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.

Faith’s Blessings

Posted on by Wendy
We worship the God who created the universe. Is anything too had for Him?
We worship the God who created the universe. Is anything too hard for Him?

Last October, my family visited a new church, well, new to us. This church had been started fourteen years earlier by a core group of believers who were looking to worship together. They began as Independent Methodists and they met at a local school.

Over the years, they bought a building and then realizing they had no room to expand, sold it. They met at a local funeral home for a while and became part of the Wesleyan Denomination. They were always looking for something permanent, but were unable to find the space they could afford. There was an  empty church in a nearby town, but it was too expensive and needed a fair amount of renovation. That group of believers was adamant on staying together as a church.

The summer before my family visited, they were given thirty days notice to vacate where they had been worshiping. They had nowhere to go and could find no viable, rental space. Many newer members, abandoned ship for greener pastures. But, the core group, continued to pray and hold fast to what they felt they were called to do, worship together and stay together.

A garage-type space opened up, no rooms, no sheet rock, just walls. That core group of believers did what amounted to an Amish barn raising and created a space that would work. It was small, but it was theirs and they had a lease. They had some breathing room while they searched for something else.

My family visited that little store front space and we were immediately drawn in by how welcome we felt and the amount of love we felt there. We could feel God. We ended up joining.

In May, the leaders of the church were informed that the little church that they had looked at earlier, but found too expensive had dropped in price. They invited the entire congregation to take a look. While it was small, it sat on seven acres. We took a vote and everyone voted to purchase it.

Here’s where God got busy. We were told by our denomination, if we could raise $50,000 in six months, that they would match our funds. The entire idea seemed incredibly out of reach. Our church is very small, with less than 100 members, but a capital campaign was kicked off in July. Yesterday, 40 days later, we had surpassed our goal.

We were all in shock, although I don’t know why. We worship the God who can turn water into wine, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who called the stars into being, the God who fed thousands of hungry people with a few fishes and loaves of bread, the God who sent us His son to save us. Is there anything He can’t do?

For fourteen years, this particular Body of Christ has remained obedient and faithful and they have waited on God and His timing even though all seemed lost at times. They stood fast and today, they were rewarded for their faith.

In October, we will move into a little white church on a hill that will have been completely renovated to welcome all who would come, to know Christ. While we are all giving stunned thanks for the amazing blessings which we have been given, we wait in wonder to see what God will do next.

Yesterday, we were all reminded of Gabriel’s famous words to Mary, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:27

Maybe you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

He Calls Out

Posted on by Wendy
It's not the flower that makes the gardenia so special; it's the scent. It's not something we can touch or see, but sense.
It’s not the flower that makes the gardenia so special; it’s the scent. It’s not something we can touch or see, but sense.

On the first day of my summer mission trip, we were told to keep an eye out for something at the house we were working at, that we could bring back to our host church and share with the rest of our mission team. It could be anything, but it was supposed to be something of significance to us that represented something special about our week.

I heard the teens talking about it all week. Some of them had no trouble finding an object and some of them struggled to the very last minute. After we all shared communion together, we all went up one-by-one and shared our objects and our stories and left them on the altar.

It was a very moving ceremony and there wasn’t a dry eye in the sanctuary. Some of the teens were very nervous, but it was amazing to see how they supported one another in love and friendship after only a week together.

There were shingles, nails and all types of items that though they seemed insignificant at first glance, the accompanying story that linked them with God made them extraordinary. Of course, God has the power to do that in all of our lives. We can give Him the tiniest, everyday, anything and He can make it magnificent. We just have to be willing to give it.

When it was my turn to share, I went empty-handed. I didn’t have a physical object. I had plenty to share. I saw God at every turn that week, but not necessarily in the physical.

I have shared on my blog before that I pray when I walk in my neighborhood and quite often, when I am really struggling with an issue, God sends a hawk across my path. It has happened way too often for me to discount. I mean, it will fly right in front of me.

I have always reasoned that if God can call every animal on the planet to get on a boat two-by-two, He can certainly send hawks across my path. If He can make a donkey talk, He can send me a hawk. It’s a spiritual connection I have with Him.

A large part of my work on the trip was working on the roof. Roofing isn’t really that hard, but it’s very hot and very tedious. The entire week that I was on the roof, a hawk cried out close by. I mentioned it to my daughter, several times. I would smile and look at her and ask, “Do you hear it?” She would smile and nod.

I never saw the hawk that week. I only heard it, but I knew God was close. I could feel Him.

The second thing I shared was that there was a huge gardenia bush next to the house, the largest I had ever seen. Every time I passed by it, I got a whiff of its sweet scent and I found myself thanking God for planting it there. I couldn’t see Him, but I could sense Him. That gardenia bush could have been anywhere, but it wasn’t. It was right beside the house.

The entire experience reminded me that God calls out to us in so many ways. We can see Him and feel Him in the world around us if we seek Him. We don’t have to be able to hold these encounters in our hands; we only have to hold them in our hearts.

Perhaps you needed a reminder today to seek Him.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Seeing God at the DMV

Posted on by Wendy
God is everywhere. We just have to take the time to look for Him.
God is everywhere. We just have to take the time to look for Him.

I recently took my sixteen-year-old to get her driver’s license. My little town doesn’t have a DMV so we had to travel to a neighboring county.

After our arrival, we were filling out paper work, when a very large teenage boy walked in the door. I’m sure he played football for some lucky high school team because he looked like a linebacker. He was grinning from ear to ear and saying, “yes!” over and over in a loud whisper. He was making deep sighs of relief and actually broke into a happy dance.

This kid’s joy was infectious. I couldn’t help but smile at him and call across the room.

“Did you pass?”

“Yes!” he said, grinning wildly.

I gave him a thumbs up and he returned the gesture. My daughter, who was nervously waiting her turn, relaxed a little. It was impossible not to. This kid was so excited that it spilled over to all who sat in the room. I found myself saying a little prayer of thanks for getting to witness his utter joy.

As I thought of it later, I wondered what the world would be like if all Christians walked around with that kind of joy. We have so much to be joyful about. We have the best retirement plan ever made. We get to spend eternity in Heaven. Our biggest enemy has already been defeated. We have forgiveness and grace. We are loved beyond even our own understanding. Does it get any better than that?

But, we live on this side of Heaven and we get bogged down in the worldly. We sometimes forget. Sometimes we need a little reminder from a teen doing a happy dance, or snuggling puppies, or a babies’ tiny feet. Our world is full of reminders of God’s presence. We merely have to look for them. God shows us His handiwork at every turn if we pay attention.

After the happy teen left, an elderly lady came and sat behind us. She asked me where to get a number and we got to talking. She told us that she was 78 years old and I was amazed. Her face was remarkably unlined and she was incredibly spry.

She shared with us that she had five children, had been a foster mother, worked at Head Start and still volunteered several days a week. She said that was why she felt so young. She was also very active in her church. We talked about church and prayer and I told her we had been praying that my daughter would pass her driving test. She looked at my teen directly in the eyes and told her that she needed to be praying herself and not to rely on her mama. My daughter assured her that was the case. She left shortly after and wished us luck.

I pondered the conversation and marveled about seeing God everywhere. Who would have thought a woman would talk to my teen about prayer at the DMV? It settled her nerves. She passed her test. Did God put that teen boy there at that moment to help my daughter relax? Did God send that sweet lady? Who knows? Is it possible? Oh, yeah.

With God, all things are possible. (even at the DMV) Never stop looking.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Power of Group Prayer

Posted on by Wendy
One praying Christian is a threat to evil. Two or more gathered in prayer, is a force to be reckoned with.
One praying Christian is a threat to evil. Two or more gathered in prayer, is a force to be reckoned with.

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer this summer. I’ve believed in the power of prayer for as long as I can remember. My mama always said our prayers with us before bed time and we always blessed our meals. But, I wasn’t always comfortable praying out loud and I certainly wouldn’t have put my hands on someone while I was praying.

That seemed a little bit over the top for me. I thought that was something that maybe those snake handler Christians would do.

This summer on my mission trip, while we were touring the homes we would work on, tragedy struck in the family of one of our volunteers. A close family member was struck and killed by a tree branch on a beach during a school trip. She was quietly asked to step off of the bus where she was given the news. Those of us on the bus were given the news too. She was devastated.

The excited chatter of new friends and old acquaintances stopped as she got back on the bus and took her seat by me. I held my breath. What could I possibly say to this stranger I had only met a couple of hours earlier? She sat with tears streaming down her face. I told her I was so sorry for her loss and she quietly nodded her head.

Our director got back on the bus and asked us to join together in a prayer. As she began, I put my hand on my seat mate’s shoulder. I don’t really know why, but I felt lead to. At the same moment, the man in front of me did the same and the woman across the aisle from us placed her hand on her back.

It was a powerful moment and as she quietly sobbed, I could feel her drawing strength as well. I could feel the Holy Spirit at work.

She decided to stay the week and complete the mission. She said she was surrounded by family to support her. It was an unbelievably strong testament. No one would have blamed her for leaving. We became good friends as the days passed and I feel blessed to have met her.

We prayed a lot as a group, over the week. We held hands almost every time. We began and ended each day holding hands in prayer on our work sites. We also ended each day with a prayer back at the church with everyone joining hands and sharing something about their day.

A few days ago, I was having coffee with a friend who has really been struggling physically. We talked a lot about prayer and my trip and when I went to leave, I asked her if I could pray with her. She agreed. But, then I found myself putting my hands on her neck that was hurting her so badly, as I prayed for her to get some relief. I was just as surprised as she was, but she said later she felt better.

I think we seriously underestimate the power of prayer, especially when we pray in groups. God is always listening, but the Holy Spirit seems particularly energized when we gather in a group in Jesus’ name. Remember Pentecost?

I’ll admit it can be uncomfortable, but the results are amazing. Maybe it’s worth a try.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Don’t Miss the Headline

Posted on by Wendy
As long as we follow Jesus, love wins.
As long as we follow Jesus, love wins.

I have been on a hiatus for the past month and I still may not be back full time. I went on a mission trip and then spent lots of time with out of town family. My daughter had dental surgery that went well. I simply have had very little time to breathe and compose my thoughts.

When I have had time to check Facebook, a war seems to have broken out. From flags to Supreme Court decisions, everyone has an opinion and as near as I can tell, there’s little tolerance on either side for the other guy’s views. Social media has become a noisy place and I find myself tuning out more than in. I suppose I took a bit of a hiatus from Facebook too.

I happened to have been in South Carolina on a mission trip when Dylan Roof shot those nine Christians. That’s the headline, by the way, they were Christians first. As believers, we know that the soul is what lives eternally. Skin color is secondary. God doesn’t care that they were black Christians and neither did Jesus when he welcomed them home with open arms. We shouldn’t care about their skin color either. Christians were gunned down in their house of worship by someone under Satan’s influence.

Who else would kill Christians? Hate does not come from God.

Merely two days later, many of the families of the victims forgave Dylan in open court and openly told him they were praying for his soul. Could they have humanly done that? Nope, but the Holy Spirit was clearly on the scene. He doesn’t care about skin color either. One by one, family members addressed the killer. One even said, “Hate won’t win.”

There have been some serious race riots going on in this country lately when a black person was killed by a white police officer. As the country held its collective breath to see what would happen in Charleston, I believe Satan danced with joy expecting the worst. After all, nine black people were killed a white guy.

But, those nine people were disciples of Jesus, the “Prince of Peace.” A mere four days later, organizers in Charleston put together a walk to the Ravenal Bridge called the “Bridge of Peace.” Would anyone show? Would there be riots and looting as in other cities?

Police estimate anywhere from 10 to 15 thousand people showed up and held hands for peace many singing hymns along the way. There was a nine minute moment of silence for the nine victims. I imagine Heaven rejoiced.

But, peace and unity have never made for big headlines. In no time flat, the news media as well as social media began to focus on South Carolina’s flag. Hackles went up and insults began to fly. Who do you think loves division? Who do you think was laughing with delight?

God is still at work here. The earth has always been a dangerous place and for Christians in particular, because we are not of it, but live in it. The nine people who died were saints. Their families and fellow church members are the very picture of Christ, something we should all strive to be. On the day of the peace march, the city of Charleston shone like a beacon in the darkness.

That’s what we should all focus on. That’s the headline. Don’t miss it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Sacrifices and Rewards

Posted on by Wendy
Let there be light.
Let there be light.

I recently took a family vacation to the beach. When I was growing up, my family vacationed every year on the Florida panhandle. I love the Gulf of Mexico and the sugar white sands there. My hubby’s family vacationed on the Atlantic side of Florida. He loves the waves in the Atlantic Ocean.

Now that I have my own family, we have visited both and I find incredible beauty in both. I believe that the seashore is some of God’s best work. I have so many fabulous memories of visiting beaches, wherever they may be. There’s something about the vastness of the ocean that I find incredibly calming and inspiring all at once.

However, what I really miss the most about the Gulf side of Florida are the sunsets. The sun doesn’t set over the beaches on the Atlantic. I have watched countless breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico and I commented to my hubby on this trip that I really missed them.

He told me with a twinkle in his eye, that we could watch the sun rise over the Atlantic. Did he seriously think I wanted to get up by 6:00 AM on our vacation to watch the sunrise? Aren’t vacations for resting? Did I mention that he’s a major morning person?

He asked me every night before we went to bed, if I wanted to get up and watch the sunrise. I told him each night, maybe the next day. Still, I have to say I was curious. I’ve never seen the sun rise over the ocean. I knew if it was anything like a sunset, it would be spectacular.

When Friday came, I knew I had to make a decision. We were leaving on Saturday. We set the alarm to get up early.

When we arrived at the beach, we weren’t alone. It was by no means crowded, but there were other people there. Some were exercising, but others had cameras or were sitting on towels or chairs waiting.

The sky was tinged a beautiful pink and we quietly waited. And then, my hubby whispered, “There it is!”

It truly was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It wasn’t gradual. The sun wasn’t there and then, “Pop!”, it was. I felt like I was in Genesis, when God said, “Let there be light.”

I sat in complete awe of creation and of our Creator. It struck me at that moment that to see the face of God, we sometimes have to make sacrifices. We have to get up early to spend some time with Him or to read the Bible, or we have to go to bed early on Saturday to make a Sunday worship service. Sometimes we have to say “no,” to something so we can say “yes,” to Him.

But, the sacrifices are always worth it, if they draw us closer to Him. Sunsets are beautiful, but easy. They take little sacrifice to observe. That sunrise was purely spiritual. I am thrilled that I didn’t miss it and I am reminded that sacrifices often bring us rewards beyond measure. I will try to remember that the next time I’m trudging uphill. Maybe you will too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Summer’s Calling

Posted on by Wendy
How will you answer?
How will you answer?

As I sit and write this, it’s the first full day of our summer vacation. I’m sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and there’s a cool breeze. It’s almost cool enough for a jacket out here. The birds are trying to outdo each other as they sing their loudest songs.

My teens are still sleeping. We drove to my parents house the minute school got out and they stayed out at the pool until well after 9:00. Their summer has officially begun the same way mine always did. They are with friends and they are at the pool.

There’s something about a swimming pool that makes time and worry slip away. Hours can pass by as they listen to music and no one even thinks about checking their Instagram or Twitter. They are unplugged and they actually talk to each other and to me. It’s precious and I treasure it.

I have a friend who has struggled with communicating with her teen lately, but when she gets her in their pool, they float and talk and all is right with the world.

I witnessed the same phenomenon at a youth group gathering at a pool last week. They played pool games and they laughed and talked. They were in the moment with the people in front of them. No one was tethered to a phone.

The beginning of summer is always magical time. Our pace slows down. We plan vacations. We head to the lake, or the beach, or the mountains. We eat watermelon and tomato sandwiches. We make homemade ice cream.We grow fresh produce in our gardens and plant brightly colored flowers. We cook out. We spend time on the porch. We camp and spend time around the campfire. We attend family reunions. We gather with friends outdoors for meals and drinks.

It’s the time of year where we spend the most time outside in Creation, God’s personal cathedral, built with His own creativity, to His liking. It’s the time of year, when Creation itself seems to beckon us to slow down and come and sit a while with a glass of tea or lemonade. For a season, we are called to appreciate the slower pace. We all get to live in Mayberry, if we choose.

The teens have awakened and are sitting on the porch swing laughing and talking. They eat breakfast outside and head to the pool. I still see no electronics anywhere.

We can learn a lesson from them if we are wise. We can treasure the long days and the porch and the pool. We can get outside and create quiet space to appreciate all of God’s fabulous gifts in nature. We can unplug and spend less time on Facebook telling the world what a good time we are having and actually get out there and have such a good time with the people in our lives who we have been blessed with, that we don’t even want to stop for a moment to put it on social media. They can’t really get it anyway, if they aren’t there.

The best times have always been with the people in front of us, not the ones in cyberspace. The summer beckons. How will you answer?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Christian Community

Posted on by Wendy
Christian Community can change the world.
Christian Community can change the world.

One of my favorite topics to write about is community, specifically Christian community. Paul wrote a lot about community in his letters that make up the majority of the New Testament.

My mama recently shared with me a story of community at work in her church. In her Sunday School Class, an older woman began talking about her son’s cancer diagnosis and how she disagreed with his choice of treatment. She began sobbing as she told her story. We tend to get uncomfortable when people lose control, don’t we? When we don’t have answers, we tend to distance ourselves.

Most of us prefer smiling happy faces at church. I suspect God prefers authenticity. Come just as you are. Mama said is was beautiful the way the class rallied around her. Men and women chimed in. They offered her support as they listened and offered prayer. This is Christian Community.

In my own church, our new associate pastor was listening as I was sharing my upcoming mission trip and all of God’s signs telling me to go. She placed her hand on my arm and asked me the dates, so that she could pray for me. It was totally unexpected, although I don’t know why. This is Christian Community.

A family in our community very recently lost a child in a tragic car accident. They are members of our last church. An e-mail went out yesterday requesting members of an adult Sunday School Class to help them move. They needed some assistance loading a truck. At least two members had already signed up to help. This is Christian Community.

Paul tells us in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”

There are many ways to do good to others. We can physically assist. We can politely listen. We can give time and money. We can pray and intervene spiritually for those in distress. Every situation requires something a little different. There is always opportunity. But, either way, as Christians, we are called to be part of community.

We have so much to teach each other and so much to learn. Each one of us has something unique to share. We simply can’t do that at home watching a sermon on television or online.

Christian Community is special and powerful. It makes a difference. It changes lives. It can change the world. Don’t miss being a part of it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

What Are You Called to Do?

Posted on by Wendy
Each time we figure out what we don't want to do, we are a step closer to figuring out what we do want to do.
Each time we figure out what we don’t want to do, we are a step closer to figuring out what we do want to do. Nothing is ever wasted.

My soon-to-be high school junior, doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life. Shocker right? It seems that all of the kids around her know exactly what they want to do when they grow up, or at least they think they do. Lately, I have had countless conversations with her about how figuring out what she doesn’t want to do, can lead her to what she does.

I know it seems kind of counter intuitive, but it works. She tried volunteering to tutor kids at a local elementary school last year. She didn’t enjoy that at all. She probably doesn’t need to be a teacher.

She hates medical stuff and the sight of blood, so being a doctor or nurse is probably out.

With each step she takes that helps her discover what she doesn’t like, she gets another step closer to discovering what she does.

I think our faith walk can be very similar. When we give our hearts to Jesus, we know we want to follow Him. We know that God will call us to serve in some way. We often are willing to serve, but don’t know how. What exactly is He calling us to do?

Sometimes, we just know. People who love to sing are naturally drawn to the choir. People who just love kids are often drawn to teach children’s Sunday school classes. But, what if we don’t feel that we have much talent or don’t enjoy kids?

There are a million ways to serve. Probably the best way to figure out your calling is prayer. Then start volunteering at your church. Most churches are more than happy to put you to work somewhere. You could greet people, or help take attendance, or serve on a committee. You can help make or serve refreshments. You can volunteer to visit people who are sick.

You can’t find what you are called to do by never trying anything. I always said that I was interested in working with any group of kids except middle schoolers. It’s such an awkward age. Surprisingly, (or not really, now that I’ve walked with God long enough), I find that I really have a heart for that age group. Sure, they can be mouthy, but their masks aren’t on yet. They are still open to listening and learning.

Working with the middle schoolers when I was asked, even though I thought it was something I wouldn’t enjoy, lead me to something I never would have believed in a million years that I would enjoy. I have heard people that I roped into volunteering at Vacation Bible School, say the same. They really didn’t think they would enjoy it; but they did.

Of course, we can  minster anywhere. I met a delightful girl yesterday who told me that making sandwiches was her ministry. How fabulous!

If you are serving somewhere, keep serving. The Kingdom needs you. If you aren’t, perhaps you should say a prayer and then say yes to something when asked. You never know, you may find your calling. If not, you will be a step closer to finding it. That’s just part of the journey.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Watching for Whales

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes when we pray for signs and answers, we have to patiently wait, but sometimes our answers come quickly. The trick it so watch.
Sometimes when we pray for signs and answers, we have to patiently wait, but sometimes our answers come quickly. The trick is to watch.

My daughter has been wrestling with God lately. She had a fabulous mission trip experience last year in South Carolina. It was through a small church that couldn’t have been a better fit for her. It was life changing. We have changed churches since last year, so she didn’t really think that the same mission camp was an option.

Then her foreman, a man that she came to adore over her week there, reached out to her and asked her if she was returning. He told her she didn’t have to come with the same group. She and I talked and we tried to round up a group from our new church to go. Ideally, I was going to send my hubby, and both my kids. There were others at church who were interested. I could even go, if needed, but I had never really felt called to do something like that.

It looked like it was going to happen, but it didn’t. That week just wouldn’t work for the people I was talking to. We let the mission trip idea go.

The he reached out to her and me again. The leader of the camp also reached out to me and told me she would pray about us coming. My daughter and I prayed about it. She really just wanted one buddy to go with her. She had a friend who could go, but she would be a day late. We let the idea go again.

Last week, I was walking and praying and asking God to give me some guidance on the trip. I do try to stay in His will, but sometimes I simply don’t know what it is. I knew my daughter was wrestling, but I didn’t really know how to proceed.

When I was on Facebook that evening, there was a plea from the leader of the mission project. They were desperately short on volunteers and she named several people in her plea. She said I need, (names here,) to come and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Guess whose name was on the short list. Yep, mine. Wendy Gaines, we need you.

Now, at this point, I’m thinking about getting swallowed by a whale. For me, it was fairly close to a burning bush moment. I prayed for God to show me His will and then my name is specifically called out to be “the hands and feet of Jesus?”

I messaged her on Facebook on told her some financial concerns I had. We could swing the fee for one trip, but with wisdom teeth coming out this summer and hubby getting a crown, two would be tough. She answered right back they would scholarship me.

At this point, I could see the whale circling. I immediately agreed to go. I’m not real big on wrestling with God.

My daughter and I will be attending a summer mission trip in June. I’ve never been on one. I’m excited to see what God has for us to learn since He so clearly wants us to go.

Sometimes we pray for signs and answers. Sometimes we have to wait a while and sometimes they are very subtle. This time, it was hard to miss, but I wonder how often I do miss them. I am reminded by the entire experience to always watch for answers when we pray. Sometimes they are right in front of us. They can even pop up on social media.

How closely do you watch?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂