Comfort When We Hit Rock Bottom

When life is the darkest, God comforts us.
When life is the darkest, God comforts us.

2 Corinthians 1:4, has come across my path three times in the past week. I read it in two different blogs and then it showed up in my Facebook news feed. I knew God was trying to communicate something to me, but I wasn’t sure what, so I prayed and waited.

My hubby and I met our pastor for coffee and he was talking with us about all of the pain in the world around us and how very important he felt that prayer was in stemming the tide. He then shared with us that he was going to meet with a woman the next day who was going through a terrible divorce. She was very hurt and angry and he asked us to pray that God would give him the wisdom to say the right words to comfort her and that He would give her heart the ability to hear them.

I prayed for the meeting the next day and that verse kept popping into my mind. ” He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4

I found myself sending him an e-mail telling him that I too, had been divorced and although it had been close to twenty years ago, it was very definitely rock bottom for me. I told him it was a very dark and painful time and I sometimes wondered if I would survive it. But, even in all of that darkness, there was redemption and grace and forgiveness and hope.

In a moment of despair, in a terrible thunderstorm which seemed to mirror my own life at the time, I found my way back to God. Right after that storm, I wrote my first piece on encouragement. The encouragement had come from God and I had to put it on paper to share later. It would be many years before I was writing encouragement daily, but that little piece was a start that lead to other little pieces along the way. It was a beginning to a lifelong journey of watching for God in the world around me.

So, I found myself telling my pastor to please feel free to give this woman my phone number if he thought she might like to have coffee and talk. It wasn’t because I had any particular desire to share the mistakes of my past with a stranger, but it was because in my darkest moments, God comforted me and began something new in me. He can do the same for this woman and he can do the same for you.

It’s the paying it forward of spirituality. He comforts us so we can comfort others. He shows us forgiveness and grace and expects us to do the same. He offers hope. When times are the darkest, He holds us the closest and when we come out on the other side, a little stronger, and a little braver, He wants us to show others the same kind of love, His love.

Maybe we should keep our eyes open for opportunities to offer comfort to others who find themselves in situations that we have personally experienced. I think that would make God proud.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

Are You Ready?

Are you prepared for whatever changes life brings?
Are you prepared for whatever changes life brings?

Fall weather in Georgia is anything, but predictable. I was huddling under a blanket at a football game on Friday night and then I was sweating buckets on Sunday afternoon on a walk I took, wishing I had a bottle of water. This volatility of the weather is nothing new to me. It could be anywhere from the forties to the eighties on any given day in the fall. It’s always best to be prepared with water and a jacket and maybe even a blanket and an umbrella.

But, as I was pondering the weather during my walk, it made me think about life. It’s really a lot like the weather, very unpredictable. The skies can turn from sunny to stormy in the blink of an eye in our financial lives, our relationships and our health. When we are prepared, we can weather the storms. Have we saved money? Have we talked with our spouses about the importance of staying committed to our marriages? Do we have a good support system from family and friends? Have we been vigilant about our health, through watching what we eat, exercising and getting check ups. Do we have a good doctor before we get sick? If we are prepared, we can usually get through the storms much more easily.

What about being prepared for storms in our spiritual lives? How do we react spiritually when life deals us a blow? Do we know how to turn to God in prayer when we are shaken? Is He like a daddy to us or a distant uncle? Do we know how to listen for His voice and look for His comfort? If we have been working on walking with God when times are good, then when times are bad, we can lean in close. It’s harder to really lean on someone who we have kept at a distance.

The Bible is also a fabulous source of comfort and hope when times are tough. If we have been reading it and studying it along the way, we know where to look when we really need some encouragement. God desires to help us; but He will only extend a hand. He will not force us to trust or love Him. Christianity doesn’t work that way.

What if today was our last day on earth? Does the thought frighten us or fill us with dread or are we okay with that, knowing the end here is simply the beginning of eternity?

We are not meant to live in fear. We are meant to live in love and joy. We are meant to have courage and peace in all circumstances, knowing that whatever happens, if our heart belongs to Jesus, we are covered. God has a plan for each and every one of us and knowing that, we are to start each day with a peace that can only come from anΒ intimate relationship with Him. He will be our blanket, umbrella, raincoat, jacket, bottle of water and anything else we need in rough weather. All we have to do is follow His ways and we will always be prepared for anything and everything.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

Use Me

Try asking God to, "use me," when you pray and see what happens. Expect to be surprised.
Try asking God to, “use me,” when you pray and see what happens. Expect to be surprised!

I recently received a text from a friend of mine that read, “Hi, wanted to tell you something. I was looking for an old e-mail, but instead I landed on one that explained Daniel 8, the angel. You are being used. Have a good day.” Of course I couldn’t resist. My reply was, “By whom?” Her answer was, “God.”

I smiled as I read it. We had been talking about angels in the Bible the day before and the Book of Daniel, and she had been given some answers she was seeking.

The phrase, “being used,” has a negative connotation for most of us. We don’t like to be used. People can use us for our money or our status or our connections. We can’t even buy used cars anymore. They are pre-owned.

But, our relationship with God should be different. We are supposed to want Him to use us in whatever way He deems appropriate. That can be an uncomfortable concept because we don’t like to give up control, (or the control we believe we have over our lives.)

I found myself pondering the concept over the past week and I decided to try it out in prayer. I have been asking God to “use me.” I have had no idea what that may look like until yesterday.

My family has been visiting a small church. On our first visit, a woman approached me and told me she could tell I was a singer. I laughed and told her I used to sing in church all of the time while I was growing up. It’s been over twenty years since I sang up in front of a church. I have been busy serving other places and no one ever asked. She told me I should think about singing with the choir.

Yesterday after church, a different lady approached me and asked me if I would like to sing in their Christmas Cantata. I told her I might, and she told me when practice was.

At this point, I’ll have to admit I was kind of stunned. I began my faith walk singing in church. I have since been involved in teaching Sunday school and working on Christmas plays and helping to coordinate Vacation Bible School. I have been an organizer and a planner. I prayed for a week for God to use me and to guide me where He wanted me. I have now been asked to sing twice.

It certainly was not what I expected. It’s so very different from what I have been doing, but you never know what you are going to get, when you intentionally decide to listen and obey the will of God. So, I’ll sing in the Christmas Cantata and I’m sure I will be incredibly blessed, the way I always am when I practice obedience. The journey is never dull.

And today, I have a challenge for you. Try the “use me,” prayer over the next few weeks. You may be surprised at where God leads you. I would love to hear about it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

Can You Feel God?

Seek and you will find.
Seek and you will find.

My family visited a church last Sunday. It was small. I know small isn’t cool these days. The mega-church is where it’s at. But, my hubby and I are traditionalists. We like small. We realized long ago that we kind of swim upstream where society is concerned. We also decided that we are okay with it. I spoke with the pastor at length, before we visited. After that sweet man, gave me over an hour of his time, he simply said to me, “Come and visit. Either you will feel God here or you won’t.”

Wow, such simple words, yet so profound. There are a hundred different ways to worship. Some people like a rocking service with a complete band. Others prefer kneeling and tradition and quiet. Some feel it’s very important to take communion every Sunday. Some have to have a cup of coffee in their hand while others would never allow food or drink in their sanctuary.

The Bible doesn’t give many specific instructions on the right way to worship. The point is we are there to worship God, our Creator, the Creator of the universe. Personally, I don’t believe that the specifics matter that much. But, that pastor’s words stuck in my head for two weeks before we visited. “When we attend worship, can we feel God?”

In the end, that seems to me to be the only question that matters. As Christians, we don’t worship a far away, absentee landlord, God. We worship a living, breathing God who is very involved in our lives. We worship a God who sent His son to die for us. We worship a God who sent the Holy Spirit to inspire men to write a guidebook called the Bible to instruct us and tell us how to live and grow in spiritual maturity, a book that keeps us safe.

Our God doesn’t strike us down for making mistakes. Our God doesn’t instruct other Christians to strike us down for making mistakes either. Although, there are religions out there who do. Our God is a God of love. The word love appears in the Bible 551 times in the NIV.

So, the question, “Can you feel God?” is a huge question. Feeling God where we worship is of utmost importance, but as I thought about it, I wondered about feeling God in other areas of our lives. Do we feel God when we pray, or in our relationships? What about when we are making decisions? Can we feel God at the family dinner table?

I have found myself pondering this question for a couple of weeks. I think it may be one that we should all ponder. The Bible tells us, “Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

I take this to mean if we seek God, then we will find Him. Can we feel God in our lives? If the answer is, “no,” then maybe it’s time to do some seeking. Can we feel God where we worship? That may be a hard question, but one that needs to be asked. If the answer is “no,” then we maybe need to ask why and do some soul searching.

As for us, in the little church we visited, the answer is a resounding “yes!” and it was awesome!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

It’s All About Focus

My son spent Saturday morning making a plastic bag dispenser instead of packing.
My son spent Saturday morning making a plastic bag dispenser instead of packing.

I was running around last Saturday trying frantically to get packed and get ready to haul eight teenagers in two cars first to my parents’ house, and then to a concert. My son, one of the teens, wasn’t attending the concert. He was going fishing with his Granddaddy. But, he still had to get his things packed and loaded into the car. He wasn’t the least bit interested in the task I had given him.

I went into my laundry room and he had every plastic grocery bag I had, pulled out onto the floor and was folding them. I took a deep breath and asked him what he was doing. He told me he needed an empty Clorox Wipes canister. He wouldn’t tell me why. When I asked him if he had his things packed, he told me that it wouldn’t take long to finish what he was working on.

Now, knowing my son like I do, I could have argued with him and ordered him to go and pack. However, he’s a very creative, task oriented sort, and I knew we would all be happier if I just let him finish. I found a canister that was close enough to empty. He then wanted to know if he could use my laptop because he needed to print something. I relented and went upstairs to finish my own packing and getting ready to go.

Twenty minutes or so later, he proudly produced his contraption. He had placed all of the bags neatly in it, eliminating all of the chaos in the laundry room. He had a label on it and even a name to contact when they ran out. (his of course) It even had a handle so that it would hang from the cabinet door. He tried to explain to me how to refill it, but then he told me I could just let him know when I needed a refill.

I smiled at him. It really was a cool little gizmo. I thanked him and asked him to please go and pack his things. He happily complied. On his way out the door, I told him that although his invention was great, it could have waited until he got packed. It didn’t have to be done right this minute. He simply replied, “But, then that would have been all I could think about. I needed to get it done, so I could do something else.”

Ahhh, words of wisdom from a thirteen-year-old. More and more studies have shown that the human brain is terrible at multitasking. When we do more than one thing at once, nothing gets done well. I suspect this goes for our spiritual lives too. we can’t read the Bible and listen to music. We can’t really, intentionally pray while checking Facebook or e-mail or listening to anything. We can’t really worship while playing on our phones.

To do anything well, we have to focus on that one thing. We don’t like to focus on one thing. It makes us feel less productive. The many distractions we put into our lives, think: social media and cell phones have caused us to be a society with collective ADD. The Bible tells us to, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Be still. When was the last time you were really still? Can you remember? I get it. It’s very difficult to be still. There’s just so much to do. I find myself reading the Bible while I’m eating lunch or praying while I’m driving. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with doing that; it’s just that if I want to get the best connection possible with God, (and I do), I need to focus only on reading the Bible at the moment or sit still some place quiet and pray. I think it’s about focus, God focus.

As usual, my son taught me something when I was least expecting it, but I’m used to God using my kids to communicate with me, when I have the sense to watch for it. I’m really going to try to stop multitasking so much and be still more.

What do you think?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

 

A Life that Points to God

There are many ways to live a life that points to God. How are you doing?
There are many ways to live a life that points to God. How are you doing?

One of my favorite children’s books is, “The Tale of Three Trees.” It’s a picture book that is derived from an old folktale and is retold by Angela Hunt. The story is about three little trees standing on a mountaintop and the dreams they had for their lives. One tree wanted to hold treasure. One wanted to be a strong ship to carry kings and one simply wanted to stand on that same mountaintop and grow as tall as possible, so that people would look at her, “raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.” She wanted to be the tallest tree in the world.

The years went by and the trees grew. One day, some men with axes came and cut each one down. The first was made into a feed box for smelly, dirty livestock. The second was made into a small fishing boat that carried nets full of stinky fish. The third was cut into plain old strong beams and left in the lumberyard.

More years went by and the trees had all but forgotten their dreams. Does this remind anyone of any adults you know? Then one night a newborn baby was placed in that feed box and that tree knew that it had held treasure after all, the greatest treasure ever.

The little boat was caught in a storm and it was full of people and a sleeping man. The tree that made it thought it would sink for sure, but the man woke up and said, “Peace” and the storm quieted immediately. The little tree knew he was in fact, carrying the King of all kings.

And when the third tree whose only dream was for people to look at her and see God, was snatched out of the woodpile and made into a cross, one Friday afternoon, she was devastated. Where had she gone wrong? All she had wanted to do in life was stand straight and tall and point to God. But, on Sunday morning, she knew. When Jesus was resurrected and the miracle and joy of Easter became known, she became a symbol of God’s love for the entire world. People would always look at her and think of God.

I just love that story on so many levels. I love that the little boat totally believed it was a goner until Jesus uttered one word, “Peace” There have been times in my life where I have felt like that little boat, like all was lost. Perhaps you have too? Sometimes the storms may seem impossible, but when we look to Jesus and let him whisper that one word, all can be well with our souls.

Most of all, I love that those trees had so many plans for their lives that they believed were perfect, but God’s plans were different and so much better. I can see so much of myself in this story. Can you? It’s those times when we think we have been completely derailed that grace seems to shine the brightest and the new plan is beyond our wildest expectations.

God’s hands were all in their story, just as His hands are in ours. The big difference is that the trees didn’t have a choice. We do. Are we willing to let God make us into something amazing or do we continue to do things our way? Are we living Β lives that point to God? The choice is ours.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

 

Sharing Light

Ever notice how precious the light is when you are feeling lost?
Ever notice how precious the light is when you are feeling lost?

On a recent walk that I took, I couldn’t help but notice that the light was particularly stunning. Maybe it was because it was a perfect fall day or maybe it was because I was feeling really down. Since I’m normally a very happy and enthusiastic person, being down is quite tough on me.

But, I found unique and beautiful light in every photo I snapped that day. Even the shadows turned out to be cool and interesting. Now, I’m no photographer, but I do know that light is very important when taking photos. I also know that when I truly seek light, I usually find it and that day was no exception.

I find that light is very important in life as well. We all have the opportunity to be a light to someone who may be in a moment or even a season of darkness. From little e-mails or short texts to quick notes on Facebook. In the age of technology, it really doesn’t take a lot of effort to provide some light for a friend. I know for me, quick little notes of support mean the world and I have been blessed with lots of friends who generously send them.

I had someone tell me today that she had me on her mind all weekend. Have you ever had someone on your mind for no reason at all? I have found that there really is a reason and it’s usually good to touch base with that person. God has a way of interconnecting us with one another and so often we know just the right thing to say to that person on our minds.

We have to be careful to take quiet time and be in regular prayer so that we don’t miss an opportunity to reach out. When we get an urge to call or contact someone, who may need a little encouragement or perhaps an ear, we need to just do it. These are little acts of obedience that not only help us to help each other, but also allow us to grow closer to God and align with His will.

I find when I’m obedient with the small nudges, like sending someone a note or calling them, I start to feel more in tune with larger nudges and callings.

I suppose it’s like the parable of talents in Matthew 25. Two of the servants who were given talents or coins, who went and did something productive with them, were rewarded. “His master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'” Matthew 25:21

Don’t we all want to be the good and faithful servant? There are many ways to share faith, to share the love of God, to share the grace of Jesus. But, something super easy is to share some light. So next time you feel the urge, send the note or make the call. I’m trying to be really good at doing that, because the other day, when I was down, I felt the love and light of friends in a flood and it was awesome. God is good!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

Holes

This is a hole that chipmunks dug in our yard.
This is a hole that chipmunks dug in our yard.

We have a very wooded backyard. We have lots of oak trees and moss and rocks and very little grass. We like it that way. We kind of feel like we are in the mountains. Our yard is the home to a ton of birds and squirrels and chipmunks. Now chipmunks are notorious for digging holes and we try to fill them back in when we feel they pose a danger of someone stepping in them. But, chipmunks are relentless.

This hole, is at the very end of the walkway off of our deck. It’s right next to our house. As I was cutting okra and pulling a few figs yesterday, I noticed something shiny and black lying on the top of the chipmunk hole. As I went to investigate, I caught my breath; it was a snake, with only its head exposed. I have no idea how long the snake was in the hole, but I do know that I stepped around it several times that afternoon.

After I called my hubby to come check it out, it retreated further. I thought of that snake for the rest of the day and into the next. How big was it? When would it come out? Was it dangerous? My biggest question was, how long had it been there?

As many of my encounters with nature tend to do, this one made me begin to think about the possible holes in my spiritual life. How am I doing with the big three: prayer, Bible reading and worship? I think most of us can claim we do one or two well, but to really be able to put on the full Armor of God, we have to engage in all three. If we are lacking in one area, we leave a hole.

This is what finally came out of that hole.
This is what finally came out of that hole.

Bible reading seems to be where most people fail, but we can’t really get engaged with the Holy Spirit, if we don’t read God’s word. How can we develop wisdom and discernment? How do we know if a calling comes from God or somewhere else if we don’t know what He has to say about the matter.

We need the Holy Spirit to help us develop love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control and perseverance first in ourselves, and then to share with a badly hurting world. In the Armor of God, the Holy Spirit is the only offensive weapon. It’s a sword. It’s important.

Then there’s prayer. If we want to hear what God has to say, we have to listen intently. That means setting aside some quiet time daily to pray. Believe me, I know how hard that can be, but still very necessary.

Then there’s worship. In worship, we engage with other Christians in lifting up the name of God. The importance of worshiping the Creator of all on a regular basis, is also incredibly important to our spiritual life and spiritual safety. It creates a community that is vital to our spiritual growth.

When we pray about what areas need work, we can make an effort to fix them and plug any holes that we may have.

My hubby plugged the hole with a rock.
My hubby plugged the hole with a rock.

If we leave the holes uncovered, who knows what might move in? Chipmunks aren’t the only thing that is relentless. How do you do with spiritual holes?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

 

God Doesn’t Care About Statistics

This acorn only has a 1 in 10,000 chance of becoming a tree.
This acorn only has a 1 in 10,000 chance of becoming a tree.

If you are a math challenged individual like myself, the title of today’s post may cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. I came up with this nugget of truth as I was watering my tomatoes and okra this morning and noticed acorns strewn everywhere. I felt the nudge to pick one up, so I did. After doing a little research, I knew why I felt the nudge.

First of all, it’s amazing to me that a massive tree can come from this tiny seed. White oaks, like the ones in my backyard can grow anywhere from 65 to 100 feet tall. That’s a really big tree. They can also live up to 200 years and some species have been known to live over a thousand years.

It's truly amazing that these massive trees could come from something as tiny as an acorn.
It’s truly amazing that these massive trees could come from something as tiny as an acorn.

Even more amazing is the fact that only one in ten thousand acorns will become a tree. Think about that for a moment. It takes an oak tree anywhere from twenty to fifty years to even be able to produce acorns. Mature trees will produce an average of 2,200 acorns each fall.

The odds of having oak trees around don’t seem very good, yet there are at least ten in my backyard alone, and oak trees grow almost everywhere in the world. Now that we have had a little botany lesson, let’s dig a little deeper.

Let’s take a minute to think about the oak tree and the God who created it. What can we learn from it? First of all, God isn’t interested in the odds of success. Of course, we have seen that in the Bible over and over again. What are the chances of a baby surviving in a basket in the crocodile infested Nile River? What are the chances of a young boy taking down a fierce, armor wearing giant? What are the chances of a teenager being thrown into a den of lions and walking away without a scratch?

The more impossible the odds seem to us, the more God seems to like it. He likes to use the what seems to be impossible, to us to show that all things are possible with Him. Part of Moses’ story was the fact that God had him picked out from the beginning. The basket in the river simply showed God’s protection. If a well armed, well-trained warrior had taken down Goliath, it wouldn’t have been miraculous. Daniel’s amazing faith not only saved him, but served as a witness to the many who heard about it.

Secondly, the mighty oak tree is very slow growing and because of that, it grows very tall and strong. It’s also very resistant to pests and disease. It provides incredible shade to the living things around it, respite from the oppressive heat. Its acorns provide food for over 180 birds and mammals. It’s beautiful year round, from the budding in the spring to the incredible colors in the fall.

There are other trees, like the pine, native here in Georgia, that grow much faster, but they are much more susceptible to disease and pests. Not only that, a strong wind or ice storm can destroy pine trees in no time flat.

As Christians, I think we should look to the oak for inspiration. We should take our time and grow strong, deep roots. We should use our resources to feed those around us both physically and spiritually. We should let our long branches provide shade and shelter and we should let our light shine, no matter the season. Perhaps most importantly, we should remember that nothing is impossible with God, whatever the odds.

Yes, I’m glad I picked up the acorn. It’s just one more reminder that when we truly seek God, we will find Him.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚

The Lifeline of Community

Faith community is more than fun and fellowship. It can be a lifeline.
Faith community is more than fun and fellowship. It can be a lifeline.

I got a forwarded e-mail this morning from my church mama. She rarely sends me things and when she does, they are always so good, inspirational and thought-provoking. Today’s was simple, but I loved it so much, I jotted it down in my journal before I took my walk.

“Life. Sometimes life lies hidden and buried under banks of snow, or in seemingly dead and lifeless beehives, or mysteriously within an egg. But under and in and within, life is literally waiting to erupt at just the right time, at just the right moment, because that is God’s desire for creation.” Brother James Koester

The words are so simple, yet so beautiful and they speak volumes about the nature of God, especially regarding His timing. I pondered these words as I walked and prayed. I try so diligently to respect God’s timing. I understand deep in my heart, that waiting for God is an act of obedience that requires and builds faith, all at the same time. But, lately my troubled heart has really wanted some hard and fast answers and some very clear signs, whether they be green lights, stop signs, or detours, and I feel I have been met with silence.

Silence means more waiting and patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. These were the things I was praying about when I returned home.

I was met with an e-mail in response to the first, from another church member. The words stopped me in my tracks. It was as if my prayers went right up to God and the immediate response came from her. I don’t know her very well, but we are a part of the same church community. She’s in a different stage in her life, further along than I am, which makes her a prime candidate to glean wisdom from. I don’t know why she chose to include me in her reply. I suspect the Holy Spirit was behind it, the way he usually is with the unexplainable coincidences in our lives.

Her words were a little longer, but here’s the gist: “I am reminded seek and ye shall find. The ‘answer’ the revelation, epiphany most often comes in the, seeking itself. (not necessarily in what was sought) … Must remind myself daily that there are golden nuggets that have been sown just for me….keep digging, keep mining. Often what seems as interruption along OUR chosen way, that is indeed the manna from Heaven along what seemed to be a detour.”

The hair stood up on the back of my neck. These were words my weary soul needed to hear. This is community. This is why Christian community is so important. Through the Holy Spirit, we can encourage and guide one another. When we plug into other community members, we provide a telephone line of sorts for the Holy Spirit to communicate with us. It’s powerful and beautiful and it’s God’s will for the church.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Community can come in so many different forms and look a hundred different ways, but it’s vital to us on our faith journey. It can provide fun and fellowship, but it can also provide a life line.

How are you doing with community? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy πŸ™‚