Author: Wendy

A Time for Everything

Posted on by Wendy
There’s a season for everything and they can all be beautiful.

Yesterday morning, my daily devotional was about the sunrise. It posed the question, that if you had spent your entire life in darkness and finally saw a sunrise, wouldn’t you believe it was a miracle? It went on to point out that, we experience brushes with the miraculous everyday, but we shrug them off because they have become everyday and mundane to us.

I was determined to take those words to heart as I headed off to work. Unfortunately, it was raining, but I kept my eyes peeled. The skies were gray for most of the day and at one point it was pouring, but in the afternoon, it began to clear and the sun came out.

When I walked out of work, it was a gorgeous warm afternoon. I knew I had to take a walk when I got home, even though my to-do list was a mile long.

When I got outside, my heart felt light for the first time in days and I marveled at the fall leaves. It seemed that they had turned colors overnight. How had I missed that little miracle?

As I continued to walk, I really took in all of the different colors and thought about how creative God is. Spring has always been my favorite season. I love to see life and beauty burst forth from what had previously been dormant. But, the leaves around me were just as stunning as the spring flowers are.

As I continued to walk and appreciate the miraculous, and give thanks for it, I felt a truth bubbling up in my heart.

Letting go can be beautiful. Just look at the leaves.

We tend to hold onto so many things we don’t need. My pastor recently said that Americans use two billion square feet for storage in forty thousand storage facilities and that doesn’t even count attics and basements. We used to have megabytes. Then there were gigabytes. Now we have terabytes.

We hold onto a lot of stuff both physically and virtually. We also tend to hold onto a lot of emotional baggage too. But, maybe we should all learn a lesson from the leaves and let some things go. We may find that something beautiful happens.

A seasonal miracle reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Prayers for Peace

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When peace seems out of reach, prayer is the answer.

When this is published, it will be the day before election day. I am bone tired of hearing about it as I’m sure you probably are as well. Unfortunately, the Peach State, which happens to be where I’ve been a lifelong resident, has become the focus of the entire country.

Normally, no one cares about who our governor is, but not this year. This year millions and millions of dollars have been poured into our state to influence our election, by folks who don’t even live here. I wonder how many hungry kids could have been fed with that money, or how many veterans could have received much needed benefits, or how many struggling citizens could have received job training?

I can’t turn on the television, or the radio, or scroll through my Facebook page without someone giving their two cents worth about this election. At this point, is there seriously anyone who is on the fence about their vote, yet the barrage on weary Georgians continues.

My hubby and I were discussing it on the way to church and I told him if I could crawl into a cave somewhere and sleep for the next few days, I would. He agreed.

But, our pastor addressed the issue at church and she had a better solution. She acknowledged the negativity and the weariness and she reminded us that ultimately, whatever the outcome, God is in control and she recommended a prayer to deal with all of the negativity. Though it was familiar to me, I hadn’t prayed it in quite a while.

But, as we prayed is as a church, I felt some peace seeping into my weary soul. It’s the prayer of St. Francis:

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light, and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

As a people of God, this election is a huge opportunity to pray for our nation as well as our individual states. May we ask for God’s continued guidance and grace and that His will be done. The Bible tells us that He hears all of our prayers. Let’s choose to remember that.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Technical Difficulties

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I have been having some technical difficulties and have no post today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Laying the Burdens Down

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes the unnecessary burdens we carry around, can really pile up.

We have just finished a contest at work, where we count and record our daily steps. We are in teams of four and the winning team will be announced today. I can’t even begin to explain how grateful I am that it’s over. I was not pressured in any way, to participate, but for some reason, I joined a team at the last minute.

I don’t own a pedometer or one of those watches that track every move you make, so I downloaded an app on my phone to record my steps. Looks like there really is an app for everything.

I learned early on, that I wasn’t making nearly as many steps as many of the other people in the contest and worst of all, I usually had the lowest number on my team and so, I made sure, I carried my phone with me all of the time. If I got up to make a copy, I took the phone. If I delivered something to a classroom, I took the phone. If I went to the bathroom, I took the phone. When I got home in the afternoon and did laundry, I carried the phone up and down the stairs and I lamented if it needed to be charged, because I couldn’t count my steps.

I was completely aware that the contest was just for fun and my teammates never once, said anything about my few steps, but I put the pressure on myself.

When Monday morning arrived and I realized that I could put my phone on my desk for the day and leave it there, I felt a rush of sweet freedom. For the next couple of days, I truly felt like I had laid a burden down and while I chuckled at myself at the absurdity of my feelings of newfound freedom, it got me to thinking about what else I might need to lay down.

What other unnecessary burdens am I currently carrying that might be weighing down my soul? We can carry things like unresolved anger or pain, or guilt and shame over past mistakes, or the illusion that we can control the world around us. We can even carry things like constant, nagging worry over things we have no control over.

Like that pesky cell phone I couldn’t put down, we can carry those things every step of the way, everyday, in the morning, in the evening, at home, at work, never putting them down.

But, Jesus calls us to a different path. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus calls us to lay down our baggage and trust Him. We don’t need it and we can truly be free once we do. A contest reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Defeating Darkness

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The way to defeat darkness, is with light.

As I sit typing out this post, I find myself wanting to shut off all media. There was a horrible shooting at a Pittsburgh Synagogue over the weekend, that left eleven people dead. Killing people in their house of worship is almost unfathomable, except that it’s not. In Sutherland Springs, Texas, in 2017, twenty-six people were killed during a worship service. In 2015, nine were killed in a church in Charleston, South Carolina, during their worship service.

As I ponder these horrible events, it makes no difference to my heavy heart, that one assembly was Jewish; one was predominately white and one was predominately African American. These were all people who worship my Judeo-Christian God, Jehovah, Yahweh, El Shaddai I Am, Father, Abba. He has many names.

Not surprisingly, the politicians seemed to waste no time in spinning the most recent tragedy to their benefit.

There’s so much division in our country right now over politics. The television ads have gotten so bad, that I’m tempted to watch Nextflix until after the election. Quite frankly, I’m tired of hearing all of the negativity that the candidates are engaged in tearing each other down and the amount of money they are spending to do it, makes me sick to my stomach. Shame on all of them for the frivolous use of funds.

It seems to me, that the attack that we need to be most concerned about at the moment, is the one occurring to God’s people. It’s really not about blue or red. It’s about hate and both blue and red have plenty of that to sling around.

As much as I want to withdraw from it all, I believe as a child of God, that I am called to counter it. The only way to defeat darkness is with light and so I’m writing to remind my readers and myself, that there’s clearly a spiritual battle going one here that’s much deeper than anything we can humanly see or understand.

That’s the only way to explain the hate that seems to be spewing forth from every direction. Hate does not come from God. Darkness does not come from God. The Bible tells us that: “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

The Bible reminds us that there have always been ongoing spiritual battles and we should put on the Armor of God to shield ourselves. Ephesians 6:10-18 It also assures us that in the end, no matter how lost everything seems, God wins.

There is no possibility of a loss, or even a tie, of this we can be absolutely certain.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too. Please join me in praying for the victims in Pittsburgh and for the future of our country.

Prayer is the most powerful and effective weapon we have.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Friendship Blessings

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True friendship with deep roots, is one of God’s greatest gifts.

Last weekend I attended my 30th high school reunion. I had a wonderful time reminiscing with old friends. It was a small school and so we all knew each other. Two other former classmates and I, spent the weekend at one of my high school bestie’s houses and it was just like old times.

We laughed and picked at each other. We looked at old pictures. We retold old stories and shared new ones. Those girls were some of my closest friends way back when and we were there for each other for everything from learning to drive to breaking up with boyfriends. We have all cried on each other’s shoulder and laughed until our sides hurt.

We were always good at supporting each other all of those years ago. We haven’t seen very much of each other through the years, but we have kept in touch. Our lives have taken us in different directions to different towns.

As for me, I have a senior in high school and my nest is about to be empty. I have spent a fair amount of time in prayer about what my next chapter will be.

I was not surprised to find that God is always listening and always working.

One of my friends has a newly empty nest and she’s struggling a little with her next chapter.

One of my friends has a teenager at home and is struggling a little with, well, raising a teenager.

One of my friends, has three grown kids. Her baby is about to graduate from college. I had the privilege of spending time with her youngest child and her middle child. They were awesome, grown up and funny and I had a ball hanging out with them.

My friend has raised wonderful human beings who I would want to have as friends and neighbors. She offered two of us advice and so much encouragement about our empty nest chapter and then provided us with concrete proof in her own adult children.

The three of us were able to encourage our friend with a young teenager. Boy, those years can be tough, but they will pass. We know, because we’ve been there.

I really hated for the weekend to end, but even though I didn’t get enough sleep, I felt more refreshed than tired. On my drive home, I marveled at how God knew over 30 years ago, when He wove our friendship together, that we would come together now and support each other and laugh together once again, like when we were teenagers ourselves.

I still don’t know what the next chapter holds, but last weekend reminded me that I had no idea what the future would look like 30 years ago either and it turned out just fine. God was at work then and He’s still working. He has sent some of life’s greatest blessings to walk with us along our journey here.

They are called friends and I’m so very thankful for them. A class reunion reminded me. Perhaps you need reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Grandparent Grace

Posted on by Wendy
Perhaps some of the purest love we will ever witness is between a grandparent and a grandchild.

A few days ago, a young couple walked into the school office where I work, carrying a precious little baby. They had just arrived in town and wanted to surprise the baby’s grandmother. Well, we all got in on it. We helped them get checked in and kept watch for her. We had them step over to the side out of sight, until we asked her to come into the office.

I don’t know when I have seen such pure joy as the joy I saw on her face. She squealed with excitement as she took her grand baby in her arms and alternated between holding her close and then pulling her away so she could look at her.

There were tears in her eyes and in mine too. She then took her granddaughter to show her other babies, who happen to be second graders who she loves like they are hers.

I replayed that scene in my head over the next couple of days. I have always thought that God gives mamas a taste of His love for us through our children, but when I witness the love a grandmama has for her grandchildren, it really takes it up a notch.

It’s hard to wrap my brain around the concept that God loves us even more than we love our children and grandchildren. It’s truly more than I can fathom, yet I know it’s true and I was so grateful I got to witness that love firsthand the other day. My heart felt truly blessed.

Then yesterday, another coworker came into the office with her phone. She said she had something to show us that she had been desperate to share. On her phone, was an ultrasound picture of a tiny fetus. Her daughter was expecting and she was over the moon.

Here again, was a grandmother who was completely in love with a child who was yet to be born, a child who hasn’t even take her first breath, but is already treasured. I was once again reminded of God’s love for us.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

There’s so much negativity in our world right now, so much anger and so much hate. We can sometimes wonder where God is. Rest assured, He’s still here. If you need proof, find a grandparent and ask them about their grandchild.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Happy Monday

Posted on by Wendy

Due to a class reunion this past weekend, along with a weekend long slumber party with some of my favorite ladies on the planet, which included late hours and lots and lots of talking and laughter, I have no post today. I hope your Monday is fabulous.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Acorn Wisdom

Posted on by Wendy
Acorns can sprout if left unchecked.

I recently discovered a tiny oak tree growing in the gutters on my house. I was mortified. How could that happen? Clearly, we needed to clean our gutters, but the leaves haven’t dropped yet and we are surrounded by oak trees, so to clean them right now, would just be an exercise in futility. They will quickly refill.

There are acorns everywhere at the moment. We crunch them with our tires in the driveway and beneath our feet when we walk in the yard. They are small nuggets that don’t seem capable of much of anything, yet they are.

Under the right conditions, they can become a mighty oak tree and create wonderful shade or create all kinds of havoc, depending on your perspective.

As I pondered my gutter situation and how the sprouts seemed to have happened overnight, I had to admit that they didn’t. Those acorns had been in that gutter for a while, unseen but growing a little bigger with every passing day.

I was reminded how we can let unwanted things take root in our spiritual lives as well, if we aren’t careful. A little disagreement can grow into something huge if we don’t resolve it quickly. Hurt feelings can balloon into lasting anger if we don’t deal with them. Careless words can leave lasting damage if we aren’t willing to apologize or accept apologies.

All of those scenarios can seem so small in the moment, small like little acorns. Yet, if left alone, they can just keep growing, like acorns do and before long we have an something as big as an actual tree and eventually a mighty one.

Acorns have a purpose just like our hurt feelings and anger do, yet there’s a time and a place that’s ideal for both. The gutters of my house are clearly not an ideal place, neither is deep within our hearts and souls. My gutter sprout reminded me that not only do we need to clean our gutters frequently, we need to clean up our hearts and souls frequently as well.

There’s just not room to let the bad stuff take root. Perhaps you needed reminding today too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Reflecting Jesus

Posted on by Wendy
How do we react when someone is unkind?

My pastor commented on Sunday, that sometimes when she looks out into the congregation and smiles, some of us actually smile back at her. I really took her words to heart because when I sing in the choir and survey the congregation, not everyone smiles. But, some people always smile and so I look for those people.

My hope has always been that when I sing, it comes across as a testimony of sorts or sometimes a prayer, and when I make a noise for God, I try to make it a joyful one. When people smile back at me, I feel like they are reflecting Jesus back at me. It’s a wonderful, soul filling phenomenon.

After the sermon today, I really began to reflect on how I can do a better job at reflecting Jesus back to a world that really needs Him right now. I feel like I do a decent job of returning a smile when someone gives me a smile. I’m always polite when people are polite to me.

But, how well do I do when they are rude? Human nature tells us to give back what we are given and that we shouldn’t take anything other than kindness and respect off of anybody. We certainly don’t want to be perceived as weak in any way. We are a nation of winners.

Yet, Jesus teaches a different path, a more difficult one to be sure, but He’s more concerned with our spiritual nature than our human nature. He knows that the spiritual lasts forever. The physical does not.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 Those are red letter words, directly from Jesus.

So we are called not to give back what we are given, but to reflect back what we would like to have been given. That’s a tall order. When people are unkind, we are called to return their actions with kindness. When people are rude, we are called to return their rudeness with politeness.

How do we want to be treated? That’s how we are called to treat others.

As difficult as that can be, sometimes we find that when we do that, the person we are encountering has nowhere to go. Something changes inside them and a breakthrough happens and sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully we have a helper in the Holy Spirit who provides us with the fruits of perseverance and patience.

A sermon reminded me to remember who we are and who we represent. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂