Category: Community

We were meant to live in community with others. If we want to be part of a strong community sometimes we need to initiate.

Why We Come Together to Worship

Posted on by Wendy
Worship is about celebrating God’s love for us.

My hubby and I visited a church for the first time last week. We didn’t know a soul there which was part of the reason why we chose it.  It was housed in an old warehouse with exposed brick. As we waited for the service to begin, I marveled at how the congregation elected to redeem something old and fairly dilapidated for a brand new purpose.

As we sang a worship song about coming to Jesus as you are and about no one being too far past redemption, we got to the chorus about earth having no sorrow that heaven can’t heal. A little boy around three or four went dancing up the aisle and across the front. I smiled at him thinking about how the hearts of little ones are always the ones who seem to find it easiest to worship without reserve and how the truth in that song was worth dancing about.

In modern day church, we simply don’t do that kind of thing. Although the Bible tells us that King David freely danced before God, not caring what anyone thought.

The young often have more to teach than we think.

The sermon was on Nehemiah, interestingly enough, an Old Testament book about rebuilding a wall and consecrating it to God, looking at the walls around me, these people appeared to have done the same.

The focus was on why Christians come together to worship.

It’s a legitimate question. Some of us have gone to church every Sunday since birth. I suppose each of us could list a dozen reasons why we go, some of them better than others.

The speaker gave a single reason. He said we worship together to celebrate, to celebrate who God is and what He has done for us. That alone he said, was why we come together, because whatever may be going on with us on a personal level, we have still been redeemed and saved and because of who God is, we are destined for a glorious future and that is worth celebrating.

For the people among us who are struggling, our celebration should remind them of hope and encourage them to hope for something better.

At the closing songs he had everyone in the room come together in the middle of the room as a people of God. He said he knew some of us would be uncomfortable, but to do it anyway. Everyone complied and the college student that I ended up touching shoulders with just smiled at me as we lifted our voices  together.

I left that service with a light heart and a new perspective. I was reminded that the Church is truly universal and when we come together with other people of faith to worship, the where is of no consequence, but the why is. In the end it’s really only about the Who we worship. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day! 🙂

Wendy

Seeking and Finding

Posted on by Wendy
God reveals Himself to those who seek Him in countless ways.

One morning last week, I was driving to an event for work. I was praying about several areas in my life where I needed both God’s intervention and His guidance. As I prayed, it began to rain and as the drops hit my windshield, I was reminded of the prayers from Psalms, so I gave thanks for the rain.

After that, I gave thanks that I woke up that morning, and I gave thanks for my health, and my family’s health, and for my car that runs, and for my job. The more I named, the more I thought of; it was as if naming the blessings made them multiply.

Next, like the Psalmist often does, I thanked God for the many times in the past that He has intervened on my behalf and the countless prayers He has answered. Then I found myself praying for my parents and naming the specific instances that He has had His hands on them and healed them and as I acknowledged His protection, I caught a red light and something made me look to the left.

When I did, I first saw the dorm that my Mama moved me into over 30 years ago and I thanked God for His constant presence, even when I couldn’t see or feel it and then I caught my breath as I saw a stunning rainbow over that dorm.

My eyes immediately filled with tears as I felt His presence and I felt the most wonderful sense of peace as I repeated thank you over and over.

After the event, I went to my sweet co-worker’s office to tell her good morning and the first thing she said to me, was “I have been praying for you.”

I thanked her and I told her what had happened and about the rainbow. She grinned and told me that she had seen it too and then showed me a picture she had taken with her phone. She then told me about a similar situation she just had with the car tag in front of her and how she knew it was God communicating with her.

We talked about how special those God winks are and then she said, “You know, we have to look for and acknowledge the small stuff, because if we don’t, we will never get to see the big stuff.”

As I thought about our conversation later, I thought about how often God intervenes and is present in ways that we never see, and how true worship should be looking for, acknowledging and giving thanks for the times we do see His hand at work. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Called to Bear Witness

Posted on by Wendy
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Last week was a rough week for my family. We lost our 14 year old dog, Sandy to a stroke. I suspected that his time was growing short, but his passing still caught me by surprise. When my children were in school, he was my constant companion. When I worked from home for a year during Covid, he was always on his bed next to my desk. He had been a big part of my life for a long time.

I almost didn’t write a post this week because it’s just been a depressing week, but then my daily devotion changed my mind. I’m reading Acts and Paul was sharing what he knew about Jesus. The writer of that day’s devotion said, ” Like Paul, we are also called to bear witness to what we’ve seen. What have you seen today that speaks of God? What have you seen that you can share with others?”

I felt convicted.

While it had been a hard week, I was thankful for all of the years we had with Sandy. He literally showed up at our house and brought my family so much joy and I caught a glimpse of God.

This week, when we had to take him to the vet, one of my sweet co-workers texted me to see how I was doing and I saw God. The next day at work when another sweet co-worker emailed me and told me she had been praying for me, I saw God and when she came to my office just to give me a hug, I saw God again.

When our newest edition, Annie, met me at the door after work, wagging her tail, and bouncing up and down with pure puppy joy, I saw God once again and I was completely humbled by the fact that He knew a month ago, when we decided to adopt her, that Sandy was going to be passing. He knew our hearts would be broken and He knew she would bring us comfort.

As I was walking at work the next day, I couldn’t help but be in awe of fall the leaves on trees. The seasons are changing and we are entering into a season of Thanksgiving and even though I feel a little raw, I am thankful, thankful that God made dogs, thankful that He made Sandy, thankful that He sent us Annie and especially thankful for the friends and family that He has surrounded me with who regularly show His love and grace.

To answer the earlier question, even in a particularly painful week, I saw tons of examples of God’s presence and in the end, I felt called to share.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Giving Thanks for the Prayer Warriors

Posted on by Wendy
Texts from Prayer Warriors brought me a deep sense of peace.

It’s been a dreary past couple of weeks at my house. My hubby and I, despite our best efforts, contracted Covid-19. We had what would definitely be considered a mild case. We didn’t have any breathing difficulties. We didn’t end up in the hospital, but it was a miserable experience.

As soon as I learned that my hubby tested positive, I reached out to some prayer warrior friends of mine and asked for prayer. The numbers were on our side, but I was seeking a deeper intervention from people who I knew would stand in the gap for us. I received daily texts and sometimes beautiful pictures, from people who I knew were praying and the peace that came from those prayers was priceless. A former pastor and dear friend of mine even called me and prayed for us over the phone.

It turns out that the hard reality of social distance and quarantine that was thrust upon us, was no match for the spiritual blessings that were showered upon us.

When I began to feel better and I was looking over the texts, I marveled at the faithful people who God has put in our lives. Some were from mission trips. Some were former co-workers. Some were current co-workers. Some were old friends and some were new friends. Some were family. My daughter even texted me to tell me that someone she met on a mission trip who has never even met us was praying for us.

I was truly humbled when I thought about how God carefully weaved these people into the fabric of our lives and how He knew when I met each one of these people that we would one day be sick and would need their prayers. He knew a pandemic was coming one day. He was not caught by surprise and just like He was with Joseph in Egypt, He was with us.

As I write this, the sun has finally come out after days of being shrouded by clouds. I am feeling better and I stand amazed at the power of prayer. I am reminded of the beautiful gift that a faith community is even when they are people that you rarely see. As a dear friend of mine once said, “Relationships built with Christ at the center are different than all others. They are deep and lasting.”

Those are wise words indeed.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Hydrangea Wisdom

Posted on by Wendy
We are all meant to bloom and contribute in our unique way.

A few years ago, I started a new job; at the end of that year, a sweet family gave me a hydrangea plant as a gift. I was so excited. I’ve always loved hydrangeas, but hadn’t really been able to grow them for a long time. I had a huge one at my last house, but when we moved, I just couldn’t make them grow even though I tried a variety of spots.

They either didn’t get enough sun or got too much sun and not enough water. I could only plant them in my backyard that’s fenced, because the herd of deer that resides in my neighborhood would eat them to the ground if they had the chance.

After trying numerous times, I gave up on hydrangeas. I just planted something else.

But, when I received one as a gift, I gave it another shot and it lived. It didn’t bloom, but it lived. The following year, they gave me a different variety and I planted it as well. It also lived. Once they gave me a third one and they all lived and I got a few blooms, I was inspired to buy one myself.

I put them all in raised beds and I watered them and fed them and waited. I was thrilled when I got a few blooms. It wasn’t what I hoped for, but at least I seemed to be on the right track.

Well, this year, three years after I started, my hydrangeas are bursting forth with blooms. They are the first thing I see when I drive up into my driveway. I have so many that I have been able to cut some to bring inside while still enjoying the ones outside. And to my delight, the ones I bring inside stay fresh and pretty for well over a week.

Each time I pass a vase of them, I stop and appreciate their beauty and I am reminded at how long it took for me to have them.

There was a decade of complete failure that caused me to give up completely, but then the kindness of someone else, encouraged me to try again. When I did, I didn’t get the blooms I wanted right away, but I got growth, so I kept trying and waiting patiently with hope and a little faith.

The combination proved to be enough.

Those hydrangeas remind me of our faith walk. Sometimes we and those around us, can get discouraged and sometimes give up completely. After years of disappointment, frustration and discouragement, we can decide that we will never bloom, yet God is always at work. He often sends someone to encourage us and remind us that it’s never too late to try again.

Sometimes we need to be encouraged and sometimes we are the one who encourages and we need to remember that both sides are vital to Kingdom work, because in the end, we are all meant to bloom and contribute in our own unique way.

Some hydrangea blooms reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

5K Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
I learned a lot more from participating in a 5K than I bargained for.

Last weekend I participated in a 5K. It was a fund raiser for our school’s STEM program and lots of people I work with were participating, so I reluctantly signed up. I’m not a runner. I like to walk for fitness and I run a little, during my walks, but I would never consider myself a runner.

The thought of a race was definitely not my cup of tea. I’m just not competitive that way, but I signed up anyway.

It turned out to be cold, in the forties and there was a small chance of rain, but there was a carnival atmosphere when I arrived. Everyone was pumped up and smiling. There was music playing. I wasn’t really sure what the excitement was about, but it was infectious.

Once the race began, I ended up walking alone and keeping my own pace. When I would see people I knew, they would smile and speak. Sometimes they were way ahead and on their way back when we crossed paths and sometimes I would pass them.

Either way, everyone was very encouraging, “Go Wendy!” they would call. When it began to rain, I began to run more than walk. I got a few good natured call outs, “thought you didn’t run!” I would laugh and reply that I don’t.

I never said I couldn’t run; I said I don’t run. Turns out, when it’s freezing and raining, I can run quite a lot.

But, the encouragement was contagious and I found myself cheering others on when I passed by them as well. When I crossed the finish line, a friend of mine was videoing and cheering me on.

I was so grateful to be done. I was cold and wet and ready to head home, but another friend told me I couldn’t leave because I was going to medal. How could that be possible? Little kids had passed me.

She explained that the race was broken down into age groups. There weren’t many people in my age group. I found it hysterical that just being old and finishing, made me eligible for an award, but I stayed and I got a medal. She did too and everyone cheered for each other.

I thought about that race long after I finally got home and got warm and dry.

It really is a parallel of how we should live our lives, going at our own pace, joining with others sometimes, walking some and running some, continuing forward even when the weather is bad and maybe most importantly, encouraging others in their race.

As a dear friend of mine says, “It doesn’t matter when you cross the finish line, as long as you finish. The only ones who lose are the ones who don’t try at all.” Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

The Spirituality of Technology

Posted on by Wendy
How we use technology, is entirely up to us.

Last weekend, I was out shopping with my hubby. Our son was out of town on a school trip. My cell phone began to blow up with texts. Many were from a remind service I had signed up for, telling me what was going on during my son’s trip. They were instructions like, “meet back at the bus at 7:00.” Some were from my mama who was visiting a friend in the hospital and the news was not good. Some were from my daughter and included pictures from her spring break beach trip. There was one from a friend that contained a funny meme.

All of the texts meant something to me. All of the texts were information that I wanted to know or were from people who I wanted to hear from, but I was shopping for something specific and I was feeling a little overwhelmed, when my phone buzzed again.

Of course I looked at it. Both of my children, though mostly grown, were in different states. My mama was at a hospital. There could be news that I really needed to know.

Isn’t it interesting how cell phones have made us always feel like we’re on the edge of an emergency? We feel like if we accidentally leave our phone on the table at home, for a quick grocery store trip, disaster will surely strike us. We might have a flat tire or get abducted or something horrible may befall a loved one.

How in the world did we survive before the late 1990’s?

Right or wrong, my phone buzzed and I dug it out of my purse. But, this time it was from a number I did not know and it made me catch my breath as I stopped and read it, giving it my full attention.

Just after Christmas, a dear faith friend of mine, who I had met on a mission trip, reached out to me asking me for prayer for his brother-in-law. He had developed a large brain bleed the day after Christmas. The doctors were having difficulty locating it and things didn’t look good. My friend rarely reaches out with prayer requests, so when he does, I know it’s something very important.

I immediately began praying for this man. He improved, thought very slowly. I continued to pray and every now and then I would ask an for an update. He was getting better. I hadn’t heard from him in quite a while when I received that text.

It was from his wife, thanking me and my family, for praying for her husband. She said that, “through prayers and the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, he had been released by the neurosurgeon and was doing great.”

My heart cheered for this woman who I had never met and I thanked God for her miracle.

Later, I marveled at the connection that believers have with one another. I thought about the wonder of technology and how it can be used for both good and bad. It can at times, enslave us, but it can knit us together too and it can help create an army of warriors who are willing to pray and prayer can make all the difference.

A text reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding 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 🙂

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 🙂

The Dangers of Untied Laces

Posted on by Wendy
Untied shoelaces can make us trip.

I work in an elementary school. My desk sits right in front of our clinic. As you might imagine, I see and hear lots of interesting and sometimes amusing, stories. One day last week, a little boy came into the clinic for some ice. He had tripped and banged his knee.

As the nurse was talking to him and getting his ice, she told him he needed to tie his shoelaces. He immediately informed her a little defiantly, that his untied shoestrings had nothing to do with him falling, that he had tripped over something completely different.

She calmly told him to tie his laces anyway, because she didn’t want him to return to the clinic with another injury. He tied them, although he wasn’t very happy about it.

After he left, we all had a little chuckle. I suppose just about everyone who works in an elementary school, reminds children on a regular basis, to tie their shoelaces. I know I do and I often just tie them myself.

But, I thought about that little boy and his shoelaces long after he left the clinic. I thought about how he knew they were a tripping hazard, which was why he was defensive. Why didn’t he just tie them? Those of us who are way past elementary school are aware of the tripping dangers of wayward shoelaces. I mean, you rarely see an adult walking around with untied laces.

Most of us can likely remember being told by adults when we were children, to tie our laces. Most of us probably thought those adults were just trying to aggravate us. We couldn’t see the wisdom that those adults had acquired.

But, while us grownups proudly walk around with our shoelaces tied, what other things do we do to trip ourselves up? We sometimes drive too fast and eat or drink too much. We can stay up too late. Doing those things can endanger our physical health, kind of like those untied shoelaces.

What about our spiritual health? If we really want to go to church on Sunday, staying out late on Saturday is probably not a good idea. If we want to read the Bible, opening it up while we’re watching a football game or the latest episode of our favorite television show is also probably not a good idea. There are certain types of media we can watch, or listen to or even participate in, that can interfere with our peace and hurt our souls. What about activities like gossip?

Unfortunately, the older we get the more rampant the tripping hazards can become, but just like those adults who reminded us to tie our shoes, if we pray and listen, we have the Holy Spirit who can remind us about the spiritual dangers we might need to avoid and we also have the support of our faith friends. It takes a village!

A little boy with untied shoelaces reminded me to be vigilant about spiritual safety. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂