Category: Trusting God

Sometimes life seems upside-down. When we draw closer to God, we begin to learn and trust that He has a plan for us and we can let go of many of life’s anxieties knowing that He has our best interest at heart.

Azalea Inspiration

Posted on by Wendy
Late bloomers are no less spectacular than the early ones.

Last weekend, we were blessed with gorgeous weather on Saturday. I went out for a walk, not only for exercise, but also to bask in the warmth. There were so many beautiful trees and shrubs blooming in my neighborhood, that I wish I had a camera.

One thing that I kept noticing, was that while many of the azaleas were finished blooming, the ones in the shade of the trees, were going strong. They were just getting started. As I came back to my own house, I could see that my huge pink azaleas that had been beautiful just a few weeks earlier, had turned brown.

It always makes me a little sad every year, when they go from beautiful to brown. Their time had passed. But, then I glimpsed my azaleas that were underneath the oak trees. They were vibrant.

I thought about those azaleas all afternoon and into the evening. I thought about how in nature, different plants bloom at different times. Sometimes it has to do with the season. Sometimes it’s dependent on the amount of water and sunlight they are getting, and sometimes it simply has to do with where they are planted.

The azaleas in the shade bloom just as spectacularly as the ones in the direct sun; they just do it later. The late bloomers are just as beautiful and significant as the early bloomers.

The azaleas remind me that people are similar. We rarely bloom at the same time. Some of us hit our sweet spot very early and some of us don’t find it until much later in life as a second act. But, either way, we all have the opportunity to bloom and share something beautiful with the world.

The azaleas also remind me that sometimes we bloom and contribute and feel very much on track for a season and other times we are just barely hanging on. Yet with patience and perseverance, we can come back to a season of blooming, just like they do every single year.

If you woke up today, God is not done with you. He still has things to teach you and you still have beauty to share. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, or what season you may find yourself in, or even where you have been planted. The possibilities are endless when we allow God to grow us.

Some azaleas reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Pollen Principle

Posted on by Wendy
The messy pollen has a purpose.

Yesterday, when I walked out on my porch to let my dogs out, I once again grumbled to myself about the thick coat of pollen that covers everything this time of year. You can literally wipe it off of any surface and within a few minutes, there’s another thin layer.

More than once, I have attempted to do a thorough cleaning of my porch before the pollen is done flying and more than once, I have found myself incredibly frustrated. While I might have been ready to move on to the next season, nature was not. It still had work to do.

The yellow pollen that makes such a mess is from pine trees. They produce lots and lots of pollen to ensure that all of their seeds get fertilized and that their species survives. There’s an actual reason for the mess.

It doesn’t matter how much I sweep my porch or wash my car, the pollen will fly until it’s time for the next season. Nature does not run on my time table.

Consequently, it doesn’t matter how much I complain about it either. Pine pollen is part of living in the deep south.

As I think about the pollen, I think there may be a lesson in the mess. I think we have all had times in our lives when the pollen seems to keep flying. As soon as we clean ourselves off, we find ourselves and our world covered again in a mess of some sort. We desperately want to move onto the next season because we are just plain weary of the mess.

Most of us have wondered things like: will the baby ever sleep through the night, or will the toddler ever be potty trained, or will the morning sickness ever stop, or will the puppy ever be house trained, or will I ever finish school, or if the sadness will ever ease, or if a broken heart will ever mend?

The list of the different messes that we find ourselves in on this side of eternity, is close to endless. But, like the pine pollen, many of what we consider at the time, to be frustrating messes have a purpose. Many of them are simply a phase along the journey. Many of them are ensuring our growth.

When we look back upon them, many of them end with some beautiful blooms and a season of calm. The Bible tells us that there is a season for everything. When you think about it, that has to include the pollen times.

That thought gives me a little more patience and hope. Maybe you needed some today too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

There’s Beauty in the Story

Posted on by Wendy
There’s beauty in every chapter of your story.

Last weekend, I took a walk. I was thrilled that it was at last warm enough to get outside and walk. I was not disappointed. The trees, bushes and flowers, in my neighborhood had burst into life and there was color everywhere.

On my way back home, my new neighbor was pushing her child in a swing. I commented on the design of the swing and how it looked like a lot of fun. We chatted a few minutes. Her oldest daughter is getting ready to start pre-kindergarten and we talked about the area schools.

After a little while, her little girl grew impatient and so I directed my conversation to her. I asked her if she had an Easter dress and if she was going to any egg hunts. She was and she happily told me about them.

When I said goodbye and went home, I marveled at how quickly the time had passed. When we moved into our house, my kids were four and six. Our next-door-neighbors were empty-nesters. Now I have a sixteen-year-old and a college freshman. Those empty-nesters retired to the lake and a young family moved in.

We are no longer that young family.

But, as fun as Easter dresses and egg hunts were, I have to say, that I’m enjoying this chapter too. My daughter is coming home from college for Easter and she’s bringing a friend. We went Easter dress shopping while she was home for spring break and it was much easier than it was when she was little. We had a lot of fun.

I can simply buy a new shirt for my son for Easter; his presence isn’t even required.

We will attend church together and we will go out to eat and actually enjoy the conversation. I find it exciting to see the young adults that my babies have grown into.

Sure, I sometimes miss having littles, but I’m embracing this chapter too. I’ve come to learn that when we walk with Jesus on our journey here, there’s grace and beauty in every chapter. The best is never behind us because we don’t even get to the best on this side of Eternity.

Everyday that I wake up means God is not finished with me yet. There are fresh assignments and adventures, and new ways to learn and grow.

A conversation with a young mommy reminded me that every chapter matters because the Divine Author isn’t finished writing my story. Perhaps you needed reminding too!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Never Count God Out

Posted on by Wendy
“But with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

We were recently discussing the Book of Exodus in my Sunday School class. We were at the part where Moses went to Pharaoh and told him to let God’s people go. Pharaoh refused. He probably knew of the God of the Israelites, but the Egyptians had many gods.

He counted their God out.

It turned out to be a huge mistake on his part. There were plagues and death and God showed up for His people in a huge way. Pharaoh did in fact, let the Israelites go.

A few day’s later, I was reading a daily devotion on Esther. It pointed out that God is not even mentioned in the book and there was evil everywhere. Yet, God was at work for His people even when they couldn’t see Him. The evil Haman, counted God and His love for His people, out, just as Pharaoh had generations before.

It turned out to be a huge mistake that ended up costing him his life.

Last weekend, I came across an article on a new movie called, “I Can Only Imagine,” that made me think of both Moses and Esther.

The movie is based on the song of the same name, by the Christian group, Mercy Me. When it was released, it became the most played contemporary Christian song of all time.

The movie is about a boy who grows up with an abusive father. But, it’s about the redemption that comes from knowing God. It’s core is the premise that God can redeem any situation for good. There really are no exceptions.

The critics hated it. Metacritic gave it 27 out of 100. Rotten Tomatoes critics gave it 5.7 out of 10 or 63%. It was expected to make between $2 and $4 million on its opening weekend.

Once again, they counted God out. Once again, it was a mistake.

After making $6.2 million on its first day, estimates were increased to $14 million. It ended up making $17.1 million opening weekend. The average reviewers, (people who went and saw the movie) on Rotten Tomatoes, gave it a 4.8 out of 5, of or 96%. The film received a rare A+ Cinema Score.

As I read the story, I just had to smile. An independent film company made a film that tells the story of hope and forgiveness that glorifies God. The mainstream media critics snubbed it. But, people came out in droves to see it.

Why? How could the “people in the know,” be wrong?

They counted God out.

It frankly comes as no surprise to me that people are thirsting for a story of hope and redemption. Don’t we all need that in our lives?

The success of, “I Can Only Imagine,” is a tangible reminder that all things are possible with God and we should never count Him out. Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Seasonal Decisions

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes we have to participate in removing the dead things to reveal the beauty that lies underneath.

I woke up on Sunday morning with a headache and a sore throat. My ears were popping. My head and nose were completely stopped up. I was miserable and I knew why.

There’s a very specific time of year for me, when my seasonal allergies are at their worst. I can pin-point it down to a couple of weeks. I can use antihistamines, decongestants and nose sprays, yet it happens anyway. I sometimes even lose my voice.

You would think that I would come to dread this time of year. You would think that I would follow recommendations and stay indoors. You would be wrong.

Nope, on Saturday, I was outside with my hubby raking leaves and deciding what we should plant in front of the house. I simply can’t help myself this time of year. The temperatures are warming up and the earth has burst into life after its winter slumber.

While I could leave my hubby to rake all by himself, I want to be a part of it. There’s something almost spiritual about removing piles of dead leaves and discovering new green growth underneath. Those leaves had a purpose at one time and then they turned brilliant colors, but their season has passed and they need to be removed from the fertile ground that they cover.

So, every year I subject myself to the misery because I know the change that is coming. I know this because it happens every year. It’s part of life here on planet earth. it’s part of the seasons. If I don’t do some work now, I will miss out on the growth and beauty that is coming.

Jesus often used the environment when talking to the crowds. They were farmers, and fisherman, and tradesmen. They were people who worked with their hands and so His message connected with them.

God told Noah after the flood, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22

Sometimes misery is part of change. Sometimes we become emotionally or spiritually uncomfortable before something brand new and beautiful happens. This is God at work in our story. It builds trust. It builds faith.

Every year during the spring, in mid-March, I have the choice to be a part of the change or to play it safe and stay indoors. While there are some days of discomfort that come from the decision to participate, they will pass. The pay offs are well worth it. My work is always rewarded.

Some seasonal allergies reminded me that change and beauty are on the way. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Road Trip Reflections

Posted on by Wendy
We won’t really reach the top until God calls us home.

Last Sunday, my hubby and I traveled to south Georgia to see my daughter get an award. It just so happened that we had a college visit the day before, for my son, which was north of Atlanta. Needless to say, we spent lots of time in the car last weekend.

On the trip south, I commented to my hubby, who used to cycle a lot, how it seemed like the rolling hills went on forever and how difficult that must be to do on a bicycle. He told me the hills themselves weren’t all that difficult, but it was the fact that they went on and on that was the problem. He said at some point you would ask yourself if they would ever end.

He said it was a lot like hiking in the mountains. When you hike a mountain, the path is never straight to the top. You hike through switchbacks, which are like giant zigzags. You get all the way to the end and then move up a level and walk all the way to that end.

He said that he could see the mountain top from the distance as he hiked the switchbacks, but when he finally reached the top, he would find it was a false top and the true mountain top was even further up.

I thought about our conversation on our very long ride and two things popped into my mind. I’ve hiked a little myself and switchbacks can be maddening, but inevitably, they are part of the journey. There’s beauty in them if we care to look, like flowers we might have missed along the way.

The secret of a good hike is to enjoy the scenery and not race to the top. The switchbacks are part of the journey.

The second thing that occurred to me is that on this side of Eternity, all of the mountains will be false tops. We will never be completely satisfied in the journey. We will always be drawn to something higher because God is always drawing us to Him.

The hills and switchbacks will eventually end when God calls us home. Until then, we have to remember to rest when we need to, but to enjoy the journey. Yes, it can sometimes be filled with frustration and pain, but it’s filled with wonder and beauty too, that we can miss if we try to race.

A car ride reminded me to appreciate what’s in front of me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Spring Inspiration

Posted on by Wendy
Hold tightly to your faith. Spring is coming.

As my hubby and I were driving home from church on Sunday, I commented on how beautiful the blooming trees were. It was as if overnight, the sleeping earth sprang to life.

It’s the very last day of February as I write this and it’s been a long cold winter. I mean seriously cold. We’ve had temperatures in the teens and for Georgia, that’s cold.

Most of the trees still look like skeletons around here, still in their winter dormancy and completely bare. If you would have told me a couple of weeks ago, spring was about to appear, I would have argued with you. It’s been so cold and our little state groundhog, famous for his correct predictions, predicted another six weeks of winter.

Yet, the daffodils, yellow bells, tulip trees and Bradford Pear trees are telling a different story.

In some spots, you really have to look for the signs of life. A single small flower will pop up or just a few buds have appeared. In other spots, everything seems to be blooming and there’s no way to miss it. But, it all seemed to have happened almost overnight.

Of course that wasn’t the case. The earth has been at work all along. The soil, the rain, the sun and the plantings, have all been hard at work beneath the surface, doing things that we can’t see. Spring doesn’t actually come overnight.

This season is always such a beautiful reminder to me that God is always at work whether we can see Him or not. There are times when the season of winter in our lives, seems to be endless. We can wonder if there will ever be warmth and beauty again.

But, if we are patient, if we keep praying, if we hold onto faith, then sometimes out of the blue, we will see a bud. Sometimes it’s actually a single bloom and sometimes it’s as if a switch has flipped and everything around us seems to spring to life at the same time.

However it happens, we have to hold on to our faith in the process. God is always at work, though often unseen and when we prayerfully wait on Him, the results are phenomenal just like spring time.

Some late February blooms reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Divine Timing

Posted on by Wendy
God’s timing is always perfect.

I often think about God’s timing. There are things that I pray for regularly that I sometimes wonder if God is even listening. Yet, time and time again, He shows me that He is.

For example, at the end of my daughter’s kindergarten year, we moved into a new house and a new school. I prayed for years that a family with a little girl would move in and that they would become besties. A the beginning of fourth grade, that prayer was answered. A little girl moved in down the street, and she and my daughter are now freshmen in college and still best of friends. My daughter loves her like a sister and I have come to love her as if she were my own child.

God’s timing may be different than ours, but it’s always perfect.

Last week, He showed His timing in such a brilliant way, it has stayed on my mind for days.

We had a child in our school with a birthday and her mama and grandfather came at lunch time to bring cupcakes for her class to celebrate her birthday. The grandfather rarely comes to the office but he is always very kind when he does. He speaks very little English so it’s always challenging to communicate with him.

When they were checking out, the grandfather picked up a flier that we had on the counter from a local church offering English as a second language classes, free of charge, at night. When the daughter asked me about it, I had very little information. Quite frankly, I didn’t even know they were up there.

I was reading over it with them, when an older lady, who serves as a mentor to one of our students, was checking out. She overheard what we were talking about and she told them that she attends that particular church and had all of the information that they needed. She answered all of their questions.

The grandfather seemed so excited when he left. I suspect he had a prayer of his own answered. The mentor, who was already doing a good deed by volunteering her time, got to do a second one that day.

I’ve often said that with God there are no coincidences. That mentor is only in our school one day a week. That child only has a birthday once a year. Those flyers hadn’t been in place for long and that grandfather is rarely in the office.

I was treated last week, to a front row seat production of God’s timing at work. All of the tiny puzzle pieces fell into place perfectly.

I sometimes need reminding. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Walking in Peace

Posted on by Wendy
“I have told you these things, that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heat! I have overcome the world” John 16:33

Back in my early twenties, I was on a flight home. There were three of us flying that evening and we were all split up. I was sitting next to a complete stranger. Those of you who have ever met me before, know that I rarely meet a stranger. It usually doesn’t take me long at all to make friends with new people.

On this particular night, my seatmate was an air traffic controller. I’ve always found that to be a fascinating if not stressful, job. I had dozens of questions for him and he politely answered them.

When I say that we ran into some turbulence later that evening, I am not kidding. It was like riding a roller coaster. The aircraft bumped and dropped repeatedly. The flight attendants strapped themselves in. One of them even threw up. It was that bad.

I’ve never really loved to fly. The loss of control has always unnerved me a little. But, that night, my new air traffic controller friend, talked to me the entire flight. We talked about how most crashes are survivable. We talked about finding the exits if we needed them. We talked about how most people ignore the safety video which has important information on how to get off of a disabled airplane.

He was perfectly calm, which led me to be as well.

When we finally landed and I secured some ginger ale for my own queasy tummy, I met up with my group. The first thing my friend asked me in an exasperated tone, was how was I so calm? He pointed out that all of the passengers on board were silence in white knuckled fear while me and my new friend never stopped talking, acting like it was no big deal.

I laughed. He didn’t know who I was sitting with. I told him that I was with a seasoned air traffic controller and he wasn’t worried, then why should I be? It really never occurred to me to be frightened.

I’ve thought of that night many times over the years and what it taught me.

Sitting next to the air traffic controller in the storm, reminds me of walking with Jesus in the storm. There are things that happen to us and situations that we find ourselves in, that can absolutely terrify us like the rest of the passengers on that airplane that night. We can surrender to the fear and stress and hang on tightly with white knuckles, or we can lean into Jesus and know that He’s got this, whatever it is and we need not fear.

God is never surprised and when we really wrap our brains around that notion, we can always walk in peace. Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Turning Back to God

Posted on by Wendy
If we truly want to stop the violence, we have to turn back to God.

Last week, there was another horrific school shooting in our country, that left seventeen people dead. Before the dust settled the blame game began. The gun control advocates got out their bull horns. The mental health reform folks got on their soap box. Everyone wanted to lay blame on someone for the tragedy.

When our sense of justice is shaken to the core, along with our sense of safety and that of right and wrong, we demand answers. Then, we demand change. We want assurance from those in charge of our safety and the safety of our children, that this type of thing will never happen again and especially not in our hometown.

As Americans, who live in a land of laws that are designed to protect us, we naturally look to the government to fix issues like this that seem to be spiraling out of control. We want to believe that the answers, along with the blame, lies with those who govern.

I think we are wrong.

While the government can offer some protection against these types of attacks, the more serious evil is at the source of the violence. The violence is merely a symptom of something much deeper and as we tend to do with everything in our society, we tend to gravitate towards treating symptoms, not the sickness.

Just walk into a pharmacy and look at all the treatments for stomach issues. There are hundreds and that’s not even counting prescriptions. Yet, if we would simply change our diets, we could fix the majority of our stomach aches.

Violence in our schools has been on the rise since God was escorted out. At every turn, there are groups who fight to keep prayer out, even if it’s simply cheerleaders praying before a football game.

We also used to be a people who feared God and we taught our children to do the same. Now, we teach our children to fear no one. They don’t fear their parents. they don’t fear their teachers. They don’t fear authority period. They don’t fear God and many have never even heard of heaven or hell, so they don’t fear death either.

The violence can be stopped, but it’s not by man. If you are reading this, you woke up this morning; God is not finished. The Bible says, “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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Now, more than ever, we need to pray as a nation and we need to teach our children to pray, but we also need to teach them to respect the only authority who can drive out evil.

We need to turn back to God. He’s truly the only One who can end the violence.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂