Stand Firm and Don’t Panic

The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

As I was taking a walk this morning, I encountered deer at several points along my way. Deer are always interesting to watch. Often as I walk by, they will stop eating and watch me until I have safely passed by and then they go right back to eating. They all stand firm together. But, today as I encountered a group of about six, at first they froze, then as I got closer, one of them panicked and ran. That’s all it took; just the one. The other five followed suit and they all tore off into the woods.

That really got me to thinking about all of the Ebola scare stories going around. Facebook has a ton of them. There was even one yesterday claiming that a family of five somewhere in small town Texas had all come down with it and the entire town had been quarantined. The United States government had initiated martial law. If it were true, it would be terribly troubling. The thing is, it’s not. There’s not a shred of truth to the story.

Ebola is a scary disease. However, it’s not new. It was first discovered in the early 1970’s. So far, only one person in the United States has died from it and the 48 people who were exposed to that man, have not had any symptoms of developing the disease and are set to be released from quarantine this weekend.

We tend to think that whatever threat we are facing, is the worst threat ever to mankind. Every generation thinks that. The times we are living in are quite dark, but I can’t find any place in the Bible where it says we should panic. We are never instructed to live in fear and cower behind locked doors. We are to stand fast and keep our eyes on God, remembering that ultimately, He is in control.

Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Those are wise words from King David.

One of the missionaries who contracted Ebola said, ” I thought whether I live or die, it’s going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.” (Nancy Writebol) Those are words of faith we should all strive for. When our hearts belong to Jesus, we aren’t afraid of death. We don’t have to be afraid of anything.

Interestingly, all of those missionaries who got sick, plan on returning to Africa. They have been called. They are honoring the God who called them. They have chosen not to live in fear.

The sad truth is there are over 4,000 people who have died in Africa, due mainly to lack of medical facilities and poverty. There have been only eight cases here so far. Three have completely recovered. Two are expected to recover. Two have just been diagnosed, but are in isolation and stable. Only one man has died. While his death is tragic, I don’t think it warrants the panic that is being pushed by the media.

Quite frankly, I know of one entity who thrives on chaos, deception and fear. I’ll bet you do too. Let’s not give into him. Please join me in focusing on God during this crises. Please join me in praying for the safety and recovery of all people in contact with this virus. Please join me in a special prayer for those people in West Africa. If we think we are frightened here with the best medical care in the world at our disposal, think about how terrified they must be.

God created all people. Jesus loves all people. Let’s pray that all people will be saved from this virus soon. And let’s all try to remember where panic and chaos comes from.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

 

Stepping Out in Faith

As long as we are following God, it doesn't matter where we are going, we just need to step out in faith and go.
As long as we are following God, it doesn’t matter where we are going, we just need to step out in faith and go.

 

Have you ever found yourself praying for direction in some aspect of your life? It could be a job, a relationship, financial issues, health issues or anything in between. Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads and are really unsure of whether to stay or go? I think we probably have all found ourselves in that place at one time or another. We pray and pray for a megaphone moment, preferably with a GPS or at the very least a paper map.

Sometimes we just get a word or two like not now or go. Now, I don’t know about you, but not now; stay put; is an easier command for me than go. Staying put allows me to stay right where I am. It might not be the best place to be, but it’s familiar. Go, is a little trickier. I’m a planner. I really like to take a map with me that shows me all of the little towns and landmarks I will pass by on the journey. I mean, what if I get lost?

And even after I have found myself praying for a very long time about something, when the answer is go, I find myself questioning whether or not God really meant it, even when the answer has been made very clear for me. Sometimes, when the answer is go, He doesn’t give me any more directions than that. I find myself worrying about where I should go and exactly how do I get there?

Here’s where faith and obedience come in. When you draw close to God and pray earnestly and honestly for answers, you will eventually get them. Sometimes it seems to take a long time, but when you get them, you know. Obedience means following God’s directions. Sometimes they may be, “Go to Ninevah.” as in Jonah’s case. But, sometimes they are much vaguer, like with Abram. “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

Could God have been any less specific? But, Abram went and God took him on a grand adventure and made an entire nation out of him. He trusted and obeyed. He made mistakes along the way, but he obeyed the call to go. The Bible is full of these people. Moses was minding his business tending sheep when God called him to lead the people out of Egypt. Mary was minding her own business when Gabriel told her she would be the mother of the Son of God.

Each of these people had to step out in faith. They had to step out into the unknown with only their faith in God to guide their steps. But, oh the steps they took and the lives that they changed through their obedience. Were they frightened? Probably. Were they happy about the call to go? Maybe, maybe not, but they obeyed God and left the familiar and went into the great unknown with God as their guide.

Stepping out in faith can be scary, but if we want to grow closer to God, we have to be willing to obey, no matter how big or small the step may be. The fabulous thing is we only have to take the first step and then He will show us the next. If God is telling you to stay put, then by all means, stay right where you are. But, if He is telling you to go, reach out for His hand. A grand adventure is likely ahead of you even if you have no idea what it is. Thankfully, you don’t have to know, He knows, and that’s enough.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

Calling All Prayer Warriors

The world needs more prayer warriors. Are you willing to be one?
The world needs more prayer warriors. Are you willing to be one?

I received a call last night from a friend I hadn’t spoken to in a while. Interestingly enough, I was in the process of writing a post about the importance of making time to stay connected with special people in your life. I am always amazed at God’s timing and how He works in my life. She was filled with worry and anxiety concerning her sister-in-law. She told me she needed a prayer warrior and thought of me.

This is like the third time in the past week or so that someone has referred to me as a prayer warrior. To be honest, I have really never considered myself a warrior of any kind. I’m more of a lover than a fighter and I try to avoid conflict if possible. But, I do believe in the power of prayer with every fiber of my being. I have read about it in the Bible and I have seen it work in my life and in the lives of others way too many times to count.

I looked up the term warrior in a dictionary. The definition is: a person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill or one who is engaged aggressively or energetically in an activity, cause or conflict. I do have courage when it comes to prayer. It comes from being redeemed by Jesus. I do pray throughout the day everyday about just about everything from world conflict to our leaders to other people who are sick or lost and then for my own needs. I usually take the top down approach. I am passionate about prayer and energetic. Perhaps I am a prayer warrior. Perhaps you are too.

Maybe it’s important that we realize and accept that we are in daily spiritual warfare whether we like it or not. We can participate through Bible reading, worship and prayer. When we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit can help guide us in prayer. I like the idea of being a prayer warrior. I like the idea of participating with other Christians in fighting evil. I love the idea of being on a winning team. Make no mistake, God will win in the end.

There will be push back from Satan. But, we can put on the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18 and be protected by the Trinity.

I told my friend I would be happy to pray for her sister-in-law and I’m going to ask my readers and fellow prayer warriors, to do the same. This young woman has accepted a request to go to Sierra Leone, a country in Africa, with a team, to help educate them about preventing the spread of the Ebola virus. She is a strong Christian and feels in her heart that she has been called to help and called to go. She believes that fear and panic can have deadly consequences and that education is super important to stopping the spread of this deadly disease.

She is a newly-wed. Her sweet hubby supports her decision. Her new family supports her decision. The world really needs people who are willing to offer hands-on help. But, they are afraid for her safety and they have asked for prayers. Her name is Carolyn. She leaves next Wednesday, October 22nd to train in Atlanta and then leaves for Sierra Leone on October 28th. She plans to return on Thanksgiving.

Please join me in prayer for this brave young woman. Pray for her safety. Pray for her peace. Pray for Divine guidance while she is there trying to serve others who are desperately in need. Pray for her family here in the U.S. Pray for their peace. Pray that God will put His hand on all of them in this journey and pray that she returns safely on Thanksgiving Day, having made a difference in thousands of people’s lives.

Let’s put on our Armor of God and get started. The world needs us. Will you join me?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

 

Still Standing

There is nothing left of the house, but the chimney is still standing.
There is nothing left of the house, but the chimney is still standing.

I had a really hard day yesterday. My hubby and I had to make a really difficult, but necessary decision. I shared it with some of my heart sisters at church. Everyone who is a Christian is a brother or sister in Christ, but there are some of those people who share a very special place in my heart. I think of them as heart sisters. I can always be honest with them and share my true self. They don’t always expect a plastered on smile. They are the ones who hand me a tissue when I get teary.

They were supportive as I knew in my heart they would be and sad too. They are gifts from God. The really cool the thing about these women is that I don’t have to see them or talk to them often to feel the special bond I have with them. I would love to see them more, but it’s not required. It’s a friendship that has to be forged by our faith.

I never really gave the heart sisters bond that much thought before today. I love them. I love to see them. I’ve always felt close to them, but I never gave the why that much thought. We would probably have never even met each other if it hadn’t been for our church.

Later in the afternoon, my hubby and I decided to take a walk at the Botanical Gardens. I have always found that being out in nature is balm for a hurting soul. Creation is after all, God’s cathedral and it was a stunning day outside, one of those days that you want to give special thanks for, with low humidity, a light breeze and a deep blue sky. For some reason, our teenagers decided to join us. I’m smart enough to know that teens wanting to spend any time with their parents is also a gift from God.

Somehow, we got on a trail that we hadn’t been on before and an hour or so planned stroll, turned into a close ย to three hour, seven mile walk. We did stop often to take pictures and enjoy the scenery, but towards the end, we wondered if we would have to camp out. We were exhausted and lost. Would the trail ever reach its destination?

Somewhere near the end, we ran upon this old chimney. It had once been part of a house. There was nothing left of the house. It was surrounded by trees and weeds and wilderness, but the chimney stood proudly, perfectly intact. I couldn’t help but snap a photo. It reminded me of the heart sisters bond.

It doesn’t really matter where we are or how often we see each other, the bond is strong and sturdy like the chimney. It still stands. I find that comforting. When relationships are forged by God, they will stand the test of time and the elements because they are blessed. Certain people are put in our spiritual lives for a reason only God knows, but I sure am thankful for them. The trail did eventually end as all trails and journeys do, and as usual, God had given me food for thought while I was out in nature, seeking Him. I suspect getting lost was part of His plan all along. I would have never seen the chimney otherwise.

Have you ever given much thought to heart sisters or brothers? I’ll bet if you do, some will come to mind. If they do, say a prayer of thanks; they are a special gift.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

God Doesn’t Care About Statistics

This acorn only has a 1 in 10,000 chance of becoming a tree.
This acorn only has a 1 in 10,000 chance of becoming a tree.

If you are a math challenged individual like myself, the title of today’s post may cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. I came up with this nugget of truth as I was watering my tomatoes and okra this morning and noticed acorns strewn everywhere. I felt the nudge to pick one up, so I did. After doing a little research, I knew why I felt the nudge.

First of all, it’s amazing to me that a massive tree can come from this tiny seed. White oaks, like the ones in my backyard can grow anywhere from 65 to 100 feet tall. That’s a really big tree. They can also live up to 200 years and some species have been known to live over a thousand years.

It's truly amazing that these massive trees could come from something as tiny as an acorn.
It’s truly amazing that these massive trees could come from something as tiny as an acorn.

Even more amazing is the fact that only one in ten thousand acorns will become a tree. Think about that for a moment. It takes an oak tree anywhere from twenty to fifty years to even be able to produce acorns. Mature trees will produce an average of 2,200 acorns each fall.

The odds of having oak trees around don’t seem very good, yet there are at least ten in my backyard alone, and oak trees grow almost everywhere in the world. Now that we have had a little botany lesson, let’s dig a little deeper.

Let’s take a minute to think about the oak tree and the God who created it. What can we learn from it? First of all, God isn’t interested in the odds of success. Of course, we have seen that in the Bible over and over again. What are the chances of a baby surviving in a basket in the crocodile infested Nile River? What are the chances of a young boy taking down a fierce, armor wearing giant? What are the chances of a teenager being thrown into a den of lions and walking away without a scratch?

The more impossible the odds seem to us, the more God seems to like it. He likes to use the what seems to be impossible, to us to show that all things are possible with Him. Part of Moses’ story was the fact that God had him picked out from the beginning. The basket in the river simply showed God’s protection. If a well armed, well-trained warrior had taken down Goliath, it wouldn’t have been miraculous. Daniel’s amazing faith not only saved him, but served as a witness to the many who heard about it.

Secondly, the mighty oak tree is very slow growing and because of that, it grows very tall and strong. It’s also very resistant to pests and disease. It provides incredible shade to the living things around it, respite from the oppressive heat. Its acorns provide food for over 180 birds and mammals. It’s beautiful year round, from the budding in the spring to the incredible colors in the fall.

There are other trees, like the pine, native here in Georgia, that grow much faster, but they are much more susceptible to disease and pests. Not only that, a strong wind or ice storm can destroy pine trees in no time flat.

As Christians, I think we should look to the oak for inspiration. We should take our time and grow strong, deep roots. We should use our resources to feed those around us both physically and spiritually. We should let our long branches provide shade and shelter and we should let our light shine, no matter the season. Perhaps most importantly, we should remember that nothing is impossible with God, whatever the odds.

Yes, I’m glad I picked up the acorn. It’s just one more reminder that when we truly seek God, we will find Him.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

The Lifeline of Community

Faith community is more than fun and fellowship. It can be a lifeline.
Faith community is more than fun and fellowship. It can be a lifeline.

I got a forwarded e-mail this morning from my church mama. She rarely sends me things and when she does, they are always so good, inspirational and thought-provoking. Today’s was simple, but I loved it so much, I jotted it down in my journal before I took my walk.

“Life. Sometimes life lies hidden and buried under banks of snow, or in seemingly dead and lifeless beehives, or mysteriously within an egg. But under and in and within, life is literally waiting to erupt at just the right time, at just the right moment, because that is God’s desire for creation.” Brother James Koester

The words are so simple, yet so beautiful and they speak volumes about the nature of God, especially regarding His timing. I pondered these words as I walked and prayed. I try so diligently to respect God’s timing. I understand deep in my heart, that waiting for God is an act of obedience that requires and builds faith, all at the same time. But, lately my troubled heart has really wanted some hard and fast answers and some very clear signs, whether they be green lights, stop signs, or detours, and I feel I have been met with silence.

Silence means more waiting and patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. These were the things I was praying about when I returned home.

I was met with an e-mail in response to the first, from another church member. The words stopped me in my tracks. It was as if my prayers went right up to God and the immediate response came from her. I don’t know her very well, but we are a part of the same church community. She’s in a different stage in her life, further along than I am, which makes her a prime candidate to glean wisdom from. I don’t know why she chose to include me in her reply. I suspect the Holy Spirit was behind it, the way he usually is with the unexplainable coincidences in our lives.

Her words were a little longer, but here’s the gist: “I am reminded seek and ye shall find. The ‘answer’ the revelation, epiphany most often comes in the, seeking itself. (not necessarily in what was sought) … Must remind myself daily that there are golden nuggets that have been sown just for me….keep digging, keep mining. Often what seems as interruption along OUR chosen way, that is indeed the manna from Heaven along what seemed to be a detour.”

The hair stood up on the back of my neck. These were words my weary soul needed to hear. This is community. This is why Christian community is so important. Through the Holy Spirit, we can encourage and guide one another. When we plug into other community members, we provide a telephone line of sorts for the Holy Spirit to communicate with us. It’s powerful and beautiful and it’s God’s will for the church.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Community can come in so many different forms and look a hundred different ways, but it’s vital to us on our faith journey. It can provide fun and fellowship, but it can also provide a life line.

How are you doing with community? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

Life’s Spider Lilies

You just never know what God may have planned.
You just never know what God may have planned.

These spider lilies that pop up every fall always make me smile. While the entire country goes pumpkin crazy and everything is geared around harvests, these brightly colored flowers show up out of nowhere, virtually overnight. While we look to decorate our homes with browns, oranges and golds, and the leaves on the trees begin to turn their kaleidoscope of color, these whimsical flowers that have the look of spring written all over them, make their presence known.

They are everywhere too. Just look around as you drive down the road. They are in yards and on the side of the road. They are so whimsical looking, you would think Dr. Seuss, himself designed them. But, he didn’t. Nope, a much more creative designer, created them.

As I was returning from a walk a few days ago, I just had to grab my camera to photograph them. I didn’t plant them, but here they were, just begging to be noticed. I have always thought that God’s fingerprints are the most evident in nature. The spider lily is a perfect example.

First of all, God creates beauty just because He can. He didn’t have to make these flowers so colorful and funky looking, but He did. That tells me that He loves beauty and art and color and appreciates whimsy. Maybe we should do the same. How often do we just take a moment to appreciate the sunrise or sunset or the shapes and colors of leaves and flowers. When was the last time you really checked out a chipmunk? They look like they have been hand painted. Their little stripes are in perfect lines.

Nature is full of God. If it’s been a while, take a little time and check it out. Seek Him out in His creation. I’ll bet you will be surprised how He shows Himself. The Bible tells us that, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17 ย Why not give it a try?

The second truth these awesome flowers remind me of is that whatever we have planned, God’s plan may be different. While we are looking towards autumn where the leaves that fall are beautiful, but dying, out pops something new and different. We may not have planned for it or planted it and we may not know how we feel about it, but there it is, all the same. The question then becomes, how do we proceed?

I think the spider lily is a beautiful reminder that God’s plan for us can be different, exciting, unexpected and beautiful all at the same time. It may be a bright coral and fuchsia mix ย when the rest of the world’s is brown and orange. That’s okay, because nature also teaches us that God loves variety.

So, I challenge you to go forth today and appreciate some part of nature that you may have overlooked recently and embrace your life’s spider lilies, whatever they may be. God made them just for you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

Small Changes Can Create Beautiful Results

If you change position, you might change your perspective.
Small changes can create beautiful results.

We had a homecoming celebration at our church yesterday and the guest preacher who is now a district superintendent, used to be the senior pastor. So, it was a homecoming of sorts, for him too. He made the comment that he saw many familiar faces and many new ones as well. He went on to say that many people were sitting in the same exact pew that they were sitting in back in 1998. That comment, of course, drew laughter as it was intended to, but that got me to thinking about things like, sitting in the same place for over a decade.

We regular churchgoers have a tendency to do that. We stake out a spot and sit there Sunday after Sunday. If we are honest, we get annoyed if we walk in late and find someone else in our spot. Do we feel that we own that particular spot? Would the message be different at some other location in the church?

One of our dear church family members, sat with our family a few months back, because his wife was out of town. He sits very near the back and we sit very near the front. He made the comment that it was an entire new experience sitting that close to the front. He also went on to say that he was pretty sure that he would never convince his wife to change pews. They have been members close to thirty years, so I can’t say that I was surprised.

Today, we had three church services combined into one. Where everyone would sit, was completely thrown up into the air, but apparently some folks were able to find their same 1998, spot.

What is it about people that make us dig into where we feel comfortable and refuse to move? There are those who welcome change and every new challenge that comes along, but many of us seem to be happy right where we are, thank-you very much.

We have evidence of this in Biblical times. The Israelites were willing to go back to Egypt as slaves instead of trusting God to feed them. They also were unable to trust God to conquer the people already in the Promised Land and had to wander in the wilderness for forty years.

Once we get comfortable somewhere, good or bad, we seem very hesitant to change the status quo. So, we stay in the job we hate or in a church that doesn’t feed us. We don’t try to make our relationships better. We put off that diet or exercising, for another day. We settle for less.

Why? Maybe we are afraid of the unknown. Even when something is bad, at least we know what it is. Maybe we aren’t trusting God to help us to make better choices and changes. How do we know we can trust Him? Reading and trying to understand the Bible is a great start. God loves His people and seeks a relationship with them. He is delighted when we seek Him and He will light our way and guide us.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not big on change simply for the sake of change. There are some things in everyone’s lives that work beautifully, just the way they are. Those things are blessings and we should give thanks for them. But, if there are things that aren’t working well, we shouldn’t be afraid to change them.

We have to trust God and know that even making small changes sometimes changes our entire perspective on life and that’s a good thing. So, look around; if you feel stuck or stagnant in some area of your life, pray about it. It may be time for a change. Who knows, the new view may be spectacular.

How do you do with change? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

Choosing to Honor God With Our Unique Gifts

When we chose to use our unique gifts and talents, we honor God.
When we choose to use our unique gifts and talents, we honor God.

I recently had the opportunity to watch the Robin Williams film,ย “Dead Poet’s Society.”ย I saw it when it was first released, but that was back in 1989, so I had forgotten what a fabulous movie it was. It takes place at a very prestigious, all boys boarding school in 1959. They do everything by the book, so to speak and everyone does just as they are told. No one would ever dare question the people who are in charge.

Robin Williams plays a teacher who graduated from this school, but he has the heart of a poet and wants to encourage the boys to follow their dreams. All mayhem breaks loose and I could probably come up with at least five posts on this movie. I highly recommend it. But, there was one particular scene that I can’t get out of my mind.

He takes his senior literature class outside to the courtyard, an act in itself that raised the eyebrows of the administrators. Why in the world would you leave the classroom? He picks three boys out of the group and tells them simply to walk around. Just walk. They have no idea what he’s up to, but they comply. At first, they walk at their own stride and pace, but it doesn’t take long before they are in a line, marching to the same tempo, in the same exact stride. “There it is.” Robin Williams says.

He goes on to say that they shouldn’t do everything everyone else does, but should find their own way. What a stunning truth from a simple exercise. We are born as individuals with individual talents, but it doesn’t take long for us to want the same clothes and hair as everyone else. As teens, we strive to fit in and as adults, we often don’t fare much better.

From weddings to houses to cars to jobs, we like to be just like the proverbial Joneses. But, here’s the thing, if we believe that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and the Bible says we are, do we believe that God is in the assembly line business? No, I believe God made each of us differently with different strengths and talents, but somewhere along the way, we usually “fall into the society step,” just like those boys in the movie, and we hide or even forget that which makes us different, that little thing that used to make us light up.

If you were to search deep inside your soul and ask yourself if you could do anything what would it be? Would you have an immediate answer? If yes, then maybe it’s time to pray about getting in touch with using your unique dream or talent to serve God in some way. If not, maybe it’s time to pray that God will remind you of what it is, or help you uncover it.

It doesn’t have to be some over the top dream of moving to Paris to paint. It could be something very simple like teaching someone to cook or to put up vegetables. I really believe that God wants us to use our unique talents He gifted us with to serve in some way and when we do, we are really able to tap into a contentment and joy that we can’t find in other ways. I don’t think our amazing creative God wants us to settle for hum-drum.

I think He wants us to honor Him with all that we have and when we do, we are keeping our own pace and walking our own stride and it’s a beautiful thing!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

Happy Birthday Graceful Gaines!

Happy 1st Birthday Graceful Gaines!
Happy 1st Birthday Graceful Gaines!

Today is a huge day for me. It’s the one year anniversary of Graceful Gaines. For one year now, I have posted Monday through Friday my thoughts and reflections as I seek more of God in my life. I want to thank you all for reading and for the many positive comments you have given me here and on Facebook and through phone calls and in person. Every share, every note has meant the world to this fledgling writer.

I have always wanted to be a writer and I put that little dream on the back burner for a long time and then I felt an awakening of sorts, and that God was nudging me to write. I didn’t really know anything about blogging so I did a little research. He prompted me to start off with a small online Bible Study that was only open to the people I invited. I really enjoyed it and had a good response. There were times as I sat at my keyboard, that I knew the words were not mine, but came from the Holy Spirit. It was an awesome feeling. It wasn’t until about six months later that I felt in my heart, it was really time to proceed.

As I made the plans to get started, I had to come up with a name. I was praying about it and had bounced around a dozen or so ideas on paper. Then one day, right after I dropped my daughter off at school, the name came to me. When I did a search, I knew it didn’t exist already, because I felt as if God whispered it in my ear.

My premise for writing was simple. Watch for God in the world around me and share what I see and learn. It’s been such an amazing ride. As I seek God, He always gives me something to share. When I feel myself grappling with faith issues, I share them here because I think others may be struggling with the same. Isn’t that what community is supposed to be about? I have learned so much while writing in this space and you have shared so much and caused me to think harder and dig deeper.

I have a neat little program that shows how many people from different countries have read my words. People from 56 different countries have visited this site and some of the countries are not even Christian countries. People from places like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates have read encouraging words about Jesus. My simple words have been read around the world and that thought moves me to tears.

Here is a map of all the countries in the world who have someone who have visited Graceful Gaines.
Here is a map of all the countries in the world who have someone living there who has visited Graceful Gaines.

God has been so faithful to me as I try to share my story intertwined with His and the response has amazed me. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for reading. Thanks for all of your encouragement and your comments. I pray that I can continue to encourage you and provide you with food for thought for another year. This journey has truly been a dream come true for me. Thanks so much for helping me make that happen.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚