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.

Letting the Creator Create

Posted on by Wendy
Something that many would have considered ugly and useless had become unique and beautiful.
Something that many would have considered ugly and useless has become unique and beautiful.

On a recent trip to Jekyll Island on the Georgia coast, my family visited a place called Driftwood Beach. For the most part, it isn’t really driftwood. It’s actually huge oak trees and some pines that have either been eroded by the ocean or have blown in from storms.

So, it’s a beach littered with many dead trees. There’s nothing exciting or beautiful about dead trees. Right?

But, in this case, the trees have been left alone, untouched by man, and nature has done its work. The wood has been bleached white and dried out by years of sun and salt and the results are stunning.

The surreal landscape makes you want to explore.
The surreal landscape makes you want to explore.

I had never seen anything like it and I couldn’t put my camera down. Every step and turn produced something else that had me mesmerized. Tiny beach creatures had made their homes among the trees. The living readily embraced the tree skeletons.

People get married on that beach around those trees. I am told that photographers from around the world come to photograph them. The light is supposed to be particularly stunning at sunrise.

It amazed me how art had been created by simply letting nature take its course. When man stepped out and let nature step in, uncommon beauty reigned.

I don't think man could ever create art like this.
I don’t think man could ever create art like this.

I thought about Driftwood Beach, long after our trip and I have looked through my pictures dozens of times. They don’t even begin to capture the spirituality of the place. I thought about how our lives often seem littered with a bunch of dead and useless, driftwood type baggage.

I thought about how we often hate that baggage or are ashamed of it and try to do anything to get rid of it on our own. We often fail miserably creating even a bigger mess in the process.

But, what if we gave all of that driftwood, that baggage, to God and let Him do something beautiful with it? What if we placed it at the foot of the cross and asked Him to redeem it? What kind of beautiful things could He create if we only trusted Him?

What if we truly believed that we are loved and treasured and when we repent and ask for forgiveness, not only are we truly forgiven, but our past mistakes can become canvases for God’s grace?

What if we let go of our desire to try to fix things and let the Creator of the universe create beauty among our ashes?

Driftwood Beach is a reminder that He’s a master craftsman. We simply need to surrender and get out of His way.

Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Power of Faith

Posted on by Wendy
Faith changes everything.
Faith changes everything.

As I was reading through Acts, chapter three, for my online Bible study, Peter’s words and actions really spoke to me. Yes, this was the same Peter who was always kind of running off at the mouth. Yes, this was the same Peter who was a simple fisherman. He had certainly never been to seminary. Yes, this was the same man who denied even knowing Jesus, not once, but three times.

At first glance, he doesn’t seem to have that much going for him, does he? But, when you put Jesus in the mix, everything changes. While Peter had many shortcomings, Jesus knew he would one day be a force to be reckoned with, so much so that He renamed him from Simon to Peter. The Greek of Peter is Petra and it means, “the Rock.”

While Peter’s faith in Jesus may have wavered, Jesus’ faith in Peter did not.

Let that sink in for a moment. How does that make us feel about our own faith that sometimes sputters?

In the chapter I read yesterday, Peter and John were on the way to the temple for prayer. These men had been present for the first Pentecost; and had seen the Holy Spirit physically at work, yet they were going to the temple for prayer.

When I read that, I thought about how we react when we see a miracle of some kind. When something works out that shouldn’t have or when circumstances seem to magically fall into place, we feel grateful and in awe for a little while. But, do we feel called to go and pray and worship with other believers? What does that tell us about the power of praying together?

On the way to the temple, they encounter a crippled beggar. He wants money. I wonder if it even occurred to him to ask for more. He just wanted enough to get by. How often do we just think about the misery of our current circumstances and desperately hope and pray for a quick surface fix, but not for true healing?

Peter was able to give the beggar much more. Peter told him he didn’t have any silver or gold, but that he would give him what he did have and what he had, was way more precious.

He told him, “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6b

Then he reached for his hand and helped him up and the man was healed.

There’s power in the name of Jesus. The Bible tells us that throughout the New Testament and I sometimes wonder if modern-day Christians have forgotten that.

Like Peter, every single Christian has the power to give words of hope and life to the world around us. Like the beggar, we all have the ability to seek more than momentary fixes. We have the ability through prayer, to seek true healing for what cripples us and holds us hostage.

And then, when great things happen, like Peter, we can give all of the glory to God because we know that’s where the power comes from and then He will continue to use us and the Kingdom will continue to grow.

What do you know? We can change the world. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Disappointed, but not Discouraged

Posted on by Wendy
It's the people inside the building who make the church.
It’s the people inside the building who make the church.

For the past few months, my church has been planning our very first Vacation Bible School in our new location. I am super passionate about that ministry and I spearheaded all of the planning. I put together a budget and I ordered a ton of stuff. I spoke to the congregation and they were on board.

I had all of these retired people, many who had never participated in VBS, but they volunteered and were ready to throw open the doors of our little church and use their hands and hearts to share the love of Christ.

I was excited. They were excited. Things seemed to be coming together.

But, then, we only had a few kids sign up and we had to cancel.

I was disappointed, but not discouraged. I’ve been walking with Jesus long enough to know that my plans, no matter how pure hearted and ready to serve they may be, don’t always line up with God’s.

Like the little tree in the, “Tale of Three Trees,” I really just want to stand tall and point to God, and like that little tree found, God’s plans sometimes look different from my own, but that’s okay. I’m not God. I’ve learned that it’s okay to not have the answers as long as I’m trusting in and walking with the One who does.

But, those sweet people in my church community were so concerned about me. I got e-mails and people pulled me aside to talk to me. My hubby was questioned by several members about how I was taking the news.

And that’s what community is supposed to be about. Isn’t it? We come together and support each other to glorify the God we serve. Then we reach out to each other and love one another when life doesn’t turn out like we planned.

My heart was just as moved by their enthusiastic willingness to serve in a ministry where they personally had no kids or grandkids, as it would have been if we would have actually had VBS. For me, it was a matter of the heart, the collective heart of our church community. It didn’t matter that we didn’t have VBS; it only mattered that they were willing to be the hands and feet of Christ to an unknown group of children.

It is true that I’m very passionate about VBS. But, I’m most passionate about pointing the way for others to see God in any way He sees fit. The fact that I’m part of a faith community willing to do the same, that’s an incredible blessing and maybe that was the faith lesson God intended for me to learn.

He’s always at work and as long as we are willing to follow His lead with open hearts, we never have to be discouraged, because we never really fail. Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Faith Lessons from Running Shoes

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes we are called out of our comfort zones.
Sometimes we are called out of our comfort zones.

I recently purchased a new pair of tennis shoes. I always put off this task as long as possible for a couple of reasons. First of all, there’s nothing more comfortable than a pair of running shoes that I have worn long enough to feel like they are custom-made for my feet.

The second reason is that there is no way of knowing that the bright, new, shiny pair of shoes that feel great on my feet in the store, will feel the same way, once I take them out for a walk, with some running thrown in for good measure.

My neighborhood is made up of many hills. The kids always affectionately called it the roller coaster neighborhood when they were growing up.

Due to the topography, a new pair of running shoes has a high likelihood of causing a blister on my feet the first time out. The problem is, there’s no way of knowing until I’m actually wearing them, a mile away from my house.

But, I had waited as long as I could and I was getting some smooth spots on the bottoms of my current shoes. I reluctantly purchased a new pair. The following morning, I laced them up and headed out, hoping for the best.

I did okay for the first mile, but on the way back home, my right heel started to burn. I was getting a blister and there was nothing I could do about it. I tried running more than walking, to get home faster, but it was growing downright painful.

Then I tried something different.

I always pray when I walk. I began to thank God for a laundry list of blessings in my life, the first being that I could afford to buy new shoes. Many people can’t. The second was that I actually had feeling in my feet. Some people don’t. My list went on until I arrived home.

My foot still hurt, but I wasn’t so focused on my pain, when I was giving thanks for so many other things.

I was grumbling a couple of days later, to my daughter, as I was putting band aids on my heel, before my walk, about how I had made a poor decision on my new shoes and how my other ones were just perfect.

She reminded my that when my old shoes were new, that they too, had rubbed a blister on my heel. How had I forgotten?

I learned two valuable lessons from those new shoes. First of all, when we “give thanks in all circumstances,” like the Bible tells us to, the tough times in life become more bearable, not magically fixed, but bearable.

The second is that it’s really easy to stay with what we find comfortable and never venture outside that safety zone. It’s easy to forget that what is now comfortable for us, probably wasn’t always. It’s also easy to want to give up on something new before we give it much of a chance, if it makes us uncomfortable.

But, the greatest experiences in life rarely come to us from sitting on the front porch in our rocking chairs. God rarely calls us to sit around and do nothing for longer than a season.

Walking with Jesus is not always comfortable, but always worth it. Sometimes we need to apply a few band aids, but we always need to keep moving forward. Getting more comfortable requires times and perseverance.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

Sea Turtle Wisdom

Posted on by Wendy
This sea turtle looks like she was hand painted by God.
This sea turtle looks like she was hand painted by God.

On a recent trip to the Georgia coast, my family visited a sea turtle hospital. I had never given these beautiful creatures very much thought until the year before on a family vacation in Florida, we got to witness a sea turtle release. Three turtles had been rehabbed and were being returned to the sea.

It was an amazing experience, so naturally, when we learned that there was a sea turtle hospital that was open to visitors, we were all interested.

It was sad to find so many turtles who had been injured by the negligence of humanity, but inspiring to see all of the people working with them with the goal to return them back to the Atlantic Ocean to live long productive lives.

They were doing a surgery on one when we arrived and a volunteer explained that its flipper had been so damaged that they were having to amputate it. My eyes filled with tears at the news and I asked her if it would spend the remainder of its life in captivity, keeping in mind that some live over 150 years.

She explained to me that there would be a long rehab for the turtle, but that they can learn to compensate and live just fine in the wild, just like a three-legged dog does. I was shocked. How was that possible?

She went on to explain that they would put special weights on it and move it to larger and larger tanks to help it get stronger before finally setting it free.

Now, there’s no way that poor turtle has any idea what’s in store for her or the fact that the people who keep manhandling  her only want what’s best for her. They want her to be free again, but they want her to be strong and ready first.

I have thought a lot about that turtle upon my return home and the many others at that facility. As I was taking a walk yesterday, I came across a different kind of turtle attempting to cross the road. My heart went out to it as I was reminded of those sea turtles.

I knew it had very little chance of crossing successfully. It would surely get hit by a car. But, I also noted the sharp claws on its feet and I was reluctant to pick it up. So, I gently moved it across the road with my foot. It was terrified and drew up into its shell. It had no way of knowing I was trying to save its life.

As I came back by to check on it, I found it still tightly in its shell and I wished I had a way of communicating that I was only working for its best. For all it knew, I was some giant, kicking it around.

I continued to think about that turtle and the sea turtles as I finished my walk and how people can learn a lot from them.

We sometimes find ourselves getting kicked off of the path we are on, the one we think is best, but perhaps God is moving us out of the way of danger, like I did with the land turtle.

We also sometimes find ourselves getting mauled somehow by people, like the sea turtles and we end up on the sidelines for what seems like forever until we are ready to swim again. But perhaps God is using that time to grow us stronger and better equipped for the future, even though it may not seem like it at the time.

The turtles reminded me that we can trust that God is at work, even when all seems lost, even when we don’t understand. We are loved and treasured and He has a plan.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you needed reminding today too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Faith Lessons from a Pier

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when disaster looks imminent, we have to have faith.
Sometimes when disaster looks imminent, we have to have faith.

Last week on our family vacation, during and early evening at a pier, we observed a huge ship which seemed to be coming right towards the dock. We weren’t standing on the pier at the time, but dozens of people were. They were fishing and talking and laughing, seemingly unconcerned with the giant ship headed right towards them.

My family watched in nervous amazement as the ship stayed on its course. Didn’t these people remember what happened with that cruise ship in Greece a few years back where the captain ran it aground?

There were so many sandbars in our area and the waters seemed so shallow. Was the captain of this ship awake? Was he impaired? I even sent some photos to my mama so she could show them to my daddy, who was a Navy man.

Weren’t those people on the docks the least bit worried about their safety? They didn’t appear to be. Then, at the last minute, (or so it seemed to me), it turned.

Of course, the people on the pier had seen these ships many times. They weren’t concerned because they knew from years of experience, that there would be no collision. The experienced captain of the ship knew exactly where the deep waters were and he knew exactly when and where to steer his ship to safety.

But, we didn’t know that.

As we continued to watch the ginormous ship head away from the pier, it seemed to get perilously close to a shrimp boat returning from a day of shrimping. We couldn’t see the smaller boat very well and we wondered if the captain of the big one could. Were the people on the shrimp boat worried about their safety?

We anxiously watched as the big vessel appeared to narrowly miss the smaller one.

The zoom lens provided a very detailed view of the shrimp boat.
The zoom lens on my camera provided a very detailed view of the shrimp boat.

When I returned home and looked at my pictures, I marveled at the details on the shrimp boat. I noticed the nets and all of the seagulls surrounding it hoping for a scrap. I saw that it even had a name. I couldn’t see all of that from a distance, but my zoom lens could.

I thought about that big ship for days afterwards. I thought about how it looked like it would crash into the pier, into those people, causing a disaster, but it didn’t. I thought about how it looked like it would collide with the shrimp boat causing tragedy, but it didn’t.

I thought about how faith teaches us that when tragedy seems imminent, like a huge ship headed straight for us, that we can trust that God has us covered, time and time again. We don’t need to worry or even flinch.

I thought about how even though I couldn’t see the details on the shrimp boat, they were there, which made me consider that God sees all of the details of our lives, every little one, with a giant zoom lens. He is completely aware of where we are and where we are going and it matters to Him.

Jesus said, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:30-31

Having faith in difficult times can be hard. When we feel like a giant ship is headed straight for us, we wonder if God hears our prayers or even cares.

The answer is yes. He knows. He hears. He loves us. He cares.

Whatever your giant ship is, fear not. He’s got this. Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Strength from Adversity

Posted on by Wendy
Isn't it interesting that the strongest living things often endure the harshest circumstances?
Isn’t it interesting that the strongest living things often endure the harshest circumstances?

My family recently vacationed on the Georgia coast. It’s a beautiful area that has been kept natural. Georgia didn’t clear-cut its trees like some other states I have visited and there are beautiful oaks that are hundreds of years old, dripping in Spanish moss, standing proudly.

We learned that the wood of the live oaks is especially strong and that wood from some of coastal Georgia’s oaks was used in the construction of the hull of the USS Constitution. Interestingly enough, she was named by President George Washington and her maiden voyage was in 1798.

She is most famous for her performance in the War of 1812, where she got the nickname of “Old Ironsides,” because the artillery from the enemy just bounced off her rock solid hull.

And guess what? She’s still in service for the US Navy. She serves as a museum now, but in 1997 for her 200th birthday, she sailed under her own steam.

Let’s consider that for a minute. Think about the materials she was made of. Trees that can grow in coastal environments have to be able to withstand all types of assault from nature. First of all, salt water kills most things that are green. It tends to be very corrosive. Then there’s the extreme heat and sometimes drought. Oh, and let’s not forget tropical storms and hurricanes.

Yet, these live oak trees survive and thrive. There’s one on the coast of South Carolina that’s estimated to be over 1,500 years old. The fact that they live in hostile environments makes them incredibly strong and resilient and when they are cut down to be used to build something, like the USS Constitution, it too, becomes incredibly strong and long lasting.

The ones with large limbs that touch the ground and then grow back up to the sky are often referred to as angel oaks because they touch the earth and then grow back towards Heaven.

These trees have stayed on my mind long since we have returned from our trip. I think they have much to teach us.

First of all, the strongest living things must survive adversity. We simply can’t get stronger sitting in the shade sipping lemonade in perfect weather. No, it’s the storms that strengthen us and define us.

The Bible tells us, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

But, then after we have persevered, we have the ability to use our strength to help others and to build lasting testaments to the God who stood by our side and helped us survive and thrive in our adversity.

Lastly, we too, are earth bound at the moment like those trees, but we too are growing towards Heaven with each passing day, with each prayer, with each act of kindness, with each step of faith.

And like those trees, our journey too, through the good and bad, can be stunningly beautiful. A huge live oak reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Because We Can

Posted on by Wendy
A little voice reminded me that I should do good works because I can.
A little voice reminded me that I should do good works because I can.

My family just returned from a week at the beach. We had a nice time. The little condo we stayed at had a plant out on the deck. It wasn’t in very good shape. It was quite wilted from lack of water.

I asked myself who would leave a plant out at a vacation spot knowing it would not likely get watered. Not to mention that it sat right in the middle of the deck. The little plant nagged at me and I eventually went and got it some water which it soaked up immediately.

I was quite surprised to see how quickly it perked up. It looked like it might even live. I watered it a couple of other times, each time asking myself what the point was, thinking that the people who were renting the place the next week, might not water it and let it die.

Why did I feel so compelled to care for this plant that wasn’t even mine?

As I was watering it on my last day there, I felt an answer gently whispering to my heart, “Because you can.”

That was of course the answer all along. I watered the plant because I could. It was hardly any effort on my part, to fill a glass up at the sink and walk it out to the plant. But, it was life saving to the plant.

I think we often find ourselves wrestling with the notion of whether or not we should offer our help in different situations. We tell ourselves that we didn’t cause the problem and so it’s not our responsibility. We tell ourselves that the problem is so huge that our little contribution won’t matter anyway.

While those may be valid points on an earthly scale, we sometimes forget as Christians, that the Kingdom of God works on an entirely different currency. Jesus showed us with fishes and loaves, that whatever we have, no matter how meager, when put in God’s hands is always more than enough.

I have heard it argued that while Jesus’ number one reason for healing the sick was to glorify God, that He also healed because people in pain or in need, moved Him. He intervened; He healed because He could.

That reasoning fits with everything I know about our Savior.

The Bible tells us, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

We are not saved by good works, but our faith calls us to do them, because Jesus did them, because they glorify God, and because we can.

A little wilted plant reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

A Call to Thrive

Posted on by Wendy
She had eight different slots to choose from.
She had eight different slots to choose from.

We bought a brand new hummingbird feeder this year. I had never seen one like it. It’s a two-story with eight different slots, complete with perches, for the little hummingbirds to feed at. I was hoping at last there would be plenty of nectar and plenty of perches and the little birds would spend more of their time eating and less of their time fighting.

This guy picked the same exact slot as the other bird, even though there were seven other options.
This guy picked the same exact slot as the other bird, even though there were seven other options.

 

Alas, that was not to be the case. Nope, they continued to spend their time running the other birds away, instead of enjoying the abundance. They would squabble over the same little flower, even though there were options that offered the exact same nectar.

This isn’t the first time I’ve reflected on these aggressive little birds. When I spend much time watching them, I usually feel like God has something to teach me.

This time as I watched them, it occurred to me that in nature, the key word is survival. They don’t care about sharing or building relationships and community. They just want to have their next meal. They don’t know the first thing about thriving. They just want to survive at all costs.

I guess that’s okay, if you are a hummingbird.

But, how many people do the same?

How many of us settle for the same thing, day in and out? It’s not fabulous; but it’s familiar. We eat the same food, even though there are millions of recipes on the internet for something different. We stay at the same job even though we are bored to tears and long for something else.

We settle for mediocrity in our relationships. We choose friends who are just like us, not people who might help us grow or inspire us. We often allow our marital relationships to get super comfortable, ignoring each other most of the time. What if we turned of the television and went for a walk? What if we went outside and marveled at the wonder of the night sky?

What if we had a conversation about how we might change the world around us in some small way?

Sometimes it’s good for us to take a look around us and ask ourselves if we are thriving. We can ask things like: Are we a part of a caring community? Are we a part of a vibrant faith community? How can we make our relationships stronger? Can we exercise more and eat better? Are we living our lives to the fullest extent possible or are we just surviving?

I believe that God has called us all to a higher purpose than just getting by. I believe that He has plans for us that are beyond our imagination. To learn what they are, we have to talk to Him and then listen. We have to draw in close because sometimes He whispers. We have to be aware of His presence in the everyday.

Then, we must be willing to go, wherever He calls, knowing it may be just across our backyard, but knowing as long as we are walking with Jesus, we will be living out loud, because just surviving, is not His style.

Some hummingbirds reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Heaven We Have a Problem

Posted on by Wendy
History shows, prayer works.
History shows, prayer works.

I recently watched the movie, “Apollo 13,” which by most accounts is a pretty accurate account of the actual events of the Apollo 13, space mission. It’s a fabulous movie and I had seen it before, but it had been a while.

Different aspects spoke to me this time.

The entire mission was the perfect storm. Everything that could go wrong did, from one of the astronauts being bumped twenty-four hours before the launch, to failure of one of the engines at lift off.  The first two days went smoothly with a few minor glitches. Then there was an explosion and they lost one oxygen tank and the second began rapidly depleting. They also lost two fuel cells.

The American people at the time, were not interested in the launch. It had become old hat to them and the networks didn’t even broadcast it. No one was particularly interested until the explosion occurred and lives hung in the balance.

Does that sound like a familiar phenomenon? We are surrounded by wonder everyday, but we don’t pay much attention because it has become normal to us. If it’s not new and shiny, we tend to check out.

But, when disaster struck, the world was riveted. Everyone was glued to their televisions.

President Richard Nixon asked the Nation to observe a day of prayer. The Senate and House, jointly passed a resolution on April 14, 1970, asking all Americans to pray at 9:00 Eastern Standard Time for the safe return of their countrymen. They also urged businesses and communication media to pause for prayer at that hour.

Are you stunned? Can you imagine both houses in Congress passing anything through that quickly? Can you imagine our leaders urging us to pray? They didn’t seem to be overly concerned with the separation of church and state or offending anyone.

In Rome, in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope led 50,000 people in a prayer for the astronauts’ safe return.

In Jerusalem, there were prayers at the wailing wall.

There were thousands of church prayer services held all over the country, asking God for intervention.

We are a country who has always had God at our root and we turned to Him in droves.

The odds were terrible. If they had enough power to get home, they could very likely have burned up on re-entry and the sea they were set to land in was on the edge of a typhoon.

But, we serve a God who doesn’t care about odds or statistics. He cares about, faith, trust and obedience. He answered the prayers of the millions of people who prayed and delivered the astronauts safely.

President Nixon later spoke at a church, where he said, “This event reminds us in these days of growing materialism, deep down, there is still a great religious faith in this Nation….I think more people probably prayed last week than perhaps have prayed in many years.”

People prayed and God listened.

It’s been forty-six years since the Apollo 13 launch. A lot has happened. But, we still serve the same God.

The Bible tells us, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Are we paying attention or have we become complacent? Are we praying like we should for our country and our leaders? We know there is power in prayer. We not only see it in the Bible; we have seen it throughout our history.

One of the astronauts famously said, “Houston we have a problem.” Perhaps we should say, “Heaven we have a problem,” and then ask God to fix it.

History shows us, if enough of us pray and turn to Him, He will.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂