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.

Tree Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
Even thought the seasons change, our hope doesn’t have to.

My mama and daddy just went to the North Carolina mountains for a week, with some cousins. They had a ball and Mama sent me some pictures of their beautiful surroundings. I’ll have to admit, it was breathtaking. I love the beach and the mountains equally. I feel closest to God in those places.

When I surround myself in the sphere of His creation, I can’t help but to feel His presence and hear His voice.

As I was looking at some of the pictures, I thought about how they would be even more spectacular in a month or so, when the leaves start turning colors, with bright oranges, yellows, and reds.

Then, I began to think that the trees have no idea that something even more beautiful is coming. They are content with the green. Yet, in the dead of winter, when they are completely bare, that green looks like the prettiest color ever.

But, even when they are bare, the work of growing, still goes on beneath the surface. There’s even beauty in the bareness because the stars in the sky, become even brighter. They aren’t obscured by the leaves.

The pictures stayed on my mind all week as I felt a little nudge reminding me that our lives can be a lot like those trees.

When things are green and we are growing fast and everything is going right, we sometimes can’t imagine that God has something better for us. We get content. We settle. Sometimes we stop listening and get complacent.

The green season is probably where we spend most of our time.

Then, there are seasons when something wonderful happens, our lives are filled with brilliant colors and mountain top moments, like births, weddings, new houses or new jobs. While those may tend to be our favorite seasons, they typically don’t last for very long.

Then there’s the bare seasons, when our comfortable reality seems to drop and disappear. It may look like we have nothing left and hope can get lost. But, just like the trees, when they are bare, these are the times, when heaven shines the brightest. These are the seasons when we depend on God the most.

These can be the seasons that grow our faith the most, because when we cry out to God and seek Him, He will answer. He will restore our hope and hold our hand as we journey into a new season, one even more beautiful than we ever imagined.

My mama’s mountain pictures reminded me that on this side of Eternity, we all go through different seasons, easy ones, beautiful ones and hard ones and that none of them last forever. Whatever season you may find yourself in today, remember, as a child of God, you never walk alone. A new season is coming.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you needed reminding too. Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Reaching for Jesus

Posted on by Wendy
When we get back on the right path, heaven cheers.

A couple of weeks ago, my hubby and I attended a bike race. They actually close the streets off in downtown Athens and the competitors race through the streets. There are events that take place all day long, but the final two events are the women’s race and the men’s race.

Both are backed by sponsors and the top finishers get national ranking. It’s amazing to see them pedal by. They go so fast that you can feel the wind on your face. Unfortunately, that speed also results in some bad injuries when they crash.

We witnessed just that very thing, when we arrived. Two cyclists in the women’s race had gotten tangled up. They were both on the ground for a while. At one point, one of them got up and the crowd cheered. The other one was on the ground a lot longer.

An emergency vehicle had pulled onto the scene to assist. There was a period of time where she wasn’t moving at all. Then, she sat up and everyone cheered. A few minutes went by and she stood and everyone cheered. At last, she walked to the vehicle and everyone cheered again. And when she rode away, everyone was still cheering.

We stayed until the end of the women’s race and we watched about half of the men’s race before we headed home. But, the injured cyclist stayed on my mind.

I kept thinking about how the crowd cheered her on at each little step of progress until she finally was able to get up and off of the road to where help waited for her.

I thought about how often we get tangled up in our own lives, sometimes with the wrong people and sometimes with the wrong decisions. There are times when those decisions or people knock us off of our feet and take us all the way down to the ground.

Sometimes we lie there in excruciating pain and wonder if we will ever have the strength to get back up.

But, if we reach for Jesus, He always reaches back and helps to pull us back on our feet and with each step of progress, heaven cheers because as long as we are walking towards God, each step is blessed, not matter how tiny it may seem to us at the time.

A bicycle race reminded me that as long as we reach for Jesus, we can always get back up, not matter how horrific the fall may feel. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Miraculous Living

Posted on by Wendy
We can choose to see everything as a miracle.

I recently read the last verse in the Gospel of John. I’ve read it before, but this time it really made me think. “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25

Ponder that thought for a moment. Apparently John just gave us the highlights and those were pretty phenomenal. Just imagine all of the lives Jesus touched while here on earth. Imagine all of the lives that were forever changed. The Gospels tell us some amazing accounts. But, there were more. With Jesus, there always is.

As I was thinking about John’s words, I came across a quote from Einstein that said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is.” Since scientists seem to really enjoy trying to disprove that there is a God, I found that particularly interesting.

One quote was from the spiritual realm and one was from one of the smartest scientists who ever lived. Both point directly to God. As people of faith, we are called to see God in everything and even when we can’t see Him, we are called to know that He is present. That’s what faith is.

The Book of Hebrews tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were condemned for.” Hebrews 11:1-2

We sometimes still get condemned for it. Don’t we? Just turn on the news and there’s usually a story of some kind of clash between people of faith and modern, progressive thought. But, Scripture reminds us that the struggle is not new, nor will it end until Jesus comes back.

There will always be a struggle between good and evil on this side of eternity.

But, until then, we can take comfort that God is with us and we can choose to live as if everything is a miracle. We can seek God in every situation and if we do so with open hearts, He will show Himself. Sometimes He’s right there, in neon lights too big to miss and sometimes we can’t see Him until some times has passed, but He’s always there, always at work.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Embracing Every Season

Posted on by Wendy
There’s beauty in every season of the journey.

Yesterday, the former assistant principal of the school where I work, popped in for a visit. She is now the principal of a different school and she was on spring break. She looked fabulous. Her hair was different. Her eyes had a sparkle. The change for her was clearly a good one.

It seems that change has been in the air this spring. We have five teachers retiring and quite a few others leaving, but all for wonderful reasons. One is moving to be closer to family and spend more time with a new baby. One has a baby on the way and wants to stay home with him or her. Our cafeteria manager is leaving because she’s going to run the cafeteria at a brand new school.

While it’s sad to see so many people that I have come to hold dear, move on to their next chapter, it’s impossible for me not to be excited for them too. They are all following dreams of some sort and embracing a new season.

Last year was my first year working full time in seventeen years. I walked into a group of people who embraced me with open arms even thought the person I was replacing had been loved by them. She had chosen to start a new chapter too.

I share my office space with two other people and one of them is the school nurse. Last year, I was blessed to get to know and to become friends with, our nurse Ivy. She had been diagnosed with ALS, but was determined to keep working. We prayed together every morning and my other coworker and I, worked hard to help her keep working. It was a heartbreaking year, watching her grow a little weaker everyday to a devastating disease that she eventually succumbed to. But, my friend Ivy knew Jesus and I’ve no doubt she’s running marathons on two strong legs in heaven.

I learned so many new things and lessons last year, but perhaps the most important one, was finding the beauty in and embracing every single season I find myself in, whether it’s a hard one or an easy one. There are daily blessings showered upon us on every leg of our journey and when we cling too tightly to where we are and refuse to move ahead, then we are missing some breathtaking new scenery as well as new adventures.

I’ve been a lifelong hater of change. It’s taken me a long time to learn that when we let go of our need to control and learn to trust that God has a plan, we can live in an indescribable state of peace. I’m learning the beauty of letting go and enjoying the ride and to cheer on others as they do the same.

A visit from a friend reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding 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 🙂

Intentional Resting

Posted on by Wendy
It’s impossible to overestimate the value of intentional rest.

It was a beautiful day on Sunday. Out pastor even joked that it was the second sunny Sunday we have had since January. Although I’m sure that’s not accurate, it certainly felt that way. It was in the seventies and I felt myself longing to get outside. I can always hear God best outside.

I stifled a grumble when I opened the door to my porch. Everything was coated in a blanket of yellow pollen. There were spiderwebs everywhere too. The porch has not officially opened for spring time business and was in desperate need of some bleach and a scrub brush, but I resolved myself to see past the winter grime and just sit and be thankful for the weather.

I had other senses besides my eyes and I was determined to use them. There was a breeze, but it wasn’t cold. The birds were singing. I could hear my neighbor’s chickens clucking and I was reminded of the chickens in my childhood. I smiled and gave a prayer of thanks for the convenience of grocery stores. I do not miss having chickens roaming around.

It wasn’t long before I heard the little girls next door riding around in their Power Wheels tractor. I smiled again remembering my own children’s Power Wheels Jeep and four wheeler. I said a prayer of thanks for my kids and all of the memories of their childhood.

A little while later, I heard a hawk calling. I never saw him, but I knew he was near. I said a prayer of thanks for the wonder of nature. When I heard a bee buzzing, I was thankful that my porch is screened.

I found it interesting that the longer I sat, the more relaxed I became and the more thankful I became. It wasn’t like my to-do list had become any shorter. My daughter had been home from college for a few days and I chose to spend every minute of quality time with her instead of cleaning the house, so the house was as big a mess as the porch was.

Yet, the more time I spent intentionally relaxing, intentionally seeking peace and the presence of God, the less it mattered.

I suppose God knew this when He prescribed for His people a day of rest, a day of reflection, a day of thankfulness, a day of worship. When we take the time to be still and listen, He always makes Himself known and when He makes Himself known, we can’t help, but be filled with peace that can only come from Him.

The dust will continue to pile up long after we’re gone, but the peace and love that we can pass on after spending time with Him, has the potential to change lives. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Call to Lifelong Learning

Posted on by Wendy
If you woke up today, God has something to teach you.

I’ve been reading a daily devotional by Jonathon Cahn, called, “The Book of Mysteries.” It’s a fascinating read that often explains the fact that many Hebrew words have double meanings.

Cahn wrote, “that the word for disciples in Hebrew is, “talmidim.” It comes from the root word, “lamad,” which is linked to teaching or learning, so the disciples were the taught ones or the learners.”

He went on to say that our lifelong mission here on this side of eternity is to learn something about God everyday.

I found this idea fascinating and did a little research of my own. Of the 90 times Jesus was addressed directly in the Gospels, He was referred to as, “Teacher,” 60 of those times.

The people who were blessed to walk with Him physically, seemed to understand that He had something to teach them every single time they saw Him.

So, what is the significance of that information for believers today?

I think as Christians, we often tend to fall back on what we already know. We went to Sunday school as kids. We attend regular worship service as adults. We may even teach the basic stories of Jonah and the Whale and David and Goliath to youngsters.

But, what are we doing to actively learn ourselves?

I work in a school, so I’m surrounded by teachers. They are always going to professional learning classes. They are always seeking new ways to disseminate information. They are always looking for ways to connect with their students.

If Jesus is the ultimate Teacher, then shouldn’t we expect Him to do the same? Shouldn’t we expect Him to be looking for ways to connect with us in deeper ways to show us His nature, His plans, His ways?

Are we willing learners or do we feel like we know all there is to know about God? Are we just sitting around ready to graduate?

If we call ourselves Christ followers, then we call ourselves disciples, which means we have to be active learners and seekers of God’s Word and God’s Will.

If you woke up this morning and are reading this, God is not done with you. He still has something to teach you and you still have something to learn. The question becomes how do you go about learning and listening?

Is a once a week worship service enough? Are we involved in daily prayer and devotional time? Are we reading the Bible? How can we be better learners? Thankfully, like all good teachers, our Teacher, never gives up on us and He expects the best.

So, wherever we are in the learning process, He will happily meet us there. A daily devotional reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have a awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Daffodil Encouragement

Posted on by Wendy
It takes strength and grit to stand tall and spread joy when the world around you is bitter cold.

Yesterday, on my ride to work, I marveled at the beautiful sky. There were clouds, but the sun was shining through them in a stunning way that I couldn’t help but notice. I thanked God for the morning show and I asked Him to show His face to me that day and to give me the wisdom to see it.

When I arrived at work, it was really cold outside, but I couldn’t help but notice the cheerful yellow daffodils that were standing proudly as if somehow in defiance, of the cold snap we were experiencing. They encouraged me to do the same.

But, the day turned out to be crazy. It was spring picture day at our school. The photographers set up in the wrong place. The phones rang off the hook with questions about picture day. Parents kept showing up to pay for pictures without the correct change. The photographers ran behind and the classes were having a long wait in the hall.

By lunch time, everything was ironed out and running smoothly, but a headache had set in at that point. By the end of the day, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I desperately needed some peace and quiet. It was also kindergarten registration and so a new round of noise and questions was just starting.

But, when I walked out of the door, I was met once again by those daffodils. They were still standing tall, doing what they were called to do and I remembered then, my resolve to do the same. I wondered how well I had done at standing tall and spreading cheer that day.

With that thought still stuck in my mind, I encountered a mama and a daddy bringing their little girl to register for kindergarten. She was walking in the middle and holding one of their hands with both of hers. She was dressed in pink and grinning from ear to ear.

How could I not be moved? This child and her parents were beginning a brand new exciting chapter. I fought back tears, remembering bringing my own children to kindergarten registration. Where had all of the time gone?

I stopped and asked her if she was excited and she happily told me she was as her parents smiled with pride. I told her we were excited to have her and she smiled as she skipped along with her parents.

I took a moment as I got to my car and I looked back at the school and those daffodils and I thanked God for showing Himself not once, but twice in the five minutes before. He was there in the flowers and He was there in the child’s face.

I thought back to my morning prayer and I was once again, moved to tears. Some daffodils and a child, reminded me when we really seek God, He will always show Himself. 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!