Category: Building Christian Character

As Christians, people should be able to look at us and see Christ. People should be able to see who we serve in the way we act.

The Freedom of Letting Go

Posted on by Wendy
When we fight for control, we miss you so much beauty along the way.

Last Sunday, I had to drive myself to church. My hubby was staying afterward for a meeting and I had to be there early, so we took two cars, which is certainly no big deal. On most Sundays, my hubby drives and I usually text our daughter, who is away at school, a good morning message.

While I’m in the passenger seat, I often marvel at how high or low the river is, when we cross over it. I notice the different trees and flowers that are blooming, or if someone along our route, has painted their house or built a deck. I take note of all of the runners on the sidewalk. I don’t concern myself with the traffic or if the car in front of us is going too fast or too slowly, or if someone pulls out in front of us. I sometimes fiddle with the radio.

I can do all of those things because I am not driving the car. I am not the driver. I’m the passenger. I am not in control or responsible for getting us safely to our destination.

Last Sunday, I was in the driver’s seat. I couldn’t text my daughter. I gave the river a quick glance and I mostly missed the spring blooms. I had to concentrate on driving the car and arriving safely. I couldn’t concern myself with all of the pretty scenery along the way. I missed it.

I found myself thinking about my Sunday morning drive long after I had returned home.

Like most people, I like to feel like I’m in control of my current situation, whatever that situation may be. I like the idea of being in the driver’s seat and calling the shots. But, what if being in the driver’s seat means that we miss all of the beautiful scenery along the way, while we fight to keep ourselves on the road, in between the lines, and in charge?

The fight to be in control is a lot of work and effort and how often does it really pay off?

When we walk closely with Jesus, we agree to not only let Him drive, but to trust that the scenery will be breathtaking and that we will arrive where we are supposed to, at exactly the time we are supposed to.

We hand over the control and enjoy the ride. There’s freedom that comes from letting go. A Sunday morning drive reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

A Call to Plant

Posted on by Wendy
If we keep planting, something will eventually bloom.

Last weekend, I looked out of my bedroom window and saw a white iris standing tall and in full bloom. It made me catch my breath for a moment. There are lots of things in bloom right now. It’s spring time in Georgia and the pollen count is through the roof. A blooming iris is by no means unusual.

But, this is the first of the season at my house, which always touches my heart. The first one always signals a new beginning, a new chapter that is beginning to unfold. I also have a history with this particular group of irises.

May parents have an old home place on their property. There’s nothing left at this point, but a decade or so ago, my hubby and I dug up a bunch of bulbs that had been planted near that house. We really didn’t have any idea what we were digging up, but we dug them up anyway and transplanted them to our backyard around some of our trees. Turns out, that they were irises.

The first couple of years, I tended to them. I watered them and kept them clear of debris. Some of them bloomed. Some did not. At one point, I divided them because they became overcrowded and some did really well. Some didn’t.

I haven’t given them much attention at all over the past several years. I got busy with work, and kids, and other projects. They have become very overcrowded. I haven’t fertilized them or watered them, yet, the first one has bloomed in spite of my lack of attention.

As I went to examine it, I was reminded that we never really get to decide what blooms, or when it blooms, or if it even blooms at all.

We can plant. We can nurture. We can water. Sometimes what we plant takes off and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes we get to see the fruition of our hard work and sometimes we never get to see it, yet we are all called to plant something. Sometimes they are physical plants that we can enjoy or even eat. Sometimes it’s encouragement that someone needs desperately to hear. Sometimes it’s spiritual truth that may not take root until many years in the future.

Just because we may not get to see the blooms, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plant or that we should get discouraged. We need to remember that we have a Divine Gardener, who has a plan. We simply need to keep planting.

A single iris reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

The Gift of Empathy

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes the smallest amount of light can make all of the difference.

I received a text early one morning last week, that my co-worker had an ear ache. She was in lots of pain and was going to the doctor. I felt horrible for her. I had frequent ear infections as a child. They were terribly painful. I can remember doctor visits, ear drops and yucky pink medicine. I can remember my Mama rocking me in the middle of the night to try to soothe the pain and comfort me.

Those long nights as a child, have given me deep empathy for someone suffering from ear pain.

As an adult, I have come to see empathy as a gift that comes from personal circumstances and sometimes suffering, that can turn into deep, heartfelt encouragement for others in similar situations.

Have you ever noticed that some of the people who shine the brightest light have been through some really dark times? Those who have been through deep personal turmoil and called out to God and walked out on the other side, not only have a story to share, but they have a unique empathy because they have been there. They truly understand.

That’s why mommy groups, cancer survivor groups and groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, work so well.

There will always be suffering and turmoil on this side of Eternity. We can spend our time shaking our fists at the sky and ask, “Why me?” or we can call out to God and reach out to others who have been there. We can receive comfort and encouragement from both.

When we get through it, we have two choices. We can harden our hearts and close that door and lock it tightly. We can become angry and bitter or we can allow it to change us in a good way. We can allow our suffering to be used to help others in similar circumstances. We can become a blessing to those in need. We can listen, encourage and offer comfort and understanding. We can offer witness that God is still in charge and still good.

We can shine a brighter light than ever before because in the end, the darkness does not win. Light will always be triumphant. A text from a friend reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Choosing to Be Malleable

Posted on by Wendy
Clay is rigid. Once it becomes a bowl, it’s always a bowl.

We sang a song in church on Sunday called, “The Potter’s Hands.” It talks about being made and molded by God’s hands. It’s beautiful imagery. The idea of God as a potter and His people as clay is always a reminder that the clay doesn’t get to decide what kind of art it becomes. The clay must be content in knowing that the potter has a plan.

As we were singing, I was reminded of a recent conversation with a friend of mine who has retired and struggling a bit on the next chapter. Transition and change is always hard even if it’s good change.

If God has used you in a certain way, for His glory, for many years, and that path comes to an end, what’s next? Is the Potter done with you? Does He put you up on a shelf until it’s time to call you home?

These are questions that can plague us when chapters in our lives come to an end.

I have no doubt that the answer to these questions is no. God is always at work and there is no expiration date on our usefulness to Him. It’s really more about our availability and flexibility.

After church, when that song was still on my mind, I thought of a post I wrote several years ago. I had come to the conclusion that we are really meant to be more like Play-Doh than clay. Clay gets hard and dries out. Once it’s been made a bowl, it will always be a bowl.

But, Play-Doh, can be a cup, a bowl, a bird, or whatever the artist wants it to be. It can always be rolled back up into a ball and be made into an entirely new creation.

As Christians, we can choose to be either. We can choose to believe that God has only one life calling for us and when we’ve seen that through, He’s done with us. We can be rigid and unbending or we can choose to be malleable in His hands, accepting that life is always changing and therefore He might change His way of using us for His glory.

We are still a type of clay in the Artist’s hands, but a type that is useful until our last breath on this side of Eternity, being made into something entirely new whenever He sees fit.

The choice is ours to make. A song reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Trusting the Giver

Posted on by Wendy
Anything placed in God’s hands, is always enough.

Last Sunday, during choir practice, we only had two sopranos show up. I don’t read music. I suspect that the fact that I got invited to be in the choir in the first place, had much more to do with my passion for singing than my actual abilities. Not to mention, the choir was really small at the time and they needed more people.

I have always made it known that my sweet spot is standing between two strong sopranos. But, alas, last Sunday, there were just two of us. Thankfully, the lady who did show up is very strong and she reads music. I let out a little sigh of relief.

When we began singing our song for the day, imagine my surprise, when she leaned over and whispered, “I’m following you.” I chuckled as I leaned back over and told her, that we would be going off the cliff together and we would be like “Thelma and Louise.” She got tickled at that remark.

We did okay, the two of us, but I thought about our exchange, long after we finished singing.

I’ve been participating in choir for over five years now, but I’m still very unsure of what I’m doing. I want backup. I want a safety net. Why is it that we are sometimes so hesitant to believe in our abilities when it has to do with serving God?

We go to school and we learn a trade or get a degree, then we go to work everyday. We learn new tasks and a couple of months into it, we are fairly confident. After a couple of years, we can often know enough to train someone else.

Why is our faith walk so different? Why are we afraid to share our faith or teach our faith after spending years in church? We don’t have to be Bible scholars to share the Gospel, yet we tend to hesitate. We always feel like there’s someone who is more qualified than we are.

At what point do we consider ourselves qualified enough? In fact, God has a long history of calling the seemingly unqualified, Abraham, Moses and Esther had all kinds of inadequacies, yet in God’s hands they did great things. What about the little boy with the fishes and loaves? Want to talk about not having enough? But, when he put it in God’s hands, there was more than the crowd could eat.

We have to remember in the end, it’s not about us and the abilities or resources that we have or don’t have; it’s about the God who we serve and when we hand it all over to Him, there’s always plenty.

A friend in the choir reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Rainy Day Blessings

Posted on by Wendy
Flowers always require rain to bloom.

Yesterday, as I headed to my car after work, it was raining, again. I dug around my bag and found my umbrella, again. It’s gotten an awful lot of use over the past few months. Sigh. I knew the rain was coming. It had been forecasted, still, I wasn’t happy to see it.

When I was driving to work that morning, I prayed that God would show Himself. It had been a long week and I was bone tired. I was greeted with a spectacular, bright pink sky. It was gorgeous and I was thankful, but as I headed home, the skies were gray once again. I was so tired of the rain.

Yet, as I grumpily drove, I couldn’t help but notice, the daffodils that were blooming all over the side of the road. There were also brightly colored yellow bell bushes along my path. When I turned into my neighborhood, there were tall, white Bradford Pear trees that were covered in blooms.

Creation had definitely begun to awaken from it’s winter slumber and as usual, it was stunning. I had to grudgingly admit that the copious amount of rain had to have played a part in the beauty that I was being blessed with.

A few weeks ago, when the rain was pouring for days on end, spring was nowhere in sight. The entire world was dark and gloomy and I wanted sunshine and rescue from the seemingly endless downpours. It was February and it was dark and cold; spring felt like a very distant hope.

Yet, on the last day of February, I marveled at the beauty the rain had helped to create.

I felt a little heart nudge that reminded me of my morning prayer for God to show Himself. I had prayed and almost immediately, my prayer was answered and I could feel His presence. I love those kinds of moments, immediate gratification, who doesn’t?

But, He was also present in the gray, cold rain. I had to look a little harder to find Him, but He was there. He was there in all of the beautiful spring color, but He was also there before there was any color, preparing for the beauty that He knew was coming.

I couldn’t see it during the rainy weeks in February, but He was at work. He’s always at work. The early spring blooms reminded me that people, just like the earth, require a certain amount of rain to bloom and it’s not always pretty. It’s sometimes messy and uncomfortable.

Faith teaches us that spring always comes, no matter how dark and rainy the winter might be. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

The Perfection Deception

Posted on by Wendy
The quest for perfection will always frustrate us on this side of Eternity.

Next Friday, the elementary school where I work, is having a book dress up day. It coincides with Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The different grade levels are picking book characters to dress up as and there will be a parade. Elementary schools still do some cool and fun activities because being a kiddo and learning is supposed to be fun.

Those of us older folks, who happen to work in the office, were encouraged to participate as well, which we of course, happily agreed to. Life is serious enough. We didn’t want to miss an opportunity to play along with the littles and who doesn’t love a parade?

After much discussion and combing Pinterest, we decided on 101 Dalmatians. It would be fairly easy to put together and we all knew the story well from our own childhood.

All I had to do was buy a plain white t-shirt and cover it in black spots. That’s a simple enough task. I got the shirt, put it in the washer and when it was dry, got ready to cover it in spots.

But, I had to decide whether to use a fabric marker or fabric paint. After several doodles on a different piece of fabric, I settled on the paint. Then I got started on the first spot. Was it too small? Was it a perfect circle? Where should the next spot go? Was it too close or too far away? Then there was the third. Was I making a weird pattern? Should they all be close to the same size?

After driving myself crazy for a little while, I picked up the book that I had since I was a kid, and was reminded that no two dalmatians look alike and that some had lots of spots and some had very few and the patterns were all over the place. Thank-you Walt Disney.

I knew this of course, but how had I forgotten? How had I allowed such a seemingly easy task, to cause me such unneeded stress?

I knew the answer: It’s the quest for perfection.

It’s a doomed quest that many of us needlessly saddle ourselves with, the perfect body, the perfect smile, the perfect hair, the perfect outfit, the perfect spouse, the perfect kids, the perfect job, the perfect church, the list is endless.

We sometimes forget that we are travelers here. Our permanent residence is in heaven where perfection lives because God is perfect, but on this side of Eternity, we are broken and nothing is perfect, although there are times when we will create all kinds of unneeded chaos trying to achieve it.

A dalmatian t-shirt reminded me that life here on planet earth is never perfect and trying to achieve perfection here will always wear us out. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Seeing the Light in the Difficult Times

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when we are forced to be still, we hear and see things we would have otherwise missed.

Sunday morning I awakened by a throbbing migraine. I have had them since my freshman year in college. My mama has them. My granddaddy had them. Over the years, I’ve learned to feel one coming on and I can head it off by taking medication early, before it gets bad. After it gets bad, there isn’t much to do besides, sit in the darkness with an ice pack on my head.

Because of my learned coping strategies, it’s been a long time since one has really knocked me off of my feet, but this one was sneaky and it came during the night. I tossed and turned as it got worse and it wasn’t until it became more than I could stand, that I finally got up and took something.

Of course, it was too late at that point and I had to get an ice pack and go right back to bed. An hour later, I finally trudged into the kitchen for some coffee to continue the fight. It was a little better, but still there. I sat at the kitchen table in semi-darkness, lamenting the fact that I would miss church and probably the work out I had promised myself.

I knew very well that my day would be slowed down to a turtle crawl at best and a day on the sofa at worst.

As I began to drinking my second cup of coffee, I could hear nothing but silence and the ticking of a clock. The sky through my windows began to brighten and the sun came out. It had been raining for days, so my soul felt a little lighter. Then a deer walking the fence line caught my eye. I sat mesmerized watching her, wondering what had caught her attention.

If I hadn’t felt confined to the chair, I would have been up emptying the dishwasher.

I likely would have missed the sun breaking through the clouds and the deer.

A little while later, I went to let the dogs out and it felt like a cool spring morning. I grabbed a blanket and went out to the porch to sit and I could hear the creek behind our house. It doesn’t normally have enough water to make a gurgling sound, but the recent rains had given it a beautiful voice, one I would have missed if I hadn’t had the headache.

As I sat, bundled up in the cool morning air, I felt thankful and blessed, not for the migraine. No one is thankful for a migraine or any other sickness or crises in their lives. But, I was thankful that in the stillness I was able to see God. I was able to see beauty. I was able to find peace.

The Bible tells us over and over that we never walk alone and most believers know that it’s true on some level, but it’s often the darkest times when we are really reminded, when we can really feel and see that promise.

A migraine reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Accessing Joy

Posted on by Wendy
Christian joy has never been dependent on our circumstances.

Yesterday, I knew early on, that it was going to be one of those days. I finished getting ready for work late. I didn’t have time for my morning devotional and as I went to get my wedding rings from my jewelry box, they weren’t there. I knew immediately where they were. I had put them in the pocket of my pants while I was cooking supper and left them there.

One might surmise that I have done this before…but, when I dashed to the hamper to retrieve them, I remembered that I had already put those clothes in the washer with plans to wash them after work and so I raced to the washer and dug through the laundry until I found them.

I jammed them on my finger and sprinted out the door. I knew I was setting myself up for a bad day. I intentionally get up in the mornings with ample time to read a devotion and some scripture, to have breakfast and drink some coffee. All my years traveling around the sun have taught me that I’m the best me, when I am not rushing and have prepared myself both physically and spiritually for whatever my day may hold.

But, yesterday everything was off. As I pulled out of my driveway into the cold incessant rain, I prayed for an extra measure of grace and that God would show me His face that day.

I wasn’t at work long before I had to rush out to a meeting, late again, but this time because I was talking to a mom who I felt truly needed a compassionate ear. The room was packed when I arrived and the meeting ran long, and we’ll just say it wasn’t a meeting where everyone learns they are getting a giant bonus.

I left the meeting trudging back into that steady, cold rain and after a work errand, headed back to my own desk. The day so far, had been just as I had anticipated. I prayed for an extra measure of peace.

When lunch rolled around, we had parents coming in to see their children and have lunch with them. Everyone who came in commented on the grim weather. And then one of our mentors arrived. She comes once a week and has lunch with one of our kiddos. She comes because she wants to give of her time and herself, and this particular mentor, comes because she loves Jesus.

She had bright smile and while she did comment about the weather, she said, “Ladies, we need to find the joy.” Then she left.

Her words stuck with me for the rest of the day, partially because I know where her joy comes from and partially because it was true and partially because she was an answer to my morning prayer.

Yes, this day, I had enough sense to see it.

I asked God to show Himself and He did. He sent a representative to remind me of His truth. Christian joy has never been determined by our circumstances, because it comes from somewhere much deeper, somewhere that is never dependent on worldly matters, because it doesn’t come from this world.

Because of someone’s encouraging words, my day did get brighter and I did reach deep and find that joy. I was so thankful she reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Appreciating the Blessings

Posted on by Wendy
Taking time to appreciate our blessings, is a way of giving thanks to the One who gave them to us.

One day late last week, the meteorologists in our area began to forecast rain and when I say rain, I mean they were talking five to seven inches of rain over the next week. Everyone at work grumbled at the news. Lots of people on Facebook grumbled. Georgia has had a very wet winter and it appeared the trend would continue.

Saturday morning started out cloudy, as expected, but as the day progressed, the sun came out and by 1:00 it was beautiful and sunny. I received a text from a friend telling me she was outside soaking up the sun and hoped I was doing the same.

I wasn’t doing the same. I had been running around doing errands and when I arrived home, I planned on taking a walk and then checking off my long to do list.

But, I was so tired. I hadn’t gotten enough sleep the week before and my deck looked really inviting. I decided to have lunch outside and then get busy. It was 70 degrees out there and I lingered after lunch. My hubby decided that it was a perfect day to cook on his smoker, so he did.

Then he brought some cushions out to put on our outdoor furniture. I decided to sit with him for a few minutes while he ate his lunch, then I would get busy.

One of my dogs jumped up and sat down beside me and she and I enjoyed the sun, for just a few more minutes.

But, then my son came out with his lunch, so I decided to sit with him while he ate, then I would get busy.

We chatted and laughed as the minutes kept ticking by and I don’t know when I have been so relaxed.

When my son decided to go back inside and my dog and I remained, an idea bubbled in my heart. When we know rain is coming and we are given the blessing of beautiful sunshine in advance, isn’t it wrong not to appreciate it?

I had been praying about being so tired and here was an opportunity to rest, was I really not going to take it? How many blessings do we miss while we are busy doing what we consider more important at the moment?

Let’s face it, our to do lists are never done. When we actually make it to the bottom, don’t we always start a new one? And will those lists have any significance at all in five years?

A sunny, warm day in February, with family and furry babies to share it with, is a gift. We should really take the time to enjoy what we have given and be thankful. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂