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.

We Are Called to Do

Posted on by Wendy
There's a time for talking and planning and a time for doing.
There’s a time for talking and planning and a time for doing.

Yesterday, we had only one boy show up for our Sunday school class. It was a holiday weekend and a lot of people were out of town. I attend a small church, so when a few families are out of town, it makes a difference. You are missed, when you miss a Sunday in a small church. It can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective.

My hubby and my son had a big box out on one of the tables in the fellowship hall. I asked him what they were doing. He informed me that they were changing the letters on the sign out front. I asked him what he thought about our one student, helping them out. He told me that was exactly what he was planning.

And so they worked on the sign together, my hubby, a high school freshman and a fifth grader. When I spoke to the boy’s mother and told her what they were doing, she surprised me with her answer.

While I didn’t think she would have a problem with him helping, she was actually very encouraging. She told me that she felt like being a part of a church was learning to serve. She said that while Sunday school was for learning, that she felt like her son also needed to learn that there are many ways to serve and that the best way to learn to serve is by doing.

I thought about her words as I went through my day. I thought about working with kids and teaching them about the Bible. I thought about teaching about the Christian walk. I believe that it’s so important to share our faith and knowledge with those who are young in their faith.

But, I also thought about the doing. Sometimes the best lessons are the hands on. We can talk about serving all day long, but unless we actually do something, it’s just talk.

I would love to believe that my young Sunday school student, will remember all of the faith lessons we have talked about. But, I know he will remember partnering with other church members who weren’t his age, to work on fixing the church sign. When he rides by the sign, he can take some ownership. He can see his work.

My own faith lesson on Sunday was remembering that Christians are called to do, not talk about doing, and it’s so easy to get bogged down in the talking. While there is a time for talking and planning, at some point, we have to do something.

An eleven-year-old boy reminded me of that. Maybe you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Participating in the Story

Posted on by Wendy
We are all invited to participate in the Christmas story.
We are all invited to participate in the Christmas story.

Yesterday, our church choir performed a Christmas Cantata. It was complete with readings that told the story of Jesus’ birth. A narrator would read about an event like Mary’s visit from the angel Gabriel, and then the choir would sing a song about it.

I didn’t really love the music selection this year for the cantata. It was very difficult to learn for someone who doesn’t read music and required a ton of practices which often ran past 9:00 at night. Yet, when it all came together, with the small orchestra that the choir director assembled, and the readings, that our pastor tweaked, it was a beautiful telling of the Christmas story.

The songs that I had come to dread singing, over and over, came to life somehow and there were times that I couldn’t help, but move to the beat as I sang. One of the male choir members told me it was the same way for him afterwards. I suppose when you prayerfully, come together, with open hearts, to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ, the Holy Spirit gets involved.

When the Holy Spirit gets involved, the results are never disappointing. Hearts get opened and lives get changed.

Next Sunday evening, we are doing a family improv Christmas pageant. We have a Joseph and a Mary, a couple of angels, a couple of shepherds and two wise men at this point. We will have narrators read the Christmas story from the Bible and members of the audience, are invited to join in the procession to the manger, in whatever part they choose, to participate in the telling of the Christmas story.

Adults are joining in with children. My hubby has built a manger. People have been asked to bring whatever they can find from home, to wear as costumes. My daughter is playing her guitar along with another church member. We will sing the Christmas carols everyone knows, like “Hark the Herald Angels Sings” and “Silent Night.”

It will be in the fellowship hall and we are expecting a certain amount of chaos. But, as I think about old and young coming together in mismatched costumes, not rehearsing, but simply listening to the Scripture to guide us where to go, I can’t imagine Jesus being much happier with a production, even one that was practiced for months in advance with hundreds of dollars spent on costumes.

There’s something about participating in the Christmas story, whether it’s in song, or in a pageant, or in any other way, that stirs the heart. I suppose it’s because the birth of Jesus, was the official invitation for all of mankind to participate in the kingdom of God. The angels’ message to the shepherds was one for every man, woman, and child, with no expiration date. The message was and is, timeless.

Our actual participation in telling of the story of the birth of our Savior, seems to somehow open our hearts to experience just a glimpse of the joy that the earth felt over two thousand years ago. We are all invited to participate.

Every time we say a prayer, every time we attend church service, every time we wish someone a Merry Christmas, every time we invite someone to church, every time we sing a Christmas carol, and every time we tell the Christmas story to our children or grandchildren, we are participating.

And when we participate, I believe Heaven participates with us. So, come and join in the chorus.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Community Cheers for Us

Posted on by Wendy
Christian Community stands by us when times are tough and celebrates with us when times are good.
Christian Community stands by us when times are tough and celebrates with us when times are good.

Last Sunday, when our church announcements were being made, someone from the back of the church called out, “Look who’s here!”

Of course, we all whipped our heads around to see who it was. We all began to clap and cheer when we realized that it was Miss Bonnie. Miss Bonnie will proudly tell you that she is 90. She was widowed while very young and raised five children, essentially on her own. She was a cheerleader at the University of Georgia and puts on her uniform that she has kept all of these years, at the yearly homecoming game and cheers with the current cheerleaders. She is also a retired professor with a PHD.

As if all of this isn’t impressive enough, she’s a hoot and I loved sitting next to her at our Bible study last winter. She really enjoys sitting near our teenagers during church service and I have often jokingly told her that I don’t know who I should tell to behave during service, her and her friends or the teens on my row. She always laughs at that.

Last spring, Miss Bonnie fell and broke some bones. After several weeks, she wasn’t healing. She saw specialists and her kids took turns coming to look after her. She was added to the prayer list. The congregation sent cards and many visited. I had heard just a few weeks ago that she had gone to stay with her son in Atlanta.

I silently wondered if I would ever see her again. I missed her sassy presence. But, on Sunday, she surprised us all and came through the door, assisted by her son. She had lost some weight, but she looked great and the congregation erupted in cheers.

I have often written about the importance of Christian community. We pray for each other and support each other when times are tough. We come together and celebrate when times are good and sometimes we have to cheer for each other because we are just so overwhelmed with joy at one of our church family member’s accomplishments. Sunday was one of those days.

We all matter to God as individuals. You matter. I matter. We are all precious to Him, the one who made us. The Bible tells us, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Luke 15:10

Heaven cheers when we get it right. Jesus told his disciples to love one another and I believe that strong Christian community is one of the closest things we have to Jesus on this side of eternity. Jesus cheers with us as we cheer each other on.

True Christian community is a gift. If you are part of one, give thanks for it. If you are not, I encourage you pray about it and go where God leads. It’s worth every step of the search. I pray I’ll be as loved as Miss Bonnie when I’m 90.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Faith’s Blessings

Posted on by Wendy
We worship the God who created the universe. Is anything too had for Him?
We worship the God who created the universe. Is anything too hard for Him?

Last October, my family visited a new church, well, new to us. This church had been started fourteen years earlier by a core group of believers who were looking to worship together. They began as Independent Methodists and they met at a local school.

Over the years, they bought a building and then realizing they had no room to expand, sold it. They met at a local funeral home for a while and became part of the Wesleyan Denomination. They were always looking for something permanent, but were unable to find the space they could afford. There was an  empty church in a nearby town, but it was too expensive and needed a fair amount of renovation. That group of believers was adamant on staying together as a church.

The summer before my family visited, they were given thirty days notice to vacate where they had been worshiping. They had nowhere to go and could find no viable, rental space. Many newer members, abandoned ship for greener pastures. But, the core group, continued to pray and hold fast to what they felt they were called to do, worship together and stay together.

A garage-type space opened up, no rooms, no sheet rock, just walls. That core group of believers did what amounted to an Amish barn raising and created a space that would work. It was small, but it was theirs and they had a lease. They had some breathing room while they searched for something else.

My family visited that little store front space and we were immediately drawn in by how welcome we felt and the amount of love we felt there. We could feel God. We ended up joining.

In May, the leaders of the church were informed that the little church that they had looked at earlier, but found too expensive had dropped in price. They invited the entire congregation to take a look. While it was small, it sat on seven acres. We took a vote and everyone voted to purchase it.

Here’s where God got busy. We were told by our denomination, if we could raise $50,000 in six months, that they would match our funds. The entire idea seemed incredibly out of reach. Our church is very small, with less than 100 members, but a capital campaign was kicked off in July. Yesterday, 40 days later, we had surpassed our goal.

We were all in shock, although I don’t know why. We worship the God who can turn water into wine, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who called the stars into being, the God who fed thousands of hungry people with a few fishes and loaves of bread, the God who sent us His son to save us. Is there anything He can’t do?

For fourteen years, this particular Body of Christ has remained obedient and faithful and they have waited on God and His timing even though all seemed lost at times. They stood fast and today, they were rewarded for their faith.

In October, we will move into a little white church on a hill that will have been completely renovated to welcome all who would come, to know Christ. While we are all giving stunned thanks for the amazing blessings which we have been given, we wait in wonder to see what God will do next.

Yesterday, we were all reminded of Gabriel’s famous words to Mary, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:27

Maybe you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Christian Community

Posted on by Wendy
Christian Community can change the world.
Christian Community can change the world.

One of my favorite topics to write about is community, specifically Christian community. Paul wrote a lot about community in his letters that make up the majority of the New Testament.

My mama recently shared with me a story of community at work in her church. In her Sunday School Class, an older woman began talking about her son’s cancer diagnosis and how she disagreed with his choice of treatment. She began sobbing as she told her story. We tend to get uncomfortable when people lose control, don’t we? When we don’t have answers, we tend to distance ourselves.

Most of us prefer smiling happy faces at church. I suspect God prefers authenticity. Come just as you are. Mama said is was beautiful the way the class rallied around her. Men and women chimed in. They offered her support as they listened and offered prayer. This is Christian Community.

In my own church, our new associate pastor was listening as I was sharing my upcoming mission trip and all of God’s signs telling me to go. She placed her hand on my arm and asked me the dates, so that she could pray for me. It was totally unexpected, although I don’t know why. This is Christian Community.

A family in our community very recently lost a child in a tragic car accident. They are members of our last church. An e-mail went out yesterday requesting members of an adult Sunday School Class to help them move. They needed some assistance loading a truck. At least two members had already signed up to help. This is Christian Community.

Paul tells us in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”

There are many ways to do good to others. We can physically assist. We can politely listen. We can give time and money. We can pray and intervene spiritually for those in distress. Every situation requires something a little different. There is always opportunity. But, either way, as Christians, we are called to be part of community.

We have so much to teach each other and so much to learn. Each one of us has something unique to share. We simply can’t do that at home watching a sermon on television or online.

Christian Community is special and powerful. It makes a difference. It changes lives. It can change the world. Don’t miss being a part of it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Honoring Life’s Mothers

Posted on by Wendy
Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother’s Day!

Sunday is Mother’s Day and thanks to the commercial world we live in, there’s a great push to buy the mothers in our lives everything from cards and flowers to diamond jewelry and days at the spa. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with giving tokens of thanks to the moms in our lives who we have been blessed with, but I think we should all go a little deeper on Mother’s Day.

Most women have been a mom in some way, shape or form in their lifetimes, even if they didn’t physically give birth to a child. Women tend to be natural nurturers. God made us that way, so most women mentor or mother many people during their lives who don’t share their DNA.

Sometimes our need to create life even takes the form of creating charities or writing books or movies that change people’s lives in some way. Creating and nurturing is something most women do well, which is not surprising, when we remember how creative our Creator is.

I think Mother’s Day is the perfect day to celebrate the women in our lives who have helped us along our journey. We should definitely celebrate the women who gave us physical life, but it’s a great time to remember all the ladies who have mothered us along the way.

It’s a great day to say a prayer of thanks for all of the mamas out there who make a huge contribution to the world we live in through the children they raise. It’s also a great day to remember those who are mourning the loss of their own mothers or those who may be mourning the loss of a child. We can pray for grace and comfort for those who mourn. The Bible tells us, they will be blessed and comforted.

I’m very grateful for my mama and all she’s done for me and I’m grateful for all those women who have mothered me along the way. I’d like to wish all the mamas out there a Happy Mother’s Day. You are all truly a blessing from God.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Dandelion Faith

Posted on by Wendy
What do you see when you look at a dandelion?
What do you see when you look at a dandelion?

When children see a dandelion, they often see a wish for the making. They will blow on all of those little white seeds and make a wish. When adults see a dandelion, they often see a weed that must be killed at all costs. Beauty, I suppose, is in the eye of the beholder. The truth is, though, that we would usually all be better off if we looked at life through a child’s eyes.

Dandelions were actually prized until the 1800’s. People would pull grass out of their yards to make space for useful weeds. They are useful. All parts of them are edible except for the white seeds. They have vitamin A, C, K, potassium and calcium in them. They can also be dried and made into a tea. They can be used to make dyes and some cultures use them for medicinal purposes. Bees love them and use them to make honey.

Interestingly, when perfectly manicured lawns became the rage, dandelions became a pest to homeowners. People spend millions of dollars each year on herbicides to try to eradicate them. But, the dandelion is a formidable foe.

I think we might have some things to learn from this little weed. First of all, its roots can grow up to fifteen feet deep. Think about that for a moment. No wonder you can’t dig them up very easily. Most of them have about eighteen inch roots, but that’s still pretty deep. The other cool thing about their tap-root is that it’s very brittle and twisted, if you leave any of it at all behind, while digging it up, it will regenerate.

Then there’s the little white seeds. They can travel up to five miles away on the wind and create more dandelions. That’s a lot of dandelions from one original plant.

I have to wonder what our faith would look like if we took a lesson from the dandelion. What if we established deep roots through prayer, Bible reading and faith community? If our roots went deep enough, no adversity could snuff us out. If we came under attack, we would regenerate. The right root system would allow us to do that.

After establishing roots, we could feed many off of our bright yellow flowers. All kinds of people are attracted to bright and cheerful, just like the bees are attracted to dandelions. Just think of the sweet honey-like things that could come from our cheerful invitation to follow.

Then, of course, there are the white seed pods that spread everywhere with a little help from the wind or a whimsical child. There’s a lot of new life that can come from spreading our faith like that.

I think we can learn a lot from the dandelion. I don’t think I’ll look at them quite the same way anymore. Maybe you won’t either.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

What Faith Can Do

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when we feel the most helpless, God shows up.
Sometimes when we feel the most helpless, God shows up.

My family suffered a tragedy last weekend. Our beloved minivan of fourteen years, died. It was just a car, but it was special. My children were still in car seats when we bought it. My son was only three months old. It was right after the 9/11 attacks and I remember proudly displaying a flag on the back window.

It was a mom mobile and I drove it happily. It seated seven and I regularly hauled that many kids in it. It’s been camping many times and on road trips and vacations. It carried my sister’s wedding dress to Florida along with my mom and dad and all of my mom’s stuff. We were super packed on that trip.

I remember when the kids were in preschool, they all fought to ride in it. It was the cool car. Most women my age, traded for something much hipper when their kids got older, but not me. I loved the minivan and always volunteered to drive whenever I was needed, which was often, from things like tennis matches to youth group trips, to my daughter’s first homecoming dance.

I knew it was getting old, and soon my oldest will be driving, but I wasn’t ready to downsize yet. Unfortunately, the decision was made for me.

I fought tears all weekend over the loss. Not only because we don’t really have the money to buy a new one, but because it symbolizes the end of an era. My kids are growing up and soon we won’t need the minivan, and I find that very bittersweet.

As always, God has His hands in all of this. There’s a man at church who I love to kid around with every Sunday. He is in management at a local car dealership and apparently has helped just about everyone in the congregation to find a car. When I spoke with him on Sunday and asked him for help and then told him that I really hated to ask for help, He simply said, “Why? That’s what I do.”

I was so humbled. This is community. When I shared with members of my Improv group that our van had died, a member of my small group immediately turned around and asked if we needed a car because his wife was out of town for the week. This is community.

When I confessed how silly I felt about being sentimental about the loss of the van, another member of my small group told me it wasn’t silly at all. This is community.

I was driving down the road after church, in my daughter’s car and I was scanning channels and praying for some peace. A song came on called, “What Faith Can Do,” by Kutless. I had never heard it, but it’s older. The words were, “Don’t you give up now. The sun will soon be shining. You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining.” The words really struck me and soothed my soul.

As I slowed to stop at the red light, I could hardly believe the letters on the tag in front of me. “B LEVE” I whispered a prayer of thanks as tears ran down my cheeks. Not only had He provided me with a loving caring church community, He also let me know that He is always close and always listening. We just have to look.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

P.S. If you want to hear that song, I’ve attached a link.

Come Thirsty

Posted on by Wendy
We should never be afraid to come to church thirsty
We should never be afraid to come to church thirsty

I have read several articles lately about how people aren’t comfortable going to church when they don’t feel like they have it all together. They are hesitant to go when they feel sad or depressed. They decide not to go when they are upset or angry. Sometimes they decide not to go because they are wrestling with God in some way.

Unfortunately, it’s when we are struggling that we need God the most. It’s when we need to worship the most. When we are really hurting or feel the most desperate is when we can probably benefit the most from taking our focus off of ourselves and placing it squarely on God.

When we are barely keeping our heads above water, is when Christian community is supposed to step in and throw us a life ring. We are called to remind each other of the love of Jesus. Jesus, himself, said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:31-32

I think that speaks to two groups who equally need to feel and share in love and grace. Sometimes we are struggling through no fault of our own. We live in a broken world and bad things happen. We suffer losses, or we get sick, or we feel short on faith. We are soul-sick in some way and we shouldn’t wait until we heal to go to church. Church can help us heal; so we should feel comfortable coming thirsty or empty.

The second group I feel like Jesus is addressing is those people who have made some bad decisions and they need to repent and ask forgiveness, which, let’s face it, if we are honest, should be most of us, on a regular basis. However, sometimes, people feel like they have messed up big time and church is no place for them.

Jesus says repeatedly in the Gospels, that this attitude is wrong. He came to save everyone, not just the righteous or the people who have it together. He came to redeem all sinners and he can redeem any situation, whether we created it or not, but we have to be willing to give it to him. He will not wrestle us for it.

As we journey through Lent, maybe we should consider our church attendance. Why do we go? Why do we not go? Do we attend when we are feeling our worst? Do we believe that all of our sins, not just some of them can be forgiven? Do we believe that our lives are worth something and redeemable? Jesus does and so should we.

We should never be afraid to come thirsty.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Lessons from Improv

Posted on by Wendy
They underlying mission of Improv is simply to teach the players to listen.
The underlying mission of Improv is simply to teach the players to listen.

Back in early January, my church started an Improv group. Our pastor has written plays and acted on the side, for the majority of his adult life. My hubby and I have found over our years of working with kids and teens, that their favorite part of any curriculum that we bought, or created ourselves, was skits. We found that even when Sunday school attendance was at record lows, the kids would all show up to be in a play.

So, after a couple of meetings with our pastor, the idea of a Sunday Night Improv Group was born. We invited teens and adults to participate, two groups who often don’t mix. On the very first meeting, the pastor explained that Improv is simply about really listening to what your partner is saying. It’s not about thinking about what you will say next, but really listening to them. Right away, I could see some value here.

He went on to say that comedy, good clean comedy, humor, and laughter are gifts from God. The first night was fun, but everyone was kind of nervous. It’s been really cool to see everyone start to loosen up, which is also interesting, because we have different participants each week. We have some regulars, but we also have new people.

The really amazing thing is to watch the teens easily interacting with adults and some of the adults are a good deal older. But, everyone laughs and everyone, even new people, at this point, seem to be perfectly comfortable. We clap for each other. We laugh at each other and ourselves. Through our laughter and silly games, we are learning to listen to voice inflection and tone. We are learning to use and watch for body language. We are learning to trust each other.

Laughter is such an important part of life and comedy truly is a gift. As I was watching the 40th Anniversary of Saturday Night Live on Sunday night, they showed a clip of the World Trade Center which immediately caught my eye. We were all too sad to laugh for a long time after 9/11. There was no SNL for a while. It seemed like our entire country would be glued to our television sets in tears, perpetually. I remember.

But, at some point, we were ready to laugh again. We were ready to begin the process of healing. They showed the clip of Rudy Juliani and the creator of SNL making an announcement that it was okay to be funny again. True to SNL style, the clip itself was funny.

Laughter truly is great medicine. It has the ability to heal us and it has the ability to bring us together. It really is a gift from God that I am seriously thankful for.

It’s exciting to watch our little group grow and eventually, our pastor has a play he wants us to do. It’s a serious play about our journey with God and the highs and lows that are part of it. But, for now, we are playing and laughing and enjoying being part of a faith community. What a huge bonus, that it happens to be so much fun.

It’s a great reminder that God is everywhere, even in the laughter, and I find that amazingly reassuring.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂