Author: Wendy

The Dream Lives On

Posted on by Wendy
This picture was snapped by a patron in line at Dutch Brothers Coffee.

Today, our country celebrates and reflects on the life and the message of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I had to read his, “I Have A Dream,” speech for an English 101 class as a freshman in college. I remember being incredibly moved by his words written some 25 years earlier.

I suppose messages worth remembering, like those based on unity, love and peace, have a timeless staying power. Humanity often finds itself in desperate need to hear them.

Since Dr. King was a man of God, I’m sure he was well aware that Jesus told His disciples that the two greatest commandments were to first, love God and then to love one another. I suspect that Dr. King knew that we can’t truly love one another without loving God first because Christian love is different from mere human love.

The ability to truly love others is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We can only get that from loving God through Christ first.

I came across a story on my Facebook news feed that I found to be a perfect illustration of Dr. King’s dream and I felt led to share it today.

There were some employees at a coffee shop in Vancouver, Washington, who were doing their daily job. They were millennials. Most of us have encountered members of this group in retail establishments. They often have the slacker, completely self-absorbed reputation. This group proved to be different.

The owner of the shop instructed her employees to always take care of their customers.

In this case, a woman came through the drive-thru who was very upset. The guy at the window, went to the trouble to find out why. He had seen her before. She had been in before. She shared that she had just lost her 37-year old husband the night before.

The employees knew that they had to do something to help her. They gave her, her order for free and then they reached through the window and held her hand and prayed with her. The customer in the car behind them was so moved, she took a picture and posted it. It went viral.

As I write this, it has had over 65 million views.

When the employees were later interviewed, they said they had to do something, so they, “took the time and took her hand.”

How many people would have taken her money and let her drive on? How many people would have felt badly for her, but let her go anyway? How many people of faith would have actually reached out to her and touched her and prayed with her? How many people would have “taken the time and taken her hand?” How many people in the car behind would have snapped a picture of God’s love at work?

Clearly, the Holy Spirit was at work.

This is a beautiful story of faith at work all on its own. The fact that I saw it for the first time, the day before MLK day and that it shows people of different races praying together, is also the Holy Spirit at work. The story took place last March.

Dr. King had a dream of unity. He had a dream of us coming together despite our outward difference in skin color. Through Christ, we can achieve that and I’m happy to report that despite what we may have heard, Dr. King’s dream lives on.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Sharing the Light

Posted on by Wendy
Praising God with all of our hearts, changes our hearts.

Last Sunday, one of the teens in my Sunday school class told me she had something to tell me. I kind of chuckled, wondering what it might be. You just never know with teenagers. Their stories can make me laugh, or make me cry, and sometimes make me think.

She ended up sharing a story about visiting a trampoline park over the Christmas break. She said that a song came on, “This is Amazing Grace.” I knew the song and we sang a few lines together. She said when she heard it, she started singing along. But, the more she sang, the louder she got. She said she found herself jumping on the trampolines and singing the song to the top of her lungs.

She said she had no idea why, but she really couldn’t help herself. When the song was over, a little girl who was seven or so, began to follow her around. She didn’t know the child, but wherever the teen went, the little girl went, smiling at her the entire time. She clearly wanted to be close.

The incident remained on her mind for the rest of her break and she really wanted to talk about it. She knew there was something special going on, but wasn’t sure quite what.

I assured her that she was right. I shared with her the story of King David dancing for God after he had been blessed with victory. David was very passionate about His love for God and wasn’t afraid or embarrassed  to show it. The Bible says that David was a man after God’s own heart. She hadn’t heard that story.

I am always amazed at what happens when we willingly give ourselves over for God to use. When we put our worship of Him above everything else, including the opinions of others, beautiful things can happen. The Holy Spirit can get to work and people are naturally drawn to the light they see. It’s hard to resist.

The little girl had no idea why she was drawn to the light my teen friend was shining. She just knew she wanted to be close to it.

Hasn’t that always been the best way to share the love of Christ? When we love Him completely, it changes us. It draws people to us and ultimately to Him.

When we openly praise God, it becomes impossible to focus on all that is wrong in our lives. We are reminded that we worship the God who called the world into being, the same God who calls us by name, the same God who loved us before we were even born.

When we try to wrap our brains around that kind of love, it’s hard not to smile. It’s hard not to rejoice. It’s hard not to embrace. We may even find ourselves singing to the top of our lungs or dancing. The message is just that good.

A teenager reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

P.S. I have attached the song if you would like to hear it.

The Beauty of Christian Community

Posted on by Wendy
Christian community is an incredible blessing.

Over the holiday break, my family and I made a trip to South Carolina to visit our Two Rivers family from our summer mission trip. It’s always so good to see that faith family that God has so graciously placed in our lives. It was well worth the three hour drive.

Besides the food and fellowship, I was privileged to hold a baby that was on the way last summer. She happened to be the same baby that I got a call about asking for prayer, because there were complications late in the pregnancy. I prayed without ceasing and when she smiled at me that day, I saw Jesus. I saw answered prayers. I saw God’s work firsthand, as I often do when I’m with these people.

That’s the beauty of Christian community.

I also saw my friend who had lost his grandson in November. I wanted to tell him that I was sorry for his loss, and that I had been praying for him, but I struggled to find the words. Would I upset him? Would my words make him think about it? I just didn’t know what to say and so I said nothing.

Have you ever been there?

Thankfully, someone else did say something and then I expressed my condolences. It turned out, he really wanted to talk about it. His grandson didn’t just die in a car accident. He died trying to clear a huge piece of debris from the roadway so no one else would get hurt. He was only 22.

He went on to share that his other grandfather had given him some life changing news. Not too long before the accident, he had committed his life to Christ. He and his girlfriend had been attending church. That information made all of the difference to a grieving grandfather who now knows that he will someday be reunited with his precious grandson.

When I told him I was still praying for him and his family, he shared that the prayers from Facebook had really kept him going.

It turns out that there really weren’t any wrong or right words; he just needed someone willing to enter into his grief with him.

That’s the beauty of Christian community.

When my daughter shared with another mentor there, her concerns about a friend who is making some bad decisions, he quietly listened to her and reminded her that all we can really do is plant seeds and maybe give a little water. The rest is not up to us. He encouraged her to be there for her friend, but to remember that she can’t fix it.

That’s the beauty of Christian community.

I had my own struggle when I arrived there. I had seriously been praying about whether or not I should keep blogging. I have so little quiet time these days. I had yet to receive any answers. When we went to visit one of our homeowners, we went back over to the cross we had placed in the yard, to take a picture. We didn’t get one last year after we cleaned up, because it was raining.

There, at the cross, two different people said to me how much they enjoyed reading my words and I had my answer. Why am I not surprised that I got it at the cross?

That’s the beauty of Christian community.

I sometimes forget how important and empowering Christian community can be and what an incredible gift it is. A trip to South Carolina reminded me.

Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Everyday Can Be New Year’s Day

Posted on by Wendy
Everyday with Jesus is a fresh start.

As I write this, we are a little over a week into the new year. I bought a brand new calendar that I have already begun to fill with school breaks and family dentist appointments. I love a new calendar and all of the possibilities that it represents. What new things will I accomplish this year?

There was a time when I made a list of my plans for the new year. I love making lists, but I found that list making didn’t really help me get new things accomplished. By the end of January, my planned lifestyle changes like doing cardio everyday, never really took hold.

Last year, I tried something different. In early January, I created a slogan for myself, “The year with no fear.” I typed it up and placed it where I had to look at it everyday. It was a visible reminder that God is in control, no matter what. I have to admit that it worked.

Life got kind of crazy last year. I went back to work full time. There was a vicious election. Facebook was covered with negativity, as was the internet. The media tried to convince us that it was Doomsday, yet I held on tight to my little slogan and to the knowledge that God had a plan and I never really worried about any of it.

This year, I am reminded that “the calendar,” and January 1st, are human creations. Humanity along with the weight loss and fitness industry, has decided that January 1st, is the only day that we begin with a clean slate. Last year’s mistakes are wiped away. We get to start on that day with a brand new plan on a brand new path. We are encouraged to make resolutions that lead us to a better life. They can be anything from stopping smoking, to getting a better job, or going back to school.

Resolutions in themselves, aren’t necessarily bad. It’s just that human will tends to be weak. When we find that by the end of February, that we are failing miserably, we often just throw in the towel altogether. We vow to try again next year.

But, there’s good news. Those of us who walk with Jesus, have New Year’s Day everyday. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of grace, we can ask for forgiveness for our many failures and begin everyday with a clean slate. We can accomplish what we set out to, when we cover it in prayer and give it to God. There’s a reason that successful addiction programs acknowledge a higher power.

There’s not a lot we can accomplish alone, especially not the hard stuff, but the Bible assures us that we are not alone. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Keeping this in mind, I would like to say, Happy New Year to you, today and everyday. Perhaps you needed to hear it today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

P.S. After a lot of prayer, I’m going to start posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Thanks to all of you who shared your encouragement and support over the past couple of weeks! God spoke to me through our words. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Merry Christmas Break

Posted on by Wendy

My kids have the next couple of weeks off and I’m blessed to have a job that allows me to be off right along with them. I’m going to take the time to soak up a lot of family time and rest and re-charge. I hope to meet you back here right after the first of the year. I pray that you and your people seek and find the true meaning of Christmas and have a very merry one. I hope that you have a fabulous new year too. See you next year!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Just As We Are

Posted on by Wendy
The manger calls us to come just as we are.

Next Sunday afternoon at our church, we will have our 2nd Annual Family Christmas Pageant. All of our members and anyone else who wants to come is invited to participate. We have a designated Mary and Joseph, two teenagers and we have some wise men, a few adults. Everything else is up for grabs.

We will have readers read through the Bible story of the birth of Christ and as people hear their parts, they join Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus at the manger. We will sing “Silent Night,” “Away in a Manger,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing, accompanied by guitar music.”

There are very few costumes or props. Last year, our wise men and shepherds were in bathrobes. We had an adult show up in a cow costume. We had a couple of angels who were eating cookies. It was a menagerie of mismatched, imperfect people, coming together to pay tribute to the birth of Christ and I’ve no doubt that the residents of Heaven smiled on us.

It was simple. It wasn’t practiced or polished. We all came as we were, and approached the manger with what we had, no spectacular solos, or beautifully written soliloquies, just humble believers attempting to retell and relive part of the greatest story ever told.

Last year’s experience touched my heart in such an unexpected way. I’ve helped direct and write my share of Christmas pageants with great costumes and characters, but there’s something so genuine and raw that comes from approaching the manger just as we are.

Isn’t that what the meaning of Christmas is? Jesus left Heaven and all of glory and became one of us, a simple, frail human, so that we can approach God, just as we are. We don’t have to have the best clothes. We don’t have to have a great singing voice. We don’t have to have eloquent words.

Because of that baby in the manger, we are able and encouraged to come as we are, young and old, broken and ragtag, sick and well, happy or covered in sadness. We are called to come and witness and participate in the birth of love’s true light.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the Pinterest worthy perfection of this season. We tend to have a drive within us to seek out perfection, but we won’t get it this side of eternity. What our souls really seek is the perfect love that comes from Christ.

Taking some time this season, to remember that God’s own son wasn’t born in a castle and wrapped in fine linens, but was born in a stable and placed in a feed trough, should be enough to make us take pause and reflect that perfection is not what God seeks from us.

What He seeks from us, is our hearts and our true worship and He calls us, just as He did those shepherds so long ago, just as we are.

A simple Christmas Pageant reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Peace Cannot Be Stolen

Posted on by Wendy
Peace from the Holy Spirit cannot be stolen.

Yesterday, I made a quick trip into Athens, to purchase a couple of Christmas gifts for two ladies who I have come to hold dear. I had been thinking about what I wanted to get them and then I had been given an unexpected gift card. I took it as a sign and I went on my little shopping trip.

As much as I dreaded the holiday traffic, it was unbelievably light and I was thankful for some time to pray. My morning had been hectic. I had to help my son get a cooking project together for his Spanish class. I didn’t have any time to read my daily devotion. I ran out the door and was a few minutes late for work.

My day turned out to be as busy as my morning was with zero downtime. As I drove along in the light traffic and the beautiful sunshine, I found myself praying. I also found myself asking God to show Himself.

When I arrived at the store, the items I bought cost almost exactly what my gift card was and there it was. God had given me an unexpected blessing and was allowing me to use it to bless others. I was basking in that revelation as I wound through the parking lot to head back home.

I patiently waited as one pedestrian after another, needed to cross in front of me. Every single one of them smiled at me and gave me a little wave for stopping for them. I felt a deep sense of peace.

As I continued through the parking lot, listening to Christmas music, I ended up in a fairly long line of cars, waiting to get back on the road. I was in no rush and I was enjoying the alone time.

Then I heard a blaring horn. Apparently, I hadn’t pulled up as far as I possibly could to the car in front of me and had partially blocked the entrance to a bank. I pulled up and the man who blew his horn, whipped in and gave me and incredibly angry look.

And then I remembered a conversation I had with our associate pastor one Sunday. I had a headache that day and I asked her to pray for me. She did. She put her hands on my aching head and said a beautiful healing prayer. She also told me she could feel my tension and her next words really stuck with me.

“Your peace cannot be taken from you because it’s given to you by the Holy Spirit. You only lose it when you willingly give it.”

How often do we allow the actions of other people to drive us crazy, make us angry, or bring us stress? A simple drive across town can make us see red if we allow it to. Then there are long days at work, hectic mornings, disagreements with our spouses or kids, financial issues, or health issues. All of those can be peace stealers, but they don’t have to be.

We have a choice. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts. Maybe we should guard our peace too, keeping in mind that we have an enemy who delights in taking it.

Remembering that it’s ours to give our to keep, well that changes everything. An angry man in traffic reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Remembering the Heart of Christmas

Posted on by Wendy
May we always be heart ready for Christmas.

Working in the office at an elementary school, I interact with lots of parents and grandparents, and visitors in general. This time of year, I have observed one regular question.

The question my co-workers and I often get is, “Are you ready for Christmas?”

It’s a common, polite question, and for most people, it means on a physical level. Have you finished your Christmas shopping? Have you wrapped your gifts? Have you decided what you are serving for Christmas dinner? Have you shopped for that meal? Is your Christmas tree up and decorated? Is your house clean and ready for guests? The list of proper Christmas preparedness, goes on and on.

But, Christians are called to remember that we are spiritual beings as well as physical and we are also called to attend to the spiritual.

Perhaps the more important question is are we spiritually ready for Christmas? Are we prepared for light to enter into our darkness? Are we prepared for the, “Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace,” to meet us wherever we are on our journey, and to take us by the hand and lead us to something bigger and better than we can possibly imagine on our own?

Are our hearts ready for the peace and joy that come from knowing the truth about that baby in the manger? How can the answer ever be “no,” or “not yet,” or “almost?” How can the answer not always be a resounding “yes!”?

I totally get the physical stuff that goes along with celebrating Christmas. I have gifts to buy and wrap just like everyone else. But, this year, the regular question about being ready for Christmas has given me a new outlook. I have decided that I’m always ready for Christmas because this year, I have decided to focus on the heart part of Christmas, instead of the physical.

I have to admit, it’s been a very peaceful phenomenon for me. Perhaps you would like to try it. May we always be ready to celebrate the entrance of Christ into our midst.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Daily Brushes With God

Posted on by Wendy
If we earnestly seek God, we will find Him. (photo creds go to my sweet mama!)

As I sat down at my keyboard, the day’s exhaustion set in. It hadn’t been a bad day or a particularly stressful one, but it had been busy and I was tired. Do you ever have days like that? Do you have days where nothing fabulous happened, but nothing tragic happened either and you’re grateful, but tired?

Do you ever have those days when you really want to go to bed at 7:00, but you know if you do, you will be up at like 4:00? Yesterday was one of those for me.

I sat at my keyboard and stared at the cursor and pondered what to write. What inspirational story could I share about a personal brush with God?

My dog walked in and put his head in my lap. There was something. Anyone who has ever loved a pet, can testify that they are a daily gift from God. The pleasure that comes from loving a pet can only come from our loving Creator.

I thought about the mamas and daddies at my school, who checked in all day long, wearing Santa hats and volunteering their time to help little ones have a wrapped gift to give to their parents for Christmas. Yep, that was another brush with God.

I thought about the grandmother who brought in a tray full of baked treats into the office, to thank all of us who interact daily with her grandchildren. A grandmother expressing thanks to those who care for her grandchildren was definitely a brush with God.

I thought about our school nurse and our counselor, buzzing around trying to get all of the Secret Santa gifts checked in and placed in the proper spot, so they can be delivered to children who may not otherwise get anything for Christmas, and I knew I had a brush with God.

I thought bout my hubby who happily delivered me and picked me up from work, because my car is in the shop. A happy marriage is a major brush with God.

I thought about my mama and her dozens of texts with me and my sister, attempting to plan the perfect Christmas. A loving family, is without a doubt, a brush with God.

I thought about our family dinner and our discussion about the day’s events and the two children that God has blessed me with and I felt another brush with God.

I realized as I continued to type, that I am never too weary to find God. All it takes is a little quiet time, an open heart and prayer. He has a way of popping up everywhere in the most ordinary places and when I find Him, I’m never too weary to share either. But, then again, He often has that effect on me. I just want to pass it on.

A long, tiring day reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Living In Divine Peace

Posted on by Wendy
Peace like a river comes from trusting God.

Last week, our Advent focus was supposed to be on peace. I thought about it. I prayed about it. I even wrote about it and then God gave me the opportunity to live it.

My car has had some sort of break issue going on, and last week, we got it into the shop. It turned out to be a fairly big issue that was covered under the extended warranty. We took it in very early on Wednesday morning, expecting to get it back that afternoon. Well, a one day repair, turned into three.

The entire week, I stayed calm and not really even frustrated. I chose to see it as a minor inconvenience. My hubby dropped me off at work and picked me up. My daughter drove herself and her brother to school, no biggie. I reasoned that there are many families who only have one car and I counted my blessings.

On Friday, we finally got my car back. My hubby was driving and was so impressed about how the brakes finally felt right, not spongy. (I hadn’t known there was a problem to begin with.) Our family ate dinner out Friday night and ran several errands.

On Saturday, my hubby and I went to Home Depot, and then did some Christmas shopping, and then went to Sam’s for a big grocery run. There was traffic everywhere. The roads were packed. On our way back home, with no notice, the brakes began acting weird; there was a burning smell; a warning light came on, on the dashboard as we turned out of the traffic and onto a much quieter street. Just as we coasted safely into a right turn lane, the brakes locked up completely.

My hubby and I looked at each other wide-eyed. The brake pedal was completely stiff. We had no brakes. I grabbed the manual to search for the meaning of the dashboard warning lights.

I found the message that accompanied the bright yellow triangle- shaped light and gulped. It read: “Warning- you CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.”

We collected our thoughts for a moment and called a tow truck to tow our car back to the mechanic. We then called our teenager, who came and loaded up a car full of groceries into her little bitty Civic.

Never once did I lose my peace. We were safe. Our groceries and Christmas gifts were safe.

As I thought about it later that day, I was also filled with a sense of gratitude and awe. Those brakes locked up at the perfect time and there’s no way that was a coincidence. Had it been 10 minutes earlier, we would have been in crazy traffic. We could have been seriously hurt or worse. Had it been the night before, we were also in bad traffic, but it was 27 degrees and my daughter was in the car with us so she couldn’t have rescued us or our groceries, from the side of the road.

It occurres to me that the peace that comes from knowing Jesus is tied very closely with trusting God and watching for Him, because He shows Himself all of the time. I’ve no doubt that He held us tightly in His hand on Saturday and delivered us safely back to our home. The peace that comes from that knowledge is priceless.

Whatever it is that we struggle with, God has under control. He’s always working and usually, if we look closely, we can see Him.

Some car trouble this weekend reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂