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.

Spreading the Fragrance of Christ

Posted on by Wendy
Don't be fooled by these little, unassuming blooms. Their scent is incredible.
Don’t be fooled by these little, unassuming blooms. Their scent is incredible.

I recently visited my parents. They have a huge yard and a ton of really beautiful things were blooming, but my daddy couldn’t stop talking about the tea olive bush. When he pointed it out, I was unimpressed. With all of the bright, showy things blooming, it wasn’t much to look at.

But, he just couldn’t stop talking about its smell. I reluctantly gave it a sniff. My mind was immediately changed. He was right. Those tiny, unassuming flowers were intoxicating and I just couldn’t get enough. Every time I walked by it, I could catch their glorious scent. How had I missed it before?

I was reminded of an incident as a teen involving a plant and my parents. They had this ugly plant called a Night Blooming Cereus, that sat in the corner of our family room, but they tended it lovingly. It only bloomed in the dead of night, once a year and they often missed it. Yet, they still cared for it.

My daddy often went on about the fragrance it gave off and said that he could tell the minute he walked into the room, that it had bloomed.

Well, one magical evening, it bloomed while we were all awake and you would have thought that my mama had just given birth. She must have taken twenty pictures of it.

As a teen, I didn't get it, but now I totally do.
As a teen, I didn’t get it, but now I totally do.

I had a friend over that evening and we laughed and thought my mama was nuts. We really didn’t get her excitement. But, some twenty plus years later, I do.

Just like that tea olive in the front yard, there’s way more to this seemingly unassuming plant than meets the eye. With nurture and love, it produces a beautiful bloom and an intoxicating scent. Those who don’t pay close attention will miss it.

I wonder how many blessings I have let pass me by, because I didn’t take a closer look. I wonder how many people I could have helped bloom if I had have been more persistent in prayer and with nurture. I wonder how many people have a beautiful scent to share if I were to lean in a little closer.

I wonder if I give off an inviting fragrance for Christ. When people lean in a little closer to me, are they pleasantly surprised? What about you? What kind of scent are you giving off?

The Bible tells us, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

That tea olive reminded me to not only lean in a little closer to those around me, but to also ask myself how I’m doing spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

Worshipping The Rainmaker

Posted on by Wendy
The God of all Creation can certainly send a shower.
The God of all Creation can certainly send a shower.

A few Sundays back, after church, and after lunch, and after I got my ducks in a row for Monday, I tiptoed out to my back porch. My hubby was out on a run and both of my teens were occupied. I had my laptop in hand and I had prayed that God would meet me at my keyboard, so I could write my next blog post.

The weather had turned warm and I was excited about a little peace and quiet out in nature. But, as soon as I stepped outside, my heart sank. My neighbor was burning leaves and the smell of smoke was strong. I knew it would give me a headache in no time.

I plopped down on the futon anyway, aggravated, as I began to type. It wasn’t long before a light rain began to fall. It didn’t rain for very long, but long enough to wet everything outside and to put the fire out.

It cleared out almost as quickly as it started and then the sun came back out. The smoke was completely gone and the air was clear.

I marveled at God’s timing. I’m not saying that He made it rain for me. Maybe He did and maybe He didn’t. The point is that I know and respect that He can make it rain. The Bible gives us proof of that. Check out Elijah’s story.

I didn’t pray for rain. I prayed for Him to meet me at my keyboard and to give me truth and inspiration to share with others. I prayed for Him to show His face. It rained and I was inspired.

The Bible tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I find that when I am trying to do His work, when I am trying to glorify Him with my life; He always makes a way. After all, I worship the Rainmaker.

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

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Easter is a Way of Life

Posted on by Wendy
For Christians, it's always Easter.
For Christians, it’s always Easter.

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. It’s the holiest of holy days for Christians. It’s who we are and what we stand for. After a very gloomy, cloudy Good Friday and a wet and cloudy Saturday, I was hoping for a gorgeous, sunny Easter. But, alas, I woke up to more cloudy weather.

I knew the weather report called for rain, but I figured those guys are just guessing about half of the time.

When I opened the door to let my dogs out, I was pleasantly surprised. The sky might not have been celebrating Easter, but the birds were. They seemed to be engaged in their own symphony of praise.

When I went to get my cup of coffee, I pondered about the women going to the tomb on that first Easter morning. It was just before dawn, so probably kind of dark and gloomy like my weather happened to be at the moment.

Right outside my kitchen window, something caught my eye. It was a white iris that seemingly sprung up with a few others overnight. It was such a deep contrast to the dreariness that surrounded it. The damp gray weather, made it pop. I just had to grab my camera and take a closer look.

The delicate perfection reminded me that grace is always available.
The delicate perfection reminded me that grace is always available, if we only ask.

I was greeted by six irises standing straight and tall, almost as if they were saluting heaven in the only way they knew how. No, the sky wasn’t sunny and beautiful, but the earth was celebrating Easter anyway and so did I.

Those irises reminded me of the many blessings that we miss along the way when we are intently searching for a specific blessing. I wanted sunshine, but I didn’t get it. God sent me something even more beautiful. I might have missed it, if I wasn’t looking with an open heart.

Those irises reminded me that grace is always available to us if we only ask. That’s the miracle of Easter. They reminded me that Easter is not a day on the calendar. Easter is everyday for those of us who believe. Those irises reminded me that Easter should be a state of mind a daily, lifelong celebration of the truths that we are loved, treasured, and redeemed, and that God wins.

Those irises also reminded me that we can stand tall and point to heaven no matter our current circumstances. I thanked God for the reminders. Maybe you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Woodpecker Perseverance

Posted on by Wendy
The woodpecker is relentless on its quest.
The woodpecker is relentless on its quest.

I was taking a walk recently and praying for some guidance. It seemed like nothing I was trying to accomplish was succeeding. From financial plans, to job plans, to spiritual issues.

I’m not one of those people who believes that you just pray for something and sit back and wait for God to make it happen. There is certainly a time to be still, but we also have to remember that God is not a genie. We have to do our part too. I was praying and I was trying, but I felt like nothing was working.

I asked God to show me His face, to let me know He was listening and working. I’ve often shared in this space that God sends me hawks when I’m deep in prayer. It has happened too often to be a coincidence and I don’t believe in coincidences where God is concerned anyway.

The atheist sees God in nothing. The believer sees God in everything.

I didn’t see a hawk on my walk, but I wasn’t surprised. I knew God would show Himself in some way that I could understand and He did. When I went to the sink to get a glass of water, a very large red-headed woodpecker, was right outside my window, pecking on a tree. He was way to close for me to miss him.

I smiled and said a prayer of thanks.

Woodpeckers are relentless in their pursuits. If you have ever heard one pecking on a tree, you know they rarely stop to rest and if that tree doesn’t produce, they move on to the next, working just as hard.

My cousin Kay, will also attest that if you get one going after the cedar siding on your house, it’s next to impossible to stop them. They are single-minded when on a quest. They are also protected.

I rarely see woodpeckers in my yard, but I often hear them. I was pondering the nature of the woodpecker as I went upstairs and as I looked out the window across my deck and there the woodpecker stood on the ground, still pecking. It was as if God went out of His way to be sure I didn’t miss it.

I didn’t. That woodpecker reminded me to never give up, to never stop trying my best, to never stop praying, to not get discouraged, to move on to a different pursuit if what I’m working on isn’t producing results, and to persevere no matter what. It also was a gentle reminder that as a child of God, I am protected by my heavenly Father who always has a plan.

The same is true for you. I felt a weight lifted off. I really needed reminding. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Savoring the Moment

Posted on by Wendy
Don't forget to savor the ordinary. One day we will look back and find that it was extraordinary.
Don’t forget to savor the ordinary. One day we will look back and find that it was extraordinary.

When the weather gets warmer like it has over the past few days, I feel an incredibly strong pull to get outdoors. My family and I took a walk on Sunday. I had so many things to do at my house, but I’ve become wise enough to know that when my two teens are willing to take a hike with their parents, it truly is a gift from God, and not to be taken for granted.

I have horrible allergies this time of year and have to take an antihistamine and a decongestant, but I can’t seem to stop myself from spending as much time outside as possible. The headache is worth it. Spring is so fleeting that I always try to grab hold of it with both hands. It will be ninety degrees here in the Peach State in the blink of an eye. Spring is precious.

Yesterday, when my daughter got home from school, I was sitting on the porch with a cup of tea and she and I talked about her day. I had some laundry to attend to, but she wanted to talk, so I was happy to listen. My son came in with my hubby, a little while later and my son spent some time talking about his day.

It was getting later. I needed to start dinner, but there we sat, talking and listening to each other and soaking up every drop we could of the glorious day we had been given.

Dinner ended up being a little late. No one seemed to care. I had to take some ibuprofen after clearing the dishes because my head was aching some. I was late writing my post because I spent the extra time outdoors with my family and the towels are still in the dryer.

But, as I sit here typing, I couldn’t be more thankful. I truly believe when I get to the end of my life, that I will look back on time spent on the porch with my kids as precious and as fleeting as spring.

It’s the ordinary gifts like a spring day or the time spent with our family that we so often take for granted, but in the end, we usually find that the ordinary is actually the extraordinary. And if we are truly wise, we grab hold with both hands and savor every moment, thanking God for the everyday.

Because, time is the one thing that we can never get enough of and the laundry can always wait.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Getting off the Treadmill

Posted on by Wendy
If Christians want to change the world, we have to get out in it.
If Christians want to change the world, we have to get out in it.

As I sat down to write this post, I prayed that God would meet me at my keyboard. My goal is always to share with my readers the places and faces where I see Him or how He may be working behind the scenes, and encourage others to do the same.

I believe that God is always actively at work and if we look closely, with open hearts, we can see Him.

As I began typing, I was reminded that today was no different from most of my days, average, yet exquisitely blessed.

The day began overcast and cool. I was expecting a dear friend of mine for coffee, but had time to squeeze in some exercise. I came up with a million excuses to do other things, but one of my resolutions this year was to do more cardio, so I thought about just walking on the treadmill. Yet, I could feel God beckoning me to come outside.

We have our best talks outdoors, so I complied. I usually praise and thank Him for sunny skies and warm temps, but today I gave thanks for the clouds which made me appreciate blue skies. The verse, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” kept running through my mind, so I did. I walked a long time before I gave out of my list of things to be thankful for. I could hear birds singing and a hawk calling in the distance.

The gray skies no longer mattered. It was in giving thanks and praise, that I realized that He is just as close to  me when it’s cool and overcast as He is when it’s sunny and warm.

As I held that truth close to my heart, I heard some geese honking as they took flight and I marveled at the beauty of Creation, even when it’s mostly asleep. And, then a hawk flew right in front of me, at my eye level, so I couldn’t miss it and I thanked God for giving me enough sense to listen to the nudge to get outdoors.

I so often don’t when the weather isn’t perfect. Nope, if it’s cold or rain is threatening, I stay in the warm comfort of my home. I suspect I’m not alone.

We like the comfortable, don’t we? We like comfort zones. We like to be with people who we are comfortable around. We like the familiar.

But, as Christians, if we are to be world changers like we are called to be, we have to get outside of our walls, whatever those walls may be. We may have to go where the skies aren’t blue and welcoming. We may have to reach out to people who might not welcome us warmly at first.

That call can sometimes be daunting. The road less traveled isn’t for the timid. Luckily, we don’t have to walk it alone. Jesus takes us by the hand and joins us. Sure, it can be uncomfortable and scary at times, but we have to remember that nobody ever got anywhere walking on a treadmill.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Seeking and Finding

Posted on by Wendy
God showed me His face in three straight lines.
God showed me His face in three straight lines.

It’s been a long, short week this week. While the kids have only had to go to school four days because of the holiday on Monday, it has seemed particularly long. Both of my teens have been fighting off the crud and have been super reluctant to get up in the mornings.

I have had several routine doctor and dentist visits and my very favorite doctor on the planet is retiring. One of our dogs had surgery this week and the other one decided she wanted to start barking at midnight for no apparent reason, which had me getting out of bed and wrangling her before she woke the entire house.

These are not serious problems. But, they were my problems at the moment, and I was exhausted.

When I got up at 5:00 yesterday morning, I was dragging, to say the least. I found my tired and weary self praying the prayer I often pray when I’m worn out.

“Dear God, please show me your face today and let me have enough sense to see it.”

You see, I find that when I’m the weariest is when I’m the most vulnerable to enemy attack. I miss the blessings and focus on the negative. My patience tends to be less and I’m more prone to say things that I don’t mean. Maybe you have that weakness too?

After breakfast and two cups of coffee, I headed out the door and prayed the prayer again.

I was subbing for a teacher who teaches the gifted, which is usually a treat because they often do cool and interesting stuff. Yesterday was no different. The first two classes were given ten minutes to make their own picture out of three straight lines. I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with

There were a lot of abstracts, which is probably the best I could have done. There were some stick figures. There again, right up my alley. But, there were also some cool pictures of babies and birds. But, in the second group, at the last table, there was a boy who took those three lines and drew Jesus carrying his cross up the hill and then Jesus on the cross.

It took my breath away as I fought to keep my composure. He took three lines and he saw Jesus. He saw grace and my desperate morning prayer was answered. I saw the face of God.

I find that whenever I sincerely ask God for reassurance, that He’s there and listening, He always comes through. It may not be in the form I would choose, like a winning lottery ticket, but when I honestly seek Him with an open heart, He always shows Himself in a significant way that I can’t miss.

The Bible tells us, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ” Luke 11:9

That was Jesus talking.

Wherever I am and whatever I am facing, asking God to show me His face, is my go to prayer. He never disappoints. Maybe you should try it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Why Do You Do What You Do?

Posted on by Wendy
It's a good question to ask ourselves.
It’s a good question to ask ourselves.

Last week I read a blog post by Pastor Darian Duckworth. She writes a weekly blog that my church mama from my last church, introduced me to. Isn’t it funny how she sent me one article that she thought I would enjoy and I ended up subscribing because it spoke to me so deeply?

You just never know when you toss that pebble in, how far out the ripples will go. Last week, her post was titled, “Why I Do What I Do.” She ended it by asking the question, “Why do you do what you do?” I’ve included a link here if you would like to read it.  http://www.darianduckworth.com/musings

I thought about her post all week and asked myself that question. I suppose I’ve always wanted to write. As a kid, I had dreams of moving to California and being a famous author. Then I went to college and found that everybody wanted to be a writer. I put that dream on the back burner and moved on to other more realistic pursuits.

Every now and then, I would be so inspired that I would write something down and file it away somewhere, but I rarely gave writing much thought. Many years passed. My faith grew and I thought I might like to start a blog. I prayed about it for a while and the day I wanted to start, my computer crashed; I mean black screen, crashed.

“Okay, God.” I said. “I get it. Not now.”

More time passed and I felt lead to lead a Bible study of some kind, for Lent. I pitched doing an online study to the ladies in my Sunday school class and my mom. It was a closed group. Only the people who were on the list, could read it. We covered the book of Acts.

I learned so much from the study, from reading, writing, and from the ladies who participated. I learned that many times when I sat at the keyboard, the words that I typed, didn’t come from my brain. They were Holy Spirit inspired. It was a truly awe-inspiring and life changing experience for me.

When the study was finished, I was hooked. I read a few books about blogging and Graceful Gaines was born. My premise was a Vacation Bible School principle. “Watch for God in the world around you and share it with others.”

My hope and prayer each day as I write, is that someone who reads my words will be inspired to do the same. God shows me grace regularly as I attempt to share the light of Christ. Sometimes it’s a nudge to take a picture or to get outside and take a walk. Sometimes, I find myself  sitting at the keyboard with a blank mind, after a particularly stressful day and I can think of nothing to share; the words I write on those days tend to inspire the most people and I get the most comments and shares. Again, they aren’t coming from me, alone.

Writing for me, is a constant reminder that. “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

I write to grow closer to Jesus and I pray that by doing so, I can help others draw closer too.

To answer Pastor Darian’s question, that’s why I do what I do.

Now, I’ll ask you; “Why do you do what you do?”

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

God With Us

Posted on by Wendy
As we celebrate Advent, we remember that Immanuel means "God with us." He is with us wherever we are.
As we celebrate Advent, we remember that Immanuel means “God with us.” He is with us wherever we are.

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing particularly good happened? Have you had one of those days where nothing catastrophic happened, but as you sat down from a long day of being productive, you couldn’t think of much to be thankful for?

Yesterday was one of those days for me. I went to bed the night before with a stomach ache. I woke up with one too, yet I was scheduled to work for a teacher with a sick child, so I sucked it up and went. On my drive in, I prayed for strength to make it through the day and that I wouldn’t get sick once I got there.

My son wasn’t feeling well either. His stomach was hurting too. He texted me around 11:30 that he was feeling very sick. My hubby happened to have the day off, so he went and picked him up.

I did make it through the day. I stopped by Publix for stomach bug staples, like ginger ale, crackers, soup and Gatorade. I arrived safely home and wanted to do nothing more than crash on the couch that was already occupied by my ailing son.

I settled for the chair with a cup of ginger tea. I dozed off for a few minutes. My daughter arrived home from school all cheer and smiles which is often not the case. But, she aced a math test and exempted a final and all was right in her world.

I sat there in that chair after she bounced away, willing myself to move. What in the world could I write as words of encouragement for Wednesday’s post? I was exhausted and not feeling well. I pride myself in seeing God in daily life, in the good and the bad, but I was coming up empty. I prayed as I always do, that He would meet me at the keyboard.

I began to type and He began to whisper to my weary heart all the places He was in my not great day. I did have the strength to make it through the day. I didn’t get sick at school and I didn’t feel so drained until I got home. That means a lot when you are leading fourth graders all day. “Thank-you God.” I whispered.

I kept typing. The kids were surprisingly well-behaved all day even though we are perilously close to Christmas. I didn’t have to sign any cards or raise my voice. Even the kids who were notorious for misbehaving, were well-behaved. “Thank-you God.” I said again.

My hubby was available and willing to drive my son home. I have been blessed with a good father for my children. “Thank-you God.” I found myself repeating.

I had money to buy necessities at the grocery store. “Thank-you God.” I said a little louder.

My stressed out junior in high school got a good grade after working really hard. “Thank-you God.” I said smiling.

It seemed that the more I typed and the more I thought about my day, the more I could see Him. But, that’s the key, isn’t it? We have to look. We have to take the time to be quiet and still and open our hearts, if we want to see.

When I sought God, He reminded me He was with me every step. As we celebrate this season of Advent, may we all remember that Immanuel means in Hebrew- God with us, and so He is. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

 

God Can Fix This

Posted on by Wendy
God can fix this.
God can fix this.

As I write this, our country is once again reeling from a mass shooting. Sadly, it’s becoming more and more common place and people are frightened. These are without a doubt, frightening times we live in.

The latest massacre occurred in San Bernardino, California. One of the first reports that I saw was that a young woman had texted her father to, “pray for us.”

I thought about that young woman’s text, all through that evening. I thought about the times I have had a friend text me and ask me for prayer and how powerful prayer is. I thought about how desperate and afraid people sometimes are when they finally ask someone to pray for them.

I also thought about how nonchalant people have become about prayer on social media. Some people have become awfully comfortable asking all of their five hundred plus, Facebook Friends, to pray that the cake they are baking doesn’t fall. I also see a lot of my best friend’s, brother’s friend, Sally’s sister, needs prayer type things. I often wonder, is Sally praying? Is her brother praying?

Prayer is serious business. It’s our direct connection to God. I have the utmost respect for the power of prayer.

Imagine my surprise, when I read the headline of the “New York Daily News,” that boldly proclaimed, “God Isn’t Fixing This.” It went on to belittle politicians who had offered prayers for the victims and their families.

Apparently, many people who were trapped inside that building in San Bernardino felt differently. They were praying. One young woman called her sister to tell her she loved her after she was shot in the back. She was crying and praying for her life. She survived.  Furthermore, many of the ones who were rescued, formed a prayer circle and prayed together. There’s a picture of them captured on Twitter.

I’ve always heard there are no atheists in foxholes. Looks like that’s true.

Who knows what kind of intervention resulted from the desperate prayers of those people who were trapped and injured along with the prayers from their families and other Americans who watched the horror unfold?

As far as God not fixing the mess, that America finds itself in regarding gun violence, He’s the only one who can. As a nation, we have largely turned our backs on God. Of the 70% who claim to be Christians, studies show that only 20% attend a weekly worship service. If we aren’t worshiping God, who or what are we worshiping?

When we give God very little thought, when we don’t worship, or pray, or read the Bible or try to be like Christ, how can we be surprised that our country has turned violent?

God is still very much alive and in play. He can certainly intervene, but have we asked God to fix our problems? Our God is not a dictatorial bully. We have to ask. As a nation, are we willing to fix our minds on Him and His plan and not our own?

I don’t think for a minute that He sits up in Heaven with a smite button to punish us for our wrongdoings, but when we insist on living outside His will, the consequences are on us.

I respectfully disagree with the, “Daily News;” prayer is the most powerful weapon we have, but we have to use it wisely and frequently and we really need to use it as a nation.

He’s not done with us. Are we done with Him?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂