Category: Building Christian Character

I was walking across my kids’ high school parking lot last week, when I came across a nail. I barely noticed it, as I was really hot and making a beeline for my car and to some sweet relief from air conditioning. I stepped right over it. My car was in sight. I was so close. But, a little voice in my head told me to go back and pick it up.

I tried to ignore it. It was sooooo hot. But, in my heart, I knew that little nail would plague me for the entire day. I grudgingly turned around and retrieved it. It was small and rusty and I put it in my pocket.

I drive in that parking lot fairly regularly. It could easily end up in my tire or in my daughter’s tire. But, I knew that wasn’t really the point.

The little voice convicting me to go back and pick up the nail was about doing what was right for everyone who might drive through that lot, not just the people who are close to me. The Holy Spirit was trying to teach me a lesson. I think maybe I got it, this time, even if it was with some resistance on my part.

It’s easy to do the right thing when we’re not stressed or in a hurry. Doing the right thing when it’s like a hundred degrees outside and all you want is to be indoors, is another. It’s also more difficult to do the right thing when we are tired, or funds or low, or when we are angry or hurt.

It’s also easy to do the right thing when we are helping ourselves in some way. Are we more eager to write a check to help fund a building where our kids can have the ideal youth space or are we more willing to write a check to fund a building that will provide housing for people we have never met? That’s a tough one; isn’t it?

When Jesus called us to love our neighbors, there wasn’t a little set of parenthesis that said when we feel like it, or if we’re not too tired or stressed. He also didn’t mean to only love the people who share our DNA or the people we happen to call friends. He said our neighbors, period.

I’m guessing he meant any person who crosses our path. If we can help, we are supposed to. So, I picked up that nail and held onto it as a reminder. Don’t get me wrong, I probably miss the call to action way more than I get it, but that day, I got it.

I’m going to try to listen more closely. Maybe you will too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

I was tending to my tomatoes yesterday when I spotted it, the dreaded tomato hornworm. You have to look really closely or you will miss it. It blends perfectly with the plants and at first glance it seems rather harmless. Looks can be deceiving. It can wreak havoc on a tomato plant in record time.

These pests feed constantly, eating everything in their path including the leaves and fruit. The only way to keep the plant safe is constant vigilance. Once you spot the first one, you have to constantly look for more. The best way to control them is to crush them.

That tomato worm reminded me of the enemy that Christians face daily. He too, can camouflage himself and blend right in, looking rather harmless. Things like skipping church to sleep in seem like no big deal on the surface. Sure, we all get tired and need a break, but when we aren’t careful, very rarely, becomes twice a month and we have cut our regular worship in half.

When we do things to tear down others instead of building them up, like participating in gossip, we leave a crack for a worm to slip through. When we allow ourselves to become focused on the negatives in our lives instead of the abundant blessings, we can leave room for discontent and out of that, leave a foothold for the enemy.

I believe that Satan’s attacks on us are often worm like, subtle and slow, but still inflicting serious damage. But, just like that tomato worm, his attacks can be halted too. Just like controlling the tomato worm, we have to be vigilant.

We have to be in regular prayer about situations which can harm our souls. We can ask for wisdom and discernment. The Bible tells us God will give it to us. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

We can also read the Bible. God’s word is truly the best way to keep the soul worms out. It’s like super pest control.

Another great way to help us keep out the soul worms is surrounding ourselves with other strong believers who will help us keep watch.

When we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, we can produce some amazing fruit. We just need to keep in mind that there is an enemy who would love to destroy it. But, thankfully, we have been given all we need to crush him beneath our feet, just like that pesky tomato worm.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

My daughter is getting her driver’s license in a little over two weeks. In order for me to feel like she’s road ready, I have made her my personal chauffeur this summer. I have had her do a ton of driving. Since we have been alone in close quarters, we have chatted a lot.

We have always talked a lot, but our conversations during the school year tend to be about all of the stresses in her life and believe me, teenage girls are stressed most of the time. From school, to friends, to boys, there’s rarely peace.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that we have the kind of relationship where we can talk about all of the things that trouble her. I’m always ready and willing to listen to all of her complaints and to offer her advice, but our summer time conversations have been a breath of fresh air.

When we have ridden around this summer, it’s been to do errands or to drive to my parents’ house. There have been no deadlines and very few worries. We have talked about things like our vacation, mission trip, music, movies, her cousins, her birthday, and other happy things. I have truly enjoyed being in a car with her this summer.

I’m sure I will miss it when she gets her license.

As I was thinking about my summer blessing of all of that happy time with her, I began to think about my prayer time.

I’ll have to admit I’m often guilty of spending much of my prayer time asking God for things or complaining, kind of like my teen does during most of the school year. We are supposed to take everything to God in prayer, so there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking Him for help or talking to Him about our disappointments and heartaches. That is authentic prayer.

But, how often do we just thank Him for an awesome day? How often do we share something with Him that warmed our hearts or made us smile? How often do we just say thanks for a beautiful sunset or for food on our table? I’m guessing He would love to hear about all of the good stuff too. That is also authentic prayer.

Riding around with my teen this summer reminded me that taking all things to God in prayer shouldn’t stop when things are going well for us. He wants to hear about our good days as well as our bad. Perhaps you needed a reminder too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

On a recent trip to Florida, my family visited a maritime museum. It was filled with really cool artifacts that had ties to the ocean, but by far the most interesting part was the curator. He was a veteran of Vietnam, a former dive shop owner and a treasure hunter.

There’s a shipwreck right off of the Florida coast called the San Miguel. It’s been there since it sank in a hurricane in 1715. It’s in very deep water with very low visibility. What’s a treasure hunter to do? They built a special boat, of course.

Treasure hunters are an interesting breed of people. They are relentless in their search. They study history and maps and then they search for clues in the ocean. Another amazing thing is that when they pull something up from the ocean floor that’s been there for over two hundred years, it looks more like a rock than treasure. I don’t think I could tell the difference. I could be holding a gold coin and think it’s a shell. But, they know.

Treasure hunters have an eye for shape and size and weight. Then they painstakingly clean all of the layers of debris that have covered it over the years. The process is not simple or quick, but when they are done, the treasure shines like new.

As I thought about the enthusiasm that the curator had when he shared his story and how he was incredibly excited about getting started on the actual excavation this summer, I was reminded God’s relentless pursuit of us.

He is truly the ultimate treasure hunter. He seeks us out when our hearts are all crusted over with years of sin and bad decisions and He slowly and gently strips it all away. He can see the beauty underneath and He knows what we can be with time, healing, love, and faith. When He works with us, we shine more brightly than any gold ever could.

I am also reminded that as Christians, we also have the opportunity to look for treasure in others. We have the opportunity to look past gruff exteriors, anger, hurt feelings, hopelessness, and apathy and see something different. We can share the love of Christ and we too, can watch those heavy heart layers slip away.

It takes time and perseverance. Years of disappointment and unbelief won’t disappear instantaneously. Luckily, patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, who is always willing to help us help others along their faith journey. We too, have the Bible to use for history and a map. God has equipped us well.

I like the idea of being a treasure hunter. What about you?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

I recently came across a story of a miracle that’s simply too good not to share. It was shared by a friend of mine on Facebook. Back in the summer of 2013, a Tulane college student named Katie Lentz was on her way to church in Missouri. She was doing an internship there.

A drunk driver hit her car so hard it flipped and she was trapped. The car was on its side and her face was on the pavement. When help arrived, they worked over 45 minutes and couldn’t free her. Their equipment kept failing. A helicopter waited to air lift her to a trauma center. All reports say Katie remained calm.

A priest appeared out of nowhere and asked rescue workers if he could anoint Katie. The officer in charge was concerned that it would send her the wrong message, that they had given up and called in a priest. Another rescuer concurred.

Isn’t that our human nature? We so often second guess the work and abilities of God. Their hearts were in the right place, but they were afraid.

Meanwhile, Katie’s vital signs began to fade. Something had to be done to get her out or she wasn’t going to make it. The rescuers decided to make a risky move and flip the car back over. The move could have been fatal for Katie, but they were out of options.

But, before they proceeded, Katie asked if someone would pray out loud with her. The priest stepped forward and said, “I will.” He did and he anointed her head with oil. Her vitals immediately stabilized. The priest stepped back.

They flipped the car. A new rescue crew appeared. Everything worked beautifully and she was removed very quickly and life flighted out. The priest disappeared. It was a miracle.

For several days, there was a search for the mystery priest. He didn’t turn up in close to 70 pictures at the site and the traffic was blocked off for two miles. How did he get there? Was he an angel?

Perhaps one of the rescuers said it best when he said, “Whether he was an angel dressed as a priest or a priest who became their angel, he was good with it either way.”

The priest did come forward. He was Father Patrick Dowling who was filling in that day for a sick priest. He said he never leaves the scene of an accident because he has the power to help. He gives all of the glory of that day to “the Almighty God.”

Katie’s rescuers said they had never seen such a horrific accident and couldn’t believe she survived it. Katie had many broken bones, but felt blessed to be alive.

And the take away? Prayer works. Maybe praying out loud works even better. We certainly know there is great power in praying in numbers. There are miracles that happen everyday. Maybe as Christians we should seek them out and share them with others. The world needs to see them.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/20/mystery-priest-to-reunite-with-miracle-car-crash-surviver-katie-lentz/

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” I have always loved that quote, not because I’m a physical wanderer. I’m quite the opposite. I’ve lived in the same house for ten years now and the one before that for seven. I’ve been a Georgia Girl my entire life.

But, there are different ways to wander, aren’t there? I’ve never felt a deep call to do one specific thing my whole life, like be a doctor, artist, or a singer. I like to sing and I sang in church growing up. I didn’t think about singing again for close to twenty years and last Christmas, I found myself singing in the church choir in a Christmas Cantata. Who would have thought?

Yesterday, my daughter and I went through her sheet music and sang songs together that we plan on singing together on our mission trip in a few weeks. When she pulled out, “Victory and Jesus,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “I Saw the Light,” for us to work on and proclaimed those as some of her favorites, I had to fight back tears. Those were always some of mine too, growing up, but she has rarely heard them in today’s church.

When we sang them together, I could almost see the Holy Spirit dancing along. The new church services with all of their new and improved music, really have nothing on the old stuff.

Our church won’t have a Vacation Bible School this year because we don’t have the space, but we are likely moving to a permanent home in the fall. This year is the first year I haven’t helped run a VBS in nine years. Next year, our church will probably have a need for someone to coordinate a VBS. I am more than willing.

I suppose when we allow ourselves to be flexible and wander a bit, we are much more available to be used by God. If I were only willing to focus on singing, I would have totally missed out on all my work on various Vacation Bible Schools. If I were only willing to work with young children, I would have missed out on working with youth groups.

Working with youth groups really made me read my Bible because they ask seriously tough questions. Reading my Bible made me tune into and listen to the Holy Spirit which lead me to write and share God with others on my daily walk. Watching for God in the world around us is a Vacation Bible School concept. It all ties together; almost as if there’s some Holy Architect.

I’ve done a fair amount of wandering on my faith journey and though I have been lost at times, for the most part, I’ve really enjoyed the scenery and almost every skill I’ve learned along the way has been put to use to serve in some way, and for that matter, more than once.

I don’t have to have a plan or destination in mind and neither do you. We just have to be willing to follow and maybe wander a bit. Who knows how He will use those skills we are picking up along the way? He will use them; of that we can be sure.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂