I hope you and your people have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Get ready! The weary world will rejoice. Christmas is coming!
Have an awesome day!
Wendy đ
Happy Thanksgiving!
Month: November 2022
Choosing to See Through the Lens of Thankfulness
As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we are living through historic levels of inflation and economic uncertainty. Last year, we were still living with the multi-year threat of a seemingly never-ending international pandemic. Some people were still afraid to travel. Social media was still overrun with arguments about wearing masks or not and I wonât even mention the ongoing political arguments.
Many families chose not to gather and break bread over fear or anger or both.
Fear and anger are great dividers.
We all hoped this year would be better. While the pandemic threat has subsided for most, flu is running rampant and now, so is inflation.
The country is just as divided on how to fix the economy as we were on how to handle the pandemic.
At street level, thereâs a lot to complain about and the situation looks rather hopeless, yet those of us who hold dual citizenship with heaven and earth are called to take a different view. We are called to remember that life on earth will always be a mix of calm and chaos and if we spend our days longing for better ones, then we will always miss the many blessings that are daily rained down upon us.
We are called to remember that we are travelers here and our King is not the least bit concerned about the economy or the flu.
With Thanksgiving less than a week away, people of faith, have the opportunity to show a dark world what Christian living is supposed to look like. We can live and act in such a way that draws others to Jesus. That includes our social media presence.
The Bible says, âIf it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.â Romans 12:18
We can choose to share our blessings with others both physically and virtually. We can choose to share Jesus.
We are called to love one another. âAbove all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.â 1 Peter 4:8
While fear and anger are great dividers, the fruit of the Holy Spirit fills us with powerful tools of reconciliation like peace, patience, joy, love kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.
Jesusâ last supper with His disciples reminds me of the importance of breaking bread together. Thanksgiving reminds me that despite what the world tells us, there is always much to be thankful for. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy đ
Be The Church
One of my favorite pastors always ends his sermons by saying, âGo be the church.â That doesnât seem like a particularly innovative or groundbreaking statement unless you really think about it.
As Americans, we tend to go to church. If I were to ask you about church, my question would likely be, âWhere do you go to church?â Church has become a place. Itâs a building with carpet, windows, electricity, and water. Itâs a place to congregate and worship.
When we think about being the church, what does that look like?
I have a co-worker who is a woman of deep faith and she and I bear witness to one another often about God working in our lives. This week, she sent me a sermon she wrote, years ago, when she was working in a prison ministry. She didnât go to seminary. As far as I know, she has no special Biblical training, but the Holy Spirit was clearly at work, because her message was absolutely awesome, timely and it touched my soul, not to mention she was sharing it with women who were in jail.
She clearly knows how to be the church.
I have a cousin, who is also a woman of devout faith, who has suffered deep tragedy and loss in her life. Yet, almost every day, she boldly posts on social media a beautiful picture of something growing in her garden along with an intricate story that anchors it to Jesus.
She knows what it means to be the church.
I have a friend who is a sheep farmer. I havenât seen her in couple of years now, but almost daily, she posts pictures from her farm on social media. Sometimes there are Bible verses. Sometimes there are short inspirational stories, but always they are a reflection of the God who she worships.
She also knows what it means to be the church.
On Election Day, I sent my mom a blog post I read about intentionally making a choice to add fuel to the dumpster fire of politics and social media or becoming a fire extinguisher. She shared the post to her Facebook page.
She knows what it means to be the church.
As we enter into a season of thanks alongside a season of runoffs, some Godly women in my life, have reminded me that as Christians, the call to be the church is every bit as important as the call to go to church. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do to.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy đ
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Autumn Lessons
As I was walking through campus last week, I couldnât help but to admire the beautiful fall trees. There were tall tees and short trees, old ones and young ones, all participating in the stunning fall art show. The leaves ranged from tiny to huge and the colors were all over the spectrum. There were reds, yellows and oranges. Some of the trees were almost bare, having dropped their leaves early. Then, I passed by an oak, that was still mostly green and hadnât really started to drop its leaves at all.
I marveled a moment at the mighty oak. I doubted that it really mattered to it what the other trees were doing, and whether it was ahead or behind in the seasonal show. When the time comes, it too, will play its brilliant part.
I immediately thought about one of my students who I had spoken with earlier in the week. She told me that all of her roommates and everyone she knew, had it together, knew exactly what they wanted to do and were going to graduate early. She felt that she was behind. I gently pointed out to her that in real life, there is no behind; we are all figuring it out at our own pace and we will all get there.
I also reminded her that social media is just about all, make-believe. Everyoneâs life looks perfect on Instagram. She acknowledged the truth in that statement as we made a plan for her next semester.
I often wonder what it is about humanity that makes us determined to compare ourselves to each other. I donât think there is anything that can kill peace and joy more quickly than comparison, but we tend to be suckers for punishment.
One walk out in creation can remind us that God loves variety. He has His own timing and it is always good. The trees are all sizes and shapes, just like we are. They bloom at different times. Some trees are evergreen and donât drop their leaves at all and the ones that do, drop them at their own pace and it is good.
There would be nothing magical about the fall if the leaves all fell in the same week or if they were all the same color. The season is beautiful because every tree is different, just the way God intended.
The fall season reminds me to appreciate where I am in life and that comparison is really about questioning Godâs plans and His timing for us. The Bible tells us they are always good. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy đ