Category: Watching for God

Yesterday was one of those days. I hadn’t slept well the night before. It may have had something to do with my parents’ Papillons that I’m looking after at the moment. The spoiled little darlings had to sleep in the bed with my hubby and me. When I took them out on  leashes at 5:00 AM, it started to rain.

Do you remember the children’s’ book, Alexander and the Very Bad Day? Mine was starting that way. I prayed that God would cover me with His love and grace because I simply did not have the energy to make it on my own.

I read my daily devotional and guess what it was about? Being tired. What are the chances? These coincidences no longer surprise me because they aren’t coincidences at all. We so often pray about the big things and wonder why God doesn’t provide them right away, that we forget about all of the little ways He shows up, when we ask.

But, that’s my watching for God in the world around us philosophy, and I never fail to see Him when I look.

The rest of the day turned out okay. I was still exhausted and I subbed in special-ed which can always be a challenge. But,yesterday, everything went smoothly. I had racing around to do after school, but I went home and made dinner.

When my daughter came to the table, we were chatting about different things, and out of the blue she said, “You know mom, being a Christian is a lot like exercising. Everyone wants to have this great body, but they don’t want to exercise everyday and they don’t want to eat healthy. They just want to eat as much junk as they like.”

I was speechless for a moment and I told her I really liked that  analogy. She told me it just came to her when her dad was driving her to school this morning. Of course it did. I prayed for grace and God planned from first thing that morning that conversation that would happen that evening.

Every now and then, I get to see little pieces of God’s puzzle fit and it’s always just awesome. Of course growing in our faith is like exercising. We have to be faithful about reading the Bible, prayer and attending church.

The fact that my fourteen-year-old daughter pointed it out in casual conversation, amazed me. But, then grace is always amazing isn’t it?

When I’m really tuned into God through prayer, I find Him everywhere. His grace really is never-ending. We just need to ask. I was so glad I did yesterday. He really does provide.

What about you? Do you see God’s grace in your daily life? Feel free to share. I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

My family and I took a walk on Sunday at the State Botanical Gardens. We had been housebound for several days due to a freak snow and ice storm. We were itching for some spring. The temps were in the fifties and so we ventured out. We weren’t the only ones. There were many others who decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day that we had been blessed with.

At almost the very first turn, we were greeted with these buds.

I was of course, delighted and had to stop and snap some photos. My kids kind of rolled their eyes. They wondered what the big deal was. They were green buds. So what?

The beauty of youth is that they don’t ponder things like seasons. If it’s snowing outside, they will build snowmen, make snow angels and have snowball fights. If it’s sunny and warm outside, they will ride bikes, climb trees and jump on the trampoline. Their enjoyment and play doesn’t depend that much on the weather.

I’m not like that at all. I hate being cold and have to wear a jacket if it’s less than sixty degrees outside. It’s a very good thing that I was born in the Deep South.

But to my adult eyes, these green buds symbolize so much. They are a physical reminder that spring isn’t too terribly far away. They tell me that the barren landscape in which I now stand will soon be bursting with the breathtaking beauty that only God can provide. They are a sign of hope. They are physical sign that God is at work behind the scenes.

These buds make me smile. I am reminded every time I make the effort to get out in nature, into God’s space, that His fingerprints are everywhere and the easiest place to see them is in His creation. I think maybe part of the reason we have lost some of the wonder and feeling of His presence here with us is that we stay indoors all of the time, surrounded by man-made creations.

He is present everywhere, but it’s easier for me to really feel His presence in the outdoors surrounded by the life and art that only He can create. I wonder if it’s the same way for everyone else.

It also doesn’t go without notice that this little epiphany occurred on the Sabbath. As I’ve written many times before, when I make myself observe Sabbath time, I am always rewarded. It also gives me comfort that whenever I renew my strength during Sabbath time, I am so much better equipped to serve God in the coming week with an open heart and less stress.

I am determined to enjoy this spring like weather over the coming week and to watch for God in it. I know winter is not over yet, but temperatures in the sixties and seventies in February are a gift and I am thankful. What do you think? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

My family went to visit my parents last Saturday to celebrate my mom’s birthday. When we returned late that afternoon, we had a message waiting on our voice mail. My neighbor from across the street, left an excited message that there was a crane or an egret walking around in her yard. She was so excited that she wanted to share it with us.

This is one of the many reasons I adore this woman. She’s a senior and she always seems to find the wonder in life. That bird had no business walking around in a yard in Northeast Georgia, but here he was and she was so surprised, she wanted to share.

What is it about the oldest and the youngest of humanity that allows them to get it? We seem to be born with a certain amount of wisdom that somehow gets lost around the age of ten and we don’t get it back until sometime in our sixties, if ever.

I’m talking about the ability to appreciate squirrels in backyard feeders and deer in the front yard. I’m talking about the ability to slow down and drink in the scenery. I totally get that deer are pests, but they really are quite majestic and squirrels are hilarious, running around and chasing each other. They are like real-life cartoons. They will actually fuss, if there’s a cat in the yard.

I read a book last summer by Margaret Feinberg, called Wonderstruck. I highly recommend it. This woman had lost passion in her life and she prayed that God would send her wonder and He delivered. It was a delightful read that had me praying for wonder myself.

We are surrounded by wonder everyday. If the earth’s atmosphere was just a tiny bit different, we couldn’t breathe. If the sun was a little closer, we would burn up, a little further away and we would freeze. If the moon were much closer, we would have floods. We don’t see the wonder in it because we don’t ever think about it. It really is amazing.

I think we have lost a lot of our feeling of the Divine presence because we spend so little time in nature these days. Maybe that’s why kids get it. They play outside and seniors take time for a walk or to sit in a porch swing.

Nature is full of wonder and when I sit outdoors in the quiet, I always feel God’s presence. I think I need to make more nature time and see what happens. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to share a glimpse of the wonder on my neighbor’s voice mail. I mean, if you get the chance to see something awesome, don’t you think you should pass it on?

I’d love to hear about how you seek wonder in your life and if you don’t, it’s time to start. Life is simply too short not to enjoy all of the many wonderful things that God has provided. Feel free to share.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Last Sunday at church, we renewed our vows of baptism. The pastor told us that the seashell is the Christian symbol for baptism and at the end of the service, invited us all up to get a shell and dip our fingers in the baptismal font and pray at the altar.

It really was a beautiful service and I loved the symbolism, but I had never heard about the shell being a Christian symbol before even though I’ve been a lifelong  church goer. Being a curious sort, I had to investigate.

Since I just love to watch for God in the everyday, I was delighted at what I found. Turns out, that the shell was used in the very first centuries of the Christian church to assist in the sacrament of baptism. We know this because there are paintings of baptism depicted on the walls of catacombs where early Christians worshiped.

No one knows exactly why shells were used, but the thought is probably for practical reasons. In many places, there wasn’t enough water to completely submerge the candidate; so they would wade out and have water poured over their heads. They would want to use as much water as possible. (It wasn’t like they could pick up a bucket at the local Target). A shell could hold more water than a hand.

The shell comes from the ocean. Jesus’ first disciples were called by the seashore. When we are baptized, we are supposed to be disciples for Christ, spreading the word and the love. The shell can remind us of the first disciples as well as our own calling to discipleship.

There are shells depicted in art in many churches all over the world, from embroidery to stained glass. They are sometimes shown with three drops of water, symbolizing the trinity.

So, the next time you have the pleasure of walking on the beach, be sure to pick up a shell and be reminded not only of the beauty and wonder of nature, but also of the infinite grace of God. Be reminded of the privilege of baptism and the love of Christ. Be at peace and know God loves you and of course, pass it on!

Have an awesome day! 🙂

Wendy

My teenage daughter has a very dear friend named April. When they first became friends in the fourth grade, she was very disturbed when she told me that April didn’t believe in God. I told her she should invite April to Vacation Bible School. She did and not only did April attend VBS , she began attending church with us and went through confirmation in the sixth grade. She was then baptized and joined our church. Never underestimate the power of a little children’s program called Vacation Bible School.

The girls are both in high school now and continue to be good friends. April is a very dedicated soccer player and plays year round. Last Fall, she was playing in a tournament and was badly injured. She was kicked so hard that she broke both bones in her lower leg. She was far from home and in excruciating pain. Her parents rushed her to the nearest hospital.

Her mother told me that she was sitting in the emergency room in a wheelchair crying hysterically. She was in so much pain and was very frightened. Out of nowhere, a woman who spoke Spanish, put her hands on April’s shoulders and prayed over her. April was instantly calmed. Her mom told me that an amazing sense of peace overtook her.

Here’s the thing, April doesn’t speak a word of Spanish and no one knew who the woman was. She wasn’t a nurse or employed by the hospital.

I have thought of this story often since I first heard it and I have wondered who she was. Of course, her identity doesn’t really matter. She was clearly sent from God. At that moment in time, she was given the ability to comfort a child with the presence of Jesus. Her actual words didn’t even matter. The heart knows prayer when it hears it and April’s heart was comforted.

If a fifty-year-old man was sitting there, God may have sent someone else. The awesome thing about Jesus is he is one size fits all. Wherever you are in life, he will meet you there, right where you are, with his arms outstretched. There is no path or place out of his reach. There is no waiting room or sickness or pain that will scare him away.

He is fearless and he wants you and me. I don’t know about you, but I find that to be very comforting. And as I seek comfort from him, I pray that he will use me to comfort too, just like the woman in the emergency room.

What do you think? Feel free to share.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

One of my favorite shows in the eighties was Magnum PI. I just loved watching him ride around Hawaii in his red Ferrari. Tom Selleck was good-looking and he always got the girl and caught the bad guy. The scenery was gorgeous too and he had two besties that were in on all of his cases. What more could you want in a sixty minute show?

Magnum narrated parts of his show and he was always talking about the little voice inside his head. When he listened to the little voice, things turned out okay. But, he often ignored his little voice and it usually got him into trouble.

We all have a little voice inside our heads. We sometimes listen to it and we sometimes ignore it. Most of the time, when we listen to it, we are able to stay on the right path. When we don’t, we often find ourselves saying something like, “I knew I should or shouldn’t have done, (fill in the blank)” or “Something told me I needed to do (fill in the blank), but I didn’t.”

Has this ever happened to you? It has happened to me a lot and I started wondering about this voice and where it comes from. Is it some sort of imaginary Jiminy Cricket like Pinocchio had? As I began to ponder this, the story of Samuel popped into my mind. His story is found in 1 and 2 Samuel in the Bible.

Samuel was a young boy who was living in the temple with an old priest named Eli. He did a good job serving the Lord. One night when he went to bed, he heard his name called, “Samuel!” He went to see what Eli needed, but Eli hadn’t called him and he returned to bed. This happened three times and Eli figured out that it was God calling him, so he told him to go back to bed and answer, “Speak, your servant is listening.” Samuel did what he was told.

When God called him the fourth time, Samuel told him he was listening, and boy, did God start talking. He had a ton to say. Samuel became a famous prophet for the rest of his life. He was actually the one he anointed King David.

Why did God pick Samuel? Was it because he was doing God’s work or was it because he was listening? I think maybe, it was both. Maybe Samuel could hear God because he was serving God. I also think it’s important that someone older and wiser helped to point the way.

What does this mean for us? I think God speaks to us all of the time through that little voice in our heads. If we want to grow closer to Him, we have to listen. If we want to hear it loudly and clearly, then perhaps we should do more than listen; we should do. We should serve.

I’m going to try to do a better job at listening for God. What about you? What do you think about that little voice? Feel free to comment.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Do you ever wonder what it is about the ocean that calls to us? Is it the vastness of God’s creation as we look over the horizon? Is it the mystery that it holds? Maybe it’s something deeper and more spiritual.

When we go to the beach, it’s usually for a vacation, for a break from the everyday busyness of life. We take time to enjoy our spouses and our kids. We relax. We laugh. We rest. For a very short time, we remember who and what matters most to us. We take photos and make memories.

Then, we pack up and go home. We get busy again and stress sets in as our tans fade. We get consumed with everyday living. But, we dream of returning to the beach. We make plans six months or more ahead of time for the next trip. We save our money to go. Our kids get excited about going back year after year.

I think there are some places that are simply spiritual because they are glaring examples of God’s beautiful creativity. The oceans are mentioned in the Creation story right at the beginning. He didn’t have to create sugar, white sand and crystal clear waters, but He did. The rhythmic sound of the waves can soothe even the most ornery soul. The beach appeals to all of our senses. I doubt that is by chance.

The mountains is another place that feels spiritual to me. I can see so much of God’s handiwork in all of the natural beauty that surrounds them. The endless vistas that stretch on for miles really make me want to sit down and drink it all in. The quiet serenity there is like a comfortable blanket. I feel close to God when I’m there.

I think we have an inborn desire to be closer to God and closer to each other. When we visit beautiful places, there is no denying that God is here with us. His fingerprints are everywhere. When we feel closer to the One who created us, then we naturally feel closer to the ones He created to walk with us. Our families are gifts from God, just like the mountain vistas and sandy beaches and they are just as beautiful.

There are certain places that help us remember how much we love each other, how special family is and how time flies when we aren’t looking. They are gorgeous reminders that we are loved by the One who flung the stars into existence and we are to love the treasure of family that has been given to us. I just love being reminded of my blessings in beautiful ways. Don’t you? Feel free to share.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂