Reflections on an Early Spring

Posted on by Wendy
“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

We have been blessed with some amazingly early spring weather this past week. It’s only February and it’s been sunny and in the 70’s. As southerners, we have a tendency to talk about the weather anyway. I suppose it’s in our DNA which stems from our agrarian roots. This week it seems everyone is talking about the weather. Almost everyone I know grows something, even if it’s just flowering trees in their yards or daffodil bulbs and I know lots of people who grow more extensively.

I have a friend who was lamenting about his blueberry bushes and this early spring weather. He is concerned that a cold snap will kill all of the tender buds. I have another friend who just shakes her head and acknowledges that she’s enjoying the weather, but doesn’t think for a moment it’s a good thing.

Then I talk to college students who are absolutely delighted. They are wearing shorts and enjoying every minute. They seem to give very little thought to the fact that it may not last.

As I was taking a lunch time walk and admiring all of the buds and blooms, it occurred to me that spring time is a thin season. Creation bursts into bloom and it’s difficult not to see and feel God in the world around me.

I’ve always known about thin places.

Thin places are those places like mountaintops, the ocean, or rushing waterfalls where creation is so breathtaking that you just can’t help but feel close to the God that made it all.

I never thought about thin seasons.

Yet, springtime clearly is one. It’s a season that makes me feel that God is near, continuing to delight in creating beauty simply because He can. That thought fills my soul.

This is one of those times where I’m going to learn from the younger generation. I am completely aware that it’s early this year. I am completely aware that a cold snap would be bad. Even so, I am going to choose to bask in the warmth and enjoy every moment of this season whatever it brings.

Some warm days in February reminded me that I have no idea or control over what is coming, but I worship the One who does and that is enough. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊

The Power of the Word

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes God speaks in unexpected ways.

Last weekend, my son, who is away at college, came home for a visit. I hadn’t seen him since the Christmas break so I was happy to have him home. He will graduate in May and this mama is acutely aware that after graduation, he will likely be working and his visits may be few and far between. I intentionally soaked up every minute with him.

When he left on Sunday, I had a ton of housework that needed to be done, but I felt a deep nudge to rest. I have been burning the candle at both ends lately and so I heeded that call.

On Monday morning I woke up refreshed, but when I stood at my kitchen sink and began to think of all of the chores that had gone undone and what needed to be done, I began to doubt my decision. I sighed when I sat down to read my morning devotion as I saw a tiny cobweb in the corner.

But, then I read the first bit of scripture in my devotion. It was from Deuteronomy, Chapter 5. It was about Sabbath rest. I chuckled as I read verse 14 that stated “Do not do any work.”

I always stand amazed at the way God speaks through His word. Sometimes we read with heavy issues on our minds. Sometimes we go searching for answers. If we are honest, we sometimes read our Bibles to check off a box.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter why we read our Bibles, we just need to commit to reading them because it’s truly more about obedience than motivation.

The Holy Spirit gets ignited in both big and small ways when we read and study scripture. We sometimes  find answers and affirmation we didn’t even know we were seeking and sometimes, if we pay close attention, He will quietly whisper that a decision we made, even a seemingly trivial one, was a good one, which was exactly what I needed.

A Monday morning devotion reminded me that reading even the shortest of scripture passages can soothe a weary soul and remind us that God loves us enough to care about even the tiniest of details. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊

His Creative Provision

Posted on by Wendy
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

On Tuesday of this week, I complained to my hubby about being bored. Don’t get me wrong, I have lots going on. This season has been particularly busy for me, but I was longing for a creative project. Normally, in January, I get motivated to paint a room or re-do a piece of furniture. But, this January came and went and I hadn’t done anything creative.

The following day, I left work early to go and purchase flowers for centerpieces at an event I was coordinating the following evening. I labored over how many bunches to purchase to split between fourteen mason jars. I finally settled on five and headed home. I put them in big plastic pitchers with water until after dinner when I could work with them.

When the dishes were done, I spread all of the jars out on my kitchen table, cut off the plastic from the stems and got to work. I had recently read a book about flower arranging and I was trying to follow the author’s advice. At first, I cut the stems too long and then l cut three big blooms too short and had to toss them. At that point, I became a little frustrated thinking I should have bought one more bunch, but a little nudge told me to just keep working.

I did and I found myself really enjoying the process as I experimented with different textures and colors in different jars. No two stems were exactly alike, even if they were the same type of flower. I marveled, as I often do, at God’s seemingly endless love of the unique.

The time passed quickly and when I looked at my watch, almost two hours had gone by. At last, I stood back and to take a look at my finished work as a whole. I smiled as I realized no two jars were alike. When I looked over and saw the flowers and fillers left in the two pitchers, I broke out into a full grin.

Of course, there had been enough. Why was I always so quick to second guess my decisions? As I reflected on that thought for a moment, my “need to do something creative” conversation with my hubby sprang to mind. At that point, I chuckled and said a prayer of thanks.

God is always at work. He is always planning for what we need well before we even know we need it. He knew way before I did what a busy season this would be for me and the One who knit me together in my mother’s womb, knew I would still need a creative outlet in this season. I’m not sure why I was surprised that He created one for me.

If we look for Him, we will find Him. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊

Daffodil Reminders

Posted on by Wendy
The days may be dark now, but spring is coming.

I am not a fan of winter. I don’t like cold weather. I typically have no energy in January and February. All I really want to do is sleep. One year, I was so winter tired, I had my thyroid checked because I knew I must have had a physical issue. My thyroid was fine. I’m just not a winter person.

Everything in nature appears dead during the winter. Add in all of the rain we tend to get and the world becomes downright dreary. I am well aware that the rain is good in the long run. I am also aware that winter is part of the seasons that God put into place from the very beginning.

Winter has a purpose even if I don’t enjoy it.

One day this week I was driving into work, running a little late and annoyed at the gray skies above. We were expecting rain for the remainder of the week.

I had been praying that God would show Himself in a way I could reflect back to others. When I arrived,  I took a different path than I normally take when I came upon a patch of daffodils. They looked so bright and cheerful against the gloom. They pointed almost defiantly to better days ahead and even though I was running late, I stopped to take a picture.

I’ll have to admit my spirit felt a little lighter as I said a prayer of thanks for the God wink.

At lunch, for the first time in days, the sun was out and it was warm and so I took a walk through campus. I was delighted to see a tree full of pink blooms standing out against all the other bare trees. As I continued on my way, I caught small glimpses here and there of the coming spring.

In some cases I had to seek them out, but each time I saw one, I felt encouraged. This dark season would not last forever.

The rain is supposed to move back in tonight and last for another couple of days. This weekend’s forecast calls for more cold weather. Winter is not done with us yet, but it won’t last forever.

In life, our winter seasons never last forever either. Even during our darkest times, there are always glimpses of hope if we dare to look hard enough for them. If we seek, we shall find.

God is always with us even when it appears that He is not. Spring will always come. A patch of daffodils reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊

Trusting God with Prayer

Posted on by Wendy
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

As someone who enjoys writing, I try to keep a notebook close by most of the time. I never know when a phrase or conversation might inspire me and I know if I don’t jot inspirations down immediately, I will likely lose them.

I have often read about people keeping prayer journals, but I have never really done that. I try to talk to God all day long about even trivial things and it would simply be too time consuming to write it all down.

But, for some reason, I was led to write down a prayer on New Years’ Day 2020. It was a prayer of hopes and dreams for the future. Both of my kiddos were in college and I felt I was at a bit of a crossroads regarding my next chapter.

Keep in mind that we had never even heard of Covid 19 before March of 2020.

I was flipping through one of my old notebooks and I found that prayer. I was a little stunned as I read through it.

God has been amazingly faithful and answered those prayers in so many unexpected and beautiful ways. When I look at that written prayer on the other side of Covid, I find it particularly timely. I recently listened to a sermon about how God holds time. He is never surprised by what is coming. That’s why Biblical prophecy is always correct.

When I was led in 2020 to write down a prayer, the Holy Spirit was at work. I had no way of knowing then that seeds were being planted in my heart, but God knew. God knew about the chaotic chapter that was about to come for all of humanity and He got busy on changing my focus way before I even knew it needed to be changed.

Finding that prayer reminded me that God is always listening and always working. He is also always planting. We get to choose whether or not we are receptive to the seeds. Do we provide fertile hearts and souls? Are we open to His plans? Are we brave enough to trust that they are better than our own?

Finding that prayer was like finding an old black and white photo. It lets me compare where I was to where I am and it fills my heart with both hope and joy. Writing prayers down allows us to look back and see how very faithful God is in our lives. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an Awesome Day!

Wendy 🙂

Reading the Bible Expectantly

Posted on by Wendy
When we read the Bible expectantly, beautiful things can happen.

I recently heard a pastor speak about how we read the Bible. He asked if we read it because we are supposed to or do we read it because we want to draw closer to God. He suggested that most of us do both and admitted to doing so himself. He then challenged us to start reading it expectantly. He said if we want God to communicate with us, we need to intentionally read His word, not just skim over it to check a box.

I was intrigued by this concept. What does expectantly look like? When I pray about something or for someone, do I expect an answer?  Are both my heart and hands open for the blessings I hope for?

As I pondered the idea of expectantly, I decided to start keeping a pen and paper handy when I read my morning devotion. If I am reading expectantly, then I would think I would receive information worth writing down.

I was not disappointed.

I took a few days and wrote down the verses that spoke to me. I had been praying about some life changes and my focus word for the year is trust. As I read back over what I wrote, here’s what I found.

“See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

He (Jesus) replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I just had to smile as I read what I had written and then I felt a little convicted. A little nudge reminded me that trust wasn’t just meant for think of when making future plans.

A couple of weeks earlier, I was driving to work in the rain. The rain quickly turned into a flash flood. It was dark and each time I drove through standing water, it would splash all the way up to my windows. I drove to work at a snail’s pace in a white knuckled panic and I was in tears when I arrived, so very thankful for my safety.

Thinking back on the experience, I now wonder if I was ever truly in danger. The God I trust with my future is the same God who kept me safe in that particular storm and the same God who has held me close during all the storms I have weathered. That thought filled me with a deep sense of peace.

Reading the Bible expectantly reminded me to trust that God holds me close yesterday, today and tomorrow. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊

Evident Signs of a Devoted Faith Walk

Posted on by Wendy
A close walk with Jesus should be evident to those around us.

I recently met a friend of mine for a lunch time walk. She commented on how much she liked my running shoes and asked me if they were new. I told her they were not. I think I have had them for about a year. She asked the brand and said she would have to try it because she has to get a new pair of running shoes every six months.

I laughed about that. I normally have to get a new pair of running shoes every January. The ones from the year before usually have become smooth on the bottom from use.  The truth is I have done very little running in those shoes over the past year. We adopted two new pups and we did some casual walking, but not a lot of running. The shoes still look pristine likely not because of the quality, but because they haven’t been used like they should have been.

A few days ago, I pondered that idea as I was actually using them as they were intended. On this side of Eternity, things tend to show wear with use. A child’s favorite toy will get ragged. Our favorite shirt will fade. Our favorite jeans will get a hole in them. And yes, our running shoes will wear out.

If we live long enough, our bodies will eventually wear out too.

However, wear doesn’t have to be a negative thing. A well used Bible should have highlighter marks and notes written in the margins. A prayer journal should run out of paper from all of the writing. Both can serve as maps for where we have been and where we are going. They remind us of God’s faithfulness in the past and the present. They can serve as hope for the future.

A good leather chair gets more comfortable with every passing year. Its marks and scars soften it and give it character. People of faith should be the same. The longer we walk in faith, the softer our hearts should become. We should become slow to anger and quick to forgive. We have made mistakes and have received mercy and grace. That should make it easier for us to offer them to others. Our hearts have inevitably been broken at some point and so we should be able to offer comfort to the brokenhearted.

With every passing year, the fruits of the Holy Spirit should become more evident in us because they are a guaranteed byproduct of a close walk with Jesus. If we are struggling with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, then maybe we need to lean in closer to Jesus.

The beginning of a new year tends to motivate people to go to the gym. Maybe it should motivate us to work on our faith walk too. A pair of pristine shoes reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Advent Reflections

Posted on by Wendy
In the midst of the busyness of the season, we can still choose to make room for Jesus.

I recently read a post from Max Lucado where he focused on the inn keeper in Bethlehem when Joseph and Mary, his very pregnant wife, were looking for a place to stay for the night. He missed a personal encounter with Jesus, likely not because he was evil, but because he was busy.

This man could have had a front seat to the Divine becoming one of us, but he missed it because his focus was elsewhere. He had the opportunity to serve the living God right where he was, doing his current occupation. He wouldn’t have had to leave his home or job or even learn to speak eloquently. He could have shared what he had, but he didn’t.

We don’t know his name, but we all know this particular chapter of his story.

Lucado has a way of focusing on the nameless folks in the Bible that end up showing up over and over again, even without names. He once wrote about the person who owned the donkey that Jesus rode on in the Triumphal Entry.

In Matthew 21:1-3 Jesus said, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

We never learn the donkey owner’s name, but we all know his story too. He said yes, when Jesus asked.

Notice how certain Jesus was of the donkey owner’s reaction? I can’t help but wonder if Jesus is that certain of my reaction when He asks something of me to be used for kingdom work.

Do I tend to be more like the inn keeper or the donkey owner?

As Christmas draws near, it seems like a great time to reflect upon the space in our own hearts. We still have the opportunity to make room for Jesus. Even thought we are living through a busy and sometimes stressful season, the invitation still remains.

Advent reminds us that it doesn’t matter whether or not people will remember our choices and names because God will. We can intentionally choose to be like the inn keeper or the donkey owner.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too!

Have an awesome day and a Merry Christmas! I will be spending time with family and will not be posting over the holidays. I hope to see you back in this space in the New Year.

Wendy 🙂

Visiting with Family

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My son has just arrived home for Christmas. It’s his last year in college and I am soaking up every minute. I hope you too, are taking a little time to enjoy the many gifts of the season that don’t come wrapped.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Finding the Joy and Wonder of Christmas

Posted on by Wendy
“Oh come let us adore Him!”

This year, my family gathered for Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. I learned that the close by city of Macon, was having an “Extravaganza of Lights,” in their downtown which began on Black Friday.

My family loves a Christmas light display, so we couldn’t resist.

I’ll have to admit that I was a little skeptical of what we would find. It was put on by a church and it was free, even the parking. I suppose I have become so accustomed to having to pay for everything, especially parking, that I couldn’t imagine what a free light display would look like.

Nevertheless, we piled into the car and headed over to Macon as it got dark. The streets were crowded with people, but we were able to find a free parking space. When we got out, we could hear someone over a speaker discussing the lights and preparation and we started towards it, when a gentleman stopped us and told us we should, “Wait for it,” as he pointed to a tree next to him.

We looked around and every single tree was wrapped in unlit lights. There were other people just standing in place as well.

Not wanting to miss anything, we waited.

The man on the speaker finished talking and then he said he was going to say a word of prayer.

I was a little stunned. Christmas has become so commercialized and secular, a prayer? On main street America?

I bowed my head and when he finished, an orchestra started playing a traditional Christmas song and the landscape sprang to life. With the flip of a switch, I became a child again, basking in the magic and wonder of Christmas that we were never meant to outgrow.

The display spread out over five city blocks. Every block had different colors and displays and they all were synchronized to the music. Not only could I see the joy on the face of every man, woman and child who I passed by, I could feel the joy in the air.

I felt like I was walking around in a Hallmark movie.

Afterwards, when I was back at work, I was telling a friend about it and she said, “It sounds a little like heaven, with the music, lights, praise and joy.”

I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I supposed it did. Maybe that was the reason I had to fight tears the entire time we were there.

Although Christmas is meant to be the celebration of when Heaven came to earth, we sometimes lose that along the way, yet our hearts were made to long for more.

Our hearts were made to long for Jesus.

Someday, when we get to heaven, our days will be filled with light, joy and songs, but until then, may we all remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and take time to bask in the knowledge that He is with us even now.

That truth alone, should fill the season with both joy and wonder. A Christmas light show reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 😊