Groundhog Day Reflections

Posted on by Wendy
While Groundhog Day has us longing for spring, we are sometimes called to wait in the winter season.
While Groundhog Day has us longing for spring, we are sometimes called to wait in the winter season.

Today is Groundhog Day. It’s the day where people anxiously gather around a groundhog’s, zoo habitat and to see whether or not it will predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter. It’s a kind of bizarre ritual that we can thank German immigrants for bringing to America in the 1700’s.

I’ll have to admit though, in the dead of winter, it’s always fun to dream of an early spring. Spring is when the earth pops back to life. Flowers and trees explode in colorful blooms at every turn. The air turns warm. Birds sing. Spring is a glimpse of paradise here on earth.

Who wouldn’t want spring to come early?

There was a movie released in 1993, called, “Groundhog Day.” It was a comedy starring Bill Murray, but it had a much deeper message than comedies often do.

Murray plays a weather man sent to cover Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He is angry and downright surly about having to go. He has better things to do and makes everyone around him miserable as he complains about the miserable little town and the rodent he is sent to cover. Different characters try to reach out to him, but he shoves them all away.

Then a blizzard comes through and he is snowed in for the night, stuck there. He finally goes to bed, thankful that the day is at last over and when the alarm goes off the next morning, it’s Groundhog Day again.

And so it goes, he is forced to relive the same monotonous day over and over. At one point, he tries killing himself. In true Murray fashion, he tries  throwing a toaster in the tub, among other things. Nothing works.

He goes to sleep and wakes up to the same day, seemingly endlessly.

At some point, though, he decides to accept where he is. There’s no great epiphany. It’s subtle. He begins returning kindnesses that are extended to him, with kindness. He stops scheming to get the female lead to fall for him and begins to simply talk to her and get to know her and wonder of all wonders, she develops feelings for him too.

And then, just when he decides it’s okay, to be where he is indefinitely, he wakes up to the next day. Life at last moves on and he’s a much better and wiser human being than before.

We’ve all been there. Haven’t we?

There are times when life seems stuck in an endless loop of winter. We long for spring and we wonder if it will ever come. We sometimes make dozens of futile attempts to change our winter season and force the spring to come.

But, sometimes, God calls us to wait and trust. Sometimes, He is extremely busy crafting a spring for us that’s beyond our wildest dreams, with beauty that will take our breath away, but we must be willing to wait. We must be willing to accept that His plan is better than anything we could conceive on our own.

So, if you find yourself stuck in your own Groundhog Day  loop, don’t be discouraged. The Bible says,”Have I not commanded you? Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Spring is coming.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Standing on the Promises

Posted on by Wendy
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31b
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31b

Yesterday’s sermon was about Jesus preaching in his hometown synagogue. The people there, didn’t like what His message was, so they tried to kill Him. He walked away from them and went on His way.

He was eventually killed because the folks in charge couldn’t deal with His message, but they learned in the end, that His message was way more powerful than death. Killing Him didn’t stop it. It simply led to the resurrection and then His message spread like wildfire.

God was always at work, even when Satan thought he was winning. He wasn’t.

The powerful people have always tried to silence messages that they don’t like. When the prophet Elijah was spreading God’s message, he often found himself on the run. He spoke truth. He spoke God’s message. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, didn’t like it, so they tried desperately to have him killed.

They failed and wound up dead themselves. And Elijah? He went up to Heaven in a whirlwind. Even in Elijah’s darkest hours, God was working. Man conspired against him; but God had a plan. Elijah got discouraged, but he stayed close to God and he kept obeying and speaking the truth.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful attributes of the Bible, is that it paints for us over and over, in great details, the struggles and triumphs of the people of God. We see over and over how evil men conspire to thwart God’s plan, but a close reading, teaches us that evil ultimately fails.

The ISIS atrocities against Christians and Jews, God’s people, are just another example of evil rearing its ugly head. While it’s too horrible for decent people to even comprehend, the Bible teaches us that this is nothing new. It has a new name, but the seed of all evil comes from Satan, always has and always will.

And while we breathe a sigh of relief that our own country doesn’t have that kind of widespread violence. We have to remember that evil doesn’t always carry a sword and draw blood.

There have been coaches who have recently lost their jobs because they pray publicly. Where do you think that comes from? There have been people who have been run out of business because they stood by what they believed was Biblical truth. These are just a couple of examples.

In the West, evil has learned to go for the money instead of the physical. Not a shot gets fired. No blood is spilled, but standing by Biblical principles can lead to financial ruin.

And if we listen to the media, it sometimes appears that evil is winning.

But, the Bible tells us a different story. We are reminded from the very beginning, that God is working.

We are reminded that prayer and repentance will heal our land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

We are reminded that we fight a war that is spiritual not physical. Ephesians 6:12

We are reminded that God provides us with armor for the battles. Ephesians 6:13-18

We are reminded that Jesus is always with us as we go about doing His work. Matthew 28:19-20

We are reminded that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28

These are just a handful of the powerful reminders that God loves His children. So, if you are feeling disheartened today, anxious or discouraged, take heart, my friend.

God has been at work since the story of mankind began. He has been at work in your story and in mine. Evil sometimes looks like it’s going to win. The Bible promises us it won’t

And that, dear friend, is something worth celebrating.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

Living with Bold Faith

Posted on by Wendy
What is God calling you to do?
What is God calling you to do?

I had lunch a few days ago with a very dear friend of mine. We hadn’t spoken in months and we had a ton of catching up to do. We worshiped at the same church for many years and we were Vacation Bible School partners for close to ten of them.

We began talking about my VBS plans at my new church. We talked about the theme and then I told her I had to put together a budget which was new for me. My last church had an awesome associate pastor who did that. She loved VBS too.

When I told her how much I thought it was going to cost, she asked me if the church had the money. I told her I didn’t think so, but I wasn’t worried about it because Jesus loves VBS. Her eyes lit up and she smiled. “Yes, He does,” she agreed.

Anyone who knows me knows what a heart I have for VBS, and co-directing all of those years truly was a faith builder. My friend agreed. There never looked like there would be enough volunteers, but when the week started, there were always plenty. If someone got sick, another person would pop up to help. There were years where there didn’t look like there would be many children attending. There were always plenty, and every single VBS was different and meaningful to all involved. We also had money that would come in from all kinds of unexpected places from people who wanted to help.

Like the fishes and loaves, there was always more than enough. My adult experience with VBS has taught me that if it’s a ministry that Jesus loves, there will be enough.

Last year on my Salkehatchie mission trip, the director put some snacks out on the tables for the teens to eat. She also bought bottled water to take to the work sites. She told me that she never replenished the water or the snacks, the donations just kept pouring in. We never ran out.

We were working on the houses of elderly people who couldn’t help themselves. We were being the hands and feet and Jesus was clearly on board.

The Bible has a story about a man named Nehemiah who wanted to rebuild the crumbling walls of Jerusalem. He was a servant to King Artaxerxes. He was his cup-bearer. He prayed and fasted and when he went before the king, he asked if he would allow him to go and rebuild the walls. The king agreed. Then he asked for a letter to guarantee his safe passage. The king agreed. Then he asked for a letter allowing him to cut timber from the king’s forest. The king agreed. Not only that, the king sent army officers and a calvary with him to keep him safe.

Nehemiah boldly asked the king to help provide something that God would bless. Nehemiah had no idea what the king would say, but he was called to do God’s work, and God provided. The wall was built in 52 days.

And so it us with all of God’s children. Whether it’s VBS, or a mission trip, or starting a Bible study, or anything else, if God calls us to do it, we can go forth boldly, knowing He will provide.

He proves that over and over in the Bible. He’s proved it over and over in my life.

So Christian, whatever He’s calling you to do today, take the next step in bold faith; remembering, if God is for us, who can be against us?

Have an awesome day!

Wedy 🙂

 

 

Getting off the Treadmill

Posted on by Wendy
If Christians want to change the world, we have to get out in it.
If Christians want to change the world, we have to get out in it.

As I sat down to write this post, I prayed that God would meet me at my keyboard. My goal is always to share with my readers the places and faces where I see Him or how He may be working behind the scenes, and encourage others to do the same.

I believe that God is always actively at work and if we look closely, with open hearts, we can see Him.

As I began typing, I was reminded that today was no different from most of my days, average, yet exquisitely blessed.

The day began overcast and cool. I was expecting a dear friend of mine for coffee, but had time to squeeze in some exercise. I came up with a million excuses to do other things, but one of my resolutions this year was to do more cardio, so I thought about just walking on the treadmill. Yet, I could feel God beckoning me to come outside.

We have our best talks outdoors, so I complied. I usually praise and thank Him for sunny skies and warm temps, but today I gave thanks for the clouds which made me appreciate blue skies. The verse, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” kept running through my mind, so I did. I walked a long time before I gave out of my list of things to be thankful for. I could hear birds singing and a hawk calling in the distance.

The gray skies no longer mattered. It was in giving thanks and praise, that I realized that He is just as close to  me when it’s cool and overcast as He is when it’s sunny and warm.

As I held that truth close to my heart, I heard some geese honking as they took flight and I marveled at the beauty of Creation, even when it’s mostly asleep. And, then a hawk flew right in front of me, at my eye level, so I couldn’t miss it and I thanked God for giving me enough sense to listen to the nudge to get outdoors.

I so often don’t when the weather isn’t perfect. Nope, if it’s cold or rain is threatening, I stay in the warm comfort of my home. I suspect I’m not alone.

We like the comfortable, don’t we? We like comfort zones. We like to be with people who we are comfortable around. We like the familiar.

But, as Christians, if we are to be world changers like we are called to be, we have to get outside of our walls, whatever those walls may be. We may have to go where the skies aren’t blue and welcoming. We may have to reach out to people who might not welcome us warmly at first.

That call can sometimes be daunting. The road less traveled isn’t for the timid. Luckily, we don’t have to walk it alone. Jesus takes us by the hand and joins us. Sure, it can be uncomfortable and scary at times, but we have to remember that nobody ever got anywhere walking on a treadmill.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Blessing in Wrestling

Posted on by Wendy
In the end, wrestling with God, draws us closer to Him.
In the end, wrestling with God, ultimately draws us closer to Him.

I recently read the account  of Jacob wrestling with God found in Genesis, Chapter 32. I’ve always found this story fascinating. God appeared to Jacob in the form of a human and allowed him to wrestle with Him physically, all night long. When it was daybreak and Jacob was still at it, He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip and disabled him. Most accounts report that Jacob walked with a limp for the rest of his life.

God could have destroyed Jacob on the spot. He didn’t. He allowed Jacob to wrestle with Him. In the end, God gave him a new name, possibly because he was a changed man after wrestling with God. He was affected spiritually as well as physically, for the rest of his life. Israel was born.

There was another man who wrestled with God named Jonah. Jonah was a prophet. God told him to preach to the people of Nineveh. Jonah declined and headed in the opposite direction. He boarded a boat. There was a storm. He was eaten by a giant fish.

God could have simply destroyed Jonah. He didn’t. He allowed him his temper tantrum. He allowed him to wrestle too. In the end, he did go to Nineveh and around 120,000 people’s lives were spared.

Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. He had been raised to know God intimately. Jonah was a prophet. He too, was well acquainted with God. I find it interesting that the people who seem to struggle with God the most strongly are the ones who know Him best.

It’s not the lost soul on the street who most often, struggles with God. It’s His children. But, I suppose most families are like that.

How often have you heard that a child behaved fabulously at school or for a neighbor, but that same child is a holy terror at home?

And so it is with the family of God. We can’t really wrestle with Him if we don’t know Him or we can’t hear His voice. If God and His word, are strangers to us, we can walk around in blissful ignorance about our calling. But, we also walk around without salvation and grace. We can walk around blind and lost. It’s a choice.

It’s when we get to know Him like Jacob, or Jonah, or even Moses, that we sometimes find ourselves wrestling with His call on our lives or with something that we read in His word.

And like any great father, He will allow it for a time. For it’s quite often in the wrestling, that we find our answers; we find our way; we find our peace. We draw closer to Him. We come to understand that He always has a plan and that He’s always in control and when we come to understand and embrace that, we are blessed.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Prison Promises

Posted on by Wendy
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character hope. Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character hope. Romans 5:3-4

Yesterday, I read the account of Joseph in prison, found in Genesis 41 and 42 and although I’ve read it many times previously, his story really spoke to me. Joseph had done absolutely nothing to wind up in prison. Yet, there he sat. He had been a faithful servant to Potiphar and had remained faithful to God. He actually got thrown into prison for doing the right thing.

I always have a hard time accepting that life sometimes turns out like that.

While he was in prison, the Bible says the “Lord was with him and showed him kindness.” God didn’t spring him, but He was with him.

That must have been hard to take at times. He went from being the favorite son, to being sold into slavery, to prison. I have to wonder if Joseph ever felt like God abandoned him. God did grant him favor in the eyes of the prison warden, which I’m sure was huge. I can’t imagine an Egyptian prison being much of a picnic. But, as great a gift as the favor was, I wonder if Joseph could see it at the time. Sure, he could see it later, but could he see it while he was living it?

How many times have we found ourselves in some dark prison like place? Things like sickness, divorce, job loss, depression, and addiction, are all examples of prisons with invisible bars. Sometimes we wonder if our lives will ever change or if God even cares.

For Joseph, he thought he saw his deliverance, when the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker joined him in prison. They had displeased Pharaoh in some way. They both had dreams and Joseph interpreted them, being very careful to give the glory to God, even then. He asked them to please remember him when they got out. They promised and promptly forgot.

Joseph waited for two more long years. The Bible doesn’t tell us whether or not he felt desperate or had lost hope. I doubt he felt very loved or content where he was.

But, then Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret and the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph and just like that, he was summoned. He shaved and got cleaned up and told Pharaoh that he could not interpret the dreams, but God could. He then told him what they meant. Again, after all he had been through, he gave all of the glory to God.

Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, himself

Now, if you were just tuning into this story, you might think what a lucky duck, that some Hebrew prisoner was, who went from rags to riches overnight. Sometimes life seems like that.

But, we know the entire story. Joseph suffered for a long time, while God was at work.

I’m sure he must have felt abandoned, frustrated and forgotten at times and then he got his hopes up that he would be free and they were dashed. But, God was with him and He was at work, lining up all kinds of future events, like seven years of prosperity and famine for Egypt and the eventual salvation of the fledgling Hebrew nation.

God was with Joseph and He was at work. He is with us too, when we are in our prisons. He hears our prayers. He’s listening. We just have to draw close to Him and know that like Joseph’s story, He’s at work in your story and mine.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Pitfalls of Familiarity

Posted on by Wendy
We shouldn't allow familiarity to make us forget that Jesus is miraculous.
We shouldn’t allow familiarity to make us forget that everything about Jesus is miraculous.

Yesterday, our pastor talked about the passage in Luke where Jesus started his ministry. Luke’s Gospel, has Jesus getting baptized and then going straight out to the desert for forty days to be tempted by Satan. Right after that, he began preaching.

He began preaching in Galilee and was well received, but when he went to preach in Nazareth, the place where he grew up, they didn’t believe in him. They ran him out of town.

My pastor pointed out that the people of Nazareth had watched him grow up. Most of them had probably known him his entire life. He was a carpenter’s son and therefore a carpenter. How could he ever be the one to save them and set them all free? He was too familiar to be great.

Then he asked if Christians suffer from the same problem today. Do we?

Are we content with our felt board stories from Sunday school class, years ago? We know he fed the multitudes. Do we believe that he can feed us? We know he healed the sick? Do we believe that he can heal us? We know that he sought out Zacchaeus, who was seeking him. Do we believe that he seeks to know us? We know that he forgave the adulterous woman. Do we believe that he can forgive us?

Familiarity can be good and bad. Whenever we start something new, a new job, a new relationship, a new church, a new plan, it’s exciting. We can’t get enough or say enough great things about it. But, time goes by and we get comfortable and all of the newness wears off. We can begin to take people for granted. We can stop spending time in close relationship with the ones we hold dear.

We can forget about all of the qualities that had us so excited in the beginning. And where our faith walk is concerned, it’s easy to find ourselves attending Sunday worship service and checking it off of our to-do list. Jesus becomes familiar and not miraculously Divine.

We know that when we die, we will go to Heaven to be with him, but we don’t involve him in our everyday walk. We know those felt board Bible stories, but we don’t dive into the Bible and read them for ourselves. We don’t fully appreciate the miraculous that was, is and will be, Jesus.

Thankfully, we have the power to change. If we want to know him, we have to spend time with him. In John, where we find two of the first disciples, they asked Jesus where he was staying. He told them to come and see. They spent the day with him and they went from calling him a teacher to the Messiah. True belief, requires true relationship.

Secondly, we have to read the Bible. If we want to be amazed all over again, like when we were kids, we need to read the Gospels. They have something new to teach us every time we read them.

Familiarity doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can describe a relationship that is not only comfortable, but faithful and strong, and full of wonder.

The choice is ours. What will you choose?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Seeking and Finding

Posted on by Wendy
God showed me His face in three straight lines.
God showed me His face in three straight lines.

It’s been a long, short week this week. While the kids have only had to go to school four days because of the holiday on Monday, it has seemed particularly long. Both of my teens have been fighting off the crud and have been super reluctant to get up in the mornings.

I have had several routine doctor and dentist visits and my very favorite doctor on the planet is retiring. One of our dogs had surgery this week and the other one decided she wanted to start barking at midnight for no apparent reason, which had me getting out of bed and wrangling her before she woke the entire house.

These are not serious problems. But, they were my problems at the moment, and I was exhausted.

When I got up at 5:00 yesterday morning, I was dragging, to say the least. I found my tired and weary self praying the prayer I often pray when I’m worn out.

“Dear God, please show me your face today and let me have enough sense to see it.”

You see, I find that when I’m the weariest is when I’m the most vulnerable to enemy attack. I miss the blessings and focus on the negative. My patience tends to be less and I’m more prone to say things that I don’t mean. Maybe you have that weakness too?

After breakfast and two cups of coffee, I headed out the door and prayed the prayer again.

I was subbing for a teacher who teaches the gifted, which is usually a treat because they often do cool and interesting stuff. Yesterday was no different. The first two classes were given ten minutes to make their own picture out of three straight lines. I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with

There were a lot of abstracts, which is probably the best I could have done. There were some stick figures. There again, right up my alley. But, there were also some cool pictures of babies and birds. But, in the second group, at the last table, there was a boy who took those three lines and drew Jesus carrying his cross up the hill and then Jesus on the cross.

It took my breath away as I fought to keep my composure. He took three lines and he saw Jesus. He saw grace and my desperate morning prayer was answered. I saw the face of God.

I find that whenever I sincerely ask God for reassurance, that He’s there and listening, He always comes through. It may not be in the form I would choose, like a winning lottery ticket, but when I honestly seek Him with an open heart, He always shows Himself in a significant way that I can’t miss.

The Bible tells us, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ” Luke 11:9

That was Jesus talking.

Wherever I am and whatever I am facing, asking God to show me His face, is my go to prayer. He never disappoints. Maybe you should try it.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

The Choice to Forgive

Posted on by Wendy
Forgiving others, frees us.
Forgiving others, frees us.

Yesterday, I was reading the part in Genesis, where Jacob was going back home to his father’s land. He had run away twenty years before after stealing his father’s blessing from his brother Esau. He had also swindled his brother out of his birthright. Esau was planning on killing him when their mother intervened and sent Jacob back to her family to stay while Esau cooled off.

Twenty long years went by and Jacob married two sisters, had a slew of kids and had become quite wealthy. He had decided to return home because he was tired of being mistreated by his father-in-law, who he also swindled on a regular basis.

Now, Jacob was prepared for Esau to still be angry with him. He had goats, camels, bulls and donkeys, all ready to hand over as a peace offering and he was ready to grovel if necessary.

But, Esau was no longer angry with his brother. God had been at work and He had blessed Esau. In the twenty years of Jacob’s absence, Esau had somehow found forgiveness for him. Esau hugged Jacob and kissed him and wept, when he saw him.

When Jacob realized Esau had forgiven him, he said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.” Genesis 33:10b

That statement really struck me. Showing forgiveness to others who have hurt us in some way, is like being the face of God to them. There’s a lot of truth there. Forgiveness can be excruciatingly difficult at times, but when we forgive, we are showing the face of the God, who forgives us for our wrongdoings.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of forgiving others, comes when they didn’t ask for forgiveness, are not sorry for their transgressions, and in our human minds, don’t deserve it.

Yet, we are called to forgive anyway. Anger and grudges are soul killers. When we forgive others, we are freeing our own hearts and souls. God can and will, deal with the unrepentant. That’s not for us. It’s an obedience and trust issue. Are we obedient enough to forgive others and trust that God will handle it?

That can be a tall order. Humanity tends to want justice and we want it now, as long as it’s for others.

Jesus said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Those are red letter words.

Who knows how long it took Esau to forgive Jacob? But, when he did, he was free to live his life and be blessed. The problem became Jacob’s problem, no longer Esau’s.

Jacob and Esau remind me that forgiveness is a choice. It’s a choice to obey and a choice to trust that God loves us and He has a plan. We are called to work on our own hearts and our own walk with God and trust that He will take care of the rest.

I need reminding sometimes. Maybe you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Cone Wisdom

Posted on by Wendy
Though cumbersome and frustrating, the cone keeps him safe.
Though cumbersome and frustrating, the cone keeps him safe.

Our dog, Sandy, had surgery a couple of days ago. He had a couple of hopefully, benign tumors removed. He has stitches and so our veterinarian sent him home with a surgical collar, otherwise known as the dreaded cone.

He’s downright pitiful in it. It’s bulky. He runs into the walls and has a hard time taking the stairs. He’s depressed and I think he’s even embarrassed. I suspect, though I can’t prove it, that our other dog makes fun of him when we’re not looking.

It’s almost painful to watch how awkward he is walking around in it.

But, he can eat with it on, and he can drink water, and he has no trouble begging from the table with it on. He can even run around outside and do his business.

And here’s the most important thing about the dreaded cone: It keeps him safe while he heals. He had surgery a few years back and the young veterinarian in charge for the day, decided he didn’t need a cone. It was a Friday. Sandy promptly ripped out his stitches over the weekend. We had to take him back and have them redone and the more experienced veterinarian, sent him home with a cone.

If Sandy is allowed to chew on his stitches, which is his tendency, he will injure himself. He can cause an infection. He will take longer to heal. So, those of us who love him and know what’s best for him, have put that cone around his head to protect him.

Keep in mind, from his standpoint, he wants it gone. He’s uncomfortable and frustrated. I know that it’s only for a week or so, but as far as he’s concerned, it’s his new normal and he doesn’t like it. Of course, he was perfectly happy with the tumors staying where they were too. They weren’t bothering him. Why should they go?

The veterinarian felt like the tumors could be dangerous down the road, so he removed them.

As I’ve watched my sweet dog stumble around, kind of dazed and confused, I have really wished I could explain it all to him. I’d like to tell him how much I love him and that I’m just trying to keep him as healthy as possible.

When I think about it, I feel like God often reacts to us, his children, in the same way.

There are times when He removes things from our lives, things that can cause us harm, but that we don’t necessarily see as harmful. Then, He sometimes puts up road blocks in our paths to keep us from trying to fix things ourselves, like Sandy gnawing on his stitches.

We sometimes find ourselves stuck in one place. We can’t go forward and we can’t go backward, but instead of giving into stress and frustration, perhaps we should acknowledge that just maybe, we have been brought to a place of healing and when we are rested and healed, God will unblock the path.

Sandy’s cone reminds me that healing takes some time. It also reminds me that we often don’t know what’s best for us, but just like I can trust my vet for Sandy’s care, we can trust God for ours.

Perhaps today, you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂