Category: Watching for God

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 🙂

 I was working on dinner yesterday when a big bird flying across the backyard caught my eye. Quite certain it was a hawk, I ran and got my camera and eased outside. While hawks are fairly common in my area, they are rather tricky to capture in pictures. They don’t stay in one place for very long and they don’t allow you to get very close. There was a time when I would have just kept on cooking, believing dinner had to be on the table at 6:00 no matter what. But, lately I have tried diligently to “watch for God” in all my surroundings and I thought just maybe I could get a glimpse of this majestic bird and possibly some photos. Imagine my surprise as I zoomed in and started clicking.

It wasn’t a hawk. It was an owl! This really was a special treat. Owls like hawks are very common in our area. We often hear them, but since they are nocturnal, we never get to see them; yet there he was in broad daylight. I would snap pictures and edge a little closer and snap some more and edge a little closer. He didn’t seem the least bit nervous about my presence and I got some great shots.

I was struck by the wonder and surprise that always come with following God when we trust and obey him. Think of the surprise the Israelites must have had when the Red Sea miraculously parted. Think of the wonder Joshua and company must have had when they followed God’s directions, marched around the city and simply blew their horns and shouted and the walls of a mighty city crumbled. What about the surprise Jairus must have experienced when Jesus touched his daughter and resurrected her from the dead? Think about the wonder and joy that Mary Magdalene and friends must have felt that first Easter morning when a risen Jesus stood before them.

The Bible is full of these stories; stories of wonders, surprises and miracles that come from following God as closely as possible. How do we do that? I think we can sum it up in three easy steps: read, pray, obey. Read the Bible to figure out where we came from and where we are supposed to go. It’s like a road map of sorts. Pray about God’s will for our lives. The more we read, the more we want to pray and the louder his voice becomes telling us which way to go. It’s like a spiritual GPS. Then we obey and hold on tight and wait expectantly for the surprises. Because life with God is never boring. Just ask the wise old owl!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

I was watching the morning news today and it showed a short clip of a little boy with Down’s Syndrome and a yellow labrador retriever. The story was the little boy didn’t like to be touched. He wasn’t big on physical contact. The dog would touch him with his foot and the little boy would back up. The dog gently, but diligently kept at it until the boy relented and leaned into him and gave him a hug. I’m a sucker for YouTube and I couldn’t help myself; I went and got my laptop so I could see the full video. It was one of the most innocent, beautiful pictures I have ever seen of  God’s love. I have shared a link.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8VJh0UJtg

The first thing that jumped into my mind is that Jesus loves children. I have always told my own kids that children are his favorite. They are the most innocent and the most open minded. They are most likely to believe and accept faith at face value. Jesus said “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. Matthew 19:14-15 NLT Need I say more?

The second thing that sprang to my mind is that our relationship with Jesus is a lot like this lab and this little boy. He’s gentle, but relentless in his pursuit of us. He wants a lifelong relationship and he’s not willing to take no for an answer. He can’t get enough of us. He’s wants to run and play and sit and contemplate. He wants to hold our hands and lean in for a hug. He wants to stand by us in the good times and the bad. He will be our faithful friend as well as our fearless protector and we will never encounter more loyalty in any relationship. All we have to do is ask.

This short video has had 10 million hits, 10 million. Think about that number for a minute. That’s more than the entire population of the state of Georgia. What does the viral success of this video tell us? I think it says that we are longing for more beauty in our lives. We are longing for more gentleness, patience, kindness, and faithfulness . We are longing for a happy ending. What we are longing for, is more Jesus.

Guess what? I have great news. All we have to do is open our hearts and ask and we can have all of the above for eternity. Check out the clip and then say a prayer of thanks to our heavenly father for children and dogs. They really do represent some of God’s best work.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂