The Spirituality of Technology

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Wendy

How we use technology, is entirely up to us.

Last weekend, I was out shopping with my hubby. Our son was out of town on a school trip. My cell phone began to blow up with texts. Many were from a remind service I had signed up for, telling me what was going on during my son’s trip. They were instructions like, “meet back at the bus at 7:00.” Some were from my mama who was visiting a friend in the hospital and the news was not good. Some were from my daughter and included pictures from her spring break beach trip. There was one from a friend that contained a funny meme.

All of the texts meant something to me. All of the texts were information that I wanted to know or were from people who I wanted to hear from, but I was shopping for something specific and I was feeling a little overwhelmed, when my phone buzzed again.

Of course I looked at it. Both of my children, though mostly grown, were in different states. My mama was at a hospital. There could be news that I really needed to know.

Isn’t it interesting how cell phones have made us always feel like we’re on the edge of an emergency? We feel like if we accidentally leave our phone on the table at home, for a quick grocery store trip, disaster will surely strike us. We might have a flat tire or get abducted or something horrible may befall a loved one.

How in the world did we survive before the late 1990’s?

Right or wrong, my phone buzzed and I dug it out of my purse. But, this time it was from a number I did not know and it made me catch my breath as I stopped and read it, giving it my full attention.

Just after Christmas, a dear faith friend of mine, who I had met on a mission trip, reached out to me asking me for prayer for his brother-in-law. He had developed a large brain bleed the day after Christmas. The doctors were having difficulty locating it and things didn’t look good. My friend rarely reaches out with prayer requests, so when he does, I know it’s something very important.

I immediately began praying for this man. He improved, thought very slowly. I continued to pray and every now and then I would ask an for an update. He was getting better. I hadn’t heard from him in quite a while when I received that text.

It was from his wife, thanking me and my family, for praying for her husband. She said that, “through prayers and the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, he had been released by the neurosurgeon and was doing great.”

My heart cheered for this woman who I had never met and I thanked God for her miracle.

Later, I marveled at the connection that believers have with one another. I thought about the wonder of technology and how it can be used for both good and bad. It can at times, enslave us, but it can knit us together too and it can help create an army of warriors who are willing to pray and prayer can make all the difference.

A text reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Building Christian Character, Community | 1 Comment

The Freedom of Letting Go

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Wendy

When we fight for control, we miss you so much beauty along the way.

Last Sunday, I had to drive myself to church. My hubby was staying afterward for a meeting and I had to be there early, so we took two cars, which is certainly no big deal. On most Sundays, my hubby drives and I usually text our daughter, who is away at school, a good morning message.

While I’m in the passenger seat, I often marvel at how high or low the river is, when we cross over it. I notice the different trees and flowers that are blooming, or if someone along our route, has painted their house or built a deck. I take note of all of the runners on the sidewalk. I don’t concern myself with the traffic or if the car in front of us is going too fast or too slowly, or if someone pulls out in front of us. I sometimes fiddle with the radio.

I can do all of those things because I am not driving the car. I am not the driver. I’m the passenger. I am not in control or responsible for getting us safely to our destination.

Last Sunday, I was in the driver’s seat. I couldn’t text my daughter. I gave the river a quick glance and I mostly missed the spring blooms. I had to concentrate on driving the car and arriving safely. I couldn’t concern myself with all of the pretty scenery along the way. I missed it.

I found myself thinking about my Sunday morning drive long after I had returned home.

Like most people, I like to feel like I’m in control of my current situation, whatever that situation may be. I like the idea of being in the driver’s seat and calling the shots. But, what if being in the driver’s seat means that we miss all of the beautiful scenery along the way, while we fight to keep ourselves on the road, in between the lines, and in charge?

The fight to be in control is a lot of work and effort and how often does it really pay off?

When we walk closely with Jesus, we agree to not only let Him drive, but to trust that the scenery will be breathtaking and that we will arrive where we are supposed to, at exactly the time we are supposed to.

We hand over the control and enjoy the ride. There’s freedom that comes from letting go. A Sunday morning drive reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Building Christian Character, Trusting God, Watching for God | 3 Comments

A Call to Plant

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Wendy

If we keep planting, something will eventually bloom.

Last weekend, I looked out of my bedroom window and saw a white iris standing tall and in full bloom. It made me catch my breath for a moment. There are lots of things in bloom right now. It’s spring time in Georgia and the pollen count is through the roof. A blooming iris is by no means unusual.

But, this is the first of the season at my house, which always touches my heart. The first one always signals a new beginning, a new chapter that is beginning to unfold. I also have a history with this particular group of irises.

May parents have an old home place on their property. There’s nothing left at this point, but a decade or so ago, my hubby and I dug up a bunch of bulbs that had been planted near that house. We really didn’t have any idea what we were digging up, but we dug them up anyway and transplanted them to our backyard around some of our trees. Turns out, that they were irises.

The first couple of years, I tended to them. I watered them and kept them clear of debris. Some of them bloomed. Some did not. At one point, I divided them because they became overcrowded and some did really well. Some didn’t.

I haven’t given them much attention at all over the past several years. I got busy with work, and kids, and other projects. They have become very overcrowded. I haven’t fertilized them or watered them, yet, the first one has bloomed in spite of my lack of attention.

As I went to examine it, I was reminded that we never really get to decide what blooms, or when it blooms, or if it even blooms at all.

We can plant. We can nurture. We can water. Sometimes what we plant takes off and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes we get to see the fruition of our hard work and sometimes we never get to see it, yet we are all called to plant something. Sometimes they are physical plants that we can enjoy or even eat. Sometimes it’s encouragement that someone needs desperately to hear. Sometimes it’s spiritual truth that may not take root until many years in the future.

Just because we may not get to see the blooms, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plant or that we should get discouraged. We need to remember that we have a Divine Gardener, who has a plan. We simply need to keep planting.

A single iris reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Building Christian Character, Trusting God | 1 Comment

Using Our Circumstances

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Wendy

Patrick used the shamrock to explain the trinity.

As I write this, my son is in New York City with his high school marching band, getting ready to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Needless to say, he was super excited to get to be a part of it.

St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays that retailers have come to love. It’s about parades, wearing green and drinking beer.

But, St. Patrick has an interesting story.

Patrick was probably born to wealthy British parents somewhere from 400-460 AD. He was captured by Irish raiders as a teenager and taken to Ireland. He was then sent off alone as a slave to tend sheep. During that time, he was very lonely and prayed constantly.

After six years, God told him in a dream that it was time to leave Ireland. He started walking around 200 miles to the coast where he was rescued by friendly sailors and returned home.

While he was in Ireland, he learned their language and customs. Legend says that an angel told him in a dream to return to Ireland to teach the Gospel. After studying for 15 years, he went back to Ireland.

The Irish were mostly pagan and Druid, but there were some Christians there. Since Patrick knew the Irish customs, he knew that the shamrock plant was sacred to them , so he used the three leaf clover to explain the trinity. He knew fire was also sacred to them and so he used bonfires to celebrate Easter. He also used the sun, a powerful Irish symbol, and superimposed a cross over it to create the Celtic cross.

He took what he had learned during a dark time in his life, in a place where he didn’t want to be, and used it to glorify God. God was preparing him for a plan all along, that Patrick couldn’t have possibly understood, but God knew. At the end of Patrick’s life, he is credited with starting three hundred churches and baptizing over a hundred twenty thousand Irish people. He preached for forty years and died on March 17th.

He is also credited with performing at least thirty-three miracles, none of which were driving out snakes. There never were snakes in Ireland. Perhaps he drove out a different kind of snake.

Patrick’s story reminds me that no matter how lost or abandoned we may feel, we never walk alone. God is always with us and always working. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you needed reminding too. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wendy 🙂

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The Gift of Empathy

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Wendy

Sometimes the smallest amount of light can make all of the difference.

I received a text early one morning last week, that my co-worker had an ear ache. She was in lots of pain and was going to the doctor. I felt horrible for her. I had frequent ear infections as a child. They were terribly painful. I can remember doctor visits, ear drops and yucky pink medicine. I can remember my Mama rocking me in the middle of the night to try to soothe the pain and comfort me.

Those long nights as a child, have given me deep empathy for someone suffering from ear pain.

As an adult, I have come to see empathy as a gift that comes from personal circumstances and sometimes suffering, that can turn into deep, heartfelt encouragement for others in similar situations.

Have you ever noticed that some of the people who shine the brightest light have been through some really dark times? Those who have been through deep personal turmoil and called out to God and walked out on the other side, not only have a story to share, but they have a unique empathy because they have been there. They truly understand.

That’s why mommy groups, cancer survivor groups and groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, work so well.

There will always be suffering and turmoil on this side of Eternity. We can spend our time shaking our fists at the sky and ask, “Why me?” or we can call out to God and reach out to others who have been there. We can receive comfort and encouragement from both.

When we get through it, we have two choices. We can harden our hearts and close that door and lock it tightly. We can become angry and bitter or we can allow it to change us in a good way. We can allow our suffering to be used to help others in similar circumstances. We can become a blessing to those in need. We can listen, encourage and offer comfort and understanding. We can offer witness that God is still in charge and still good.

We can shine a brighter light than ever before because in the end, the darkness does not win. Light will always be triumphant. A text from a friend reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

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Choosing to Be Malleable

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Wendy

Clay is rigid. Once it becomes a bowl, it’s always a bowl.

We sang a song in church on Sunday called, “The Potter’s Hands.” It talks about being made and molded by God’s hands. It’s beautiful imagery. The idea of God as a potter and His people as clay is always a reminder that the clay doesn’t get to decide what kind of art it becomes. The clay must be content in knowing that the potter has a plan.

As we were singing, I was reminded of a recent conversation with a friend of mine who has retired and struggling a bit on the next chapter. Transition and change is always hard even if it’s good change.

If God has used you in a certain way, for His glory, for many years, and that path comes to an end, what’s next? Is the Potter done with you? Does He put you up on a shelf until it’s time to call you home?

These are questions that can plague us when chapters in our lives come to an end.

I have no doubt that the answer to these questions is no. God is always at work and there is no expiration date on our usefulness to Him. It’s really more about our availability and flexibility.

After church, when that song was still on my mind, I thought of a post I wrote several years ago. I had come to the conclusion that we are really meant to be more like Play-Doh than clay. Clay gets hard and dries out. Once it’s been made a bowl, it will always be a bowl.

But, Play-Doh, can be a cup, a bowl, a bird, or whatever the artist wants it to be. It can always be rolled back up into a ball and be made into an entirely new creation.

As Christians, we can choose to be either. We can choose to believe that God has only one life calling for us and when we’ve seen that through, He’s done with us. We can be rigid and unbending or we can choose to be malleable in His hands, accepting that life is always changing and therefore He might change His way of using us for His glory.

We are still a type of clay in the Artist’s hands, but a type that is useful until our last breath on this side of Eternity, being made into something entirely new whenever He sees fit.

The choice is ours to make. A song reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Categories: Building Christian Character | 2 Comments

Standing on the Promises

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Wendy

“The grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

When I write in this space, it’s usually to share glimpses of God that I have witnessed, with fellow Christ followers or those who may be seeking Him. I like to try to share encouragement and hope with those who may desperately need it, hope that God has a plan and that He’s always busy working, even when we can’t see Him.

Sometimes I hear about an account that is simply too powerful not to share. I heard one a few days ago.

Early Sunday morning, March 5th, a small church in rural West Virginia caught on fire. Firefighters from several fire departments worked for hours to battle the blaze. The fire burned so hot at times, that the firefighters had to retreat.

The pastor, Reverend Phil Farrington, who had been notified, sat on the ground and wept as he watched his church burn. The building sustained heavy damage, but when the firemen went in to investigate, they were surprised to find almost two dozen Bibles, unharmed. They were scattered around the sanctuary, mostly in the backs of seats.

The shocked firemen piled them up and took pictures of the miracle.

Reverend Farrington saw it as a sign from God and said, “In the midst of the fire, God’s word will always stand.”

Interestingly enough, there were three crosses that didn’t burn either. Two were made of wood and hanging on the walls.

The Coal City Fire Department put on their Facebook page, “Though odds were against us, God was not. Not a single Bible was burned and not a single cross was harmed! Not a single firefighter was hurt!”

I love this story. It speaks to believers and doubters. Bibles are made of paper. There isn’t a single, logical, physical, reason, why they didn’t burn, not one of them. But, faith isn’t always logical and it’s much more about the spiritual than the physical.

God’s Word has come under a different kind of fire lately. There are those who say it’s outdated, or doesn’t matter, or that God has changed since it was written, yet the Bible itself tells us that God doesn’t change and that His laws, plans, and thanks be to God, mercy, grace and love, are still in play.

As Christians, we can hold tight to that fact along with what the firefighters’ said, “Though odds were against us, God was not.” Deep in our hearts, that’s all we really need to know.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

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Trusting the Giver

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Wendy

Anything placed in God’s hands, is always enough.

Last Sunday, during choir practice, we only had two sopranos show up. I don’t read music. I suspect that the fact that I got invited to be in the choir in the first place, had much more to do with my passion for singing than my actual abilities. Not to mention, the choir was really small at the time and they needed more people.

I have always made it known that my sweet spot is standing between two strong sopranos. But, alas, last Sunday, there were just two of us. Thankfully, the lady who did show up is very strong and she reads music. I let out a little sigh of relief.

When we began singing our song for the day, imagine my surprise, when she leaned over and whispered, “I’m following you.” I chuckled as I leaned back over and told her, that we would be going off the cliff together and we would be like “Thelma and Louise.” She got tickled at that remark.

We did okay, the two of us, but I thought about our exchange, long after we finished singing.

I’ve been participating in choir for over five years now, but I’m still very unsure of what I’m doing. I want backup. I want a safety net. Why is it that we are sometimes so hesitant to believe in our abilities when it has to do with serving God?

We go to school and we learn a trade or get a degree, then we go to work everyday. We learn new tasks and a couple of months into it, we are fairly confident. After a couple of years, we can often know enough to train someone else.

Why is our faith walk so different? Why are we afraid to share our faith or teach our faith after spending years in church? We don’t have to be Bible scholars to share the Gospel, yet we tend to hesitate. We always feel like there’s someone who is more qualified than we are.

At what point do we consider ourselves qualified enough? In fact, God has a long history of calling the seemingly unqualified, Abraham, Moses and Esther had all kinds of inadequacies, yet in God’s hands they did great things. What about the little boy with the fishes and loaves? Want to talk about not having enough? But, when he put it in God’s hands, there was more than the crowd could eat.

We have to remember in the end, it’s not about us and the abilities or resources that we have or don’t have; it’s about the God who we serve and when we hand it all over to Him, there’s always plenty.

A friend in the choir reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Biblical Wisdom, Building Christian Character, Trusting God | 2 Comments

Recognizing the Signs

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Wendy

God has a long history of using Creation to communicate with His followers.

A friend of mine recently asked me if I believe in signs. Do I believe that the Creator of heaven and earth and all the creatures in it, can use His creation to communicate with His followers? Not to mention, there’s even a talking donkey in the Bible and God sent ravens to feed Elijah?

I told her yes, without a doubt.

She proceeded to tell me about her mother and grandmother who were driving to a hospital for her grandmother’s knee surgery. It had already been postponed one time and her grandmother is in her eighties. The ladies had refused to come and spend the night with my friend the night before, so they had to leave home at 4:00 AM.

When they got on the road, it was still dark outside. A little ways into their trip, a dove flew right in front of their windshield, close enough where both women could see it. They immediately felt that God was with them and a sense of peace.

The surgery went well and her grandmother is recovering, but that dove left a lasting impression on my friend, so much that she shared with me.

I told her that God often shows Himself to me through hawks. I can take a walk and be diligently praying about something and a hawk will cross my path, so closely that I can’t help, but see it and I’m always filled with His presence.

I was thinking about our conversation last weekend, when I was able to get outside for a rare walk. I was giving thanks for the sun and the warmth and praying for guidance on my next steps in the season I am in. I came to my neighbor’s house with a blue bow on the mailbox. They were outside with their five-year-old daughter and their brand new baby boy. I stopped to talk to them and take a peek at the baby.

He was adorable and I was caught by surprise at my own memories of holding my son that suddenly flooded my thoughts. He will graduate from high school in a couple of months and my nest will be empty.

But, after a few minutes of talking with them, their five-year-old excitedly said, “Look!” and pointed across the street. A big hawk flew from over the neighbor’s house and landed in a tree, right where we could all see it.

I smiled, filled with peace and headed home.

Do I believe God can use whatever means He chooses to communicate with His followers? That’s a hundred percent yes. I just wonder how often we miss it. Thankfully, a five-year-old pointed it out to me. Maybe you needed someone to remind you to look today too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

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Rainy Day Blessings

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Wendy

Flowers always require rain to bloom.

Yesterday, as I headed to my car after work, it was raining, again. I dug around my bag and found my umbrella, again. It’s gotten an awful lot of use over the past few months. Sigh. I knew the rain was coming. It had been forecasted, still, I wasn’t happy to see it.

When I was driving to work that morning, I prayed that God would show Himself. It had been a long week and I was bone tired. I was greeted with a spectacular, bright pink sky. It was gorgeous and I was thankful, but as I headed home, the skies were gray once again. I was so tired of the rain.

Yet, as I grumpily drove, I couldn’t help but notice, the daffodils that were blooming all over the side of the road. There were also brightly colored yellow bell bushes along my path. When I turned into my neighborhood, there were tall, white Bradford Pear trees that were covered in blooms.

Creation had definitely begun to awaken from it’s winter slumber and as usual, it was stunning. I had to grudgingly admit that the copious amount of rain had to have played a part in the beauty that I was being blessed with.

A few weeks ago, when the rain was pouring for days on end, spring was nowhere in sight. The entire world was dark and gloomy and I wanted sunshine and rescue from the seemingly endless downpours. It was February and it was dark and cold; spring felt like a very distant hope.

Yet, on the last day of February, I marveled at the beauty the rain had helped to create.

I felt a little heart nudge that reminded me of my morning prayer for God to show Himself. I had prayed and almost immediately, my prayer was answered and I could feel His presence. I love those kinds of moments, immediate gratification, who doesn’t?

But, He was also present in the gray, cold rain. I had to look a little harder to find Him, but He was there. He was there in all of the beautiful spring color, but He was also there before there was any color, preparing for the beauty that He knew was coming.

I couldn’t see it during the rainy weeks in February, but He was at work. He’s always at work. The early spring blooms reminded me that people, just like the earth, require a certain amount of rain to bloom and it’s not always pretty. It’s sometimes messy and uncomfortable.

Faith teaches us that spring always comes, no matter how dark and rainy the winter might be. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Categories: Building Christian Character, Choosing to See the Bright Side, Watching for God | Comments Off on Rainy Day Blessings