A Family Week

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Wendy

Due to a wonderful Mother’s Day visit that lasted much longer than we planned, that resulted in a late return home, I don’t have a post today.

My youngest graduates from high school on Friday and there are quite a few activities planned this week. It’s a bittersweet time for this mama. I’m choosing to be fully present and soak up every moment with my family over the coming week, so I won’t be posting this week. I hope that you seek and find God in the world around you this week remembering that He’s always present and always working.

Have an awesome week!
Wendy 🙂

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Making a Difference to Someone

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Wendy

Every act of faith and kindness matters.

Last Christmas, I received a bracelet from the people I work with. It was engraved with the words, “it made a difference to that one.” It came with a starfish charm and was attached to a card with The Starfish Story.

I love that story. I remember vividly the first time I read it. It was part of a collection of stories found in the book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” It was over twenty years ago and a very dark season for me. My soul was in desperate need for some light and that story really resonated with me.

It’s about a little boy walking down the beach. The tide is going out and there were starfish stranded on the sand. He would pick one up and throw it out to sea and move on to the next one. A man asked him what he was doing and he told him that if he didn’t throw them back they would die. The man told him there must have been tens of thousands of them and that he wouldn’t be able to make a difference. The boy bent down and picked up one and threw it as far as he could and looked at the man and smiled and said, “I made a difference to that one.”

There’s nothing like the faith and enthusiasm of a child. It’s something that we are gifted with when we are young, but tend to lose as we grow up.

Jesus recognized and appreciated it. “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

What things do we not even bother to do or try because we don’t think we can make a difference? Things like the giving of our time or money to a cause that really touches our hearts, might not fix a problem, but will it a help a person? We might not be able to stop world hunger, but can we feed one child? Can we educate one mother? Can we offer to assist one elderly person in need? Can we give to a stranger in need?

Christianity teaches us that our faith is individual. Jesus cares about the person. So if we can help one person along the way either physically or spiritually or both, then we have followed Christ’s example.

We may never be able to completely grasp God’s economy. It’s just so different than our own, but we do know that all things are possible with Him and that every soul matters, so every person matters.

A treasured story reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too. Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Categories: Biblical Wisdom, Building Christian Character | 2 Comments

Watching for Faith Lessons

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Wendy

I fill it up because I want to, not because the birds do anything to earn it.

This time of year, I have to replace my hummingbird feeder nectar about once a week to keep it fresh. I don’t have a lot of hummingbirds right now and they aren’t drinking that much. The weather isn’t very hot yet and they haven’t established nests. When the sugar water sits in the sun for a week, it gets cloudy and sour and so I replace it with fresh sugar water.

My son always picks at me and tells me that I’m just feeding freeloaders. They have done nothing to earn my time and care. I chuckle and continue doing it anyway.

He’s right of course, but the little birds delight me and I feel led to feed them.

I was thinking about his words last weekend while I was refilling my feeder when I was reminded that refilling them regularly just because they make me happy, is a tiny bit like grace.

We can do nothing to earn God’s grace even on our best days, yet He gives it to us freely. He fills us up over and over as often as we come back to Him, with hearts and souls thirsting for more.

Ideally, we in turn, give thanks for it and extend the love and grace that we are given to those around us who desperately need it. That’s how the Kingdom grows and how we can delight our Maker just as those little hummingbirds delight me.

I smiled as I turned the concept over in my mind, thankful for the faith lesson. Turns out, they weren’t freeloaders after all. They were put in my path to teach me something.

I was glad I was paying attention and didn’t miss it. Perhaps you needed a little faith lesson today as well.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

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Standing Amazed at God Winks

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Wendy

There are never coincidences when we walk with God.

My hubby facilitates an adult Sunday school class. We’ve been in the Old Testament for a long time now. We’ve traveled through Genesis, Exodus and Joshua. He was pondering what to do next and was considering Jeremiah when I suggested that maybe he should switch gears and do Acts next.

It’s in the New Testament and it’s the story of the birth of The Church after the Resurrection. It’s full of a very active Holy Spirit and miracles, lots of action, and fun to read. I don’t really know why I suggested it. But, we have a new pastor coming in July and it just seemed appropriate.

New leadership always involves some change and transformation and Acts has lots of both.

My hubby pitched it to the class and they liked the idea, so on Sunday, we were set to get started. Sunday, was May 5th. Right before class started, the new pastor and his wife came strolling in the door unannounced. Did I mention they came all the way from Indiana and no one had any idea they were coming? They weren’t due until July 6th.

They came to close on their house and they hadn’t told anyone.

What are the chances that on the day we began the new study on Acts, that the future pastor shows up out of the blue from over 700 miles away?

I found myself once again in awe of God’s timing and His plan. I’ve heard these situations referred to as God Winks. When those who are faithful are praying and watching, He gives us signs that we are in fact on the right path and He is in fact at work. They happen all of the time. We just tend to miss them in our busyness.

Yet, if we slow down, we can be amazed on a regular basis just like I was on Sunday. I need to be amazed more often and reminded that He’s always at work. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Trusting God, Watching for God | 2 Comments

Wherever You Are

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Wendy

Jesus meets us wherever we are on our journey.

Last Sunday, our sermon was about seeing Jesus in the world around us, which is one of my favorite topics. Part of the sermon was about the travelers on the road to Emmaus found in Luke 24. Most people who are familiar with the Gospels know the story.

Two men are walking along and talking after witnessing the Crucifixion and hearing rumors about the Resurrection. The Crucifixion was real to them. They saw it. It was tragic, but it made sense on a physical level. When a body dies, it stays dead, to believe anything else would have been a giant leap of faith.

But, Jesus joins them and begins explaining scripture to them, yet they don’t recognize Him. Our pastor noted that they didn’t really recall if He caught up with them from behind or they joined Him walking ahead, but He fell in step with them.

That little detail stayed on my mind long after Sunday. Jesus met them where they were. The Resurrection was supernatural and so Jesus could then be anywhere at anytime. He was no longer hampered by His human form. The glory of grace is what He chose to do with the power.

He could have chosen to stay right there at the tomb and wait for everyone to come to Him. He could have gone to the temple to show everyone that He was who He said He was, but He didn’t do either of those things.

He went and met the people who had earnestly sought Him all along. He found them where they were, cowering behind locked doors, walking along the road, in the cemetery and fishing, to name a few mentioned places. He appeared to men and women and to people who were doubters. He encouraged and He forgave.

He still meets those who seek Him, right where we are. Whether we are traveling or settled, bold or cowering, rejoicing or mourning. It doesn’t matter if we have walked with Him for many years or are brand new to the faith, or whether we have stumbled somehow.

Jesus walks with those who love Him regardless of where we are on this earthly journey. A Sunday sermon reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

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Remembering to Pray

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Wendy

A bad day got immediately better as soon as I remembered to pray.

Earlier this week, I had to get my son registered for freshman housing college. He’s going to be attending a really big school and the housing registration process was in three parts. We got started the very first day available and he was really not very interested. But, he was much more enthusiastic a few months later, for the second phase, when he got to choose roommates. It didn’t take him long to be a part of a group of four and they were all set.

When he finally got issued a time for the final phase, when they would pick out their unit, he got issued an early slot, but it was during his school day, so I had to do it. I carefully got all of the information on what they wanted and logged on with no problems. I chose the complex they wanted and hit submit.

I was really proud of myself until I saw the term chosen was summer. Had I really just signed my son and three strangers up for summer housing? There was no way to back up or cancel. I called the school and was told someone would call me back. I sent an email and I stared at my phone all day. I waited from 10:30 until 3:00 and heard nothing.

I was panicked. What if I had messed up their housing? What if they got a bad dorm because I did something wrong? Would the other boys be angry at my son for my mistake? I felt helpless and stupid. I don’t know why I didn’t stop to pray in my panic, but when I got in my car to drive home, I literally cried out to Jesus and asked for help.

When I arrived home, I sat down at my computer and logged in again, then I picked up the phone and called again. I was on hold for a long time and as I waited, I got a notification that someone had commented on my blog post from Monday, which was interesting because it basically said, I had been so busy with family over the weekend, that I was too tired to post.

But, this sweet woman, who was clearly an answer to my prayer, wrote that she appreciated my honesty and transparency and my balancing priorities and love for family, friends and celebrating young people and that it was a great reminder for a Monday.

Tears slid down my face. My honesty about being completely wiped out had meant something to someone.

When I finally got to talk to the nicest person I have ever talked to, when I have called the school, she checked on everything and assured me all was well, that my son was in fact registered for fall not summer. She wasn’t sure why it said summer, but the dates that were listed were correct. I thanked her several times and we hung up.

I immediately said a prayer of thanks which was where I should have started to begin with.

A long stressful day, reminded me that prayer is where I should always start. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

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Long Weekend

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Wendy

Due to a weekend that had me in the car for six hours on Saturday and getting home late and then a Sunday that included church and then helping to set up, attending and then cleaning up for a band banquet, that had me home in time to work on dinner and do some laundry, I have no post today. I had a great weekend doing things with and for some of the people I love the most. I feel blessed and I’m thankful, but exhausted. I hope your Monday is fabulous and that you see glimpses of God all around you.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

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Hearts that Overflow

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Wendy

When our hearts are overflowing, sometimes we have tears.

I work in an office at an elementary school and from time to time, a couple of the teachers will send a child my way to help reinforce something they may be working on in the classroom. I’m always happy to help. I often get a glimpse of Jesus when I talk with children. I used to tell my own kids when they were little, that children were His favorite people.

There’s a little boy who was coming in for a short while to read to me for a minute. He was working on fluency and every little bit helps, so he would come in and read a short passage and we would count his words together. It was always so fun to see his eyes light up when he read a little bit more than the day before. I think I enjoyed his progress as much as he did.

I hadn’t seen him in a while, but he popped in a couple of days ago with a new page to read with more difficult words. I was happy to see him. I’d missed his excitement and little stories. But, this time he had something on his mind. He didn’t miss a beat when he told me, “He had tears.”

I found that a strange expression for a little guy, but I waited as he went on to tell me he had tears because he was going to be leaving his teacher and going up to second grade.

My heart ached for him. Change is hard at any age. I remembered having teachers in my own life, who left footprints on my heart and I had been really sad to leave them, even though I was moving forward. I remembered my own children having teachers who left their footprints on my babies’ hearts and my own as well.

I have come to appreciate what a gift it is when we become so touched by the people in our lives that leaving them, gives us tears, to borrow my little friend’s expression. Those tears are simply evidence of the lasting, beautiful effect that those people will always have on our hearts. Those people change us forever and help to shape the people we become.

I reassured my little friend that he would get to see his teacher next year and that I was sure he would love second grade. That seemed to be enough for him. He took a deep breath and began reading and went a little further than the day before.

This time of year often brings lots of change, grade changes, school changes, graduations and weddings are just a few things that tend to occur in the spring. Those events while happy, often lead to us having tears, but the good news is that those tears mean we’re alive and our hearts are full, so full that they are overflowing, and that is truly a blessing.

A little boy reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Choosing to See the Bright Side, Trusting God, Watching for God | 2 Comments

5K Lessons

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Wendy

I learned a lot more from participating in a 5K than I bargained for.

Last weekend I participated in a 5K. It was a fund raiser for our school’s STEM program and lots of people I work with were participating, so I reluctantly signed up. I’m not a runner. I like to walk for fitness and I run a little, during my walks, but I would never consider myself a runner.

The thought of a race was definitely not my cup of tea. I’m just not competitive that way, but I signed up anyway.

It turned out to be cold, in the forties and there was a small chance of rain, but there was a carnival atmosphere when I arrived. Everyone was pumped up and smiling. There was music playing. I wasn’t really sure what the excitement was about, but it was infectious.

Once the race began, I ended up walking alone and keeping my own pace. When I would see people I knew, they would smile and speak. Sometimes they were way ahead and on their way back when we crossed paths and sometimes I would pass them.

Either way, everyone was very encouraging, “Go Wendy!” they would call. When it began to rain, I began to run more than walk. I got a few good natured call outs, “thought you didn’t run!” I would laugh and reply that I don’t.

I never said I couldn’t run; I said I don’t run. Turns out, when it’s freezing and raining, I can run quite a lot.

But, the encouragement was contagious and I found myself cheering others on when I passed by them as well. When I crossed the finish line, a friend of mine was videoing and cheering me on.

I was so grateful to be done. I was cold and wet and ready to head home, but another friend told me I couldn’t leave because I was going to medal. How could that be possible? Little kids had passed me.

She explained that the race was broken down into age groups. There weren’t many people in my age group. I found it hysterical that just being old and finishing, made me eligible for an award, but I stayed and I got a medal. She did too and everyone cheered for each other.

I thought about that race long after I finally got home and got warm and dry.

It really is a parallel of how we should live our lives, going at our own pace, joining with others sometimes, walking some and running some, continuing forward even when the weather is bad and maybe most importantly, encouraging others in their race.

As a dear friend of mine says, “It doesn’t matter when you cross the finish line, as long as you finish. The only ones who lose are the ones who don’t try at all.” Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

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Living Like Easter People

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Wendy

What if Christians lived like everyday was Easter Sunday?

When I left church yesterday, which happened to be Easter Sunday, I was chatting with an elderly lady in our congregation. She’s 90 and quite spry. She rarely misses a Sunday. She commented on how she was so happy that the day turned out to be beautiful. I agreed with her and we talked a few more minutes before I gave her a hug and headed to my car.

I was thinking about our conversation on my drive home when I crossed the river. It was way up past flood stage and was moving very quickly. It rained Good Friday and on Saturday almost continuously. It was cold and dark, the way I picture the earth being, the day Jesus was crucified and the days He was in the tomb.

But, Easter Sunday turned out to be gorgeous as if Creation itself was celebrating along with Christians around the world.

Our pastor shared the concept and challenge to let Easter be the first day of the rest of our lives in Christ. I have to say that I never really thought about it that way.

I think of fresh starts on New Year’s Day and on my birthday, but Easter is a call to a spiritual fresh start, a clean slate that comes from the Resurrection. It’s a brand new call to accept grace and redemption and meets us at whatever point we find ourselves on our faith journey.

It doesn’t matter if we are brand new or seasoned Christ followers, or whether we have been traveling faithfully or have fallen away for some reason. Even if we find ourselves completely upside down and on the wrong road altogether, Easter is an invitation back to Jesus, back to forgiveness, back to healing, and back to unconditional love.

Easter is an invitation to all who choose to accept it. There are no exceptions.

When I scanned my Facebook feed it was full of “Happy Easter” and “He is Risen,” messages and each one was beautiful and encouraging to see, but on Monday, we tend to go back to business as usual. Those messages are a one day deal.

What if we tried to live like Easter people all year long? What if we chose to remember first thing each morning, the glory of the miracle that we are blessed to be included in? If we lived with that fresh joy and revelation everyday, it wouldn’t matter how badly our day went, because in the end, our thoughts and sights would be set on something much bigger than today’s troubles.

A Sunday sermon and a sunny day, reminded me to remember the promise of Easter everyday. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Building Christian Character, Trusting God | 2 Comments