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.

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 🙂

Piper Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
Piper's vet visit reminded me that we should trust God even when we don't understand.
Piper’s vet visit reminded me that we should trust God even when we don’t understand.

Last week, our dog Piper, was acting a little puny. I decided I should take her to the vet. He thought that she probably had an abscessed tooth. He prescribed an antibiotic and I set up a cleaning appointment for yesterday. There’s something that just seems wrong to me about paying to get a dog’s teeth cleaned. I mean, when I was growing up no one would have dreamed of getting their dog’s teeth cleaned. Did bones stop working?

Anyway, we got her from the pound a couple of years ago and she was missing some teeth then. So, yesterday morning, I couldn’t give her any breakfast because they have to put her to sleep to clean her teeth. The other dog got to eat. I don’t know when I have felt like such a heel as when she kept following me around wagging her tail. Where was her morning treat? Where was her breakfast?

I tried explaining it, but of course, she’s a dog. She didn’t get it. When I got her harness to put her in he car, she was excited, until we got to the vet.

Remember how I said I didn’t know when I had felt as badly as when I didn’t give her breakfast? Well, multiply it times ten when we got to the vet. She jumped up on me and when I squatted down on the floor beside her, she began to whine. This dog NEVER whines. I’ve never heard her make that sound. She was breaking my heart.

All I was trying to do was get her some medical attention to make her feel better and stay healthy. The vet visit was in her best interest. Why couldn’t she understand that? Didn’t she know I wasn’t abandoning her? Don’t I always come for her? Why didn’t she trust me?

I was pondering the entire heart wrenching ordeal on the way home. Of course she couldn’t understand because she’s a dog not a person. I found myself praying about doing what is best and not being understood or appreciated.

I began to get a tiny glimmer of how I think God feels when He is dealing with us and our best interests. Have you ever been in a situation where you think God has abandoned you? Have you ever felt like He didn’t care or He was allowing you to be mistreated in some way?

Are you ever able to look back on those circumstances and see how He was busy at work even though you didn’t see it? Perhaps that lost job or lost relationship was for the best? Perhaps that wrong turn, turned out to be the right way after all?

When our hearts belong to Jesus, we never walk alone. God is always with us and always working with our best interests at heart. Sometimes, like Piper, we just can’t see it or understand because we’re not God. But, unlike Piper, we can choose to trust. The God who sent his only son to save us, will never abandon us.

He has a plan even when all seems lost. Piper reminded me of that. Maybe you needed a reminder too. By the way, her teeth turned out just fine and she’s happy to be home.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Honeysuckle Moments

Posted on by Wendy
What God plants is always so much better than what we can accomplish on our own.
What God plants is always so much better than what we can accomplish on our own.

I think May might be my favorite time of the year. It’s the time of year I can walk out onto my porch barefoot and have a cup of coffee. It’s not too cold and it’s not too hot. I can listen to the birds create their symphony and I can smell the honeysuckle.

I have really noticed the glorious scent of the honeysuckle vines around my house the last couple of days. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s stronger this year, but it smells fabulous. When my daughter joined me on the porch yesterday in her jammies and she mentioned how much she liked it too, we started talking about how much of it we have around the fence and trees near the house and about how much we love the scent.

Here’s the greatest thing about it; I didn’t plant it, not any of it. Not one little blossom came from any work I did.

I did plant some jasmine several years ago. Jasmine is famous in the South, for its sweet, intoxicating smell. It’s supposed to be easy to grow and it will cover unsightly fences. I bought it and watered it and hoped for the best. It did climb a pole. It also covered up a concrete pillar. It hasn’t bloomed even once.

The honeysuckle and jasmine comparison made me think about the things we plant and the things God plants. Sometimes we try our hardest to make something work that we think is best. Sometimes we can make it work, but sometimes we can’t. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, there are things or circumstances we just can’t make succeed. They can be almost anything from jobs, to relationships, to business ideas. Some things simply were not meant to be, kind of like my jasmine.

Then, at other times, things work out just beautifully, with almost no effort of our own. There are times when things seem to fall into place almost magically. It’s almost as if every light we come to is green, and a project, or a relationship, or a new job just succeeds almost perfectly out of the blue. These are our honeysuckle moments.

These moments are nothing we did ourselves. They are gifts from a loving God. I think the key is to recognize them and give thanks. I think we probably have many more honeysuckle moments than we realize; I know I do. Those vines growing in my backyard reminded me in a beautiful way that I am loved and blessed in so many ways and that I should probably look a little closer at all I have been given.

Maybe you need a reminder too. What are your honeysuckle moments?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Dandelion Faith

Posted on by Wendy
What do you see when you look at a dandelion?
What do you see when you look at a dandelion?

When children see a dandelion, they often see a wish for the making. They will blow on all of those little white seeds and make a wish. When adults see a dandelion, they often see a weed that must be killed at all costs. Beauty, I suppose, is in the eye of the beholder. The truth is, though, that we would usually all be better off if we looked at life through a child’s eyes.

Dandelions were actually prized until the 1800’s. People would pull grass out of their yards to make space for useful weeds. They are useful. All parts of them are edible except for the white seeds. They have vitamin A, C, K, potassium and calcium in them. They can also be dried and made into a tea. They can be used to make dyes and some cultures use them for medicinal purposes. Bees love them and use them to make honey.

Interestingly, when perfectly manicured lawns became the rage, dandelions became a pest to homeowners. People spend millions of dollars each year on herbicides to try to eradicate them. But, the dandelion is a formidable foe.

I think we might have some things to learn from this little weed. First of all, its roots can grow up to fifteen feet deep. Think about that for a moment. No wonder you can’t dig them up very easily. Most of them have about eighteen inch roots, but that’s still pretty deep. The other cool thing about their tap-root is that it’s very brittle and twisted, if you leave any of it at all behind, while digging it up, it will regenerate.

Then there’s the little white seeds. They can travel up to five miles away on the wind and create more dandelions. That’s a lot of dandelions from one original plant.

I have to wonder what our faith would look like if we took a lesson from the dandelion. What if we established deep roots through prayer, Bible reading and faith community? If our roots went deep enough, no adversity could snuff us out. If we came under attack, we would regenerate. The right root system would allow us to do that.

After establishing roots, we could feed many off of our bright yellow flowers. All kinds of people are attracted to bright and cheerful, just like the bees are attracted to dandelions. Just think of the sweet honey-like things that could come from our cheerful invitation to follow.

Then, of course, there are the white seed pods that spread everywhere with a little help from the wind or a whimsical child. There’s a lot of new life that can come from spreading our faith like that.

I think we can learn a lot from the dandelion. I don’t think I’ll look at them quite the same way anymore. Maybe you won’t either.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂