Pick Up Your Mat

Posted on by Wendy
True change occurs when we decide to follow Jesus.
True change occurs when we decide to follow Jesus.

Yesterday, our sermon was about the man found lying on a mat in John, chapter five. He had been sick for 38 years when Jesus just happened to walk by him. For all of those years, this man had been hanging out at the pool of Bethesda, where the story was that an angel would stir the water from time to time and the first person in, would be healed.

Our pastor pointed out that after 38 years of trying the same thing, one would think he might look to a different avenue of healing. Was his plan to try for the same cure indefinitely?

I never really thought about it that way. He also pointed out that when Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well, the man gave excuses why he couldn’t. Hmmm, does that sound familiar to those of us living in modern times?

We know that diabetes is an epidemic, yet we add sugar to everything. We know that smoking causes lung cancer, emphysema and leads to heart attacks, yet we smoke. We know that drinking too much alcohol leads to hangovers, yet we drink too much. We know that not exercising leads to weight gain and bone loss, yet we don’t exercise.

Don’t we want to be healthy? Don’t we want to feel good? Why then, do we continue to participate in behaviors that harm our health?  Why would we expect a different outcome when we continue to participate in destructive behaviors?

What about our spiritual health? How often have we heard someone say or said ourselves that we wish we knew the Bible better, yet we never try to read it? How about that we wish our faith was stronger, but we only attend worship services a few times a year and only pray when our lives hit rock bottom?

Don’t we want to get better, to feel better, to be better?

Seems that we have a lot in common with the man who had been sick for 38 years. Like him, we are usually really good at coming up with excuses and often, like him, we are simply following the crowd. Everyone believed that healing would come from that pool, so everyone went there, yet few people were truly healed there. Why did so many people stay?

Interestingly, Jesus didn’t care about his excuses. He didn’t reason with him. He didn’t cut him off. He offered him another way. Jesus told him to, “Stand up, pick up your mat and walk!” John 5:8

And at last the man was healed, because he was obedient to Jesus. Jesus told him to stand up and get going and he did. Just like that, the man’s life was changed forever.

I suppose the question for us is what areas in our lives need healing or need to change for us to be well? Have we been doing the same thing for as long as we can remember, but still expect change?

This story reminds us that Jesus calls us to something different. He calls us to listen to Him, to obey Him, to trust Him and then to pick up our mats, or whatever crutch we may be using and get going.

What will your answer be?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Roofing Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
Roofs can bring us closer to God.
Roofs can bring us closer to God.

I was recently talking with a friend of mine about a mission opportunity she is considering. She’s thinking about going to a Salkehatchie work camp this summer with her son, but she’s undecided.

I encouraged her to go and I told her it would be life changing, but I warned her they may put her on a roof. They tend to have a lot of roof work that needs to be done.

In most cases all roofing for the day, has to be completed by lunch time because walking on shingles once they are hot, takes years off of their life. Therefore, all able-bodied people on the worksite, are encouraged to get on the roof.

My friend defiantly informed me that she would not be getting on a roof. I smiled and let it go. I knew it was fruitless to debate it with her.

But, I also knew that she would likely change her mind. I had been in her shoes just a year earlier. When I decided at the last minute to attend a Salkehatchie camp, I too, was quite certain I would not get up on a roof.

First of all, I knew nothing about roofing. Secondly, wasn’t I too old to do something like that? I was already in my mid-forties.

My daughter told me they would probably have me do things like fetching water and getting supplies. That seemed to be right about my speed.

When we arrived onsite early Monday morning, we said a prayer and then I was invited to get on the roof.

Up the ladder the teens went. Up the ladder the men who were a good deal older than I was, went. I have never been a fan of ladders. I don’t necessarily mind going up them, but I have never liked coming down them. Yet, up the ladder I went.

After a short tutorial on how to remove old shingles, I was in the groove with all of the seasoned volunteers. After the first day, I didn’t even hesitate to go up that ladder. Going up that ladder represented something so much bigger than I was. Being on that roof with that particular Body of Christ and being the hands and feet and face of Jesus, became so much more important than any of my perceived physical shortcomings. It became more important than any of my fears.

I learned so much that week about serving others. I learned that climbing ladders and working on roofs, just like any other seemingly insurmountable tasks are completed one step at a time and being overwhelmed by that which seems impossible, is forgetting the Who we serve.

I went in knowing that, “all things are possible with God.” I left with the deep conviction that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

My friend who is on the fence about the roof can too and so can you.

We should never fear a ladder. It’s simply a way to take us higher and things like roofs can bring us closer to God.

What roof is God calling you to today?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Force of the Spirit

Posted on by Wendy
Some things multiply in beauty when we put in a little extra work.
Some things multiply in beauty when we put in a little extra work.

I was recently helping with a little yard work around my church. I find that most Southerners tend to be proficient with planting and growing things. For many of us, we had planting wisdom lovingly handed down to us from parents or even grandparents, and we love to share our growing experiences with each other.

We were all taking a short break and the conversation turned to irises. One man said he divided his every year and that he literally had hundreds growing in his yard. I could hear a gentle voice reminding me that I too, could have that many if I took the time to divide mine, but I haven’t in many years.

The main reason, is that they have to be divided in the fall. Well, in the fall, I’ve closed the door on planting until next spring. Sure, I may plant a few pansies, but I don’t think about what might be coming up in six months. I want to light fires and carve pumpkins in the fall, not dig up irises.

And because of my lack of attention to the digging, dividing and replanting, I’ve missed out on quite a show. It makes me wonder what other beauty I may be missing out on if I were willing to give a little bit more care and time.

Sometimes after a long season of working hard, I just get tired. Now, there’s nothing wrong with resting when we get tired. In fact, we should. When our own well gets empty, we have very little, if any, left to share with others. But, I unfortunately, am a creature of habit and the inertia rule is huge for me.

When I’m in motion, I tend to stay in motion, but when I’m at rest, I tend to stay at rest. So, when I get out of the groove of doing, it’s very difficult for me to get started again. Think, for example, an exercise routine. It’s so difficult to get started after I stop.

Have you found this to be true for you?

The same goes for spiritual discipline too. This can include everything from prayer time, to Bible reading time, to attending a Sunday school class, to attending worship services. Once we take a little time off, it’s often very difficult to get back to our routine. It’s just easier to sleep in, or watch tv, or play golf, or go to the lake.

But, how much beauty do we miss from being a part of a Christian community? How much strength and comfort do we miss from regular prayer time?

Thankfully, the law of inertia also states that when we an object is acted on by an unbalanced force that the state of motion or rest changes. The Holy Spirit is definitely a mighty force that can cause us to move or stop, whatever is needed for us at the moment.

The answer to spiritual inertia, of course, is prayer. When we are stressed and frazzled, we should pray. When we are lazy and sedentary, we should pray.

When we open our hearts to the Spirit’s leading, we will know when to rest or move and we will never miss out on the beauty.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

A Golden Reminder

Posted on by Wendy
Being vigilant about who we worship, keeps us safe.
Being vigilant about who we worship, keeps us safe.

I just finished reading the account of Moses getting the Ten Commandments from God. The Israelites had survived plagues and been rescued from the Egyptians. They had seen God part the Red Sea and make water come from a rock where there had been no water. They were being fed with manna from Heaven.

They knew and had personally witnessed that God was powerful and mighty. They had witnessed that God was good. They had seen on multiple occasions that God would provide.

When Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet with God, the people were told to wait until his return and not to approach the mountain. They were believers. They were His chosen people. They were obedient, for a little while.

Time passed, forty days went by and the Israelites got nervous. Who really knows how doubt in God’s Word, and His abilities, and His plan starts? Possibly one person who was weak in their faith, said to another that maybe Moses was gone for good. Maybe it was started by people who missed the multiple idol worship of the Egyptians. Perhaps, they reasoned, if there were several gods, at least one would grant them favor.

Satan has always been really talented at getting doubt in God stirred up.

However it started, it went downhill fast. Doubt went into action and before Moses returned, a golden calf had been built and people were worshiping it and dancing around it.

Now before we get too judgemental about the Isrealites and their idol, we better take a close look at our own lives. While today’s Christians can defiantly say that we would never worship a golden image, can we also say that we have no idols of our own? Can we honestly say that we always put nothing or no one before God?

That would have to include things like regularly skipping church for work, or lake trips, or to sleep in, or because our kids don’t want to go. That would also include things like placing our financial security over our spiritual security. Humanity idolizes all kinds of things from our youth, to our wealth and status, to our popularity, to other people, to ourselves and everything in between.

Just because those things may not be physical, are they really any different from that golden calf?

When we put something in front of God in our lives, doesn’t it come down to a lack of trust that He knows best, that He will provide, or that He has a plan that is good?

The golden calf incident reminds us that when we allow doubt and fear to drift into our faith, we can make decisions that end in disaster. It reminds us that when we don’t keep our eyes focused on God, that we can get distracted and make a mess of things. It reminds us that we are all vulnerable to idolatry if we don’t stay close to Jesus. It reminds us to be vigilant with our hearts and minds.

Sometimes we need reminding.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Making a Positive Kingdom Impact

Posted on by Wendy
We all have the ability to make a Kingdom impact on those around us. What will yours be?
We all have the ability to make a Kingdom impact on those around us. What will yours be?

I received a text from my daughter last week showing me her A in a class that she had really been working hard in. She had been sitting on an 89.5 and then an 89.7, but this particular teacher refused to round up. She was frustrated, but kept at it. When she finally got her A, she sent a picture of the grade in Power School.

She captioned underneath it, “That’s what I’m talkin’ about.” I smiled. I was so pleased for her. She worked hard and finally saw results.

But, her next text brought tears to my eyes. She wrote, “Picture Mr. Bill saying it, for dramatic effect.”

Mr. Bill was her site foreman on two mission trips. He spent a week teaching her and other teens how to roof houses and do other repairs for people who were unable to do for themselves. She was super shy and unsure of herself her first year and he said she was always scooting out of the way, which earned her the nickname “Skooter.”

The next year she returned to the same mission camp with mommy in tow and a little more confidence and he took her under his wing again. I got to watch my child bloom on a roof in South Carolina.

The entire experience made such an impression on me that my entire family is going this year. I found myself getting so excited last week when I received a confirmation e-mail that we had been accepted into the camp. I was already happy to be going back. I already knew that God was calling us there.

Then I got her text and I was reminded of the impact the we all have the capability of making on the young ones around us and that God is always at work. Mr. Bill could have simply given her instructions on how to use a nail gun, but he cared enough about a shy teen to get to know her and two years later, when she reached a goal she worked really hard at, she thought of him.

It makes me think about all of the people who come across our paths and how we treat them in whatever our dealings may be. It doesn’t even have to be mission trip or a teaching type situation. It can simply be a conversation with a bagger at the grocery store or a waitress at a restaurant.

How we treat people matters, but it’s more than that; how we connect with them matters. When we are around people we don’t know, people who may be shy or struggling, people who are powerless to give us anything, do we treat them like they are special? Do we treat them like they are a fellow child of God? Do we treat them like we believe they have enormous potential?

Haven’t we all had someone treat us in that way? Isn’t that what Jesus calls us to do? Isn’t that a picture of Christian love?

As I’m gearing up for Vacation Bible School season, my daughter’s text reminds me that we all have such great potential to make a huge, lifelong impact on the Kingdom of God. That impact can last long after our physical time has passed. It can be positive, negative or neutral. I’m going for positive.

Care to join me?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

He Still Parts the Waters

Posted on by Wendy
He still parts troubled waters.
He still parts troubled waters.

As I was reading through Exodus and the account of God parting the Red Sea, I was reminded that God would again part the waters, some forty years later. This time He parted the waters of the Jordan River and this time it wasn’t for Moses, but for Joshua.

Joshua was a slave in Egypt like the rest of the Israelites. Joshua witnessed all of the plagues that were unleashed by God on Egypt. He would have participated in the very first Passover. He had to flee from the Egyptians who pursued them and then he got to walk through the Red Sea on dry ground. He got to eat manna from heaven.

When he went with the other spies to check out the Promised Land, only he and one other man, Caleb, brought back a good report. Joshua did everything he was supposed to, yet when God pronounced judgement on Israel for not believing that the Promised Land was good and that He would continue to protect and provide, Joshua had to remain in the wilderness for 40 more years with everyone else.

It doesn’t seem quite fair when we read it. Why should Joshua have to suffer? But, God was building him up. God had big plans for His faithful servant Joshua.

When Moses died, Joshua was put in charge. Joshua was the man who actually led the Israelites into the Promised Land and God, who had parted the Red Sea to lead them to freedom from the Egyptians, once again parted the waters to lead them into the land He had promised them.

Joshua, by most accounts would have been somewhere around 60. Let that sink in for a moment.

His life must have seemed hopeless as a child born into slavery and then when God intervened and parted the Red Sea, he must have at last felt like his life was going to become something great. He must have had hope. But, after trusting God and giving a good report on the new land, he was rewarded with more hardship due to the behavior of others, or so it may have seemed at the time.

In those 40 years, I wonder if he got discouraged. I wonder if he felt like God had abandoned him. I wonder if he ever thought he would actually get to live in the land of milk and honey. The scripture doesn’t say. It would have been very difficult to not to cave into the feelings that plague humanity.

Yet, he continued to obey and trust God and at the ripe age of 60, God fulfilled His promise to His people and using Joshua, led them home.

Joshua reminds us that God still parts troubled waters of all kinds. Whatever we are struggling with, God is still in control and He can still perform wonders for those who love, trust, and obey Him. Joshua reminds us God never abandons us; He’s always at work and it’s never too late to get to the Promised Land.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Squirrel Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
A little squirrel reminded me that God intervenes in our lives constantly in ways we can't see.
A little squirrel reminded me that God intervenes in our lives constantly in ways we can’t see.

As I was traveling down the road yesterday to meet a friend, a squirrel ran out into the road directly in my path. Now squirrels are famous for being indecisive. Instead of running across the road, they will run back and forth and end up flattened. This particular one froze and if he stayed put, I would pass safely over him.

They never stay put.

I held my breath for a second, feeling sure I was going to crush him, but I didn’t. I caught him making it to the grass in my rear view mirror. It was a tiny miracle of sorts. Sure, it was just a squirrel, but it was one that got to keep on living due to perfect split second timing.

I thought of that experience for the remainder of the day. I thought about how often God intervenes for us and we don’t even know it.

I had just read that morning, the story in Exodus where Moses tells his father-in-law about the troubles they had faced since leaving Egypt and how the Lord had saved them.

God confused the Egyptians, parted the Red Sea, turned undrinkable, bitter water into drinkable water, sent manna and quail for food and then made water appear from a rock and all those gifts were for complaining, ungrateful people. Yet, when Moses told the story, he was quick to point out that even though there were hardships along the way, the Lord had saved them. Exodus 18:8

Those were hardships that they could see. God intervened in those big ways to show His power and love for His people and to build their faith. Who knows in what other ways He intervened?

How many people stayed healthy on that journey? How many babies were born? How many elderly people successfully made the trip?

It’s sometimes difficult to feel like God is with us when times are tough and circumstances seem impossible, but the Bible assures us over and over that He is and as we grow in faith, like Moses, we can learn to recognize His presence.

But, my squirrel encounter also reminded me that He is with us throughout all of our days and years in ways that we may never know. When you forgot something at home and had to turn around and go get it, perhaps you avoided a fatal accident. When you didn’t get that job you so desperately wanted, perhaps He was saving a better one for you. When the answer to an ongoing prayer was no, is it possible that what you thought you wanted wasn’t what you needed?

Looking back on my own life, I have found that to be true.

While we make an effort to be thankful for all of the blessings that we can see, maybe we should also say a prayer of thanks for all of the blessings that we can’t see. Just because we can’t see them, doesn’t mean that God hasn’t rained them down on us.

Being able to be thankful for that which we don’t see is just another step in growing our faith and trust in the One who created us and loves us unconditionally.

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

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Hummingbird Reminders

Posted on by Wendy
When we are willing to serve, we can offer refreshment for a thirsty world.
When we are willing to serve, we can offer refreshment for a thirsty world.

A couple of days ago, I was sitting on my back porch when I saw a hummingbird fly by. I was filled with excitement and guilt all at once. I was excited because I really enjoy watching them every year at the feeder and also because it was just one more sign that summer is coming.

But, I threw away my feeder at the end of last year. It was old and beyond repair. I promised myself that I would buy a new one before the little hummers arrived in the spring, but I forgot.

When my teenage son arrived home from school and joined me on the porch, the hummingbird flew by again. I shared my feelings of guilt with him. He replied with a grin, “Wow, Mom, he’s probably thinking I just flew all the way from South America and it sure would be nice to get a drink!”

You, gotta love teen wit.

But, I thought about the little bird all evening and when I got up the following morning, I prepared some sugar water for him and then I took off to Wal-Mart as soon as possible to buy a new feeder. I even chose one that is supposed to be ant proof and wasp proof. We’ll see about that.

I got it filled and hung as soon as I returned home. I wondered if the bird would return.

I watched for a few minutes, knowing that it could be hours. But, it wasn’t. Within ten minutes, the little guy was sitting on a perch getting his long-awaited drink. He lingered for a little while and I was filled with relief and pure joy just watching him enjoy the fruits of my labors.

That hummingbird stayed on my mind for the remainder of the day. I thought about how I felt convicted to serve him, to provide for him. I thought about how my son’s words added to my convictions.

I thought about how the Holy Spirit often works in the same way when we are called to serve people. Sometimes a person will come across our path, or we get a request to help with some kind of ministry in our church. It can range from serving refreshments, to helping with children’s church, to attending a Sunday School Class. It could be to take on some type of leadership role. It could be to go on a mission trip of some sort or to help provide financially for one. It could be to serve some need in our community.

The call to serve could take on any number of faces. The point is that at some point in our faith walk, we are all called to serve. We feel a conviction deep in our hearts that we really need to lend a hand in some way. We know that it comes from God because our work will glorify Him and we know that it comes from Him because the gentle nagging doesn’t go away.

The hummingbird reminded me how important it is to listen to what our hearts are telling us about service, to be open to convictions and willing to answer the call.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

He Gets Between

Posted on by Wendy
The God of light not only guides us, but He fights for us too.
The God of light not only guides us; He fights for us too.

As I was recently reading through the Exodus of Israel account, I noticed that God stayed ahead of the Israelites and they followed Him. “By day,  the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” Exodus 13:21

Isn’t that interesting that God didn’t push them or force them along their journey? Nope. He stayed ahead of them and beckoned them to follow. Not only that, He went out of His way to make sure they could see Him at all times, even in darkness.

What does that tell us about the character of our God?

Skip ahead to Jesus. He is known as the, “Good Shepherd.” Shepherds also call not herd or push. They call to the sheep who know their voice and they follow.

As I was appreciating the fact that God was leading His people to safety, the Egyptians came on in strong pursuit. The Israelites were terrified. But, God gave Moses instructions to raise his staff to divide the sea.

“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.” Exodus 14:19-20

God got in between. He got between the Israelites and those which sought to harm them. He shed light on His own people while leaving their enemies in darkness.

What does that tell us about the character of God?

Skip ahead to Jesus. He intervened too. He got between all of humanity and sin. He took on all of our sin and death. His intervention guarantees eternal life for those of us who accept Him. He was willing to get in between us and the one who seeks to harm us.

Just like God provided light for the Israelites on that fateful night, Jesus provides everlasting light to those of us who believe. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12b

Here we see that word follow again.

So, what can we learn from these Old Testament and New Testament readings telling of events over fifteen hundred years apart?

The love of God for His people never changes. He guides us. He wants us to follow. He fights for us when we are pursued by evil of some sort. He loves us so much that He sent His son to get in between us and sin for good. We all matter to Him.

So, whatever may be pursuing you today, self-doubt, pain, anger, financial woes, addiction, whatever it may be, keep in mind that when you worship the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who gently guides you, the God who provides light in the darkness and intervenes for His people, you will overcome.

Maybe you needed reminding.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

It’s What You Leave Behind

Posted on by Wendy
"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you" Randy Travis
“It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it’s what you leave behind you when you go.” Randy Travis

When the sun came up yesterday morning, I was delighted to see that my yellow irises were blooming. They even have a name, Money. They bloom every year right around my birthday and they are like a birthday wish from heaven.

My maternal grandmother died the month before I was born and so I never got to know her. As time went on, my granddaddy had a companion and her name was Kittie. She became a grandmother to me.

Long after Grandaddy died, we celebrated birthdays and Christmas with her. When I went away to college, she and I exchanged letters once every couple of weeks. We continued that practice until she was placed in a nursing home in her eighties. She was very special to me and I know that God placed her in my life.

She loved irises and grew different types. She entered them into a yearly contest. Sometimes she would complain that they bloomed too soon or that a late frost would mar them, but the yellow ones called, Money, were her favorites. They often won her a ribbon.

After she went home to be with Jesus, her house sat vacant and was set to be torn down. I called her sister and asked if it would be okay if I went and dug up some of her beloved irises. She gave me her blessing and so my hubby and I went and dug up the bulbs.

We planted them in a patch around a tree so I could see them from my kitchen window. They didn’t bloom the first year and then I found a little cat statue with angel wings and placed it in the bed. Kittie loved cats. I could vividly remember her teeheehee, giggle, when I put it there. The next year I was blessed with blooms along with beautiful memories of her.

Now, every year right around my birthday, those blooms pop out. They stand straight and tall as if they are pointing to heaven. They remind me of the importance of those who walk with us along our journey. They remind me that sometimes family doesn’t come to us through blood, but through God’s special blessings. They remind me of a beautiful soul who isn’t here physically anymore, yet her memory remains.

They remind me that life is short and that we need to make our moments count. They remind me of the Randy Travis song, Three Wooden Crosses. “I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

That’s easy to forget sometimes in our constant rush, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded. Sometimes it’s good to stop and ask ourselves, “What will we leave behind when we go?” A different kind of Money reminded me today. Perhaps you need reminding too. Let’s make this day count.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂