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.

Hydrangea Wisdom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The combination proved to be enough.

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

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

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

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Binoculars Wisdom

Posted on by Wendy
When we slow down and listen, we are often surprised at the beauty we find.

At a recent visit to my parents’ house, I found myself in the kitchen. Daddy was there too and he instructed me to go to the end of the table and pick up the binoculars that were lying there.

I smiled as I did as I was instructed. My parents have recently installed new bird feeders and have been using different kinds of seed. They have been blessed with all kinds of different varieties of birds, so much so, that they keep a couple of sets of binoculars handy to get a closer look.

When I picked up the binoculars, Daddy instructed me to aim towards the pool. I did as I expected to see some exotic bird, but he surprised me when he asked if I could see the beautiful hibiscus bloom. I chuckled. It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was truly stunning.

Mama and Daddy had overwintered their hibiscus plants, nurturing them inside their home all winter long. Since they had moved them back outside, they had watered them and fed them and waited patiently for them to bloom and one of them finally had.

Daddy was like a new proud papa admiring the first bloom of the season.

I’ve often compared the wisdom of young children and older folks. Both groups seem to instinctively know that the simple things in life often provide the most beauty and joy. They allow things like new blossoms, birds, puppies and frogs, to delight them. Both walk a little slowly, allowing them to drink in their surroundings. Neither are always hurrying so much that they miss important stuff like listening to a loved one share a story.

They appreciate the details and the little miracles that many take for granted.

I thought about those binoculars and that blossom long after that day. I thought about how much beauty we are able to see when we simply stop and look closely. I thought about how God often surprises us with something completely different than we thought, when we simply obey Him, like I obeyed Daddy that morning.

“Pick them up and look in that direction.”

The bloom wasn’t at all what I expected, but it was beautiful.

I was reminded that many of us live in the in-between, hurrying stage of life. We aren’t children, but we aren’t older and wiser yet. On our quest to succeed and get everything done, we forget to look around. We forget to slow down. We forget to listen.

Yet, when we do, what we find is often stunning. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Squeaky Hinge Reminders

Posted on by Wendy
Take time this summer to slow down and enjoy the ordinary.

Yesterday, I had a day off, the first in a much needed extra long weekend. I was exhausted from work life and personal life. My youngest just graduated from high school and while it was a wonderful celebration, it was emotionally draining as well.

We did pictures with grandparents and attended the ceremony. We went to dinner and opened gifts. The following day, we met with friends for more pictures and went to an arcade/restaurant with those friends and their parents for more celebrating. As I was walking around taking photos of him with his friends, I was reminded of birthday parties of the past when I did the same and I found myself fighting back tears.

I would have never believed when he was five, that I could love him even more at seventeen or that I would still consider photos with him and his friends just as precious as when they were little.

On Sunday, our church recognized him, presented him with a Bible and a gift card and prayed over him and I found myself tearing up yet again, feeling the love and support that surrounded him.

Yesterday, when I woke up, I tiptoed downstairs for a cup of coffee and some quiet time. I had had very little quiet in the past week. My mostly grown kids, were still sleeping and I gave a prayer of thanks that they were both home and safely tucked away. As I headed out to the porch to soak in the quiet cool morning, the hinges on the door, made their usual high pitched squeak.

I smiled as both dogs came running.

We’ve been in our house for fourteen years and that door has always squeaked loudly. I used to try to get my hubby to fix it, but I’ve grown used to it and these days it signals that the porch is open for business and by business, I mean sitting and visiting, resting and chatting, and enjoying Creation and each other.

The dogs went right to their preferred spots on the porch, like they always do this time of year, one right by my side and the other at my feet. On the weekends, my hubby joins us and the kids head straight out there when they wake up. We sometimes sit out there for hours talking and sharing stories, dreaming and remembering.

It’s an ordinary, yet extraordinary recognition of who we are, where we have been and where we are going. But, then life has taught me that the extraordinary is often found in the ordinary.

As summer officially kicks off this weekend, I’m going to try to slow down as much as possible and take in all of those ordinary moments, keeping in mind that in hindsight, those moments often become extraordinary. Some squeaky hinges reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

This summer, I’m blessed to have both of my kids at home. I’m not sure when that will happen again, so in order to enjoy every possible moment of family time, I’m going to only post on Fridays.

Watching for Faith Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
I fill it up because I want to, not because the birds do anything to earn it.

This time of year, I have to replace my hummingbird feeder nectar about once a week to keep it fresh. I don’t have a lot of hummingbirds right now and they aren’t drinking that much. The weather isn’t very hot yet and they haven’t established nests. When the sugar water sits in the sun for a week, it gets cloudy and sour and so I replace it with fresh sugar water.

My son always picks at me and tells me that I’m just feeding freeloaders. They have done nothing to earn my time and care. I chuckle and continue doing it anyway.

He’s right of course, but the little birds delight me and I feel led to feed them.

I was thinking about his words last weekend while I was refilling my feeder when I was reminded that refilling them regularly just because they make me happy, is a tiny bit like grace.

We can do nothing to earn God’s grace even on our best days, yet He gives it to us freely. He fills us up over and over as often as we come back to Him, with hearts and souls thirsting for more.

Ideally, we in turn, give thanks for it and extend the love and grace that we are given to those around us who desperately need it. That’s how the Kingdom grows and how we can delight our Maker just as those little hummingbirds delight me.

I smiled as I turned the concept over in my mind, thankful for the faith lesson. Turns out, they weren’t freeloaders after all. They were put in my path to teach me something.

I was glad I was paying attention and didn’t miss it. Perhaps you needed a little faith lesson today as well.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Standing Amazed at God Winks

Posted on by Wendy
There are never coincidences when we walk with God.

My hubby facilitates an adult Sunday school class. We’ve been in the Old Testament for a long time now. We’ve traveled through Genesis, Exodus and Joshua. He was pondering what to do next and was considering Jeremiah when I suggested that maybe he should switch gears and do Acts next.

It’s in the New Testament and it’s the story of the birth of The Church after the Resurrection. It’s full of a very active Holy Spirit and miracles, lots of action, and fun to read. I don’t really know why I suggested it. But, we have a new pastor coming in July and it just seemed appropriate.

New leadership always involves some change and transformation and Acts has lots of both.

My hubby pitched it to the class and they liked the idea, so on Sunday, we were set to get started. Sunday, was May 5th. Right before class started, the new pastor and his wife came strolling in the door unannounced. Did I mention they came all the way from Indiana and no one had any idea they were coming? They weren’t due until July 6th.

They came to close on their house and they hadn’t told anyone.

What are the chances that on the day we began the new study on Acts, that the future pastor shows up out of the blue from over 700 miles away?

I found myself once again in awe of God’s timing and His plan. I’ve heard these situations referred to as God Winks. When those who are faithful are praying and watching, He gives us signs that we are in fact on the right path and He is in fact at work. They happen all of the time. We just tend to miss them in our busyness.

Yet, if we slow down, we can be amazed on a regular basis just like I was on Sunday. I need to be amazed more often and reminded that He’s always at work. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

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 🙂