Author: Wendy

Perishable Things

Posted on by Wendy
While bread is perishable, haven't we made just about everything else in our lives perishable too?
While bread is perishable, haven’t we made just about everything else in our lives perishable too?

I just read through John, chapter six for an online Bible study I’m participating in for the next few weeks. I conducted a study on John last year for Lent, so I always find it really interesting to re-read any part of the Bible that I have read carefully before, because I always find myself focusing on something entirely different each time I read it. I highly recommend trying this approach.

Read a chapter of one of the Gospels and take notes. Wait six months and read it again. You will likely come away with something entirely different the second time around. The Bible is a living, breathing document, like the Mona Lisa’ eyes, it meets you wherever you are.

Today, the verse that really jumped out at me was 26. Jesus has just fed the multitudes with the fish and loaves of bread. The crowd tracked him down the next day because they wanted more food. They wanted to see him do it again.

Jesus immediately calls them out. He’s really good about doing that. He was never concerned about political correctness. He always called an ace and ace and a spade a spade. He told them that they only sought him because he physically fed them. Then he said, “But don’t be so concerned with perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” John 6:27 NLT

The word perishable jumped out at me. Jesus was talking about food. The word perishable means liable to spoil or decay. In other words something that rots quickly.

But, in today’s world, aren’t most things perishable? The clothes we purchase this season will be out of style next season and we can’t (or won’t) wear them. The brand new iPhone will be “unusable” to many people this time next year because it’s not the newest thing going. While these things aren’t physically perishable like food, as a society, haven’t we made them perishable?

Our craving and addiction to everything new and shiny has made most of our stuff perishable. We have even made relationships perishable by only focusing on surface things and when we dig deeper and a little time goes by and the going gets a little rough, we bail, making one more situation in our lives perishable.

For the majority of us in this country, perishable food isn’t a huge concern and I don’t want to in any way diminish those who are going without the basic necessities of life, like food. But, for the rest of us, perhaps we should really give Jesus’ words some thought and stop spending our energy on accumulating more stuff that we won’t even want in a year and focus on appreciating what we have and thanking God for providing it as we seek a closer walk with Jesus.

Perhaps we should reevaluate relationships that we are considering throwing away. Relationships shouldn’t be perishable, but it takes work to keep them fresh and vibrant.

Most importantly, we should seek more of Jesus who gives us eternal life. Is there anything really more important to pursue? What will you spend your energy on today?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Living in Faith Not Fear

Posted on by Wendy
What if we chose to live in faith and not fear? What would our lives look like?
What if we chose to live in faith and not fear? What would our lives look like?

We often talk about what we believe. Many of us who are Christians try valiantly to live like Jesus’ example. We try to read the Bible regularly and we try to live in faith and not fear. I came across a story last week that I just had to share. A ninety-two year old woman named Pauline Jacobi, is a shining example for us all. She says she reads her Bible everyday and her faith keeps her going.

She lives in Dyersberg, Tennessee. She had just finished buying groceries at Wal-Mart and got into her car. A man got in the passenger seat and told her he had a gun and to give him all of her money. What would you have done?

She told him no, not once, but three times. She told him if he killed her, she was going to heaven and he was going to hell. She told him Jesus went everywhere she went and he was in the car with her. The surprised man looked around. Tears began to roll down his face. She ministered to him for ten minutes.

He told her he thought he would go home and pray that night. She told him he didn’t have to wait until that night, he could pray anytime. She gave him the money she had, $10.00 and then told him he had better not spend it on whiskey. Can you believe this woman?

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and then he left. I have included the link if you would like to see it.

 

I read a blog last week that spoke of living without fear, in fact, her goal this year, was “A year with no fear.” This really appeals to me, especially since I have been reading through the Christmas story where we have three different angelic messages telling various people, “Do not be afraid.”

Pauline Jacobi was living the words that she reads daily in her Bible. I feel like I would be scared out of my mind if an armed man jumped into my car. I probably would have just handed him my entire wallet, even though I rarely carry cash, but this woman didn’t skip a beat. She relied completely on her faith, not on her flesh.

She told him no and witnessed to him. Then, she gave him her money. Can you imagine? I would have probably honked the horn with all of my might when he got out. But, she turned to Jesus for strength and then became the face of Jesus for this lost man.

When she did, not only did Jesus protect her, he gave her the ability to help save a lost soul. How differently could things have gone if she would have chosen another way. What if she gave him the money and said nothing? Would he have robbed someone else? Would he have been caught and gone to jail?

We will never know. But, Pauline Jacobi is living out her faith in a manner we should all strive for. She’s living in faith, not fear and she’s leaning on Jesus when life goes horribly wrong. Maybe we should all pray for faith like hers and the courage to act accordingly. What do you think?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy

The Importance of Epiphany

Posted on by Wendy
Epiphany symbolizes the light for Christ for all people.
Epiphany symbolizes the light of Christ for all people.

Today is Epiphany. It’s a part of the Christmas story, but like Advent, many churches don’t celebrate it. It’s not mentioned in the Bible; it’s church doctrine that was adopted by Eastern Orthodox churches originally. Whether or not your church celebrates it or even mentions it, I believe the idea of Epiphany is definitely noteworthy.

When we celebrate the birth of Jesus in church, the major players are Mary and Joseph, Jesus, shepherds, angels and three wise men, magi, or kings. Every Nativity Set, you purchase will have those figures. Every child’s Christmas pageant you attend, will have those figures. We like to put them all together and tie them up neatly with a bow.

The story of the wise men comes from Matthew 2:1-12. Verse one tells us some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and we have come to worship him.”

Notice that it doesn’t say three wise men; it just says some. Also notice it doesn’t say they were kings either. The scripture goes on to say that they brought three gifts to Jesus and so somewhere along the way, mankind decided that there must have been three wise men. We like for life to be neat like that; don’t we? Three wise men, three gifts, arriving on the scene at the stable right after the shepherds and then we are done. The Christmas story is told, the end.

But, as is the usual case with God, His timing is different from ours and the story hasn’t even nearly reached the end. The Holy Family had left the stable by the time they arrived. Verse 11 says, “they entered the house and worshiped him.”

The wise men were priests most likely from ancient Persia, which was modern-day Iraq. They weren’t Jewish. They didn’t believe in our God. They followed the stars, but they knew the birth of Jesus was significant, so much so that they traveled anywhere from 800-900 miles to pay homage to him with gifts and to worship him.

This was a big deal because this was part of God’s plan to include non-Jews in His plan for salvation. God even warned them in a dream to travel home on a different route than they came and not to return to Herod. The entire experience touched the men enough that they believed and did as God told them. I’ve often wondered what the rest of their story is. How did the encounter with the Baby Jesus change their lives? The Bible doesn’t tell us.

Epiphany celebrates the fact that we are all included. We are all invited to the table. That was a big departure from Old Testament law. I think it’s also a beautiful reminder to us not to try to put God in a box, like we do our Nativity Sets. He is way bigger and more powerful than we could ever imagine and, nothing is impossible for Him or with Him. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s cause to celebrate.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Fresh Starts

Posted on by Wendy
When we involve God in our new beginnings, the sky is the limit.
When we involve God in our new beginnings, the sky is the limit.

Today is the first day of the first entire week of the New Year. 2015 is off and running. People make dozens of resolutions and break them just as quickly. We humans love the idea of changing certain aspects about ourselves or our situations, but the wanting and doing often don’t connect.

God knew this about us, so He sent us help. He became one of us. The Book of John tells us that, “the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1 It goes onto say, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14

Through Jesus, God became one of us. That act changed everything. God always knew the human heart and our tendencies, but with Jesus, He became like us. There’s a huge difference between understanding how someone feels and knowing how someone feels, because we have been there. Jesus bridged the gap.

In Jesus’ time of deep agony, before he was arrested, when he was struggling with his will versus his Father’s, he told his disciples, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Don’t miss this because these are some seriously wise words concerning the nature of humanity. We are often willing to do things to change ourselves, our circumstance or our world. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. How many times have we promised ourselves we will start exercising or eating better? How many times have we promised ourselves that this will be the year we will read our Bible? How many times have we said that this will be our year? How often do we fail?

Perhaps we fail because we depend on ourselves, our own flesh, to succeed in our quests. Perhaps, if we take Jesus’ advice and, “keep watch and pray,” we will succeed in our endeavors. Maybe we should be praying about everything we try to begin, instead of just some things that we deem important.

And as far as keeping watch, it’s awfully easy to tune out these days. We have a dozen forms of entertainment at our fingertips and tuning out is the norm. Even when we exercise, we blare music to distract ourselves, but what if we were to keep watch as we pray and as we exercise or drive our cars? Would our results be different?

On New Year’s Eve, I took a walk. I had been downright lazy over my kids’ break from school and I felt like a slug. The day was crisp and gorgeous. As I walked, I thanked God for the day. I thanked Him for a good year and I asked for guidance going into the next. I prayed that He would show me His will and help me to follow it. As I turned around to head back up the street, I saw the most gorgeous rainbow right above my head. It was very unexpected because of the position and because the sky was so clear.

I was so stunned that I pointed it out to a neighbor pulling out of her driveway. She had to stick her head our of her car to see it, but she thought it was beautiful and kind of odd as well. We talked a few minutes and it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

I marveled as I walked, but I knew in my heart, where it had come from. Let’s make some changes that matter this year. Let’s begin by covering them in prayer and keeping watch for God. I have a feeling we will have fabulous results. Who’s with me?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Day After

Posted on by Wendy
Take a day to relax and reflect on the miracle of Christmas.
Take a day to relax and reflect on the miracle of Christmas.

Well, Christmas has come and gone. The gifts have been unwrapped. All of the paper has been thrown away and bows and boxes have been stacked for next year’s use. Recipes for leftovers have been pulled out. The kiddies are exhausted from all of the excitement and the adults? Well, we are exhausted too, aren’t we?

We have to figure out a time to take back gifts that didn’t fit. We begin to think about taking down all of the decorations. The day after Christmas can be kind of daunting and depressing.

But, perhaps we should think of the day after Christmas like the day after a wedding. A wedding can be beautiful and fun with tons of planning and excitement. But, the day after a wedding, a marriage begins. A lifelong journey hand-in-hand with another human being begins. Real life with a spouse begins.

Another example is all of the preparations that we make for the birth of a new baby. While all of the shopping and getting ready is fun and exciting. The baby is what brings us the joy. The day after Christmas should be a celebration of the life that Jesus offers us if we choose to walk with him.

He offers adventure and excitement as well as rest and peace. He offers hope and unconditional love. He offers joy and life-everlasting. On Christmas Eve, we celebrated the light of the world who came to us in a manger. Today, let’s rest and think of the enormity of that gift and how we might share that light with a dark world that desperately needs it.

Let’s take a little time and enjoy fellowship with friends and family. Let’s take some time to seek true peace. Today is just the beginning of the story of Jesus’ life.

If you are choosing to shop today, remember that light and pray for a way to share it with the many people you will come in contact with. Remember to share peace and love as you search for a deal. There’s always an opportunity to be the face of Christ. Try to find one.

As for me, I’m going to take today and next week to spend some time with family. My kids are out of school and I want to spend some special time with them. I have really enjoyed spending a little Advent and Christmas time with you in this space. Thanks for reading and sharing your comments. I wish you a Happy New Year and I hope to connect with you right back here in 2015.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Merry Christmas

Posted on by Wendy
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with joy and family and a ton of food. I hope you have plenty of coffee if you had kiddies that woke you up at the crack of dawn. You may be running around from house to house today to visit all of the relatives and you may find yourself frazzled. You may have a very quiet day and yearn for days when you were busier. You may be mourning a loss.

Whatever your day holds, I would encourage you to join me in spending a little quiet time with God today in prayer, even if it’s just a few minutes. Prayer helps so much when we are running on empty, when we are filled with sadness or when we are filled with joy. Prayer is one size fits all, unlike some of the gifts you may have unwrapped.

Take a few minutes to thank God for this day, for His glorious gift to us. Thank God for Jesus. Thank Him for all of your blessings. Then take a moment to pray for those who couldn’t be with their families today. Pray for the men and women in our military. Pray for their families. Pray that they can feel the love of God today. Pray for our members of law enforcement who are working today to keep us safe. Pray for our health care workers who are working to try to heal us. Pray for missionaries who are out in the world sharing the good news of this day. Pray for the protection of Christians out there living in persecution. Pray for those who are really struggling today.

Remember that Christmas joy comes from Jesus. It’s impossible for anyone or anything to take that joy away. Don’t let that truth slip by you. Hang onto it.

I hope you have a fabulous day with lots of turkey and dressing. I hope you have cakes and pies and that you can take a nap after lunch. I hope you get to bask in the company of friends and family and I hope that you remember how treasured and loved you are by the One who made you. May that knowledge alone, fill you with an incredible sense of peace. Merry Christmas Y’all!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

It’s Christmas Eve

Posted on by Wendy
During tonight's Christmas Eve service, we will light the final candle, the one that symbolizes Jesus' birth.
During tonight’s Christmas Eve service, we will light the final candle, the one that symbolizes Jesus’ birth.

Today is Christmas Eve. Tonight we celebrate the birth of Jesus. You may still have some running around to do today or you may have it all done. Personally, I will be cooking today with my mom and sister. We will play Christmas music and laugh and tell stories and get caught up on each other’s lives. My sister has little ones, so they will be running all over the place, nearly vibrating with the excitement of Santa coming.

But, tonight, we will stop what we are doing, whether we are finished or not, and we will attend a Christmas Eve worship service at my mama’s church. We will sit in silence as we listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah which finally came to pass some 700 years later. We will hear about a virgin who was told by an angel that she would bear the son of God. We will hear about a man who stood by his young wife-to-be, even though the child wasn’t biologically, his.

We will hear a story of obedience to God’s will. We will be reminded that the town of Bethlehem was packed with travelers and there was not one single room for a young woman in labor. We will be quietly reminded and possibly convicted with the fact that mankind continues to struggle to make room for that baby who came to earth to save us all.

We will hear once again, about the baby being wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. The son of God made his debut on planet earth in the quietest and simplest of ways. We will be told about shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks by night who were told of the wondrous event first by one angel ,and then by an entire host singing and praising God.

We will hear about God’s wish for peace on earth through this baby. Through it all, the service will likely be noisy with children, which I find to be perfectly fitting. After all, we a are celebrating the birth of the child who came to save us all. Children should be present to hear the story.

At the end, we will light candles and sing “Silent Night.” I will get teary as I always do during a candlelight service as I contemplate the light that came to the world that night and as I pray that I can share that light in some way with a dark world.

We have been talking about Advent for about a month. We have been talking about preparing our hearts for Jesus. We have looked at hope, peace and joy. We’ve talked about the announcements of angels. I would love to encourage you to find a church service tonight. It doesn’t matter whether or not you attend regularly. Just go. Feel the peace. Feel the joy. Feel the hope. Feel the love.

If we can make room in our hearts for Jesus, we can have all of  the above and more. What do you say?

Have a Merry Christmas!

Wendy 🙂

God’s Love within the Christmas Story

Posted on by Wendy
The Christmas story is full of examples of God's provision.
The Christmas story is full of examples of God’s provision.

Angels are messengers from God. They are just one way that He chooses to communicate with us. They must be rather frightening when they appear because all three times that they appear in the Christmas story, first to Zechariah, Luke 1:13, then to Mary, Luke 1:30 and finally to the shepherds, Luke 2:10, the first thing he says is, “Do not be afraid.”

The God we worship, not only wanted to communicate with these people, He wanted them to be at peace. He knew that they would be afraid and He wanted to reassure them. His message was a message of His love for them and soon all mankind would have the gift of perfect peace.

I find it quite comforting that our God wants us to be at peace. He’s not like the Great and Powerful Oz, screaming behind a curtain. Nope, He wants us to follow Him and love Him without fear.

The next part of the angelic message from the Christmas story that really touches my heart is the fact that God had Gabriel to tell Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant with a miraculous child. God wanted Mary to know that she was not alone. There was another woman who was close to her who would understand her unique situation.

They didn’t have telephones or internet, so God sent an angel. He didn’t leave Mary scared and alone. He told her about someone who would not question or condemn her, but would accept her and celebrate with her. When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, and Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, “the baby leapt within her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

What comfort, the older woman must have been for young Mary. I am so amazed at the way God provided for these women to have each other. But, I can think of many times in my own life where God provided just the right person to understand whatever situation I was facing as well.

Relationship is very important to God. He wants a relationship with us and He wants us to have meaningful relationships with each other. Friendship is such a beautiful gift. Friends that understand and hold our hands through tough times and joyful times are a special gift from God.

I love the example of this with Elizabeth and Mary. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. I’m sure they gave each other a lot of strength and encouragement. I would love to know what these women talked about, and they were uninterrupted because Zechariah was silent until John’s birth, thanks to Gabriel.

The entire Christmas story is about God’s provision. Don’t miss the details, for they are exquisite. Let’s not miss the beautiful details of provision in our own story either. The season can be full of distractions, but let’s be alert to God at work in our lives.

Let’s take Gabriel’s advice and not be afraid and go forth in peace, knowing we are loved beyond our wildest imagination.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Messages of Gabriel

Posted on by Wendy
Angels have a large part in the Christmas story.
Angels have a large part in the Christmas story.

As we travel towards the end of Advent, towards the end of the waiting and preparation, I feel like we have to talk about angels. Angels are divine messengers sent from God. They are found in various places in the Bible, but are key in the introduction of Christ.

Gabriel makes his first appearance to Zechariah, who was a priest, to tell him he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son. Now, Elizabeth was barren and well past child-bearing years, but my pastor pointed out on Sunday, that Zechariah should have been an easy sell. He was a priest, who was well acquainted with the law and with the Torah. He knew the story of Abraham and Sarah who were promised a child and didn’t get one until Sarah was 90 years old. He knew the story, but did he believe it?

When Gabriel appeared to him in the temple, to tell him the good news, one would think he would be overjoyed. After all, Zechariah had been praying about being childless for years. Gabriel told Zechariah about how great the child would be and how he would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. But, Zechariah was filled with doubt. He didn’t believe. The unbelief of the holy man, angered Gabriel and he struck Zechariah unable to speak until after the baby was born.

Six month later, Gabriel made a second visit to tell of the coming of another miraculous birth. This news would surely be a harder sell. He was sent from God to tell a young teenage girl, a virgin, that she would bear the son of God. Mary didn’t understand at first. She asked how? Gabriel explained. He also told her that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant and ended with, “For nothing is impossible with God.”Mary’s answer was a stark contrast to Zechariah’s.

She simply replied, “I am the Lords servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38 She basically said, whatever is God’s will, I will do, and in submitting to God’s will, she changed the history of mankind forever.

I’ve often thought about Gabriel’s very different reactions to Mary and Zechariah’s questions. Why was he so short-tempered with Zechariah and patient with Mary? The answer is Zechariah was an old man. He had been a holy man the majority of his life. How could he teach others about the power of the Almighty God and not believe himself? Did he not believe that God was capable of miracles?

Mary on the other hand, was little more than a child. She should have been terrified. She should have been filled with doubt. She only asked, “how?” When Gabriel told her, she believed. He gently reminded her that nothing was impossible with God and she believed. Jesus would later grow up and talk about the faith of a child and it’s importance. His mother set a fine example for him.

As we close in on Christmas, let’s try to remember that huge truth that Gabriel told Mary. Let’s try not to put God in a box. As we get ready to celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ birth, let’s embrace the fact, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Sharing Faith and Hope

Posted on by Wendy
Sharing our faith during Advent is sharing a gift with those around us.
Sharing our faith during Advent is sharing a gift with those around us.

As I have traveled through this season of Advent, focusing on peace, hope, and joy, and trying to share it when I find it. I feel that I just have to share the story of Craig Wayne Boyd. He was a contestant on the television show, “The Voice.” I’ve written about the show before. It’s a very positive, family friendly, show. Four coaches pick teams from their voices alone. Their backs are turned and they can only hear, not see.

Each team begins with twelve contestants and each week, more are eliminated. At first, the coaches pick the winners and then later in the season, America gets to pick by voting on iTunes and through NBC. A man named Craig Wayne Boyd, made it to the five semi-finalists. That night, each of the five was allowed to choose their own song. America would choose the top three finalists from that night’s performances.

Craig Wayne Boyd was a country singer. When his turn to sing arrived, he chose, “The Old Rugged Cross.” I was shocked, what a gutsy choice. America is not known, not lately anyway, for being big on gospel music and if you believe the media, not big on God, period. He did a phenomenal job and I have included a link below, if you would like to see it or more importantly, hear it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amxE80Zj1Ys

The song alone, was awesome in itself, but what came next has stuck with me for days. After the performance, the judges are asked to give their opinions. Coach Pharrell Williams, who was new this season, and a well-known pop singer and producer, said, “Going through all you’ve gone through to get yourself here, what does it feel like to be at the top of your game and surrender it to God in front of the entire world?”

Boyd was stunned. He clearly wasn’t expecting that question. To be fair, I don’t think anyone was expecting that question. This was national television. This was a network music show. This was live. For God to be mentioned was  surprising to say the least. A very emotional Boyd, answered, “I feel so blessed right now, it’s blowing my mind.”

Coach Pharrell replied, “I get it man. To God be the glory.”

I wanted to stand up and cheer for Pharrell and Boyd. I think that there are many more Christians in the silent majority than anyone knows. I wondered how he would do. How would America vote on this heartfelt gospel tune from 1912?

Turns out, America loved it. “The Old Rugged Cross,” went as high as number four on iTunes for all genres. It debuted at number fifty-nine on Billboard’s Top 100. I was amazed.

Boyd made it to the three finalists and on Tuesday night, he won season seven of “The Voice.” A pastor, named Mark Ellis, who has known him for years, said he was never shy about his faith as a teen and was always involved with the church youth group. He said he was never too busy to be involved in church.

It hasn’t been an easy road for Boyd. Music wasn’t paying the bills and he was just about to give up when he had a chance to audition for the show. He had even lost his truck. But, it seems God had other plans for him.

Sharing our faith can be tough sometimes, but as Christians, we are called to do it and seeing someone share his so beautifully, gives me hope and joy this Advent Season. I just had to share it with you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂