Category: Watching for God

God is all around us. All we have to do is look for Him. If we seek Him, we will find Him at times in the most unlikely places.

Wherever You Are

Posted on by Wendy
Jesus meets us wherever we are on our journey.

Last Sunday, our sermon was about seeing Jesus in the world around us, which is one of my favorite topics. Part of the sermon was about the travelers on the road to Emmaus found in Luke 24. Most people who are familiar with the Gospels know the story.

Two men are walking along and talking after witnessing the Crucifixion and hearing rumors about the Resurrection. The Crucifixion was real to them. They saw it. It was tragic, but it made sense on a physical level. When a body dies, it stays dead, to believe anything else would have been a giant leap of faith.

But, Jesus joins them and begins explaining scripture to them, yet they don’t recognize Him. Our pastor noted that they didn’t really recall if He caught up with them from behind or they joined Him walking ahead, but He fell in step with them.

That little detail stayed on my mind long after Sunday. Jesus met them where they were. The Resurrection was supernatural and so Jesus could then be anywhere at anytime. He was no longer hampered by His human form. The glory of grace is what He chose to do with the power.

He could have chosen to stay right there at the tomb and wait for everyone to come to Him. He could have gone to the temple to show everyone that He was who He said He was, but He didn’t do either of those things.

He went and met the people who had earnestly sought Him all along. He found them where they were, cowering behind locked doors, walking along the road, in the cemetery and fishing, to name a few mentioned places. He appeared to men and women and to people who were doubters. He encouraged and He forgave.

He still meets those who seek Him, right where we are. Whether we are traveling or settled, bold or cowering, rejoicing or mourning. It doesn’t matter if we have walked with Him for many years or are brand new to the faith, or whether we have stumbled somehow.

Jesus walks with those who love Him regardless of where we are on this earthly journey. A Sunday sermon reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Remembering to Pray

Posted on by Wendy
A bad day got immediately better as soon as I remembered to pray.

Earlier this week, I had to get my son registered for freshman housing college. He’s going to be attending a really big school and the housing registration process was in three parts. We got started the very first day available and he was really not very interested. But, he was much more enthusiastic a few months later, for the second phase, when he got to choose roommates. It didn’t take him long to be a part of a group of four and they were all set.

When he finally got issued a time for the final phase, when they would pick out their unit, he got issued an early slot, but it was during his school day, so I had to do it. I carefully got all of the information on what they wanted and logged on with no problems. I chose the complex they wanted and hit submit.

I was really proud of myself until I saw the term chosen was summer. Had I really just signed my son and three strangers up for summer housing? There was no way to back up or cancel. I called the school and was told someone would call me back. I sent an email and I stared at my phone all day. I waited from 10:30 until 3:00 and heard nothing.

I was panicked. What if I had messed up their housing? What if they got a bad dorm because I did something wrong? Would the other boys be angry at my son for my mistake? I felt helpless and stupid. I don’t know why I didn’t stop to pray in my panic, but when I got in my car to drive home, I literally cried out to Jesus and asked for help.

When I arrived home, I sat down at my computer and logged in again, then I picked up the phone and called again. I was on hold for a long time and as I waited, I got a notification that someone had commented on my blog post from Monday, which was interesting because it basically said, I had been so busy with family over the weekend, that I was too tired to post.

But, this sweet woman, who was clearly an answer to my prayer, wrote that she appreciated my honesty and transparency and my balancing priorities and love for family, friends and celebrating young people and that it was a great reminder for a Monday.

Tears slid down my face. My honesty about being completely wiped out had meant something to someone.

When I finally got to talk to the nicest person I have ever talked to, when I have called the school, she checked on everything and assured me all was well, that my son was in fact registered for fall not summer. She wasn’t sure why it said summer, but the dates that were listed were correct. I thanked her several times and we hung up.

I immediately said a prayer of thanks which was where I should have started to begin with.

A long stressful day, reminded me that prayer is where I should always start. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Hearts that Overflow

Posted on by Wendy
When our hearts are overflowing, sometimes we have tears.

I work in an office at an elementary school and from time to time, a couple of the teachers will send a child my way to help reinforce something they may be working on in the classroom. I’m always happy to help. I often get a glimpse of Jesus when I talk with children. I used to tell my own kids when they were little, that children were His favorite people.

There’s a little boy who was coming in for a short while to read to me for a minute. He was working on fluency and every little bit helps, so he would come in and read a short passage and we would count his words together. It was always so fun to see his eyes light up when he read a little bit more than the day before. I think I enjoyed his progress as much as he did.

I hadn’t seen him in a while, but he popped in a couple of days ago with a new page to read with more difficult words. I was happy to see him. I’d missed his excitement and little stories. But, this time he had something on his mind. He didn’t miss a beat when he told me, “He had tears.”

I found that a strange expression for a little guy, but I waited as he went on to tell me he had tears because he was going to be leaving his teacher and going up to second grade.

My heart ached for him. Change is hard at any age. I remembered having teachers in my own life, who left footprints on my heart and I had been really sad to leave them, even though I was moving forward. I remembered my own children having teachers who left their footprints on my babies’ hearts and my own as well.

I have come to appreciate what a gift it is when we become so touched by the people in our lives that leaving them, gives us tears, to borrow my little friend’s expression. Those tears are simply evidence of the lasting, beautiful effect that those people will always have on our hearts. Those people change us forever and help to shape the people we become.

I reassured my little friend that he would get to see his teacher next year and that I was sure he would love second grade. That seemed to be enough for him. He took a deep breath and began reading and went a little further than the day before.

This time of year often brings lots of change, grade changes, school changes, graduations and weddings are just a few things that tend to occur in the spring. Those events while happy, often lead to us having tears, but the good news is that those tears mean we’re alive and our hearts are full, so full that they are overflowing, and that is truly a blessing.

A little boy reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

The Gift of Never-Ending Grace

Posted on by Wendy
“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14

I work in the office of an elementary school. One day this week, a sweet lady came and delivered a basket of treats for our faculty and staff. She was from a local church and they bring a basket a couple of times a year. She’s a retired teacher and she said that she knows how stressful this time of year can get for educators.

There are no strings attached. There’s simply a really cute sign with the name of the church on the front. She just asks that we return their basket to them in a few days, so they can refill it for next time and she comes back and gets it.

When I say the basket is full of goodies, I mean serious goodies. There were Snickers bars, Reeses Cups, Skittles, Butterfingers, Hershey Bars, all types of Lance Crackers, Nutrigrain Bars; and the list goes on.

The basket itself, was huge and the treats went all the way to the bottom. There was no tissue paper or filler. I love to send out the e-mail announcing that the Briarwood Basket has arrived. The teachers and staff, who have been there a while, come to the office at the earliest opportunity, to get a treat. The new ones are always shocked at the bounty.

They are all surprised when we encourage them to take two items and they are like a delighted children on Christmas morning going through the basket that has so many delicious treats.

They are even more surprised when they come through the next day and we tell them to get another treat. Most of them will tell us that they received a treat the day before, trying not to take away someone else’s opportunity, but when we tell them, that everyone has already gotten one and they can get another one, they are just as thrilled as the first day.

It’s so fun watching them all receive a gift that they didn’t earn, but was given freely. Everyone is invited and everyone comes. It doesn’t matter if the employee is new or seasoned, young or ready for retirement, or if they are the lead teacher or a paraprofessional, or if they feed the kiddos breakfast and lunch or help keep the school clean, or answer the phones, or are an administrator.

All are welcome to partake of the bounty in the basket.

The basket is a beautiful illustration of grace. We can do nothing to earn forgiveness and redemption, yet Jesus offers it to us freely if we ask. All are welcome, but unlike the basket, His grace never ends. We are encouraged to receive grace as often as we like.

But, I’m guessing that’s exactly what those ladies at Briarwood were hoping for.

A love offering from a church, reminded me of the beautiful gift of grace, available to us with each new day and with every breath we take. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

The Freedom of Letting Go

Posted on by Wendy
When we fight for control, we miss you so much beauty along the way.

Last Sunday, I had to drive myself to church. My hubby was staying afterward for a meeting and I had to be there early, so we took two cars, which is certainly no big deal. On most Sundays, my hubby drives and I usually text our daughter, who is away at school, a good morning message.

While I’m in the passenger seat, I often marvel at how high or low the river is, when we cross over it. I notice the different trees and flowers that are blooming, or if someone along our route, has painted their house or built a deck. I take note of all of the runners on the sidewalk. I don’t concern myself with the traffic or if the car in front of us is going too fast or too slowly, or if someone pulls out in front of us. I sometimes fiddle with the radio.

I can do all of those things because I am not driving the car. I am not the driver. I’m the passenger. I am not in control or responsible for getting us safely to our destination.

Last Sunday, I was in the driver’s seat. I couldn’t text my daughter. I gave the river a quick glance and I mostly missed the spring blooms. I had to concentrate on driving the car and arriving safely. I couldn’t concern myself with all of the pretty scenery along the way. I missed it.

I found myself thinking about my Sunday morning drive long after I had returned home.

Like most people, I like to feel like I’m in control of my current situation, whatever that situation may be. I like the idea of being in the driver’s seat and calling the shots. But, what if being in the driver’s seat means that we miss all of the beautiful scenery along the way, while we fight to keep ourselves on the road, in between the lines, and in charge?

The fight to be in control is a lot of work and effort and how often does it really pay off?

When we walk closely with Jesus, we agree to not only let Him drive, but to trust that the scenery will be breathtaking and that we will arrive where we are supposed to, at exactly the time we are supposed to.

We hand over the control and enjoy the ride. There’s freedom that comes from letting go. A Sunday morning drive reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Standing on the Promises

Posted on by Wendy
“The grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

When I write in this space, it’s usually to share glimpses of God that I have witnessed, with fellow Christ followers or those who may be seeking Him. I like to try to share encouragement and hope with those who may desperately need it, hope that God has a plan and that He’s always busy working, even when we can’t see Him.

Sometimes I hear about an account that is simply too powerful not to share. I heard one a few days ago.

Early Sunday morning, March 5th, a small church in rural West Virginia caught on fire. Firefighters from several fire departments worked for hours to battle the blaze. The fire burned so hot at times, that the firefighters had to retreat.

The pastor, Reverend Phil Farrington, who had been notified, sat on the ground and wept as he watched his church burn. The building sustained heavy damage, but when the firemen went in to investigate, they were surprised to find almost two dozen Bibles, unharmed. They were scattered around the sanctuary, mostly in the backs of seats.

The shocked firemen piled them up and took pictures of the miracle.

Reverend Farrington saw it as a sign from God and said, “In the midst of the fire, God’s word will always stand.”

Interestingly enough, there were three crosses that didn’t burn either. Two were made of wood and hanging on the walls.

The Coal City Fire Department put on their Facebook page, “Though odds were against us, God was not. Not a single Bible was burned and not a single cross was harmed! Not a single firefighter was hurt!”

I love this story. It speaks to believers and doubters. Bibles are made of paper. There isn’t a single, logical, physical, reason, why they didn’t burn, not one of them. But, faith isn’t always logical and it’s much more about the spiritual than the physical.

God’s Word has come under a different kind of fire lately. There are those who say it’s outdated, or doesn’t matter, or that God has changed since it was written, yet the Bible itself tells us that God doesn’t change and that His laws, plans, and thanks be to God, mercy, grace and love, are still in play.

As Christians, we can hold tight to that fact along with what the firefighters’ said, “Though odds were against us, God was not.” Deep in our hearts, that’s all we really need to know.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Recognizing the Signs

Posted on by Wendy
God has a long history of using Creation to communicate with His followers.

A friend of mine recently asked me if I believe in signs. Do I believe that the Creator of heaven and earth and all the creatures in it, can use His creation to communicate with His followers? Not to mention, there’s even a talking donkey in the Bible and God sent ravens to feed Elijah?

I told her yes, without a doubt.

She proceeded to tell me about her mother and grandmother who were driving to a hospital for her grandmother’s knee surgery. It had already been postponed one time and her grandmother is in her eighties. The ladies had refused to come and spend the night with my friend the night before, so they had to leave home at 4:00 AM.

When they got on the road, it was still dark outside. A little ways into their trip, a dove flew right in front of their windshield, close enough where both women could see it. They immediately felt that God was with them and a sense of peace.

The surgery went well and her grandmother is recovering, but that dove left a lasting impression on my friend, so much that she shared with me.

I told her that God often shows Himself to me through hawks. I can take a walk and be diligently praying about something and a hawk will cross my path, so closely that I can’t help, but see it and I’m always filled with His presence.

I was thinking about our conversation last weekend, when I was able to get outside for a rare walk. I was giving thanks for the sun and the warmth and praying for guidance on my next steps in the season I am in. I came to my neighbor’s house with a blue bow on the mailbox. They were outside with their five-year-old daughter and their brand new baby boy. I stopped to talk to them and take a peek at the baby.

He was adorable and I was caught by surprise at my own memories of holding my son that suddenly flooded my thoughts. He will graduate from high school in a couple of months and my nest will be empty.

But, after a few minutes of talking with them, their five-year-old excitedly said, “Look!” and pointed across the street. A big hawk flew from over the neighbor’s house and landed in a tree, right where we could all see it.

I smiled, filled with peace and headed home.

Do I believe God can use whatever means He chooses to communicate with His followers? That’s a hundred percent yes. I just wonder how often we miss it. Thankfully, a five-year-old pointed it out to me. Maybe you needed someone to remind you to look today too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Rainy Day Blessings

Posted on by Wendy
Flowers always require rain to bloom.

Yesterday, as I headed to my car after work, it was raining, again. I dug around my bag and found my umbrella, again. It’s gotten an awful lot of use over the past few months. Sigh. I knew the rain was coming. It had been forecasted, still, I wasn’t happy to see it.

When I was driving to work that morning, I prayed that God would show Himself. It had been a long week and I was bone tired. I was greeted with a spectacular, bright pink sky. It was gorgeous and I was thankful, but as I headed home, the skies were gray once again. I was so tired of the rain.

Yet, as I grumpily drove, I couldn’t help but notice, the daffodils that were blooming all over the side of the road. There were also brightly colored yellow bell bushes along my path. When I turned into my neighborhood, there were tall, white Bradford Pear trees that were covered in blooms.

Creation had definitely begun to awaken from it’s winter slumber and as usual, it was stunning. I had to grudgingly admit that the copious amount of rain had to have played a part in the beauty that I was being blessed with.

A few weeks ago, when the rain was pouring for days on end, spring was nowhere in sight. The entire world was dark and gloomy and I wanted sunshine and rescue from the seemingly endless downpours. It was February and it was dark and cold; spring felt like a very distant hope.

Yet, on the last day of February, I marveled at the beauty the rain had helped to create.

I felt a little heart nudge that reminded me of my morning prayer for God to show Himself. I had prayed and almost immediately, my prayer was answered and I could feel His presence. I love those kinds of moments, immediate gratification, who doesn’t?

But, He was also present in the gray, cold rain. I had to look a little harder to find Him, but He was there. He was there in all of the beautiful spring color, but He was also there before there was any color, preparing for the beauty that He knew was coming.

I couldn’t see it during the rainy weeks in February, but He was at work. He’s always at work. The early spring blooms reminded me that people, just like the earth, require a certain amount of rain to bloom and it’s not always pretty. It’s sometimes messy and uncomfortable.

Faith teaches us that spring always comes, no matter how dark and rainy the winter might be. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Seeing the Light in the Difficult Times

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when we are forced to be still, we hear and see things we would have otherwise missed.

Sunday morning I awakened by a throbbing migraine. I have had them since my freshman year in college. My mama has them. My granddaddy had them. Over the years, I’ve learned to feel one coming on and I can head it off by taking medication early, before it gets bad. After it gets bad, there isn’t much to do besides, sit in the darkness with an ice pack on my head.

Because of my learned coping strategies, it’s been a long time since one has really knocked me off of my feet, but this one was sneaky and it came during the night. I tossed and turned as it got worse and it wasn’t until it became more than I could stand, that I finally got up and took something.

Of course, it was too late at that point and I had to get an ice pack and go right back to bed. An hour later, I finally trudged into the kitchen for some coffee to continue the fight. It was a little better, but still there. I sat at the kitchen table in semi-darkness, lamenting the fact that I would miss church and probably the work out I had promised myself.

I knew very well that my day would be slowed down to a turtle crawl at best and a day on the sofa at worst.

As I began to drinking my second cup of coffee, I could hear nothing but silence and the ticking of a clock. The sky through my windows began to brighten and the sun came out. It had been raining for days, so my soul felt a little lighter. Then a deer walking the fence line caught my eye. I sat mesmerized watching her, wondering what had caught her attention.

If I hadn’t felt confined to the chair, I would have been up emptying the dishwasher.

I likely would have missed the sun breaking through the clouds and the deer.

A little while later, I went to let the dogs out and it felt like a cool spring morning. I grabbed a blanket and went out to the porch to sit and I could hear the creek behind our house. It doesn’t normally have enough water to make a gurgling sound, but the recent rains had given it a beautiful voice, one I would have missed if I hadn’t had the headache.

As I sat, bundled up in the cool morning air, I felt thankful and blessed, not for the migraine. No one is thankful for a migraine or any other sickness or crises in their lives. But, I was thankful that in the stillness I was able to see God. I was able to see beauty. I was able to find peace.

The Bible tells us over and over that we never walk alone and most believers know that it’s true on some level, but it’s often the darkest times when we are really reminded, when we can really feel and see that promise.

A migraine reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do 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 🙂