what we have and what we have been called to do. What everyone else is doing is between them and God. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Hope and Faith will Find a Way

Posted on by Wendy
The hosta survived despite my lack of care.

Around ten years ago, we decided to do a little landscaping in our backyard, nothing too over the top. We just decide to create a pathway and line it with rocks and hosta. There was a lot of shade back there, so we figured hosta would do well. We ordered assorted bulbs from online and planted them as directed.

I was delighted when they sprouted the first time. I would drag hoses down to keep them watered and they flourished. When the winter came, they died back, but the next spring, when I was carefully raking leaves, they were back, just tiny little sprouts peaking through. I was thrilled. They grew fast and got bigger and they added some greenery to the backyard. They grew so large that we were able to divide them and plant more.

For a few years, we had that same cycle. The fresh shoots were a little signal that spring was on the way. But,then something unfortunate happened. A deer jumped the fence and ate all of the hosta to the ground. I was really bummed, but hoped that they would recover the following year. They didn’t.

We decide to give up and counted the hosta a loss. In fact, we didn’t try to do anything productive in the backyard for many years. But, this past spring, we were stuck at home for months in quarantine and decided to put in a backyard goldfish pond. We put in some different plants to add greenery around it.

Recently, when I went to water an azalea we had planted, I was delighted to discover a remnant from that hosta we planted all of those years ago. Somehow, with no help from me, no water, no care, it found a way to survive and spring back forth. I marveled at its tenacity. I marveled at how life found a way in spite of what seemed to be impossible conditions.

Hope and faith can be like that.

Last Sunday, we attended a church service and they announced there would be communion. I was so happy to hear it. There’s something amazingly spiritually fulfilling about taking communion with other Christians and I’ve missed it since this pandemic has swept the world. I wondered how we could possibly have communion with social distancing, masks and not touching each other as an usher passed out ziploc bags. Inside each bag, was a tiny sealed cup of juice and when we carefully opened it up, a tiny wafer was sealed on top.

The Church found a way. I found myself once again amazed as I fought back tears.

These are dark days we are living in and we are weary. The news just never seems to get better, yet God is still at work, working all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. We know this is true because the Bible tells us so.

A small hosta sprout and a tiny communion cup reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do to.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂